Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands Read Online Free PDF Page B

hadn’t come to Thorald yet. But it was my understanding that this happened in Kebb’s Turn.”
    Filib nodded, playing with the ring again. “It did. But each turn, on this night, I honor my father by riding to the place of his death.
And on this night in Kebb’s Turn, after leading the hunt as he once did, I remain there until dawn.”
    “It seems a fine way to remember him, my lord,” Enid said.
    “Thank you.”
    “I’ll see to it that the final course is served early enough, Filib,” his uncle said. “I should have remembered. Forgive me.”
    “There’s nothing to forgive,” Filib said with a shrug. “Mother says I’m foolish to do this more than once a year.” He smiled. “Actually she called it unhealthful. But I’ll have to stop anyway once I leave for Audun’s Castle, so I feel that I should continue until then.”
    “Each of us honors your father in his or her own way,” Tobbar told him. “Including your mother. I see nothing wrong with your rides, and I’ll tell her as much the next time I speak with her.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Be watchful tonight, though,” he went on. “For all that the Revel gives us, it also attracts more than its share of knaves and vagrants. I’d feel better if you’d take one of your liege men.”
    “I’ll be fine, Uncle. I ride every turn, and I always do so alone.”
    “Very well,” Tobbar said, shaking his head slightly.
    Filib glanced toward the window. The sunlight on the castle walls had taken on the rich golden hue of late day. He barely had time to find Renelle before he’d be expected back at the castle for the banquet.
    “Go on, Filib,” the duke said. “We’ll see you soon.”
    He was walking toward the door almost before Tobbar had finished speaking. He stopped himself long enough to bow to his uncle and nod once to the Qirsi woman. Then he hurried out of the chamber, down the winding stone steps of the tower, and out into the daylight. With any luck at all, he’d find Renelle in the markets. He could only hope that in her happiness at seeing him she’d forget her anger.
    The singer beside him was nearing the end of the first movement, her voice climbing smoothly through the closing notes of “Panya’s Devotion,” finding subtleties in the piece that most singers missed. This was a difficult passage, although no part of The Paean to the Moons could be considered easy, and she was handling it quite well.
    Cadel couldn’t remember her name, though they had been practicing together since the second day of the Revel. It was not unusual
for wandering singers in the Forelands to meet up with others of their craft, practice and perform with them for a short while, and then, after a most careful division of their wages, part ways to continue their travels. It was especially common in the cities hosting Eibithar’s Revel. Cadel and Jedrek had been making their way through the Forelands in this manner for nearly fourteen years; they had sung with more people than Cadel could recall.
    He had never been very good with names, a trait that actually was quite useful in his other, true profession. But in this case, he would have liked to remember, merely as a courtesy. She had not been shy about showing her interest in him, allowing her gaze to linger on his face, even after he caught her watching him, and standing closer to him than was necessary when they sang. He liked bold women. Had he and Jedrek not had other business to which to attend, he might have been interested as well. She was rather attractive, with short dark hair, pale green eyes, and a round, pretty face, and she was just a bit heavy, which he also liked. But most of all, she was a fine singer, her voice strong and supple. For that reason alone, he felt that he should have known her name. Her interpretation of “Panya’s Devotion” had earned his respect.
    Jedrek and the woman’s sister, whose name Cadel had also forgotten, were backing her with a strong, even counterpoint, their