Dark Sun: Prism Pentad 4 - Obsidian Oracle by Troy Denning Read Free Book Online Page B

tribes is over.”
    “Which tribes are at war?” Tithian asked.
    “Tour question betrays your incompetence to command my ships,” scoffed the sorcerer-king.
    “I'm sure we can circumvent their lines and keep your ships safe,” Tithian replied.
    “I'm not concerned about my ships!” Andropinis spat. “It's my city I want to protect. The
     first giants to spy a fleet in the estuary will assume I've taken sides with their
     enemies. They'll storm Balic, and I'll be drawn into a war that's none of my concern.”
    “I had not thought a few motley giants would frighten a sorcerer-king,” Tithian countered.
    “Only a fool is not wary of giants,” Andropinis replied. He stopped at the side of Lady
     Canace, the plump half-elf to whom Tithian had tried to speak earlier. The Balican clucked
     his tongue at the contents of her basket, then slapped her face with the back of his hand.
     She fell to the floor, spilling the six gold coins she had brought as an offering.
    Andropinis continued down the gallery, leaving Maurus to collect the coins. “Even if Borys
     were here to demand it himself, I would not entrust my ships to such an oaf,” said the
     king.
    “I'm no oaf.” Tithian's voice remained calm.
    “You are if you believe the Dragon can make a sorcerer-king of you,” said Andropinis. He
     lifted a long necklace of diamonds from the basket held by the stumpy hands of a dwarven
     patrician.
    “I think he is more than capable of bestowing the necessary powers on me-once I supply him
     with the Dark Lens,” Tithian replied.
    The Dark Lens was the ancient artifact which Rajaat's rebellious champions had used to
     imprison their master, and to transform Borys of Ebe into the Dragon. Shortly afterward, a
     pair of dwarves had stolen the lens from the Pristine Tower, and it had been missing ever
     since.
    Andropinis dropped the necklace in his hand back into the basket from which it had come,
     then narrowed his eyes at Tithian. “So, I am to assume that you have discovered the
     location of the lens, and the Dragon has sent you to find it for him?” he asked.
    “Yes,” Tithian replied. He had hoped to avoid revealing so much to Andropinis, but it had
     become clear that the sorcerer-king would risk trouble with the giants for nothing but the
     most important of reasons. “Borys said you would cooperate by giving me the ships and men
     I need.”
    The Balican studied his guest for a moment, then said, “If you are truly attempting to
     recover the lens on the Dragon's behalf, then tell me where it is-so we'll know where to
     look if you fail.”
    Tithian gave Andropinis a wry smile. “Do you really want me to do that?”
    The Dragon had warned him never to reveal the Dark Lens's location, for the artifact's
     ancient thieves had placed a powerful enchantment on it to prevent Borys and his
     sorcerer-kings from discovering its location.
    Andropinis returned his guest's smile, revealing a long row of sharp teeth. “Perhaps the
     Dragon did send you,” he said. “It took him many centuries to understand the magic
     protecting the lens. Certainly, without his help, you would not have learned its nature in
     a single lifetime.”
    “Borys warned me of the enchantment,” Tithian confirmed. “From what I understand, it
     accompanies the knowledge as a stomachworm accompanies a slave. You cannot own one without
     owning the other.”
    Andropinis nodded. “Before we understood how powerful it was, I watched the brains of a
     hundred agents run out their ears when they tried to tell me what they had learned.”
    Tithian swallowed, glad that he had followed his instructions carefully. Borys had warned
     him that describing the location of the lens would be fatal, but had not elaborated on the
     gruesome details. Suppressing a shudder, he turned his thoughts back to the purpose of
     this meeting.
    “So, you'll give me the fleet?”
    “I'll give you the men and ships you seek,”