Sorcerers of the Frozen Isles se-5 Read online

  “I could tell that he’s heard before that the Lord is the land, and may have to restore it with his own blood-only I’ll wager he never thought it would apply to him until he realized what he’d done to the beautiful, rich land that Zanos and Cassandra remember. Now he’s frightened, and he’s trying to make amends. But Maldek doesn’t strike me as really wanting to change. He enjoys controlling people.”

  “Don’t be so cynical, Torio. People do reform.”

  “Not the ones who have tasted power. Portia went down fighting, remember? Besides-Maldek’s reform is too quick. He couldn’t have changed overnight.”

  “I don’t think it was overnight,” said Melissa, fending off Gray as he almost knocked her over begging her to play with him. She tossed the stick for him. “I think Maldek has been dissatisfied for a long time with the way his power has separated him from other people, but he didn’t know what was wrong until he watched the five of us together. We’re like a family, you know-Dirdra is here because of her brother, and Zanos is looking for his. So now Maldek is trying to bring families together-and he likes the feeling of using his powers for good. Torio, you can’t tell me you haven’t Read how Maldek feels when he’s healing!”

  “He feels pride in his power,” Torio agreed. “He’s showing off for you, Melissa.”

  She stopped abruptly. “Torio-you can’t be jealous, can you?”

  “Do I have reason to be?” he countered.

  “No!” she replied. A little too quickly? Then, “I’m tired,” she said. “It will be dark soon. Let’s go back.”

  Torio refrained from reminding her that they were both Readers, to whom darkness meant nothing, and simply turned to walk with her back toward the castle.

  Apparently they had been waited for. The moment they crossed the drawbridge, it was hauled up with a horrible rumbling sound. Torio shuddered, and Gray nudged his hand as if to give comfort.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Melissa.

  “Nothing,” he replied. “I think-yes, the sound reminds me of that stone sliding down out of the quarry onto that young man Wulfston and I rescued. It makes me think of someone being crushed to death.”

  “Auf! Don’t say such things!” she said.

  “It’s not a prophecy-it’s something that happened in the past.” Then he turned to face her. “But-my gift of prophecy disturbs you, doesn’t it? Every time I say something about the future, you withdraw from me. Melissa, I can’t help it.”

  “I know,” she replied. “Still… it’s frightening, Torio. And this time you prophesied death!”

  “Only if Maldek doesn’t mend his ways.”

  “But you don’t think he can. You think he’ll have to die-or that one of us will have to die for him!”

  The next day, Maldek and his guests rode into the city. Torio Read apphrehension flowing ahead of the party as word spread that the Master Sorcerer was in town.

  Mothers called their daughters into back rooms.

  Beggars scurried into corners and huddled, shaking, hoping not to be noticed-for one of their number had been carried off to the castle yesterday, and no one knew what had become of him.

  They left their horses at a stable and proceeded on foot to the local hospital, where the healers looked up in astonishment, not believing they had Read the Lord of the Land approaching. They tried to shield their thoughts by bracing for Adept power, but Torio caught the fact that Maldek had turned away their pleas for his aid years before. Without the help of such a powerful Adept, the healers were severely limited-hence the presence of beggars like the crippled man Maldek and Melissa had cured yesterday.

  In a private consultation room, a mother held her little girl on her lap while a female healer told her, “Try to take her to Rokannia of the Western Isle, when she comes here to pay tribute. She has the power to heal the nerves and allow your child to see.”

  It was the same degenerative condition that had caused Torio to be born blind-a fairly common ailment which any of the Lords Adept in the Savage Empire could cure with a few weeks of daily treatments, as long as it was corrected in infancy. As the child grew older, such treatments were less and less effective, and for adults they didn’t work at all.

  The healer looked up in astonishment as Maldek walked into the private room without knocking.

  “Master!” gasped the mother, falling to her knees and clutching her child to her breast as if she feared it would be torn from her grip. The baby, naturally, began to scream.

  “Give me the child,” said Maldek.

