His mind poised, swooped, and remembered: the fight with the doppleganger, the struggle in the dark cell as the water rose higher around him, his rescue, and the journey through the dark tunnel to this place, wherever this place was. His heart was pounding as if it would beat its way through his ...
“Your oath, shaman. I cut you loose and you come with me. No tricks.” “So you give me to the little people?” he snorted. ”You’re my prisoner. The Vani won’t hurt you.” ”Your oath, human?” “By the blood of my family.” ‘qhat is good. I give you my oath, human—but only until we reach your valley.” “...
The stand’s small legs ended in finely chiselled rams’ heads covered in gilt. Small, facetted garnets decorated the curling horns of the beasts, tapering back into the black iron of the supports. The crystal shown dimly with the warm colors of sunlight. Chanar marveled at it. Staring into the sto...