Duane, Diane - Young Wizards 02 - Deep Wizardy by Duane Diane

Author:Duane, Diane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2004-02-13T23:54:27+00:00

DEEP WIZARDRY 247

"The day after tomorrow," said the Master-Shark in perfect calm, "if we keep to schedule."

Nita couldn't think of a thing to say.

"You seem surprised," Ed said. "Why?"

It took Nita a few moments to answer, for her mind was boiling with sudden memories.

S'reee's great relief when Nita agreed to participate in the Song. Her repeated questions to Nita about whether she was sure she wanted to do this. The Blue's silent, sad appraisal and approval of her. S'reee's re-mark about the Silent Lord's contribution to the Song being the most impor-tant of any celebrant—"the Silent Lord has the most at stake." And the wording of the Celebrant's Oath itself, with its insistent repetition and the line Nita had been so sure was ceremonial: "and I will blend my blood with theirs should there be need. . . ."

Nita gulped. "Ed," she said, "the Song, the whole thing ... I thought it was just sort of, sort of a play. . . ."

"Indeed not." Ed seemed unconcerned by her terror. "There's always blood in the water at the end of the Song. I am no wizard, but even I know that nothing else will keep the Lone Power bound. Nothing but the willing sacrifice, newly made by the Celebrant file:///G|/rah/Diane%20Duane%20-%20Wizards%20-%2002%20-%20Deep%20Wizardry.htm (84 of 165) [2/13/2004 11:54:55 PM]

Summer Night's Song

representing the Silent One—by a wizard who knows the price he is paying and what it will buy. The spells worked during the Song would be powerless otherwise, and the Lone Power would rise again and finish what It once began."

"But—" Off on her right, she saw Kit looking curiously at her. But at the moment Kit meant nothing to her, and neither did Ed, or the chill silver light dawning in the water, or anything else. The manual's words, which she'd skimmed over so casually: those were what mattered now. The whale singing the Silent One then enacts the Sacrifice in a manner as close to the original enactment as possible, depending on the site where the Song is being celebrated. The shark singing the Pale Slayer then receives the Sacrifice. . . . With frightful clarity she could remember sitting on the fishing platform off Tiana Beach and S'reee saying, "The Silent One dived into a stand of razor coral; and the Master-Shark smelled her blood in the water, and . . . Well. . . ."

Nita started to swim, without any real idea of where she was going, or why she was going there. She went slowly at first, then faster. "Neets," Kit was singing behind her, "what's wrong, what is it?"

"HNii't!" sang another voice, farther away. "Wait! What's the matter?"

That voice she wanted to hear some more from. Nita wheeled about and hurtled back the way she had come, almost ramming Kit, and not caring, 'etting him get out of her way as best he could. S'reee saw Nita coming and simply stopped swimming. "S'reee!" Nita cried, one long note that was more a scream than a song. "Why

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