Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon Read Online Free PDF Page A

Book: Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon Read Online Free PDF
Author: Diana L. Paxson
his hair. “Indeed, and you are a bleating ewe, but a pretty one. I’ll spare you to warm my bed if you behave.”
    Fury blazed in her face—no, Anderle could see it so clearly because the Children’s House was on fire. As Galid reached for her, Irnana ducked under his arm and dove through the doorway.
    As the man turned back Anderle drew herself up, rage and terror beating in her veins. “Do you dare to oppose the power of Avalon!”
    His eyes widened. What was he seeing? This was the first time Anderle had put on the glamour of the Dark Mother in earnest. She had not known if she could, especially now. It was need that had unleashed the power, observed that part of her mind that was not gibbering, need channeled by the disciplines of Avalon. She had never truly needed that power before.
    “You will stand aside,” she said in a compelling voice. “We are not your enemies. . . .”
    Her heart leaped as she realized that the cruel triumph in his face was giving way to fear. She turned to follow Irnana through the door.
    “Anderle, it’s too late!” Durrin grabbed her arm. Heat seared her face, and she realized that not only the thatching but the walls were aflame. Had smoke already overwhelmed those within? She reached out with her spirit, and heard a child’s wailing cry.
    So dies the Son of a Hundred Kings!
    “No!” Anderle denied the words that reverberated in memory. The smoldering hide that curtained the door was pulled aside. Through a swirl of smoke she glimpsed Irnana with her son clasped to her breast.
    “Save him!”
    Anderle jerked free of Durrin’s grasp and leaned into a blast of heat like a demon’s forge, staggering as Irnana thrust the child into her arms and swayed back, robed and crowned in flame. In the next moment her triumphant smile contorted. Anderle reeled away, shutting her eyes as the vision of splendor turned to a horror of blazing hair and crisping skin.
    Her scream broke Galid’s trance. Seeing the child in her arms, the warrior grinned and swung up his sword.
    “Anderle!” yelled Durrin, thrusting past her to grab Galid’s arm. “Run!”
    Ellet shoved her away from the struggling men. Anderle saw Durrin break loose. His anguished gaze sought hers. Galid turned as well. Durrin shouted his name, and threw himself into the swing of Galid’s sword.
    “Run!” The plea came to her heart, not her ears. Weeping, she allowed Ellet to drag her away.

TWO
    M y lady, we can’t stop here!” Ellet stared at the dim bulk of the barrow. “This is a place of ghosts!” She clutched at Mikantor, who began to cry. Despite her words the younger priestess was reeling where she stood. Ellet had carried the baby most of the way across the ford of the Aman and up the rise, and even her youthful energy had come to an end.
    “The ancestors will not hurt us. But if we exhaust ourselves now, we will join them.” Anderle got her own breathing under control. I am carrying a child too, she thought grimly, though she weighs less than Irnana’s boy. She looked back the way they had come.
    The scene below was the reverse of the one on which she had gazed when they arrived. The reek of burning thatch had replaced the scent of hay. The beasts that grazed in the fields had been driven off, the roundhouses that had seemed so snug behind their palisade were now cones of flame in whose light black figures capered. Thank the gods she could not hear the screaming anymore.
    But on the track behind them nothing moved.
    Were the Ai-Ushen wolves simply too busy looting to go after fugitives now? Images of those last moments in the clanhold wrenched Anderle’s heart. She had seen Galid’s blow bring Durrin down. He died to save us. When we are safe I will mourn him. . . . That litany kept her moving down the road.
    Galid would come after them. Durrin’s sacrifice had bought them time, not safety, and it was up to Anderle to use it well. When pursuit did come, they would expect to find the fugitives on the road
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