The Sleeper Sword Read Online Free

the blaze, and
Quilla stated it was not natural. Quilla spoke of deliberate
sorcery.
    Buthos said,
“This is what was revealed in the Dome. Canimer was attacked two
weeks ago, Pleses a month back and in both instances there was no
obvious instigator. Recently the Dinor declared an internal truce
to investigate incidences of violence not of their doing. No trace
of cause found. Two days back an ethereal dome dropped over
Shanghai Metrop on Xen - they’re still investigating. Beacon’s
power was mysteriously severed for nine days. It’s currently harsh
winter and seventeen people have died. What links them is the
blatant lack of how, who, why or what, and each incidence speaks to
the greatest fears. Beacon will certainly succumb without power,
Canimer can’t absorb the shock of an attack from the water, and Xen
has an understandable horror of returning to a domed
existence.”
    There were
other signs Buthos was unaware of, both in and outside of the
Forbidden Zone, and he and Quilla’s discussions lasted most of the
night.
    In the
morning, Buthos requested an audience with Emperor Teighlar, but
Teighlar laughed their claims off, saying the incidents were
isolated and it stretched the imagination to assume they were
more.
    “I, too, feel
these alarming disturbances,” Quilla murmured to the Emperor.
    “Quilla, you
see a threat behind every bush,” Teighlar returned, raising perfect
eyebrows. His ascetic features were amused.
    They sat in
comfortable armchairs in the dappled sunlight of the portico.
    Behind them
were the arches that gave entrance into the mountain. First beyond
those arches was the Great Hall that was the Throne-room, meeting
chamber, ballroom, games room and so forth, and beyond were the
intricate abodes of a city in a mountain, the larger portion of the
whole.
    Before them
lay the magnificence of Grinwallin, the external habitat, fairest
of all cities, and beyond was the broader glory of Tunin continent.
It was spring on Luvanor and life was exceptionally good.
    “Nothing amiss
here?” Buthos snapped.
    Teighlar gave
the question due consideration. “Not what I’d call one of your
incidents.”
    Buthos
pounced. “What happened?”
    Quilla leaned
forward and his eyes were intent. The Q’lin’la had been absent from
Luvanor for many weeks.
    “It is of no …
fine, if it will put an end to this silliness,” Teighlar muttered.
“We lost some of our spring newborn - animals, for Aaru’s sakes,
not people!” This quick comment was due to the horror on his two
companions’ faces. “There was a cold spell. I say again, you two
search for non-existent problems.”
    “Do the Senlu
fear losing their food source?” Buthos asked, not to be put
off.
    Teighlar
frowned. “Of course. Any nation would, but we didn’t lose farm
animals. Wild creatures only, and it is worrying. The animal
population remains sparse after the Murs’ wholesale extinction, but
it doesn’t fill us with unprecedented fear. Why are you two
convinced these are signs of coming trouble?”
    Buthos looked
to Quilla, who stared into the distance as he answered, “Maybe you
are right, Emperor. Maybe we read too much into a gathering of
isolated incidents. After all, there is no proof. We know the
Enchanter will come back to us when there is reason. Perhaps we
want that reason, selfish as it may be, because we hope it means he
comes at last.”
    Teighlar
nodded, understanding. “Ah, yes. And the time frame fits, doesn’t
it?”
    Quilla sighed
and nobody said anything for a time. They sipped at wine and
nibbled on snacks.
    Then, “Tannil
was here. We spoke of many things, but most important was his wish
to bring the majority of Valaris’s Valleur to Luvanor.”
    Quilla was
surprised. “That is somewhat contrary to his previous
position.”
    “Tannil has
realised they are too numerous for the islands. I believe the court
will remain on Valaris along with a small Valleur complement -
mostly men, he said. Perhaps he feels if they