[Lanen Kaelar 03] - Redeeming the Lost (30 page)

“Then let me help you,” said a quiet voice. It
was Dhretan, the youngest of us, aside from my son’s son Sherok who had not yet
seen six moons. His willingness touched me but there was scant time for tact.

“Dhretan, I thank you from my heart, but I
fear you could not keep pace with us, especially burdened,” I said as kindly as
I could. However, his was the last voice that spoke. I sighed. So much for
volunteers. “Gyrentikh?” I called softly in truespeech, bespeaking him only.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t think of me,” he
said wryly, aloud. “I wouldn’t mind being lazy, and I swear I could sleep a
full moon round; but yes, Hadreshikrar, I will come with you,” he said. ‘Were
it not for you I might never have wakened from my last Weh sleep when the Isle
of Exile was dying.” Despite his words, he did not look or sound as worn-out as
many of the others. “In any case, I do not believe the Gedri will be much of a
burden,” he added with an amused hiss. “They are too small.”

“Two of them together are perhaps a quarter
the weight of a bullock,” I said, keeping my voice light. “There are few of us
who could not manage so little weight without effort, even over a long journey.”

“Father, let me come with you,” said Kedra
again. “I am rested enough, I am strong—”

“And you will be the Keeper of Souls when I go
to the Winds, my son. Our people cannot do without you. I cannot do without
you. Stay here and be for me the voice of Reason with our people, and with the
Dhrenagan,” I replied to him alone. Aloud I said only, “No, Kedra. You must
stay and look after your young son. He has much to learn and he needs his
father.”

“Very well then. If no one else will help you,
I’ll come along,” said a disgruntled voice, and to my astonishment I realised
it was Alikirikh who had spoken. I did not know her overwell, but I knew her
history. She was among the older of us. Her mate Lirh had been a good, kind
soul, but he had gone to the Winds soon after the last of his younglings was
born. She had turned bitter at bis passing and for many a hundred winters now
had kept her own counsel and company, seeing only her children and shunning the
rest of us. She was the last creature I would have thought would volunteer for
such a task, but I was in no position to argue.

“Blessings upon thee, Alikirikh. Of your
kindness, my friends, prepare yourselves now, for we must go to Verfaren to
collect the Gedri and be on our way as swiftly as may be.” Turning to the
others, I said, “As for the rest of you, O my people, and ye Dhrenagan, ye
Restored, whose presence is such balm to our hearts, rest well and recover
yourselves. I would beg you all to have patience with the Gedri, should you
have dealings with them while we are gone, for they are intensely curious and
will almost certainly seek you out. Remember of your courtesy that, here and
now, however foolish it may seem, we are legends in this place. Most of those
who see us are likely to be terrified first and angry after. Try to think of
them as younglings, and remember that we are new-arrived in their land. I will
see you all when I return.”

I let Varien know who was coming. “Alikirikh?
Shikrar, are you certain?”

“I am as surprised as you, my friend,” I said.
“Perhaps our voyage here has reminded her that the world is full of new
experiences, and that there are many kinds of good in the world.”

We snatched some food, for it was now long
past midday, then joined Vilkas, Aral and Will, Jamie and Rella, and my mother
Maran. Jamie, Rella, and the Healers were all desperate to get away, to get to
Berys as swiftly as possible to stop him. I could understand it but I can’t say
I was convinced.

My heart misgave me ferociously. Only by the
grace of the Lady, Jamie, and Shikrar was I alive at all. I could not forget
that Berys had said I was the most precious thing in the world to him when he
learned of my mingled blood. I couldn’t help but feel that the most sensible
thing for me to do was to stay as far away from him as humanly possible. I took
Varien aside for a moment and put it to him.

“I cannot argue with you, dearling,” he said
solemnly, “and I would not place you in danger for all the world. Perhaps we
could remain with the Kantri until the others return?”

“What, you mean rest?” I teased. ‘Together? In
safety? Surely not.” I grinned at him. “If this were a proper bard’s tale we’d
be going along with the others, intent on revenge to the exclusion of
everything else, including good sense.”

