Elder Isles 2: The Green Pearl Read Online Free PDF

gleam of the thing. Still, we in this affair together, and fairness must be observed.” He pointed to a fly which had settled on the table. “Put down your hand beside mine. I will move first, then you must move, as much or as little as you wish, but you must go always at least beyond my hand. When the fly at last departs in fright, whoever moved his hand last shall carry the pearl.”
    “Agreed.”
    The trial was made, and each man moved his hand according to his best reading of the fly’s emotion, but eventually, the fly took alarm at Sir Tristano’s sudden move and flew iaway.
    Sir Tristano groaned. “Alas! I must carry the pearl!”
    “But not for long, and only so far as the dock.” Sir Tristano gingerly lifted the end of the twig and the two crossed the square to a vacant place on the dock, with all the Skyre before them.
    Orlo spoke: “Pearl, farewell! We hereby return you to that salt green element from which you originated. Sir Tristano, cast away, and with a will!”
    Tristano tossed twig and pearl into the sea. The two watched as the gem sank from view, then returned to their table. Here, clean and wet, they discovered the pearl, directly in front of Tristano’s place, causing the hairs to rise at the back of his neck.
    “Ha ha!” said Orlo. “So the thing has decided to play us tricks! Let it beware! We are not without resources! In any event, sir knight, time has not come to a halt and our way is long. Take up the pearl and let us be on our way. Perhaps we shall meet the arch-bishop, who will be grateful for a gift.”
    Sir Tristano dubiously looked down at the pearl. “You then advise that I should carry this object upon my person?
    Orlo held out his hands. “Would you leave it here for some poor wight of a serving boy?”
    Sir Tristano grimly split another twig and took up the pearl in the cleft. “Let us be on our way.”
    The two men procured their horses from the stables and departed Dun Cruighre. The road led first along the shore past sandy beaches pounded by surf and, at intervals, fisherman’s hut. As they rode they spoke of the pearl.
    Orlo said: “When I reflect upon this strange object, I seem to detect a pattern. The pearl fell to the ground, where it belonged to no one. The pickpocket seized upon it and so it became his. You stamped on the pickpocket’s wrist, and in effect wrested away the pearl and took it into your own custody. But since you have not touched the pearl, it cannot work its magic upon you.”
    “You feel, then, that it can cause me no harm unless I touch it?”
    “That is my guess, inasmuch as such an act would represent your intent to partake of the pearl’s evil.”
    “I expressly deny any such intent and I hereby state that any contact, should it occur, must be considered accidental by all parties to the incident.”
    Sir Tristano looked at Orlo “What is your opinion of that?”
    Orlo shrugged. “Who knows? Such a disclaimer may or may not dampen the evil ardor of the pearl.”
    The road turned inland and presently Sir Tristano pointet ahead. “Mark the bell-tower which rises so high above the trees! It surely signifies the church of a village.”
    “Undoubtedly so. They are great ones for churches, thess Celts; nevertheless they are still more pagan than Christian. In every forest you will find a druid’s grove and when the moon shines full they leap through fires wth antlers tied to their heads. How does it go in Troicinet?”
    “We do not lack for Druids,” said Sir Tristano. “They hide in the forests and are seldom seen. Most folk, however revere the Earthgoddess Gaea, but in an easy fashion, without blood, nor fire, nor guilt. We celebrate only four festivals: to Life in the spring; to the Sun and Sky in the summer; to the Earth and Sea in the Autumn; to the Moon and Stars in the winter. On our birthdays, we place gifts of bread and wine on the votive stone at the temple. There are neither priests nor creed, which makes for a simple and honest