Glasswrights' Test Read Online Free PDF Page A

near enough that he could rest a hand on her shoulder. “Ranita. We all have obligations.”
    â€œYes, Sire. And all of my time is spoken for!”
    â€œYou will find time. You will travel to Brianta to watch over Berylina, as steadily as I would myself if I could go.”
    â€œSire—” she began, but she let the word trail off. Could she upset Hal’s balance? Should she disrupt the power that he was exercising the success he was at last enjoying? He was her king, after all. She was his vassal.
    She bowed her head. “Aye, Sire. I will go with Berylina to Brianta.”
    Tovin stepped up beside her as she spoke, returned from harvesting his new commissions. She felt the warmth of his body through her crimson gown.
    â€œI will travel with you, Ranita,” Tovin said as easily as if they spoke of an afternoon’s outing beyond the city walls.
    Hal said, “Player, you are not required to accompany Ranita Glasswright in this task.”
    â€œNevertheless, I feel the call,” Tovin responded immediately, moving his hand across his chest in a fluid holy sign. If Rani did not know the player’s skill, she would have thought him struck with sudden religious fervor, with a stunning insight into the Thousand Gods and all that they intended to work in the lives of men. Tovin pressed: “Your Majesty, the players came to Morenia to serve you. Do not hamper our work. Do not order me from the side of our patron.”
    â€œSold!” rang out the silk master, crashing his baton against the wooden podium. Another lot of spidersilk. More gold for the royal coffers.
    Rani watched Hal make up his mind. She saw him nod at Tovin, absorb the player’s untold promises. She saw him glance at Berylina, note the princess’s whispered prayer of gratitude to Lor, gratitude for another lot of successfully auctioned silk. She saw Hal turn to her, to Rani, take her measurement to determine what she desired.
    Of course, Rani wanted Tovin’s companionship. She wanted the player beside her, sharing with her, teaching her. She wanted his devotion. His dry humor. His glasswright’s knowledge. If she were bound to travel to Brianta, better to work with Tovin than without. She nodded her head, ducking her chin in barely perceptible agreement.
    â€œIt is settled, then. Tovin Player, you shall go.” Hal started to reach for Tovin’s hand, to seal the bargain with a royal clasp, but before he could move, the door to the silk hall crashed open. Sunlight streamed into the building, spilling across the floor like golden milk.
    The silk master stopped his bidding, cutting off his recitation of the glories of the cobalt silk now on the dais. All eyes turned to the doorway, to the frantic palace messenger who sprinted into the hall.
    â€œYour Majesty!” the boy gasped. “Come quick! Queen Mareka has fallen! The midwives stand ready—your child is about to be born!”
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    Chapter 2
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    Parion Glasswright touched his head to the altar in the corner of his study, automatically muttering a prayer for forgiveness from all the Thousand Gods. Forgiveness, for all the mistakes that he had made in his life, for all the wrong words he had said, the ones that he had failed to say. …
    Why were the unspoken words the ones that he remembered most clearly? Why was his silence the thing that haunted him most often? Not his rage, not his ranting. Rather, the times when he could have said something, could have done something to change the world around him, but had waited too long.
    Years had passed in stasis, but Parion was ready to act now. He was ready to speak his mind, to take mastery over his fate and the fate of all the Morenian glasswrights under his control. Parion rested his fingers on the glass medallion that was centered on his altar—glass for Clain, the glasswrights’ god. Glass for Morada, the lost love of Parion’s life.
    A knock on the