He laughed. “Ha! Let us confound the
ballad-makers, then, and take our ease.” He kissed me lightly. “We have surely deserved
it. Very well. Let us go and tell our comrades of our decision.”

They were all assembled in the shelter of the
one corner of the College that still stood: there was at least a portion of
roof to keep off the rain that threatened, and there was room enough for Salera
and Shikrar, though Idai, Gyrentikh, and Alikirikh had to wait outwith the
crumbling walls. Tolmas the stonemason and several dozen others from the town
were there as well, to hear what Rikard might say about their future, that for
so many years had depended on the College of Mages. The assembled Gedri—I shook
myself—people stared at Shikrar in astonishment, and at Salera in disbelief.

Rikard took a deep breath and began. “There
are two chief matters before us,” he said. “First and most obviously, I have
much to tell you of the destruction of the College and our hopes
to rebuild, but that will have to wait, for there
are those here who must leave as soon as may be.” He nodded to us. “There is
news that will be hard to hear, but hear it we must. Ignorance would be lolly.
Pray you, hearken to Mistress Rella.”

“Those of you who were around earlier saw what
happened, with the Healers Donal and Rathen,” said Rella, and speaking quickly,
she told them of the demon-haunted Healers. Over the shocked swearing she
continued. “We know beyond doubt that Magister Berys, he who was Archimage, has
been the source of their temptation and the one who must bear the blame for
this obscenity.” She drew a deep breath. “What this means is that you cannot
trust any Healer, apart from Rikard and those students whom you see before you,
not to be the victim of demonic possession.” Now that brought a hiss of indrawn
breath. “Berys has taken even that fundamental surety away. Those who serve the
House of Gundar are almost certainly tainted. For the rest, we cannot tell, but
the dangers are too great to take chances. The best we can do is to recommend
that you only trust Healers who wear a Ladystar in contact with their skin. The
demons cannot bear the touch of that symbol of Her power.”

“We cannot live thus for long, surely!” cried
Tolmas, the others echoing his words. “And even if we are so fortunate as to
have Rikard and the others, what may be done for those who live elsewhere?’ His
brow was deeply furrowed. “My sisters son dwells in Elimar, and bis young lad
is not well. What is he to do? How will he know who to trust? And how shall we
deal with any of the tainted ones who approach us?” He lowered his voice. “Surely
we need not kill them?”

“We leave this very hour to seek out Berys and
destroy him,” said Jamie stoudy. “The death of the demon-master breaks the
spell. They will be free.”

“Aye, well, if you manage it, all well and
good,” countered Tolmas. “But the Archimage as was, he’s a powerful man. He may
not be so easy to kill, and in the meantime how are we to protect ourselves?
Demons walking in the shapes of men. Shia preserve us,” he muttered.

“We will keep watch, day and night,” replied
Rikard heavily. He opened the top of his clasped robe to reveal the new Ladystar
that hung above his heart from a silver chain. “It will take more than one of
us to restrain them, so we will move in groups of three. We are very few, alas,
and I fear…”

“Magister,” said Salera, raising her voice
only enough to be heard clearly. “I hight Salera, of the Aialakantri. My people
and I have spoken of this, and we believe there is a better solution.”

Those who had not heard Salera before stared,
slack-jawed, at this impossibility. Surely that was one of the little dragons,
speaking!

“There are not full five hands of the true
Healers who yet live,” she continued. “If one or two of you are able to subdue
these crea-tures, rather than three, it would leave more free to watch and
ward, perhaps to go abroad in the world to seek them out if that is needed; I
have found”—here she paused to concentrate—“three hands of my fellow Aiala who
have said they will assist. If we work together, surely we all will benefit.”

Rikard’s eyes were nearly as wide as those of
the townsfolk and he obviously could not speak, so I did.

