Greyrawk (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

the hill. There was a presence behind me. He started to move.
    "Wait, Lord Greyrawk. I must speak to you." The voice was lilting yet fragile as if little used.
    Greyrawk turned at the words. Coming down the hill was the most beautiful woman he had seen in all his travels. He tried to speak but no words found their way out. All he could do was watch her.
    Greyrawk watched the woman approach. She wore copper armor, light and form fitting. She wore no helmet just a jeweled band around her head holding back her hair. Her silent movements held a matchless grace and the luminous quality of her blue skin kept him mute. The copper eyes were framed by hair of a sky blue cropped close on top, long on the sides. She held a spear, ornate and deadly. She stopped before him and raised her spear.
    "I have watched you for many days, Greyrawk. It is good you have returned to Adan's Hill. It is your duty to your people, and to mine."
    "You know my name? Who told you I was here?"
    "I have spoken to no one of your acquaintance. I have always known your name. Your face, eyes, body, voice all tells me you are Greyrawk. I have been waiting for you."
    "I don't understand," said Greyrawk.
    "That is why I am here. I am to help you understand. It sounds simple to say it, but it will be difficult. You are to learn of the earth, its grasses, trees, and the voices in the wind. Everything Men take for granted. You must learn all this before you become prince." She smiled.
    "Prince? I am not to be a prince."
    "No, I do not mean a prince of Men. Greyrawk, you must cast aside the pale notions of Men. I am talking about my people, our people - the Celaeri."
    "I don't understand. I am not Celaeri. Is that what you are?"
    "I can tell I've started badly. Alarie said it would be so."
    "Who's Alarie?"
    "Your Warlord. The Warlord of the Celaeri. It was Alarie who helped you when the Vlakan attacked you."
    "The creatures...?"
    "Yes. They are called Vlakan. They are the dark souls that must wander the world without rest to atone for their deeds. The Celaeri keep them from the world of men, but we are few and sometimes they break through. With a Greyrawk in residence they will fear this hill once more."
    "They didn't fear me."
    "They fear you, but you are not as strong as you will be. They are desperate to kill you now. That is why I am here; to help you gain your Celaeri strength. You must reach your potential now, or it may be too late for you. And us."
    Greyrawk was silent.
    "I have started badly and this is all new to you. Let me start again. My name is Ioane Adan. I am Celaeri. The Celaeri are the original inhabitants of this land. We are on Adan's Hill where Castle Greyrawk once stood and where my home once stood before that. I remember you as a young child and it was a sad day when you were sent away. My father agreed with your grandfather's choice for you would have died if you stayed."
    "Did my grandfather know your father?"
    "Not really. He felt his presence but Jerue Adan never spoke to your grandfather."
    "Did you ever speak to me?"
    She smiled, nodding her head.
    "Yes, I did, but I was caught and punished."
    "I don't remember any children with blue hair."
    "You did not see me as a child; I am older than I look. Let us begin there for I sense your Men mind is searching for an anchor. I have lived for many of your lifetimes. Indeed, I did once dwell on this hill in my father's house before the Men came. If you look for an exact age, I cannot say."
    "If I had seen you, you would have appeared as you do now?"
    "Yes, but you didn't see me. I made sure of that at least. It made my punishment less severe."
    "Yet you appear before me now."
    "That I do. I want you to come and learn about Celaeri. I want you to understand what you need to do."
    "Ioane Adan, you have tossed more at me than my pursuers and I feel I can deflect none of it. Before yesterday I had never heard of the Celaeri and I have no idea what you are talking about. I certainly am no Celaeri so these