"His wounds are not of the body, Lady, as you know well. He needs time." I lowered my voice to the merest whisper. "You do not hear him as I do. He calls to her even as we stand here, speaking on her name over and over." Aral the Healer put her hands over her mouth. "I know his pain, for I lost my mate after so short a time together—"
"And I lost my child when she was barely ten years old," said Rella sharply. "Death comes untimely to all who live, Shikrar, not only to the Kantri."
I bowed. "True, Lady. I did not mean to imply that my pain was worse than another's. But Akhor waited a thousand years for the deep love of his heart to blossom, and it has been in flower so short a time. Please, in this let me serve my friend."
Rella stood with bowed head for a moment, then looking up she reached out suddenly to touch my faceplate. "Help him if you can, Shikrar. He needs you. But time is of the essence. If he takes too long to rouse, I will help him myself." She turned and strode rapidly away.
I had the time, as I walked back to rejoin Varien, finally to look at the creatures that looked so familiar but kept their distance. I knew Varien was with the Lesser Kindred, but I had not realised they would be so beautiful or so in awe of me as they seemed, or that they—
Soulgems. They had soulgems.
"Akhor!" I cried, reaching out in my surprise, without thinking, to my oldest companion.
I heard his mindvoice, indeed, but it was no answer. Soft, barely to be heard, the refrain of a distant, dying song.
"Lanen—Lanen—Lanen— "
Idai
I waited with the others on the Isle of Rest. I had heard no word from Shikrar, so I expected that it would be some days yet before the way could be ready for us to arrive in Kolmar.
Kretissh and I had spoken long together, and we both recognised that without the strength of Shikrar it would not be possible to carry Nikis any further. Even if all the rest of us left for Kolmar, one or more would have to remain behind to look after her until she woke from the Weh sleep. I found myself stupidly growing angry with her. In an effort to think of something else, I remembered Toklurik and wondered how he fared. In fact I began to worry about him. Why had he not bespoken us before?
Unless he is already in Kolmar laughing at us, I thought to myself as I called to him.
"Toklurik? Toklurik, answer me I pray you, it is Idai who would speak with you."
I heard a faint response. It worried me more than silence would have. "Tok, it is Idai. Where are you? Are you in need of aid?" I asked, my heart sinking even as the question left my thoughts, for how could we aid him wherever he might be?
"Idai, Idai, blessed be the Winds," he answered, a little stronger. "It is good to hear your voice, Idai, here at the end oflife."
"Toklurik, what has happened? Where are you? Are you injured?" I asked, standing up and flexing my wings even as I spoke. I was eldest after Shikrar, surely I could assist Tok if he needed help.
"Idai, I hear you. Stay where you are," said Tdklurik weakly. "I am beyond aid but the sound of your voice cheers me. Of your kindness stay with me, Lady."
"I am here, Tok," I said, sorrow sweeping over me fullblown upon the instant. For Tok's sake I did not let it show in my truespeech. "As long as you want me. Where are you?"
"In our old home, in the Place of Exile." His thoughts faltered for a moment, then recovered. "We would not choose to be exiled here now, Idai. Every inch is black with the earth's blood made stone. The air—the air is tainted. The fumes that were afflicting us before are worse now, and I cannot get away from the foul air. And the ground shakes continually, stronger and stronger."
"What happened?" I asked gently.
"I found my aunt Roccelis and her friend Urishhak," he said, "as I vowed to do. Their soulgems lay on the floor of their old chamber but there was no way of knowing how they died. I can only guess, for the air in the cave was appalling, but I retrieved them. I had their soulgems clutched safe in my talons and was rising on a thermal ready to follow you when the mountainside beneath me spewed forth liquid rock. It caught me, wing and body. I fell gravely wounded and I have lain here, burned and bound into the rock in and out of wakefulness, since then. Has it been more than two days since you left?"
"A little more, Tok," I replied. "It does not matter."
"It does not," he said. "The end comes soon—Name of the Winds, Idai, the ground wakes! "
Suddenly, his mind voice was sharper and clearer. So was his pain.
