The Last Of The Wilds (52 page)

The distance had looked small from the boat but it took longer than she expected to get to shore. The water was murky and the pre-dawn light was still too faint to reveal much below the surface anyway. Imi had rarely been in such an open place, and never alone. She could easily imagine something emerging from the gloom around her. Something large and ponderous. Or maybe something smaller and quicker like a flarke, seen only a moment before it attacked.

She felt on the brink of a shiver, like the feeling that she had sometimes when she felt she would sneeze soon, but never did.

Suddenly the water lightened. She surfaced, expecting to find the sun had risen, but nothing had changed. The beach lay ahead, now forming an arc around a shallow bay. Looking down again, she realized that she could see the pale sea floor beneath her. She swam on.

Soon the water around her began to push and pull. It roiled above her, curling and twisting. She had heard of surf before, but had never tried to swim in it. A water dancer had told her about it once. He’d said you could ride the waves, if you knew how. Swimming up one of them, she sought the right part to ride. She knew she had found it when she felt the force of the wave catch and propel her forward.

The wave’s rush was exhilarating and ended too soon. She found sand under her feet and stood up. Looking back, she considered swimming out to ride another wave.

No, I must start looking for Siyee. I don’t know how long it will take to find them.

Wading out of the water, she continued up the sand to where the grasses began. The sun finally emerged in the gap between cloud and horizon, bathing all in golden light. She climbed a dune and found more dunes beyond, stretching out as far as she could see.

The Elai traders who had told her stories about the Siyee had said the winged people lived in strange houses that looked like half-buried bubbles. She doubted those traders would have travelled far from the water for fear of drying out, so she was hoping the Siyee houses would be visible from the beach. She began walking along the shore, following the wide arc of the bay to a rocky point, then around to a larger bay. After a while she grew thirsty and drank from the flask Imenja had given her. Though the sun was covered by cloud and the air filled with mist from the surf, Imi eventually felt her skin becoming uncomfortably dry. She returned to the water and swam parallel to the beach.

I could walk for hours before finding any Siyee
, she thought.
Maybe I should swim instead, stopping in the middle of every bay to look for Siyee. That way I won’t dry out and I can ride the waves in each time
.

For the next few hours she swam along the coast. Gradually the spit of land between each bay became rockier. She gave the water around these points a wide berth. Seeing the waves crashing against the rocks, she knew if she swam too close they might throw her against the rocks as well.

Otherwise, there was little variation between one bay and the next. The clouds kept a jealous veil over the sun, but she felt the day growing older. Stopping to survey yet another stretch of grassy dunes, she sighed and shook her head.

I’m going to have to turn around soon or it’ll be dark before I get back to the place Imenja left me
. She frowned, then felt a stab of panic.
How am I going to recognize the bay?

The wind whistled and fluttered around her. She looked up… and jumped as she saw the figures circling above.

Siyee!

They looked just as the traders had described them. Though small, she could tell these two were adult men. One had gray hair while the other was younger. She felt her heart lift and waved her hands in what she hoped they’d interpret as a friendly, beckoning gesture.

The two Siyee circled lower and landed in a spray of sand. They straightened and regarded her with both caution and curiosity.

“Greetings, sea lady,” the older of the Siyee said slowly in the Elai tongue. “I am Tyrli, Speaker of the Sand tribe. My companion is my grandson, Riz.”

“Greetings, people of the sky,” she replied. “Please forgive me for trespassing uninvited in your land. I am Yli, daughter of hunter Sei.”

Imenja had warned her against telling the Siyee she was a princess. They wouldn’t want to let her go home alone. If she couldn’t go back to the ship she would have to wait until the next group of Elai traders arrived. She might have to anyway, if the Siyee could not tell her where Borra was, but it would be so much nicer if her father had a chance to meet Imenja and Reivan.

The man smiled. “You are forgiven, sea lady. May I ask you why you are here alone?”

