The Shadow Sorceress Read Free Page B

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    â€œSorceress, if you will pardon me…” Kylar offered a diffident half-bow from the saddle. “I needs must attend to another matter before the evening meal.”
    â€œI look forward to seeing you then,” lied Secca with a smile. “I know you will deal with what must be dealt with great skill.”
    â€œOne would hope so.” With a broad smile, Kylar turned hismount and began to ride westward toward the hamlet that held the cots of many of Fustar’s tenants.
    Secca continued riding toward the causeway.
    Palian edged her mount up beside Secca’s mare. “You do not care for him.”
    â€œIs it obvious to all?”
    Palian laughed. “No. I have known you from the time when you would turn red at trying to utter a falsehood. Few others would see the signs, I would wager.”
    â€œWhat do you think of the honorable Kylar?”
    â€œLess, if possible, than do you,” replied Palian dryly. “He reminds me too much of lords like Dannel and your uncle.”
    Secca nodded. Both had tried to have her killed as a child. “We need to prepare for dinner. You and Delvor will be above the salt at table.”
    â€œI hope the food is good,” Palian said.
    â€œIt will be better than travel fare, and more honest than the conversation that accompanies it,” Secca replied.
    Both women smiled as they neared the open gates of Issl.

4
    Secca sat to the left of Lord Fustar, a man ancient, thin-faced and beak-nosed, with thin wispy white hair. The lord’s green eyes were intent as he turned to the sorceress. “I know I have said this before, but it is indeed a pleasure to have you in Issl.” There was a twinkle in his eyes as he added, “You have not said why you offered your skills to rebuild an old lord’s dam or why you present these old eyes such a feast.”
    Secca inclined her head slightly before replying. “Lady Anna would have liked to have been here to offer her best wishes, butshe could not. She also felt it was best that I come to know all the lands in the north and east. I have never been to Issl before.”
    â€œAh, yes…the Sorceress-Protector. I have but met her a bare handful of times, and always she looks the same. She will doubtless see us all go and still preside over the defenses of the east.” Fustar laughed, but the laugh turned into a wheezing cough. He reached for the goblet and took a small swallow of the wine. “Dissonant time when wine’s best used to kill a cough.” He shook his head as he set the goblet down.
    â€œShe was granted the appearance of youth after she crossed from the Mist Worlds,” Secca said, “but not immortality.”
    â€œShe seems to have such.”
    â€œShe says she will die as do we all.”
    â€œThat…that will be interesting,” cackled Fustar. His eye flicked toward the figure striding through the door. “Here comes our wayward heir. Much longer and he would have been eating scraps.”
    â€œI beg your pardon, ser, for coming to table late.” Now wearing a shimmering purple silk tunic, Kylar approached the table and offered an indifferent bow, then turned his eyes upon Secca. “A pleasure to see you again, Lady Secca.” His tone was overly hearty, the cheerfulness forced.
    Upon closer inspection, Secca could see that his thick hair was as much silver as blonde, and that fine lines radiated from the slightly bloodshot eyes. “You look well in purple, Kylar,” she replied politely.
    Kylar settled into the empty seat across from Secca. “I had a matter to attend to, except someone had already taken care of it.” His eyes flicked lazily toward his father, but did not actually meet the gaze of the older man.
    â€œAh, yes…the peasant’s woman, wasn’t it?” asked Fustar mildly.
    â€œShe seems to have vanished, along with the peasant. I cannot imagine what happened.” Kylar filled