Read The Last Talisman for Free Online Page B

deserved to know the truth, but Sennar’s mission was too sensitive to share even with him.
    â€œI’m sorry, but I just can’t tell you. The purpose of my voyage must remain a secret.”
    â€œI’m not asking you out of mere curiosity,” the count explained. “I’m worried about you. And I’d like to help, if I can.”
    â€œYes, perhaps you can help me.”
    â€œJust tell me how,” said Varen.
    â€œI’m heading to a place located along the coast. Until now, I’ve traveled by foot across the Land of Water. A horse would be an incredible help.”
    The count leaned back in his seat, considering Sennar’s request. “Today, in fact, I have a meeting with General Falere, the officer in command of the troops in the Land of the Sea. If you come along with me, I’ll ask him if it’s at all possible for a Dragon Knight to accompany you.”
    Taken aback, Sennar set his glass down hard on the table. “A Dragon Knight? But the knights are all off at war! … I was only asking for a horse, that’s all. … I don’t think …”
    The count leaned in closer to Sennar. “How important is your mission, as far as the war is concerned? It has to do with the war, doesn’t it?”
    â€œMy mission is of vital importance,” Sennar affirmed.
    The count leaned back again in his chair. “Well then, a knight to serve as an escort is hardly too much to ask,” he said, proceeding to down his last drop of Shark.
    In the afternoon, with something in his stomach at last, Sennar accompanied the count on his visit to Falere.
    The general arrived on a marvelous dragon. When Sennar saw it descending from the sky he was all but overcome with emotion.
    It was a Blue Dragon. Sennar hadn’t seen one since he was a little boy. It was smaller than the dragons used by the regular Dragon Knights and resembled a snake. It had a long and slender body; slight and agile legs; and two enormous, membranous wings folded at its sides. Its body was a pale and brilliant blue, its wings a darker shade. Sennar had grown up around dragons like this. His father had been the squire for a Blue Dragon Knight. Now he stood entranced at the sight, which brought back distant memories.
    For a general, Falere was rather young, with fair hair and a nondescript air about him. His face was full of freckles. A long scar ran down the left side of his face. He bowed respectfully to his guests and regarded Sennar with suspicion.
    â€œMy guest here, Sennar, serves on the Council of Sorcerers in the Land of the Wind,” the count hurried to explain.
    It was too late for Sennar to step in and correct him. Perhaps the general already knew that the Councilor of the Land of the Wind was now Soana. Sennar, worried, noted that Falere had now assumed an astonished expression.
    â€œAha! So that’s who you are. Forgive me,” the general replied, and bowed to the sorcerer a second time. Evidently, he knew Sennar’s name, and he hadn’t caught wind of the latest news.
    They made their way to one of Barahar’s military barracks, a low square structure similar to the buildings used by the Order of Dragon Knights. They entered an immense plain room lit by a single meager window, where, among other things, they discussed strategy and the allocation of troops. Sennar provided useful information but tried to keep his comments vague, waiting for just the right gap in the conversation to clear things up. “There’s someone standing in for me at the moment in the Land of the Wind. I’m traveling now to … to …” Try as he might, he was unable to think of a plausible explanation.
    â€œHe’s carrying out a mission on behalf of the Council,” the count interrupted.
    â€œI see,” Falere remarked, before returning to the discussion of troops and weaponry.
    Another two hours passed before the count finally found a ripe