She bowed her head. “I am lost,” she admitted. “It is my own fault. I slipped away when my elders were not looking. Raiders caught me, but I escaped. Now I find I do not know the way home. I’ve never travelled this far before. I hoped to find Siyee who could tell me.” It was the truth—or close enough. She saw sympathy in the Siyee’s faces.

“You are lucky,” Tyrli said. “Lucky the raiders didn’t kill you and lucky you escaped.”

“The White should do something about them,” the young man said, scowling.

“You are also lucky to find us,” Tyrli continued. “We are a few hours’ flight from our village, patrolling the coast for Pentadrian invaders. It would have taken you days to reach our tribe.”

“Do you know where Borra is?”

“I can give you rough directions.”

She sighed with relief. “Then I am lucky indeed.”

He chuckled. “You must be tired and hungry. We have made camp not far from here. Come and eat with us. You can rest in safety tonight and begin your journey home tomorrow.”

“I’d love to but I have to get back to—” She stopped as she realized she could not tell him she needed to return to meet Imenja. She could think of no good reason why she must swim back along the coast again.

He smiled at her warmly. “You’re anxious to get home. I understand that, but your home is still many days’ swim from here and it will be dark soon. Stay with us tonight.”

Perhaps she could slip away after they told her where her home was. Forcing a smile onto her face, Imi nodded. “Yes. I will. Thank you.”

He gestured for her to walk beside him along the beach. Glancing out to sea, she fought a rising panic.

Imenja is going to be so worried when I don’t return to the boat, but what can I do? If I press Tyrli to give me directions now he might get suspicious.
She chewed on her lip.
But if I don’t meet Imenja, she might come to shore to look for me.

Tyrli patted her on the arm. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “We’ll help you get home.”

As Auraya neared the Blue Lake tribe’s village she slowed and felt her anger fade a little. Siyee were everywhere—in the village, fields, and, of course, the bowers where the sick were treated. It was too easy to imagine how confused and frightened they’d be if they saw her attack the Dreamweaver who was helping them.

n, she said. The goddess had remained close, though silent.

:I am here
, the goddess replied.
Ah, I see your concern. It would be better to avoid disturbing the Siyee. Find a way to lure Mirar away from the village
.

Auraya’s relief was short-lived. He would not leave the sick Siyee and the village unless she gave him reason to. If she faced him he might somehow detect that something was wrong. Could she ask someone else to take him a message? What should it say?

Only that I want to meet him privately
, she thought. She felt ill as she realized he might interpret that as an invitation to resume their affair.
It seems unfair, but so was deceiving me into believing he was someone else
. At that thought, anger flared again.

Concentrating on the minds below, she located Speaker Dylli inside his bower. She dropped to the ground beside the entrance.

“Speaker Dylli,” she called.

“Auraya of the White?” he responded. She heard him coming to the door.

“Yes,” she replied. As the hanging door opened, she smiled. “Could you have a message delivered to Wilar for me?”

He nodded. “Of course, but I cannot tell you when it will reach him. He left a few days ago to gather ingredients for his cures. Tyve is here. Can he help you?”

“No.”

Mirar has gone
. She felt a rush of emotion and found that it was relief.
I don’t want to kill him
, she realized.
Even though he deserves it. I just don’t like having to kill. Maybe I won’t have to. He’ll slip out of Si and it will be up to Juran to hunt him down
. But as soon as the thought came she knew she would not avoid the task so easily. “Do you know where he was heading?” she made herself ask Dylli.

He shook his head.

Auraya nodded. “He can’t have gone far. I will just have to fly around until I find him.”

The Speaker smiled. “Good luck, Auraya of the White.”

“Thank you.”

She propelled herself straight up into the sky and considered the village and surrounding lakes and forest. When the Siyee searched for animals to hunt they often flew in ever widening circles. She would try this, at the same time searching the thoughts of anyone who might have seen, or be watching, Mirar.

