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

small cannon. But more than his armament, it was his stance which conveyed a staggering sense of power through the glass. He stood the alien ground as if he meant to decimate whole populations in order to claim it.
     
    Terisa understood at once that he was the champion, the strong and violent being Geraden had been sent to find.
     
    That was the kind of help Mordant needed? The danger was that severe? And Geraden wanted these men to take her seriously as an answer to their problem, an augured saviour? Suddenly, she realized that Master Gilbur was right. If Geraden considered her a sane answer to a problem of that scope, he was out of his mind.
     
    What kind of lunacy had possessed her to take his hand? She should absolutely have gone to the phone, called security, and accepted the consequences. The strain of having to face her father would have been preferable to the impossibility of where she was now.
     
    It affected her like dizziness. What was she doing here? She turned away from the mirror in a blur and seemed to lose her balance. Then she found herself gazing up into Master Eremis' face as if she were asking him for help. Though she didn't know him at all, she felt his intelligence, his strength, his effectiveness. His humour was built on confidence, and it promised results even when he was jesting.
     
    He met her appeal for a moment, and the corners of his eyes crinkled as though he were about to start laughing again. But he didn't. Instead, he let a good-natured frown crease his high forehead. 'Masters,' he said in a musing tone, 'it is a subtle question. We must not dismiss it lightly. Apt Geraden makes a point which deserves consideration.'
     
    Over Master Gilbur's growl of exasperation, Eremis went on, That his taste in champions is suspect I grant you. But there is simple truth in his words. Either he has stumbled by chance into a miracle. Or he has secretly made himself greater than us all.' Master Eremis put aside the protests of the Congery with a delicate wave of his fingers. 'Or there is a power at work here which we do not comprehend-and which we must take into account.
     
    'I propose,' he continued promptly, 'that we adjourn for the present. We must have time to think. Mordant's need is urgent, but it does not require foolish haste. What say you? Perhaps tomorrow we will understand these things better.
     
    'Master Barsonage?'
     
    Terisa was faintly surprised to hear him suggest rather than announce an adjournment: she had assumed automatically that he was the leader of the Congery. But that role seemed to belong to the thick, bald man with the eyebrows like scrub and the pine-yellow skin. When Eremis addressed him, he glanced around the Masters for a moment, taking a consensus. After most of them had indicated their assent, he said, 'It is likely a wise idea. I doubt that we will gain much insight into whether Apt Geraden is the victim of accident, genius, or intervention. But we must determine what we will do about it. Those of us who are already weary of argument will need rest before facing that debate.'
     
    Brusquely, he concluded, 'Let us meet again tomorrow.'
     
    Master Eremis grinned his approval. 'Very good.' Then he turned to Terisa and extended his hand. 'My lady, will you accompany me? Someone must offer you the hospitality of Orison. I will see you honourably quartered, as befits a woman of your obvious importance.' He gave the word importance a slight,
     
    jesting stress, teasing either her or Geraden. 'And there are many things of which I wish to speak with you.'
     
    He was looking squarely at her again, and she doubted that she could have refused his offer even if she had wanted to: his direct attention was seductive and compelling. It seemed to make her throat dry and her knees unsteady. Involuntarily, she reacted to him as if he were the first man who had ever looked at her in that way. As far as she knew, he was the first.
     
    But when she raised her hand to take Eremis',