Cheysuli 7 - Flight of Ravens by Roberson Jennifer

Author:Roberson, Jennifer [Roberson, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-02-20T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

"First," he said, before any of them could speak, "I want to know how. And why."

Ashra, who added fuel to the fire, cast him a puzzled glance across one slender shoulder. Ringlets writhed. "What do you mean?"

"I should have known you. AH my life I have been told a Cheysuli can tell when an Ihlini is near, because of the interference in the lir-link. And the lir always forewarns—" Aidan grimaced, not looking at Teel, "—usually forewarns." He sighed, shifting the wineskin in his lap. "None of us knew Lochiel because he had a ring once worn by my father. It has been bespelled for years, ever since he gave it, unknowing, to an Ihlini witch. Rhiannon." He dismissed her with a gesture. "Lochiel has the ring now, and he used it. Is that how Teel and I did not know you? Have you a like item?"

Tye shook his head as he settled down against his rolled blanket. "Have you met none of us before?"

Aidan nearly smiled. "No Ihlini has come into Mujhara—or Clankeep—for many, many years."

Ashra was clearly startled. "And you have been nowhere else?"

Her unfeigned astonishment at first puzzled him, until he realized she had most likely spent her life on the road, and could not comprehend a man who lived only in two places.

And then he considered how that sounded, even to him: he had been nowhere in the world save Mujhara and Clankeep. Even though one day he would rule a realm it took weeks to ride across.

Tye grinned. "All unknowing, she strikes true." He squirted wine into his throat, swallowed, then plugged the opening. "You did not know us because there was nothing to know."

"You are Ihlini—"

"—and kin." Tye's green eyes were odd in the light. "Without your gold and your lir, would another Cheysuli know you as Cheysuli?"

Aidan gestured. "I may lack the color, but—"

Siglyn cut him off. "Answer the question."

Aidan waited a moment, marshaling his courtesy, then did as Siglyn ordered. "Without my gold and my lir, it is possible he would not… but if you knew how to look for other things—"

Tye sighed in disgust. "He will not cooperate."

"Aidan." Ashra's voice was soft. "You did not know we are Ihlini because we are kin. It is true all Cheysuli bear certain similarities in color and shape of bones, but past that there is only what resides in here." She touched one breast. "We are less obvious than Cheysuli, lacking a uniform color and the lir, but our hearts are the same, and our blood."

Aidan avoided her eyes, looking instead at his healed hand. There was no scar, but he remembered all too well the pain, the shock, the acknowledgment of Lochiel's intent.

Siglyn's voice was harsh. "It's an easy enough answer, boy: we did not drink of the cup. We are uncommitted Ihlini—save to our land—and therefore Asar-Suti is not in us. Our blood is ours, not his… have you or any of your kin ever known a hostile Ihlini who was

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.