Luck in the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

difference.”
    “So all wizards are really Aurënfaie?”
    “Oh, nothing of the sort. But they did mix blood with the Tírfaie.”
    “Tírfaie?”
    “Sorry. A good story teller should always know his audience.
Tírfaie
is the Aurënfaie word for outsiders. Roughly translated, it means ‘the people of short lives.’ ”
    “I guess they’d think so, if they live as long as you say,” Alec allowed.
    “Just so. Anyway, during the years when the Aurënfaie had open commerce with the Three Lands, the peoples mingled and many of the half-blood children were born with magic. Some stories even claim that Aura—or Illior, depending on which side of the Osiat you’re from—sent a messenger in the form of a huge dragon to teach these half bloods how to use their powers.”
    “Dragons are real, too?” breathed Alec, more wide-eyed than ever.
    Seregil grinned. “Don’t get your hopes up. As far as I know, no one’s seen a dragon in Skala since then.”
    “Skala? But I thought the Plenimarans were the ones who found the Aurënfaie.”
    “And I thought you hadn’t heard this story before,” Seregil countered dryly.
    “I haven’t, but you said that the Plenimarans—”
    “They did, but the Aurënfaie got on best with the Skalans in the end. Most of those who stayed in the Three Lands settledthere. But that was a very long time ago, more than eight hundred years. Eventually most of the Aurënfaie withdrew to their own land again.”
    “Why did they leave?”
    Seregil spread his hands. “As with anything, there were many reasons. But their legacy remains. Wizard children are still being born and they still go to Rhíminee for training. That’s the capital city of Skala, by the way.”
    “Rhíminee.” Alec savored the exotic sound of it. “But what about the wizards? Have you ever seen one?”
    “I know a few. We’d better get some sleep now. I suspect we’ve a hard few days ahead of us.”
    Although Seregil’s expression scarcely changed, Alec sensed once again that he’d strayed into forbidden territory.
    They settled down for the night, sharing what warmth they could beneath their blankets and cloaks as the wind wailed across the Downs.
    The following morning Alec tried the coin catches again but his cold fingers were too stiff.
    “As soon as we get to Wolde we’d better find you some gloves,” said Seregil, hovering over their meager fire. He lifted his hands to show Alec the fine leather gloves he wore. He’d had them on yesterday, too, the boy realized. “Let me look at your hands.”
    Turning Alec’s palms up, he clucked disapprovingly as he examined the cracks and calluses that covered them.
    “Too much rough living. No delicacy of touch.” Pulling off a glove, he slid his palm across Alec’s. The skin was surprisingly smooth.
    “I can tell gold from silver in the dark just by the feel of it. Looking at my hands, you’d think I’d never done a day’s work in my life. But you! We could dress you up like a gentleman dandy and your hands would give you away before you ever opened your mouth.”
    “I doubt I’ll ever have to worry about that. I like those tricks, though. Can you show me something else?”
    “All right. Watch my hand.” Without lifting his arm from where it rested across his knee, Seregil moved the fingersquickly in a smooth ripple, as if drumming briefly on an invisible tabletop.
    “What’s that?” Alec asked, mystified.
    “I just told you to have the horses ready. And this—” He raised his right index finger as if to scratch under his chin, then looked slightly to the left, drawing the finger back a little toward his ear. “That means we’re in danger from behind. Not every sign is that simple, of course, but once you learn the system you can communicate without anyone being the wiser. Say we were in a crowded room and I wanted to tell you something. I’d catch your eye, then lower my chin once just a bit, like this. Now you try it. No, that’s too much. You