01 The Scions of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Author:Terry Brooks
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2010-04-10T10:40:04+00:00

The giri's grip tightened on Par's arm. "This is dangerous business, Padishar. I have sent men into the Pit before, as you well know, and not one of them has returned.''

Padishar smiled indulgently. "The Pitthat's what Tyrsians call the ravine these days. Pitting, I suppose."

"You take too many risks!" the girl pressed.

"Damson is my eyes and ears and strong right arm inside Tyrsis," the other continued smoothly. He smiled at her. "Tell the Valeman what you know of the Sword, Damson."

She gave him a dangerous look, then swung her face away. ' 'The collapse of the Bridge of Sendic occurred at the same time the Federation annexed Callahom and began occupation of Tyr- sis. The forest that now blankets the old People's Park, where the Sword of Shannara was housed, grew up virtually overnight. The new park and bridge came about just as quickly. I asked the old ones of the city some years ago what they remembered, and this is what I learned. The Sworo didn't actually disappear from its vault; it was the vault that disappeared into the forest. People forget, especially when they're being told something else. Al- most everyone believes there was only one People's Park and one Bridge of Sendicthe oaes they see. The Sword of Shan- nara, if it ever existed, simply disappeared."

Par was looking at her in disbelief. "The forest, the bridge, and the park changed overnight?"

She nodded. "Just so."

"But.. . ?"

"Magic, lad," Padishar Creel whispered in answer to his unfinished question.

They walked on a bit, nearing the brightly colored cloth that

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236 The Scions ofShannara

contained the remains of their picnic. The children were back, nibbling contentedly at the cakes.

"The Federation doesn't use magic," Par argued, still con- fused. "They have outlawed it."

"Outlawed its use by others, yes," the big man acknowl- edged. "Perhaps the better to use it themselves? Or to allow someone else to use it? Or somethingT' He emphasized the last syllable.

Par looked over sharply. "Shadowen, you mean?"

Neither Padishar nor Damson said anything. Par's mind spun. The Federation and the Shadowen in league somehow, joined for purposes none of them understoodwas that possible?

"I have wondered about the fate of the Sword of Shannara for a long time," Padishar mused, stopping just out of earshot of the waiting children. ' 'It is a part of the history of my family as well. It always seemed strange to me that it should have vanished so completely. It was embedded in marble and locked in a vault for two hundred years. How could it simply disappear? What happened to the vault that contained it? Was it all some- how spirited away?" He glanced at Par. "Damson spent a loag time finding out the answer. Only a few remembered the truth of how the disappearance came about. They're all dead now- but they left their story to me." 1

His smile was wolfish. "Now I have an excuse to discoajsr whether that story is true. Is the Sword of Shannara down (here hi that ravine? You and I shall discover the answer.

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