[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Blacktalon's power, and the place where he would most likely be found. With the awesome power of the Staff of Earth
that Aurian and Shia had managed, against all odds, to put into his hands, Anvar would be able to strike directly at the
temple right through the heart of the mountain.
Briefly, the Mage's lips curled back in the grimmest of smiles. Too long had he and Aurian been helpless and
imprisoned, Now it was time to turn the tables on their foes. By all the gods, he was looking forward to this.
Chapter 19 Return to Nexis
Eliseth looked up from the scroll she was studying as the Archmage burst into her chambers without knocking. For an
instant, Miathan saw the dark line of a frown between her brows, but she hid her irritation quickly beneath a mask of
sociability. Pushing the scroll down the side of her chair, she stood to greet him, and gestured to her maid, who had
been sewing in the corner, to pour wine.
"What has happened?" the Weather-Mage asked. "I gather, from your precipitate entrance, that it must be something
of importance."
"Vannor has been captured." Miathan swung around sharply at the brittle crash of splintering crystal. The little
maidservant was standing by the cabinet, wide-eyed with horror, the knuckles of one clenched fist held to her mouth,
looking down at the twinkling shards that strewed the floor. Crimson wine was splashed on her skirts and pooled like
blood around her feet.
"You clumsy little wretch!" Eliseth grabbed the unfortunate girl by the shoulder and slapped her sharply, twice. "That
was one of a matched set! Hurry up and pour some more and get this mess cleaned up. You'll be beaten for this!"
"And you'll enjoy it." Miathan smiled cruelly, as Eliseth returned to him. "How very kind of her to give you an excuse."
The Weather-Mage shrugged. "Who needs an excuse? Which is just as well, for she doesn't provide me with many.
To give the brat her due, she's the best maid I've ever had."
"No matter." Miathan shrugged aside such unimportant considerations. "Eliseth, I have just made the most useful
discovery..." He went on to tell her of his confrontation with the captured merchant and his excitement, when he
found out the extent of the magical energy that could be transmuted from a Mortal's pain and fear.
Eliseth cursed disgustedly. "What? So you mean that all those human sacrifices were unnecessary? We could have
saved ourselves the trouble of procuring new victims by keeping a handful of prisoners alive and torturing them?"
"To a certain extent," the Archmage replied judiciously. "For magic requiring a massive Boost of power, however, like
possession from a distance, I should think that a sacrifice would still be required. Nonetheless, this discovery presents
some interesting possibilities. Some experiments will be in order, I believe and what better subject than Vannor
himself?" His voice sank to a purr. "The man is tough-minded and physically strong. If we take good care of him, I
should think he'll last a good long time ..."
The Weather-Mage nodded avidly. "Where have you put him?"
"I had Aurian's old chambers cleaned up for him." Miathan smiled at her astonished expression. "We shall want him
close at hand, and we must take good care of him for as long as he lasts. Besides, the only other place we could have
put him is the archives beneath the library, and it would be easier for him to escape from there or even be rescued.
No, I have him this time and he will not escape again!"
Vannor opened his eyes and, for an instant, wondered where he was. Then his guts clenched with terror as he
remembered his capture, and subsequent confrontation with the Archmage. The aftermath of Miathan's assault was
still with him: he felt weak as a newborn colt, and his body throbbed with an all-encompassing ache. But his
discomforts were lost in surprise as he took note of his surroundings.
The merchant had been expecting a dungeon. Instead, he found himself in a soft bed that stood in a pleasant chamber
with green and gold hangings on the walls, and a fire burning brightly in the grate. The furnishings were delicately
wrought, their lines flowing and simple, all their richness in the deep glow of dark polished wood, Vannor shivered.
What was the Archmage up to? Frankly, he would have preferred the dungeon, "At least that way, I'd know how
things stood," he muttered to himself.
