Gryphon in Glory Read Online Free PDF Page B

like—like being with kinblood. I marveled a little that I felt so.
    “I am Elys,” the woman said, adding no House or Dale to mark rank. Yet manifestly she was one who would sit at the high table in any hall.
    “And this"—her hand reached forward a little as if, were there no space between them, she would lay fingers on his arm (again I felt the bond between them, and I hungered for its like)—"is Jervon.”
    “I am Joisan.” Because they made no claim of land or kin, neither did I.
    “Joisan,” she repeated, her head a fraction to one side, almost as if she expected some echo from the mist.
    That thought made me uneasy once again, broke through the dreamlike content which had held me for a fraction of time. I turned my head quickly. Only our four horses stood there.
    “But you are also . . .” Elys's fingers twitched, as if, against her will, they sought to summon some trick of Power. Then her tone changed as she added the same warning Nalda had given me.
    “This is a dangerous land in which to ride alone, Joisan.”
    I made the same reply that I had in Norsdale: “For one alone and careful, it may be less dangerous than in company.”
    To my surprise Jervon gave a low laugh. “She is right.” He spoke across me to Elys. “Have we not proven the truth of that ourselves? As long as one stays away from certain—places.” To that last word he gave emphasis.
    For a moment I thought that his companion might take his words amiss, though I knew nothing of what lay behind it all. I saw her teeth close for an instant upon her lip. Then she nodded.
    “There are dangers and dangers. Only . . .” She turned her head to catch my eyes in as direct a gaze as the Past-Abbess had bent upon me when I had informed her of my plans. I did not know whether I held this woman in awe or not, but I knew she was more than she seemed, and somehow she knew more about me than I had told or wanted a stranger to discover.
    “You carry,” she said abruptly, “such protection as will serve you well. How else could I have felt your coming hither so strongly? But you are not of those who by blood have the use of such.”
    My hands flew to the gryphon. Any chance to conceal it now was too late. That Elys guessed, or knew, something of its value I had no doubts now.
    She shook her head quickly. My alarm must have been very transparent and easy to read.
    “No, Joisan, I do not know the nature of what you wear or to what use that may be put. Only that it is a thing of Power. That you wear it so openly means that that Power is ready to your hand—'’
    “No!” Least of all did I make any claim of strange talents before one who was of the Old Blood. “This is a thing of Power, yes. But I do not know how to summon what it may control. Perhaps my lord can riddle some of it, for this is his gift—that is my wedded lord. I have seen it act—but not by my will.” Or had some of its strength gone forth that time I feared for Kerovan's life because I had willed it? Who could tell me that?
    “And your lord is?” Jervon asked that.
    My chin came up defiantly. Did he know of Kerovan? By his gear he must have served or did serve now with the Dale forces; he was clearly no outlaw. Perhaps he had heard those vile whispers, rumors of “monster,” “half-man,” which had poisoned my lord's life, walked him away from me.
    “My wedded lord is Kerovan of Ulmsdale,” I answered and brought pride strong into my reply. “He rides now to answer the summons of Lord Imgry.”
    “Kerovan?” Elys made a question of the name as she spoke to Jervon. He shook his head.
    “There are many lords with Imgry—those who still live. Of him I have not heard.”
    I was sure he spoke the truth, but Elys, it was plain, was not satisfied. She turned that probing gaze now upon the gryphon itself.
    “He who made a gift of such a thing,” she commented, “must be no common man and of no common heritage.”
    I knew I must make a choice. After all Elys was one