The Bones of the Old Ones by Howard Andrew Jones

Author:Howard Andrew Jones [Jones, Howard Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction, cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9780312646752
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

12

Dimly I knew that strength ebbed from my body, but I found myself unable to act.

Dabir’s battle cry was almost in my ear, and then, suddenly, the spirit broke into shards of frost and flakes that I stumbled through.

“Asim!” I felt Dabir’s hand on my shoulder, slowing my fall so I could catch myself. He somehow spun to face me. “Are you all right?”

I was shivering, yes, but it was the shock of the moment that had wounded me more. “That was Najya,” I said, looking to him for some reflection of the horror I felt.

“That was just a spell the spirit casts,” Lydia said dismissively. “She sends forth her image to collect life energies for her sorceries.” She then turned and spoke to the officer with the scar, who adjusted his horsehair helm and shouted men into their positions.

Her words were no salve to my torment. “It was Najya. She spoke with me,” I insisted to Dabir. “Did you kill her?”

Lydia walked toward her circle. “If Usarshra found us, her forces cannot be far behind. I have work. Dabir, you’d best test your theory.”

I glared her direction. “This is all Lydia’s fault. There will be a reckoning.” Also, the weapons forms were my idea, but I did not say this.

Dabir then took me by both shoulders. “Asim.” He sought my eyes. “I do not think she is dead.” He said this very seriously, very slowly.

Even so, I scarce believed him. “What do you mean?”

“You truly spoke with her?”

“Aye,” I said. “She was confused, and did not know how she had gotten here. When she realized she was but a spirit, she despaired, and asked me to slay her. But then the spirit took back control…” I shook my head, trying to push the moment from my memory. “Do you think she was still there when you … when you saved me?”

“Najya and the spirit may be more closely linked than either realize,” Dabir said. He released my shoulders. “Do you recall? When Gazi attacked in the caravanserai, Najya conjured frost women to defend you. Not the spirit—Najya. She was in control.”

This was true.

“And now the spirit sent forth some part of herself to scout. But she accidentally included some part of Najya with her, before the spirit took control again. I think it likely that Najya’s soul is still trapped within her body.”

I caught sight of hope then, where I had only known despair, and I clutched desperately for it.

Dabir saw my look. “I cannot say for certain, Asim, but … there is still a chance. I have Jibril’s notes—I could duplicate the spell he tried using to banish the spirit.”

“But the spirit broke his circle.”

“We,” Dabir lifted the spear from the flagstone, “should be able to power a far greater one.”

I smiled. Oh, certainly, there were immense challenges yet—avoiding the Sebitti, escaping from Lydia, somehow bringing the spirit into a circle once more—but Najya at least was alive.

“Come,” Dabir said.

I nodded once, suppressing a shiver. “Very well. But I will try the form first, in case something goes wrong.

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