Read The Chaos Balance for Free Online Page A

lightning's powers
    and never count gold's worth.
     
    "As the guards of Westwind keep
    our souls hold winter's sweep;
    we will hold our blades in order,
    and never let our honor sleep...."
     
    Nylan still wasn't sure about honor, since it seemed to him that people who talked a lot about it killed a lot of people and then paid a far higher price than anyone ever intended.
    He managed to stifle a yawn as he rose from the bench and rubbed his stiff backside. The benches were wood, and hard, after sitting for a long time, songs or no songs.
    He glanced around, but Ayrlyn was gone, and so were Istril, Siret, Huldran, and Ryba.
    He shrugged and headed for the jakes before bed. Tomorrow, there would be more smithing-more blades-and he still wasn't quite sure they were a good idea, but he had none better.
    The rough form for Daryn's foot was taking longer, far longer, than he had thought, since he had to squeeze it injust as Relyn's handbook had taken longer and had had to be worked in between the endless weapons creation.
    He stifled another yawn as he turned toward the lower-level jakes, stifled a yawn and tried not to think about children and Ryba and the darkness that was Candar.
     
     
    VIII
     
    THE STOCKY GRAY-HAIRED man waited as Zeldyan knelt, patting Nesslek's back until the boy's breathing was regular. Then she eased him from his side to his back and covered him with the blanket.
    After a last look at her son, she rose, crossed the room, and sat opposite Gethen across the low table, where she filled both goblets that rested there. She took a small sip from her own, followed by a nibble from the pastry she had started earlier.
    "You were saying?" he asked quietly.
    "Father," said Zeldyan slowly. "You remember Hissl, the wizard who tried to claim the Ironwoods by leading an expedition to defeat the dark angels?"
    "I heard about it. I was in Rulyarth at the time, you recall." Gethen lifted the goblet and sipped the wine. "The angels destroyed them to the last man, despite Hissl's wizardry. The angels had a black mage. I suppose they still do."
    "He was the one who used the fires of Heaven ..." Zeldyan broke off the sentence, and looked down at the table. "Just like Sillek, he probably didn't have any choice. If he hadn't killed ... he would have died."
    "You don't hate him?" asked Gethen.
    "Why? You know who I hate." Zeldyan toyed with her goblet, then set it down without drinking. "Hissl did not lead the first expedition, the one after Relyn's, I mean. The leader was a big man from the Roof of the World."
    "That seems strange, if true. Why do you mention that?"
    "For Nesslek's sake, I have to think. I cannot be bound by old hates or tradition." The blonde took another small sip of wine. "I doubt that there is a single land where everyone is happy. People come to Lornth from Jerans, or go from here to Westwind or Suthya."
    "As far as I can see, only women go to Westwind." Gethen refilled his goblet.
    "Once they came to Lornth from Cyador, those who weren't slaughtered . . . according to the old tales."
    "You still raise the disturbing questions, daughter, after all these years."
    "I cannot be who I am not. That, too, is a form of... honor. I learned that from Sillek."
    Gethen waited.
    "What do we know of Westwind, really know?" asked Zeldyan. "Except that they destroyed two armies?"
    "Not much," agreed Gethen.
    "I think we should be alert to learn what we can. Perhaps the dark angels might have something we can use."
    "Against Cyador? You were certain that it would come to battle when we discussed this before." Gethen took another sip of the wine.
    "Unless matters change," she said. "Fornal would fight. If he thinks he must fight, he will want to fight immediately."
    "Sometimes that view is correct."
    "Sometimes," said Zeldyan without agreeing. "I would rather avoid battles."
    "One cannot always do that. Sillek hated battles, but he was right to take the fight to Ildyrom."
    "So long as he had Koric and a wizard to leave in