Read Online The Phoenix Endangered by James Mallory - Free Book Online Page B

approach—all save Israf, who had lived at Shaiara’s side long enough to be certain that whatever occurred, he would not be stepped on—and Ciniran slid to her knees beside Shaiara, holding out the strange jug.
    Shaiara dropped the half-cleaned fur-mouse back into the basket—the ikulas knew better than to take that which they were not given—and set aside the skinning-stone. She took the jug onto her knees, running her fingers questingly over its surface. It was hard like stone, yet smoother than any stone she had ever touched. And it was as transparent as the gauhars which the Kadyastar took from a place in the desert they would reveal to no one and set into ornaments of gold prized even in the Iteru -cities. Yet it was clear instead of colored.
    “It is glass,” she said slowly. Yet she had never seen an object of glass so large and so clear.
    “In a chamber three descents below, there are manyobjects,” Ciniran said, her voice troubled. She opened her hunter’s bag and began emptying it onto the mat upon which she knelt.
    A cup of yellow gold, with a bowl as large as Shaiara’s two hands. It had a long straight stem and a disk-shaped base. There was another of white silver whose shape matched it exactly. Shaiara picked up the silver cup. The metal was chill in her fingers. The bowl of the cup was covered with a raised design of creatures that she did not believe had ever walked the earth: bird-winged cats; and creatures that were half adder and half something for which she had no name; and men and women with the heads of unknown beasts. The inside of the cup was studded with gems: not merely the red gauhar of the Kadyastar, but green and yellow and blue and purple stones as well.
    When she looked up from contemplating the cup, Ciniran had finished emptying her bag. Small bowls of gold, and flat plates, and circlets for arm and head. All were ornamented—some with designs meant to depict creatures, however impossible, some merely with patterns.
    Gold was prized by many of the tribes of the Isvai, and even more greatly—so Shaiara had heard—by the dwellers in the Iteru -cities. The Nalzindar had little use for it: it was soft, and heavy, and did not bring game to the pot or water to the waterskin. They did not accept it in trade when it was offered, preferring things which were of real use between Sand and Star. Here, Shaiara suspected, was enough gold to purchase a score of the finest shotors to be had among the Isvaieni, or perhaps six pairs of matched ikulas of proven lineage, or four fully trained falcons ready for the hunt. A frightening amount of wealth, for in a world where there was war, Shaiara did not doubt that the Isvaieni would soon be taught to kill for gold as well.
    “How many?” Shaiara asked.
    “I could fill the pack of every shotor of the tribe with what is there, and more would remain,” Ciniran said. “And there are these. Many.”
    Ciniran reached into a fold of her headscarf and heldout her hand. On her palm lay a small disk of gold. Shaiara took it from her and studied it curiously. Both sides were covered with elaborate designs, but she could not deduce its purpose.
    Ciniran watched her, and Shaiara knew she was awaiting her decision. Shaiara thought carefully. Gold, yes, and the Nalzindar had heard many tales at the Gatherings of how gold stole men’s wits. But both gold and Nalzindar were safe within Abi’Abadshar, and should that change—well, Shaiara would meet that day when it dawned.
    “Tomorrow you and I shall return to this chamber,” she decided. “I shall see if there is anything there that is useful.” She dropped the disk onto the mat and reached for the skinning-stone again. “Now come. There is work to be done if we are to eat.”
    U PON THE DAY that followed, Shaiara and Ciniran returned to the chamber which Ciniran had discovered. The two of them went alone, for Shaiara wished to see this place before she made a present of the knowledge of it to all the