Fortress Draconis Read Online Free PDF Page A

despite the little bit of a quiver that echoed through his words. “You should understand, Will, that Resolute and I lived during the time of the last war with Chytrine. What you have told us does not match our memories. For the past quarter century, we’ve been looking for a way to fulfill a prophecy and defeat Chytrine. We’ve been so focused on what we were doing, we’ve missed how the history has changed.”
    “What do you mean it’s changed? Chytrine is this evil woman who wants to take over everything.” The youth frowned. “She has all these monsters fighting for her, and thesullanciri, of course, and weapons like dragonels. The other armies didn’t kill her because she ran from King Augustus, and she’s been waiting to avenge herself. But you know that because you’re heroes. You two stop her. I have heard your stories sung by lots of minstrels.”
    Resolute growled as his eyes narrowed. “A song is entertainment, boy, not a recitation of facts. It might make us heroes here in the Dim, but that means nothing in Hightown or the rest of the world.”
    “What I told you isn’t right?”
    “History’s a mosaic, boy, bits of the truth mixed with lies. Lies people had to tell, so they wouldn’t be afraid.” Resolute rubbed at his fist, brushing plaster dust from it. “Augustus did defeat an army and win a queen. That’s true. The rest of it, though … wishful thinking.”
    Will picked up the leaf-bag and rubbed it. “What does that history have to do with me? Why would someone want to kill me?”
    Crow held up a hand to forestall Resolute’s comment. “There are some things we cannot tell you, Will—until we know you need to hear them. It could be you’re just a thief who stole a leaf….”
    The youth smiled.“ ‘Just a thief who stole a leaf,’ I like that rhyme.”
    The man chuckled just a bit. “No surprise there, I think. If you are the person we hope you are, then we will eventually be able to explain everything to you. If you are not, a chance comment could doom the person whois the one we want. Do you understand?”
    “I think so.” Will nodded and shoved his feet back into wet boots. “It’s like the story of the twin princes. They couldn’t let the one who had been raised away from the castle know who he was because folks wanted to kill him.” His head came up. “You’re not saying I’m a prince or anything, are you?”
    Resolute laughed aloud, with just a hint of cruelty. “You’re no prince, boy, not in the least.”
    “Oh.” Will suspected they might be lying to him, but he also decided not to let them know he knew. He shrugged his shoulders and stood, wincing at the squishiness of his boots. “Just as well, since a prince will get as soaked in the rain as a thief, but a thief can tolerate it.”
    Through the window and out across rooftops they went in the rain and dead of night. For an old man and a big Vork, the two of them moved pretty well. Will followed the paths they picked out, primarily because his knee was still tender enough to make the more demanding route he would have chosen a bit dangerous. He wasn’t so much worried about hurting himself as he was about damaging the leaf, which surprised him.
    They descended to the streets and reached a stable where three horses were quickly saddled. Grain and other supplies were loaded on six more horses, then all of them were led out in a string behind Resolute’s horse. Will ended up riding a brown gelding, which seemed to be a docile creature. Will had no complaints about that because the last time he’d tried to ride a horse, the owner had arrived before he’d gotten away and the beast had reared, tossing Will off. Limping back to Marcus had not been any fun.
    Crow took the reins of Will’s horse and led it along through the city. The rain slackened to a drizzle, and mist began crawling through the streets. They skirted the southern edge of the Dimandowns, then left the city through the western gate. The guards there barely roused themselves to watch them pass. Resolute