The Return of Kavin Read Online Free PDF Page B

nobility,” Gwynna said, in a low voice. Zamor glanced at her, but said nothing.
    “I do not wish to die,” she said.
    “No one does,” he said.
    “If Hugon sells me to the High King of Meryon… Rhys will kill me.”
    Zamor shrugged. “You have friends in Mazain, too,” he pointed out.
    “The High King may offer more,” she said, desperately. “Listen… you are a handsome man, a strong one…” Her hand touched his bare shoulder, caressingly. “You could… do whatever you liked with me… and drive Hugon away. If we could find a way back to Mazain; you could be a great man, with my help…”
    Abruptly, Zamor laughed, throwing back his head, a deep bellow of pure pleasure.
    “Hugon!”
    Hugon came out of the wood, something dangling from his hand; the dragonet perched on his shoulder, singing.
    Zamor stood up and called again. “Hugon! Come back, I’m in great danger!” And again, he roared with laughter.
    Hugon came, at a faster pace; at the fire, he dropped his prize, grinning.
    “Hey, one of you two clean the pair of them,” he said, toward the two other survivors. “Hazarsh, you’ve a knife there. Gorash, scramble a bit more wood, and we’ll have breakfast. I don’t know what the beasts are called, but they’re fat, and like enough to rabbits to eat.”
    “Hugon, you’re barely in time,” Zamor told him, grinning. “I’ve nearly been seduced by your prize here.”
    Hugon stared, and Gwynne’s eyes burned in rage, at Zamor.
    “Truth!” Zamor said. “She’s offered me a taste of her pretty flesh, and then I’m to be Captain of Imperial Eunuchs, later, no doubt, after I take her away from you and back to Mazain.”
    Hugon burst into a full-throated laugh of his own, dropping to a seat beside the girl, who glared at both of them.
    “I… oh, Great Mother…” Hugon controlled his laugh with difficulty. “I should have warned you, Zamor. The girl’s a widow, and a Meryon lass . Now, all our girls are most notoriously hot-fleshed, and widows, especially newly made ones, even more so!”
    “Damn you both,” Gwynna said, harshly. “May you rot with the blue pestilence, both of you. ” She hunched herself up and stared into the fire.
    “I’ll take your advice, Hugon,” Zamor said, still grinning. “I’ve heard you know much of women. I’ll avoid all widows, I swear it.”
    “Maidens, too,” Hugon told him. “Stick to wives. They’re much the best. Hey, Gorash, spit those two beasts, and let’s begin the roast!”
    Whatever they were, they smelled delicious, turning on a green stick above the fire. Before they were ready, Gwynna was staring at them, avidly; and in a moment, Hugon gallantly offered her a choice portion, on a sharpened stick. She took it, silently, and ate with haste.
    On Hugon’s shoulder, Fraak nibbled delicately at a tender morsel held between his slim-clawed forefeet; satiated, he belched, a foot-long pencil of fire.
    “Careful, Fraak!” Hugon warned, almost dropping his own portion. “You’ll burn me bald, there!”
    “Much sorry, please,” the creature said. “I be careful, yes.”
    “What’s the land back there?” Zamor asked, through a mouthful.
    Hugon shrugged. “An island, I’m afraid, though I did not go all around it. There are no signs of live folk, but… well, there have been people here, some time.”
    “How?”
    “Broken walls, stones, carved rock,” Hugon said, looking oddly nervous He glanced back toward the wood, uneasily. “A stone road… but it begins nowhere, and goes nowhere.”
    The two oarsmen were listening, as they ate. Now, Hazarsh glanced uneasily at Gorash, and cleared his throat
    “Listen, sirs…” he said, in a low voice. “Road, you said? And stones… but you saw nothing alive?”
    “Nothing except these beasts, which Fraak took handily,” Hugon said. “Why?”
    “There’s a sailor’s tale,” Hazarsh said, slowly, and stopped.
    “The Island of the Old Ones,” Gorash said. He was pale.
    “Old