Inda Read Online Free PDF Page B

history scrolls.
    Flames shot up obediently in the fireplace, over which was set some water to boil. Inda slung off his wet cloak and plopped down next to Fiam on the hearth.
    Fiam was still looking perplexed, so Inda added, “A ‘mage-mark’ is a safe-measure mark. I guess on that bridge even magic won’t hold the water if it goes too high. Back in the old days your ancestors might have brought a Mage from the royal city to do it, Mages being common enough, but now it would take months to contact one and bring him here, always under guard.”
    Fiam nodded, more interested in warming his hands than in considering the old days, before his ancestors were ruled by Marlovans. “Glad we don’t have that big river near us,” he said. “If it bursts its banks.”
    “If that stupid rain doesn’t stop all of Choraed Elgaer will turn into a river,” Inda grumped, sitting back in disgust as the tapping overhead solidified to a roar.
    But they crossed the bridge at last, and two days later adventure seemed to beckon, in the form of the brigands that were seen riding parallel to them, like shadows, on the eastern side of the even larger river that formed the border of Faral-Thad. The shadows paced them as they rode up the river valley that bisected the mountains.
    Inda assumed that his seeing them meant they were fools, until Captain Vranid said, without once taking his sideways gaze from those distant green, clover-covered hills dotted with swarms of roaming, peaceful sheep, and the occasional glint of steel helms behind, “They’re letting us see them to gauge our reaction.”
    Inda asked, “Can’t we attack ’em anyway?”
    “If you were not along, we might,” was the smiling reply.
    Inda flushed. He knew that, even despite his brother’s rough training, he would not be useful as a fighter, not until he got some size and muscle—and far more drill.
    “No one doubts your courage,” the captain said, knowing at a glance what Inda was thinking. “But we don’t know how many there are. They don’t know if we have anything worth attacking us for. And if they do attack, and we lose, and they find out who you are, at best it means death for us and a terrible ransom for your parents, Indevan-Dal.” He hesitated, wondering how much of the truth to tell young Inda, whom he liked. He reflected on where the boy was going—and who might call him to question—then said only, “They know the King’s Guard patrol the border of Montredavan-An land, directly north and west. I have sent a Runner ahead, by covert route. We should have aid soon.”
    So they did not gallop, but looked expectantly north-westward. That night the inner perimeter was paced ceaselessly and the outer ridden by armed guards, though the brigands seemed to have vanished.
    By the next morning there was the expected relief party—not one but two sets of armed Riders, half in crimson and gold, the royal colors, and half in old gray coats much like those the Algara-Vayir Riders usually wore, but their banner was a golden eagle, wings outspread, against black.
    Inda realized what he was seeing: the Montredavan-An Riders, who were permitted to patrol just inside their border, but they could not ride beyond, and the King’s Guard, who rode just outside the same borders, making sure no one else entered or exited the forbidden land.
    Inda watched as the Montredavan-An Riders lined up at one side of the road, the only sound the clopping of horse hooves and the snapping of their black and gold banner in the wind as they deferred to the King’s Guard.
    The captain of the King’s Guard indicated the silver and green banner as he said, “Algara-Vayir?”
    Captain Vranid saluted. “I am Riders’ Captain Nollan Vranid, charged with the safety of Indevan-Dal Algara-Vayir, who is summoned to the king’s training.”
    The Guard captain said, “Your road lies east.”
    “So it would. We rode westward to avoid brigands. I sent my Runner to report to you.” A wave