Read Online A Painted Goddess by Victor Gischler - Free Book Online
Authors: Victor Gischler
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with intricate swirling patterns of gold and silver and copper. The man’s turban suggested he might be from Fyria. There was a sea chest next to him, along with the frayed coils of rope, rusted spears. A rusty woodman’s axe leaned against the cave wall. The survivor of some long-ago shipwreck, maybe? Perhaps he was a lone survivor who found his way to shore, took refuge in the cave, and never left again.
Which is bad news for me. I’m guessing not a lot of ships pass this way .
Alem opened the sea chest. Tools inside, crusted with rust.
Something caught Alem’s eye, a glint of sunlight on bright metal.
The corpse’s tunic was tucked into a cracked leather belt, the fabric billowing over and almost covering something but not quite. He pushed the tunic back, revealing the hilt of a sword. It was untouched by any blemish, unlike the man’s rusted belt buckle and buttons. Not ruined like the spears or the tools in the sea chest.
Alem gripped the sword’s hilt, hesitated, then drew the blade from its scabbard.
The cavern blazed with light, the straight blade glowing bright white like liquid flame. The sword was perfect, straight and without a nick or notch. It was longer than the short swords of the city guard but a bit shorter than a great knight’s long sword. It seemed simultaneously lighter than air and also indestructible.
“Well, then.” Alem grinned at the corpse. “Seems even dead men have interesting tales to tell.”
CHAPTER NINE
Rina pulled the horses into a thick stand of bushes and spread the bishop on a bed of pine straw. Hark’s breathing was shallow, his skin clammy and cold, but she didn’t dare light a fire.
She peeked through the bush’s thick foliage at the road, well lit by the moon. It had been a while since patrol, a dozen hard-riding Perranese warriors. There had been a moment of apprehension when they’d reined in their horses only forty yards from her hiding place. They’d conferred for a few seconds, and then half had ridden on up the road, the rest going back the other way.
Rina was reluctant to tap into the spirit. She was already so fatigued, but she needed information. She tapped in and closed her eyes and instantly saw the world from the point of view of her familiar Zin, a green forest falcon. She flew above the trees, wheeling, the landscape spreading out before her. She ventured far from her hiding spot, turning a slow circle over several miles and back again.
She released her hold of spirit and familiar both. She’d found out what she needed to know. There were a number of other Perranese patrols scouring the countryside, but none coming for her position. Zin had shown her there was a town about ten miles up the road. When the coast was clear, she’d make for it. Hopefully Hark would be fit to ride by then.
She checked her gear. It was a fortunate thing the bishop had thought to bring her horse, all of her armor and weapons. But she didn’t put them on.
She lay down. Someone should really have kept watch, but she was too exhausted to care. What would happen now? Where would they go from here? Rina knew these were important questions, but her thoughts were a senseless jumble. Her eyes slammed shut, and she was asleep in seconds.
Yano approached Commander Tchi, who was frowning at a map he was attempting to read by moonlight.
The ten men with Yano had been handpicked. This had been a long time coming, and Yano wanted it handled just right. Tchi conferred with one of his lieutenants, which was a shame, but they couldn’t wait forever to find the commander completely alone. It had to be now. They couldn’t count on a better opportunity.
The men slowly moved into a loose circle around Tchi and the lieutenant, trying not to be obvious about it. They were understandably reluctant, and their swords hissed slowly from their scabbards. The lieutenant was slow to react, but Tchi sensed immediately what was happening, his hand going for his sword hilt.
The men moved
Which is bad news for me. I’m guessing not a lot of ships pass this way .
Alem opened the sea chest. Tools inside, crusted with rust.
Something caught Alem’s eye, a glint of sunlight on bright metal.
The corpse’s tunic was tucked into a cracked leather belt, the fabric billowing over and almost covering something but not quite. He pushed the tunic back, revealing the hilt of a sword. It was untouched by any blemish, unlike the man’s rusted belt buckle and buttons. Not ruined like the spears or the tools in the sea chest.
Alem gripped the sword’s hilt, hesitated, then drew the blade from its scabbard.
The cavern blazed with light, the straight blade glowing bright white like liquid flame. The sword was perfect, straight and without a nick or notch. It was longer than the short swords of the city guard but a bit shorter than a great knight’s long sword. It seemed simultaneously lighter than air and also indestructible.
“Well, then.” Alem grinned at the corpse. “Seems even dead men have interesting tales to tell.”
CHAPTER NINE
Rina pulled the horses into a thick stand of bushes and spread the bishop on a bed of pine straw. Hark’s breathing was shallow, his skin clammy and cold, but she didn’t dare light a fire.
She peeked through the bush’s thick foliage at the road, well lit by the moon. It had been a while since patrol, a dozen hard-riding Perranese warriors. There had been a moment of apprehension when they’d reined in their horses only forty yards from her hiding place. They’d conferred for a few seconds, and then half had ridden on up the road, the rest going back the other way.
Rina was reluctant to tap into the spirit. She was already so fatigued, but she needed information. She tapped in and closed her eyes and instantly saw the world from the point of view of her familiar Zin, a green forest falcon. She flew above the trees, wheeling, the landscape spreading out before her. She ventured far from her hiding spot, turning a slow circle over several miles and back again.
She released her hold of spirit and familiar both. She’d found out what she needed to know. There were a number of other Perranese patrols scouring the countryside, but none coming for her position. Zin had shown her there was a town about ten miles up the road. When the coast was clear, she’d make for it. Hopefully Hark would be fit to ride by then.
She checked her gear. It was a fortunate thing the bishop had thought to bring her horse, all of her armor and weapons. But she didn’t put them on.
She lay down. Someone should really have kept watch, but she was too exhausted to care. What would happen now? Where would they go from here? Rina knew these were important questions, but her thoughts were a senseless jumble. Her eyes slammed shut, and she was asleep in seconds.
Yano approached Commander Tchi, who was frowning at a map he was attempting to read by moonlight.
The ten men with Yano had been handpicked. This had been a long time coming, and Yano wanted it handled just right. Tchi conferred with one of his lieutenants, which was a shame, but they couldn’t wait forever to find the commander completely alone. It had to be now. They couldn’t count on a better opportunity.
The men slowly moved into a loose circle around Tchi and the lieutenant, trying not to be obvious about it. They were understandably reluctant, and their swords hissed slowly from their scabbards. The lieutenant was slow to react, but Tchi sensed immediately what was happening, his hand going for his sword hilt.
The men moved
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