Watt-Evans, Lawrence - Annals of the Chosen 01 (48 page)

"The
sand
around
a
hole
still
gets
wet
when
you
pour
water
in
the
hole,"
the
Leader
said
doubtfully.

"But
only
the
water
close
to
the
hole!
If
we
set
our
lightning
rods
out
on
iron
brackets,
along
either
side
of
the wagon,
then
we
should
be
safe."

"I
suppose
it
won't
hurt
to
try
it,"
the
Leader
said.
"Of course,
it
will
take
some
time
to
construct
such
a
thing."
He considered,
then
asked,
"Does
anyone
see
a
better
alternative?"

No
one
did.

Their
manner
of
transport
settled,
they
then
discussed routes,
and
whether
or
not
to
hire
guides.

"The
Speaker
can
speak
to
ler,"
Breaker
pointed
out.
"And we
are
all
supposed
to
be
immune
to
much
of
the
magic
we meet.
We
don't
need
guides
anymore."

"But
guides
do
more
than
speak,"
the
Seer
protested. "They
know
the
safe
routes,
and
ways
to
appease
the
dangers."

"We
will
not
be
crossing
wilderness,"
Breaker
said.
"We
came
here
from
the
Galbek
Hills,
and
the
paths
were
mostly well-worn
and
clearly
visible,
with
no
grave
dangers
to
dissuade.
We
made
do
without
a
guide
to
and
from
Stoneslope. I
think
we
can
manage
to
find
our
way
without
endangering any
more
guides."

"Would
we
be
endangering
them?"
the
Leader
asked. "This
lightning
cage
the
Scholar
proposes
should
make
our wagon
safe
for
anyone,
not
just
us."

"How
well
can
they
guide
us
from
inside
a
wagon?"
the Archer
asked.
"Besides,
as
Sword
says,
we
don't
need them."

"We
got
here
without
one,"
Breaker
said.
"At
least,
for half
the
distance."

"And
we
don't
know
how
well
the
cage
will
work,"
the Scholar
said.
"Devices
do
not
always
behave
as
expected."

"Let
us
try
the
next
leg
of
our
journey
without
a
guide," the
Beauty
said.
"At
least
until
we
know
whether
this
magical
cage
works.
If
we
encounter
unexpected
difficulties
on the
road,
we
will
know
better
next
time."

"Agreed,"
the
Leader
said.
"We
will
try
it
unguided,
and see
how
we
fare.
After
all,
we
are
the
Chosen!"

Although
he
had
been
arguing
for
exactly
that,
Breaker was
not
particularly
happy
at
the
Leader's
words—he
was all
too
aware
that
merely
being
the
Chosen
did
not
mean they
would
win
out,
or
that
they
would
all
survive.
He
worried
that
they
would
become
overconfident.

But
then
he
remembered
the
long,
weary
slog
through
the rain,
lightning
flickering
around
them,
thunder
echoing dully,
mud
sucking
at
their
boots.
They
could
hardly
be overconfident
in
such
conditions;
it
was
only
here
in
the
inn, safe
and
dry,
that
they
were
regaining
their
self-assurance.

He
thought
the
Wizard
Lord
could
be
counted
on
to
provide
them
with
reminders
of
their
own
fallibility.