“Salera, you are most generous, and I know the
Healers appreciate your offer. Are you certain that this is best for you?” I
added in truespeech, for Varien had told me that she could hear it, “Dear
Salera, this is a great work and a great danger you undertake. What so moves
you to generosity towards the Gedri? It will be hard, and not all will accept
you for the reasoning creatures that you are. If you seek to do this as a
kindness to my people, for my sake and Varien’s, know that it is not necessary.”

“I know that well, Lady Lanen/Mother” she
replied, her mindvoice calm and clear. “It is because they do not yet know us
that it must be done. For our own protection, the sooner we are able to assist
the Gedri, to speak with them for longer than a brief moment, the sooner will
they come to see us for who we now are.” I could hear the determination in her
thoughts. “There is also an undeniable pleasure in knowing that we will be
working against our life-enemies. Fear not, Lady/Mother. This is not misplaced
gratitude. I have spoken with my people at some length, and it has been
decided.”

Aloud she replied only, “It is decided. If the
Gedri will accept our offer, we will work together against the Rakshasa.”

Rikard had mastered himself and said solemnly,
‘Tour offer is a blessing beyond hope, Salera of the Aiala. We accept
gratefully.”

“The blessing of the Winds and the Lady go
with you then, Salera,” said Varien, his glorious voice balm and benison. “The
Wind of Change has blown roughly across us all of late. I rejoice that you and
the Aiala are called to be the Wind of Shaping. Good fortune attend you,” he
said, and in broadcast truespeech he added, “Remember that truespeech is not
limited by distance, and that the Kantri for the most part will be near. Lanen
and I will be among them. If ever you have need of us, you have only to call
upon us.”

She stared at him in surprise and responded in
the same broadcast truespeech he had used. “Lord Varien, have you not seen? You
and the Kantri, all save a few, journey east this very day with the whole
people of the Dhrenagan.”

Idea responded while the rest of us stood
speechless. She hurried into the courtyard, pushing Shikrar aside in her haste.
“What say you, youngling?” she demanded, agitation rattling her voice. “That
was the true voice of vision, I know it. Whence comes thisP’

Salera seemed confused. “Lady, it is—it is
knowing. It is true. It lies ahead as surely as the sunset. Why do you
question?” Faced by our blank expressions, realisation dawned on Salera. She
blinked in surprise. “Do you tell me that this Sight is not known to the
Kantri?”

“We live in ignorance of our future, Salera,”
replied Varien, masking his astonishment as best he could. “I gather from your
words that you do not.”

She was projecting confusion and uncertainty. “We
thought—I thought—Lady Lanen, surely you of the Gedri can see as we do?”

“Not even slightly,” I replied, trying to keep
my voice light. Salera appeared to be deeply disturbed at this revelation. “I
wouldn’t mind a bit of warning, but we can’t see ahead.” I smiled at her. “To
be honest, most of us have trouble enough seeing where we are, much less where
we are going to be.”

“This requires thought,” she said, slowly. “We
have made assumptions that do not appear to be true.”

“Then think on it while we are gone,”
interjected Jamie rudely. ‘Tour pardon, Mistress Salera, but this lot would
talk the sun down. We must go.”

“Jamie!”

“We are losing the daylight, Lanen,” he said
impatiently. He was practically dancing to be gone—and I had to admit he was  right.
“Did I hear that you’re staying here?” he asked quietly.

“It seems the most sensible thing to do,” I
replied. “Varien will   be with me.”

“Thank the Goddess!” he responded fervently,
hugging rne. “A battlefield is no place for you, with your babes to protect.”
He released me, and there was a curious look in his eyes. “Though I have never
known you to be so sensible before. You’re not growing wise, are you, my Lanen?”

“Surely not,” I replied, smiling. “Perhaps I’m
simply being forced to grow up, eh? It would be nice to think that I’m
balancing the fact that I’m being forced to grow out as well.”

Jamie grinned and turned to go. I caught him,
hugged him again, and kissed his cheek. “Go you safe, Father, and keep you
safe, and come safe home to me,” I said softly, our traditional words of
farewell.

“So I will, my girl,” he said, and hurried off
to join Shikrar.