  “Master, please!” said the healer. “This is Mora-dee’s only child. You surely have no use for a blind infant. Please don’t take her away!”

  “Take her away?” Maldek asked. “Is that what they say of me in my land-that I steal babes from their mothers? No, woman-give me the child that I may heal her.”

  Trembling, the mother delivered the screaming baby into Maldek’s huge hands. He slung her easily onto one arm, her head in his hand, her body along his forearm, and stroked her brow. She fell asleep at once.

  Torio Read Maldek Reading for the defective nerves-then that amazing cold white fire-and the fibers grew in moments, generating the necessary tissue and connections.

  What would have taken Wulfston or Aradia weeks of daily treatments was completed by Maldek in less than a quarter of an hour. Then he placed the infant back in her mother’s arms and touched her on the forehead.

  The child’s eyes opened, and she made a gurgling sound. Torio could Read that the little girl’s sight was restored, but there was no way for the mother to know.

  The baby had never seen before. She couldn’t focus her eyes, or recognize her mother’s face.

  But the healer picked up a lighted candle, held it in front of the child’s face, and then moved it to the side.

  The child’s head turned, following the light. She let out a happy chortle and reached toward it, but the healer held the candle safely out of reach.

  The mother broke into sobs. “Oh, Master-thank you! How can I ever repay you?”

  “There is no need,” Maldek replied. “Healer-have you any other patients who require my skills?”

  “Not at present, Master,” she replied hesitantly.

  “When you have, send them to my castle.”

  “Yes, Master,” the healer replied-but Torio knew Maldek Read as easily as he did that she feared some underlying scheme beneath the Master Sorcerer’s apparent kindness. And he felt Maldek’s annoyance at her distrust.

  But Maldek held himself in check as he showed them the rest of the hospital facility, which was similar to the one in Zendi. Then he suggested, “You may wish to explore my city on your own-and as you all have the inner sight, I have no fear you will become lost and unable to find your way back to the stable where we left our horses.”

  Dirdra had not come with them on this excursion, for Kwinn screamed and clung to her every time she tried to leave his sight, and the city was certainly no place for him-or for Gray, who had, amazingly, seemed to understand Torio’s instruction to stay behind, although he made clear that he was not happy about it.

  Zanos and Astra took Cassandra off to explore, while Melissa wanted to go to the herb market.

  Maldek seemed determined to stay with Melissa, so Torio followed along, trying to decide if he was Reading a growing rivalry with Maldek, or only imagining it.

  When Melissa was deep in discussion with one of the herbalists over the uses of some medicines she was unfamiliar with, Torio asked Maldek, “Couldn’t you cure Kwinn with the same technique you used on that baby?”

  “No-but I could cure you, if you like.”

  “No, thank you,” Torio answered automatically.

  Maldek cocked his head to one side, studying the young Reader. “Why not? It is convenient to see, Torio-and perhaps if you did not have to stumble in the dark at any time you are not Reading, you would be able to release your Adept powers, as Melissa has done.”

  “I’m not sure I want such powers,�
�� Torio told him, and knew that Maldek Read his thought that the Master Sorcerer was only one example of the wrong that could be done with them.

  But Maldek chose another direction for their conversation. “You are the only one whose desires I cannot fathom. What do you want of me, Torio?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then if you refuse to take from me, what do you seek in these isles?”

  “Adventure, perhaps-although I’ve had enough of that for the moment, thank you.”

  “A typical young man’s answer,” Maldek observed, “but not yours, I think. Can it be that you are not seeking something to be found here, but to escape something at home?”

  “A shrewd guess, Maldek,” Torio replied. “I left my homeland to avoid becoming a Lord of the Land.

  Like you.”

  For the first time in two days, the cold, mocking smile played over Maldek’s lips. “We are kin at heart, then-for you recognize as well as I that power must be exercised in order to rule. It is sometimes necessary to be harsh.”