Searching gave her time to think. She considered everything Huan had told her. The goddess had detected Mirar through Auraya’s link with him.
Strange that she didn’t tell me at the time
, she thought.
It’s also a little strange that Chaia hasn’t spoken of it. Perhaps he doesn’t want to sour our relationship by making it obvious that he wants me to kill my former lover
.

She considered her reluctance to kill Mirar.
It is because I haven’t fully comprehended that he is not Leiard
, she told herself.
It is all too incredible. I don’t have time to sit and think about it, however. I must trust that what Huan tells me is true. Perhaps it would be easier if I knew why Mirar did it
, she thought.
I wonder if I can trick him into revealing his plans to me
.

u would be unwise to believe anything he told you, Huan warned.
A true villain does not gloat about his achievements or plans except to deceive. Accept that some questions will remain unanswered
.

Auraya sighed.
Why me?
she found herself asking.
Why did he target me? He would never have deceived the other White so easily. I am a fool!

, Auraya. We do not choose fools to be our representatives. If we could not see through the deception, we could hardly expect you to. That is why he must die. His abilities and his hatred of us make him dangerous to mortals.

Auraya winced. His abilities included an extraordinary healing Gift—a Gift he had taught to her, that had saved many hundreds of Siyee. Why would he do that? Was there a hidden trap in it that might cause her or her patients harm? Teaching her had led to his discovery. Had he known this was a risk?

A movement caught her eye below the foliage of the tall trees. She slowed and felt a chill run over her skin as she caught a glimpse of a Dreamweaver robe. Mirar was following a stream that flowed down a narrow ravine, carrying his bag and a heavy coil of rope.

Suddenly her heart was racing.

t be afraid, Huan told her.
We made you strong enough to defeat Wilds
.

:I
do not doubt that
, Auraya replied.

t you fear. He can only harm you with words. Hold in your mind the knowledge of his deceit. Silence his lies forever.

Taking a deep breath, Auraya drew up all her anger and determination.
He is not Leiard; he is Mirar.
Then another thought shot through her mind.
The Dreamweavers don’t deserve to have their future and reputation ruined by this man.

Auraya dropped down through the trees. She landed a few paces in front of him. As he looked up at her his eyes widened in surprise.

“Auraya,” he said.

Then he smiled. It was such an easy, familiar smile. From somewhere deep rose all the indignation and anger she ought to have been feeling. She embraced it and felt it strengthen her resolve.

“Mirar,” she replied coolly.

At the look of realization in his eyes she felt all lingering hope that Huan was wrong the. His smile faded. They stared at each other for a long moment.

“So you know,” he said.

“Yes. You’re not denying it.”

“Would it do me any good?”

“No. Huan saw who you were during your healing lesson.”

“Oh.” He grimaced.

Suddenly she felt empty. She had hoped the gods were mistaken, that Leiard would come up with a plausible explanation and prove that he was not Mirar. But he had all but admitted it. He was not Leiard. The person she had loved had only existed as an illusion, a lie.

To her surprise the realization brought a wave of relief. She did not know this man. He was only the trickster sorcerer of legend, a man the world was once rid of and should be again.

I can kill him
, she told herself. But instead of gathering magic to strike, she found herself blurting out a question.

“Why did you do it?”

His chin lifted. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

The challenge in his eyes sent a chill of warning down her spine. “No, because there is no way I can know if anything you say is true.”

Huan is right. My questions can only remain unanswered
. Suddenly she wanted only to get it done and over with.

d, Huan said.
Further talk will only leave you vulnerable to trickery. Attack him now
.

Auraya looked down as she drew magic to herself. As she did she considered how she should attack. He would have created a shield, but it might not be strong enough for an attack of great power. If he wasn’t able to strengthen his shield in time it could be all over in moments. She heard him take a few footsteps closer to her.

“There is a way you can know—” he began.

Without looking up, she let loose a bolt of power. He gave a yelp of surprise and staggered backward. His shield held.