The Seer Read Online Free PDF Page B

know.’
 Phantasm said, holding a folded cloak out to her.
    ‘Sometimes I
swear you have the Sight.’  Mistral scowled, reaching out to take the long
black cloak from him and shaking it out.  It was made of heavy velvet and
lined with soft grey fur.  ‘It’s gorgeous!’  She exclaimed in
surprise.
    ‘And I don’t
want to see you hunting in it either.’  Phantom warned.  ‘It cost a
fortune.’
    ‘Brother!’ 
Mistral cried looking at him aghast.  ‘I’ll pay for all of this!  I’m
so ungrateful!  I’ll speak to Fabian as soon as he gets here, I promise!’
    ‘Relax
Mistral.’  Phantom sighed.  ‘What my brother meant to say was that it would have cost a fortune if he had paid for any of it,’ he flicked a
hand dismissively at the row of dresses.
    Phantasm
immediately turned and walked out of the room, ‘I would be grateful if you
could refrain from listening to my thoughts for the next few minutes,’ he
called back in a strained voice.
    Mistral
groaned, ‘Not Eudora again.’
    Phantom
shrugged and wandered over to the mirror, examining his immaculate reflection
with a critical eye, ‘Hmm, perfect.  Right, let’s practise!’  He
dragged her over to stand beside him.  ‘You will be between us, of course,
but on my left and my brother’s right, understand?’
    Mistral gazed
at the pair in the mirror while he began to talk about the day and couldn’t
help but smile.  He was so utterly flawless that no woman with an ounce of
vanity would want to be stood next to him, much less stuck between him and his
equally perfect twin.  Forcing herself reluctantly to inspect her own
reflection she noted with dismay that Phantasm had pulled her hair back into a
neat plait, leaving her face feeling uncomfortably exposed without its usual
mass of dark hair.  Her dress was more fitted than she would have liked,
but at least it actually covered her up this time. 
    ‘Do you
remember that scruffy girl we met at the North Gate two years ago?’ 
Phantasm enquired with a smile, ghosting silently up silently beside her to
slip an arm around her shoulders.
    Mistral
scowled at his reflection in the mirror, ‘Yes, it’ll be the same one you’ll see
back again tomorrow morning.’ 
    ‘Ah maybe, but
today you actually look like you possess one of the most rare and powerful
gifts of all our kind.’
    ‘What? 
The ability to attract trouble whilst wearing a dress?’
    ‘Yes, you do
possess that one too, which reminds me,’ he knelt down and slipped a knife into
the side of each of his boots.
    ‘Now, we
really do need to talk about today.’  Phantom reminded them
impatiently. 
    But Mistral
didn’t hear him.  She was gazing out of the window with a blank look on
her face.  ‘He’s here,’ she sighed a split-second before a single knock
sounded on the front door.  Turning to run out of the room she immediately
tripped over her dress and fell flat on her face. 
    Phantom
laughed and bent to pick her up, ‘I think that running should be off the agenda
today.’
    ‘For once, I
agree with you brother.’
    By the time
she had negotiated the stairs Fabian was already waiting for her at the bottom,
reaching out to swing her into his arms.
    ‘You look
beautifully appropriate,’ he murmured, holding her in his arms.
    Mistral gazed
into his eyes and smiled, wondering how anything could ever be described as
beautiful compared to the way he was looking at her, ‘Please tell me we’re
going home tonight.’
    Fabian sighed
and set her down, ‘I’m afraid the Tribute Banquet will probably go on too
long.  If the twins have no objections, we may have to impose on their
hospitality again.’
    ‘You are both
always welcome in our home.’  Phantasm replied solicitously. 
‘Anyway, I think the opportunity to discuss what we hear … and See during the
banquet would be most welcome.’
    Fabian nodded
and looked intently at Mistral, ‘We need to prepare.’  He led her over to
the sofa, waiting