Read Online A Blackbird In Darkness (Book 2) by Freda Warrington - Free Book Online

the host protect it, unless she is silent and anonymous? At the House of Rede, I thought Ashurek would kill me when I refused to say anything. But even if I had been able to speak, I still would not have done so. Because they must not know until the very end.’
    ‘Yes, you are absolutely right in that.’
    ‘In a way, I’m surprised they haven’t guessed. The times M’gulfn fought me, and I almost betrayed the Quest… but they still don’t know. Perhaps it’s because they suspected Arlenmia. And Ashurek believes I came upon the Quest in despair, after Alaak, which is partly true. I don’t know what Estarinel thinks about me. Strange, I never cared what anyone thought of me – until Estarinel.’ Again the question leapt into her throat, but she could not force the words out.
    ‘Medrian, there is something you need to know, is there it not? Don’t be afraid to ask me,’ the Lady encouraged her gently.
    Medrian spoke swiftly, before doubt stopped her. ‘Well – I am free, for the first time in my life. But the Blue Plane is not Earth – it’s so beautiful that it’s painful to me. I just wondered – what it would be like to be free of the Serpent on Earth, just for a little while. So I could know what it’s like to be… normal.’ She uttered a dry laugh. ‘It’s something you said, that the Serpent had “overlooked” Forluin. If I went with Estarinel – is it possible that M’gulfn could not touch me there?’
    Oh, Medrian, the Lady thought. This little I can do for you.
    ‘What I said was true. The Serpent attacked Forluin physically, because it cannot exercise power of mind over the island. You can go there in freedom.’
    ‘Thank you, my Lady,’ Medrian murmured.
    ‘As to whether your visit is right or wrong,’ the Lady added, her eyes shimmering with tears, ‘that you must decide for yourself.’
    #
    Ashurek and Calorn stood together on a promontory of rock that rose only a bare few inches above the glassy surface of the water. Several yards before them, on the very end of the promontory, three H’tebhmellian women – including Filitha and the Lady herself – circled a cloud of sparkling blue light, coaxing it into a cohesive sphere with strange, metallic instruments. With them stood Medrian and Estarinel, both wearing H’tebhmellian clothing of pale blue silken material, Estarinel in breeches and a loose shirt, Medrian in a long dress gathered at the waist and sleeves. They were waiting anxiously for the Exit Point to be completed.
    A peculiarity in the complex orbit of H’tebhmella’s Entrance Points meant they passed across Forluin more frequently than anywhere else on Earth. A rare conjunction would allow Estarinel and Medrian to return to the Blue Plane in a few hours’ time.
    ‘Estarinel doesn’t look happy at the prospect of visiting Forluin,’ Calorn observed.
    ‘What have any of us to be happy about?’ Ashurek said gruffly.
    ‘Being in H’tebhmella?’ Calorn suggested.
    ‘This can last only a few days more. The idea of attacking the Serpent makes me far from unhappy, but there is still Silvren…’ he stared down at the soft blue-green moss beneath his feet.
    Calorn could sense how powerless and restless for action he felt. She was eager for activity herself, and longed to find some way to help him regain Silvren. There was nothing more dear to her soul than a dangerous mission with a satisfying outcome.
    Ashurek’s green eyes were bright with danger against his fine-boned, dark purple-brown face. He glanced at the H’tebhmellians again. Calorn’s thoughts dwelt for a moment on his evil and bloody past, then dismissed it. I know the man, not his reputation, she thought. The H’tebhmellians have spoken no ill of him.
    She opened her mouth to speak, but at that instant Filitha called out that the Point was ready. Ashurek and Calorn went forward to watch their two companions leave.
    ‘In eighteen hours’ time, an Entrance Point will pass the place where you