Free First King of Shannara by Terry Brooks Page B

agree to wait until after sunrise, I will give this matter some thought,” he told her. “I will have to confer with the others, with Tay and Risca when they arrive.”
    She nodded and looked past him. “And your big friend?”
    â€œYes, with Kinson also.”
    â€œBut he has no skill with magic, does he? Like the rest of you?”
    â€œNo, but he is skilled in other ways. You can sense that about him, can you? That he is without the use of magic?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTell me. Did you use magic to find us here in this concealment?”
    She shook her head. “No. It was instinct. I could sense you. I have always been able to do that.” She stared at him, catching the look in his eye. “Is that a form of magic, Bremen?”
    â€œIt is. Not a magic you can identify as easily as some, but magic nonetheless. Innate magic, I might add—absent acquired skill.”
    â€œI have no acquired skill,” she said quietly, folding her arms into her robes as if she were suddenly cold.
    He studied her for a moment, thinking. “Sit there, Mareth,” he said finally, pointing to a spot behind her. “Wait with me for the others.”
    She did as she was asked. Moving to a patch of grass that had grown up where the trees did not shut out the sun, she folded her legs beneath her and seated herself in the huddle of her robes, a small dark statue. Bremen watched her for a moment, then moved back across the clearing to where Kinson waited.
    â€œWhat did she want?” the Borderman asked, turning away with him to walk to the edge of the trees.
    â€œShe has asked to come with us,” Bremen answered.
    Kinson arched one eyebrow speculatively. “Why would she want to do that?”
    Bremen stopped and faced him. “She hasn’t told me yet.” He glanced over to where she was seated. “She gave me reasons enough to consider her request, but she is keeping something from me still.”
    â€œSo you will refuse her?”
    Bremen smiled. “We will wait for the others and talk it over.”
    The wait was a short one. The sun rose out of the hills and crested the forest rim minutes later, spilling light down into the shadowed recesses, chasing back the last of the gloom. Color returned to the land, shades of green, brown, and gold amid the fading dark, and birds came awake to sing their welcome to a new day. Mist clung tenaciously to the darker alcoves of the brightening woods, and through a low curtain that yet masked the walls of Paranor walked Risca and Tay Trefenwyd. Both had abandoned their Druid robes in favor of traveling clothes. Both wore backpacks slung loosely across their broad shoulders. The Elf was armed with a longbow and a slender hunting knife. The Dwarf carried a short, two-handed broadsword, had a battle-axe cinched at his waist, and bore a cudgel as thick as his forearm.
    They came directly to Bremen and Kinson without seeing Mareth. As they reached him, she rose once more and stood waiting.
    Tay saw her first, glancing back at the unexpected movement caught from the corner of one eye. “Mareth,” he said quietly.
    Risca looked with him and grunted.
    â€œShe asks to travel with us,” Bremen announced, forgoing any preliminaries. “She claims she might be useful to us.”
    Risca grunted again, shifting his bulk away from the girl. “She is a child,” he muttered.
    â€œShe is out of favor with Athabasca for trying to study magic,” Tay said, turning to look at her. The smile on his Elven face broadened. “She shows promise. I like her determination. Athabasca doesn’t frighten her one bit.”
    Bremen looked at him. “Can she be trusted?”
    Tay laughed. “What a strange question. Trusted with what? Trusted to do what? There’s some who say no one’s to be trusted but you and me, and I can only speak for me.” He paused and cocked his head toward Kinson. “Good