The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett Read Free Book Online Page B

turned to the boys. 'So. What are its weaknesses''
    Jardir's hand immediately shot up. The drillmaster nodded at him.
    'The wings,' Jardir said.
    'Correct,' Qeran said. 'Though made of the same tough membrane as its skin, the wings of a wind demon are stretched thin across cartilage and bone. A strong man can puncture them with his spear, or saw them off if his blade is sharp and the creature is prone. What else''
    Again, Jardir's hand was the first to rise. The drillmaster's eyes flicked to the other boys, but none of them raised their hands. Jardir was the youngest of the group by more than two years, but the other boys deferred to him here as they did in the gruel line.
    'They are clumsy and slow on the ground,' Jardir said when Qeran nodded to him.
    'Correct,' Qeran said. 'If forced to land, wind demons need a running start or something to climb and leap from to take to the air again. The close quarters of the Maze are designed to deny them this. The dal'Sharum atop the walls will seek to net them or tangle them with weighted bolas. It will be your duty to report their location to the warriors on the ground.'
    He eyed the children. 'Who can tell me the signal for 'wind demon down'''
    Jardir's hand shot up.
    It was three months before Abban and Jurim rejoined the nie'Sharum. Abban walked back to the training grounds with a pronounced limp, and Jardir frowned to see it.
    'Do your legs still pain you'' he asked.
    Abban nodded. 'My bones may have healed stronger,' he said, 'but not straighter.'
    'It's early yet,' Jardir said. 'They will heal in time.'
    'Inevera,' Abban said. 'Who can say what Everam wills''
    'Are you ready to fight in the gruel line'' Jardir asked, nodding to the drillmaster coming out with the pot.
    Abban paled. 'Not yet, I beg,' he said. 'If my legs give way, I will be marked forever.'
    Jardir frowned, but he nodded. 'Just don't take too long,' he said, 'lest your inaction mark you as plainly.' As he spoke, they walked to the front of the line, and the other boys gave way to Jardir like mice before a cat, allowing them to have the first bowls. A few glared at Abban resentfully, but none dared give challenge.
    Jurim had no such luxury, and Jardir watched him coldly, still remembering the older boy's honking laugh as Abban fell. Jurim walked a bit stiffly, but there was nothing of the limp that marred Abban's once straight stride. The boys in the gruel line glared at him, but Jurim strode right up to his usual spot behind Shanjat.
    'This place is taken, cripple,' Esam, another of the nie'Sharum under Jardir's command, said. 'To the back of the line with you!' Esam was a fine fighter, and Jardir watched the confrontation with some interest.
    Jurim smiled and spread his hands as if in supplication, but Jardir saw the way he positioned his feet and was not fooled. Jurim leapt forward, grappling Esam and bearing him to the ground. It was over in a moment, and Jurim back in his rightful place. Jardir nodded. Jurim had a warrior's heart. He glanced at Abban, who had already finished his bowl of gruel, having missed the fight entirely, and shook his head sadly.
    'Gather 'round, rats,' Kaval called after the bowls were stacked. Jardir immediately went to the drillmasters, and the other boys followed.
    'What do you suppose this is about'' Abban asked.
    Jardir shrugged. 'They will tell us soon enough.'
    'A test of manhood is upon you all,' Qeran said. 'You will pass through the night, and we will learn which of you has a warrior's heart and which does not.' Abban inhaled sharply in fear, but Jardir felt a burst of excitement. Every test brought him that much closer to the coveted black robe.
    'There has been no word from the village of Baha kad'Everam in some months, and we fear the alagai may have breached their wards,' Qeran went on. 'The Bahavans are khaffit, true, but they are descended from the Kaji, and the Damaji has decreed that we cannot abandon them.'
    'Cannot abandon the valuable pottery they sell us, he