The Chosen - Stone Dance of the Chameleon 01 Read Online Free Page B

searched Carnelian's face. The voice sounded again. 'He has the jade-eyed beauty, this son of yours.'
    Suth frowned. 'You flatter him, Lord Aurum.' Their eyes locked together. Though their lips did not move, nor their hands, Carnelian was convinced they were speaking to each other. He saw the other two Masters were also watching them.
    Flames spluttered, hissed. Sparks seeded the air.
    'Perhaps I do,' the old Master said finally, breaking off from the contest. He smiled but only with his lips. Suth turned back to his son. Carnelian could see he was controlling anger.
    'My son, let me make known to you our blood-pure visitors.' His father opened a fist and lifted the hand to indicate the old Master. 'Aurum, the Ruling Lord of that House. Your uncle.' The old Master gave a slow nod but his glassy eyes never left Carnelian's face.
    Carnelian stared back. He came back to the sound of his father's voice.'.. . Ruling Lord of House Vennel.' The Master who bowed was more slender than the others, younger, paler-eyed. His hand unsheathed from a sleeve like a sword and melted into the sign, Charmed.
    Suth turned to the last Master, who wore the serene smile of an idol. This i s your second cousin, Jaspar of House Imago, who one day, if the Two will it, shall be its Ruling Lord.'
    'As you say, cousin, if They will it,' said the smiling Master and inclined his head elegantly.
    Carnelian tried to return the smile.
    'Now that the introductions have been made, my Lords, I might suggest that we retire,' said Vennel. He had a woman's voice and his Quya was like singing. 'One must confess to a certain weariness.'
    'What resources we have here are at your disposal, my Lords,' Suth said. 'Apartments have been made ready. I hope my Lords will forgive the little comfort we can provide. If we had been advised that you were coming ...'
    'We have come in haste, my Lord,' said Aurum. There was neither the time nor the opportunity to herald our arrival.'
    Jaspar smiled again. 'A little comfort will be rendered great by comparison with our recent accommodation.'
    'Shall we then tomorrow meet in formal conclave?' asked Vennel with his woman's voice.
    The others lifted their hands in assent.
    Till the morrow then.'
    Vennel began to move towards the door. Aurum did not move. Vennel turned. 'You are not accompanying us, my Lord?'
    'Not immediately. I shall remain here and reminisce with the Lord Suth. Nostalgic nothings can resurrect the past.'
    Jaspar raised an eyebrow then dropped it again. Vennel's expression froze for a moment.
    Carnelian saw the sag in his father's face. He went up to him. 'You are weary, my Lord.'
    His father smiled a bl eak smile. 'Perhaps I will find refreshment in reliving the past with the Lord Aurum. Go now, my Lord, and see that our guests are well looked after.'
    Carnelian bowed. Aurum was looking at him with gleaming eyes. Carnelian blushed. As he led Jaspar and Vennel to the sea-ivory doors, blinded slaves appeared. Carnelian stared at their puckered eyelids then, copying the others, he held his mask up before his face and a blindman bound it on. As the doors opened, he looked back. His new uncle, Lord Aurum, had stretched a long arm across his father's shoulders like a yoke and was moving him off into the shadows.
    The CONCLAVE
    A child can oft more fates decide
    Than can a meeting of kings.
    (proverb - origin unknown)
    He came up from a murky dream, the mist of memory thinning into vague uneasy recollection then fading to nothing. Cold. Cold darkness. Carnelian sensed it was not long till sunrise. The shutters were rattling. Sleet volleyed against them like arrows. Perhaps he had dreamed the visitors with their long black ship. His heart beat hard. He did not know which was worse: that they had come or that they might not have come at all. He put his feet onto the floor, fumbled a blanket round him and walked over to the shutters. When he swung them back, the wind ran iced fingers through his hair. Its kissing snow set him