Darksword - 02 - Doom of the Darksword by Tracy Hickman

Author:Tracy Hickman
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780553271645
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1988-05-01T00:33:44+00:00

5

Threads of the Web

Far below the Palace of Merilon, far below City Above and City Below, far below the Gardens and the tomb of the great wizard who led his people here from a world seeking to destroy them, there is a chamber whose existence is known only to members of that Order which — in reality — rules Thimhallan. In that secret chamber one night, eight people came together. Dressed in black robes, their hands clasped before them, they stood in a circle around a nine-pointed star that had been drawn upon the floor. Each hooded head faced in the same direction, toward the ninth point of the star, despite the fact that the place on the floor was currently empty. All waited patiently; patience was their watchword. Patience, they knew, was generally rewarded.

The air shivered and the ninth point of the star upon the floor was covered by the hem of black robes. Glancing around the circle to see that all were present, the ninth member nodded her hooded head and, with a clap of her hands, caused a huge leather-bound book with blank pages of brittle parchment to appear in the center of the circle, hovering, suspended in the air.

“You may proceed,” she said to the member standing on the first point of the star.

The Duuk-tsarith began his report. As he spoke, his words were recorded, traced by lines of flame upon the parchment in the huge book.

“A child was lost in the marketplace this day, madam,” he said. “She has since been found and returned to her parents.”

The witch nodded. The next spoke.

“We have solved the murder of Lucien the alchemist, madam. Only one person could have possibly known enough to substitute a chemical which, when combined with another, would produce a violent explosion, rather than the elixir of youth for which the alchemist was said to be searching.”

“The alchemist’s apprentice,” said the witch.

“Precisely.”

“Motive?”

“The apprentice and Lucien’s wife were lovers. Under ‘questioning,’ the apprentice confessed both to his crime and to hers. Both are being held for sentencing.”

“Satisfactory.” The witch nodded once more, her eyes going to yet another point on the star.

“The search for the Dead man, Joram, continues, madam. A record of those who were or might have been Field Magi entering Merilon has been compiled. Eleven have been reported thus far and these have all been checked. All have legitimate reasons for being in the city and seven have been positively eliminated. In addition, the catalysts have supplied us with a list of all new brethren of their Order who have entered the city. Comparing the two lists, we have come up with an interesting match.”

He paused, looking questioningly at his leader, mentally asking if this was a matter for the entire conclave or for her alone. The witch considered and, after a moment, dismissed the others and closed the great book.

“Proceed,” she said when they were alone.

“The catalyst’s name is Father Dunstable. A House Catalyst, he left Merilon several years ago. He has returned to Merilon, he says, upon the death of his Master and the breaking up of the household.

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