Lazerwarz by Mark Shepherd

Author:Mark Shepherd [Shepherd, Mark ]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 0-671-57806-5
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Published: 1999-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

"You can see it from here," Sammi said as she pulled the carriage to a stop. "That large, white building, near the circle of stones. Just go on in like you own the place."

Llan was still getting over the ride in the carriage, which had just hurtled them through the Overworld kingdom of Tulsa at a dizzying speed. Elvensteeds traveled far faster, granted, but Llan had never ridden one, and now he wasn't certain he wanted to.

"Why are we stopping here?" Llan asked. They were still quite a distance from the arena, in a clearing covered with smooth, black stone painted with white lines.

"The arena has special scrying eyes that can see us," Sammi said, pushing something down with her left foot, making a ratcheting sound. She was dressed like a human, in a "suit" which had something to do with "checking in with the office." Llan sensed the weapon she kept beneath the suit, a nasty tool of cold iron surrounded by some other substance that allowed her to carry it. "We have to keep our distance from it. They may recognize me, as I was with Aedham when he vanished." Of course she had mentioned this before, but there were so many rules to remember about this strange world: Try not to stare too much at the sky, which seemed endless compared to the high ceiling of mist in Underhill. Use the gloved hand to touch iron, which was to be found everywhere; he flexed his right hand in the thin leather glove. When he asked why Sammi didn't wear a glove, she replied that she and Aedham had gotten accustomed to handling cold iron when they couldn't avoid it altogether, having spent a good amount of time here. It had something to do with turning off the pain when they came into contact, though extended contact still left marks on their skin. Until he had the glove, Sammi had to open the carriage door for him, which had made him feel less than masculine; he'd looked furtively about to see if any humans were watching.

The most important rule was never use magic. Ever. For any reason. If the humans saw him use it, they would know he wasn't human, and would seize him and strap him to a table and cut him open and examine his entrails. He was not going to let that happen. His entrails were private, and he would keep them to himself.

"Remember to come back here when the medallion on your wrist starts making noises," Sammi said, and Llan glanced at the non-iron item in question, which was strapped around his arm. It flashed numbers when you squeezed it a certain way. The King had taught him the rudiments of human numbers and writing, and he could read, though with difficulty. "I will be right here."

"Aie, Lady Sam—"

"No, call me Sammi. Do not use my title. The humans wouldn't . . . understand."

So many rules! But it was for his King, and he would put up with far rules more if it would rescue him from his captors.

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.