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Sidhe?" Biri's jaw was outlined by clenched muscles. "It's a useless gesture, then," Michael continued. "The Sidhe are overpowered on Earth. Their magic can't win them dominance. They'll have to parley. Killing these humans won't affect that outcome because my people have already won." Shiafa stood a step behind Michael, stiff and silent. He could not detect her emotions without lifting his concentration from Biri, which he did not dare do. The wall of discipline behind which Biri stood was strong and only grew stronger under Michael's pressure. He did not want to fight Biri not yet. But you'll ultimately have to defeat Tarax, defy the Serpent, deal with Clarkham & file:///F|/rah/Greg%20Bear/Bear,%20Greg%20-...0Power%2002%20-%20The%20Serpent% 20Mage.html (134 of 208) [5/21/03 12:44:32 AM] Bear, Greg - Songs of Earth and Power Vol. 2 - The Serpent Mage "Is this true?" Biri asked Shiafa. "As far as I know," Shiafa said. "There are no strongholds on Earth?" "Science beats magic," Michael said. "Not for subtlety, perhaps, and not at magic's highest levels but in the long haul, and with my world as it is now& That's why the Sidhe finally withdrew from Earth." "There is war on Earth?" Biri's dignified demeanor slipped a little. Clearly, he did not relish the thought of dying especially without good reason. "I don't know what's happening on Earth now, but yes, very likely Sidhe and humans are dying. I would like to prevent more deaths. I can't if I'm stuck here." Biri considered this at some length. "You must leave," he concluded. "The decision is not mine to make." Biri's defenses, from the moment of his appearance, had been focused on Michael. They were weak in Shiafa's direction. Michael took his own arrogance and frustration and drew from the center of his hyloka as much power as he could spare and remain alive. He held this mix for as long as he dared and then echoed the virulent shadow off Shiafa. Shiafa reeled and barely kept her footing. Biri's eyes widened as the darkness oozed through his defenses and enveloped him. He struggled, but Michael's strength seemed to reverberate through him; the more anger and frustration Michael felt, the more stymied and impatient, the stronger the shadow became. Within seconds, Biri fell to the tiles. Michael probed the Sidhe, not knowing precisely what to look for, but knowing it was there. A glowing thread. A cord. The link which he id together Biri's discipline. Someone buried deep within Michael was almost hysterical. Page 141 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Jesus! Stop doing this! Stop it now, before you eat yourself alive ! But he did not listen. He cut Biri's cord of discipline. Michael glanced at Shiafa, who had slipped to her knees, and then at Bin, who lay on the tiles as weak as an unstringed puppet. "My apologies," he said to Shiafa. She did not bother to use English. " Yassira bettl strifes ," she hissed. "You fight unfairly." "I suppose there's fairness in smudging out thousands of innocent lives?" Michael asked, shaking his head. "The hell with Sidhe honor. I apologize for using you without asking. There wasn't time." She stood and looked down at Biri with wide eyes. "He was chief of the Maln. He had great power& Hidden ways of discipline are given to the chief." I am a bomb again , Michael thought. More powerful, more of a wild card, every minute. Someone will have to stop me before this is finished, or I'll He shook his head slowly and probed for more Sidhe. There were two others, and one of them was the Ban. He did not think there would be any more opposition. The Sidhe of the Maln had deserted their own fortress, probably to return to Earth leaving behind only Biri. They had not expected anyone to reach this far into their defenses. Michael delved into Biri's aura for knowledge of which door to take. The Sidhe rolled over on the tiles and gasped, still in the shadow's grip. Michael 'considered lifting the shadow, then decided against it. Don't press your luck . He walked across the chamber toward the proper door. Shiafa ran to catch up with him. "I am afraid of you, Teacher," she said in a harsh whisper. "You do not know all that you do." "Amen," Michael said. After so many months in the Realm as a helpless pawn, he felt fierce joy at being able to convert his uncertainty and even his fear into weapons. How far could he just glide, stacking victory upon accomplishment? "It's about time the Sidhe face a real challenge on their own territory. I am sick of duty masking cruelty and of hatred and envy disguised as Sidhe honor and purity. The hell with all of you." He felt a hint of the Serpent's deep rage there and, to negate that, touched the door with unnecessary gentleness, as if caressing Kristine. The wood was rough and unvarnished. As he had half-expected, it file:///F|/rah/Greg%20Bear/Bear,%20Greg%20-...0Power%2002%20-%20The%20Serpent% 20Mage.html (135 of 208) [5/21/03 12:44:32 AM] Bear, Greg - Songs of Earth and Power Vol. 2 - The Serpent Mage spoke to him. "Welcome, Man-child." The voice was familiar to him; that he had not expected. It belonged to the attendant of the Ban whom Michael had met in Inyas Trai while traveling with Nikolai. "Ulath?" "I am honored you remember. The Ban awaits you. She is in her chamber." "Are you dead?" In his experience, only dying Sidhe had their thoughts pressed into wood. The voice laughed. "No! This door carries only a shadow. There are so few of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |