Free Magesong by James R. Sanford Page A

getting caught.  Believe me, if you find the last Aevir you will
know it as such.  But you know that already — what is it that you really need
from me?"  He leveled his gaze at Ephemeris, who could not meet it
easily.  The old man still had the power.
    "To look at one of the Eddaic scrolls.  The restoration
of Graifalmia."
    "The Pallenborne?  You just told me that it was in
Jakavia."
    "It is.  The countryman of mine that may have it
recently returned from the Pallenborne.  I think that E'alaisenne was
summoned and formed in the Pallenborne, and it is possible that it was returned
to the place of its making by Graifalmia after she overthrew Derndra.  I find
the symmetry of this appealing."
    Cipher motioned to the pillow in front of him.  "Show
me what you have."
    Ephemeris brought a sheet of linen paper from under his
robe.  "Here is a copy of the celebrated passage from the Chronicles of
Derndra.  It has always been translated as, 'Into a valley of men in the
lands to the north came Derndra seeking the Stone of Deepness.  There he
summoned the great elemental through the Stone, taking with him the life of the
land .'  But look here.  This line can be translated 'Into a valley in
the lands of the northmen came Derndra ' — do you see?"
    "Hmm.  I suppose you could interpret it that way, but
it is a bit of a stretch."  He looked at his former student.  "I'll
get the scroll for you if you want, but I can tell you now that it will confirm
your feeling of symmetry."
    "I knew it," Ephemeris said, crushing the paper
against his chest.  "What does it say?"
    "Only that Graifalmia returned the captured spirit to
the lifeless valley, hiding it well."
    "Then that is it.  I'll leave tomorrow at first
light."
    "I hope this isn't another false trail," Cipher said. 
"Who is this Jakavian and what do you know of him?"
    "His name is Airen Libac — I've told you about him. 
He's the treasure hunter who lives in Mira-Delvin, a rich aristocrat with
influence and an estate and such.  It makes things harder."
    "Mira-Delvin.  That's where you spent your early childhood
is it not?"
    "Yes.  I lived as a water-front urchin before I went to
sea, and still know the city and its ways quite well.  I should be able to move
quickly."
    "Listen to me.  Do not attempt any kind of foolish act
such as a room-to-room search in the middle of the night.  There's always a
chance of something going wrong in a situation like that no matter how good you
are.  You must proceed slowly and work your way into his trust.  Then strike
when everything is certain."
    Ephemeris nodded.  "As you say."

CHAPTER 5:  The Magician's Passage
     
    The stones lining the dry wash lay covered with blue and
green lichen.  It had never been a stream, except perhaps for a few weeks in
the early spring when it served as a drainage channel for the runoff of melting
snow.  The going was steep, yet the footing was sure, and to Reyin it seemed
the best path to take, a straight course running from the base of the heavily
wooded ridge to the very foot of the Skialfanmir.  From the valley floor, the
pinnacle appeared to be unscalable.  In the remembered history of Lorendal no
one had ever tried to climb it.  That was what Farlo had said.
    Reyin hadn't known what Jonn had said until Farlo
translated, but he had known what touched him.  The Unknowable Forces had
clearly marked that pitiable young man.
    He halted at a level spot where morning light bled through
the pines.  Sitting down on a flat stone, he let go a quiet snort that served
as ironic laughter.  This was, after all, what he had been seeking was it not? 
What Artemes had told him to search for, a chance meeting that was not chance,
one in which he would feel the very breath of the Essa in the air.  He had
dreamed of this, dreamed that he could breathe in the Essa to intertwine with
his own spirit and become one with it. That was the way it had happened for all
of them: Ty'kojin, Artemes, Dimietri,