Read Online Legends of the Dragonrealm: Shade by Richard A. Knaak - Free Book Online
Authors: Richard A. Knaak
Ads: Link
accurate, he will be more wary than ever! I fear that he will be harder to find, perhaps impossible!”
“You’re probably right.” She frowned, then added, “My father would still no doubt like to hear what you told me. He or Lord Gryphon might have some insight we don’t.”
Darkhorse nodded, his dark mane flying wildly. “You talk sense. I will go there—” He suddenly paused to stare at her again. “Is all well?”
“I—I’m only concerned about my brother,” she managed to answer.
“Ah, yes. He and Yssa present a predicament, considering her sire’s duplicity.” When Valea looked away, the stallion snorted. “Forgive me! I should not have pressed!”
“It’s all right.”
“Century after century among your kind and I still persist in stepping where I should not!” Darkhorse snorted again, then added, “I will go to Penacles at once. Farewell, Valea!”
She gave him a slight smile. The shadowy steed reared up, then vanished.
Only then did the enchantress exhale deeply. “You should forgive me, Darkhorse,” she whispered. Then, with a frown, Valea added, “And you, too, Aurim.”
Valea did not like having used her brother’s precarious position as a distraction, but at that particular moment she had not been able to thinkof any other excuse. Certainly she had not wanted to tell Darkhorse the truth. While he might have been sympathetic to her cause, he also likely would have insisted that her parents be informed of her activities.
She could not permit that.
Aurim, even with his own troubles, would have laughed at her efforts. Too many bard’s tales for you, Val! What, you think you’ll break the curse and Shade’ll turn into a handsome prince?
There was no doubt in her mind that her romantic tendencies saw the dread fate of the sorcerer somewhat the way her brother would have described it. However, Valea’s quest had more depth to it by far. Yes, she had started in part researching all that was known—or, more often the case, conjectured —about Shade because of the intrigue, but in the process Valea had uncovered enough to make her believe that there was much to his curse that even he did not understand.
And if half of what she had divined was true, it served everyone best if Shade were saved, not imprisoned or, worse, finally somehow slain.
If only I could explain to someone what I think . . . But no one would believe her. No one, not even her parents, would take seriously her notions concerning Shade . . . and the land itself. There was no one.
No. Valea corrected herself with a rueful expression. There was one person who would listen and perhaps even have access to information the enchantress needed.
The only problem was, if she went to him and her parents discovered that visit, their fury would know no bounds.
Still . . .
The voice that she had heard just prior to Darkhorse’s arrival rose again. Grateful for the moment to think of other, more mundane matters, Valea headed for the library. Whoever was in there was breaking serious rules set for their own safety, not her father’s simple desires. Many of the tomes and scrolls collected in there could prove dangerous to one untrained in manipulating the energies of the world.
Steeling herself, Valea became her parents’ daughter. She had to ensure that this incident would not be repeated.
Expression set, she entered the chamber and immediately proclaimed, “This is the sanctum of the wizard who has given you a home and should not be—”
Her voice faltered as she stared into the chamber. The empty chamber.
She focused, drawing upon the lines of energy crisscrossing everything and turning it into a spell. Some saw the magic of the land in such a manner, while others perceived a spectrum running from light to dark. In scarcely a breath, Valea created an invisible web that draped over all parts of the room. If there was someone hidden from her sight, she would know it instantly.
But the spell dissipated
“You’re probably right.” She frowned, then added, “My father would still no doubt like to hear what you told me. He or Lord Gryphon might have some insight we don’t.”
Darkhorse nodded, his dark mane flying wildly. “You talk sense. I will go there—” He suddenly paused to stare at her again. “Is all well?”
“I—I’m only concerned about my brother,” she managed to answer.
“Ah, yes. He and Yssa present a predicament, considering her sire’s duplicity.” When Valea looked away, the stallion snorted. “Forgive me! I should not have pressed!”
“It’s all right.”
“Century after century among your kind and I still persist in stepping where I should not!” Darkhorse snorted again, then added, “I will go to Penacles at once. Farewell, Valea!”
She gave him a slight smile. The shadowy steed reared up, then vanished.
Only then did the enchantress exhale deeply. “You should forgive me, Darkhorse,” she whispered. Then, with a frown, Valea added, “And you, too, Aurim.”
Valea did not like having used her brother’s precarious position as a distraction, but at that particular moment she had not been able to thinkof any other excuse. Certainly she had not wanted to tell Darkhorse the truth. While he might have been sympathetic to her cause, he also likely would have insisted that her parents be informed of her activities.
She could not permit that.
Aurim, even with his own troubles, would have laughed at her efforts. Too many bard’s tales for you, Val! What, you think you’ll break the curse and Shade’ll turn into a handsome prince?
There was no doubt in her mind that her romantic tendencies saw the dread fate of the sorcerer somewhat the way her brother would have described it. However, Valea’s quest had more depth to it by far. Yes, she had started in part researching all that was known—or, more often the case, conjectured —about Shade because of the intrigue, but in the process Valea had uncovered enough to make her believe that there was much to his curse that even he did not understand.
And if half of what she had divined was true, it served everyone best if Shade were saved, not imprisoned or, worse, finally somehow slain.
If only I could explain to someone what I think . . . But no one would believe her. No one, not even her parents, would take seriously her notions concerning Shade . . . and the land itself. There was no one.
No. Valea corrected herself with a rueful expression. There was one person who would listen and perhaps even have access to information the enchantress needed.
The only problem was, if she went to him and her parents discovered that visit, their fury would know no bounds.
Still . . .
The voice that she had heard just prior to Darkhorse’s arrival rose again. Grateful for the moment to think of other, more mundane matters, Valea headed for the library. Whoever was in there was breaking serious rules set for their own safety, not her father’s simple desires. Many of the tomes and scrolls collected in there could prove dangerous to one untrained in manipulating the energies of the world.
Steeling herself, Valea became her parents’ daughter. She had to ensure that this incident would not be repeated.
Expression set, she entered the chamber and immediately proclaimed, “This is the sanctum of the wizard who has given you a home and should not be—”
Her voice faltered as she stared into the chamber. The empty chamber.
She focused, drawing upon the lines of energy crisscrossing everything and turning it into a spell. Some saw the magic of the land in such a manner, while others perceived a spectrum running from light to dark. In scarcely a breath, Valea created an invisible web that draped over all parts of the room. If there was someone hidden from her sight, she would know it instantly.
But the spell dissipated
Similar Books
