Hidden Warrior Read Online Free PDF Page A

down, perhaps you can convince him to let you visit here more often. I’m sure Prince Korin will take your side in that.”
    That was little comfort to him now, but Tobin nodded. “I want to see Lhel. Will you take me? Nari will never let me go out alone and Tharin still doesn’t know about her, does he?”
    “No, though I wish more than ever now that he did.” Arkoniel rose. “I’ll take you to her first thing tomorrow, all right?”
    “But I want to go now.”
    “Now?” Arkoniel glanced at the dark window. “It’s after midnight. You should go back to bed …”
    “I’ve slept for days! I’m not tired.”
    Arkoniel smiled again. “But I am, and Lhel will be sleeping, too. Tomorrow, all right? We can go as early as you like, as soon as it’s light. Come on, I’ll walk down with you and see how Ki’s doing.” He pointed to the lamps in turn, snuffing all but the one at his elbow. Then, to Tobin’s surprise, he shuddered and hugged himself. “It’s gloomy up here at night.”
    Tobin couldn’t help glancing nervously toward the tower door as they went out, and was sure he saw the wizard do the same.

Chapter 2
    T obin woke up in the armchair with the sun in his face and Tharin’s cloak tucked around him. He stretched, then leaned forward to see if Ki looked any different.
    His friend hadn’t moved, but Tobin thought there was more color in his cheeks than there had been the night before. He reached under the blankets and found Ki’s hand. It was warm, another encouraging sign.
    “Can you hear me? Ki, you’ve been sleeping forever. It’s a good day for a ride. Wake up. Please?”
    “Let him sleep, keesa.”
    “Lhel?” Tobin turned, expecting to find the door open.
    Instead, the witch floated just behind him in an oval of strange light. He could see trees around her, firs and bare oaks dusted with snow. As he watched, big lacy flakes fell, catching in her dark curls and on the rough fabric of her dress. It was like looking at her through a window. Just beyond the oval the room looked exactly as it should, but she seemed to be standing in her camp.
    Amazed, Tobin reached out to her, but the strange apparition shrank back and in on itself until he could see nothing but her face.
    “No! No touch,” she warned. “Arkoniel bring you. Let Ki rest.”
    She vanished, and left Tobin gaping at the place she’d been. He didn’t understand what he’d just seen, but he took her at her word. “I’ll be back soon,” he told Ki and, on impulse, bent and kissed him lightly on his bandaged forehead. Blushing at his own foolishness, he hurried out and took the stairs to Arkoniel’s room two at a time.
    *     *     *
    I n daylight the corridor looked safe and ordinary, and the tower door nothing but another door. The workroom door stood open and he could hear Iya and Arkoniel talking inside.
    Arkoniel was weaving a pattern of light above the table as Tobin entered. Something struck the wall close to Tobin’s head and skittered across the floor. Startled, he looked down and saw it was only a speckled dry bean.
    “And that’s as far as I’ve gotten with it,” said Arkoniel, sounding frustrated. He still looked tired and when he caught sight of Tobin the worry lines deepened around his mouth. “What is it? Is Ki—?”
    “He’s asleep. I want to go see Lhel now. She said I should come. You said you’d take me.”
    “She said—?” Arkoniel exchanged a look with Iya, then nodded. “Yes, I’ll take you.”
    I t was snowing outside, just as it had been in his vision of Lhel. The fat, wet flakes melted as they touched the ground, but they stayed on the tree boughs like sugar on a cake and he could see his breath on the air. The road behind the keep was covered with fallen leaves, a faded carpet of yellow and red that whispered under Gosi’s hooves. Ahead, the peaks glistened white against the dull grey sky.
    He tried to explain the strange visitation to Arkoniel as they rode.
    “Yes, she