Christopher Stasheff [Star St The Shaman (v1.0) (epub)

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.”Ohaern frowned.“But there was no peace.”“For a time, there was,” Noril corrected, “for some centuries.”“But then?”“Then Ulahane took up the mantle of the fallen king,” Noril sighed, “and his cause, also.But Ulahane is a far mightier wizard than ever Marcoblin was, and cares more for seeing the lesser races all slain than for his own glory—so he is a far worse enemy than ever Marcoblin was.”“But Lomallin is equally great in wizardry.”“Equally great, and now schooled in the ways of war.” Noril nodded.“Ranol would choose not to fight if he could—but he cannot, so fight he does.But there are few Ulin left now, and fewer of them who wish to be caught up in Ulahane’s mad, suicidal cause—so the God of Blood seeks to mobilize all the lesser races against Lomallin.If he can ever strike down the green god, he will turn his powers against the very races that have fought for him—but few of them believe that.They think the notion to be only a lie spread by Ranol’s worshipers.”“And will learn the truth only as they die in pain,” Ohaern said grimly.“But the Agrapaxians were freed?”“Freed to seek their own destiny,” Noril agreed, “save that they were made without one.But who knows what the Creator had in mind when He permitted Agrapax to craft them? Who knows but that He may have had a destiny in mind for them after all?”“Who knows, indeed?” Ohaern agreed.“But what of the prophecy, Sage? The prophecy that only by his death can Lomallin become more powerful than Ulahane? How can the scarlet god dare slay him?”“Perhaps he does not,” Noril replied.“Perhaps he seeks only some way to immobilize Ranol, to bind him tight with cold iron and spells that he cannot break.”Ohaern shuddered.“I would prefer a clean death.”“Clean death,” said Noril, “is not what Ulahane would give.”Ohaern came out of the temple refreshed in his heart, but also confused.He had never before heard the details of the gods’ jealousies.How could they be gods if they were jealous of men? He thought that perhaps Ranol was different from Lomallin after all, or the old priest did not have the story right.That was all of utmost importance, of course, but not of immediate concern.The current problem was to warn Cashalo of its coming doom—the Vanyar horde—and to help prepare them to meet it.If they believed him.If they chose to fight.He went looking for Lucoyo.He found the half-elf sitting on the steps of the house in which Ohaern had left him, a goblet in his hand, chatting with two giggling, if overblown, beauties.Looking at them, Ohaern was shocked—first by the thickness of the paint on their faces, then, peering beneath it, by the ravages of dissipation—so his voice was sharper than he intended when he spoke.“Ho, archer! What do you here?”Lucoyo looked up, surprised and ready for a fight—then, seeing it was Ohaern, leaned back with an insolent grin.“Why, drinking the wine of the far south and chatting with two agreeable girls.I have already tasted the grapes of Kuru and of Henjo, borne from afar by industrious trading ships.They are all excellent, though this of Egypt is tart.”“Tart, yes,” Ohaern said, with a glance at each of the women.If they were young enough to be girls, he was a bear’s father! “But why do you loiter on the doorstep, instead of within?”“It is hot inside—” Lucoyo paused at the women’s giggles and gave them a knowing grin, then turned back to Ohaern.“—and the evening is cool.Besides, I have given them all my gold beads, and the silver, too.I shall have to get more.”“Indeed you must!” said one of the “girls,” while the other giggled and tipped the goblet against his lips.Ohaern felt a thrill of alarm.How many robberies could Lucoyo commit before he was caught? “Then are you not stealing these women’s favors?”“No,” said the one on Lucoyo’s left, “for we choose freely to come chat with him, and our master thinks we may attract customers.”“But I might steal a kiss.” Lucoyo turned his face up to her, and the kiss was long and lingering.Ohaern reddened and directed a question at the other woman.“How does this town punish theft?”She frowned at his tone, but answered, “By cutting off the hand that did the stealing.”“Ah! Then you must need cut off my tongue!” Lucoyo turned his face to her.“I would never dream of it,” she said huskily, “for it brings me too much pleasure.” But the way she kissed him, and moved her body as she did, made it clear to Ohaern that she was more concerned with inflaming him himself, not Lucoyo or any other passerby [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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