The Shadow Sorceress Read Free Page A

sorcery-dressed and -formed stone replaced the irregular rock and earthen berm that had been the older dam. A graceful arched chute now carried water—water that steamed as it streameddown the hot stone and flowed into the old wooden aqueduct. She also observed that the water level had dropped several feet—doubtless as a result of the stone taken from beneath the reservoir by the spellsong.
    Secca gave a small smile of success before turning and walking back toward the gray mare, where she lifted the water bottle from its saddle holder and took a long swallow. Then she reached for the provisions bag and extracted a biscuit.
    â€œDoesn’t seem all that hard,” offered Kylar from where he had remained mounted, watching the entire spellsong.
    â€œIt’s not,” Secca said politely. “Not after a score of years of training and practice. Just like blade handling doesn’t look very hard when the person using it is an expert.”
    â€œYou just sang.”
    Secca took another swallow of water, debating whether to answer. Finally, she looked up again at the stocky blond heir. “Each one of those stones in that dam weighs between five and ten stone. It takes work to move them, even with sorcery. The players might be able to do that twice today. They wouldn’t be able to play another spell for several days.”
    â€œWhat about you?” A glint glittered in Kylar’s bloodshot eyes.
    â€œI’ve trained longer. I could sing several more spells, even without the players.” Secca smiled politely. “Enough to kill a few armsmen, but not enough to destroy a large force.”
    She turned and walked back down to where the players were casing their instruments.
    â€œWill that be all, Lady Secca?” asked Palian.
    â€œIt’s more than either Lord Fustar or his heir deserve, but manners require the effort.”
    A faint smile crossed Palian’s lips. “It was always that way, even from the beginning, when Lady Anna first came to Liedwahr.”
    â€œI recall, young as I was.” Secca could remember most of those days, and she had no desire to relive them—not at all. “I suppose we should have everyone mount up. We’ll need to ride back to the keep.”
    The chief player nodded, then turned. “Prepare to mount.”
    Secca walked back to the gray, taking the reins from Kylar. “Thank you.” She offered a pleasant smile, then mounted.
    Once the players appeared ready, Palian lifted a hand.
    Secca turned her mount. “If you would not mind, Kylar, we can return to the keep.” She let the stocky man lead the way down the narrow trail, then forced herself to draw abreast of his mount as they passed through the gap in the hills.
    â€œYou have many hardwoods here.” Secca gestured toward the red-leafed maples. “Do you have crafters for the wood?”
    â€œNo.” Kylar shook his head. “My sire allows the master-crafters from Falcor to cut a wagonload of the oldest timber every few years.”
    â€œFor golds, I imagine.”
    â€œWhy else?” The stocky heir laughed.
    â€œWhat do your tenants grow?”
    â€œCorn, mostly. We have a mill, and there is no other for deks.”
    â€œSo you collect more golds from that?”
    â€œNot so many as we might, for my sire lets the tenants keep a fourth part for themselves. He is far too generous, and they know it not.” Kylar frowned as his eyes strayed to the south, beyond the ancient brownish walls of Issl, still more than a dek away.
    â€œWhat else feeds your prosperity?”
    â€œOur wool. Few have flocks and fleeces of such quality as do we…”
    Secca nodded, listening as Kylar waxed on.
    Before long, the road had widened and neared the beginning of the causeway leading to the gates of the keep. Kylar reined up, and Secca followed his example, as did the players and the company of lancers from Loiseau that followed the