Wine of the Gods 26: Embassy Read Online Free PDF Page A

lessons as well."
    Dagger stood up and started easing away, keeping behind the thickest growth of plants.
    "She hasn't grasped power. What's the point?"
    "Of course she hasn't. She's much too young, hasn't had her first period yet. But she needs to memorize the charms and meditate regularly."
    By the time Dagger had circled around and walked into the clearing from a different direction, they were arguing about climbing the volcano.
    "We missed the Summer Solstice, because of that storm. It's three days until the full moon. That would be a good time to be up there." Teri smirked. "Unless you're not up to it yet."
    Dagger sat down beside Epee and started on her meditations again. Little sparks danced across her fingers, and she squelched them quickly. Teri will do something awful to me, when she finds out. Probably use me to breed babies for her to play with.
    "Fine. We'll collect some food and leave in the morning!" Jade got up and walked off in a huff.
    Teri sniffed. "So, let's do a bit of triad practice. Dagger, just . . . pretend, so Betelgeuse and Arrow can practice. Smokey, Sunset, let's . . . " Teri broke off and glared past them.
    Dagger turned and looked. "It's that man!" she hissed.
    The trio turned eagerly around, all bright-eyed . . .
    "Rior. You are not welcome here. This is training for witches, and whatever the hell you are, you are definitely not a witch." Teri was glowing, gathering power.
    The man inclined his head, looking cautious, but not afraid. "And the hike up the volcano?"
    Teri growled, and Dagger looked for a place to hide.
    "If we catch you spying on one of our ceremonies, we will kill you. Begone. You've done enough harm already."
    "Certainly. Oh . . . I took a look at their prison." Rior didn't glance toward Smokey and Sunset. The twitches in their magic was probably enough to tell him he'd scored. "Not that there was much to see. It's on the other side of one of their gates. They just guard the access. Which means there aren't many men on guard there. As there's so little to guard."
    "That you can see." Jade eyed him thoughtfully. "How long did you watch?"
    "Three days. At shift change, they only swap four people from the other side of the gate. Another twenty on this side."
    Smokey strolled over to face him. "So . . . can you sneak us in, and then out again with the witches?"
    Jade snorted. "Sleep or stun spells would do as well."
    Teri hunched her shoulders. "The prison is only about a mile from the Tavern. We dare not throw magic around so close to Harry. Not to mention how often witches eat there. How'd you like to interrupt Answer's dinner, eh? There's a reason I'm taking it slow and being careful."
    Jade glared. Shrugged. "You're right. So we sneak in, using as little magic as possible. I'm not going to stop studying the gates though."
    "The . . . yes . . . if we . . . more likely one of you . . . could make gates." Rior started grinning as the possibilities blossomed in his mind. And backtracking the conversation. "Just where are you studying the gates? At the Crossroads? Do you actually have a corridor that close to the prison?"
    Teri curled a lip. "Where else could we get close enough to study them? And I've been watching the prison. Which we ought to be able to sneak in and out of."
    "Soon!" Smokey shot a glare at Teri.
    Rior cleared his throat. "Then there's the timing. It would be easier to sneak in during a winter storm, with the guards huddling in their coats and poor visibility, especially at night." Rior watched their reaction, reluctant acceptance.
    Nods all around.
    He looked pointedly at the young witches.
    In the month he'd been gone Arrow had ballooned, thanks to the fast house.
    Falchion shrugged. "We'll hurry things along, so we're recovered and ready when the time comes."
    Arrow gave her a sharp look. Not going to let her beat her.
    Dagger concentrated on hearing, as Rior eased closer to Sunset. "What's with the competitive pregnancies? What does it matter?"
    She raised her