A cup stood on the night table by his bed. An experimental sip proved that it contained taillin, still warm, and laced
with spirits. Vannor could feel its heat all the way down to his stomach. His body craved the warm liquid. Before he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
Blacktalon's power, and the place where he would most likely be found. With the awesome power of the Staff of Earth
that Aurian and Shia had managed, against all odds, to put into his hands, Anvar would be able to strike directly at the
temple right through the heart of the mountain.
Briefly, the Mage's lips curled back in the grimmest of smiles. Too long had he and Aurian been helpless and
imprisoned, Now it was time to turn the tables on their foes. By all the gods, he was looking forward to this.
Chapter 19 Return to Nexis
Eliseth looked up from the scroll she was studying as the Archmage burst into her chambers without knocking. For an
instant, Miathan saw the dark line of a frown between her brows, but she hid her irritation quickly beneath a mask of
sociability. Pushing the scroll down the side of her chair, she stood to greet him, and gestured to her maid, who had
been sewing in the corner, to pour wine.
"What has happened?" the Weather-Mage asked. "I gather, from your precipitate entrance, that it must be something
of importance."
"Vannor has been captured." Miathan swung around sharply at the brittle crash of splintering crystal. The little
maidservant was standing by the cabinet, wide-eyed with horror, the knuckles of one clenched fist held to her mouth,
looking down at the twinkling shards that strewed the floor. Crimson wine was splashed on her skirts and pooled like
blood around her feet.
"You clumsy little wretch!" Eliseth grabbed the unfortunate girl by the shoulder and slapped her sharply, twice. "That
was one of a matched set! Hurry up and pour some more and get this mess cleaned up. You'll be beaten for this!"
"And you'll enjoy it." Miathan smiled cruelly, as Eliseth returned to him. "How very kind of her to give you an excuse."
The Weather-Mage shrugged. "Who needs an excuse? Which is just as well, for she doesn't provide me with many.
To give the brat her due, she's the best maid I've ever had."
"No matter." Miathan shrugged aside such unimportant considerations. "Eliseth, I have just made the most useful
discovery..." He went on to tell her of his confrontation with the captured merchant and his excitement, when he
found out the extent of the magical energy that could be transmuted from a Mortal's pain and fear.
Eliseth cursed disgustedly. "What? So you mean that all those human sacrifices were unnecessary? We could have
saved ourselves the trouble of procuring new victims by keeping a handful of prisoners alive and torturing them?"
"To a certain extent," the Archmage replied judiciously. "For magic requiring a massive Boost of power, however, like
possession from a distance, I should think that a sacrifice would still be required. Nonetheless, this discovery presents
some interesting possibilities. Some experiments will be in order, I believe and what better subject than Vannor
himself?" His voice sank to a purr. "The man is tough-minded and physically strong. If we take good care of him, I
should think he'll last a good long time ..."
The Weather-Mage nodded avidly. "Where have you put him?"
"I had Aurian's old chambers cleaned up for him." Miathan smiled at her astonished expression. "We shall want him
close at hand, and we must take good care of him for as long as he lasts. Besides, the only other place we could have
put him is the archives beneath the library, and it would be easier for him to escape from there or even be rescued.
No, I have him this time and he will not escape again!"
Vannor opened his eyes and, for an instant, wondered where he was. Then his guts clenched with terror as he
remembered his capture, and subsequent confrontation with the Archmage. The aftermath of Miathan's assault was
still with him: he felt weak as a newborn colt, and his body throbbed with an all-encompassing ache. But his
discomforts were lost in surprise as he took note of his surroundings.
The merchant had been expecting a dungeon. Instead, he found himself in a soft bed that stood in a pleasant chamber
with green and gold hangings on the walls, and a fire burning brightly in the grate. The furnishings were delicately
wrought, their lines flowing and simple, all their richness in the deep glow of dark polished wood, Vannor shivered.
What was the Archmage up to? Frankly, he would have preferred the dungeon, "At least that way, I'd know how
things stood," he muttered to himself.
A cup stood on the night table by his bed. An experimental sip proved that it contained taillin, still warm, and laced
with spirits. Vannor could feel its heat all the way down to his stomach. His body craved the warm liquid. Before he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]