Age of War (The Legends of the First Empire #3)

A smile tugged at the corner of Lothian’s mouth, and in his father’s eyes, Mawyndul? thought he saw, for just a brief moment, a glimmer of…something. Pride?

Well said, Jerydd spoke in his head, and Mawyndul? nearly jumped. Always in the past, Mawyndul? had initiated their conversations. He opened the link. As a result, Mawyndul? had come to believe that only he could establish their connection. Mawyndul? found it disconcerting to discover the kel could be listening to all his conversations. Kasimer means well. What he should have said is that Arion is not to be underestimated. That she’s dangerous and cunning—which she most certainly is. You made points with your father, but it is better to have Kasimer on your side than against you. Let him off the hook and build a bridge.



Mawyndul? considered this for a moment, then said, “I think you meant to say she’s not to be underestimated, which I agree is very good counsel.”

This brought a new look from the fane, one of surprise and accompanied by a smile.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I meant,” Kasimer said. Then he, too, looked at Mawyndul? and nodded at him. Mawyndul? had never seen the gesture before. A solemn look had accompanied the bowed head, and the prince realized it was an expression of respect, perhaps even a thank-you, like the little bow that fencers made at the end of a session.

See, that wasn’t so hard, was it? As fane, you’ll need people like Kasimer.

Mawyndul? fought the urge to nod.

Now you really should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day, and it’ll start early.

Normally, Mawyndul? would chafe at being told to go to bed, but it was different when a voice inside his head said so. He knew it was Jerydd, who was sitting in his study in Avempartha, probably sipping wine with his feet up much the same as his father. But coming from his head, it felt like his own thoughts. Jerydd was also a secret, and what good was a secret if he didn’t take advantage of it?

Get some sleep, and tomorrow we’ll kill Arion.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


The Race Begins


If there is one thing I have learned, it is that people will astound you. But the moment they do, or shortly after, you will realize you should not have been surprised. Ultimately, the problem was you, not them.

—THE BOOK OF BRIN

The first thought that entered Gifford’s head as Padera shook him awake was that the Tetlin Witch was real—real and trying to kill him.

“Wake up, you lazy fool!” she whispered in the darkness of Hopeless House.

“I’m not lazy. It’s the middle of the night!” Gifford replied in a hushed voice as he tried to avoid waking Habet, Mathias, and Gelston. Unlike Brin’s new home, which had separate rooms, Hopeless House consisted of just one. “Why is you—”

“It’s time,” she said, letting go.

Gifford lay on his bed, looking up at her in the darkened room of snores. “Time fo’ what?”

“Your race.”

Gifford sat up, scrubbing the sleep from his eyes. The old hag was nuts. This time she actually looked crazy. In moonlight that entered one window and slashed the side of her face, Padera was pale, her hair and eyes wild. He’d never seen the old woman so animated, so intense. It scared him.



“Time for you to fulfill your destiny, boy—to run faster than any man ever has.”

“Yew insane, old woman.”

“And you’re going to win this race because I’m going to give you magic legs.”

Magic legs? She really is the Tetlin Witch!

Far stronger than he imagined, Padera grabbed the collar of his shirt and dragged him up.

“Have you been dwinking?”

“It all makes sense now,” Padera yammered, more to herself than to him as she continued to pull him along toward the door. She had hold of his wrist, but if he had resisted, Gifford suspected she would have grabbed his ear. “You had to be crippled; you had to suffer; you had to have nothing worth living for. I was such a fool to doubt. Tura was right. She was right all along.”

“Where you going, Giff?” Habet asked in a groggy voice.

“He’s going to save mankind,” Padera replied.

“Okay.” Habet turned over and went back to sleep.

“Can I get my shoes?”

“You won’t need them.” The old woman cackled. She was so much like a witch he shivered.

The Tetlin Witch has come for me at last.

“We need to hurry; we need to see Roan.”

“See Woan? Why didn’t you say that to begin with?”

The two made a fearful sight hobbling together through the dark streets of the city, a pair of goblins out for a stroll. The avenues were cold, the night biting, and he cursed first Padera and then himself for not taking time to grab a wrap and his shoes. After they left the Rhune District, Gifford spotted a few Fhrey watching them from a distance. The old and the twisted must be quite the novelty to their perfect eyes.



Monsters on parade. They invaded their homes, took their city, and wandered their streets. See, honey, that’s why mommy told you never to go out alone. See them there? See how horrible they are?

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