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was dark and chill, and Fania and Strongblade felt a sudden terror clutching
their hearts. The sorcerer stepped forward and calmly pulled Flarecore from
his son s weak, quivering grasp. He moved back and whirled the big blade
one-handed over his head as if it were a feather. With the other hand, he
formed a Sign of potency which left a glowing red trail suspended in the air
behind it. Thunders filled the room and he called out in an unnatural language
and was answered as from afar by howlings and shrieks. Flarecore s blade began
to glow, then abruptly went white-hot, throwing off flame and spark.
Fania screamed and buried her face in her hands. Strongblade had gone
dead-pale with fear. The wizard came close to them again.  Down! he roared in
a voice terrible to hear.  Down before your Master for the peril of your lives
and souls!
They instantly threw themselves down at his feet as Strongblade began to
froth with madness and plead while Fania wept and kissed the hem of his robe,
begging incoherently for mercy. He let them go on so for some moments more,
until he saw that they might be permanently impaired if he continued their
punishment. Then he spoke a Dismissal, whereat the room was light once again
and the thunder and other sounds died away, as did the light along Flarecore s
blade.
When they were able, the two staggered to their feet and helped one another
to the door, sobbing and leaning on each other, and were permitted to leave.
Bey was left holding Flarecore, satisfied that they would give him no more
inconvenience for some time to come. Still, it had been rather sharp of
Fania uncharacteristically so to scheme thus. With Strongblade gone warring,
she would naturally reassume the authority she had been forced to yield at his
coronation. Perhaps he d better ease theKu-Mor-Mai  s dependency on his mother
to inhibit further plottings. It might even be a good idea to teach his son
the spell which caused Flarecore to burn. That would look impressive, add some
legitimacy to his reign and infuse him with a measure of independence from
Fania.
* * * *
The little hunting party wound its way up the easy slope leading away north
from Boldhaven Bay and the city of Seaguard, Coramonde s primary trading
outlet on the Central Sea. The city harbor falling behind was divided by a
long, fortified promontory, effectively separating the small fishing craft and
common commerce ships from the luxury barges and military vessels.
Seaguard itself was protected from land by a high, thick, well-fortified wall
along which watchtowers were spaced, each virtually an independent fortress.
To the east were the salt marshes.
The party was small but illustrious, and so had taken precautions to make an
inconspicuous departure. It included five members; a tracker-guide, two
military men of high ability and rank who wore no insignia of command and two
of even higher station. These were the emissaries of the Prince of the Waves,
Lord Paramount of the Mariners, and the King of Seaguard, whose title in the
salutations of Coramonde was Seashield, though in truth he was more inclined
to sharp bargaining and profit than war on the deeps.
They wended their way through the low foothills of greenery and bright
flowers, giving no attention at all to tracking other than to see if any other
riders had preceded them, for they were not hunting the beasts of the forests;
they hunted coconspirators. Two days they spent riding, though it pleased the
emissary of the Prince of the Waves little, for he was more used to the roll
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
of a deck under his feet in a following wind, not liking having to ride this
uncertain-tempered creature with its disturbing gait. Still, he forebore to
complain, since he was there at the direction of his liege, He who Sails
Forever.
He had been selected for this mission of conspiracy because he possessed in
good measure the ability in suave dissembling and courteous haggling so prized
by landsmen, although he was known on his own ship as a martinet. For this [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]