The Complete LaNague by F Paul Wilson

Author:F Paul Wilson [Wilson, F Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Amazon: B00BH2KO2O
Barnesnoble: B00BH2KO2O
Goodreads: 18942883
Publisher: Wilsongs
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

15

TLAD STOPPED AT THE EDGE of the clearing and stared at Adriel’s inert form.

“Is she hurt?”

The tery sensed real concern in his voice.

Rab cautiously stepped out from behind his tree.

“No. Just drugged. Who are you?”

“I’m called Tlad. The tery here can vouch for me.”

Rab glanced sharply in the tery’s direction. “He knows?”

The tery nodded – a very human gesture he had picked up – and lowered himself to all fours next to Adriel.

“He is a good friend. I don’t know how he knows, but he does – perhaps for a long time. Maybe he is a tery, too.”

The tery was beginning to feel the physical, mental, and emotional strain of the night’s events. His mind and body were numb. A great weight seemed to press down on his chest and shoulders, making it hard to stand.

Everything was coming apart. He wanted to lie down and let it all pass. He felt adrift…lost…stripped of his identity. His place in the world had been torn from him: He was no longer a tery, he was a human. But he could neither live as a human nor be accepted as one. Nothing added up. He knew Tlad should not have been able to find them, yet he had. The tery did not have the will to wonder how.

Not so Rab, who had regained his composure and was wasting no time in satisfying his curiosity. His voice seemed to echo down a long tunnel to the tery.

“How did you know to look for us here?”

“I have my–” Tlad began, but stopped short.

“Is something wrong?”

But Tlad did not answer. Instead, he rushed to where the ancient volumes had been spilled from the drapery and knelt to inspect them in the growing light.

“These are yours?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you find them?”

“In the ruins near Mekk’s fortress when I lived there.”

“Then you must be the one the Talents have been waiting for. Rab, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but you’re not one of us.”

“Right.” Tlad continued speaking as he flipped through each of the volumes. “But they’re not far behind me. They’re heading directly for the keep. I suggest you let them know where you are. They should be in range.”

Rab looked off into the forest for a moment, then returned his attention to Tlad.

“There. They know we’re safe and where we are. Should be here soon. Now, tell me what–”

“Where’s Volume Five?” Tlad quickly ran through the four volumes a second time. “Did you lose it?”

With a dumbfounded expression, Rab sat down with a jolt on the other side of the pile of books.

“Who are you? I’m the only one who can read these things. How could you know that Volume Five is missing? This is the only set.”

“Wrong.” Tlad said, voice low, words hurried. “I come from a fishing village but never had much of a bent for the sea. So as a boy I used to comb the ruins up the coast. I found a similar set and brought it to the village elder who knew how to read some of the ancient writing.

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