The Stone Mage & The Sea by Sean Williams

Author:Sean Williams [Williams, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780732269951
Publisher: HarperCollins/Voyager
Published: 2002-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“The Consequences of Desire”

When they emerged from the shelter of the Ruins, the heat hit Sal like a sledgehammer. They retreated to Lodo’s workshop, where even the usual stifling warmth seemed cool in comparison to outside.

The old man had them work together on more visualizations while he kept busy with his own projects. He seemed distracted and unaware that they had done anything untoward. Perhaps they hadn’t. Sal wasn’t about to ask Lodo about it. He had enough to worry about already.

Shilly was distracted, too. Even challenging her to a game of Double Blind didn’t elicit much of a response. She still won, but not by as great a margin as Sal had expected.

Eventually, Lodo threw what he was working on down onto the bench and straightened with a snort.

“It’s no good! I can’t concentrate. Something is distracting me, and I’m not going to find it here.” His gaze swept the room, settled on Shilly and Sal. “How would my two apprentices like to dine on the beach this evening?”

“Ah…” Sal didn’t know what to say.

“What’s the matter?” Lodo’s eyes held a mischievous twinkle. “Nervous of falling in again?”

“Yes,” supplied Shilly.

“Well, then. This will be a good test of your concentration. Come on.”

The old man struck a long, brass cylinder hanging from the ceiling with a small hammer, making it ring with a deep, vibrant note. As Lodo gathered up Sal and Shilly and led them out of the workshop, it was still humming.

The afternoon was fading. Sal was surprised, as he often was, by how much time had passed in the workshop. The day was only a little cooler, though, if at all. The air lay heavy and thick over the dunes, sucking up sound. The sun hung low in the sky, fattening as it descended toward the horizon. There was little respite in the shadows it cast.

The town seemed dead when they arrived. Everyone was either inside or still out on the fishing boats. Red dust puffed up under their feet as Lodo marched up to the hostel and banged loudly on the door.

It was opened immediately. “So,” said Von from the relative cool within, her voice as ragged as ever. “You’re putting in an appearance, are you?”

“Aye. If you’ll take me.”

“Would that I wouldn’t, old man.”

“Not so old, hag, and you know it.”

Von smiled at that; her rough voice softened slightly. “You’re a bitch as well as a witch, “she said.” That’s good. At least I know you’re not a golem. Come in, come in.”

She waved Lodo inside, then Shilly. The hostel owner’s smile faltered when she saw Sal waiting to come in too, but she sniffed and let him past.

They filed into the kitchen. There Sal saw Lodo touch a miniature version of the brass cylinder he had struck in the workshop, stifling its faint vibration. The old man’s expression was one Sal hadn’t seen before: part amused, part chastened.

“I was considering a picnic,” Lodo said, taking a seat at the heavy wooden table. “By the sea.

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