In the Hand of the Goddess Read Online Free PDF Page B

he had to throw earth and the heavens into chaos to get the Tortallan throne, he would.
    Alan of Trebond! What did he know about the lad? What powers did the boy have?
    Pacing his chamber furiously now, the sorcerer remembered the Sweating Sickness. He had brewed a fever that would drain any healer who pursued it, sending it to both city and palace in order to make sure every healer in the capital would be too weak to help when the prince fell ill. But Jonathan had survived,and the healer-lad with the wide purple eyes told Roger that Sir Myles had shown him what to do. Myles was a scholar: It was possible he had read spells that could counteract even powerful magic.
    So he, Roger, had accepted Alan’s story. Then he had questioned the boy further, reaching into his mind to see if Alan had any secrets. He remembered the moment even now—feeling his magic sliding over glass walls behind those innocent eyes. If he had touched a power that attacked him, he might have probed the boy with real sorcery. Instead he thought the slipperiness was stupidity or thoughtlessness. He had let the page go without looking further. Three times more a fool!
    There was the sword, the battered and ancient sword that Myles “just happened” to have in his armory: Roger’s arm had been numb for a week after touching it. And the cat! If Faithful was an ordinary cat, Roger would swallow his wizard’s rod whole. So far it seemed Alan didn’t know the value of his weapons, but his “ignorance” had fooled Roger before. Even if he did not know their uses now, he would surely learn them in the future.
    And tonight Alan had revealed another important quality he could bring to Jonathan’s service: He hadshown he was a great swordsman, one who could fight as well—if not better—with his left hand as with his right. Roger swore again and gulped down another glass of wine. Why had Alex never told him? Jealousy? A refusal to believe a boy who was still a squire could be as good as he was?
    The Duke scowled, fingering his short beard. He would have to be more careful now than ever; Alan, he felt, suspected him, and Alan must never get proof to back up his suspicions. Of course, there were ways and ways to handle that aspect of things. Some steps might be taken soon.
    More important, Roger needed to get rid of Alan in some way that appeared natural. In fact, it might be impossible to dispose of Jonathan without first killing Alan. But it would have to be handled carefully, subtly. He could not rouse anyone’s suspicions.
    Roger did not want a violent civil war that would leave Tortall ruined and poor. He wanted no enemies like Duke Gareth or Sir Myles. He only wanted his uncle, his aunt, and his cousin to die natural-seeming deaths within the next five years, so no one could claim he had stolen his throne. He was in no hurry. He could afford to wait, now that the queen could have no more children; although it would do no harm to ensure thatDuke Gareth, Myles, and perhaps even the king never looked at him with suspicion.
    And Alan of Trebond, who already suspected? That needed study. He must certainly put his mind to the problem of Alan of Trebond.

3
THE PRINCE’S SQUIRE
    L ATE ONE NIGHT IN A UGUST—THE NIGHT BEFORE Jonathan’s birthday—Alanna made for the Dancing Dove, the inn that served as a meeting place for the Court of the Rogue. Reminding Faithful to behave himself, she settled the cat firmly on her shoulder and entered the inn. It took a moment for her to adjust to the smoke and noise in the large common room; the thieves and their women were louder than usual. They greeted Alanna and Faithful with yells of approval, inviting squire and cat to join them.
    Alanna nodded to George, the Rogue himself,who was sitting at his usual place beside the now-empty hearth. “Thanks,” she told the others, “but I’m here on an errand.”
    â€œAre ye ever here t’ drink?”