Watt-Evans, Lawrence - Annals of the Chosen 01 (67 page)

"No,
he's
possessed
it,"
the
Leader
said.
"It's
just
a
raccoon,
but
the
Wizard
Lord
is
speaking
through
it.
He's
possessed
dogs
and
deer
and
squirrels
and
birds
and
so
on
to talk
to
us,
or
attack
us."

"I
don't
want
to
hurt
you,"
the
raccoon
said.
"I
just
want you
to
turn
back."

"Well,
your
threats
aren't
going
to
convince
us!"

"They've
convinced
me,"
Merrilin
said.
"Go
away,
all
of you!
I'm
not
going
anywhere—not
unless
this
rain
floods
us out."

"But
don't
you
see
how
much
damage
he's
doing?" Breaker
said.
"We
can't
leave
him
in
power,
knocking
down trees
and
flooding
farms!"

"It's
not my problem.
Go
away!"
she
shrieked,
stepping back
and
starting
to
close
the
door.

"Wait!"
the
Leader
said,
thrusting
out
a
hand
to
catch
the door.
"Hear
us
out!"

"No! Go away!"
She
leaned
on
the
door,
but
the
Leader was
solidly
braced.

"Merri?
What's
going
on?"
a
new
voice
asked
from
somewhere
in
the
house—a
deep
voice,
a
human
voice,
a
man's voice.

"It's
...
it's
crazy
people,"
the
Thief
said,
still
pushing
the door.

"Maybe
they
can
help."
Breaker
heard
footsteps—the
last few
splashing,
as
the
rain
was
over
the
threshold
now.
Then the
door
swung
open,
and
a
man
stepped
up
beside
Merrilin.

He
was
fairly
tall
but
narrow-shouldered;
he
wore
his black
hair
long
and
his
beard
trimmed
short,
with
just
a
few gray
hairs
starting
to
show.
A
dark
woolen
tunic
with
rolled-up
sleeves
covered
his
chest,
and
Breaker
could
see
that those
sleeves
were
soaked—as
were
his
hair,
and
his
well-worn
boots.

"Sezen
piri
Oldrav,
I
take
it?"
the
Leader
said,
holding
out an
open
hand.
"I
am
Farash
inith
Kerra,
known
as
Boss,
the Leader
of
the
Chosen."

"What?"
The
man
blinked
in
astonishment.

"I
am
the
Leader
of
the
Chosen.
These
are
the
Speaker
of All
Tongues,
the
world's
greatest
swordsman,
and
the
Seer of
the
Chosen."

"You
...
are
you
serious?"

"Go
away,
please!"
Merrilin
wailed
hopelessly.

"Don't
listen
to
them!"
the
raccoon
squealed,
in
its
unnatural
voice.
"Send
them
away,
as
she
says!"

"What?!"
Sezen
said.
"What
was
that?"

"It's
the
Wizard
Lord,"
the
Seer
said.
"Speaking
through
a raccoon
on
your
roof."

"What?"
Sezen
leaned
out
into
the
rain,
blinking,
trying to
see
the
animal.

"Please,
Sezen,
come
inside
and
close
the
door,"
Merrilin pleaded.
"Don't
get
involved.
It's
none
of
our
business."

"But—but
you're
the
Thief?"
He
pulled
his
head
back
and turned
to
look
at
her.
"You
really
are?"

Merrilin
stopped
pulling
at
his
arm
and
stared
at
her
husband.

"I
told
you
what
happened,"
she
said. "Yes,
you
did,
and
I
...
well,
I
wasn't
sure." "Weren't
sure
of
what?'