  “Firm,” Torio corrected. “A difficult line to tread. My teacher, Master Lenardo, treads it as easily as Lord of the Land as he did as teacher in the Academy-but I do not want responsibility for other people’s lives. Even as a teacher, my mistakes hurt other people.”

  “And so you remain blind when you could see, weak when you could be strong? You are a fool, Torio.

  You place yourself at other people’s mercy.”

  “We are all at the mercy of the gods,” Torio replied, falling back on an Aventine commonplace.

  “When I meet your gods, I will believe in them,” Maldek retorted. “Meanwhile, I will rely on my own powers.”

  “Call it the gods, call it fate-there is something beyond the powers of mere men,” Torio told him. “I have seen prophecies come true-and I see my own happening, even now. I told Zanos he would find his brother, and that his brother would have his hand again-and you have found Bryen and restored his hand. Perhaps, then, you believe that I am controlling you?”

  Maldek laughed. “That is something no man will ever do! Don’t try it, Torio. And be grateful… I seldom give my opponents a warning.”

  “Why have you made us opponents?” Torio asked. “We did nothing to you, made no challenge. And Dirdra and her brother-why do you aid Zanos’ brother and not Dirdra’s? Dirdra is your subject; Zanos is not.”

  “The game is not finished,” Maldek answered.

  “Does that mean you will cure Kwinn? Surely the method you are using to regrow Bryen’s hand would work.”

  “Yes-it would restore his intelligence, but not his memories or his… self. He would be like a newborn baby, having to learn everything again. And since the circumstances would be quite different, he would probably become a considerably different person.”

  “Have you told Dirdra that?” asked Melissa, who had come up just in time to hear this last exchange.

  “She ought to know that you cannot restore her brother as she knew him. However, I think that she would gladly undertake the task of teaching him, if you would return his understanding.”

  The moment Melissa’s attention was back on him, Maldek’s charm returned. “You are right, Melissa. I will tell her.”

  “And restore Kwinn-as much as you are capable of?” she pursued.

  He looked down at her, speculation in his blue eyes, thoughts carefully shielded. “Would you like me to do that?”

  “I would like to see Dirdra obtain what she has made such a long, hard journey for. You said we would each receive what we had come for, Maldek. You are teaching me your healing skills. You have reunited Astra with her mother, and brought Zanos’ brother to him. What did you plan for Dirdra, if not to restore Kwinn?”

  “What does she plan for me?” he countered. “Do you think she owes me nothing?”

  “Her loyalty,” said Melissa, “as your subject-which she has already shown you by returning, even though you had abused her and her family.”

  “She returned for her brother, not for me.”

  “Then gain her respect and loyalty by restoring him!” exclaimed Melissa. “If you won’t, once I have learned to reach that healing power you have shown me, I will use it to restore Kwinn myself. And if I cannot learn it, I heard what the healer at the hospital said about sending people she can’t cure to Rokannia. I’m sure she would help Kwinn.”

  “You would defy me, Melissa?” Maldek asked.

  “I am not your subject-I came to this land seeking knowledge. You have freely offered me that knowledge. If you now wish to rescind that offer-”

  “No, I do not. When we return to the castle, you shall have another lesson. But now, let us go to the guild hall and see how plans are progressing for Rokannia’s visit.”

  “Is she coming soon?” asked Torio.

  “In twelve days. My people will celebrate our victory, in which none of them died. You must admit that there I have achieved something no other Lord of the Land ever has: although I maintain an army as a secondary defense, I no longer have to send them into battle. In my land, mothers need no longer fear that their sons will be called to die.”

  No, thought Torio, only that they will be turned into mindless automatons. But he ceased Reading as he thought it, so that Maldek would not catch his thought-and in that moment while he was blind, a cart rumbled by in the busy street.

  The sound was magnified by the enclosing stone buildings, and for one moment, not Reading, Torio felt again the horror of being crushed to death-

  “Torio!”

  Melissa grasped his hand and pulled him out of the way. “You were going to walk right into that wagon!

  What thought is so important to keep hidden?”

