Crucible by Mercedes Lackey Read Free Book Online

ease.
    He flipped it open to a page marked with a purple ribbon.
Ferrin.
The page said.
Minor lordling. Records say: exiled to Highjorune. Very strong Bardic Gift; believed (unproved) that he used it to seduce women against their will.
And in the margin, a note from Lelia:
(Opinion.) “Seduced”? Where I’m from, that’s “rape.”
    There were a great many more names in there, a great many margin notes. He hoped that not everyone she’d written about proved to be as bad as Ferrin. He’d also double-checked the book’s contents during a spare candlemark. No mention of a Madra
or
a “Lord Dark.” Uncharted territory, those two.
    Clean-shaven and dressed in Whites, Wil left the room and headed to the kitchen. Ystell smiled in his direction as he stepped in. Care of the inn had fallen on her. She ran it as if there’d never been a Sharlot.
    Ivy sat at the hearth, spinning her top. Amelie—all in Scarlet—sat beside her, playing Lelia’s old gittern, Bloom. Every now and then, Ivy looked up and reached out to pluck a string, making Amelie wince.
    â€œI may have to steal this from you, Herald,” Ameliesaid. “Just to keep it safe until your daughter realizes Bloom’s not a toy.”
    â€œI can find you,” he replied. “And I can catch you.”
    She laughed. “True.”
    Ystell moved past, humming the Sendar song as she placed a savory pie on the table. Amelie plucked a few chords, echoing the melody of Ystell’s song, a faint smile on her lips.
    â€œAmelie,” he said at last, “it’s not armies we need.”
    â€œMm?” she replied, blinking dreamily in his direction.
    â€œYou asked Vehs to send an army to stop Ferrin. But that’s not what we need.”
    She set the gittern in its case and closed it, then set it up on a shelf where Ivy couldn’t reach. “So what do we need?” she asked.
    â€œYou.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYour songs. Lelia’s songs. All the songs that remind people of what’s good in the world. You were on the right track. We just need
more
of you.”
    â€œAre you saying, Herald,” Amelie said, slicing into the pie, “that we need more Bards?”
    â€œSo long as they aren’t Ferrin,” Wil replied, “that’s
exactly
what I’m saying.”
    :Somewhere, Lelia is laughing,:
Vehs put in.
    Wil smiled, hauling Ivy up to sit beside him.
    :I’m certain she is.:

Lost Song
Dylan Birtolo
    Navin picked up the mug and swirled it around, watching as the liquid danced up its sides. The ale was redolent with the rich smell of honey; just enough to make it sweet but not enough to make you forget you were drinking alcohol. Although at this point, he couldn’t remember much of anything. Was this his fourth? Fifth? Had he eaten yet today? Navin put the mug down on the table, leaving his hand there to help keep the room from rocking back and forth before his eyes.
    The tavern hosted a collection of people, fuzzy figures difficult to make out through his clouded vision. He did recognize one of the servers as she sauntered past his table. Raising a hand to get her attention, he beamed his best smile out when she turned to face him. He felt his cheeks warm, but hoped the flush might just add to his charm.
    â€œI don’ suppose it’d be possible to get ’nother round for a thirsty bard visit’ng from Haven?”
    â€œAs long as you’ve the coin, I’ll bring as many as you like.”
    Navin nodded and fished out a few coins from his belt pouch, tossing them on the table. She offered a half-smile while swiping them up with a practiced motion. Even if he’d been sober, Navin doubted he would have seen where in her dress she’d tucked them for safekeeping. Asshe headed off, he picked up the mug again and drained the last of the ale before she returned. He’d just put the mug down when she arrived to replace it