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siblings.
The female sniffed wildly at her. A maelstrom of like images, sounds, and
scents whirled up in Wynn⬠"!s mind. And Wynn⬠"!s mild hunger knotted into
nausea.
⬠S
Wait⬠ not so much!⬠" she squeaked, and jerked her hands from the dog⬠"!s
face.
She clamped a hand over her mouth and buckled as her head finally emptied of
memories.
Wynn took several hard breaths until her stomach settled. The female cocked
her head in silent puzzlement, and Wynn scowled at her. They could
communicate, to a point, but only with memories shared by touch, or by
Wynn⬠"!s own called up by the female.
A knock came at the door, sounding too loud in Wynn⬠"!s quiet little room.
The female snarled, turning toward the door.
Wynn clambered to her feet in dread. However she⬠"!d gotten back in her room,
no doubt others knew she⬠"!d broken curfew. Either Sykion or High-Tower now
came for her, or a messenger sent to summon her before the council. She was in
deep trouble, enough to ruin any chance of seeing the translations. And how
could she ever explain a ⬠S
wolf⬠" in her room?
⬠S
You are finally awake,⬠" someone called from outside.
The familiar voice was far less than patient. Wynn knew it was Domin
il⬠"!Sänke even before she squeezed the latch.
The instant the door cracked open, il⬠"!Sänke pushed it wide, not waiting to
be invited. Shooing Wynn back with a flick of his hand, he stepped in and
closed the door. He was carrying the staff with its crystal now sheathed.
Wynn shrank a little inside.
Entranced by the majay-hì, she⬠"!d forgotten even to check for the staff. And
if il⬠"!Sänke had it . . .
⬠S
Yes, I found you,⬠" he said coldly.
Wynn backed away from his glare.
⬠S
Before someone . . . or something else did,⬠" he added. ⬠S
Not that I
should have had to.⬠"
The dog watched him carefully, her jowls twitching, but she didn⬠"!t growl.
Her yellow-flecked eyes locked on the staff he carried.
⬠S
You were not to use this without my supervision,⬠" il⬠"!Sänke snapped, and
then softened only a bit. ⬠S
Though I suppose you had little choice, amid your
foolish outing.⬠"
Wynn braced for an onslaught. What was she doing alone outside the guild at
night? Why would the black-robed murderer be hunting her if she carried no
folio? Where had this wolf come from, and why had she come to protect Wynn?
To her surprise, il⬠"!Sänke walked over and leaned the staff in the corner by
her desk.
⬠S
You might have died,⬠" he whispered, his back still to her.
For an instant, Wynn was struck mute by his concern.
⬠S
I⬠"!m all right,⬠" she managed to say. ⬠S
That thing never touched me, so
I⬠"!m⬠ ⬠"
⬠S
You lost your focus!⬠" he hissed, and then whirled around.
Wynn flinched away from the fury tightening all of il⬠"!Sänke⬠"!s features.
⬠S
You are not an adept, let alone a mage,⬠" he continued. ⬠S
Though it was
neither spell nor ritual that you toyed with, it is still thaumaturgy imbued
in the crystal . . . as well as a trigger of my own devising.⬠"
Wynn was tired, feverish, and overwhelmed. The last thing she needed was
another lecture from a superior.
⬠S
Then why make it so hard to use?⬠" she asked angrily.
⬠S
To keep it from those wise but malicious,⬠" he nearly snarled, ⬠S
as well
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as the witless! And I did not make it difficult. Magic is difficult⬠ and
dangerous . . . even when embedded in an object through artificing!⬠"
The domin slid forward, too much like that black assailant in the night.
Wynn backed up at his threatening tone, until her legs bumped against the
bedside. Even Chap⬠"!s daughter circled away to the room⬠"!s far corner,
though she growled.
Anger⬠"!s flush further darkened il⬠"!Sänke⬠"!s complexion, until his face
appeared to sink deep within the shadow of his cowl. Before Wynn could muster
another retort, his voice lashed at her again.
⬠S
No created artifact is used by brandishing it with arrogance, or waving it
about while babbling some poetically arcane phrase. Such nonsense is for
children⬠"!s fables and peasant lore! A thaumaturge feels the inherent
connections of the five elements within the physical world. But he detaches
himself in manipulating them, holds himself outside the web of things . . . or
succumbs to the very effects that he⬠ ⬠"
⬠S
You told me already,⬠" Wynn warned, as anger got the better of her fright.
⬠S
Then remember it!⬠" il⬠"!Sänke whispered loudly. ⬠S
Unless you enjoy the
feel of elemental Fire cooking your insides! Disobey again, and I am done with
you!⬠"
Wynn remained quiet. Il⬠"!Sänke⬠"!s ire was born of fearful concern as much
as disapproval. But another rumble rose in the room.
The female majay-hì paced warily around the domin along the door⬠"!s wall and
crossed over to join Wynn.
⬠S
I see.⬠" Il⬠"!Sänke sighed, frowning tiredly at the animal. ⬠S
One of your
elven dogs.⬠"
Wynn glanced up at him. How did he know that?
He seemed to feel her eyes on him and straightened, still studying the female.
⬠S
Like any who have worked on the translations,⬠" he said, ⬠S
I have read
some of your journals.⬠"
Wynn was almost relieved. She didn⬠"!t care for any more mysteries at the
moment. Not that she would ever see her journals again, after last night.
⬠S
Now sit,⬠" il⬠"!Sänke commanded.
The young majay-hì remained on all fours.
⬠S
I meant you,⬠" he added, looking at Wynn.
She settled on the bed⬠"!s edge. He came to her, laying his tanned palm upon
her forehead as he closed his eyes. In that moment of silence, more questions
popped into Wynn⬠"!s head.
She wasn⬠"!t the only one who⬠"!d broken Sykion⬠"!s curfew. What was he doing
outside the guild last night? And for that matter, how had he managed to come
upon her? Had he seen Chane?
Domin il⬠"!Sänke opened his eyes with a muffled grunt. ⬠S
You are well
enough. The remaining backwash you suffer should fade in a day or two.⬠"
Wynn studied his dark brown eyes. Well enough for what? His right eyebrow
arched as he watched her in turn.
⬠S
Yes?⬠" he asked.
⬠S
You saw it,⬠" she said, challenging him to deny this. ⬠S
The black-robed
figure in the street, so silent in movement. I⬠"!m not losing my wits!⬠"
⬠S
I never said you were.⬠" Il⬠"!Sänke⬠"!s mouth tightened, and he nodded
with an answer. ⬠S
Only for an instant, before the crystal flashed.⬠"
⬠S
Do you know what it is?⬠" she blurted out. ⬠S
Rodian insists it is some
malevolent mage, after seeing it walk through the scriptorium⬠"!s wall. Maybe
it is, but it⬠"!s more than that. He is just seeking a rational explanation
for the royals.⬠"
The domin turned away, gazing at the floor, and laced his fingers together in
his lap.
⬠S
I am not certain. Its abilities are a serious concern, and in that, the
captain may be partially correct, but that does not account for the way in
which our young ones have died.⬠"
Wynn⬠"!s mind reeled. Not only was he admitting that the killer could be
unnatural, but it seemed he knew more than he said.
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⬠S
Even in folktales, I⬠"!ve never heard of any mage who could walk through [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]