her instruments 03 - laisrathera Read Free Page B

“They are rare, though. I don’t know of anywhere they grow like this…!”
    “You won’t find anywhere they grow like this,” came a voice from above them. “And unless you tell me now what you mean to do here, they will be the last sight you see.”
    Reese froze. A man’s voice—young, she thought—but speaking Universal. Did he have an accent? She couldn’t discern one. Had she led them into a trap after all? And then she tried to move, and discovered she couldn’t.
    Belinor cried in outrage, “Mind-mage! Release us, misbegotten cretin!”
    And the chances of their enemies having a mind-mage were… what… astronomical? Wasn’t Hirianthial supposed to be the first in a million years? Reese frowned and said, “I’d rather not talk to someone behind my back.”
    “I’d rather not let you see me.”
    She sighed. “Blood and freedom, what is it with you Eldritch and your having to be all dramatic? What, if I see you, you might have to kill me? Or you just enjoy being mysterious? Trust me, I’ve had enough of mysterious to last me a lifetime.”
    “Um, Reese—”
    “Not now, Irine. I’m not done yet.” She pulled against the invisible chains holding her in place. “And can I tell you how rude it is to do this? If you can freeze us anytime you want, then what’s the point of threatening us with it? You can’t possibly have anything to fear from us—”
    “Reese!” Irine hissed.
    “And another thing,” Reese added. “This is my bleeding castle, and I’ve already paid blood and sweat and tears for it, so you’re the one trespassing! I have a deed to prove it, even. Or I did, before the Queen’s enemies made off with it, damn them to all the hells.”
    Now Belinor blanched. “My Lady, you should not say such things!”
    “Even if she means it?” the voice asked again. A man dropped to the ground in front of them, raising a puff of ice from the ground, and turned to them. He looked older than Belinor, but nowhere near Hirianthial’s age, and unlike every Eldritch Reese had ever seen, he moved like a cat prowling, like something only half-tamed. The sharp, pointed face, the hair short enough to brush his shoulders, and the knee-length coat in pale gray over gray clothes, all made him look like some sort of snow fox. And he had eyes that Reese immediately liked. Suspicious, yes, but alive. Curious and quick and very alive.
    “God and Lady,” Belinor whispered. “A renegade priest!”
    “A what?” Irine asked.
    “Your boy is quick,” the man said to Reese. “You should keep him. In a few centuries, he’ll be a real wonder.”
    Before Belinor could speak, Reese said, “You really are abrasive.”
    “I don’t get much company,” he answered, studying her with interest. “I’m afraid I don’t have much chance to polish my manners.”
    “You’re not howling in terror at the sight of the unclean alien.”
    “You’re not howling in terror at the sight of the evil mind-mage.” He glanced at her hand. “And additionally, you are breaking my compulsion.”
    Reese looked at her own hand, found it half-raised. “I do kind of want to wring your neck for this. I hate being espered at.”
    “This is something you have experience with?”
    Reese narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think you’ve earned that story yet.”
    He grinned. “Fair enough. And if I release you, you’ll promise not to let your tame priest try to kill me?”
    Belinor said, “My Lady! Renegades are dangerous!”
    “You have that all wrong, boy,” the man said. “It’s the priests who are dangerous. I should know, yes? And you should too, except you’re in the God’s garb, so what would you know?” He shook his head. “You have a lot to learn.”
    Reese snapped her fingers with the hand she was struggling to lift. “Hey. Showy Stranger. Over here. I’m the one in charge. Pay attention to me.” Had she judged him right? Yes, he was grinning. He even essayed a small bow. “Out of the chains,