The Soprano Sorceress: The First Book of the Spellsong Cycle by L. E. Modesitt Jr

Author:L. E. Modesitt Jr. [Modesitt Jr., L. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2010-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

61

FALCOR, DEFALK

“I had not expected her to be so …” Behlem fingers his beard, as he leans back in the leather chair.

“So beautiful?” asks Menares.

“How can it be real? Is it a glamour?”

“Her reflection in the wall mirrors is the same as her appearance. Even with spelled water, her reflection is the same. I took her hand, and it feels like the hand of a young woman.”

“But … how? She looked older in the mirrors.”

“She was. She is. She has indicated that she has children older than Cyndyth.”

Behlem looks sharply at Menares. “How did you find that out?”

“From my efforts when you sent me here. Does it matter?” Menares shrugs. “You wanted the sorceress, and she will assist you.”

Behlem fingers his beard and shakes his head.

“Don’t even think about it,” cautions Menares. “She may be powerful, but if Cyndyth and Konsstin—”

“I know … . But she’s beautiful, and she doesn’t simper or cringe.”

“She is almost old enough to be your mother, no matter how she looks,” says Menares dryly. “And you need her abilities a great deal more than you need her body.”

“There is that.”

“Keep thinking that way, Behlem. Otherwise, Eladdrin will pull Defalk down around your ears—our ears, I might say.”

The Prophet swallows the last of the wine in his goblet. “ … never have what I want … always some problem … What about this Lord Hryding?”

“He lost half his levies and most of his trained armsmen in that battle for the Sand Pass. He couldn’t stop fourscore of your armsmen. So he escorts the sorceress to you and hopes for your favor. Send back a few golds and a scroll. He’ll support you, and it will cost you almost nothing.”

Behlem nods. “What does it gain me?”

“You can announce tomorrow what you did last night to the captains, that yet another old lord of Defalk has seen the wisdom of supporting you. If you can announce one every few days, before long, no one will dare oppose you, not openly.”

The Prophet refills his goblet. “She is beautiful, and it is not just her appearance.”

“You had best hope that Cyndyth does not discover that is how you feel.”

“So had you, dear friend. So had you.”

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