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.He excused himself before the appointed time for his rendezvous.With a question here and a question there he had learnedhow to find Lady Melina's room.After finding a corner where he could tidy himself, Warn made his stealthy way up a flight of stairs.He counted cross-halls and landmarks and upon arrival found that stealth had been unnecessary.The corridor was empty even of servants.Apparently, all those who were awake were enjoying the ball.I suppose it makes sense, Waln thought, raising his hand to tap on the door.I doubt that the elderly king entertains on thisscale very often.The door opened to his touch and he found himself entering a single room made up as a bedchamber.Some of hisastonishment must have shown, for Lady Melina's first words were "We castle residents are very tightly packed.The suite Iwould usually command is given over, I believe, to the contingent from the Shark Barony.My maid is sleeping belowstairs,my children are in town staying with their Redbriar relations.You and I are quite alone."Waln collected himself with some difficulty.Lady Melina had all but purred those last few words, sending an unexpectedthrill through him.Easy, Waln, remember that she's a sorceress, he cautioned himself, and found that the thought chilled him as iced watermight.Freed from the veil she had worn in public, Lady Melina proved to be fair-haired, though even candlelight revealed thesilver intermixed with the fading blond.Although she was a small woman Waln was surprised to learn just how small nowthat they stood close she exuded confidence.The notorious gemstone necklace was visible now as well surely for his benefit, for she could have continued to concealit beneath her dress.He noted that there were indeed five stones.If Sapphire had rejected her ornament, Melina had retainedher own.Waln dismissed fascinating speculation as to what effect Melina's silent claim to continued domination over her daughtermight have on Princess Sapphire's reign as the crown princess established herself in her new role in Hawk Haven.Hisbusiness was with Melina alone and for her own qualities, not for her relation to the princess.Lady Melina directed Waln to take a seat on one of two chairs she had drawn up a short distance from the bedstead.Thebed's curtains were mostly drawn as if to reject any invitation to dalliance but were open enough that Waln could see thatno one hid behind their shelter.In any case, he reassured himself, even in a small room like this she could hide someone beneath the bed or in a clotheschest if she wished to violate my request for privacy.Here is when I must begin thinking of her as a potential partner."I am," he said, "meeting with you at the request of a powerful personage.""Queen Valora," Lady Melina said, something of a decisive snap in her tone."Unless you wish to deny that very obvious deduction.""No," Waln said slowly, "I do not.Very well.I am here as a representative of Her Majesty.Recently she has inheritedsome quite interesting objects.It is her belief that you could be of use in learning their true use and value.""Inherited," Lady Melina interrupted."If these objects are what I think they may be, some might say that 'stolen' is a betterdescription for how she acquired them.""As you wish," Waln said, bowing his head slightly.He'd learned long ago that the best way to deal with people who wished to show how wise and knowledgeable they werewas to let them talk.He'd also learned that nothing was to be gained by arguing with someone you needed."Three enchanted objects the very knowledge of their existence enough to trigger a war," Lady Melina mused."Therehave been those who have said that Queen Valora was an idiot to take them from Revelation Point Castle."Again Waln let the gibe pass, but he added the insult to his queen to the rapidly growing list of those things he would notforget."No doubt," he replied mildly, "Her Majesty felt differently.""As is shown by her taking them." Lady Melina tossed her head, her hair silvery in the candlelight."Now she wishes me toshow her how to use them."Waln permitted himself to show some surprise.If Lady Melina were more skillful, she would taunt less frequently.As itwas, the acid of her tongue was losing its sharpness.He merely anticipated it and schooled his reactions to play her moods ashe wished.Sorceress or not, she was no master politician."Could you?" he asked, allowing an eager tremor to enter his voice."Not without seeing them," Lady Melina replied, suddenly reasonable."And even then, the unraveling of their secretsmight take time.""True," Waln said, dropping a card on the table, "so the New Kelvinese said when they were consulted.""New Kelvinese?"Lady Melina was either genuinely astonished or far more skilled at dissembling than Waln would have guessed."New Kelvinese," she repeated."You took the objects to them?""Not quite."Briefly and directly, Waln summarized his visit to Dragon's Breath all but the final command that he return withsomeone skilled in magic or not at all.This portion of his approach was according to Queen Valora's express command.Hewould probably have held more information back until he had sounded Melina out in greater depth.The queen, however, must have recognized some element of personality in the materials in Melina's dossier that he hadnot.When Waln finished speaking, the sorceress's eyes were alight with interest, even with eagerness."New Kelvin," she said, her voice a reverent whisper."Dragon's Breath.I was only there once, when I was but fifteen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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