Read Online The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom by Sean Russell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sean Russell
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though more with reverence than pride.
"The supply of fresh water dwindled and no rain came to fill the sailors' casks. They were desolate and near to giving up all hope of finding land, when a bird came down from the sky to perch in the rigging of the ship, exhausted and lost like the Fael. Cynddlyn knew this wasn't an ocean bird but a bird of the land, blown out to sea.
"They watched him while he perched, resting, staying just out of reach of anyone who approached. And then he took flight again toward the horizon and Cynddlyn ordered his ships to follow. By day they could see the bird, dark against the sky, and by night they could hear him singing—a beautiful liquid pealing.
"After three days of sailing, on a night when moon and stars were hidden, the song of the bird changed to a terrible, forlorn cry: whist, whist. Cynddlyn ordered his ships about, but in the darkness and running sea his signal was lost and all but three of the ships were wrecked upon rocks.
"When the sun rose they could see, far off, mountains. Those who had heeded the warning of the whist were saved, but the rest were lost." Cynddl looked at each of the Valemen in turn.” And so you see the whist has not quite the same meaning to us. It led us here out of the trackless sea—those who heeded its warning."No one said anything for a moment.
"I have never heard of a man taking a whist for a companion," Genn said quietly. She looked at Tarn.” Have you?"Tam shook his head.
"It seems an odd choice, given the whist's reputation. Have you seen this bird or heard its cry since last night?""We haven't," Tam said.
Genn looked at Cynddl, and Tam wondered what passed between them, unspoken. She turned back to the Valemen.
"Well, we are satisfied these men-at-arms meant no harm to anyone else. Your people will be glad of that." The rings on both her hands sounded sharply on the wooden chair.” What will you do now that your boat is lost and your artifacts with it?" The three Valemen glanced at one another. No one had yet said it aloud.” Our journey is finished before it began," Tam said softly. He could see Fynnol close his eyes a moment, and when he opened them again he stared down at the ground. The Fael shared glances among themselves.” Perhaps it is not all loss," Genn said gently. She nodded at the young Fael.” Cynddl is a story finder—one of the most gifted I've ever known. We carried him north with us so that he could travel the river and gather what stories remain from the ancient kingdoms. We'd hoped to find boatmen in the Vale who would take him downriver, for Cynddl has no experience of fast water. It is his plan to buy a boat and pay the boatmen. I don't know if this would equal the price of horses, but perhaps you could consider it?" Fynnol glanced quickly up at Tam, hope kindling in his eyes.” We would have to speak of this among ourselves," Tam said.” Tomorrow would be soon enough, I think," Genn said, glancing at Cynddl, who nodded.” I knew them only as boys," Aliel said, "but I don't think their people would let them undertake the river if they hadn't the skills to manage it." The news of the brigands had silenced the camp that evening, and there was almost no one about. A cool breeze wafted down the slopes of the nearby mountains to wander among the tents, unwelcome.” What do you think of them, Genn?" Cynddl asked. Genn pondered this. It was like her not to respond to even the simplest question without thinking a moment first, She looked up.” I'm sure they are much alike, these Valemen. And at least two of these Aliel has known. I should think they will do."Cynddl shifted in his chair. Aliel thought him odd for a story finder—not quite so distant, almost warm.
"This journey I'm undertaking is not so simple, Germ, as you well know. I'm hesitant to take anyone along, and do so only of necessity. I go to find the stories of sorcerers," he said softly, "and even sorcerers long dead are dangerous in their own way. Did
"The supply of fresh water dwindled and no rain came to fill the sailors' casks. They were desolate and near to giving up all hope of finding land, when a bird came down from the sky to perch in the rigging of the ship, exhausted and lost like the Fael. Cynddlyn knew this wasn't an ocean bird but a bird of the land, blown out to sea.
"They watched him while he perched, resting, staying just out of reach of anyone who approached. And then he took flight again toward the horizon and Cynddlyn ordered his ships to follow. By day they could see the bird, dark against the sky, and by night they could hear him singing—a beautiful liquid pealing.
"After three days of sailing, on a night when moon and stars were hidden, the song of the bird changed to a terrible, forlorn cry: whist, whist. Cynddlyn ordered his ships about, but in the darkness and running sea his signal was lost and all but three of the ships were wrecked upon rocks.
"When the sun rose they could see, far off, mountains. Those who had heeded the warning of the whist were saved, but the rest were lost." Cynddl looked at each of the Valemen in turn.” And so you see the whist has not quite the same meaning to us. It led us here out of the trackless sea—those who heeded its warning."No one said anything for a moment.
"I have never heard of a man taking a whist for a companion," Genn said quietly. She looked at Tarn.” Have you?"Tam shook his head.
"It seems an odd choice, given the whist's reputation. Have you seen this bird or heard its cry since last night?""We haven't," Tam said.
Genn looked at Cynddl, and Tam wondered what passed between them, unspoken. She turned back to the Valemen.
"Well, we are satisfied these men-at-arms meant no harm to anyone else. Your people will be glad of that." The rings on both her hands sounded sharply on the wooden chair.” What will you do now that your boat is lost and your artifacts with it?" The three Valemen glanced at one another. No one had yet said it aloud.” Our journey is finished before it began," Tam said softly. He could see Fynnol close his eyes a moment, and when he opened them again he stared down at the ground. The Fael shared glances among themselves.” Perhaps it is not all loss," Genn said gently. She nodded at the young Fael.” Cynddl is a story finder—one of the most gifted I've ever known. We carried him north with us so that he could travel the river and gather what stories remain from the ancient kingdoms. We'd hoped to find boatmen in the Vale who would take him downriver, for Cynddl has no experience of fast water. It is his plan to buy a boat and pay the boatmen. I don't know if this would equal the price of horses, but perhaps you could consider it?" Fynnol glanced quickly up at Tam, hope kindling in his eyes.” We would have to speak of this among ourselves," Tam said.” Tomorrow would be soon enough, I think," Genn said, glancing at Cynddl, who nodded.” I knew them only as boys," Aliel said, "but I don't think their people would let them undertake the river if they hadn't the skills to manage it." The news of the brigands had silenced the camp that evening, and there was almost no one about. A cool breeze wafted down the slopes of the nearby mountains to wander among the tents, unwelcome.” What do you think of them, Genn?" Cynddl asked. Genn pondered this. It was like her not to respond to even the simplest question without thinking a moment first, She looked up.” I'm sure they are much alike, these Valemen. And at least two of these Aliel has known. I should think they will do."Cynddl shifted in his chair. Aliel thought him odd for a story finder—not quite so distant, almost warm.
"This journey I'm undertaking is not so simple, Germ, as you well know. I'm hesitant to take anyone along, and do so only of necessity. I go to find the stories of sorcerers," he said softly, "and even sorcerers long dead are dangerous in their own way. Did
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