Free Search for Audric by Richard S. Tuttle Page A

Lady Naveena," answered King Hector. "She is now the regent of Borunda. The other was Prince Zinan, the son of the late Princess Orenda."
    "Why do you ask?" questioned King Caedmon.
    "They were both staring at me," answered Antion. "It was a weird feeling. I am not sure that I can explain how it felt."
    "You don't have to explain it," replied the Arin king. "I already know. You could feel their eyes upon you, and a cold shiver raced down your back."
    "Exactly," Prince Antion said with surprise. "How did you know?"
    "You have inherited what I call my gut feel," smiled King Caedmon. "Always pay attention to it, son. It will save your life someday. Are you sure the feeling came from both of them? Is it possible that only the wisper gave you that feeling?"
    "I can't say for sure where it came from," admitted the Arin prince, "but I am sure that both of them were staring at me. Does it matter which one of them it was?"
    "Very much so," the king nodded grimly. "It is a feeling that I associate with magic. If it came from the wisper, that is understandable, but I have heard nothing about Prince Zinan having the Talent."
    "His mother did," interjected King Hector. "Princess Orenda never practiced as a wisper, but she held the power."
    "Are you sure?" asked King Caedmon.
    "Positive," nodded the Salacian king. "I talked to her about it on one occasion. I was curious about how it felt. She was not very fond of having the capability, and she told me that she avoided using it."
    "Why?" asked Prince Derri. "I mean if I had such power, I doubt that I would ignore it."
    "The power is stronger than any one person," explained King Hector. "It has the ability to heal, but it is just as capable of killing. Princess Orenda was terrified of it. She said that it could consume the wielder."
    "Do you mean if she didn't cast the spell properly it could backfire on her?" inquired Prince Antion.
    "No," King Hector shook his head. "It was more complicated than that. I never completely understood her, but I got the impression that the Talent should never ever be used for nefarious purposes. To do so was akin to selling your soul. A wise person just never attempted it."
    "The Talent is not something to be toyed with," King Caedmon said in summation. "Let us go meet with the others and find out what is news in the Land of the Nine Kingdoms."
    "Be careful with your use of the horse language," warned King Hector. "Most of the royalty of the Land of the Nine Kingdoms have been to the horse camps in Odessia at one time or another."
    The princes put on their helms, and the four men left the suite. They made their way to the library, which was crowded with foreign dignitaries as well as influential Borundans. Kings and princes immediately swarmed around King Hector and King Caedmon to welcome them. The two princes moved unobtrusively to a corner so that they could watch the comings and goings without getting in the way.
    They were in the corner for only a few moments before a young, olive-skinned man approached them. The man's long black hair was tied in a long tail with a strap of leather. He walked right up to Prince Antion and then turned around to face the center of the room, effectively blocking the prince's view of the room. Antion's hand reached out to nudge the man aside so he could keep his father in sight, but the dark man instantly seized the prince's hand. Antion could feel the man's fingers roaming over his palm and knew his identity had been discovered. He violently jerked his hand back away from the man.
    The man stepped forward two paces and clasped his hands behind his back. His fingers started moving swiftly. Prince Antion immediately turned and walked out of the library. The man followed him, as did Prince Derri. Outside the library, Prince Antion found a narrow corridor and slipped into it. The other two men followed.
    "What game are you playing at, Prince of Arin?" asked the dark man.
    "Umal," sighed Prince Antion, "you are endangering me. I