"The ground groans deep, Idai—Winds keep us, the mountains! The mountains are falling!"
"Tok, what are you—"
"The Grandfather! Idai, the fire comes—/ am dead, remember me—Idai, beware, the Grandfather rises!"
And then there was only silence.
Rella
I was afraid that Varien would waste hours in grief. He was absolutely unreachable, but I gave him no more than the half of an hour before I approached Shikrar again.
"Has there been any change?" I asked quietly.
Shikrar bowed bis huge head down to my level and it was all I could do not to shrink back. Goddess, but I'd forgotten just how big he was. "He no longer calls her name, Lady, but he will not let me speak with him." He looked at me, and even if his face couldn't show anything, those eyes were expressive enough to convey what he was thinking. "I confess I am at a loss as to what I should do to aid him," he said.
Right.
"I've got a few thoughts on that score," I said, and stumped over to where Varien knelt. He had not moved since Lanen had disappeared.
"You're going to have the most awful cramps in your legs, you know," I said as lightly as I could.
"Leave me," he said distantly.
"No, I don't think so," I said, moving to stand before him. "No, Varien, I'm going to stand here and talk at you until you break yourself out of mis."
"Begone," he said.
"No," I replied, and slapped him, lightly, on the face.
"How dare you?" he growled. Well, that was better than nothing.
"I dare because I think she's still alive, Varien, and we're not going to do anything to help her by kneeling here in the grass."
He finally looked at me, then, and saw that depth of resolve in my eyes which echoed his own thoughts. I extended a hand to help him up and he took it. Even for so young a man—well, you know what I mean—it was difficult for him to stand up after so long. To my amazement, the moment he got his balance he leaned down and kissed me, a quick brush of the lips. I couldn't help but notice that he smelled amazing.
"What was that for?" I asked gruffly.
"For rousing me. It is time." He looked around, and seemed to see his oldest friend for the first time. He walked over to Shikrar and embraced him awkwardly, putting his arms as far about that great neck as they would go. "My heart's friend, I have not thanked you for my life. You saved me from that Raksha, for I was demon fodder in another moment."
"It is always my pleasure to rend the Rakshasa, Akhor, you know that," said Shikrar, trying to keep his voice light. "On the contrary, I thank you for the chance. Alas, would that I had been faster!" he cried out suddenly, turning his head away. "Akhor, soulfriend, I ran as fast as I could but she was too far away—"
"Enough, my friend. You did all in your power. Name of the Winds, Berys had a legion of the Rikti at his command and the battle was not going well. We all owe you our lives."
"True enough," I said. "I'll thank you later, Shikrar, but for now the only questions before us are, where has he taken Lanen and how are we going to get her back?"
Varien winced from the pain of my words, but he followed me back to where the rest of us sat around a small fire.
Vilkas
I had healed all who needed it as soon as that huge dragon had destroyed the demons. Some of the Lesser Kindred were injured as well, but when I went to heal them my power would not touch them. It was not until Aral joined her power with mine that we could clean out the poisons and knit their torn flesh.
Only when
all was done did Aral and I allow ourselves to rest. I was astounded that we had kept useful so long, for we had been putting forth our power all the night long, before the demons arrived, sealing the soulgems of the new race. Jamie and Rella had built a small fire in the shelter of the little wood and we joined them beside it, drinking from the stream nearby, eating whatever we could find in our packs.
A thousand thoughts were chasing each other through my mind. I wanted to thank Aral and to tell her that I would not have survived without her, I wanted to take die time to rejoice with Will, that he finally could speak with the astounding creature who now called him Father; and I wanted desperately to speak with the True Dragon who had saved us, and with the amazing dragons whose emergence into full sentient life I had witnessed and aided.
I could not imagine that any other event in my life, no matter how long I lived, could ever come close to the incredible joy of that time, of standing by and watching the light of reason take root behind the eyes and glow in the soulgems of the Lesser Kindred.
