Council of Blades Read Online Free PDF Page B

unicorns; possibly all three."
    "Really?"
    "Oh, it goes with the territory." Luccio spoke with cul-ture, conviction, and pure drunken tomfoolery. "I think the unicorn thing eventually wears off. However! They are remarkable creatures, and your mission, my lad, is to catch one; possibly more than one, if you have to toss a few back that may be undersized. I shall use my incom-parable powers to seek out the object of your quest.
    "Now avant! Onward-the hunt awaits!"
    Snatching his hapless friend Lorenzo by the arm, Luccio dragged the boy off across the room. Lorenzo des-perately strained for one last glance toward the short, slim girl in the golden hat, and then lost sight of her behind the swirling crowds.
    *****
    Miliana's footsteps-little white marks made by feet which had flitted across the dance floor's chalk-left an interesting trail. She had fled behind columns, ducked through potted plants, and snuck behind the orchestra and illusionists. Finally, backed against a wall and pursued by half the air-headed young blades of Sumbria, Miliana was forced to turn at bay. To the left, Lady Ulia blocked any exit out into the palace halls, and although a plunge off the high balcony was preferable to meeting with the fawning, pompous sycophants who made up the list of Sumbria's eli-gible bachelors, Miliana felt loath to spatter herself all over the pavement and stain her favorite gown.
    A dozen fiery young nobles advanced upon her, all vis-ibly pulling on false masks of admiration, gaiety and love. As a group, they had little to recommend them except as fine examples of noble acne.
    At long last, it was time for Miliana to show her fangs to the world. Turning her back on the pursuit, Miliana licked her lips, closed her eyes and framed the concepts of her carefully rehearsed magic spell. She felt a ripple of force pass clean up through her body from her toes-a jolt powerful enough to knock her pointy hat awry.
    Smiling, freckled and petite, she turned to face the noblemen-and was instantly rewarded by a look of pure terror in their eyes.
    Cantrips were simple aids to social grace; they could add a sparkle to the eye or a ring to the voice at just the perfect time of need. Miliana's version of the basic spell was truly an awesome thing; as she turned a suddenly carnivorous, fang-crammed smile upon the crowd, men suddenly remembered previous appointments, heard their mothers calling, or took instant vows of chastity.
    So much for Lomatran weddings! Miliana had cleared the hall in an instant. Thrilled by the success of her first real spell, Miliana reveled in their reactions like a cat rolling in a bath of cream. She stalked after her frenzied prey, sucking in a delicious breath of victory.
    Triumph at last! The age of Miliana the sorceress was finally at hand! Miliana Mannicci, bespectacled princess of Sumbria, tilted her pointy hat down across her eyes and faced the world with a predatory sigh.
    Feeling herself in charge of her own destiny at last, the girl took up a glass of wine, found a quiet balcony, and leaned upon the railing to gaze out at the gently rolling foothills of the Akanapeaks.
    *****
    "All hail! All hail and salute! Meet we now as the com-manders of the Grand Company of Sumbria. Let those who share in our enterprise approach!"
    Twenty swords were drawn; twenty swords were raised, clashed, and then lowered down onto a table made of purest ebony. The steel blades struck brilliant sparks of light as they crashed across a tabletop vandalized by a hundred years of such abuse.
    The Blade Captains of Sumbria, commanders of caval-ry, hippogriffs, and battle sorcerers, stood behind their seats as the current tally of shares were read. The valley campaign had caused no voting adjustments.
    With a nod to the accountant-general, Cappa Mannicci settled into his chair and hammered thrice upon the scarred old table.
    "By the power invested in me by the company's Articles of Association, as Grand Commander and Prince-elect of