Shards of Time by Lynn Flewelling Read Free Book Online

grinned sidelong at Thero. The truth was, Mika had talents beyond his years, and Thero was helping the boy harness them before he hurt someone. Untrained wizard-born children had been known to raise havoc without a mentor to guide them, and in many cases were killed. For that reason, wizards traveled the countryside, looking for children with the gift. In other cases, proud parents presented their children at the Orëska House. Some, like Mika, were found by lucky accident.
    Just then laughter broke out from Seregil’s direction.
    Looking over, Alec saw a sailor bowing to him and presenting him with a battered harp.
    “We’ve all heard what good singers you are, my lords,” the man said, bowing again in Alec’s direction. “We’d be honored if you’d give us a few songs.”
    “What do you say, Alec? Shall we earn our passage?”
    At dawn they set out south across the azure, island-dotted Inner Sea. The wind was at their backs and the ships flew along with bellied sails, Klia’s royal pennant snapping smartly atop the central mast. The ship rolled deeply with the swells, making walking the deck and eating a challenge. For most of the day Alec and Micum lounged in Klia’s cabin, playing knucklebones and bakshi with her. Thero found a sheltered corner by the forecastle and was teaching Mika how to draw simple figures on the air with a child-sized wand of polished wood.
    Seregil had woken restless that morning, however, and couldn’t seem to settle down to anything for long. He gamed with the others for a while, then went above and prowled the deck. Climbing to the bow in the afternoon, he braced himself between two water barrels with his cloak wrappedwarmly around him and stared out over the rolling indigo waves, looking for signs of dolphins and whales. In the sunlight, the water looked like deep blue ink.
    The motion of the boat lulled him, and he let himself nod off.
    The huge black oak door set into the impossibly high stone wall looked familiar. He’d been here before. Thrusting his hand into the gaping keyhole, he braved the razor-sharp tumblers again, working it open. When he opened the door, the other side was blocked by a stone wall .
    He woke gasping, jammed awkwardly between the barrels with his cloak twisted around his shoulders. He couldn’t remember the dream, but a strange and powerful grief had followed him out of whatever it had been. A few nearby sailors were stealing looks at him and he realized he was weeping. Mortified, he hastily wiped his eyes on his sleeve and untangled himself from the barrels and cloak. He gave the sailors a sheepish grin and hurried to Klia’s cabin, uncommonly anxious to see Alec.
    His entire party, together with Captain Lira, was there, laughing and drinking. Alec looked up and his smile faded to a look of concern as he saw Seregil hesitating in the doorway.
    “What happened to you?” asked Micum, setting aside his wine cup. Soon everyone was staring at him.
    “Nothing.” He caught sight of himself in a looking glass above the sideboard; his eyes were red, his face pale except for hectic spots of color in each cheek. “I’ve been out in the wind. Alec, a moment?”
    Alec joined him in the companionway and closed the door behind him. As soon as the latch clicked Seregil grabbed him in a rough embrace.
    Alec held him a moment, then pulled back to look him in the eye. “Your heart is pounding. What’s wrong?”
    “I think I had another nightmare.” Seregil let out a shaky sigh. “I can’t remember this one, either, except—I think something was happening to you. When I woke up, I couldn’t get here fast enough.”
    “I’m worried about you. It’s like after Nysander died.”
    “No, it’s not. This feels more like—”
    “Like what?”
    “Like the dreams I had when we were chasing down Mardus and the Helm.”
    “You think they might be prophetic?” Alec asked, frowning. “You haven’t had any of those in ages.”
    “I know. And those I could