Flight of the Nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist Read Free Book Online

artifacts from another circle of reality, created by a race called the Dasati, and were extremely dangerous. They were suits of armor powered by the imprisoned souls, or spirits, of the Dasati, and as such they were almost impervious to damage, immune to pain, and mindless in their obedience. According to what Kaspar ofOlasko had told the Conclave when he had brought the first Talnoy to their attention, “Talnoy” was Dasati for “very hard to kill.”
    Magnus continued, “They agree that any major incursion into our level of reality, for lack of a better term, would be catastrophic. As such, they are endeavoring to discover as much as possible about the wards we disturbed when we first discovered the Talnoy repository in the cave.”
    He glanced at Nakor, who said, “Nothing new to report, I’m sorry to say.” The self-proclaimed gambler, who refused to admit that he was a magician, paused as he considered his words. Finally, he continued, “Our girls and boys”—he referred to all the younger magicians on Sorcerer’s Island as girls and boys—“are trying very hard to understand these things.
    â€œThe one good thing,” he said with a grin, “is that I think we have found a way to ensure that only we can command them should it come to a confrontation with the Dasati.”
    Pug said, “That’s something, at least. Ten thousand Talnoy under our command is nothing to be taken lightly.” He ignored the impulse to add that against the hundreds of thousands of Talnoy controlled by the Dasati, that number would amount to very little. “But I think our interests are best served if we can discover how they remained hidden for so long. In other words, if we can stay hidden from the Dasati, then we will have accomplished the most important task we have before us.
    â€œOur other task is hunting down Leso Varen.”
    Miranda said, “Have we any idea to where he might have fled?”
    â€œI have agents keeping alert for anything out of the ordinary concerning magic.”
    Miranda’s dark eyes narrowed. “He’s gone to ground for years at a time.”
    Pug said, “But this time I think he will be anxious to reestablish his presence. He knows something important is out there, even if he has no idea what the Talnoy represent or how he might use them to his advantage. If nothing else, he will want to deny us something that powerful.
    â€œHis attack on the island and Elvandar last year proved that hehas grown bolder, and whatever tendency he had for stealth is gone. He remanifested his powers quickly after his host was killed by Talwin Hawkins. I think it’s safe to assume we’ll hear from him again, and soon.”
    Rosenvar said, “Pug, what is it you’ve not told us?”
    Pug smiled. He had chosen Rosenvar to join the inner circle because the man had keen insight and an almost intuitive ability to pry answers from very scant information. “It is nothing specific, really. Just some troubling dreams, and bad feelings.”
    Uskavan’s black eyes were wide as he said, “Never ignore dreams, Pug. My people believe that parts of our minds are always at work, always seeking to understand things. Dreams are often the means by which some parts of the mind communicate what is about to become conscious thought; especially when the emotions are strong. Our races are not that different; when it comes to the workings of our minds we have much in common.”
    Magnus glanced at the alien magician and Pug could almost read his son’s thoughts: few humans, including Pug, Miranda, and Magnus, could even begin to approach the mind-discipline of a novice of Uskavan’s order. Salavan minds were far more complex than human ones, despite Uskavan’s insistence this was only because the Salavans were an older race and had been practicing mental arts for thousands of years.
    Pug nodded, a slight expression of