However, the unavoidable truth is that healing is exhausting for the Healer, and I had been working from roughly noon on die day before, with few breaks and no real rest. I asked Will to waken us when things started moving, and could only hope that Lord Varien would understand that we shared his sorrow but could keep our eyes open no longer. Aral slept already and I lay down beside her in the long grass. I remember putting my head on my arm but no more.
Will
I sat tending the fire in a kind of daze. I was as sad as I could be that the Lady Lanen was taken and I'd gladly help to save her if I thought I'd be of any use, but I have no defence against demons. While everyone was trying to come to their senses I came to the only possible decision I could. I would go with Vilkas and Aral wherever they fared, for my fate was twined about theirs.
A bump on the shoulder reminded me that my fate was linked with another as well.
"Hhow ffare hyou, Ffather?" asked that wonderful voice, and suddenly Salera was curled about me. I shivered with relief and relaxed as her warmth wrapped me round about.
"Thanks to you, littling, I am not only alive but very well," I said, reaching out to stroke her cheek ridge. "You saved my life, Salera. I thank you, my kit."
"A liffe ssaved also hyou ffor me, hwen killing trruly I wass," she said solemnly, gazing at me.
"You remember that?" I said, astounded.
"I remember, Hooirr," she said. She dropped her jaw and hissed. "Hyour nname iss so hard to ssay!"
I smiled at her. "Then you can stick to Father."
"It iss good. Ffather, of hyourr kindness, come with me to the Great One. I long to sspeak hwith him."
I laughed quietly. "You don't need me, lass. You're all grown up and glorious and come into your own. I'm sure he will be delighted with you."
"Yess, I know," she said, her eyes gazing sharp and intelligent into mine. "But I hwould have him know you."
I glanced at Vilkas and Aral, drowned deep in sleep. They didn't need me for the moment. I added another few sticks to the fire and prepared to step forth with my strange and wondrous child. We didn't have far to go, though, for everyone was coming towards us.
Shikrar
She walked towards me as I was following Rella and Varien towards the fire. She moved carefully, almost fearfully, and at every other moment she would touch a tail or a wing-tip to the Gedri who walked with her for reassurance. He was a kind-looking—man, that was their word, man, with hair like old khaadish. I wondered how such a friendship could have been formed in so short a time.
When she came up to me she bowed, very skillfully. I returned the courtesy. "Welcome, little sister," I said, when she did not speak. "I rejoice that I may be with you on this first day of your flowering. It is a great wonder and a great blessing for the world."
"Hwat iss 'blessing'?" she asked.
"A very great good," I answered. I could not take my eyes from her. "You speak very well, littling. It is amazing. How have you learned so much so swiftly?"
"Ffrom the Ssilver King," she said. "He who wearss the wrong sshape but iss drragon nonetheless." She gazed up at me. "Hwere iss the Lady taken?"
I shook myself. She understood! It would take me a little time to realise that even if they looked like younglings, even if their speech was yet new to them, these creatures were aware and intelligent and to be treated as such.
I was a little ashamed of myself.
"We do not know, littling. Forgive me, I would call you by name. I am Shikrar, Eldest of the Kantrishakrim and Keeper of Souls," I said, bowing again.
"I am Ssallerra," she said, managing the T reasonably well for so new a speaker. It is a hard sound for us to make. And then she astounded me again, for she nudged the man who stood now a little behind her to come forward. "Tthis iss my ffatherr."
He bowed and laughed. "I am called Willem of Rowan-beck, Master Shikrar," he said. "I never dreamt I'd ever meet one of your people. I'm honoured to know you. I am no more Salera's real father than you are, of course, but I raised her from a kit and I love her like a daughter."
"It is well, Willem of Rowanbeck," I said, hissing my amusement. "You have been singularly blessed. She is a wonder."
"I know it," he replied, full qf delight as he gazed at her.
I enjoyed that moment of joy even as it passed. Varien called us to join them all at the fire.
Varien
Finally we were all met under the shelter of the trees. The bright morning had clouded over and it was grown cold. Vilkas and Aral, roused from the sleep of utter exhaustion, sat nearest the fire drinking chelan.
