Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling Read Free Book Online Page A

again side-stepped the question.
    “That’s the spice of it, though,” cried Seregil. “And you can end up rich!”
    “Or at the end of a rope?”
    Seregil chuckled. “Have it your way.”
    Alec gnawed absently at a thumbnail, his brow creased in thought. “All right, then,” he said at last. “I want to come with you, but first you’ve got to give me a few straight answers.”
    “It’s against my nature, but I’ll try.”
    “This war you spoke of, the one that’s coming. Which side are you on?”
    Seregil let out a long sigh. “Fair enough. My sympathies lie with Skala, but for your safety and mine, that’s as much as I’ll say on the matter for now.”
    Alec shook his head. “The Three Lands are so far away. It’s hard to believe their wars could reach us here.”
    “People will do quite a lot for gold and land, and there’s precious little of either left in the south, especially in Plenimar.”
    “And you’re going to stop them?”
    “Hardly,” scoffed Seregil. “But I may be of some help to those who can. Anything else?”
    “After Wolde, where would we go?”
    “Well, home to Rhíminee ultimately, though first—”
    “What?” Alec’s eyes widened. “You mean to say that you live
there
? In the city where the wizards are?”
    “What do you say?”
    Some small, final doubt held Alec back a moment longer. Looking Seregil in the eye, he asked, “Why?”
    Seregil raise one eyebrow, perplexed. “Why what?”
    “You hardly know me. Why do you want me to come with you?”
    “Who knows? Perhaps you remind me just a bit of—”
    “Someone you used to know?” Alec interjected skeptically.
    “Someone I used to
be.
” The crooked grin flashed again as Seregil pulled off his right glove and extended his hand across to Alec. “So it’s settled?”
    “I guess so.” Alec was surprised to catch a glimpse of what looked like relief in his companion’s eyes as they clasped hands. It was gone in an instant and Seregil quickly moved on to new plans.
    “There are a few details to take care of before we reach town. How well known are you in Wolde?”
    “My father and I always stayed in the trader’s quarter,” replied Alec. “We generally put up at the Green Bough. Except for the landlord, though, most of the people we knew wouldn’t be there this time of year.”
    “Just the same, there’s no use taking chances. We’ll need a reason for you to be traveling with Aren Windover. Here’s a lesson for you; give me three reasons why Alec the Hunter would be in the company of a bard.”
    “Well, I guess I could tell how you rescued me and—”
    “No, no, that won’t do at all!” Seregil interrupted. “First of all, I don’t want it known that I—or rather Aren—was anywhere near Asengai. Besides, I make it a rule never, never,
never
to usethe truth unless it’s the last possible option or so outlandish that nobody would believe you anyway. Keep that in mind.”
    “All right then,” said Alec. “I could say I was attacked by bandits and you—”
    Seregil shook his head, motioning for Alec to continue.
    Alec fidgeted with the reins, sorting through various inspirations. “Well, I know it’s sort of the truth, but people would believe that you hired me as a guide. Father and I hired out sometimes.”
    “Not bad. Go on.”
    “Or”—Alec turned to his companion with a triumphant grin—“perhaps Aren has taken me on as
his
apprentice!”
    “Not bad, for a first effort,” Seregil conceded. “The rescue story was very good, actually. Loyalty to one who saves your life is well understood and seldom questioned. Unfortunately Aren’s reputation is such that nobody would believe it. I’m afraid he’s a bit of a coward. The guide story, however, is seriously flawed. Aren Windover is a well-known figure in the Woldesoke; if bards make their living as wanderers, why would he need to engage a guide in the territory he’s familiar with?”
    “Oh.” Alec nodded, a bit