Storm Season- - Thieves World 04 Read Online Free PDF

will is strong enough."
    "Good," Vertan said with a malicious laugh, "then you won't mind walking back and forth a bit."
    "Walking?" Jubal clutched at the wall, a wave of dizziness washed over him. "You said nothing about walking!"
    "Of course," the wizard shrugged. "If I had, would you have attempted to stand?
    Now, walk-or don't you remember how?"
    * * *
    The thunderstorm raged, giving added texture to the night. Jubal practiced alone without Ver-tan's supervision. This was not unusual now that his mobility was returning. He slept and woke according to the demands of his healing body and was often left to exercise by himself.
    The rain had driven the goats away from the hut; they sought and usually found better shelter, so even his normal audience was absent. Still, the slaver practiced, heedless of the sucking mud at his feet. He held a stout branch in one hand-a branch the length of a sword.
    Block, cut, block behind. Turn and duck. Cut at the legs. Move. Move. Move! Over and over he practiced a death-dance he had learned as a gladiator. The pain was a distant ache now, an ache he could ignore. He had something else on his mind now.
    Turn, cut. Move. Block, turn, block, cut! Finally he stopped, the raindrops collecting in the wrinkles of his forehead.
    Slow-all of it. Slow.
    To the untrained eye his swordwork might seem smooth and expert, but he knew he had a mere fraction of his old speed. He made to test his suspicions; he stooped and picked up two clods of dirt with his left hand and tossed them into the air. He swung at them with his improvised weapon. One clod splattered as the limb connected with it but the other splashed into the mud with a sound Jubal heard as a death knell.
    One! There had been a time when he could hit three. The healing was going far too slowly, taking too much of his strength. At times he felt his reflexes were getting worse instead of improving. There was only one solution. Moving quietly he crept back into the hut, listening carefully to the unchanging rhythm of the wizard's soft snores. The kettle of vile potion was bubbling vigorously, as always. The slaver carefully dipped the ladle in and lifted it to his lips. For a week now he had been sneaking extra swallows, relying on the Lizerene's growing fatigue to blind that normally watchful eye. Still, a few swallows had not made a difference.
    Ignoring the smell and taste, Jubal drained the ladle, hesitated, then refilled it. He drained it a second time then he crept back into the rain to continue his practice.
    * * *
    "Jubal, are you there?"
    The slaver rose from his pallet at the sound of his aide's voice. His counting had been correct. It was three months since Vertan's arrival.
    "Don't come in," he cautioned, "I'll be out in a moment."
    "Is something wrong?" his aide asked in a worried voice. "Where's Vertan?"
    "I sent him away," the slaver responded, leaning heavily against the wall of the hut. He had been anticipating this moment, but now that it was here he found himself filled with dread. "Is the storyteller with you?"
    "I'm here," Hakiem said for himself. "Though just the news that you are indeed alive is story enough for a dozen tellings."
    "There's more," Jubal laughed bitterly, "believe me-there's more. You won't regret your trip."
    "What is it?" Saliman insisted, alerted by the odd tone of the slaver's voice.
    "Wasn't the cure successful?"
    "Oh, I can walk well enough," Jubal grimaced. "See for yourselves." With that he stepped through the doorway and into the sunlight.
    Saliman and Hakiem each gasped at the sight of him; open astonishment was written large on their faces. If the slaver had any doubts of his recent decision, the confirmation was now before him. He forced himself to smile.
    "Here's the finale for your tale, Hakiem," he said. "Jubal will be leaving these parts now. Where so many others have failed, I myself have succeeded in out witting Jubal."
    "What happened?" Saliman stammered.
    "What the Lizerene said would