Many of the Lesser Kindred had left the plain, and those who remained had congregated at the far end of the field. I learned later that Salera had asked them to leave us in peace for the moment. It was well thought, for I had seen how they watched Shikrar's every movement. There would be time after our council for a wider meeting of our races. We had other things to consider now.
We shared out the cold food from our packs as we talked, for none of us had eaten much since the night before.
"You're not going alone, you know," said Rella to me as she passed around her store of oatcakes. "You'd have to kill Jamie to stop him."
"I would as soon cut off my right arm," I said. Jamie caught my glance and nodded. I saw then the coldness that had taken him. It saddened me, but I recognised it. Indeed, at that moment I welcomed it.
"That means you get me too," said Rella, raising an eyebrow. "Just so you know."
I bowed. "Three," I said.
"Alas, Varien. After so many years of life I had hoped you would be able to count by now," said a voice from high above. Shikrar settled on one side of the fire and brought his head down to a level with mine. "Four, at the very least. Or perhaps I count for more than one, if only by virtue of sheer bulk?"
"Four, then, Shikrar. Forgive me, my friend. There is no levity in me."
"I know it," said Shikrar gently. "But for all that, keep hope, Akhor. If he wanted her dead he could have killed her here. Keep hope, my friend."
I sent him a swift thanks in traespeech, grimacing at the twinge even so small a usage brought.
"The real question is, where do we start to seek her?" I said.
"Find Berys," said Jamie, his voice like ice. "Verfaren, surely."
"Not necessarily," said Vilkas. "Though that would be the first place to look." He spat. "Those damned demonlines can go anywhere in an instant."
"Demonlines?" asked Jamie. Cold, cold his voice, even the one word.
"Hard to set up, costly to the maker, but once they're in place you can go from one spot to another in the blink of an eye. Then they're gone. Once through only."
"Hells, Vil, how did you know that?" said Will, startled.
"I can't fight the things with my power, Will," said Vilkas grimly. "I've made damned sure I know all there is to know about them in case I can fight them any other way."
"Even if we know not where Berys may be, we mus
t begin somewhere," I said. "If he is not there at Verfaren, perhaps we can find those who will know where he is gone."
"Only if he doesn't know we're looking," said Rella. She glanced at Shikrar. "Forgive me, Shikrar, but you might just be a little obvious."
He snorted. "True enough, lady, but I am only the first Soon there must be some kind of reckoning, for the Kantri are coming to Kolmar."
"When?" she asked.
"A moment," he said. I heard him bespeak Idai and knew he had left his truespeech broadscattered that I might do so.
Idai
Shikrar bespoke me at last, his voice subdued and weary. '7 am safely arrived, Idai," he said, "though I have ill news. There has been a great battle here. A rakshadakh called Berys sent an army of Rikti on to Varien and Lanen. She is stolen away."
"And Akhor?" I asked, hardly daring to breathe. He had no armour to protect him, no flame, no talons to rend or fangs to bite, what if he...
"Varien is well, save that his heart is riven in twain for fear of Lanen's fate," he said. I breathed again.
"Alas, Shikrar, would that I had better news to lighten your heart. I have—alas, Toklurik bespoke me as he was dying," I said. My heart was heavy with that loss, and now Lanen gone as well. "It is an evil day."
"It is, my friend. Let us then do what we may to mend it. How fare the Kantri ? "
"Rested and restless." I replied. "Is the way prepared for us?"
"I think now that it cannot be, Idai," he said. "There is none to ask and none to grant permission. However, there is a great demon master arisen in this land. All happens for a purpose, Idai, though the Winds might not make all clear at once. The Gedri have no defences against the Rakshasa." I felt the tiny smile in his mindvoice as he added, "I suspect if we simply follow our own instincts and rid the land of the Rakshi, we will be as welcome here as we could desire."
My heart lifted. My soul to the Winds, I had never dreamt of such a thing, but to arrive in all our power when the Gedri were in need—ah, yes, it would be the best introduction we could hope for.