Fires of Aggar Read Online Free Page A

Or something that comes from our Sisters of the home planet?”
    “Neither really. A few days ago I had a visitor. Well, not precisely a visitor — a harmon. And now I find I have need of a Royal Marshal.”
    That startled Gwyn a bit. There weren’t many Blue Sights talented enough to project their harmon — that ghost image of themselves — across great distances to another, Blue Sight receptor. It was a necessary talent in the Ring Binder who was often the sole link between the Sisters of Aggar and their distant home world, but even the Council Seers were not always so gifted. Curious, Gwyn pressed, “The visitor was from the Council? No? From the Royal Family in their western Palace — or the Prince’s northern field camps?”
    “From Khirlan.”
    “Khirlan? The most southeastern district of the Ramains?” Gwyn’s chin dropped with a contemplative frown. “I’ve never heard of any trouble from them. But they have been pretty isolated during the Wars. Being so far south and inland, it’s always been more economical for them to provide extra tax monies rather than armed support for the Prince. I don’t think they’ve even got a standing regiment among his northern troops. But then the King and Crowned Rule still endorse the Old Law for border Districts and with the Clan’s Plateau being Khirlan’s neighboring — the Clan!”
    Understanding dawned as the Amazon sat bolt upright. “The Old Law exempted Khirlan from Royal Conscriptions, specifically because of the Terran Clan’s threat to the Ramains’ Realm. They send Churv money instead of sword carriers, because the swords are simply needed in Khirlan. Between the continual raids and the occasional invasions of the Clan, the Khirlan folk are in a constant struggle and have always had to maintain an active militia.”
    “Well apparently…,” Bryana amended somberly, “the last few seasons have only seen Khirlan’s struggle grow worse.”
    With a grim frown, Gwyn nodded. She knew all too well what must have happened. “The Clan finally capitalized on the fact that the Prince’s troops were occupied on the northern borders. The Clan Leads realized the Royal Family wouldn’t be able to send reinforcements and decided to see what they and their fire weapons could gain from it.”
    “So it would seem.”
    “M’Sormee?” Curiously, Gwyn glanced at her mother. It was odd that Valley Bay’s Ring Binder had become involved in this sort of matter. “Who was this visitor?”
    “The King’s Dracoon of Khirlan.”
    “She or he?”
    “She. Her name is Llinolae.”
    “She came to you and not to the Crowned Rule? Or even to the Council of Ten? Surely the Council has jurisdiction over the Clan’s affairs. We’re only interested bystanders.”
    “Ones which the Clan would prefer did not exist,” Bryana concluded succinctly.
    “So why does the Dracoon seek you out?”
    “It was unintentional.”
    Her brow creased in a scowl, and Gwyn sat forward in disbelief. “Her Blue Sight erred? That’s not possible, surely? Only the Council’s own Seers know Valley Bay well enough to find you here in this place. And they would never mistake here for the King’s Court.”
    “Her Blue Gift erred,” Bryana returned calmly. “Her own, not a Seer’s Apprentice stationed within her court.”
    “There’s a Dracoon gifted?” Gwyn had never heard of King nor Council arranging such a thing. “It’s certainly a novel idea. I can imagine where it might be useful in foreseeing some of the Clan’s antics. But still, M’Sormee, you are always reminding us that the Sight’s talents lend information rather than knowledge. Having a Dracoon incapable of strategy or deduction is somewhat limiting, isn’t it?”
    The subtle curve of an almost secretive smile was Bryana’s only response. Gwyn recognized that expression. She sighed. Often when her mother saw something of the future that was best left ambiguous, she got that vague, pleased look. It was useless to