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.There was no movement anywhere, nor any sound except the purposeful slap ofLugh s boots against the mosaicked floor.At the center of the room was the throne: made of plain, squared stone, aswere all royal thrones inFaerie.High-backed it was, and high-armed, cut from the bare rock of the landon which the palace was built.Not apart from the land, but a part the land,its roots were one with the roots of the mountains.ofGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlLugh seated himself. And now, Ailill Windmaster, we will see how clever youreally are and how brave.He unfolded the map, placed it on the throne s wide left arm, and laid hishand palm-down upon it.With his right hand he drew forth the ivory-handled dagger and unsheathed it.It gleamed in the morning sunlight.Somewhere a bird called.The only othersound was Lugh s breathing.He closed his fingers about the hilt, raised the weapon and stabbed across anddownward.The blade pierced his hand, but he did not cry out, for he felt nothing, sokeen was that weapon s edge.It pierced the map of Tir-Nan-Og, and it pierced the stone beneath it.Lugh left it there, felt the pain awaken.Blood oozed forth from his palm; he could feel it now, trickling out like coldfire.In a moment it had soaked through the vellum.Lugh felt the Power start to rise: the Power of the Land and the Power of theHigh King joined by metal in a bridal bond of ever-increasing pain.He closedhis eyes and sent his Power outward.He did not allow the blood that now crept from between his fingers to pool inrandom patterns.Rather, he set it to tracing the lines limned upon the map,following them outward toward the border.It was begun, then: his seeking and his sealing.If Ailill was anywhere inTir-Nan-Og, the Power Lugh had just unleashed wouldp.94discover him, and ifhe had escaped into the Lands of Men, either Nuada would, or else the darkFaery would find himself forced to put on the hated stuff of the Mortal World,or face the ever-increasing strength of the Call, which if unheeded led tomadness.Hopefully he would give himself up before that happened that was theplan.Ailill had sworn himself to Tir-Nan-Og, had joined with it for the timeof his service there, was now much more a part of it than of Erenn.And nowLugh had cut him off.The High King could endure the pain but could Ailillendure the Call that could destroy his mind? It was a gamble, a game of bluffand counterbluff.The waiting had begun and Lugh was very patient.At the far end of the hall a lofty door cracked open.The shape of a womanshowed there, darkness cut out against light.Tall she was, and dressed inred, with a crow perched on her shoulder. You sent for me, Lord? the Morrigu inquired. I have sealed the borders, Lady of War, Lugh told her. Now, this is whatmust happen.Chapter XIV: By Moonlight(Sullivan Cove, Georgia)p.95It was just past eleven-thirty when Liz eased the car onto the SullivanPage 61ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlCove road. I dread going home, David sighed, noticing that the lights were still on athis house. And Ireally dread what Pa s gonna say when I get there.I wouldn t be surprised ifhe weren t waiting for me belt in hand.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html You two should try not to fight so much, Liz said. I know you care abouteach other, you just don t like to show it. Yeah, well, it just kind of happens, you know how it isHey, you just missed the driveway!Liz was continuing out the road, her eyes focused straight ahead withdeliberate concentration.The headlights picked out a pattern of split railfences laced with weeds, and fields beyond those fences, with mountainslooming above them all like waiting beasts: dark, watchful shadows in thenight. Liz?She grimaced momentarily as the surface roughened, then flashed an amusedglance at David. Well, you said you didn t want to go home yet, andcertainly don t want to go home yet, and we re bothIenjoying the conversation, so I thought I d see if I could find a good placeto finish it.Reckon B.A.Beach d do? Sounds good to me, David agreed.Very good, he added to himself, if it meant what he thought it might.In a moment they had reached the turnaround, the line of steel gray lake nowglimmering under the first stars.The moon was almost full.The best thing,though, was that the place was deserted.Liz pulled over to the right andparked the car [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]