Eidolon Read Online Free PDF

freeing her to the alcove office, with the contract
and the computer, accounts open on the screen before her. A quiet
step brought her out of her chair--
    Shadow lifted an eyebrow, leaning his
shoulder against the door. "Good evening, Ceola, are you well?"
    "Well? Of course--" Her hand flew to her
mouth. She had forgotten!
    "Shadow--I do beg your pardon! So much has
occurred..."
    "Yes, so Jasper tells me. It does a teacher
good to hear that his lessons are heeded so well. What has
happened, though, if you may tell it?"
    She plucked the contract from the desk and
silently held it out to him. He leaned forward and slipped it out
of her hand, glanced down the first page, flipped to the last, read
the second, and handed the whole back to her.
    "I take it that you have withheld your
agreement, and that this was the cause of Captain Elby's . . .
annoyance?"
    "Yes,"Ceola said. "I have been sitting here
trying to think what to do . . ."
    "Surely, it is obvious? Buy your sister's
share from her."
    Ceola waved at the screen.
"Yes, but it was how that I was just now trying to solve. We--cash is not flowing.
I think," she said slowly, "that this is a temporary situation that
will soon resolve itself . . ." as
soon , she added silently, as Min is locked out of the
financials .
    "I see," Shadow said. "Perhaps-- "He
stopped, head turning slightly, and now Ceola heard it, too--soft
footsteps coming from the back.
    "One moment, by your leave," he murmured and
faded out of the doorway.
    Ceola rose, hands fisted. From the hallway
came a gasp, a murmur and the sound of footsteps, approaching . . .
somewhat less stealthily.
    She was not really surprised to see Min
enter the room, propelled by Shadow's hand on her shoulder. The
Scout positioned himself in the doorway, face so neutral it might
have been carved from gold.
    Min threw a no-doubt beseeching glance at
him over her shoulder but his expression did not alter. Ceola
cleared her throat.
    "If you are come after Elby, I am afraid
that Jas Per has taken him to the proctors."
    "I know," Min said quietly. "I am come to
beg you, Ceola. Sign the contract."
    She stared. "Min--does he compel you? You
need not accept it, you can--"
    Min laughed. "Compel me? No, he does not
compel me! I compel myself! This-- business, as you call it, as our
mother did, as if it were some shining gift for which we ought
always to be grateful, while it demands our efforts and destroys
our strength! It is a stone 'round my neck. I strangle because of
it! Sign the contract, sister, and let us both be free!"
    "I do not find it so . . . burdensome as
you," Ceola said, wondering. How could she not have known how much
her sister hated their livelihood? "I--I wish to buy your
share."
    Min sniffed. "Mr. O'Berin offers cash.
Time-payments do me not one whit of good."
    Ceola felt her stomach clench. She had
guessed as much, and yet--
    "Therefore, payment shall be made in cash,"
Shadow spoke up from his post in the doorway. "What is required is
the name and direction of your agent in this matter."
    Min turned to stare at him. "I will receive
the money myself and sign whatever Ceola would have me sign."
    It seemed to Ceola that Shadow . . .
hesitated, perhaps to take himself in hand. When he spoke again, it
was in that same quiet, measured tone. "The thing will be done
properly, or it will not be done at all. Will you go to the Council
of Clans with this?"
    Ceola nearly choked. Bring it to the
Council? The expense would ruin them all!
    Min paled, as well, but she accorded Shadow
a bow.
    "As you will. I shall . . . locate an
appropriate agent and send the information to Ceola tomorrow. Is
that acceptable?"
    Shadow looked toward Ceola, who swallowed
and inclined her head, feeling foolishly formal.
    "That is acceptable, sister; I thank
you."
    *
    The next day came, and the information
regarding Min's agent with it. Ceola sat behind the bar and sipped
tea, waiting for Shadow.
    He was to bring the money and the contract
naming him her