The Mirror of Her Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

his prime. And these Masters seem to have no fear of the chaos which comes from unleashing powers which cannot be controlled.
     
    'Before this winter ends, the realm will begin to crumble. Then there will be war on every hand-war of every kind-and all good things will be in danger.
     
    'My lady,' he said straight to her, 'I don't have any power to compel you. If I did, it would be wrong to use it. And you aren't the champion the Congery expects. I've been such a fumble-foot all my life that my presence here might be just another one of my disasters.
     
    'But I might be right. You understand mirrors.' He gestured around the room. 'You might be the help we need. And if you are, we're lost without you.
     
    'Please. Will you come with me?'
     
    She stared at him, her mouth open and her mind dumbfounded. Dying. War. Every kind of horror and foulness. We're lost without you. What, me? She had never heard of 'Mordant'-or 'Cadwal', or 'Alend'. The only countries she knew of that still had kings were thousands of miles away. And nobody anywhere talked about mirrors as though they were doorways into different kinds of reality. You might be the help we need. What was he talking about?
     
    As carefully as she could, she said, This doesn't make any sense. I know you're trying to explain something, but it isn't working. None of this has anything to do with me.' You don't even know my name. 'I can't help you.'
     
    But Geraden shook his head, dismissed her protest. 'You don't know that for sure. You don't-'
     
    Abruptly, his gaze narrowed as if a new thought had struck him, and he scrutinized her face. 'Are you happy here?'
     
    'Am I-?' The unexpected question made her look away from him, as though he had insulted her-or shamed her. Without warning, her fear was replaced by a desire to cry.
     
    She peered hard into the nearest mirror, trying to reassure herself. Geraden occupied all the reflections, however, although she didn't want to see him. From where she stood, there was no glass or angle which didn't cast his image at her.
     
    In spite of his strangeness, his reflection appeared more real than her own.
     
    'Are you necessary?' he asked.
     
    What a question. She stared deep into her own eyes in the mirror and pinched the bridge of her nose to hold back the tears. She was probably the most replaceable fact of Rev Thatcher's life. If she evaporated, he would notice her absence immediately; but his concern would last only until he found a new secretary. And days or even weeks might pass before her father became aware that she was gone. Then he would raise an enormous hue-and-cry, offering rewards, accusing the police of negligence, having security guards fired-but only to disguise the fact that he really didn't care one way or the other what had become of her. And she belonged to no one else.
     
    'Are you-?' He faltered for an instant, then persisted. Tor-give me. I've got the strongest feeling you aren't happy. You don't look happy. And I don't see anyone else here. Are you alone? Are you wedded?' At least he had the decency to sound embarrassed. 'Are you in love?'
     
    She was so surprised-and he was squirming so badly-that she began to laugh. She remained close to tears; but laughing in front of him was an improvement over crying. The fact that she wasn't crying enabled her to turn from her reflection to face him directly.
     
    'I'm sorry.' She had some difficulty suppressing her laughter. 'I guess it's not easy being in your position. You should have had them tie a rope around your waist, instead of holding onto your foot. That way, you would at least be able to stand up.'
     
    'My lady'-again he spoke formally, and again his voice seemed to catch hold of her-'you are not happy here. You are not needed. You are not loved. Come with me.' He extended a hand towards her. 'You are an Imager. It may be that my glass was formed for you from the pure sand of dreams.'
     
    'I'm not an Imager,' she replied. 'I don't dream very