Shards of Time by Lynn Flewelling Read Free Book Online Page A

remember. With these it’s simply feelings of panic and fear. And I’m pretty sure they’re about you. I just don’t recall any details.”
    Alec embraced him tightly, then guided him back into Klia’s cabin. “You could do with a drink.”
    “Is everything all right?” asked Klia as they came in.
    Seregil nodded and accepted a cup from Micum. As he raised it to his lips, he caught the sharp aroma of brandy. Grateful, he took a long sip and savored the burning trail it blazed from palate to belly.

T HEY reached Kouros four days out from Cirna. At dawn the lookout cried land sighted and they came on deck to see the snowcapped peak of Mount Erali, shining like new silver against the clear blue sky. By late morning the island grew to a craggy reality as they sailed down the western coast.
    It was here to Kouros, more than ten centuries earlier, that the first priest king, Hierophant Valmir, had led his people, establishing it as the seat of a far-flung empire that would eventually become the Three Lands. Where they had come from and how they found their way here was lost in the mists of time, but they’d brought worship of the Four with them. The ruins of the ancient capital, Menosi, still stood somewhere in the eastern hills, where Toneus and his mistress had died.
    From the sea, Kouros looked barren, with steep grey stone cliffs and long expanses of ledge and beach. Here and there, however, small villages were tucked into pocket coves, and the passage of the carracks tossed tiny fishing boats in their wake, white sails bright in the morning sunlight.
    The island was shaped roughly like a horseshoe, with the opening facing south. Rounding the western horn, they sailed into the long inlet, dotted with tiny wooded islands, that nearly split the island up the middle. At the head of it on the western shore lay the city of Deep Harbor, center of life and industry on the island and the only place large ships could put in. From what Seregil could see, the town had prospered under Plenimaran rule; buildings of whitewashedstone spread out from the waterfront in all directions, and there appeared to be much activity around the quays. The town curved around the head of the harbor, with a jumble of jetties and warehouses along the waterfront, and climbed the surrounding slopes. Thick columns of smoke rose from the tall chimneys of what appeared to be three different foundries, and there were grimy ships riding at anchor; they brought coal and took away ingots of gold, silver, copper, as well as smoked mutton and salted fish. Finer trade ships would carry away fine Kouros gold and silverwork, and exceptional horses.
    “Alec looks almost as excited as Mika,” Micum murmured to Seregil as the cold sea breeze fluttered their cloaks and tugged at their hair.
    Alec and the boy stood together as far forward as they could get without climbing on the rail. Mika was pointing excitedly at the seaside town and Alec was laughing.
    They docked at the largest of the long stone jetties, and it took some time to secure their ships and ready the gangways. When the horses had been unloaded, a turma of Klia’s armed guard, led by Captain Brescia, marched down to line the jetty in a display of strength. By the time Klia left the ship in full uniform a crowd had gathered at the head of the jetty, welcoming her back with cheers and waving handkerchiefs. Among them Seregil noticed quite a number of worn-out-looking Aurënfaie and others who bore the telltale band of callused skin on their necks, from slave collars.
    A delegation came forward, led by a plain young noblewoman escorted by half a dozen Skalan soldiers. The crowd parted for them as she hurried forward to present Klia with a wreath of hyacinth and ribbons.
    “Welcome, Your Highness,” she said, curtsying deeply. “I am Lady Zella, chatelaine and secretary to the late Archduke Toneus.”
    “I wish the circumstances were happier ones.” Klia passed the wreath to Brescia and waved Seregil