The Adversary by Erin M. Evans

Author:Erin M. Evans [Evans, Erin M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780786963751
Google: lAFtmgEACAAJ
Goodreads: 17568783
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2013-12-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

23 Ches, the Year of the Nether Mountain Scrolls (1486 DR) The Lost Peaks

Farideh nearly leaped from her hiding space at the sight of the girl—she could not have been more than thirteen. She was slight as a willow switch with dark hair unbound to the middle of her back. Her skin had a dark, grayish cast, though, and her eyes were faintly luminous. Rhand watched her back as she walked calmly into the study, his expression sending a curl of terror through Farideh.

She knew that look. She knew what was going to happen. “This . . .” Rhand stopped and cleared his throat. “Ah. This is where we bring the waters for further use.” Rhand stopped before the table blocked Farideh’s view of him, looking drawn and beaded with sweat. “My lady,” he added.

Jump out, Farideh thought. Grab the girl. You can cast without the rod, well enough to get out the door . . .

Then what? Run and find Dahl? Run and hit the barrier? Somehow kill every guard in this place and wait for someone who could break her out?

She couldn’t just watch, that much was certain.

What else are you going to do? a little voice in her thoughts seemed to say. You’re trapped and so is she. There’s nothing you can do.

Fatigue settled on Farideh, and though her nerves were drawn, ready to whip her to her feet and out the door, all her muscles drooped. She sat back and heaved a breath as softly as she could to shake the feeling. It didn’t work.

“So you look into the past,” the girl said, unconcerned with Rhand looming over her, “holding tight to what was.”

“Not at all, my lady,” Rhand said. “It’s a tool. The waters will show the point at which a potential—” He cleared his throat again, hard. “When one of the possible . . . ah . . .”

She turned and gave him a beatific smile. “You dislike the term.”

“I think it overstates what we are dealing with,” Rhand said irritably. “In most cases.”

“But not all.”

Rhand gritted his teeth a moment, before continuing. “If you ask the waters when a likely person’s patron took notice of them, it separates those with such blessings from imposters. Would you like to try, my lady?”

They will catch you, the little voice in Farideh’s thoughts went on. You might as well come out. The hanging robes felt as if they’d smother her. Her own armor might smother her. She dug her hands into her hair, the pain sent a shock of sense through her.

Focus, she told herself. That girl will be dead if you can’t focus.

“ ‘Patron,’ ” the girl said. “That seems like it will give you many unwanted answers. Lords. Benefactors. Weak entities with ideas above their station. Plenty of things the Church of Shar is not remotely interested in. Why not say ‘god’?”

“It would reject too many,” Rhand said patiently. “There is no way to know where the waters draw the line. If an

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