[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

creatures eventually wandered back over the centuries, the deer, and elk. But
the Rose Warrior returned. He's the only one ever slain in a rite of
mortgiefan to have his shattered soul reborn. I don't understand how that is
possible."
Nans thought for a moment. There was so little Isranon knew about the gods
and realms of the light. He always seemed to hunger for it and delight in the
stories when she told him.  That's why they call him the Twice-Born Son. It
wasn't easy. My father, Willodarus, was Dynarien's grandfather in his first
life and his father in this one. When he heard Dynarien and Tros cry out to
him for help, he went, but arrived too late to save them. Tros was dead; they
had hung his body from a pole and drained his blood into bottles. Dynarien's
corpse was still lying on their altar on the shores ofTormentLake . Had
Waejonan not decided to make a public spectacle of their deaths, Willodarus
would never have been able to rescue the fragments of Dynarien's soul.
Willodarus could never have entered a temple to the hellgod so long as its
altar remained undesecrated."
Isranon listened with rapt attention and then asked,  But you can?"
"Yes, I can. The problems begin when altars are built. Once a god has altars
and worshippers, they cannot get into each other's temples. Well, there are
always exceptions. Dynarien and Dynanna cannot get into temples these days.
However, Hadjys the Dark Judge did grant Dynarien a special dispensation when
he was working to save Creeya that allowed him into theHighTemple ."
"But what about his soul? Isranon leaned closer, his eyes on hers with such
intensity that she wanted to look away, yet she didn't.
"Willodarus gathered up the pieces, sealing them together to the best of his
powers. His domain is not souls. Then he placed the pieces inside his wife,
Mariko, and got her with child. The soul fragments were so fragile that they
split and two children were born, each with only a portion of a soul.Dynarien
and your liege-god, Dynanna. When the Sacred King destroyed your friend,
Mephistis, and the Legacy of Waejonan was released to the earth, they each
gained full souls."
Page 28
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Isranon considered that.  I have another question."
Nans looked at him closely, seeing that he had grown paler as they spoke.
 No. Feed and then go back to bed."
She pulled her belt knife and slashed her wrist, offering it to him. As
always Isranon looked discomfited by this, but allowed his fangs to descend
and took her wrist. Nans divine blood, coupled with the Sanguine Rose, had
given him back his ability to stand and walk a bit after he believed he never
would regain it.
She owed Isranon a debt and intended to repay it by getting him and his
companions to Treth in hopes that the shaman-king, Bohannon, could heal him.
Nans had fled the fall of Minnoras with a handful of women, children, and
three men, two of them wounded. Isranon's company of renegade vampires, their
nibari, and lycans had come to their aid when they would have otherwise been
overwhelmed on the road to Merkreth's Crossing. They had not claimed a debt of
Nans, but Nans had felt one nonetheless.
Nans always paid her debts. She just hoped that her brother, Dynarien, did
not encounter Isranon and discover what he was. Dynarien still had all the
memories of his first life, dying at the hands of a sa'necari, and for that
reason would most likely strike Isranon down without asking a single question.
They had been traveling back trails and isolated roads since last fall to
avoid the Sacred King who was leading a mass exodus of the west bank of
theHilloraRiver . Had she encountered Isranon, the king would have ordered him
burned alive for being sa'necari. All the realms burned sa'necari when they
caught them. A legend had started to spread along the coast and among the
realms beset by the sa'nekaryiane's forces of a battle-mage called Lord
Dawnreturning who had been born sa'necari and rejected his birthright of
darkness. Few knew he was Isranon, and the Rowdies had been instructed to keep
it a close secret to protect him. He had rescued King William Gryphonheart of
Gormond's Reach and healed a dying girl. Yet that would not be enough proof to
some that Isranon was not a monster. So Nans had made very certain that her
Rowdies knew to keep their mouths shut.
* * * *
The next day they moved on. The more distance they put between themselves and
the haunted ruins of Aubrudrin the better they would all feel. Nevin drove the
wagon that housed Isranon. The wide, steel rimmed wheels and strong axles
handled the rough ground even when there was no trail to follow. A few times
the Rowdies had to dismount and hack brush away from the game trail they were
following to allow the wagons passage. No roads led to or from Aubrudrin. They
had long ago been swallowed up by the forest, although sometimes a stretch of
paving would appear and run along for several leagues, a strange gray pebbly
surface unlike anything Nevin had ever seen before. Nans said it was a
survival from the Age of Burning.
At midday Isranon crawled through the little door in the wagon that opened
onto the driver's seat and settled beside Nevin. He leaned the staff against
his knee: it rarely left his hand except when he slept.
Isranon gripped the staff, his fingers feeling the energy in it. It helped
strengthen him as much as the Sanguine Rose did.  Do you really think Bohannon
can help me?"
"Nans thinks so, Nevin replied.  That's why we're going to Treth."
Page 29
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"I want to believe it. But I've been disappointed so many times in my life. I
don't trust my hopes anymore."
"Don't talk like that. You'll get better."
"Why? Because Nevin says so and Nevin is always right?"
Nevin flashed him a hot, irritated look and saw that he was grinning.  If a
lycan pup has spoken to me that way, I'd've had him over my knee and soundly
spanked."
Isranon's grin turned playful.  You've been threatening me since I was eight
years old, Nevin. And you haven't done it yet."
Nevin chuntered wordlessly for a moment and then fell silent.
Isranon's expressionchanged, grew troubled. Seriously, Nevin. I'm tired of
hurting."
Nevin's head came up and his eyes narrowed.  Are you showing signs of the
withering?"
"Red splotches under the arms and across the chest like Yoris? No."
"That'd be all we'd need, he grumbled. The blood-slave withering on top of
it all."
Isranon sighed.  We'd never be able to explain it to Nans. I don't want them
turning on Anksha. This isn't her fault."
"You're fond of her. I never expected that."
"Neither didI . She loves me, you know."
Nevin snorted.  She isin love with you, Isranon. Like a woman for a man."
Isranon looked as if he had been fetched up against a wall.  She's a
feral-child, Nevin. And we're not the same species."
Nevin gave another snort.  It hasn't stopped you from jacking her, my [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]