The Binding Stone by Don Bassingthwaite

Author:Don Bassingthwaite [Bassingthwaite, Don]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7869-5662-3
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2010-04-21T00:00:00+00:00

It took an effort of will to hold back the memories of the horrors Dah’mir had inflicted on her. The thought that Natrac might suffer similar tortures was almost too much to bear and sent Tetkashtai retreating to the furthest recesses of her mind. When Dandra looked at Singe and Geth, though, she saw only harsh determination on both men’s faces. They shared a glance—and pressed on along the street, putting more distance between them and the docks. Dandra stopped dead. “We can’t leave Natrac as Vennet’s prisoner!” she protested.

Singe paused long enough to hook his arm around hers and pull her forward. “Dandra, I know.” He glanced into her eyes. His gaze was dark. “We shared your memories, didn’t we? But we can’t go back to Lightning on Water, not tonight. They’ll be waiting for us.”

“Vennet and Ashi? There are three of us and two of them!”

“You have a go with Ashi then, Dandra,” said Geth. The shifter’s voice was a quiet rasp. “She was tough with her fists and now she’s got her sword back. Have you watched the way she moves? She’ll be waiting if we go back. If she gets a chance to ambush us in the dark, the odds won’t be in our favor for very long.”

Singe’s arm tightened on hers. “And remember, it’s you they want. If we go back, we’re delivering you right to them.”

Dandra tensed. “But Natrac …”

“Vennet went to the trouble of drugging him,” Geth pointed out with cool practicality. “He’s not going to kill him now. He’ll be all right until the morning.” His hands tightened on the bag containing his great-gauntlet. “We’ll go back then.”

Singe still had a little money left from the sale of their horses in Yrlag. They found a small inn well away from the docks and took a room for the night. The innkeeper looked at Geth, but a smile and a word from Singe eased his worry. Once they were in their room, Geth flung himself down on one side of the bed and seemed to be asleep almost instantly. Dandra stared at him.

“How does he do that?” she asked. “How can he do that?”

“He’s been able to sleep whenever he wants for as long as I’ve known him. No matter what’s been happening, give Geth a moment of quiet and he can go to sleep.” Singe shook his head in awe. “It’s a valuable gift when you’re a mercenary.”

The wizard turned away, moving to the room’s window and throwing back the shutters. The window faced away from the street and out over the low rooftops of Zarash’ak’s ramshackle sprawl. A cool breeze drifted in from the distant sea, pushing back some of the pungent marsh smell that clung to the city. After a moment, Dandra slipped across the room to join him.

“You haven’t said much about the time that you and Geth served together in the Blademarks,” she said.

Singe looked down at her, then away. “No, I haven’t,” he said.

“Being an inanimate crystal gives you a lot of time to watch what’s going on around you.

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