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Shan regarded him thoughtfully but made no reply. The Temu warriors escorted
the prestigious persons back into the rain. They hurried through the city and
up the switchbacked road to the splendid complex that was
Taischek s castle on the mesa. Knowing that Miranda was in the castle made
Dreibrand feel like he had come home, a sensation that he had not known for a
long time.
Kalek had many questions for Dreibrand and his pestering broke the sleepy
silence of the castle. Dreibrand answered the Prince with a learned patience.
Finally, Shan scolded the young man with the security of someone who is the
King s dearest friend and ally. Hush, Kalek. Dreibrand can tell you his
stories of the world at another time.
Annoyed at the rys s lack of respect, Kalek pressed on. Dreibrand Veta, my
father the King says you defeated three Temu warriors when he tested you in
non-lethal combat.
I defended myself and I showed myself to be a warrior, Dreibrand responded
modestly.
You would not have done so well if I had been there to test you, Kalek
boasted.
Dreibrand tried not to sigh with indignation, but failed. He hoped a day later
when he was fed and rested that the Prince would not seem so tiresome.
Kalek. Shan purposefully did not use the heir s title again. I need to
speak with my general privately.
Kalek would not cross Shan but he disliked the dismissal. We will speak
later, he announced but no one was interested. Shan and
Dreibrand continued to the rys s apartment.
Entering Shan s private chambers, Dreibrand said, Thank you for getting rid
of him, Shan. I am in no mood for princely puppies.
The rys chuckled at the criticism. He really did want to meet you, but his
attitude is usually not very endearing. I have often hoped that he would out
grow it, but he only seems to grow into it.
It does not matter, Dreibrand muttered, throwing off his wet fur lined
cloak.
Shan easily started a good fire in the fireplace, quicker than a man could
have done it. Dreibrand stripped away his gear and wrapped a wool blanket
around his shoulders. Sitting gratefully near the soothing flames, he noticed
that the soggy bloody bandage on his arm was staining through the blanket.
Sorry about this, he apologized.
Have you had that looked at? Shan worried.
Yeah, I got stitched up in Fata Nor. The bandage is the worst part now.
I was lucky to only get this. The Kezanada Overlord almost killed me,
Dreibrand explained.
The Overlord! Shan cried. When?
When we fought the Kezanada, Dreibrand replied.
Shan looked perplexed. I know the Overlord. I have met the Overlord many
times. I would have noticed him. Are you sure?
Everyone said it had to be the Overlord. He was a large man, brightly dressed
unlike the others. If anybody could be a king of mercenaries, he could,
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Dreibrand said.
Shan sat down heavily without his usual quiet grace. Tell me everything about
this clash with the Kezanada. Tell me everything, Shan instructed greedily.
Starting with Pelafan and Sutah, Dreibrand made a full report to the rys, who
listened raptly as if comparing details to his record. An uncharacteristic
agitation crept into Shan s mannerisms, which
Dreibrand noticed.
When he finished, Shan confessed, I never saw the Overlord.
Dreibrand tried to soothe him, figuring the strain of the bounty caused
Shan to be nervous. Shan, you said you looked in on me after the battle.
The Overlord was gone so of course you did not see him, he reasoned.
Shan disregarded the idea and explained, I knew something was wrong even at
the time. I had trouble locating the Kezanada. And when I did perceive them,
it was hard to focus. I barely found the prisoners in time to help.
It was far away. You did not know where the Kezanada were and it
took you a while to find them. You still succeeded Shan. You still worked
magic. Do not judge yourself so harshly for overlooking a few details,
Dreibrand advised.
Shan frowned and corrected, I can see clearly much farther than that, and I
would not have overlooked the Overlord. His presence should have immediately
attracted my attention.
Discarding his optimistic view, Dreibrand asked, So what are you saying?
Clearly not pleased by the notion and still reluctant to accept it, Shan
answered, A warding crystal must protect the Overlord from my perception.
Onja must have given it to him, but I long ago acquired the ability to pierce
any of her wardings. It must be something new.
Something different.
Maybe Pelafan and Sutah gave him something, Dreibrand suggested.
Those two were up to something.
Waving a blue hand dismissively, Shan scoffed, Those idiots! They have
average abilities and could not even make a warding crystal. The answer must
be that Onja has a new warding unfamiliar to me, and now it protects the
Overlord. I must learn to see through this new fog she has made, and do it
quickly.
And you can learn this? Dreibrand asked.
Eventually. I learned to penetrate all of her other wardings, and so I
will unlock the secret of this spell. Hopefully it will not take too long. The
trouble now is finding the warding again and keeping track of the blindspot so
I can study it, Shan said. For a moment, his concern with this challenge
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