The Last Talisman Read Online Free PDF

direction?”
    Nihal closed her eyes once again, but Sennar noticed her cheeks reddening as she strained to focus. “Leave it be, if you’re tired.”
    Nihal opened her eyes. “You must follow the path of the rising sun.”
    â€œEast …”
    â€œThat word, spires . I can’t shake it from my head. It must be important,” Nihal added.
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind.” Sennar stood. “I’m going to the woods to collect more herbs,” he said.
    He walked briskly out of the cave, as if eager to distance himself from the lie he’d just told Nihal, to escape the folly of his decision.
    In the chill of twilight, Sennar sat before the stone. He needed to speak to Megisto, alone.
    As he waited for night to fall, his thoughts returned to the amulet. He’d told Nihal a bold-faced lie. He didn’t know a single spell capable of holding back so much power.
    Little by little, the stone came alive. Megisto didn’t seem surprised to find Sennar waiting for him. “Did you need to speak with me?” he asked, his tone suggesting he already knew the answer.
    Sennar nodded and told him everything he’d just told Nihal.
    Megisto listened carefully. He was silent for a moment after Sennar finished. “There’s no spell, either forbidden or permitted by the Council, capable of quarantining such great power.”
    Sennar lowered his gaze. There was no lying to Megisto, that much he knew. “But I can at least slow down its effect, if I renew the spell again and again.”
    â€œYou’d be running a great risk.” Megisto did not mince words.
    Sennar was annoyed. Those weren’t the words he wanted to hear. “Will you look after her while I’m gone or not?”
    â€œYou’d like me to cover up your lie, I’m assuming, to tell her you’re okay, that there’s no risk involved?”
    He sees into my soul, he can read my thoughts. … “Yes,” Sennar admitted.
    â€œI will, for as long as I can,” said Megisto. “But know that I disapprove.”
    â€œAll that matters is that you protect her from the truth. I have no other choice.”
    Megisto stood. “Be careful, at least.”
    Sennar left at dawn the following day. Megisto had already turned back to stone and the three of them had a few moments alone.
    Sennar had gotten everything ready. He’d tossed his meager belongings into a sack and laid a few long, fibrous strips on the ground, taken from deep green leaves. On each, in blue, he’d traced the figure of a rune. It was the most powerful containment spell he knew.
    â€œGive me the amulet,” he said to Nihal.
    She handed it to him. The moment it touched Sennar’s fingers, the stone from the Land of Water grew dark, and Sennar could feel the strength draining from his limbs. He gripped the talisman tightly in his fist and did his best to mask his weakness. Then he turned and lay the medallion on top of the leaves. The moment it left his hand, the stone regained its color.
    Sennar wrapped the amulet in the leaves and began reciting a litany. When he finished, he once again picked up the amulet and, smiling, held it out for Nihal to see. “See, it’s harmless now.”
    Nihal’s expression didn’t change. “Don’t do this. In two days’ time, I’ll be on my feet again.”
    Sennar threw his sack over his shoulder. “Once I have the stone, I’ll send word where you can find me. Don’t worry, I know this is the right decision,” he said.
    â€œBe careful,” Laio warned.
    Nihal sat up from her bed of straw and hugged him. She kissed his cheek and, before letting him go, whispered in his ear: “Don’t die.”
    Sennar turned abruptly and set off upon his journey.

4
    Sennar in the Land of the Sea
    After four days of trudging through the snow, Sennar entered his native land and found himself in the Maritime Forest. The