Diana Pharaoh Francis - Path of Honor

Path 02 - Path of Honor

Diana Pharaoh Francis

Acknowledgments

Reisil and Saljane return in

Thanks go to Tony for all his support, for giving me time, and for making me laugh. To my mother and father for trumpeting the word to the planet about Path of Fate. To the Roundtable Writers, especially Fighter Guy. To Alan Pollack for yet another fabulous cover. And to my readers who spend their time and money to let me keep doing what I love. Thank you all.

Path of Blood

Read on for an exciting preview of

Diana Pharaoh Franciss next novel, coming from Roc in 2006.

Tapit wasnt dead. Reisil drove her sweat-drenched gelding across the scree. She felt a sickening lurch as the rocky slope began to roll away. Ahead, Yohuacs horse-formerly Tapits-bounded onto the firm slope and disappeared into the trees.

Indigo twisted and stumbled, his haunches sliding as he scrabbled on the tumbling rocks. He neighed: a fearful, braying sound. Reisil leaned forward, catching at the rolling scree with a net of magic. She gasped at the pain, the magic flowing through her like a river of broken glass. It wasnt as bad as it had been after shed freed Yohuac and Baku and destroyed the wizards stronghold. Then she couldnt even think of her magic, must less use it. Her lips pulled into a triumphant grin as the rocks firmed into a stony carpet. Indigo lunged to safety with a groan. Reisil reined him in and swung around.

Tapit appeared from behind an outcropping. He wore gray robes, as he had when hed taken Saljane hostage. Reisil tensed and let the magical net unravel. The freed rocks thundered down the escarpment between them. In the same heartbeat, Reisil reached out to Saljane.

~Where are you?

The image of a glittering snow-covered peak whirled across Reisils minds eye, followed by a pastiche of blue sky, trees, and Bakus reptilian shape.

~With Baku. Mysane Kosk is not far. Saljane paused. He comes?

There was an unfamiliar thread of fear stitching through Saljanes mindvoice. Reisils teeth ground together. It was the only thing Saljane feared: Tapit and his ilgas and losing her tie to Reisil.

Reisil glared across the churning stones. The wizard wore his hood down around his shoulders. His features were sharp and austere beneath his bristle of dark hair. She felt his dour gaze on her like a coal-hot brand. What did she read there? Hate? Greed? Revenge?

Her hands tightened on her reins. Indigo snorted and took a step back.

~Hes here.

Saljane clutched at Reisils mind with iron talons.

~Watch well, she urged, her voice sounding thin as a frayed wire.

~I will, beloved.

Reisil held her magic ready. She couldnt let him drop an ilgas on her. If he did, she would be helpless, like meat on a golden platter. Infinitely worse, shed lose her tie to Saljane. The prospect was unbearable. Never again would she let Tapit separate her from Saljane. Her fist knotted. How much she would love to drive it down his throat! But she didnt dare. Not now. Too much was at stake and she couldnt afford to lose it.

She eyed the scree. It wouldnt hold him long. Tapit was relentless. Hed driven the fugitives from their river valley haven a week ago, and it seemed he never needed to rest. But his horse was as tired as Indigo, and it appeared the wizard had outstripped his companions. He was alone now. That might give Reisil the advantage she needed.

Dont stop running now. I was looking forward to a better fight than this, Tapit called through the dusty haze left behind by the slide.

You havent caught me yet. And dont forget I destroyed your stronghold, Reisil retorted.

The stronghold still stands, with only a handful of us lost. But you shall see for yourself soon. The others are eager for your return.

His words sent a tremor through Reisil. The stronghold still stood? It wasnt possible. Shed seen

Shed seen the valley cave in when shed driven a spear of pure power deep into the mountains core. Shed seen rubble falling over the small group of defenders as the ground leaped and buckled. Shed assumed the stronghold had been crushed. But then again, shed thought shed killed Tapit, too. Fear slithered like a snake in her gut. What if he was telling the truth?

You mistake me for a moon-eyed child, she called back, refusing to let him see her doubt. I am not foolish enough to believe you.

But foolish enough to run away from us, and taking such prizes with you.

Again you mistake me. It was the wisest thing Ive ever done. Second only to becoming ahalad-kaaslane.

Saljanes fierce trill of pleasure rippled through Reisil.

Your pet. Yes, that was a mistake. To be one of us, you must be rid of it.

To be one of you? Reisil repeated incredulously. How can you still think I would be? I killed a hundred of you at Vorshtar. I destroyed your stronghold.

You tried to destroy the stronghold, Tapit corrected. But your actions only affirm what you are. A true wizard. Soon you will know that.

Reisil shook her head. Youre mad.

We shall see soon enough.

Anger flamed in Reisil and power crackled around her fingers. She caught herself. She wondered how far Yohuac had managed to get. The longer she drew this out, the safer he was. How do you think youll catch me? I know about the ilgas. I wont walk into that trap again.

Tapit smiled. It was the first time Reisil could ever remember seeing such an expression cross his basalt features. Fear screwed through the marrow of her bones.

Not that trap, no.

Reisil recoiled, then a small smile stretched her lips. Tapit had revealed his weakness. He loved the hunt, the struggle. Dont stop running now He wanted her to sweat, to fear, to fight against him. He relished it. And that meant he wasnt going to even try to use his power against her in a head-on battle. That wasnt sporting. He wanted to match wits, to finesse her, to play at strategy and tactics. And she was happy to oblige. It gained time until she could squash him like a mosquito.

And shed begin right now.

~Baku?

The coal-drakes awareness bubbled in her mind. His presence was muted, as if he had to push through a dense, fibrous mist to reach her. The effects of the magic leeching from Mysane Kosk. It was the reason he hadnt been able to speak with their friends who camped near the destroyed city. He couldnt tell Juhrnus they were coming, or ask for help. But it also meant that Tapit would have a harder time tracking them. He sniffed out their magic footprint somehow, and soon it would be smothered by the tide of magic rolling out of Mysane Kosk.

~I have an idea, but I need your help. Can you do it? she asked Baku, picturing for him what she wanted him to do.

The coal-drake did not respond immediately. Reisil got the impression he was considering whether he wanted to help her. She held her breath. He had every right to resent her. If only she had learned faster; if only she could have saved him from the wizards sooner. But she hadnt known what to do and instead shed been forced to watch silently as Kvepi Debess tortured Baku, slowly draining his power. Sometimes she had even helped. It was the only way to discover the key to unlocking Kevepi Debesss spells. It wasnt until later that she could tell Baku, and by then their delicate trust was ruined.

~Can you do it? she repeated gently.

~It will be difficult. The magic thickens here I will try.

~Hurry.

Reisil waited, staring not at Tapit, but his leggy roan mare. The animal tossed her head, her ears twitching. Then suddenly she leaped into the air, twisting and bucking. Tapit gave a startled yell and fell onto the scree. The hillside began to roll again. The mare came down and exploded into a gallop, disappearing over the ridge in seconds. Reisil smiled, watching Tapit, who was rolling down the slope like a bundle of rags.