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talents to good use. Some serve New Rhylach in the army. Others, like the owner of this
house, serve in a different fashion, but their roles are no less important.
 Then you knew I had a Way?
 I suspected as much. I have friends who keep an ear out for news of people who
exhibit odd abilities. When I came to Fort Ironwood, I didn t know if you were truly gifted,
or if you were simply mad. Fortunately, it didn t take long for me to realize which. His
smile turned warm.
She found herself returning it. Here, at last, was a Rhylachan other than Johann
who didn t think her insane. Even better, it was a man of position and authority. She felt
as though a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
 So tell me what happened, he prompted.
She hesitated, thinking of the ghost eater. Would he appreciate her telling
anyone about the Ahkan it?  I m not certain I have that right, she said apologetically.
But he nodded, as if he understood perfectly.  Then just listen. There are things
happening in New Rhylach that no one outside the army knows about. Let me explain
them to you, and then you can determine for yourself whether or not I m worthy of your
trust. If you decide that I m not, you re free to go from here.
She cocked her head suspiciously, looking for any trace of deception. All she
saw was earnest honesty.  Truly?
 You have my word.
 Then I ll listen. After all, you listened to me when no one else would. I suppose I
owe it to you.
 Thank you. He settled back in his chair, brow furrowed with thought.  It s difficult
to know exactly where to begin. About two years ago, a coalition of merchants from
Aneirach proposed an unusual expedition. Ever since the Wizards brought us here
three-hundred years ago, no one has ever left the land they gave us. I suppose people
thought that it was all we were meant to have. But the merchants reinterpreted scripture
and decided that we were destined to go everywhere in this world.
 But where else is there to go?
 Across the sea.
She started to laugh, then stopped when she saw that he was serious.
 An odd idea at first, I know, he said.  But think about it. Why couldn t there be
other lands like this one? The merchants knew that it would be a dangerous undertaking
to find such places, but if they exist, then the rewards for discovering them could be
great. So they built special ocean-going vessels meant to sail out beyond sight of land,
then crewed them with men who had been condemned to the gallows. I believe the
theory was that such sailors would have nothing to lose by going on such a perilous
venture.
 The expedition was kept quiet undoubtedly the merchants didn t want word
getting out to their competitors. The ships sailed due south, across the New Sea, guided
only by the stars. For a long time they saw no land. They were about to turn back for
lack of supplies, when an island came into view. It was a small, deserted place, but half-
buried in the sand they discovered a gold necklace of exotic and unknown
workmanship.
Gwendith sat up straighter, realizing immediately what it meant.  There are other
people in the world.
He nodded gravely.  Indeed. Other natives, besides the ones we met when we
first came here. Needless to say, the merchants were ecstatic. They immediately
outfitted another ship, this one better equipped, manned, and stocked. It, however,
failed to return. So did the next except for a single man.
 One man?
 The captain appeared one night, months after his ship had left, lying alone and
bloody on the dock he had sailed from. He died screaming moments after he was found,
half his body torn to shreds, as if from the claws of some terrible beast. At first, it was
thought that he had not sailed with the ship after all, but two of the merchants investing
in the vessel had seen him on the deck as the ship left dock. That was when they
brought the problem to the army. And that was how it came to my attention.
Gwendith swallowed uneasily.  How& what do you think happened?
 I believe that the people across the sea have Ways, just like the natives here do.
But I also think they have more than that. They must have found some stronger magic,
because no Way I ve ever heard of could send a man instantaneously over thousands
of miles, so that his death could serve as a warning to others.
 After that, the Citizens Assembly became worried and wanted to know more
about these people. I have been occupied with other tasks closer to home and
unfortunately was not involved in the decision. A ship full of soldiers was sent out in an
attempt to intimidate the unknown people and make them see things our way. He
paused and took a deep breath, as if to steady himself.  The ship sailed back into
harbor only a few days ago. Everyone on board had been dead for some time.
Somehow, whoever killed them also caused their ship to sail home by itself.
Gwendith felt as if skeletal fingers walked down her spine.  I saw it, she
whispered.  In a vision.
Talys looked up sharply.  Did you? He paused, then leaned over the table and
held her gaze intently.  Gwendith, I ll be honest with you. New Rhylach is in the greatest
danger it has ever faced. If our neighbors across the sea decide to attack us, we have
no defense against them. They have twice displayed the kind of magic that we can t
muster couldn t, not even if every person in New Rhylach developed a Way overnight.
A shiver went through her.  Why are you telling me this? What do you want me to
do?
 When I first learned the truth about Ways, I started to wonder about the Wizards
magic. To wonder whether or not there might be any way of combining the two, and so
regain the power of the Wizards.
 Isn t that blasphemy? Ways are one thing all the natives claim to have them.
But the Wizards magic was supposed to be unique, divine. Not the kind of thing an
ordinary army colonel might hope to control.
He smiled ruefully.  Only too true. Except that I know the truth about the
Wizards.
 I don t understand.
He rose and paced to the window, then came and sat again.  I know that you
aren t devout, Gwendith you told me so yourself the night we met. From the day I
found out about Ways, I began to read everything I could find about Wizard magic. Not
just scripture or approved texts diaries, personal journals, field reports, everything I
could find dating back to the Migration. It wasn t easy. It s taken ten years for me to
piece together the entire truth. But now I know.
 The Wizards were nothing but charlatans.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Gwendith gaped at Colonel Talys, feeling all the blood drain from her face.
 Charlatans? she whispered.
He held up a restraining hand.  Perhaps  charlatans is too strong a word. But [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]