The Silent Army Read Online Free PDF Page B

pallet for sleeping, wrapped in a thick fur, rocking slowly back and forth. Deltrea was with her, as she always was. Hours before she had been in one of the towers of the palace, but as soon as the armies of the Sa’ba Taalor attacked, she was taken here for her own protection.
    The sorcerer wanted her undamaged.
    “Are you still in pain?” Deltrea’s voice was grating on her nerves. She had been more tolerant of her friend when she was alive. These days, the voice of the woman was inevitable.
    “Yes. I am in pain. Why are you still here, Deltrea? Why do you keep talking to me?”
    “We have already discussed this.” Deltrea leaned against the wall of the nicely decorated cell, her shoulder and arm pushing against a tapestry that did not ripple or notice her at all. “Either I am a ghost or you are mad. Only you can decide.”
    “When Desh Krohan comes again. I will ask him if you are real.”
    “If you do that and he says I am not, how will you respond?”
    Cullen shrugged. “Either way, at least I will know.”
    Deltrea sighed and then squatted down until they were at eye level again. “Does it hurt? That great thing inside you?”
    “It’s not a thing and you know it. It’s the Mother-Vine, whatever is left of her.”
    “What makes you say that?” Deltrea leaned closer. “You did not make that claim before.”
    “What else could it be?”
    “Does it hurt? Carrying the Mother-Vine?”
    “It would hurt less if she would stay still.”
    Deltrea eyed Cullen’s stomach. “Well, you don’t look pregnant.”
    Cullen laughed softly. “I am not pregnant. I don’t rut like you do. I choose my mates more carefully.”
    “More like you don’t choose at all.”
    “That is still more carefully than you. How many men did you fuck before you died?”
    Deltrea did not answer, but instead crossed her arms and stared at the ground in sullen silence. It seemed there was a way to shut her up after all.
    The sound of the door opening was loud, and Cullen looked toward it as the sorcerer entered.
    The first time she’d seen him, his hood was up and he terrified her. This time his cowl was pulled away and down and she could see his face. It was a good face. Lean, but not narrow, kind without being weak. She liked him instantly.
    The thing that was twisting around her guts seethed and pulsed deep inside her, and she stifled a moan.
    “You mentioned a name when you came here, child,” the sorcerer began. “Do you remember?”
    Cullen nodded. “Moale Deneshi,” she said softly. “She is the one who sent me here.”
    “She has been dead for rather a long time, Cullen.” He walked through where Deltrea was squatting and came closer until, finally, he too lowered himself to her current height.
    “Rude,” muttered Deltrea.
    “I don’t step aside for specters. Sets a bad precedent.”
    Cullen gasped at his words. “You see her?”
    Desh shrugged his shoulders. “I sense her. I could see her if I wanted, but I have no need. She is not here for me. She is here for you.”
    “What does she do? Why does she follow me?”
    “Likely she feels you need protecting or she is simply confused.”
    “I’m right here, you know. I can hear the both of you.” Deltrea crossed her arms and sighed.
    The sorcerer completely ignored her. “Moale Deneshi is dead,” he said to Cullen. “Why do you claim to speak for her?”
    “She’s not dead. She is inside me.”
    The sorcerer looked into her eyes for a moment and then placed a hand upon her head. The hand drifted slowly down to rest on her abdomen and, much as part of her was offended by the familiar contact, she knew he wasn’t trying to molest her.
    “How is that possible, child?”
    Cullen opened her mouth to answer but instead felt her lips move of their own volition, speaking words that made no sense at all. They were a language she did not understand.
    Desh Krohan nodded his head as if he understood. A moment later he rose and smiled wearily down.
    “Get your