Free Sourcethief (Book 3) by J.S. Morin Page A

mysterious sorcerer among the
Kadrins is the other. Speak. You have my attention.
    We seek to rally forces against
Kadrin, specifically in putting an end to Rashan Solaran's bloodthirsty
predations, Jinzan began. The other matter is less pressing but may become even more of
a danger. The Kadrins have another sorcerer, a young man named Brannis Solaran,
with a Source beyond reckoning.
    I will end your speculations on
the first matter abruptly. While I may lend certain information about Rashan, I
will not stand against him unless he sets foot upon Azzat.
    You fear him as well, then? Jinzan asked. Distance made him
bold, as did his recent victory over Loramar's defenses. Sitting amid the
necromancer's works, he felt like a proper heir to the master's power.
    We have an agreement that
predates your birth. He may be a lying snake dealing with your kind, but he
dares not break his word among the immortals—at least not more so than he
already has. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he would not be so
blatant. For my end, dangerous as he is, I will still not act to break that
pact.
    What of the second matter, then?
Brannis Solaran.
    If you can arrange to send him
here, I would deal with him. I will not leave Azzat undefended.
    I find that acceptable. Thank
you. If you could pass the helm back to Narsicann, I would speak with him.
    Oh dear ... I believe there has
been an idiomatic failure. My Megrenn is outdated, I fear. I said I 'simplified
the lines of communication.' You were supposed to have inferred that I killed
him already. Goodnight, Jinzan Fehr.
    When the contact ended, Jinzan realized that he had
not picked up his own helm from where it rested on the desk.

Chapter 4 - A Time for Celebration
    Tanner walked the crowded streets of Kadris, head
down, letting his eyes absorb the puzzle of feet and carts and loose
cobblestones, avoiding obstacles and collisions by instinct. Armed and
uniformed, he was still jostled occasionally, but he made no complaint and
offered no apology for his carelessness.
    Tanner needed to sort out how he would present his
plan. He had forced himself to head for army headquarters lest he spend all day
brooding over the matter. "I just need him for a few days ..." he
said to himself, barely moving his lips or putting breath behind his words. He
shook his head and tried again.
    "Brannis, I think I have a plan. We can try
trading the boy for the staff ..."
    "You know, maybe we shouldn't be keeping the
kid from his father. Think of it as good will ..."
    "Brannis, you ever think that maybe pissing in
Denrik Zayne's ale isn't doing me any good in Tellurak and might get me tossed
in the Katamic one of these days soon? Let me just bring him Anzik."
    Tanner gave the last one some serious thought. No,
he dumped me in that wooden teacup with Zayne. He knew I was as good as dead
and didn't care. Tanner stopped. He noticed that the cobblestones had given
way to the wide flagstones of Kalak Square and looked up to see the Kadrin Army
headquarters. Kyrus was inside, or Brannis, or whoever he was. A half-formed
plan floated through Tanner's mind telling him to run, to flee Kadris and Kyrus
in one world and Captain Zayne and the Fair Trader in the other.
    Tanner's feet were moving again before he had time
to daydream up more trouble than he could figure a way out of. He had already
made things bad enough by agreeing to Denrik Zayne's plan. Keeping his eyes
straight ahead, he crossed Kalak Square and made his way inside.
    Soldiers inside saluted, each raising a fist as
Lieutenant Tanner passed. Tanner gave a perfunctory salute in return without
meeting anyone's gaze. Even the one superior officer he passed made no comment
at his lack of deference. Everyone knew he was on his way to see Sir Brannis,
and that meant no one dared delay him.
    When Brannis had first taken the position as Grand
Marshal, Tanner had heard the news secondhand from his post in Naran Port. Some
of the soldiers there had joked that Sir Brannis