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cell but did not see the snake.
Where are you?
I am on the far side of the wall.
But I hear you just fine. The rock would muffle
any voice and
Magicks, Ploviss assured her. This is how
the doorways are opened, and there is no real
stone separating us.
She laid her hands on the rock under the arch. It
90
Lost Lore
felt cold and solid.
I don t understand.
That is because you are not a sorceress.
They mistook me for someone named
Sannea, the snake hissed. There was true
venom in the way it spoke now. She is a terrible
person. A witch. A sorceress who misuses her
power. You do bear a resemblance to her.
Jerro didn t think so until he got close enough.
He s nearsighted.
He is blind, Ploviss said. As blind as any
fool.
But Taltarian should have known I m not
Sannea. He wanted her captured and
He has never seen her. There is only a picture
stone of Sannea and, if this is the only
identification, you can be mistaken for her.
Picture stone? Like a photograph?
Magicks have burned her likeness into a stone
when she least expected it. Sannea tried to recover
it but it was stolen, and Taltarian came into
possession of it when he realized only Sannea
threatened his power and chance for utter control
of the City of the Ancient Kings.
They re rivals?
Of course, Ploviss said. Do you want to
spend the rest of your life within the four cold
walls of that cell?
No!
91
Aurora Jamison
Then open the path through the archway.
You said it was magical. I don t know any
magic. Lorien smiled ruefully. As a child she had
played with a magic set and had not been able to
do even the simplest of the tricks so her friends
couldn t figure out what she did. Her dexterity
was lacking. And so was her true magical ability.
You might remember the spell. Say it and the
doorway will open.
How could I know it?
You saw Sannea. You must have when you
came into this world.
The white-haired woman dressed in the
flowing black robe? I saw her or thought I did.
She can appear as she likes. The color of her
hair is meaningless. She puts dyes into it.
So do I, Lorien said. I ve changed hair color
a half dozen times in the past few years.
You are a sorceress!
It s common on my world. Hairdressers and
beauty salons and
The spell! You heard her utter it to open a
doorway to your world. Say it now.
I did hear something. A low whisper, like
words of a song played so low . . . Lorien closed
her eyes and tried to remember seeing the white-
haired woman. Forcing away the vision, she
concentrated on what she had heard. A low
rumble, perhaps the sound of the ocean s surf
92
Lost Lore
pounding against the shore. And words. She did
not know what they meant since they were in
some foreign language. She blurted them out.
Are those the words? she asked Ploviss.
Is the archway open to you? the snake
countered.
It was.
Lorien tumbled through the opening and into
the corridor beyond. As she got to her feet, she
tripped over the snake. Ploviss let out an
aggrieved hiss and slithered away from her.
Be careful. You can hurt me. You are far
heavier, and my bones are fragile.
Sorry, she said. Lorien still clutched the box
with the morda dust in it. She shivered, thinking
how close she had come to opening the box and
inhaling it all in an attempt to escape her
imprisonment. Getting free had been so easy.
You are naked. Humans do not like to go
about naked, Ploviss said.
You re right.
Hurry, then.
I want to get the hell out of this awful place.
First clothes, then outta here, she said firmly.
Follow me. Ploviss sinuously twisted about
and began wiggling down the corridor. As Lorien
followed, she was tempted to try her newfound
magical spell to see if other doorways might open
up along the featureless stone walls. Then she
93
Aurora Jamison
realized they might and she had no idea what
lay on the other side. This must be the prison. She
could release allies, or she could also release
crazed criminals who would not be the least bit
appreciative of her efforts. They might kill her,
thinking she worked for Taltarian.
Is there anyone we can get to help?
You need no one. Trust only your own
instincts, Ploviss said.
Should I trust you?
Do so at your own risk. I have goals I must
attain. You are the best way I can do so.
What goals?
Do you think I was born in this body? A
snake? I am no snake. I have been ensorcelled by
Sannea. I want to return to my own body and stop
dragging my belly along cold stone floors. If you
can help me, I will help you.
And if I can t, you ll drop me like a hot
potato.
Hot potato?
Never mind, she said. Some clichés on her
world lacked something in the translation. She
remembered how calling Jerro buster had
confused him.
Jerro.
The thought of the centaur caused her heart to
beat a little faster, and she did not know why. He
had betrayed her and told Taltarian she was a
94
Lost Lore
sorceress and the king s chancellor had locked her
up and it really wasn t Jerro s fault so much since
he couldn t see her well, but
In here. Now! The snake curled into a tight
coil, rose and hissed loudly at her for emphasis.
They come. We must not be seen.
Who? Lorien found herself talking to empty
space. Ploviss had found a mouse-sized hole in the
stone, possibly used for drainage should the
corridor flood, and had squeezed into it. How
such a thick body could fit that tiny hole was a
mystery she had no time to think on. She heard
what the snake already had.
Voices. Voices she recognized.
Jerro! The name escaped her lips before she
could stop. Lorien also recognized the other
speaker as Taltarian.
Ploviss had disappeared down his drain hole.
She looked around and saw a regular door and
doorway. It took her only an instant to slip
through. She turned and looked into the room,
only to gasp. She had come into someone s
bedroom. But what a bedroom it was! She took an
involuntary step toward the huge bed covered
with a downy soft blanket. She reached out and
stroked over it. She knew now why cats purred.
The sensual feel of the cloth sliding under her
fingers soothed and excited her at the same time.
Outright fondling of the blanket gave her the urge
95
Aurora Jamison
to lie on it, naked as she was, and roll back and
forth. The feel of the cloth across her nipples and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
cell but did not see the snake.
