Shadowsinger Read Free

before him.
    â€œIf this doesn’t work, you get to try it again,” he said.
    â€œIt will work.”
    He raised his eyebrows for a moment, then concentrated on the spell.
    â€œShow us clear and show us bright
    ships of Sturinn that share Ostisles’ light…”
    The glass displayed a bird’s eye view of a wide harbor filled with vessels.
    Secca swallowed. Never had she seen so many ships in one place—even through a scrying glass. “You see. You can do it as well as I.”
    â€œI can do it, but not so well,” he countered.
    After trying to count the vessels in the glass, she lifted her eyes. “Can you do a release spell?”
    â€œIt will fade without it,” he pointed out.
    â€œBut it takes energy from you. The release spell ends the drain immediately.”
    He frowned, then sang, chording the lutar.
    â€œRelease this vision of what we see ,
    and let the glass a plain mirror be.”
    Secca laughed. “I haven’t heard that one.”
    â€œI couldn’t remember yours,” Alcaren confessed. “So I made that one up.”
    â€œThat just shows you are a sorcerer, no matter what you say.”
    â€œDon’t tell the Ladies of the Shadows, thank you.”
    â€œI won’t.” Secca frowned. “I lost count at threescore ships.”
    â€œThe spells showed that all those ships are still being readied in the Ostisles,” Alcaren pointed out.
    â€œRight now.”
    A solid thrap on the door interrupted their conversation.
    â€œThe lady Richina is here, Lady Secca,” called Easlon, the lancer stationed outside her door.
    â€œHave her enter.”
    The tall blonde sorceress—the youngest of all of the full sorceresses of Defalk and not even a year beyond being more than an apprentice—stepped into the main room of the guest chamber, inclining her head to Secca, and then to Alcaren. Her green eyes smiled with her mouth. “Wilten and the chief players will be here shortly.”
    â€œHas your glass…?” Secca shook her head. “You can tell us all at once when they arrive.”
    Richina, more than fifteen years younger than Secca and nearly a head taller, moved toward the conference table with the kind of tall grace that the all-too-petite Secca had often envied in others. “It’s most pleasant outside, if with a chill breeze.”
    â€œIt looks to be,” Secca admitted.
    â€œYou should get out more often, lady,” suggested the younger sorceress.
    â€œThe chief players,” announced Easlon.
    Spared the need for a response, Secca replied, “Have them enter.”
    The gray-haired Palian stepped through the door, her light gray eyesoffering a smile as they passed over Secca and Alcaren. Delvor followed, his lank brown hair flopping over his forehead. Both inclined their heads to Secca, and to Alcaren and Richina, if slightly less deferentially. Two steps behind came Wilten, the overcaptain of Secca’s undermanned four companies of lancers. The overcaptain nodded reverently, if stiffly, to Secca.
    Secca waited for Richina and the other three to seat themselves before she began, slowly. “The Matriarch has gathered crews for some of the Sturinnese ships.” As she spoke, she found herself thinking again how dearly the spell that had destroyed the Sturinnese sailors and armsmen had cost her. Yet, had Alcaren not offered his own life with Darksong to save hers, she never would have known the depth of his love. Still…remembering how she had felt sprawled on the ship’s deck dying, she almost shivered, and she had to swallow before continuing. “And there are also another half-score of Ranuan ships that will accompany us when we leave for Dumar.”
    â€œAre there other Sturinnese warships near?” asked Wilten.
    Secca nodded to Alcaren.
    â€œThere are none near Liedwahr,” explained the Ranuan overcaptain. “The glass shows that the Maitre