Watt-Evans, Lawrence - Annals of the Chosen 01 (95 page)

"Shall
we
rejoin
the
others,
then?"

"Of
course."

And
they
did.

When
the
nineteenth
wizard
arrived,
with
the
sun
s
kimming
the
western
horizon
and
the
maids
lighting
torches,
a
tall
woman
in
blue
announced,
"We
are
all
gathered,
then.
Let
the
Council
of
Immortals
be
convened!"

"Out
here
in
the
cold?"
a
young
wizard
protested,
but
the others
ignored
him.
Some
had
scattered
across
the
hillside
or
wandered
into
the
tower,
but
now
they
returned,
and
collected
themselves
in
a
rough
circle
around
a
campfire.

The
Chosen
were
clustered
around
their
wagon
twenty
yards
away,
watching
this
with
varying
degrees
of
interest. Breaker
simply
wanted
them
to
get
it
over
with,
so
that
he could
start
the
long
walk
home,
but
Lore
was
fascinated
by the
whole
thing,
the
Seer
was
nervous
about
it
...

The
wizards
had
been
speaking
for
only
a
few
minutes
when
they
all
turned,
as
if
called,
to
face
the
wagon.

"Will
die
Chosen
please
come
forth,
to
tell
us
what
befell them?"
the
blue-robed
wizard
called.

With
varying
degrees
of
enthusiasm
the
seven
made
their way
to
the
Council's
circle;
the
Speaker
hobbling
on
a
crutch the
Scholar
had
improvised.
The
wizards
parted
to
make way
for
them,
and
one
quickly
arranged
a
folding
chair
for the
wounded
Speaker.

"There
are
only
seven,"
a
wizard
called.
"Did
Laquar
kill
one?"

"We
kept
the
Thief
in
reserve,"
the
Leader
said.
"We
..."
"She
refused
to
come,"
Breaker
interrupted.
"She
should
be
replaced."

The
other
Chosen
turned,
startled,
to
look
at
him.
"I
thought
we
..."
the
Beauty
began.

"I've
had
enough
of
deceit
and
evasion,"
Breaker
said. "The
Thief
betrayed
us
and
refused
to
come.
The
Seer,
too,
though
she
led
us
at
first
and
came
far,
balked
at
the
last
moment,
and
should
retire,
as
well."

"I
would
be
happy
to
retire,"
the
Seer
said.
"The
Swordsman
is
right—my
nerve
failed
me,
and
I
am
no
longer
fit
for my
role.
I
have
seen
too
much
as
it
is."
She
stepped
toward
the
fire,
and
dropped
two
little
orbs
on
the
rocky
ground
near
the
flames.

"Pick
up
your
talisman,"
the
blue-robed
wizard
said.
"If you
want
to
retire,
then
so
be
it,
but
until
a
replacement
is found
you
are
still
the
Chosen
Seer."

Reluctantly,
the
Seer
stooped,
retrieved
the
smaller
of
the two
crystals,
and
stepped
back.

Breaker
turned
a
pointed
gaze
on
the
Leader,
who
took
the
hint.

"And
I,
too,
feel
I
must
resign,"
Boss
said,
tossing
a golden
talisman
to
the
ground.
"My
plans
were
inadequate, and
we
only
triumphed
through
good
fortune
and
the
Swordsman's
skill.
I
will
remain
as
Leader
until
my
successor
is
found,
but
I
trust
that
will
be
no
longer
than
necessary."
He
threw
Breaker
a
brief,
venomous
glare.