Windwalker by Elaine Cunningham Read Free Book Online

during its mortal existence. The next moment, its countenance snapped back into formless glob, and its red eyes reclaimed their intense focus.
    You did not destroy the incubus. We wonder why, when there is pleasure in destruction—pleasure, and the blessing of the goddess.
    “There is little pleasure of any kind to be had in this place,” Shakti said curtly. “I would just as soon put my efforts toward a better result.”
    The incubus might seek vengeance.
    “It is more likely to seek refuge,” Shakti retorted. “Such demons know the way to and from the Abyss, and given its weakened state and vulnerable flesh, it is likely to flee the scavengers that haunt this place. When it goes, I will follow, like a hunting lizard who has a taste of its quarry’s blood.”
    She lifted her hand, showing the magical symbol traced there with the demon’s blood—a spell that would enable her to follow the wounded creature wherever it went. It was one of many spells she had made a point of learning during her hunt for Liriel Baenre.
    A cruel and far-sighted plan, the yochlol observed. Lolth is pleased.
    Shakti’s gaze dropped to her skeletal snakes, which were wrapped companionably around her arms and waist. For a long moment she struggled to contain the central question of her existence. It burst out of her, regardless.
    “If Lolth is pleased, why did she favor Liriel Baenre over me?”
    A lesser goddess has shown favor to this girl. That, Lloth cannot abide.
    A shiver of dread raced down Shakti’s spine. After all, she herself had a foot in two divine camps! As she considered this answer, however, it seemed that the whole story had not been told.
    “Other drow follow other gods. I have never heard that Lolth pursues and rewards these heretics. Why grant such gifts to Liriel, when better, more loyal priestesses would gladly receive them?”
    The yochlol’s face twisted in unmistakable scorn. Do you think the goddess answers your prayers out of love? Like most priestesses, you crave Lolth’s power. Liriel Baenre does not. Indeed, it is a torment to her.
    Understanding began to edge into Shakti’s mind. Underlying the cruelty and chaos of the drow was a certain grim practicality. Whatever else a drow’s actions might be, they were certain to be self-serving.
    Suddenly Shakti knew the true reason for Lolth’s interest in the runaway Baenre princess.
    “So Liriel has been chosen to bear Lolth’s power because she is willing to relinquish it!”
    And what of you? the yochlol countered. Destroying the incubus would have been a pleasant diversion, yet you resisted in favor of a larger goal. What more would you be willing to relinquish?
    A merchant bred and born, Shakti new better than to hand a blank note to any drow, living or dead, mortal or divine. “What does Lolth ask of me?” she parried.
    Your burning desire to destroy the Baenre princess—could you bear to subject that to the will of Lolth?
    For a long moment Shakti stood silent as pragmatism battled mightily against hatred. Her snakehead whip unwound itself from her and writhed about in a frenzied dance, giving silent testament to its mistress’s agitation and indecision.
    Finally the skeletal dance subsided, and the priestess lowered her head in submission to Lolth’s handmaiden.
    “Speak,” she said grudgingly, “and I will do.”

CHAPTER ONE
    PROMISES
     
    Liriel stood at the rail of Leaping Narwhal, the sea breeze on her face and her white hair streaming behind her. The sunset colors had all but faded, and a rising moon silvered the waves. Her friend Fyodor was at her side, his back to the rail and his keen-eyed gaze following the on-duty crew as they prepared the ship for the coming of night.
    “Lord Caladorn seems a capable sailor,” he observed, nodding toward the tall, auburn-haired man lowering the foresail.
    The drow reluctantly dragged her attention from the splendors of the sea to the human nobleman. “Hrolf didn’t trust him.”
    “True, but Hrolf