The Curse Of Chalion Part 40

He was taken aback. "Lady, I am no more saint now than you are, and surely not a G.o.d, to call down blessings at my will." And yet...he wasn't a royesse, either, but he had borne the proxy for one to Ibra, and made binding contract in her name. Lady of Spring, if ever I served You, redeem Your debt to me now. Lady of Spring, if ever I served You, redeem Your debt to me now. He licked his lips. "But I will try." He licked his lips. "But I will try."

He leaned forward, and placed his hand on Ista's white brow. He did not know where the words came from, but they rose to his lips nonetheless.

"This is a true prophecy, as true as yours ever were. When the souls rise up in glory, yours shall not be shunned nor sundered, but shall be the prize of the G.o.ds' gardens. Even your darkness shall be treasured then, and all your pain made holy."

He sat back and shut his mouth abruptly, as a surge of terror ran through him. Is it well, is it ill, am I a fool? Is it well, is it ill, am I a fool?

Ista's eyes filled with tears that did not fall. Her hand, cupped upward upon her knee, grew still. She ducked her head in clumsy acceptance, as awkwardly as a child taking its first step. In a shaken voice she said, "You do that very well, Cazaril, for a man who claims to be an amateur."

He swallowed, nodded back, smiled, took his leave, and fled into the street. As he turned up the hill, his stride lengthened despite the slope. His ladies would be waiting.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The Author would like to thank Professor William D. Phillips, Jr., for History 3714, the most useful four hundred dollars and ten weeks I ever spent in school; Pat "Oh, c'mon, it'll be fun" Wrede for the letter game that first drew the proto-Cazaril, blinking and stumbling, from my back-brain into the light of day; and, I suppose, the utility companies of Minneapolis for that hot shower one cold February, where the first two items collided unexpectedly in my head to create a new world and all the people in it.

About the Author.

One of the most respected writers in the field of speculative fiction, LOIS McMASTER BUJOLD burst onto the scene in 1986 with Shards of Honor, Shards of Honor, the first of her tremendously popular the first of her tremendously popular Vorkosigan Saga Vorkosigan Saga novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including the Nebula Award (for novels. She has received numerous accolades and prizes, including the Nebula Award (for Falling Free Falling Free), three Hugo Awards for Best Novel (The Vor Game, Barrayar, (The Vor Game, Barrayar, and and Mirror Dance), Mirror Dance), as well as the Hugo and Nebula Awards for her novella as well as the Hugo and Nebula Awards for her novella Mountains of Mourning. Mountains of Mourning. Her short story, "Labyrinth," won first place in Her short story, "Labyrinth," won first place in a.n.a.log a.n.a.log Magazine's annual awards. The mother of two, Ms. Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Magazine's annual awards. The mother of two, Ms. Bujold lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Other books by Lois McMaster Bujold

THE S SPIRIT R RING.

FALLING F FREE.

SHARDS OF H HONOR.

BARRAYAR.

THE W WARRIOR'S A APPRENTICE THE V VOR G GAME.

CETAGANDA.

ETHAN OF A ATHOS.

BORDERS OF I INFINITY.

BROTHERS IN A ARMS.

MIRROR D DANCE.

MEMORY.

KOMARR.

A CIVIL C CAMPAIGN.