(eng) Maggie Furey - Aurian 04 by Dhiammara

Author:Dhiammara [Dhiammara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Most of the carnival folk were up and about, moving drowsily from tent to wagon in what was clearly a regular routine, as the striped canvas shelters were struck with the swift ease of long practice. The Mage hid her cold hands in her sleeves and looked around for her companions. Grince was nowhere in sight but Finbarr—or rather, the Wraith that was occupying Finbarr's body—she spotted immediately, sitting huddled in the lee of a wagon, his cloak wrapped tightly around him. Though its borrowed corporeal shell could be nourished in the normal way, Aurian wondered, with a pang of disquiet, how soon the creature itself would need to feed, now that she had taken it out of time.

Beyond the wagons, Forral was exercising Anvar's body, sparring with a wiry young carnival lad using wooden staves. Aurian turned away and went to the fire, where Hargorn and the Great Mandzurano were engaged in the homely task of frying bacon.

"Aurian, lovey." As Hargorn rose to greet her, Aurian noticed how happy he looked to be out of the city, out of retirement, and back to a soldier's outdoor life again. "Sleep well?"

he asked her. "There's some taillin in the pot there, by the fire's edge."

"Thanks, Hargorn." The Mage poured taillin into a tin mug and cupped her hands around it, appreciating the warmth that leaked into her frozen fingers. "I slept wonderfully well surprisingly well, in fact. I think it was pure relief at getting out of Nexis—the city has turned into an evil place since I was last there." She shook her head. "I could feel it in the air the whole time: the sense that dreadful things have already happened—and far worse is yet to come."

Hargorn, his grey hair bound back in the neat tail he had always worn as a warrior, handed her a tin plate laden with bacon fried crisp and a large, soft hunk of bread. "I couldn't agree more. I didn't even realize how bad it had become until I left last night. It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off me." He shook his head. "I'd as soon sell the Unicorn and get right out of the place, but I worry about Hebba. I know she would never leave Nexis again."

Forral joined them, his face gleaming with a sheen of sweat and his chest heaving. "Out of condition," he panted.

Aurian put down her plate. "Anvar was a Mage, not a warrior," she said shortly. "Have a care you don't do yourself some permanent damage . . ." she swallowed what she had been about to say, but her unspoken words hung in the air between them as though illuminated in letters of fire: because it's Anvar's body, and someday he may take it back.

Hargorn broke into the strained silence. "Now then, what do you say to us getting on our way? Now we're safely out of Nexis, Thalbutt—sorry, Mandzurano—can give us horses and we can travel to Wyvernesse far quicker than the caravan.

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