Read Online The Paper Sword by Robert Priest - Free Book Online

Chiricoru waddled back and forth, trapped in the cul-de-sac, Rotan Smedenage sized up the two people who exited the tower tree and made their way to where he stood. The boy was much bigger than he had thought — more of a young man really — but that shouldn’t be a problem. Smedenage rested his palm on the hilt of his sword reassuringly.
    â€œNow, first of all,” he demanded of Xemion. “Who are you?”
    â€œHis name is Xemion,” Saheli answered. Xemion, still obeying Anya’s order to restrain his voice outside the tower tree, stood behind her while she kept her eye on Chiricoru.
    â€œAnd who are you ?” he asked of Saheli in an almost scoffing tone.
    â€œMy name is Saheli.”
    â€œIt says nothing on the census about a dwelling place here. Why isn’t it registered in the census? Who is the proprietor?”
    â€œAnya Kuzelnika,” Xemion asserted in as flat a tone as he could muster. “The old woman who raised me.”
    â€œWell, where is she then?”
    â€œShe —” Saheli turned and pointed toward the other end of the clearing where the stone they had erected was still barely visible in the semi-darkness. “She has gone to spirit.”
    Immediately the expression of suspicion deepened in the examiner’s face. “Really?” he said with such an aura of doubt that it offended Xemion.
    â€œYes, really,” he replied succinctly.
    Smedenage met his eye and the two held each other’s gaze as the exchange continued. “So you are telling me that the old woman is dead and that the two of you have taken over her … home?” His palm gripped the hilt of his sword eagerly as he beheld the flare of anger in Xemion’s eyes.
    â€œThat is the truth, sir,” Saheli said somewhat tremulously. “She passed away only recently and —”
    â€œAnd how do you fit into all this, might I ask?” the portly man interrupted. Chiricoru, aware of the rising alarm in Saheli’s voice, had come a little closer.
    â€œI rescued her four months ago when she was drowning in the river,” Xemion answered sharply. “Is there anything wrong with that?”
    Smedenage looked just as sharply back at Xemion. “I don’t believe I like your tone.” Then he added pointedly, “Though it is a very rich and eloquent tone, I’ll admit.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Saheli jumped in. “We’re both very upset still about her passing.”
    â€œAnd how do you come to have that creature?” Smedenage pointed with obvious disgust at Chiricoru, who once again backed off a ways.
    â€œShe’s our pet,” Xemion answered. He had never felt so angry. “She was the old woman’s pet since she was a child.”
    â€œI see. So let me summarize: The old woman has conveniently died. The two of you have taken over her quarters. And now you are using it to give shelter to an illegal chimerant, which —”
    â€œShe did not conveniently die,” Xemion interjected in a voice that was almost a shout. “In fact, she —”
    Rotan Smedenage gasped. “Do not raise your voice to me, boy!” he shrieked. He took out his lath and, glaring at Xemion, began to tap it ominously in his palm.
    â€œXemion, please. Let me answer,” Saheli said, her voice trembling.
    â€œWell, no. No,” Smedenage snapped, attempting to re-establish his authority. “I am rather interested in hearing his voice.”
    Xemion glowered and clenched his jaw but remained quiet. Rotan Smedenage also managed to calm himself a little. “Now, tell me what you know about a man with a red hand.”
    Both Saheli and Xemion remained quiet but Smedenage did not miss the guilty look that passed between them.
    â€œI’m going to ask you one more time, and you had better answer me. What do you know of a man with a red hand?”
    Xemion shrugged. He had vowed to say nothing. Saheli