Aenir Read Online Free PDF Page B

breeze and sighed.
    His neck hurt. There was no sign of Milla, or the other Storm Shepherd, Odris.
    Perhaps there was something else he could have done, Tal thought as he massaged his neck. But he couldn't think of anything, even now. Besides, what was done was done.
    The important thing was to move on. To find the Codex, which would lead him to Gref.
    But he couldn't help thinking about Milla.
    "I had to do it," he protested aloud, reassuring himself. "I had to do it."
    The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that he'd been absolutely right and Milla was merely a barbarian who didn't understand.
    She had no right to try and strangle him. After all the things he'd done for her. She had a Sunstone. Now she would have a Spiritshadow as well. She was practically a Chosen, and she owed it all to Tal. Her silly Icecarl superstitions weren't worth bothering about.
    He supposed she was an enemy now. If he saw her again he'd have to blast her before she could attack him.
    He wished he hadn't thought of that. His anger melted away, and he felt depressed. And hungry.
    Still rubbing his neck, Tal walked out into the sun. Its heat cheered him up a little. He reminded himself that what he had to do now was work out where to go and what to do.
    He had to forget about Milla and get on with finding the Codex.
    A large flying beetle, all blue and gold, buzzed up and Tal brushed it away from his face. As he did so, he saw part of the Storm Shepherd's shadow move. There was an area there that was darker, in the outline of a boy. Tal moved his hand again and that darker shadow moved, too.
    Tal had not been taught about this in the Lectorium. He walked a few paces farther away, and moved his arms up and down. The darker boyshadow in the middle of the Storm Shepherd's shadow moved its arms up and down.
    Tal walked even farther away, but the boyshadow stayed exactly in the middle of Adras's shadow. It mimicked his movements, but did not follow him as a real shadow would.
    Tal shook his head. There was so much to try and understand. Only a few months ago he had thought he knew pretty much everything he needed to know. He had supposed he was well on the way to becoming a Shadowmaster.
    Now he only knew how much he didn't know. "Hey, Adras!" he shouted. "I want to talk to you."
    The cloud shivered and then started to reform into man-shape again. It grew darker, and lightning began to flicker in the shape of eyes. It took a few minutes to completely regain its form, then the Storm Shepherd bobbed a few stretches away from Tal.
    "Were you asleep?" asked Tal.
    "No!" exclaimed Adras, but he spoiled his answer by stretching his arms above his head and yawning, a yawn that sent a blast of cold air across Tal. "I was keeping watch."
    "Sure," said Tal. "What happened to Milla and Odris?"
    "They left," said Adras.
    "I can see that," said Tal. "Where did they go?"
    Adras shrugged and yawned again.
    "Brilliant," muttered Tal. "I don't suppose you know anything about the Codex of the Chosen?" "The what?" Adras swatted at the beetle that had suddenly returned. His huge hand narrowly missed Tal, who was blown back a step by the sudden rush of air.
    "Careful!" shouted Tal. He walked back a few stretches and started again.
    "The Codex of the Chosen. It's some sort of book. It can answer all sorts of questions. Have you heard of it, or where it might be?"
    Adras scratched his head, small lightnings flickering across his scalp. The beetle circled Tal's head, almost as if it was listening.
    "No," Adras said finally. "Odris is the one to ask.
    She knows a lot."
    "But we don't know where she's gone to," said Tal, keeping his temper in check. "Is there anyone else around who might be able to answer my questions?"
    Is there anyone who can help me find the Codex?"
    Adras raised one hand and rested his chin upon it, deep in thought. The beetle flew around Tal's head the other way and then made a series of strange up and down movements that Tal ignored.
    "I