Read Online The Luck of Brin's Five by Cherry; Wilder - Free Book Online Page A

know these things.”
    â€œThe Great Elder?” asked Diver innocently. “Should I go to Tiath Pentroy? To the Elders in Rintoul?”
    For the first time Beeth Ulgan made an averting sign. “No! Winds forbid!”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt might mean your life and the life of Brin’s Five.”
    â€œThis Elder would take our lives?”
    â€œIf he could do it secretly,” said Beeth Ulgan.
    Harper Roy protested. “Even the Great Elder is bound by law; he must follow the old threads. . . .”
    â€œThat’s true,” said Beeth, “but very often he may weave those threads in his pattern.”
    â€œBut why kill us?” burst out Diver. “From fear? Why should he fear a lone man? I come in peace. Why should this grandee kill a stranger when simple folk have shown me nothing but kindness and love . . . when Brin’s Five has adopted me without a trace of fear?”
    â€œYou bring power and skill!” said the Ulgan. “You bring fire-metal-magic. We might have had all these things ourselves from Tsagul, long ago. But the Elders, the clans, will brook no change in their power. They cannot see the way the world must go.”
    Diver studied the maps and traced on one the course of the river Datse down to the sea. “Should I go to Tsagul?” he asked.
    â€œNo!” said Beeth Ulgan sharply. “If you found friends there, it would split the world like the blast of a fire-mountain.”
    â€œBesides,” said Harper Roy, “it is a bleak place. Mamor was there once and did a stint in the mines. Mountain folk do not care for the place.”
    â€œDo not be too sure, Roy Brinroyan,” smiled the Diviner. “There may be one of your kin well known in the Fire-Town.”
    The Harper shook his head and began numbering our kin on his fingers.
    â€œNo,” pronounced Beeth Ulgan, “be ruled by me, Diver. Go with Brin’s Five, be patient.”
    â€œWhere shall we go?” I asked.
    â€œTo my fixed house at Whiterock Fold,” she said. “And my own barge will take you all downriver.”
    â€œVery well,” said Diver, “if Brin will go there . . . if it serves all the Five well . . .”
    â€œThere is one in Rintoul who will weave all these threads into a safe web,” said the Diviner.
    â€œBut who, Beeth Ulgan?” I cried. “Who will save us? “Who is more powerful than Strangler Tiath? Is it . . . is it Blacklock? ”
    Beeth Ulgan laughed aloud. “Well, you are not far from wrong, child. I will not say the name, but it is the one who gives Blacklock—young Murno Pentroy—his wings to fly with.”
    I had to be satisfied with this. In fact it was many days before any of us heard the name she would not utter . . . but from this time we were aware of the presence of this subtle magician, this Maker of Engines.
    Beeth Ulgan clapped her hands and went bustling into the other room again. “There is much to be done!”
    We followed and found her kneeling beside the twirler. The apprentice had sponged down the poor creature and covered the thin body with a blanket, but still it had not awakened.
    â€œWhat are the twirlers?” Diver asked softly.
    â€œOutcasts,” said Beeth Ulgan, “vagabonds. They fly from a sad fate that haunts all Moruians. Do you know what that is?”
    Diver shook his head.
    â€œTo be alone . . .” said Harper Roy, making an averting sign. “How is it with your people, Diver?”
    â€œSome bear it pretty well,” he replied.
    I was stricken with fear in case poor Diver felt alone . . . far from his own people. It was such a dreadful thing.
    â€œCheer up!” I whispered. “ You have a Family.”
    â€œI know it!” he said, smiling.
    Beeth Ulgan was stroking the face of the twirler in a certain pattern; the apprentice crouched beside her, watching keenly. “Our legends tell of a few spirits,