The Raven's Shadow by Elspeth Cooper Read Free Book Online Page B

sound grasp of the principles, but he had never attempted to mask a moving object before, and on the evidence of the last few days, he was afraid it would go badly wrong – assuming he could hold on to the Song long enough even to attempt it.
    ‘Nothing I’d be happy trusting your lives to,’ he replied.
    ‘But what you did for the sisters this morning—’
    He shook his head. ‘That was crude stuff. Illusion on this scale requires more finesse than strength.’
    ‘Then we must put our faith in the Goddess.’ She snapped the reins to start the mules forward again.
    In fits and starts they crossed the square, trundling forwards a few yards, waiting again as carts and pack-trains came through the gates the other way. Each delay wound Gair’s nerves a little tighter; responding to his increased anxiety, Shahe grew restless and began to fidget. By the time they reached the gate, the sun had sunk halfway behind the city wall and shadows were pooling on the cobbles. The gate guards were clearly as fed up as everyone else in the square and waved the nuns’ wagon through with only a few terse words. Gair and Shahe received a hard look, but he gathered the mare up and trotted her past with as much head-high inner-desert haughtiness as he could manufacture, and they let him be.
    Once clear of the walls, the Superior sighed with relief. ‘Goddess be praised!’
    ‘We’re not out of the woods yet,’ Gair said, fighting the urge to glance back over his shoulder.
    She gathered up the reins to snap them over the mules’ backs. ‘Then let’s get out of here.’
    With a sharp pang, Gair remembered what Alderan had said as they left the Holy City. When you look as if you have every right to be there, everyone else will assume that you do. ‘Keep them at a walk,’ he said. ‘Don’t hurry.’
    She shot him a quizzical look.
    ‘The last thing we want is for one of those watchmen to wonder why a six-mule hitch is pelting away from the city.’ He saw her gaze slide sideways. ‘And don’t look back, either.’
    Above her sand-veil, her eyes narrowed. ‘In addition to your other gifts, you appear to be an accomplished sneak.’
    ‘Not really.’ He paused to let a smaller, faster cart overtake them and vanish into the billow of dust raised by the other traffic on the road ahead. ‘But I had a good teacher.’
    They rode on in silence as the evening purpled softly towards night. At a hundred yards out from the city with no sound of pursuit, Gair began to relax; at three hundred or so, he heard the Lion Gate thud closed and finally let the tension ease out of his shoulders. If the Cult wanted to come after them now, they’d have to persuade the city’s officials to order the gates opened. Even if they had the Governor in their pocket, that would take time, and every minute he and the nuns spent travelling took them further out of the Cult’s reach – at least for now. Zhimandar would be another story, but he’d worry about that when they got there.

5
WOODSONG

    Between one step and the next, the stillness of the wildwood became the damp chill of an autumn field. A tingle of something passed over Tanith’s skin, as if she’d walked through a draught, then cold air hit her lungs, smelling of turned earth and burned stubble. Rags of mist straggled over the turf, and on the horizon a copse huddled black against the pale sky.
    ‘Spirits, where are we?’ she asked.
    The forestal looked around alertly, like a hound scenting the air. ‘We must hurry. There is not much time.’
    Then he broke into a run, uphill towards the trees, and she had to follow him or be dragged by the rope tied around her wrist. Wet grass squeaked under her boots as she skidded and stumbled to keep up.
    Halfway to the copse, two figures lay sprawled on the dewy turf, their clothes already beaded by the mist. One of them was Ailric, who lay face up, staring unblinking at the sky. The other was the warrior she’d seen through the stones, his rough