The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen Donaldson Read Free Book Online

of this. But what is done is done-and we are no nearer to the champion we need than we were when you began. It might be wiser if you did not vex the Congery further by arguing against the obvious.'
     
    Grimly, Geraden straightened the disarray of his jerkin.
     
    'What's obvious,' he began sourly, Ms that I haven't gone wrong the way you believe. You haven't considered-'
     
    'Boy,' Master Barsonage growled behind him, 'watch your tone. We are Masters here. We are not required to hear the insolence of an Apt.'
     
    At once, chagrin rushed over the anger and embarrassment in Geraden's face. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean-' He flung a look of misery and contrition at Barsonage. 'But this is so important.'
     
    'We are aware of what is important,' rasped the heavy-set man, Master Gilbur. 'Credit us with that minimum of intelligence. The rest we will be able to reason for ourselves.'
     
    Terisa was only marginally attentive to what was being said. As soon as Eremis stopped looking at her, she was nearly overcome by a sense of unreality. None of this was possible. Where was she really? Was this what happened when her tendency to fade away was pushed to its conclusion? Deliberately, she concentrated on what she could see, trying to convince herself of her surroundings.
     
    She had her back to the mirror on the stone dais: instinctively, she felt that was one glass into which she didn't wish to glance. Master Eremis had positioned her in an almost proprietary way at his side; the rest of the Imagers were clustered around Geraden, Barsonage, and Gilbur. And they all stood near the open centre -the dais itself occupied the centre-of a large, round chamber with a flagstone floor. Crude-hewn grey granite formed the walls and ceiling. Several huge torches burned in sconces set around the distant walls; but most of the light came from oil lamps hanging from the four thick pillars which supported the high vaults of the ceiling. Within the area marked by the pillars, the centre of the chamber was ringed by a carved wooden railing with benches like pews outside it, facing inward. The benches could have seated forty or fifty people.
     
    This, she guessed, was the official meeting hall of the Congery of Imagers. That seemed reasonable-which was good. If it were reasonable, it might also be real.
     
    She would have liked to wander away from the group of men, do a little exploring on her own. But part of her did hear what the Masters were saying. She heard the appeal in Geraden's voice, the weight of sarcasm with which Master Gilbur responded. Though she had only known Geraden for-what was it? ten minutes now? twenty at the most-she felt loyal to him. He had talked and listened to her and smiled as if she actually existed. Meeting the flustered contrite-and-urgent supplication in his eyes, she said to the Masters, 'I think you ought to give him a chance. There must be some reason why I agreed to come with him.'
     
    At once, she winced inwardly and wanted to apologize to Geraden, because Master Eremis let out a peal of laughter. There must indeed, my lady,' he chortled. 'I was wrong to speak of dalliance, for that surely was no part of this Apt's appeal. He, has many virtues, but grace and wit are not among them. Since we have no reason to believe that you were brought by force, there must indeed be some reason why you are with him.' Several of the Imagers chuckled at Eremis' jest; but Geraden could do nothing except duck his head to hide his misery. 'Well, speak, Geraden,' the Master went on. 'What is it that you believe we have not considered?'
     
    For a moment, Terisa thought that Geraden would refuse to answer. She had watched her father embarrass her mother on any number of occasions, and the only outlet her mother had found for her resentment had been a refusal to speak. But Geraden set aside whatever humiliation he felt. Excitement surged into his gaze, and he took a step forward almost as if he were jumping.
     
    'Master Eremis'-he