Saga of the Skolian Empire 03 - The Last Hawk by Asaro Catherine

Author:Asaro, Catherine [Asaro, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780812551105
Amazon: 0786120215
Goodreads: 672961
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Published: 1997-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

BOOK TWO

Years 971-976 of the Modern Age

1 j IV :

I I Miesa

L

26

Endgae

Lightning stabbed the thunderclouds with brilliance. The night closed around

again and thunder came with it, booming through the windrider. Neither person

in the small cabin spoke as the pilot fought her grim battle with the storm.

The woman in the copilot's seat gripped the armrests. / refuse to die, Jahit

Kam thought. There is too much I have yet to do with my life.

The Elders of an Estate sat high in its hierarchy of power. As the senior

advisers to the Manager, they followed only the Estate Successor and Senior

Aide in rank. Highest of all the Elders on Coba were the Seven of Kara.

They found the woman they sought in an alcove. She stood with her back to them

looking out over the city, her fiery hair held in a thick braid that fell down

her back to her waist. At twenty-six years of age she already carried an aura

of authority, a self-assurance that hinted at future greatness.

Elder Solan, First among the Seven, spoke. "Ixpar."

The woman turned, her face lighting with welcome. "My greetings." She looked

at the array of Elders. "Is Jahit back from Shazoria already?"

Solan went to stand with her in the afternoon's waning light. "Jahit will not

be returning."

Ixpar smiled. "So she decided to stay for that wine festival after all, heh?"

"No." It seemed to Solan that someone far away spoke with her voice. "She left

Shazoria this morning."

Ixpar's smile faded. "I don't understand."

"There was a storm. They had no waing."

Ixpar froze. "And?"

262 Catherine Asaro——————

"The rider crashed in the mountains." Soan stopt deserted by the words she

needed. Outside the window a s althawk glided by, its shadow wheeling across

the alcove 1 Solan," Ixpar said. "Go on."

A Viasa logging crew found their remains this mominel No. Ixpar stared at her

"It can't be." i

The Elder shook her head. She knew nothing else to s! he shock went too deep.

Ixpar turned away, looking out at the city. For a lone tuf she stood

motionless. Finally she spoke. "A funeral must arranged." She turned to face

the Elders. "All of Coba 1

know how we honor the memory of Jahit Kam." I Solan bowed and spoke

words she had not thought s would say to this woman for many years yet. "As

you wisi Minster Kam, so we shall do." |

27 t

Alcheist's Gamble I

"I can't tell you," Savina said. "Then it wouldn't be a sur

After seven years of living with Savina, Kelric had given trying to outguess

her. "So where is this mystery hidden"

»he pulled him through her suite and into a study she use tor storage. The

boxes and old furniture had vanished Fres| paint brightened the walls, shading

from sun-yellow at th floor nto white at the top. A sun peeked out from behind

puffi| ot cloud on the ceiling and a rainbow arched across one wall Lacy

curtains billowed about the windows, revealin glimse of the mountains.

- •

Kelric looked around the room. "If this is for me it uh well, t isn't a paint

job I would have chosen " ' Savina laughed. "It isn't for you, dummy.

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