The Harp of Aleth Read Online Free PDF Page A

overtone of censure made the Jar flinch.
    “I shall convey your plan to our Lord, Custodian Jarsken,” the Jar said and taking the man’s bow as agreement shut down the side window. The Jar glanced at the sleeping Aracan Katuvana and smiled. “I’m sure that my children will enjoy the diversion, immured as they are.”
    * * *
    Master Greeman frowned.
    “I don’t care why you want to go into the mine. My orders from the Duke are to stop anyone from entering.”
    Julissa sighed. “Surely orders from the High King would overrule those?”
    “They would, if you had them and if I didn’t suspect that you were just treasure hunters trying to get down to the old dungeon.” Greeman glanced at her. “There’s been rumours of treasure being down there since before I were born.”
    Tavia nudged Julissa.
    “I told you he wouldn’t believe you.”
    “Where are the orders that Harradine gave you?” Julissa hissed back. “You were pretty free with them on the way to Frazin.”
    I thought she’d forgotten about those. Tavia groaned. “Here.” She pulled a folded parchment out of her pouch and passed it to Greeman.
    He opened the orders and read them. Then he held it to the large beeswax candle in front of him. The bone-dry parchment caught quickly and soon only ash drifted away from Greeman’s fingers.
    “That’s what I think of the High King’s orders to give you anything you ask for.”
    Julissa gasped. “Those were signed by the High King himself!”
    “Please, Lady, I mean you no disrespect, but I can tell a forgery when I see one. That seal alone was illegal.” Greeman looked at Tavia. “I’m sure that she has told you she comes from the High King, but I suspect she is nothing but a Con Artist.”
    Tavia’s face flushed bright red.
    “How dare you insult me? I am Ser Tavia of Fron, one of the High King’s Cavaliers. The real orders are far too valuable to risk losing by handing over to anyone.” She rummaged in another pouch and drew out a scroll bound in cream silk and tied with an orange ribbon.
    Tavia untied the ribbon and Greeman’s eyes almost popped out of his skull at the thick golden wax seal affixed to the base of the document and the orange ribbons dangling from it.
    “Satisfied?”
    Julissa exhaled noisily with relief at the sight of the paper.
    “I do believe that it’s time for my performance.” She retrieved her lute case from behind her chair and left the table.
    Qin-Dar and Joran watched Julissa weave her normal spell around the miners, Virrinel standing at her shoulder. Tavia spent a few moments deep in discussion with High Master Greeman, and then she left the room looking thoughtful.
    “She’s up to something,” Joran said in a low voice.
    “What do you want to do?” Qin-Dar looked around.
    Julissa had used a small spell to create a shadow puppet display of the song and the miners were completely enraptured by the show.
    Joran nicked a finger with the point of a dagger and let a single drop of blood fall onto the grey brown earth of the floor. “Yala Onna. Amin quella.”
    An earth golem in the shape of a large spider crawled up his leg and onto Joran’s hand. The mage stroked the creature for a moment and whispered “Soora’he.”
    The spider disappeared and seconds later, Qin-Dar saw a tiny ball of dust follow Tavia out of the room. She looked back at Joran. His eyes were glazed and a thin red cloud had appeared in his pupils.
    “She went into her room,” Joran murmured at the edge of Qin-Dar’s hearing. He paused, and his eyes darted around the room, not focussing on the scenes in front of them. “She’s collecting her equipment and putting on armour of some sort.”
    “I’ll go talk to her,” Qin-Dar said. The unicorn cleric stood up and disappeared into the crowd.
    Joran kept watching Tavia through the spider’s eyes. I wonder what the cleric can do to stop the cavalier from leaving?
    * * *
    “Ser Tavia, I was just wondering…” Qin-Dar knocked briefly