Ascendant's Rite (The Moontide Quartet) Read Online Free PDF Page B

her expression way beyond confused. ‘Why do you think we can help you?’ she asked.
    ‘I don’t know that you can,’ Corinea replied, ‘but you’re my last chance. You see, I’m dying: my body is deteriorating in ways too complex for me to heal. Time is finally defeating me. I don’t wish to have my candle blown out without one final effort to tell my tale. I was travelling north after hearing of Antonin Meiros’ death, to see if those who succeeded him might heed me – then I heard Ramita’s prayers, her mind speaking aloud of all you’ve been through, and I learned that she was married to Antonin Meiros, that she has borne his children and lost one, that you’ve both held the Scytale of Corineus, the one treasure so valuable that I could use it to bargain with. I have seen the way you treat each other, that you are good-hearted people, and so I’m hoping you will help me.’
    Ramita leaned forward. ‘And if we do, what will you do for us?’
    Kore’s Blood, she’s bargaining with Corinea!
    The ancient woman cackled grimly. ‘You are indeed a daughter of Aruna Nagar market, Ramita Ankesharan. A price for anything, and anything for a price.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘Such is this world, is it not? Well, perhaps it would interest you that I know the master ingredient to the ambrosia? Yes, I know of the notes you still carry, and that you are missing that key fact.’
    With huge effort Alaron put that thought aside and asked, ‘How could we tell anyone your story? We’re outlaws, wanted by both sides of the war.’
    ‘I know this,’ Corinea replied tersely. ‘I’ve been listening to your minds for the past day and a half, ever since I detected you here. You are a failed mage with dangerous ideals, Alaron Mercer. You, Ramita Ankesharan, are the widow of poor Antonin and part of the Ordo Costruo. More than that: if you both regain the Scytale and create a new order of magi, you will have the authority to speak to the world. All I ask is that when you do, you champion my tale.’
    They looked at each other, then Ramita said, very formally, ‘Lady Corinea, Al’Rhon and I must speak alone.’
    ‘Of course. I will wait outside.’
    ‘No, no, we will go,’ Ramita said quickly, surprising Alaron, until he remembered that Dasra was outside with Yash.
    Ramita almost ran to the river. She took her son from Yash and hugged him hard, ignoring his soaked clothing dampening her sari.
    Alarmed at her visible distress, the young Zain asked ‘What is wrong? Shall I summon help?’
    ‘No!’ Alaron said quickly. ‘No, could you just . . . er, give us a moment?’
    Yash looked perplexed, but he bowed in acceptance and backed out of earshot. Ramita looked up at Alaron, her face now full of protective resolve. ‘This is the woman who killed your god, if we believe the story she has told us.’ She didn’t mention Corinea’s claim to have slept with her husband and Alaron decided it was probably politic to forget that bit of her tale. ‘Does she really want to help us? Or does she just want the Scytale for herself?’
    How would I know? He’d never been good at dealing with duplicity. ‘I think she’s being honest,’ he said after a moment. ‘Everything she said sounds real and true to me, but I really wouldn’t know. If she is Corinea, she’s been very successfully hiding from the most powerful magi in the world for five centuries. Everyone thinks she’s dead. If she wanted the Scytale I don’t think she’d need our help, or our permission.’
    ‘But why would she need our help to tell her side of the story?’
    ‘Well, it could be as simple as she says: she needs someone to open the doors for her. But Hanook told us the Ordo Costruo were destroyed at the start of the Crusade. I don’t think she knows that.’
    ‘If we refuse her, what happens?’
    ‘That would depend on her,’ Alaron replied. ‘But if we do agree to help her, she says she knows the key ingredient for the ambrosia . .