Fires of Azeroth by C. J. Cherryh Read Free Book Online Page A

it.
    Morgaine too ate all that was set before her, and that, the same as his, he thought, was not appetite but common sense. She survived well... it was a gift of hers.
    And when the hall was clear, she gathered up what supplies they could possibly carry, and made two packs of it .. . more than to distribute the weight: it was their constant fear that they could be separated, or one fall and the other have to continue. They carried no necessity solely on one horse.
    "Sleep," she urged him when he would have stood watch.
    "Trust them?"
    "Sleep lightly."
    He arranged his sword by him, and she lay down with Changeling in her arm . . . unarmored, as they had both slept unarmored since the first night in Mirrind.
     
    Chapter Three
    Something moved outside. Vanye heard it, but it was like the wind, stirring the trees, and did not repeat itself. He laid his head down again and shut his eyes, drifted finally back to sleep.
    Then came a second sound, a creak of boards; and Morgaine moved. He flung himself over and came up with his sword in hand before his eyes were even clear; Morgaine stood beside him, doubtless armed, confronting what suddenly appeared as three men.
    And not Men. Qhal.
    Tall and thin they were, with white hair flowing to their shoulders; and they bore that cast of features that was so like Morgaine's, delicate and fine. They carried no weapons and did not threaten, and they were not of that horde that had come through at Azeroth: there was nothing of that taint about them.
    Morgaine stood easier. Changeling was in her hand, but she had not unsheathed it. Vanye straightened from his crouch and grounded his blade before him.
    "We do not know you," said one of the qhal. "The Mirrindim say that your name is Morgaine and your khemetf is Vanye. These names are strange to us. They say that you send their young men into the forest hunting strangers. And one of them is dead. How shall we understand these things?"
    "You are friends of the Mirrindim?" Morgaine asked.
    "Yes. Who are your enemies?"
    "Long to tell; but these folk have welcomed us and we would not harm them. Do you care to protect them?"
    "Yes."
    "Then guide them away from this place. It is no longer safe for them."
    There was a moment's silence. "Who are these strangers? And who, again, are you?"
    "I do not know to whom I am speaking, my lord qhal. Evidently you are peaceloving, since you come empty-handed; evidently you are a friend of the Mirrindim, since they raised no alarm; and therefore I should be willing to trust you. But call the elders of the village and let them urge me to trust you, and then I may answer some of your questions."
    "I am Lir," said the qhal, and bowed slightly. "And we are where we belong, but you are not. You have no authority to do what you have done, or to tell the Mirrindim to leave their village. If you would travel Shathan, then make clear to us that you are friends, or we must consider that what we suspect is the truth: that you are part of the evil that has come here, and we will not permit you."
    That was direct enough, and Vanye clenched his hand on the hilt of his sword and held his senses alert, not alone for the three who stood before them in the hall, but for the undefended windows about them. In the firelight, they were prey for archers.
    "You are well-informed," said Morgaine. "Have you spoken with the Mimndim? I think not, if you consider us enemies."
    "We have found strangers in the woods, and dealt with them. And we came to Mirrind and asked, and so we were told of you. They speak well of you, but do they truly know you?"
    "I will tell you what I told them: your land is invaded. Men and qhal have come through the Fires at Azeroth, and they are a hungry and a dangerous people, from a land in which all law and reason has long since perished. We fled them, Vanye and I ... but we did not lead them here. They are prowling, hunting likely prey, and they have found Mirrind. I hope your dealing with them let none escape back