Enchantment Read Online Free PDF Page A

to his head, a short beard, and eyes like midnight. A shudder of unease ran through Tallon as he met that dark gaze. Tallon had tried to ignore the disquiet he’d felt in recent years whenever he was in this man’s company. Now, with some newfound inner sense; he knew he stood in the presence of evil.
    Malachai was dressed much as when they had parted days past, in black pants and a black fur-trimmed cloak. He came to a halt as he caught sight of Tallon, then gestured behind him. Two of his guard emerged to position themselves at his back.
    Every one of Tallon’s senses went on the alert. As head of the Order, Malachai rarely left the Keep. What was he doing here? How had he found this place? Tallon slowed his breathing. Malachai was the one who had sent him to kill Shayla. He mustn’t know what had happened.
    Malachai frowned. “Tallon, where did you come from?”
    “From the East. I lost the girl, but I received information that she was heading back here.”
    “Really?” Malachai waved a hand around the clearing. “Well, she’s obviously not here yet.” His brows drew together. “You’re good. I have sentries placed all around the circle. You must have slipped past them.” Tallon gave an unconcerned shrug. “It was easy. They’ve grown careless in the Keep.”
    “Perhaps.” Tallon wasn’t sure whether the other man believed him or not. Malachai was tricky and held his own council.
    “What brings you to this place?” He tried to keep his tone casual, but he was desperate to know what had occurred in his absence. How long had he been lost in limbo? He couldn’t ask the question without revealing what had happened, and Malachai couldn’t know of his connection to Shayla. The warlock was ruthless in upholding the Laws of Segregation. But then he had been here when Casterix had nearly destroyed Arroway. He had seen firsthand what devastation the moon magic could bring to the world.
    Since meeting Shayla, Tallon had come to the conclusion that the Laws of Segregation were wrong, that they were damaging the world. Shayla was not evil; he could never again accept that lie. But he still believed that the Order did what they did for the good of Arroway, that they genuinely believed that witches were dangerous and ultimately would cause the destruction of their world.
    Malachai turned and waved a hand to his guards. They disappeared the way they had come and he turned back to Tallon. “We learned of this place from the witch’s mother.”
    “She still lives?” The question slipped out before Tallon could think better of it. “She might be of help capturing the girl.” Malachai pursed his lips. “She was alive when last I saw her.” He paced the area for a minute deep in thought. Finally, he stopped beside one of the great stones and stroked one hand over the rock. “I wanted time alone to see if I could make sense of this place. There is deep magic at work here.” Could Malachai have known what the circle was? Casterix had explained it to them. There were certain places where the veil between worlds was gossamer thin. If you knew the right magic, and had sufficient power, you could use the circles to move between worlds.
    He was sure that Shayla’s mother knew nothing of the power of the circles. Shayla had told him that it was just vague rumors that had led them here. Rumors of a place where they would find help.The Order had received reports of a witch with the moon mark and sent Tallon out to hunt her down and destroy her. He had captured the mother, not far from this place. He’d suspected at the time that she had given herself up in order to give Shayla a chance to escape. It hadn’t worked, only delayed the inevitable.
    Tallon had taken her back to the Keep, and then returned to his search for Shayla. He had caught up with her here. And for the first time, he’d been reluctant to perform his duty.
    When he had started his spell to destroy her, Shayla had countered with magic of her own. She