Wild Magic: The Godwars by Angus Wells

Author:Angus Wells [Wells, Angus]
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Fiction, Fantasy, Fantasy - General, Fiction - Fantasy
ISBN: 9780553762808
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1993-05-30T20:00:00+00:00

WILD MAGIC 101

warms your blankets along the way, I say she's bag-gage."

Calandryll felt irritation grow—the more for the

accuracy of the Kern's words: with Ochen for ally,

Cennaire did seem supernumerary; but still he was

loath to bid her farewell. He hid ire and confusion

behind a lathering of soap and vigorous scrubbing.

"Well?" Bracht insisted.

Forced to respond, Calandryll shrugged soapy

shoulders. "Does it not seem strange we found her

there, at the Daggan Vhe?" he asked. "And she observer to Rhythamun's taking of another shape?

Perhaps there was a design in that."

"Perhaps," Bracht allowed.

"And still all we agreed there stands," Calandryll

went on, not certain whether he spoke to convince

the Kern or himself, only that he wished Cennaire

to remain. "The Jesserytes would bring her across

the Kess Imbrun, but what then? Must she cross

Cuan na'For alone?"

"Aye, there's that," admitted Bracht.

Calandryll pounced on the reluctance in his

friend's voice. "Think you she could make such a

journey?" he demanded. "A solitary woman? Helpless? Would you condemn her to that?"

"Ahrd!" Bracht grunted. "I concede the argument—she stays, and I'll say no more. Save"—he

chuckled lewdly—"that you, being under no vow,

follow my advice."

"Perhaps I shall," Calandryll muttered, and sank

beneath the water as the Kern laughed again and

said, "It would do you good ..."

"... like a young stallion with ..."

Calandryll submerged again.

"... mare," he heard as he broke surface, replying more coolly than he intended, "I'd not name

her mare."

102 ANGUS WELLS

Bracht heard the indignation in his voice and

said, "My friend, I only jest. No, she's certainly no

mare; and do you bed her or not, that's between the

two of you, and none other,"

Mollified, Calandryll nodded.

"So, I'll not speak of it again." Bracht tossed soap

away and sank himself awhile. "Now, do we drag

ourselves from this cooking pot before our blood

boils?"

Benches were set along the walls and they rested

there awhile, cooling, discussing all they had

learned, all that lay ahead.

"We've at least a destination now," Calandryll

remarked, "albeit an army stands betwixt it and

us."

"That may well delay Rhythamun in equal measure," Bracht grunted, toweling his long hair, "and

we've allies to speed our passage."

Calandryll turned his head, studying the Kern

with a grin. "Your tune changes," he said. "Are the

Jesserytes no longer monsters?"

"It would seem not," Bracht answered with a

shrug, a somewhat shamefaced smile. "Ahrd, but I

grew up with tales of their depravity—which now

appear no more than that: tales—and that's a hard

burden to shed. But I learn, you see? I learn to trust

sorcerers, so should I not trust those who offer aid?

Perhaps there is a design in this; perhaps Horul

sent these Makusen to aid us."

"Aye, perhaps." CalandrylTs murmured response

was thoughtful.

Bracht chuckled: "With all we face, best hope it's

so. For now, however, I hope to fill my belly. So, do

we find the dining hall?"

As if reminded they had eaten nothing since the

morning, Calandryll's stomach rumbled. "Aye," he

agreed.

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