The Mage's Daughter by Lynn Kurland Read Free Book Online Page B

have been anything else. It was here that Weger stopped.
    Miach considered a quick spell, but rejected the idea immediately. The deadness of the ground he stood on was testament enough that he was still within the sphere of Weger’s influence. He clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Gobhann’s lord expectantly.
    Weger fished about in a pocket, then held out a key.
    Miach took it automatically. Well, better a key in his hand than a knife between his ribs.
    â€œThank you,” he said. “I think.” He looked at the key, then back at Weger. “What’s it to?”
    Weger pointed to his left, to a set of stairs cut into the sheer side of a cliff. They wound upward at an alarming angle before disappearing into the darkness above. Miach looked at Weger.
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œThere’s a chamber up there,” Weger said.
    â€œAnd you think I should use it?”
    Weger looked at him coolly. “Don’t you have things to see to…my lord Archmage?”
    Miach knew he shouldn’t have been surprised, but he was. “Ah,” he began.
    Weger nodded sharply toward the stairs. “Your magic will work within that chamber.”
    Miach blinked. “It will?”
    Weger glared at him. “Can you do nothing but ask stupid questions?”
    â€œI didn’t expect this,” Miach said honestly. “I’m off balance.”
    â€œI daresay,” Weger grunted. “Well, whatever else you do, don’t lose that key. It’s the only one I have.”
    Miach wasn’t one to indulge in overly enthusiastic displays of gratitude, but he was tempted to drop to his knees and kiss Weger’s scuffed boots. But since he suspected Weger would kick him off the side of the keep if he did so, he settled for a silent sigh of relief. He could stay long enough to do what was necessary to find Morgan.
    He made Weger a very low bow. “Thank you, my lord.”
    â€œWhy are you really here?” Weger asked, folding his arms over his chest. “It cannot be simply for the swordplay.”
    â€œCan’t it?”
    â€œWhy would it be?” Weger asked. “Surely your magic makes up for your substantial lack of skill.”
    Miach didn’t bother taking offense. He also didn’t bother revealing his real reason for coming inside Gobhann. He was quite sure if Weger knew that he’d come for Morgan, he would do all in his power to remind her of her distaste for magic…and mages. Nay, it was best to keep his true motives a secret until he had no choice but to reveal them.
    He shrugged with a casualness he most certainly didn’t feel. “I lost something.”
    â€œAnd you think you’ll find this missing thing here?”
    â€œI might.”
    Weger grunted. “Well, if what you’re missing is sword skill, then perhaps you’ve come to the right place.”
    Miach smiled. “If I don’t find that here, the fault will be entirely mine.”
    â€œAye, it will.” Weger nodded toward the stairs. “Best be about your labors, then.”
    Miach started toward the stairs, then paused and turned back around. “A question, my lord.”
    â€œPray, make it an intelligent one.”
    Miach smiled briefly. “How did you know who I was?”
    Weger looked at him with disgust. “Think you I only heed the affairs of my keep?”
    â€œWell,” Miach said nonplussed, “it isn’t as if my face is on the money.”
    â€œNay, but you look like your brother, the king, and his face is . And I’ve heard that the youngest brother’s swordplay is better than any of the other brats rampaging about in the hallowed halls of Tor Neroche—though that doesn’t say much about the quality of your swordmaster, does it?”
    â€œMy father would have been offended,” Miach said with a small smile.
    Weger only grunted. “I also know the names of all the