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The Reluctant Swordsman


The Reluctant Swordsman
Book 1 of The Seventh Sword

By Dave Duncan

ISBN: 0-345-35291-2




BOOK ONE:
HOW THE SWORDSMAN WAS SUMMONED

I

"Keep my heart true to Your laws," Honakura warbled, laying a shaky left hand on the smooth brilliance of the tiled floor.


"Let me serve Your will with all my strength," he wailed, cracking on the high note as usual, and placing his equally frail right hand beside the left.


"And show my eyes Your purposes." This was the tricky part-the ritual called for him to touch his forehead to the mosaic, but he had not achieved
that maneuver these last fifteen years. He curled forward as far as he could. If the Goddess chose to stiffen his ancient joints, then She would have
to settle for the best he could manage... and of course She would.


He strained there for a moment, hearing the quiet chanting of other priests and priestesses nearby as they also made their way through the morning
dedication. Then, with a quiet and unscheduled "Ooof!" of relief he pushed himself back to sit on his heels, place his palms together, and look up
adoringly at Her. Now he was permitted a silent and private prayer, a personal appeal. He had no doubt what it would be, this day as many before
it. Most High Goddess, do something about the swordsmen of Your guard!


She did not reply. He did not expect Her to. This was not the Goddess Herself, but merely an image to assist humble mortals in visualizing Her
greatness. Who should know that better than a priest of the seventh rank? But She would hear his prayer and one day She would answer.


"Amen!" he quavered.


Now he could start to plan his day, but he remained for a moment sitting on his heels, hands still together, reflecting, gazing up lovingly at the
majesty of the Most High and the vast stone trelliswork above Her, the roof of Her temple, the holiest of all the holy places in the World.


He had many meetings planned-with the Keeper of the Coffers, with the Master of Discipline for Acolytes, with many others, almost all holders of
offices that Honakura himself had held at one time or another. Now he was merely Third Deputy Chairman of the Council of Venerables. That
innocent-sounding title concealed much more than it revealed. Power, he had long since discovered, is best exercised in secret.