In the Earth Abides the Flame Read Online Free PDF

Fire".'
    This dragged another start from Mahnum, and one or two others of the Company, but he was too far gone in his story to notice.
    He told them, 'Unwittingly 1 strayed into the lands of the Widuz, who captured me there and took me to the fastness of Adunlok. Strangely, I was ignored in my cell while those around me were given to Helig Holth. Then Leith arrived in my cell, and when he told me his own strange story, everything fell into place. Firanes is the Cape of Fire, rendered in the old tongue; Loulea is the lowly vale...'
    'And the Right Hand?' Mahnum asked, as breathless as though from a long run. He could not forget the terror which accompanied his inquisition on Andratan, nor could he erase from his mind the threats and the beatings by the Bhrudwans. Everything had been about the Right Hand. His breath came quickly, paused as he was on the brink of revelation. Maybe his two-year ordeal was about to make sense.

    Phemanderac turned and faced him. 'I was hoping you could tell me,' he said.
    Outside twilight gave way to darkness, and the Great City settled into another uneasy night.
    'I'm not sure what to make of all this,' Kurr said. 'If I understand you right, you say there exists right now in Faltha - from Loulea, no less - someone who presumably possesses magical powers, someone whom the Most High will use to subdue the Bhrudwans. I have to be honest with you; there was no such person there when I left, nor has there ever been. If such a one lived in Loulea, we would have brought him on our quest. Surely the Most High would have organised it so that he came with us?
    'Or are you saying he is one of us? Take your pick: a Trader and his wife, by far the two most likely candidates, though by his own admission Mahnum does not know who this "Right Hand" is. A young woman, a crippled youth and his younger brother, none of whom possess the qualities you imply. Our Haufuth - village headman - though a worthy man, is the least likely of all, and abandoned the quest on the borders of Firanes. Such we are. Not a hero amongst us.' The old farmer leaned forward, his whole demeanour a challenge to the young Dhaurian.

    Phemanderac held his ground. 'Yet you defeated the Bhrudwan warriors and escaped from the Widuz, feats which the stoutest warrior might fail to accomplish.' The philosopher raised his voice. 'Ask yourselves: are those victories attributable to your own strength.? Or is there another Hand positioning and protecting you? This Right Hand need not be strong in himself.
    A hand is, after all, merely the focus and outworking of the strength of the arm. It may be that the Right Hand is among us, and we - indeed, even he - do not recognise it.'
    'It is far more likely our victories are due, at least in part, to the courage of our members, the sacrifices of Wira and Parlevaag, and a leadership determined to do what is right.' Though Hal's voice remained soft, the words hung like a challenge in the room.
    Phemanderac turned to him. 'You do not believe my tale of the Right Hand?'

    Hal smiled. 'I believe that were all of us to simply do what we know to be right, there would be no need for the Right Hand. I listen to what I can hear of the Most High, and try to obey his words. If that is power, then so be it, but it is not a sword with which to strike at the Bhrudwan army. Rather, it is an ointment to apply to the wounds of life.'
    'Yet there is a power about you and your family. I can sense it.'
    'It is easy to mistake integrity for power,' said Hal. 'However, whatever you discern cannot run in our family, for I am adopted.'
    'Are you saying that the Right Hand is from Mahnum's family?' Kurr asked.
    'I can do little more than guess at the moment,' answered Phemanderac. 'But I am certain he -
    or she - is one of the Company.'
    'A tale of coincidence misinterpreted by a hopeful scholar, if you ask me.' Farr stood up, a mixture of puzzlement and disbelief on his face. 'Like Hal says, we've come this far through hard work,