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is, as Captain Davré has told you,essenmorgh . Her spellforms require Blass s
input and upkeep, where I am capable of creating and adapting my own.
Mack started to look back at the comm panel, caught himself.  So you ve
gotten into her systems?
 Captain Davré and I were able to obtain some information last night, before
Blass returned to his ship. The risk of detection increases when he is on
board. I ll be able to do more once he leaves. We assume he s here for the
opening of the shrine.
Mack nodded.  What do you have so far?
 It took me several hours last night to break Blass s codes, Simon
explained.  That s why I asked Captain Davré to have you delay your departure
this morning. So I could bring both you and she up to date. It appears Blass
is here not just to spend time with his friend Magefather Rigo. He s also here
to spend time with the woman of his dreams. At least, that s what he s written
in his letters to her.
This odd bit of news surprised Gillie. Simon had said nothing earlier. One of
these days she was going to have to break him of his theatrical tendencies.
 Why should we be the least bit concerned with his love life?
 Because his lover is the chancellor s wife, Honora Syrella.
Blass was involved with the Khalaran chancellor s wife? Gillie blinked, hard,
as if by doing so she could block from her mind s eye the sinister
implications in that liaison.
Disbelief, then disgust, showed on Mack s face.  That s impossible.
 Sadly, evidence states otherwise. As does her impending arrival.
 Here? Mack s hand was halfway to his comm set when it trilled. He flicked
it up.  Makarian. Then he fell silent, listening, frowning. Gillie had a
feeling she knew why.
 Confirmed at our outer beacon? Halbert and the prime hostess? Mack s
questions were terse. And the answers he received through his earpiece didn t
make him happy.  Damn it! Then:  Alert Rand. I ll be in ops in ten. Makarian
out. He faced Gillie, his dark eyes narrowed.  This is far beyond Rigo s
capabilities.
 I know, she said softly, feeling his confusion and frustration.  But not
beyond Carrick Blass s. And not beyond the Fav lhir s.
22
Gillie leaned against the airlock wall and watched Mack thunder through the
gangway connecting theSerendipity to the station. His voice, and his anger,
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was directed at whoever was at the other end of his comm set. But it carried
clearly in the confined space.
 We should have been notified before this, and Halbert damned well knows
that!
She didn t doubt that Senator Halbert did. She also didn t doubt that Prime
Hostess Honora Syrella Trelmont wielded considerable power.
Not unlike Carrick Blass.
I need his magename, Simon. Among other things.She shoved herself away from
the wall, headed for her bridge.
He s still on board theWindchaser,My Lady.
Doesn t fancy Cirrus s hotel accommodations, I guess. She swiveled her chair
around, ran her hands over the console. Colors crested, flared.Let s see what
we can find without disturbing his beauty sleep.
After an hour of frustration, Gillie didn t care if she disturbed Blass s
beauty sleep or not.
But Simon did.I still advise caution, he said as she headed down the corridor
in search of hot coffee.As you and Admiral Makarian agreed last night, we gain
nothing by tipping our hand too soon. If you force a confrontation, innocents
might be injured. Or killed.
Gillie perched one hip on the edge of the small conference table in her ready
room, coffee mug in her hands. The pungent aroma was reassuring, comforting.
So was the fact that Mack had accepted her military status with only the most
minor of qualms, though she had the feeling there would have been more
personal questions last night had they not also been concerned over Blass s
arrival. Mack was Khalaran military; he prioritized. And priority right now
was the safety of Cirrus One.
She took a short sip of the hot liquid before answering.  Blass isn t as good
as he thinks he is. Okay, his spellforms are fairly complex. But we got in
before 
When he was not in residence.
  and I think I understand him a little better now.
The Fav lhir have obviously not forgotten how you broke through their warding
shields three hundred forty-two years ago. So they have taken to layering
their spells.
 We only know Blass does. I can t say for sure that s a result of their
defeat.
I think we can assume that.
 Assume? Simon. She grinned wryly.  You were the one who taught me to never
assume. Because to assume makes anass out ofu andme . Didn t I make that one
of my guidelines?
In this case, I think history speaks for itself. Their mageline did reappear
and has learned something. Therefore, let s also assume that s not the only
thing they ve learned. I advise caution.
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 I will be the very definition of caution. The epitome of caution. The 
Lady Gillaine.
 Umm?
Be careful. You re starting to sound like me.
Gillie retrieved the small metal case from her cabin, placed it on the
ready-room conference table. Touched a panel on the wall on her left. It
misted open. She chose four warding rune stones from within, cupped her hand
around each one, whispered to it before withdrawing it.
Ladri. For clarity, openness of mind.
Nevri. For wisdom.
Vedri. For strength, loyalty, honor.
Khal. For power and protection.
She placed each one on opposite sides of the case. Then touched her index
finger to her forehead, spoke the ancient Raheiran words . . .
 T cai l heira, Ixari.
. . . her thumb to her cheek . . .
 T cai l heira, Merkara.
. . . and last, her index finger again to her mouth.
 T cai l heira Raheira, Tarkir.
The table lowered to the floor, its surface rippling as a mage circle
appeared on its top. Gillie again named the stones softly as she lay them on
their corresponding symbols.  Vedri, Ladri, Nevri, Khal.
The circle shimmered, pulsed. A silvery curtain misted up from its edges,
surrounded the circle and the stones. Gillie stood before it, hands raised,
palms out. Energy crackled against her skin. The curtain parted, closing
behind her as she stepped through. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]