Darkvision (The Wizards) by Bruce R. Cordell

Author:Bruce R. Cordell [Cordell, Bruce R.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786956722
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2010-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

Ususi discovered a few tins of dried fish in Yonald’s cabin after she and Eined had made a casual investigation of every compartment and closet.

She couldn’t sleep after her nightmare. She was haunted by the darkness and Qari’s pronouncement that she should “embrace darkness.” Ususi shuddered as she imagined again the hollow orbits of her sister’s vacant face.

The wizard consumed the contents of a tin of snapper as eagerly as if it were a fabled mithridate concocted by healing alchemists. Of course, she knew it wasn’t really an antidote for nightmares, and it could not insulate her against future recurrences. A little oily, but salty, as she liked it. Perhaps the simple act of eating it gave her comfort.

The Datharathi woman quickly ate a similar portion of fish then fell asleep. Night ruled outside the cabin, but sleep eluded Ususi. They’d reach Huorm in the morning, maybe before first light. If she was to be worth anything at all the next day, she needed her sleep. The anxiety of not sleeping drove slumber further away.

“To the dooms with it.”

Ususi slipped on her shoes and went up on deck. Her uskura followed after, carrying a lantern. She hadn’t unpacked her delver’s orb—she didn’t want to take the time to look for it in her pack.

Light rain fell, but it wasn’t cold, and it wasn’t falling hard enough to drench her hair or clothing—it was more of a mist, and it was bracing. The sea was black in all directions, but lanterns shimmering around the perimeter of the craft illuminated small areas of dark water. She saw only a single crewman high above, mucking with ropes. The impenetrable blackness all around reminded her uneasily of her dream.

A spot of warmth on her left hip caught her attention—her pouch. She had many pouches, but this one held the three pieces of Celestial Nadir crystal Iahn had retrieved from the creatures in front of the ancient Imaskaran complex.

She reached her hand into the pouch—the stones, in their leather wrapping, were hot to the touch! She drew the wrapping forth and emptied one of the stones into her hand to get a better look at it. The moment it was free of the leather, the crystal flashed a brilliant ray of purple light. The flash speared into the dark waters around the ship. Then the stone went dark and cooled down.

“Oh, dooms and damnation!” Ususi spat. The crewman in the rigging rewarded her with a startled look. She ignored him.

Unless it was her imagination, a faint violet radiance lingered in the sea where the light from the crystal had touched the water’s surface. But the radiance fell behind as the ship plowed forward.

She threw the dark stone into the sea. She paused, grabbed the pouch that contained the remaining two Celestial Nadir amulets, and threw the whole thing in. She turned and rushed toward the prow, looking for Iahn.

The vengeance taker was wrapped in a light blanket, lying under a stanchion. When she was still

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