The Shadow Isle (Deverry: Silver Wyrm) by Kerr Katharine

Author:Kerr, Katharine [Kerr, Katharine]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2008-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

After Otho’s funeral, Kov invited Mic and Enj to his quarters to partake of what he called a “restorative,” a golden liquor less potent than the dark brown stuff he’d served the night before. In his small reception chamber stood a stone bench with a wooden back and a welter of cushions for guests. After he set out the bottle and stoups, he himself took the only chair. In the dim bluish light from baskets of fungi, the liquor shone green. They toasted each other with the stoups, and each had a long sip.

“I’ll be leaving soon,” Enj spoke first. “I promised Rori that I’d go find him if the island returned, you see. Little Berwynna’s bound and determined to go with me, too. He’s her father, after all.” He paused, thinking. “Well, he fathered her when he was still a man. I don’t suppose his being a dragon now would change that.”

“Legally he’d still have paternity,” Kov said. “In my opinion, anyway. I suppose we could ask Garin if you’d like to make sure of that.”

“No, no, your opinion’s good enough for me. You’ve studied the laws. I haven’t.” Enj swirled the liquor in his stoup. “I wish my sister had stayed safely at home, but she didn’t, and so here we are. I’d best start searching, but ye gods, he could be anywhere!”

Mic leaned forward in his chair. “Enj, I’ve been thinking. I know your heart longs to return to Haen Marn. I’m minded to go west with Aethel’s caravan to see about those veins of opal-bearing rock. From what he told me, the city of Cerr Cawnen’s offering a nice bit of money for an assessment. I can keep an eye out for Rori easily enough. Why don’t I take on your vow? If we find him, I’ll tell him about the island’s return, just like you promised.”

Enj nearly wept. He roughly wiped his eyes on his sleeve before he spoke. “A thousand thanks,” Enj said. “I’ll be in your debt for that.”

“And doubtless someday I’ll call that debt in.” Mic grinned at him. “But we’ll worry about it then.”

“Going with the caravan’s a wise decision,” Kov said. “You and Berwynna will be safer that way. The Northlands are wild and rough, worse even than down in Deverry.”

“Have you ever traveled across them?” Mic said.

“No, I’ve never had reason to.” Kov hesitated, shocked at the wild idea that was forming, seemingly of its own will, in his mind. “But you know, I wouldn’t mind having a chat with the silver wyrm myself. Enj, that story you told about the other Mountain Folk to the south—it’s been nagging at me ever since. I consulted Garin about it, and we both wonder if they’re indeed the Lost Ones from the old city. If Rori can give me some idea of where he saw them, I just might gather a few good men and go down into Deverry to search for them.”

“It would be worth doing, all right,” Mic said.

Enj nodded his agreement and had another sip of liquor.

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