Debt of Bones Read Online Free PDF Page B

captured. They have a sorceress holding the captives with a spell. Please, Wizard Zorander, you must help me.
    “When I was hiding, I heard the sorceress talking to their officers. The D’Harans plan to use the captives as shields. They will use the captives to blunt the deadly magic you send against them, or to blunt the spears and arrows the Midlands army sends against them. If they decide to turn and attack, they plan to drive the captives ahead. They called it ‘dulling the enemies’ weapons on their own women and children.’”
    No one looked at her. They were all once again engaged in their mass talking and arguing. It was as if the lives of all those people were beneath their consideration.
    Tears stung at Abby’s eyes. “Either way all those innocent people will die. Please, Wizard Zorander, we must have your help. Otherwise they’ll all die.”
    He looked her way briefly. “There is nothing we can do for them.”
    Abby panted, trying to hold back the tears. “My father was captured, along with others of my kin. My husband is among the captives. My daughter is among them. She is not yet five. If you send magic, they will be killed. If you attack, they will be killed. You must rescue them, or hold the attack.”
    He looked genuinely saddened. “I’m sorry. I can’t help them. May the good spirits watch over them and take their souls to the Light.” He began turning away.
    “No!” Abby screamed. Some of the people fell silent. Others only glanced her way as they went on. “My child! You can’t!” She thrust a hand into the sack. “I have a bone—”
    “Doesn’t everyone,” he grumbled, cutting her off. “I can’t help you.”
    “But you must!”
    “We would have to abandon our cause. We must take the D’Haran force down—one way or another. Innocent though those people are, they are in the way. I can’t allow the D’Harans to succeed in such a scheme or it would encourage its widespread use, and then even more innocents would die. The enemy must be shown that it will not deter us from our course.”
    “NO!” Abby wailed. “She’s only a child! You’re condemning my baby to death! There are other children! What kind of monster are you?”
    No one but the wizard was even listening to her any more as they all went on with their talking.
    The First Wizard’s voice cut through the din and fell on her ears as clearly as the knell of death. “I am a man who must make choices such as this one. I must deny your petition.”
    Abby screamed with the agony of failure. She wasn’t even to be allowed to show him.
    “But it’s a debt!” she cried. “A solemn debt!”
    “And it cannot be paid now.”
    Abby screamed hysterically. The sorceress began pulling her away. Abby broke from the woman and ran out of the room. She staggered down the stone steps, unable to see through the tears.
    At the bottom of the steps she buckled to the floor in helpless sobbing. He wouldn’t help her. He wouldn’t help a helpless child. Her daughter was going to die.
     
    A bby, convulsing in sobs, felt a hand on her shoulder. Gentle arms pulled her closer. Tender fingers brushed back her hair as she wept into a woman’s lap. Another person’s hand touched her back and she felt the warm comfort of magic seeping into her.
    “He’s killing my daughter,” she cried. “I hate him.”
    “It’s all right, Abigail,” the voice above said. “It’s all right to weep for such a pain as this.”
    Abby wiped at her eyes, but couldn’t stop the tears. The sorceress was there, beside her, at the bottom of the steps.
    Abby looked up at the woman in whose arms she lay. It was the Mother Confessor herself. She could do her worst, for all Abby cared. What did it matter, what did any of it matter, now?
    “He’s a monster,” she sobbed. “He is truly named. He is the ill wind of death. This time it’s my baby he’s killing, not the enemy.”
    “I understand why you feel that way, Abigail,” the Mother Confessor