[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

brushed his elbow.
 Oh! The pain was a line of excruciating fire. He jumped back, aware that he
was trapped almost against the wall.
You will not die, but you may wish you had if you cannot halt them.
 Thank you, mumbled Alucius, throwing up darkness as a momentary barrier, his
Talent-senses trying to find where the crimson mist-arms had the nodes or if
they did.
There were thick places that might be nodes. Alucius probed with his Talent,
Page 240
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
circling and ducking, but the thickened nodes felt like armor. He had to jump
sideways, but, again one of the arms brushed his
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
knee. The slash of fire numbed his lower right leg, and he stumbled and fell.
To avoid the probing tentacles, he had to roll across the corner of the
mirror, and another wave of pain this one cold chill stabbed through his
shoulder.
Focus your probe! Tightly!
That was easy enough for the soarer to say.
Still, Alucius tried to concentrate his Talent-force into a narrow tip that
lanced at a node.
Abruptly, the arm below the node disintegrated into a spray of threads that
vanished.
So did Alucius s smile as the other arm slashed into his left hand, leaving it
numb.
Alucius tried to stand, but he was moving slowly, with his right leg, left
shoulder, and hand all numb.
Desperately, he focused another line of golden green Talent at the larger node
on the longer remaining arm.
It, too, vanished in a spray of threads. Then both arms, and the ruby mists
began to dissipate.
Alucius stood back, unsteadily. He was panting heavily. His undergarments were
soaked, and sweat was pouring down his forehead. The numbness remained in his
leg, hand, and shoulder.
That is enough for this day.The soarer turned, as if to depart.
Alucius could sense a weariness in the soarer, and he had to wonder if the
exercise were a drain on her.
How long&
Until you can stop the arms before they near you. In facing the ifrits, if an
arm even touches you, they will possess you or kill you. Pain is the most I
can do, but I use it because your body is still part animal, and you will not
understand, deep within yourself, the dangers without pain. We wish it were
otherwise.
Alucius couldn t help but feel partly insulted. Yet he had the feeling she was
right. He hadn t really learned from his grandsire until he had been hurt.
Before the soarer left, he asked the other question he had been pondering,
especially after seeing the access shaft,  When this is all over& will I be
able to soar& like you do?
In some places, but those places are not where you might wish to be
seen.Humor impish humor overlaid the words.
 Why?
The soarer did not answer, but a sense of impatience issued forth.
Alucius considered. He still had too much of a tendency to blurt out questions
with the soarer. He hadn t done that in years. Why was he doing it with the
soarer? Because she reminded him of his grandsire?
And because he was again acting like a child?
 Is it because it would require using the energy of lifeforces, and because
I m larger and heavier than you are, and the only places where lifeforces are
concentrated enough is in towns and cities?
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
That is part of the difficulty.The impatience had vanished.The other part is
that using Talent to soar takes your own lifeforce and energy if there are not
enough other lifethreads near. Unless you are in a place such as here or
unless you act like the dark ifrits.
Alucius frowned.  You soar here, and yet there is little 
You could soar here as well. The hidden city was built to tap the lifeforce of
Page 241
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
the world itself. You already sensed that.
 I could? He paused.  Wait a moment. You told me that 
Worlds are also alive if they have life within and upon them. It takes great
strength to reach deeply enough into the heart of a world to tap those
threads. We could not do that now. In the end, after the ifrits have feasted
on all the life-forms, they will tap the world itself and use its strength to
drive a conduit to other worlds. But they must have many ifrits in their own
bodies upon the next world before they can do such.
 They would leave the entire world& dead?
We have told you that. More than once.
 I m sorry. It takes some getting used to.
The soarer glided out of the room and toward the shaft.
Alucius limped after her.
You can practice soaring here& but do not try the shaft yet.
Alucius watched as she soared to the shaft and descended, a glimpse of golden
green that vanished below.
He could soar? How?
She had said that it required linking to lifethreads, but there were none in
the tower but his own. For a time, he studied the very tower itself, until he
could make out the web of golden green threads that infused the walls and
floors indeed everything.
He glanced down. His boots were a good third of a yard off the tiles.
So surprised was he that he lost his linkage and dropped to the tiles. His
boots hit with a heavy thud, and he staggered on his still-numb leg, trying to
keep from tottering toward the darkness of the shaft. He straightened with
relief.
He could see why she d suggested not trying the access shaft. Still, he could
practice that as well. Any new skill might help.
He slowly limped back to his room. Later, after the numbness and the tiredness
passed, he would try again.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
111
Tempre, Lanachrona
The Lord-Protector stoodat the edge of the table desk in the small private
study off the audience hall, looking at his brother.  I have seen more of you
in the past month than in a year.
 That is true, admitted Waleryn.  Should not I care about my brother s
struggles and troubles?
 That is kind of you, replied the Lord-Protector, brushing back dark hair
that was longer than usual.  It has been a difficult year, if successful in
most aspects.
 In most, that is true. Waleryn nodded.  How fares Alerya?
 She is better, but her recovery will take time.
 Some have said that she can have no children now, suggested the younger man.
The Lord-Protector half turned.  Often what is said has little truth, but
reflects what others may wish.
There is no reason she cannot bear a child, once she is strong again.
 Brother& it is unlikely she will be that strong. Waleryn looked hard at his
older brother.  Do you not think you should consider& another consort?
 Why?
 The future of Lanachrona, perhaps? Waleryn shrugged.  If you love her too
much to put her aside, you might consider& other arrangements. There are many
willing women even from good families.
 Waleryn& I cannot believe you are suggesting&  [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • alwayshope.keep.pl

    •