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months. Frowning, he thought about his remaining gold, which he had planned to
spend on more gear for himself.
 Come on, Miranda said.
While he had been contemplating the small details in his life, the door had
opened. Shaking his head, Dreibrand admonished himself for being so
distracted.
Shan strode through the large entry hall and greeted them promptly. He hugged
Miranda politely and wished her well.  Dreibrand has told me about the baby. I
am glad for your blessing. The rys s tone became serious and he added,  Now I
must get your other dear children back to you.
Miranda murmured her thanks, knowing how much Shan did care.
 Let us sit, Shan said briskly, leading them to his salon.  Dreibrand, does
that sword suit you?
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Dreibrand brushed his hand over the pommel of the sword at his side.
He had returned the cheap short sword to Redan and selected another better one
from Taischek s armory, but it was nothing special.
 Well, I had thought this would just be a temporary weapon, he answered.
As they settled into the comfortable furniture, Shan said,  I see. Then you
shall have a new one by spring. I have arranged with Taischek s master
weaponsmith to have a new weapon forged for you. But I have a recommendation.
Shan scooped up a suede bag from an end table and emptied two warding crystals
into his palm. Points of sapphire light sparkled deep inside the milky blue
orbs.
 I have made you new warding crystals, he said, distributing them.  I
want you to carry these in addition to the ones you already have, so you will
be doubly protected. I have made some adjustments and refinements to my
warding spells, so these are stronger. With your wardings, you will be on
nearly equal terms with any common rys, and you will have some protection from
Onja s spells. I fear when we march on Jingten, Onja will target my friends to
make me suffer. That is one of her favorite cruelties, and I wanted you to
have extra protection. Dreibrand, I thought you
might want this crystal set in the pommel of your new sword. It will make a
visible statement to the Yentay that you are my chosen commander and that my
power is behind you.
Examining his new warding crystal, Dreibrand considered Shan s idea and it
appealed to him. Then he looked sternly at Miranda and mentioned,  Chances are
high that Miranda will not be able to accompany us to
Jingten.
 There is also a chance I will go, Miranda added quickly.
Shan noted the understandable tension between them on this subject but breezed
over it.  Nonetheless, accept these warding crystals.
 Yes, of course we do, Shan, Dreibrand agreed.
 Good. It is best we all stay as protected as possible. Even now, Shan said.
Dreibrand asked,  Have you had any luck finding the Overlord?
Shan stretched back into the couch and combed his fingers through his
white-streaked black hair. He seemed to be pondering his conclusion one more
time before revealing it.
He answered,  I looked first in Do Jempur, and my visions were strange,
lacking in detail. I did not see the Overlord. This gave me an opportunity to
study the warding, but I became weary as I tried to pierce its magic, and this
morning when I woke, there was no blindspot or Overlord in Do
Jempur. It is unfortunate that I lost track of the warding magic, but I did
learn one thing: Onja did not make the warding.
Miranda, who had been informed of the wardings that blocked Shan, inquired who
then had made the powerful magic.
 That is the great puzzle, Miranda, Shan admitted helplessly.  The ability to
make warding magic is rare, and this warding is so powerful, I
cannot imagine who could have made it besides Onja. But the magic of each rys
has an individual signature, and even if this is a new spell created by Onja,
I would recognize her power in the spell. But this warding was not created by
any rys I have ever met.
Immediately after speaking these words, Shan sat up with a sudden revelation
and cried,  By any rys alive!
He jumped up and started pacing.  Of course, of course, he muttered
in agreement with his conclusion.  The warding was made by a rys who died long
ago. A warding crystal made in ancient times maybe even by
Dacian. But where has Onja been hiding it? I would have detected such a thing
in the Keep and nothing is in the Tomb of Dacian.
Dreibrand broke into his thoughts.  You told me you have never been in the
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Tomb of Dacian, that no one except Onja can go there.
Shan halted and explained,  But I can penetrate Onja s wardings and I
have explored the tower with my mind. It is empty. Perhaps Onja has a stash
outside the city in the mountains. That must be it. Who would notice some
warding crystals in a wild place, especially when no one is looking for it?
Now, Onja has warded her assassins with magic unfamiliar to me.
Calming down, Shan returned to his seat.  Very clever. I had not expected
this. But I will cope. Warding or not, the Kezanada are still visible to
normal sight after all.
 But you cannot focus a spell on them, Dreibrand worried.
 For the time being, but that will change. Once I locate the warding again, I
should be able to unlock its secrets, Shan assured him.  But now to a matter [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]