Where are you?
I am on the far side of the wall.
But I hear you just fine. The rock would muffle
any voice and
Magicks, Ploviss assured her. This is how
the doorways are opened, and there is no real
stone separating us.
She laid her hands on the rock under the arch. It
90
Lost Lore
felt cold and solid.
I don t understand.
That is because you are not a sorceress.
They mistook me for someone named
Sannea, the snake hissed. There was true
venom in the way it spoke now. She is a terrible
person. A witch. A sorceress who misuses her
power. You do bear a resemblance to her.
Jerro didn t think so until he got close enough.
He s nearsighted.
He is blind, Ploviss said. As blind as any
fool.
But Taltarian should have known I m not
Sannea. He wanted her captured and
He has never seen her. There is only a picture
stone of Sannea and, if this is the only
identification, you can be mistaken for her.
Picture stone? Like a photograph?
Magicks have burned her likeness into a stone
when she least expected it. Sannea tried to recover
it but it was stolen, and Taltarian came into
possession of it when he realized only Sannea
threatened his power and chance for utter control
of the City of the Ancient Kings.
They re rivals?
Of course, Ploviss said. Do you want to
spend the rest of your life within the four cold
walls of that cell?
No!
91
Aurora Jamison
Then open the path through the archway.
You said it was magical. I don t know any
magic. Lorien smiled ruefully. As a child she had
played with a magic set and had not been able to
do even the simplest of the tricks so her friends
couldn t figure out what she did. Her dexterity
was lacking. And so was her true magical ability.
You might remember the spell. Say it and the
doorway will open.
How could I know it?
You saw Sannea. You must have when you
came into this world.
The white-haired woman dressed in the
flowing black robe? I saw her or thought I did.
She can appear as she likes. The color of her
hair is meaningless. She puts dyes into it.
So do I, Lorien said. I ve changed hair color
a half dozen times in the past few years.
You are a sorceress!
It s common on my world. Hairdressers and
beauty salons and
The spell! You heard her utter it to open a
doorway to your world. Say it now.
I did hear something. A low whisper, like
words of a song played so low . . . Lorien closed
her eyes and tried to remember seeing the white-
haired woman. Forcing away the vision, she
concentrated on what she had heard. A low
rumble, perhaps the sound of the ocean s surf
92
Lost Lore
pounding against the shore. And words. She did
not know what they meant since they were in
some foreign language. She blurted them out.
Are those the words? she asked Ploviss.
Is the archway open to you? the snake
countered.
It was.
Lorien tumbled through the opening and into
the corridor beyond. As she got to her feet, she
tripped over the snake. Ploviss let out an
aggrieved hiss and slithered away from her.
Be careful. You can hurt me. You are far
heavier, and my bones are fragile.
Sorry, she said. Lorien still clutched the box
with the morda dust in it. She shivered, thinking
how close she had come to opening the box and
inhaling it all in an attempt to escape her
imprisonment. Getting free had been so easy.
You are naked. Humans do not like to go
about naked, Ploviss said.
You re right.
Hurry, then.
I want to get the hell out of this awful place.
First clothes, then outta here, she said firmly.
Follow me. Ploviss sinuously twisted about
and began wiggling down the corridor. As Lorien
followed, she was tempted to try her newfound
magical spell to see if other doorways might open
up along the featureless stone walls. Then she
93
Aurora Jamison
realized they might and she had no idea what
lay on the other side. This must be the prison. She
could release allies, or she could also release
crazed criminals who would not be the least bit
appreciative of her efforts. They might kill her,
thinking she worked for Taltarian.
Is there anyone we can get to help?
You need no one. Trust only your own
instincts, Ploviss said.
Should I trust you?
Do so at your own risk. I have goals I must
attain. You are the best way I can do so.
What goals?
Do you think I was born in this body? A
snake? I am no snake. I have been ensorcelled by
Sannea. I want to return to my own body and stop
dragging my belly along cold stone floors. If you
can help me, I will help you.
And if I can t, you ll drop me like a hot
potato.
Hot potato?
Never mind, she said. Some clichés on her
world lacked something in the translation. She
remembered how calling Jerro buster had
confused him.
Jerro.
The thought of the centaur caused her heart to
beat a little faster, and she did not know why. He
had betrayed her and told Taltarian she was a
94
Lost Lore
sorceress and the king s chancellor had locked her
up and it really wasn t Jerro s fault so much since
he couldn t see her well, but
In here. Now! The snake curled into a tight
coil, rose and hissed loudly at her for emphasis.
They come. We must not be seen.
Who? Lorien found herself talking to empty
space. Ploviss had found a mouse-sized hole in the
stone, possibly used for drainage should the
corridor flood, and had squeezed into it. How
such a thick body could fit that tiny hole was a
mystery she had no time to think on. She heard
what the snake already had.
Voices. Voices she recognized.
Jerro! The name escaped her lips before she
could stop. Lorien also recognized the other
speaker as Taltarian.
Ploviss had disappeared down his drain hole.
She looked around and saw a regular door and
doorway. It took her only an instant to slip
through. She turned and looked into the room,
only to gasp. She had come into someone s
bedroom. But what a bedroom it was! She took an
involuntary step toward the huge bed covered
with a downy soft blanket. She reached out and
stroked over it. She knew now why cats purred.
The sensual feel of the cloth sliding under her
fingers soothed and excited her at the same time.
Outright fondling of the blanket gave her the urge
95
Aurora Jamison
to lie on it, naked as she was, and roll back and
forth. The feel of the cloth across her nipples and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]