The Shape-Changer's Wife Read Online Free PDF Page B

Aubrey and the rest of the world like a glittering curtain; he tantalized with hints of knowledge soon, but not too soon, to be revealed. He had the feast inside him but he kept Aubrey hungry, and Aubrey watched him steadily, daily, without tiring.
    Â 
    Â 
    A FEW TIMES, in the evenings, Glyrenden would take Aubrey into town. They spent hours in the tavern where Aubrey had asked directions on his first day, drinking tankards of ale and talking. The landlord or his daughter served them courteously, but none of the other patrons of the bar joined them or asked to share a pitcher with them. Glyrenden did not seem to notice; Aubrey noticed, but was not surprised. Country folk often feared wizards, and Glyrenden was just the kind of wizard to make a simple man nervous and resentful.
    In other circumstances, Aubrey would have set out to charm the wary townsfolk, for he could generally win over anyone when he tried, but when he had Glyrenden’s company, he was satisfied. He was even glad that no one interrupted them. He sat across from the shape-changer in the small, dark tavern, drinking in the other man’s stories. Often he grew more inebriated on the conversation than on the ale. What he loved best were Glyrenden’s tales of how he had used his shape-changing to benefit the king, and of these stories Glyrenden had an inexhaustible supply.
    â€œThere was the time the delegation from, let’s see, it was Monterris, came to stay at the palace for a week,” Glyrenden told him once. “Lord Evan Monterris had come to discuss opening the northern ports to us, but the king did not trust him. Did not trust him at all. But we were to have a week of friendly activities—a hunt, a ball, formal dinners. You know how the king entertains.”
    Aubrey did not know, but he nodded; he imagined opulence.
    â€œThat first day, for the hunt, I changed myself into a falcon and rode on the fist of Evan Monterris. For him I caught three rabbits and a brace of quail. He was very pleased.” Glyrenden smiled reminiscently. “But we were surrounded by other petty lords all day, and Lord Evan said nothing to compromise himself.
    â€œFor the rest of the visit I took whatever form seemed to suit the occasion. I became a hunting dog, I became one of the great golden fish swimming in the king’s ornamental pond. Many times I turned myself into a fat white sleepy cat, and I lay in Lady Monterris’ lap while she sat in her bedroom listening to her husband rant. I purred under her stroking hands to calm her, for her husband was a violent man and he alarmed her. She became quite attached to me—she asked the king if she could bring me home with her when the time came to leave.”
    Aubrey laughed. “I assume he said no?”
    Glyrenden echoed his laugh. “He would have agreed, I think, had I not already found out the information he needed to know.”
    â€œAnd that was?”
    â€œOh, that Monterris was planning an ambush the first time we tried to use the northern ports. It was what we had suspected all along, but we had had no proof until I was able to capitalize upon my useful skills.”
    â€œThe king must have been very pleased with you.”
    â€œHe was indeed.”
    â€œOther times. What have you done at other times?”
    Glyrenden laughed again, back in his throat. “There was the time I turned myself into a young and beautiful woman to charm the secrets from a recalcitrant envoy. He was susceptible to women, you understand, and he told me a great deal more than he intended.”
    â€œA woman!” Aubrey was impressed. “But was that not utterly alien to you?”
    â€œMore alien than a cat or a falcon?”
    â€œWell—”
    â€œBesides, I had some interest in learning how a woman was formed. I thought the knowledge would be useful to me.”
    Aubrey shook his head in admiration. “Amazing. To be able to turn a man into a woman. I would not