Watt-Evans, Lawrence - Annals of the Chosen 01 by The Wizard Lord (v1.1) Page B

birds, just as they spoke to
other ler. An animal speaking aloud in a human tongue was an entirely different
matter; he had never really believed in them, even though the Old Swordsman had
told him that the Wizard Lord used them as messengers.
    And believing or not, he had certainly never
imagined they might sound like this; he had assumed they would have human
voices, but the rabbit spoke human words in a rabbit's voice, to very
disconcerting and unnatural effect.
    He opened his eyes
again and focused on the rabbit, which looked calmly back . He asked,
"What sort of magic? What are you?"
    "I am a rabbit, of course—but at the
moment I serve as the eyes, ears, and voice of the Wizard Lord."
    The voice was almost a squeal, some of the
words hard to make out, but Breaker understood perfectly—presumably, he
thought, because that was part of the magic.
    "Did you think I
wouldn't take an interest in the identity of the Chosen Swordsman?" the
rabbit asked. "The Chosen are of rather obvious importance to me—I want to
know they are all people of good sense and goodwill, and not glory-seekers who
might declare me evil so that they can make themselves a name by slaying
me."
    "It hadn't
occurred to me," Breaker admitted. "You're so far away ..." He
shuddered as a thought struck him. "You are far away,
aren't yo u?"
    "I am," the rabbit said. "I am
in my tower in the Galbek Hills; I couldn't spare the time to come in person,
and would not wish to impose on Mad Oak's hospitality in the depths of winter
in any case."
    'Thank you," the youth said, though he
was not sure what he meant by it. "We are honored, of course." He
bowed. "I'll try my best to show good sense—if I win, I mean. I certainly
mean you no ill."
    "I can see that."
    Breaker jerked upright at that. Could the
Wizard Lord see into his heart, hear his thoughts? Accounts of just what the
magical overlord of Barokan might be capable of were wildly inconsistent and
universally considered unreliable— even the Old Swordsman said he was unsure
just what was true and what was mere legend.
    This whole business
of becomin g
one of the Chosen suddenly seemed like a mistake. Setting himself up as one of
the judges and executioners over someone who could make a rabbit speak from
more than a hundred miles away was surely unspeakably foolhardy; how could
anyone in his right mind accept such a role? "Is there ... I mean . . ."
    "I'm hurting the rabbit's throat,"
the rabbit said. "No more." Then it turned and hopped away a foot or
so before turning back to watch.
    The youth hesitated—but then the Old
Swordsman arrived, Black Coat at his side, just as the sun's light flared
golden above the cliffs, and the air buzzed with sudden tension. The Young
Swordsman turned to face him.
    In turning he noticed
the hawk perched on a convenient rooftop, still watching him. Was that another
vantag e
point for the Wizard Lord? Was it another wizard using similar magic to observe
the duel? And the priest's cat really did seem unnaturally intent.
    Were there others? Mice under the shutters,
spiders in the eaves?
    The Old Swordsman seemed to have missed the
excitement of the talking rabbit, and he was ignoring the murmuring of the
crowd, the muttered questions, the nervous edge, the tinge of near-panic in the
air. His attention was entirely on his opponent, and he seemed more determined,
more there, than Breaker had ever seen him.
    "Are you ready, boy?" the Old
Swordsman said, drawing his sword. Breaker raised his own blade.
    "Forswear the aid of your ler? he called,
remembering his role.
    "With the ler's consent, I have left my
talismans on my bed," the elder man said, "and this man beside me has
driven away other ler that might have aided me. You face
nothing but my own skills—which will be more than enough, I have no doubt! I
think it will be spring, at the very least, before you are ready to take my
title!"
    Breaker hesitated,
but then he reminded himself that the old man was trying to make it look