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have no use for a blind infant. Please don't take her away!"
"Take her away?" Maldek asked. "Is that what they say of me in my land that I
steal babes from their mothers? No, woman give me the child that I may heal
her."
Trembling, the mother delivered the screaming baby into Maldek's huge hands.
He slung her easily onto one arm, her head in his hand, her body along his
forearm, and stroked her brow. She fell asleep at once.
Torio Read Maldek Reading for the defective nerves then that amazing cold
white fire and the fibers grew in moments, generating the necessary tissue and
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connections.
What would have taken Wulfston or Aradia weeks of daily treatments was
completed by Maldek in less than a quarter of an hour. Then he placed the
infant back in her mother's arms and touched her on the forehead.
The child's eyes opened, and she made a gurgling sound. Torio could Read that
the little girl's sight was restored, but there was no way for the mother to
know.
The baby had never seen before. She couldn't focus her eyes, or recognize her
mother's face.
But the healer picked up a lighted candle, held it in front of the child's
face, and then moved it to the side.
The child's head turned, following the light. She let out a happy chortle and
reached toward it, but the healer held the candle safely out of reach.
The mother broke into sobs. "Oh, Master thank you! How can I ever repay you?"
"There is no need," Maldek replied. "Healer have you any other patients who
require my skills?"
"Not at present, Master," she replied hesitantly.
"When you have, send them to my castle."
"Yes, Master," the healer replied but Torio knew Maldek Read as easily as he
did that she feared some underlying scheme beneath the Master Sorcerer's
apparent kindness. And he felt Maldek's annoyance at her distrust.
But Maldek held himself in check as he showed them the rest of the hospital
facility, which was similar to the one in Zendi. Then he suggested, "You may
wish to explore my city on your own and as you all have the inner sight, I
have no fear you will become lost and unable to find your way back to the
stable
where we left our horses."
Dirdra had not come with them on this excursion, for Kwinn screamed and clung
to her every time she tried to leave his sight, and the city was certainly no
place for him or for Gray, who had, amazingly, seemed to understand Torio's
instruction to stay behind, although he made clear that he was not happy about
it.
Zanos and Astra took Cassandra off to explore, while Melissa wanted to go to
the herb market.
Maldek seemed determined to stay with Melissa, so Torio followed along, trying
to decide if he was
Reading a growing rivalry with Maldek, or only imagining it.
When Melissa was deep in discussion with one of the herbalists over the uses
of some medicines she was unfamiliar with, Torio asked Maldek, "Couldn't you
cure Kwinn with the same technique you used on that baby?"
"No but I could cure you, if you like."
"No, thank you," Torio answered automatically.
Maldek cocked his head to one side, studying the young Reader. "Why not? It
convenient to see, is
Torio and perhaps if you did not have to stumble in the dark at any time you
are not Read-ing, you would be able to release your Adept powers, as Melissa
has done."
"I'm not sure I want such powers," Torio told him, and knew that Maldek Read
his thought that the
Master Sorcerer was only one example of the wrong that could be done with
them.
But Maldek chose another direction for their conversation. "You are the only
one whose desires I cannot fathom. What do you want of me, Torio?"
"Nothing."
"Then if you refuse to take from me, what do you seek in these isles?"
"Adventure, perhaps although I've had enough of that for the moment, thank
you."
"A typical young man's answer," Maldek observed, "but not yours, I think. Can
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it be that you are not seeking something to be found here, but to escape
something at home?"
"A shrewd guess, Maldek," Torio replied. "I left my homeland to avoid becoming
a Lord of the Land.
Like you."
For the first time in two days, the cold, mocking smile played over Maldek's
lips. "We are kin at heart, then for you recognize as well as I that power
must be exercised in order to rule. It is sometimes necessary to be harsh."
"Firm," Torio corrected. "A difficult line to tread. My teacher, Master
Lenardo, treads it as easily as Lord of the Land as he did as teacher in the
Academy but I do not want responsibility for other people's lives. Even as a
teacher, my mistakes hurt other people."
"And so you remain blind when you could see, weak when you could be strong?
You are a fool, Torio.
You place yourself at other people's mercy."
"We are all at the mercy of the gods," Torio replied, falling back on an
Aventine commonplace.
"When I meet your gods, I will believe in them," Maldek retorted. "Meanwhile,
I will rely on my own powers."
"Call it the gods, call it fate there is something beyond the powers of mere
men," Torio told him. "I have seen prophecies come true and I see my own
happening, even now. I told Zanos he would find his brother, and that his
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