Ravenheart Read Online Free PDF

war of the emperor Jasaray. There is little nobility there—merely a vaunting ambition to conquer as much of the known world as possible.”
    “But there was great nobility in Conn of the Vars, who defeated him,” observed Alterith.
    Mulgrave chuckled. “Conn of the Vars? He was one of us, then? Fascinating. I’d always been led to believe he was a clansman.”
    “A common misconception among nonscholars, sir. The power of the Source brought him to this realm as a child in order that he could one day defeat Jasaray.”
    “Ah, yes, the Source,” Mulgrave said with a grin. “I understand he is also of the Varlish.”
    “I believe that you are making sport of me, sir,” Alterith said sternly.
    “My apologies, sir teacher,” Mulgrave replied, with a bow, “for indeed I am. When I was a child, my mother taught me of the Sacrifice. As I understand it, the early saints were people who preached peace and love. How strange it is that in their names we have conquered many lands, burned cities, slaughtered thousands. I’ll wager the legendary Veiled Lady wouldturn her face from us in shame. We are no better than the savages she sought to convert.”
    All color drained from Alterith’s face. “By the Sacrifice, man! You could burn for such remarks! The Varlish are the chosen race of the Source.”
    Mulgrave’s pale eyes held to the schoolmaster’s gaze. “Aye, I guess I could burn for the truth. Other men have.”
    Alterith sighed. “I shall not repeat this conversation, Master Mulgrave, but I would appreciate it if you did not repeat such heresy within my hearing.”
    “Agreed, we will not talk of matters religious. In the same spirit please do not insult my intelligence with nonsense about Conn of the Vars. It is enough that we destroy the culture of the Keltoi without polluting their proud history.”
    “Connovar’s origins are a known fact,” insisted Alterith. “The historian—”
    “I’ll tell you a known fact, sir teacher. Four years ago a small church some thirty miles from here, in the province of the Pinance, was undergoing renovation. They removed a cracked flagstone close to the altar. Beneath it was an old chest, and within it a number of old scrolls, yellow and crusty with age. Upon one scroll was written the table of Keltoi kings and their lineage. An elderly monk spent months deciphering the Keltoi script. Many of the stories contained in the scrolls were unknown to us, dealing with myths of the Seidh. The old monk became very excited. We always knew that Connovar carried the soul-name Sword in the Storm. We did not know why. One of the scrolls explained it. His name was actually Conn-a-Var, or in pure translation, Conn son of Var. His father’s name was Var-a-Conn, Var son of Conn. He was not of the Var race at all. The scrolls also gave insights into known historical events, the battles, the philosophy of the Keltoi kings.”
    “I would have heard of such a find,” argued Alterith. “It would have been priceless and much talked of.”
    “It would have been had word leaked out,” said Mulgrave. “I knew of it only because I was studying some of the worksheld in the church library, and I got to speak with the monk. He sent a letter to the Pinance, telling him of the find. Soon after that a squad of soldiers arrived and forcibly removed the scrolls. They also took all the copies the old monk had made. He wrote to the Pinance, pleading to be allowed to continue his work. There was no reply. He wrote to his bishop, requesting that the king be petitioned, detailing in the letter all that he remembered from the scrolls.
    “On my last day at the church a carriage came for him. I saw him climb into it. He was happy, for he believed he was going to be taken to the castle of the Pinance, there to continue his work. His body was found two days later in a stream some three miles from the church.”
    “You are saying the Pinance had him killed?”
    “I am saying nothing of the kind. The Pinance