The Paper Sword by Robert Priest Read Free Book Online Page B

all right for a second or two. You must come and see this.”
    Saheli returned with the magnifying glass and examined the locket. “It’s turning just like …” Her voice hushed to a whisper. “A spell kone.” She said the words as though retrieving them from some deep well of forgetfulness and horror. Her face was ashen as she handed Xemion back the magnifying glass.
    â€œWhat is it?” Xemion asked.
    â€œI don’t know. The kone terrifies me.”
    â€œIt’s not a real spell kone, Saheli. I assure you it’s just an illusion,” he said in an attempt to calm her. “Some kind of moving mosaic effect. I think it’s caused by a kind of chemical reaction activated by the heat of hands. There are different layers of ink in the spines of the books and the heat and the salt from our hands when we handle them take different amounts of time to become active in the ink and that is what changes their colour. One ink colour fades and another becomes visible. It creates the illusion of motion. It’s the genius of the Phaer culture.”
    â€œWell, what does it say?” Saheli asked, the tone of anger and fear brittle as glass in her voice. He put the magnifying glass close to the locket and the next time the spiral appeared at the top he put his eyes up to it and began to read in a calm, slightly worried voice:
Who’ll be gouged
    And who’ll be gored
    By the sword
    Within the sword
    Will its power
    Be ignored
    O who will wield
    The paper sword
    â€œIt’s almost like it somehow knows about the sword you made and —” Saheli said, quavering despite herself.
    Xemion interrupted. “No, no, no. It’s just a coincidence. I’m sure that riddle would’ve come up whatever we did today. It’s not about an actual paper sword.” Xemion was speaking confidently, but in truth the hair was rising on the back of his neck.
    â€œWell, what’s the answer then?” she asked.
    Xemion paused and looked up though the crystal dome above, as if the answer might lie there. “I don’t know. I have to think about it. But I assure you it’s not about an actual paper sword.”
    â€œBut why does it say ‘the sword inside the sword’ then, when you actually have a sword within that sword you made? And just today that man bid you go to Ulde and be trained as a swordsman.”
    â€œI don’t know, Saheli.” Xemion cut off her worried speculation. “But no one is going to Ulde. I’ll be going to the river tomorrow morning and throwing this thing over the falls. I should never have made it in the first place.”
    There was a long pause.
    â€œXemion,” Saheli whispered finally. She came in close and she looked steadfastly into his eyes. “Let me explain something.”
    Xemion caught his breath. They had never been so close. So face to face. She was finally ready to say it.
    â€œYou can go. Our vow to Anya was to look after Chiricoru to her dying day. It wouldn’t be abandoning Chiricoru if you left her with me. I can stay here and look after her myself if you want to go.” Her whisper betrayed no emotion, but she swallowed hard when she had finished.
    Xemion shook his head in protest.
    â€œNo. No, Saheli. That’s not in the spirit of it. We go together.”
    â€œNo, Xemion. I’m not ready to go. But I can see how much you want to go. You have a destiny.”
    â€œYes, but you have a destiny, too. I have always said that.” She shook her head and continued to look at him earnestly. She continued in a softer tone. “Friendship doesn’t have to mean being together in the same place. We will still be friends wherever we are.”
    â€œYes, but I can no more leave you than you can leave Chiricoru.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI mean Anya made me swear that I would stay with you till you’re fully grown.”
    Saheli seemed almost insulted.