A Gathering of Heroes by Paul Edwin Zimmer

Author:Paul Edwin Zimmer [Zimmer, Paul Edwin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General
ISBN: 9780441274215
Google: ehK2AAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0441274218
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1987-09-02T06:00:00+00:00

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Suddenly, he guessed that he was standing right above the stairway: this must be the sealed entrance to the Chamber of the Stone, and the pillar of fire blazed against the ceiling somewhere under his feet.

“Did you see?” Carroll stormed angrily through the far door. “The boy was lying on the ground, and the blood pouring from him onto the grass!” Behind him Anarod, Larthon and Ingulf came, their faces grim with rage.

“Who?” Tahion asked.

“Hrivown!” Larthon snarled.

“That boy who was lying over there,” said Carroll. “The wounded boy that seemed as though he’d never move again! He was lying on the path, halfway to Ardcrillon’s tower! The elf-call must have reached him, but he was too weak to go far!”

“Just far enough to tear his wound open!” said Larthon bitterly.

“Ah, no!” said Tahion. “Will he live? Where is he now?”

“The dwarf healers are taking care of him,” said Larthon, “and will be bringing him soon. Youth is healthy: boasting follows battle. The wound has closed, the bleeding stopped; 1 have no fear for him.”

“Here are the healers now,” said Anarod.

Dwarves entered bearing a stretcher, then more dwarves with a second stretcher, Alphth the Changeling hovering behind. Istvan saw in surprise that Finloq lay on the second stretcher, his leg swathed in red-stained bandages.

Tahion went to the other stretcher and placed a hand on the boy’s forehead. His face went blank.

“Was that—who was it that was on the stairs?” Istvan asked.

“Did you not see?” said Anarod. “Alphth fought there alone, straddling his friend.”

Tahion drew a deep breath, and took his hand away.

“Finloq fainted on the steps,” said Alphth. “I stayed with him and tried to rouse him, but he would not stir. Then the goblins came. I drew my blade and fought. See how his leg is bitten! I thought us both dead.”

“Death was close,” Larthon agreed, “had those killers been left alone. They bit Finloq to the bone!”

Tahion sat back.

“Well, Hrivown will live,” he said. “But this is the

second time elf-magic has nearly killed him!” Finloq groaned on his pallet: Alphth rushed to his side. Tahion rose more slowly, like an old man. t Finloq’s wide eyes opened, and he caught his lip in his teeth. Tahion touched the bandaged leg with his fingertips, and flinched. Layareh poured a cup of milk and held it to the injured man’s lips.

“I stood over him,” said Alphth, “to protect him, but they swarmed over us. And one that I wounded, and thought I had killed, started chewing on his leg. And still he did not wake!”

Again Tahion touched the blood-soaked bandage, and his frown deepened. He looked into the wide grey eyes.

“Finloq, are you a man, or an elf?” he asked. Finloq’s face was troubled.

“I—I do not know!” His voice was shrill. “My mother was mortal, but . . .”

“You are a Changeling, then?” Arthfayel interrupted.

“Indeed I am not!” snapped Finloq. “Not I! My mother bore me, of that I am sure! But she was a woman of Clan Gileran, with as much elf-blood as mortal blood in her veins.

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