The Wizard Read Online Free PDF Page B

will know you know it from the way you act. If you don't know it, he'll know that too." "Sir Able, you" "The difference will show up in little things, most so small you may not see them. Battles are won or lost because of small things. You want to ask a question?" "You were dead, Sir Able. I mean, we thought you were." I shrugged. "What does it matter? I'm here, breathing the same dusty air. Do you think I'm a ghost? If you want me to, I'll stick my finger so you can see it bleed." Toug shook his head. "That's good. I'm alive, Toug, just like you. When we ate tonight a couple of dozen people saw me eat. Eating is proof. Ghosts can't do it." "I didn't know that." "You do now. Is it this mail with gold in the rings? I got it when I got Eterne." I touched, but did not draw, my sword. "Her scabbard was on a belt fastened to this. I took sword, mail, and all. What would you do after you had taken off the horse's saddle and saddle blanket, and covered him if he needed it?" "Take off the bridle," Toug said. "Water him and get him something to eat, if I could find anything. That's what I did with your old horse when I had him." I nodded. "After that?" "That's all." "After that you should look at his feet. I want you to lift Cloud's right hind leg now, so you can check on her hoof. I'll hold the lantern." Toug did, looking like he thought Cloud's hoof might blow up. "You don't have to worry. She's used to having her feet checked. She knows you're doing it because you want her to be okay. Any stones in there?" "No, sir. Is it all right if I ask where you got her?" All around us, horses and mules stirred and stamped, and muleteers laughed and swore. At length I asked, "Is the shoe wearing out?" "No, sir." "Are the nails loose? Any of them?" "No, sir." "Good. Take a look at her left hind hoof." Toug did. "By now you must think I'm not going to answer. I am, but I was thinking how to. The Valfather gave her to me, but that doesn't tell you much. Have you ever looked at a pool and seen Skai reflected in the water? The clouds, the sun, the birds, and so on?" "Lots of times. This foot is all right, too, sir. Only who's the Valfather?" "Some people in your village pray to Disiri. Your sister told me." "Yes, sir. Are you going to get her out of Utgard?" "Your sister? Sure. That's one of the reasons I came back. Look at Cloud's right front hoof." Somewhat less hesitantly, Toug lifted that foot as well. "When I talk about Overcyns, I don't mean Disiri or her people. How many Overcyns do you know?" "Well, there's Thunor . . ." Toug hesitated. "And the Thunderer." "They're the same guy. Name some more." After a long pause: "Mother says Nerthis." I laughed. "Now you've got me. I never heard of him." "It's her." "Let's have some more." "I don't know any more, Sir Able. But this foot is all right, too. I'll look at the other one." "You've heard a great deal of swearing since you came in here, and that may be as good a way as any to find out who men ought to revere. What names have you heard?" "Uh . . . Frigg. And Forcetti? Is that an Overcyn, sir? I thought it was a place." "It's both. The city was named for the Overcyn, because people hoped for justice there. Is that all? You don't seem to have been paying much attention." "Fenrir and Sif, sir. And the Wanderer." "Nice going. The Wanderer is the Valfather. Now pay attention. You saw Skai reflected in a pool. But that pool and everything around it, all our world of Mythgarthr, is the reflection of Skai. Lord Beel gave me the white horse that we left behind when we climbed on the griffin. Maybe I told you." "Yes, sir." "The Valfather gave me Cloud, just like that. You look sick. What is it?" "Your horse, the one I had until that man knocked me off. Inobody's taking care of him, unless he is." "I see. He's still your horse, Toug, even if he was stolen from you." "He isn't really mine, Sir Able. He's yours." "I'm giving him to you. I just did. The muleteers are supposed to be caring for all the horses,