  Of course he resumed Reading immediately, and found Maldek’s face saying, “I told you so,” even though he did not broadcast the thought. There was something else in the Master Sorcerer’s eyes, too-some speculation that made Torio wince in anticipation. But how could he be more vigilant than he already was?

  In the middle of the night, Torio woke with a start in a cold sweat, absolute terror clutching his gut.

  Gray came and licked his face, and he clung to the dog, taking comfort in the warm, unquestioning reality of the creature.

  The dream was gone. He could not remember anything but mindless terror. All he knew was that it was a dream he had had often as a child-a dream laden with guilt, as if all the horrors of the world were to be laid at his door.

  But he could never remember it, and as he grew up it came less frequently, and only at times of stress.

  He had dreamed it after the battle at Adigia, in which Decius lost his leg, and again after the earthquake at Gaeta and the fall of Tiberium.

  Each time he had dreamed it when something he had said or done had ended in harm. But yesterday-he could not remember anything he had said or done that had hurt anyone. Was he afraid of having antagonized Maldek? Perhaps that was it. Whether the Master Sorcerer’s attempts to reform were sincere or for some ulterior purpose, what did it matter as long as people were healed and none were turned orbu-at least for a time? He should put aside his skepticism, and allow Maldek’s people whatever benefits the Lord of their Land might give them, however temporary.

  Three days later, Bryen’s hand was the size of a half-grown child’s, and he could move it freely. “It will simply grow now, until it reaches normal size in a few weeks,” Maldek told him.

  “So now what?” Bryen asked, looking from the hand up at Maldek. “I can’t believe you done this just for my sake.”

  “As a matter of fact, I didn’t do it for you at all,” Maldek explained. “Come with me, Bryen. There is someone I want you to meet.”

  Zanos was with Torio in the courtyard, practicing with broadswords-and winning easily because Torio’s attention was divided.

  “What’s the matter with you today?” the gladiator asked. “You’re giving me no more challenge than Gray could, trying to wield a sword with his teeth!”

  At th
e mention of his name, Gray woofed and wagged his tail. The first time he had seen Zanos apparently attack Torio he had come between them, growling and threatening-but Torio had finally made him understand that it was a game, so now he sat and watched, waiting for his turn to play.

  Knowing that Maldek and Melissa were bringing Bryen to the courtyard, Torio let himself concentrate on the match and began to give Zanos a bit of competition. The broadsword was a much better weapon for the gladiator’s strength than for Torio’s speed, but Zanos insisted every man ought to know how to fight with whatever weapon was at hand, so Torio swung and ducked, and almost caught Zanos off guard with a feint, drawing a delighted laugh from the gladiator.

  “That’s the way! But a good broadswordsman would-” He came in under Torio’s guard-but the younger man jumped back and pivoted, swinging sideways at Zanos’ exposed biceps.

  The gladiator whirled just in time and took the bl blow on his heavy chest padding, bringing him within reach of Torio’s neck.

  The practice sword merely stung, but Torio protested, “That move would work in the arena, or any time you’re wearing armor-but if you weren’t shielded, my strike would have killed you.”

  “If I weren’t shielded, I wouldn’t have allowed you so close,” Zanos replied. “But I concede-we hadn’t defined whether we were supposedly wearIing armor or not.”

  “I’ve never worn armor,” said Torio. “You have two sets of reflexes, Zanos-one for arena-style combat and one for other fighting. How do you keep them apart?”

  “Reflexes aren’t enough. You know that,” laughed Zanos, with a stabbing blow that Torio easily parried.

  “You’re thinking all the time, Torio-but at the same time you act without deliberating. You have a natural talent-I could have made a gladiator out of you!”

  Zanos thrust. Torio deflected his sword and swung again-but his arms were growing tired after a long exercise with the weighted practice broadsword. Zanos could probably go on all day.

  He Read Zanos Read his fatigue and start to lay on, driving Torio back toward the wall. The Reader retreated, merely keeping up his guard and trying to let his muscles revive for—