Shadow Raiders by Margaret Weis & Robert Krammes

Author:Margaret Weis & Robert Krammes [Weis, Margaret & Krammes, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Epic, Fiction, General, Fantasy Fiction, Imaginary Wars and Battles, Magic, Dragons, Fantasy Fiction; American, Freya (Imaginary Place), Rosia (Imaginary Place)
ISBN: 9780756406622
Publisher: DAW Hardcover
Published: 2011-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Constructs degrade dependent upon the medium in which they are set and the processes they facilitate. Targeting constructs set in a cannon require monthly servicing, whereas strengthening constructs set in the stone wall of the Opera House in Galiathe, for example, require little maintenance. Only dragon breath is known to accelerate magic degradation, breaking down a construct in a process know as deconstruction.

—The Art of Crafting,

Church School Primer

WHILE DAG WAS REMOVING HIS BAGPIPES from their carrying case, Stephano ran down to his berth. He put on his flight coat and grabbed his sword belt, his saber, and the dragon pistol that had been a gift from his godfather. He flung the sword belt with the saber over his shoulder, tucked the loaded pistol into the pocket in his flight coat, then ran back up on deck.

Rodrigo ended a one-sided conversation with Gythe and glanced at Miri, who was still at the helm, looking with distress at her sister.

“How is she?” Miri asked worriedly.

Rodrigo shook his head.

Stephano watched the two of them and groaned inwardly. “What’s wrong now?”

“Gythe,” said Rodrigo.

Stephano glanced back at her. She was smiling, relaxed, and happy. Seeing Stephano looking at her, she grinned at him and laughed like a child and waved.

“Oh, no!” said Stephano softly. “Not now.”

“I’m afraid so,” said Rodrigo. “She’s having one of her spells. As bad as I’ve ever seen her.”

“Miri was hoping she was better.” Stephano ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “What is she doing?”

“She thinks she’s a child again, steering her parents’ boat. She’s laughing and giggling, singing old nursery rhymes. . . .”

“Can you help her?” Stephano asked.

Rodrigo shrugged. “In a way, she’s helping herself. She’s so terrified she’s gone into hiding, so to speak. She’s gone back to being a little girl.”

Rodrigo looked out at the strange battle going on between the cutter and the bats—a battle the Cloud Hopper would soon unwillingly join—and he shook his head. “I can’t say that I blame her. I wish I had somewhere to hide.”

“But the protective magic,” said Stephano urgently. “It only works if she’s singing . . .”

“Not necessarily. It works better if she’s singing, but it will work. I don’t know what to tell you,” Rodrigo added, with a helpless shrug. “She may come out of this state. She may not. Perhaps if Miri talked to her . . .”

Miri had been listening to their conversation. She shook her head. “I’ve tried before. When she’s like this, she doesn’t even know who I am.”

Stephano swore softly. The rocky shoreline loomed ever closer. The cathedral had sustained serious damage; the walls were burned and charred and in some places completely breached. The beautiful stained glass windows had been broken out. He could smell the acrid stench of the smoke from the still smoldering rubble and another smell more horrible, like burning flesh.

“Bagpipes are ready when you are, sir!” Dag announced, arranging the chanter and the drone over his shoulder and placing the blowpipe in his mouth.

“You’re really doing this,” said Miri gloomily.

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