In Legend Born Read Online Free PDF

these inscriptions on your swords—these Kintish hieroglyphics?"
    Tansen's gaze rested possessively on the swords as Koroll handled them. "The left one... That's my teacher's motto."
    "What does it say?"
    "Why do you care?"
    "I'm curious." Seeing that Tansen intended to stay silent, Koroll pointed out, "You have caused the deaths of two Outlookers today. Normally, you would already have been sentenced to death by slow torture in a public execution."
    "Why haven't I been?"
    "Because I may have a better use for you," Koroll said, a little annoyed that his warning apparently aroused no concern, let alone fear. "Now answer the question. What does the inscription say?"
    Quietly, almost reflectively, Tansen answered, "Draw it with honor, sheathe it with courage."
    "Can you read?" Koroll probed. Very few shallaheen could. "Or did you memorize that?"
    "I can read the inscription," was the oblique response.
    "Why is the sword inscribed? A sentimental gesture?"
    For a moment he thought the question would be ignored. Finally, as if having decided that the information wouldn't profit his interrogator, Tansen said, "It identifies a shatai-kaj 's students to each other, so when we meet, we will not fight each other."
    "Not even if you are opponents who have been paid to fight each other?"
    "We will not fight each other," Tansen repeated.
    "How noble," Koroll said dryly. "Does anyone ever cheat?"
    "If he did, then all shatai would be ordered to kill him on sight, and his shatai-kaj  would lay a curse upon him."
    "Ah. I suppose that would certainly make one think twice." Koroll picked up the other sword and noted that the hieroglyphics were different. "And what's written on this one?"
    "My own motto."
    "Ah! Which is?"
    Tansen's gaze met his and, for the first time, Koroll had a glimpse of the man who dwelt in this shallah 's skin. "From one thing, another is born."
    "And what thing gave birth to the shatai , Tansen?" Koroll asked, held by that dark, steady gaze.
    "What 'better use' do you have for me?" Tansen countered.
    Deciding this was the right moment, Koroll shoved aside the empty satchel to reveal the shir which lay in a pool of painted silk. Tansen's expression gave away little; of course he would have guessed that Koroll had found it when searching his things.
    Bypassing the questions he had originally intended to ask, Koroll said, "Pick it up."
    Finally! He was rewarded with a look of genuine surprise.
    "Pick it up?" Tansen repeated.
    "Yes. Pick it up."
    Tansen glanced at the guards to his right and left. At Koroll's order, they both held their blades to Tansen's throat. Tugging at the silk scarf upon which the shir lay, Koroll moved it within Tansen's reach.
    Koroll warned, "Just pick it up. If you try to use it, they will slit your throat like—"
    "A sacrificial goat. Yes, I know." Looking rather contemptuous of them all, Tansen lifted his hands and, moving awkwardly because of his shackles and his wound, took hold of the shir . His expression darkened as he looked down at it, resting in his scarred palms. Very quietly, almost as if he were unaware he spoke aloud, he said, "It's an evil thing, this."
    "Then it's true," Koroll breathed. "You killed a Society assassin."
    Tansen's gaze remained fixed on the dagger. "I killed him." His voice was soft, and he seemed lost in the memory for a moment.
    "Why did you keep the shir ?" Koroll asked; Tansen clearly didn't relish possession of the thing.
    His bare, branded chest rose and fell with a deep breath. "Because that's what you do when you... do what I did. You take the shir . That's... the way it's done."
    Koroll had a feeling there was more to it than that—considerably more—but he didn't care about the details of yet another bloody and pointless Silerian feud. These people relished killing each other so much that the Outlookers seldom had to bother doing it. Until recently.
    Tansen lay the shir back upon the table and asked, "Have I answered all of your questions