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surprise.
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Indeed, the only people invisible to a Reader's inner sight were the savage
Adepts when that chill-ing thought touched her, she focused her powers on him.
As before, she could easily Read his surface thoughts and emotions. No, he was
not an Adept. Whatever secret he hid, that was not it.
"I I guess I had my mind on other things," she said as he fell in step beside
her. "I was on my way to your villa but You were waiting for me, weren't you?"
Could the man be an unidentified Reader? It was theoretically possible for
someone of very limited powers to slip through the screenings given every
child in the empire, developing a minor talent at a later age.
Zanos merely smiled.
"All right howdidyou know I was in there?"
His smile became a grin. "I told you I keep informed about everything in The
Maze. You were seen going into Morella's, so I decided to escort you back in
case you walk under some more scaffolding," he added placatingly.
So much for special powers."Very funny," she said, swallowing with
difficulty. Talking in the cold air was irritating her throat.But I've never
known a male nonReader to be so friendly with me before.
Just then the lowering clouds burst, releasing torrents of cold rain. People
in the streets ran for shelter.
The Academy was over a mile away.
"Letsgo back to Morella's," Astra said, pulling a fold of her cloak over her
head.
"No, I have a better idea, ' Zanos said, putting a guiding arm around her
shoulders. "Come with me."
His villa was indeed closer, but by the time they reached it just as the rain
stopped, of course Astra felt the wet penetrating even her woolen cloak.
Zanos' servants met them at the door. The young woman, Lanna, escorted Astra
into a room where a most welcome fire was waiting on the hearth. Brooking no
protests, Lanna soon had Astra out of her wet clothes, toweled dry, and
wrapped in a warm robe
buteven so, Astra was seized with a fit of sneezing that shook her whole
body.
I'm definitely getting my annual cold, Astra thought miserably. Her face was
hot, her hands and feet cold, and her throat was getting drier and more
painful by the moment.
As if in response to her thought, the manservant, Ard, brought in herb tea.
"Zanos will rejoin you shortly, Magister," he announced as he placed the tray
before her.
"Thank you," she croaked, wishing she had lemon and honey to mix with the
tea. Still, the hot drink soothed her throat as Lanna seated her on soft
cushions with her back to the fire and unbraided her hair, combing it out to
dry.
The luxurious attention felt strange, but Lanna's touch was unobtrusive, and
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it was pleasant not to have to fend for herself when she did not feel well.
She looked around the room. It was conservatively decorated in the finest of
furnishings and fabrics. Missing something, she realized that in the home of a
gladiator she had somehow expected the outrageous a stuffed leopard, perhaps,
or at least a display of weapons on the wall. Instead, a mural that looked
recently painted depicted snow-covered mountains on one wall, and the rest
were bare.
In the far corner was a low table, holding several musical instruments. A
large wooden flute, a five-string harp, a lute&
"Does your master play those instruments?" she asked Lanna.
"Yes, Magister.Especially the flute.Many of the street musicians come here
for music parties, sharing new songs and having fun with old ones."
Astra felt a twinge of jealousy, for the music curriculum at the Academy left
little room for creativity or "fun." Portia preferred that only the classics
be taught, discouraging experimentation or improvisation until Astra had
enlisted the aid of Master Quantus to persuade her that if no one was allowed
to experiment, there would be no works from this generation worthy to become
classics.
Sorrow at the reminder of her loss made Astra blink, her sore throat
tightening for a moment.She took another sip of tea, and then, to get her mind
off the dead musician, she asked Lanna if she might examine the lute.
It was a fine old instrument, but sadly out of tune. Astra carefully
tightened the strings, each to its proper pitch, and began to play one of her
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