The web of wizardry by Juanita Coulson Read Free Book Online Page B

affairs he should meddle with. Danaer held his tongue, against instinct.
    Yistar and Nurdanth were silent in shock. These alien invaders had conquered Clarique, and everyone knew the great numbers of the Clarique army and fleet. The army of Krantin was smaller, and if Markuand had so easily bested Clarique ...
    Markuand mght strike against Irico, Ulodovol's native province, the cold lands rich in timbers and wool-backs. But there would be no hurry, for Irico was never a country of warriors. Sarlos? It was a fertile place and green even in the winters. But Lira Nalu's home lay beyond a part of the Vrastre, a most inhospitable rocky wasteland in that region, and on the seaward side was guarded by river and thick marshes that had foiled even Traecheus's dreams of empire, long ago.
    The Markuand would surely do what anyone of wit would—strike at Krantin. Krantin was the sole remaining power of any consequence and had the only military force left which could offer Markuand a battle. Once Krantin had been crushed, the invaders might take their leisure in subduing Irico and Sarlos.
    Danaer needed no visions to see what must happen. They would come. Markuand would gobble the remainder of Clarique's islands, and then they would

    strike across the river, following the timewom route of the Ryerdon pilgrimage. If they could, they would sweep Destre-Y before them with weapons and wizardry, stabbing at the heart of Krantin.
    Suddenly Danaer's gloomy speculations were thrust aside. General Nurdanth was turning to him once more. "Troop Leader, what the sorkra have shown us makes this evening's undertaking far more vital than I had supposed possible. We require something of you."
    "My life is yours to command. Lord General."
    It was a mere formal response, but Nurdanth treated it with all seriousness. "Matters may well come to that—though I beg the gods it will not be so." The officer drew a sealed paper from a map case and handed it to Danaer. "You must deliver this."
    Some years earlier Captain Yistar had taught Danaer the rudiments of letters, a necessary tool used in deciphering the army's maps. Thus he was able to puzzle out the few words written on the message, repeating them aloud with amazement: "To Gordt te Raa, Sovereign of all the Destre Tribes."
    Sovereign—the style a lord of The Interior would employ to describe the ruler of the plains people. Among the Destre-Y, Gordt te Raa was called Siirn Rena, the Azsed Rena, leader of the strongest clans inhabiting the Vrastre, chieftain of chieftains.
    And to deliver such a message to such a man, Danaer would be forced to enter Siank Zsed.
    General Nurdanth avoided Danaer's stare. "I realize what I ask. Worse, I must command that you act as a courier and travel unaccompanied. It is the king's desire, and it may not be changed, I regret to say."
    Yistar could not restrain his anger and growled a blunt obscenity. Then he blushed as Lira Nalu smiled, apparently understanding the raw soldier's term despite her gentle bearing and youthfulness.
    Danaer had taken oath, and he was a warrior. He would not dishonor his word, though this be a most grim destiny. Yet the goddess would never scorn a man for using whatever cunning he might to survive. He asked carefully, "Lord General, may I dress as a

    tribesman? The Zsed's outriders might overlook me the longer, and I should have more chance of success . . ."
    The nobeman was shaking his head. With pain, he said, 'T would most willingly allow you that favor if I could, Troop Leader. But that, too, is forbidden. You have been chosen as our best hope. You are a Destre by birth and know their language and customs as no outsider could. But you must go as the representative of the King's army."
    Nurdanth was still regretting that he must be the instrument of command in this undertaking. "I will give you as much as I can, Troop Leader. Here—• there is nothing in the task of courier that prevents your wearing of tribal mantle, and your faith-ring.