:So, when the vrondi saw magic, if it hadn't been cast by a Herald, they were supposed to tell the nearest Herald-Mage, then keep an eye on the person using the mage-energy unless the Herald-Mage told them differently. I was going to change the spell, laterâto ask the vrondi to “light up” the person who was using the mage-energy the way they do with a Truth Spell, to make the mage rather conspicuous. I thought that was better than having them simply watch the mage, especially since there might not be a Herald-Mage anywhere nearbyâ:
“Unfortunately, after you, there weren't
any
Herald-Mages at all,” Elspeth said dryly.
:Well, that's true. No active ones, anyway. So now they just watch. The longer the mage sticks around, the more of them come to watch. It's horribly uncomfortable, since mages can sense the vrondi, and it's rather like being stared at by an increasing crowd all the time.: The spirit shook his head. :The borders have changed since I set the spell, and so far as the vrondi are concerned, the “border” really ends where the presence of active, on-duty Heralds ends. They don't always notice where Heralds are unless one of them has invoked Truth Spell lately in that area. So the “borders” are changing all the time, and sometimes mages on the Rethwellan or Karsite borders, or the borders on the west, can get fairly far in before they're stopped. I'm afraid that, enthusiastic as they are, well, vrondi just aren't too bright themselves.:
Elspeth nodded; that made sense. The
vrondi
did not seem to be terribly reliable outside of exact instructions, although they were like puppies, and very eager to please. “But what about the way people simply can't
think
about magic?” she persisted. “The
vrondi
couldn't possibly be responsible for that!”
:No, I am. It was something we decided on after Van and I got together again.:
This was a new mind-voice, and after a moment, Elspeth saw the second, misty figure beside the first. It was nowhere near as well-defined, but if this was Vanyelâ
:Yes, that was Stef's idea,:
Vanyel said, confirming Elspeth's guess.
:Tell them why, ashke.:
:Because we still had a problem with people refusing to give up the notion that Herald-Mages were somehow superior to Heralds with other Gifts,: the new voice sighed. :It seems to be an inherent weakness of people to think magic cures every ill. The Bards did their best, but there were still those who felt that the young King was hiding the Herald-Mages away somewhere, keeping them for “special purposes” of his own, or reserving their powers for his own personal friends and favorites. Soâwe decided it would be best for people to simply “forget” that any magic but mind-magic had ever existed in Valdemar, except in old tales and songs.:
There was a third and larger figure forming behind the other two, and this one was as strong or stronger than Vanyelâand there was no mistake that it was horseshaped.
Yfandes
âElspeth thought, and as she recognized Vanyel's Companion, the spirit tossed her head in an unmistakable motion of summoning. Without a single word, Gwena and Cymry walked toward her; she led them off into the forest.
:Theyâahâneed to talk,:
Vanyel said delicately
. :Your Gwena, for all that she is Grove-born, is just as fallible as any other mortal.:
“She's
what?”
Elspeth yelped. Darkwind squinted and scratched his ear to recover from her cry. Grove-born? And no doubt Elspeth had been made to forget
that
as well! This passed everything for sheer, unadulterated gallâ
And oddly enough, it was what actually convinced her that Vanyel was Vanyel. No creature born outside Valdemar would know what a Grove-born Companion was. Few inside it would know, for that matter. And no one else would have dared to make such an incredible statement.
:She's Grove-born,:
Vanyel repeated.
:So, they “forgot” to tell you that, too, hmm? Doubtless “for your own good. ”It's simple enough, Elspeth; you were going to be the first of the new Herald-Mages, so I suppose they thought you needed something a little more than the ordinary Companion.: Vanyel's mind-voice dripped irony. :It never fails to annoy me how little faith people can have in each other, Herald or no. Ah, well. Now that 'Fandes has her away from you, I'll tell you what she may “forget” to tell you about the Grove-born. Be gentle on her, Elspeth; as Companions goâwhen compared to, say, Sayvilâshe is very, very young. No older than you, in fact. She makes all the kinds of mistakes any young thing makes, but because she is Grove-born, she thinks she will always make the right decision.: He shook his head. :She forgets that she has no real, human experience to base her decisions on. It is like dictating music when you yourself have never learned to play an instrument.:
If this was supposed to mollify Elspeth, it didn't work. But on the other hand, she had gotten used to Gwena, and her “habits”; by now she had a fair notion how to figure out what was going on from what Gwena
wouldn't
tell her. Gwena wasn't going to change, so there was really no point in getting upset with her at this late a date. And despite her faults, Gwena had been a good friend for a long time.
:Actually, it would be a good thing if I could have a word with the two adult gryphons along with Elspeth and Darkwind. Since there are magics to talk of, it would be best to discuss things with all the mages at once.:
Vanyel looked hopefully at Treyvan and Hydona, as the little ones watched the spirit solemnly from behind their parents' wings.
:This valley is quite well shielded and protected; nothing can get in or out unless I permit it. The gryphlets could get some exercise.:
“While we adultsss ssspeak of thingsss that would bore them into missschief,” Hydona laughed. “Well, if Rrisss isss willing to take charge of themâ”
The
kyree
nodded his head in a way that made it look like a bow.
:Of course, lovely lady. I can continue hunting lessons if you like.:
Both gryphlets perked up their ear tufts at that, and suddenly the little round baby faces looked as fierce as the adults'. Elspeth kept forgetting that they were carnivores. They were so baby-fluffy and, well,
cute
. But they were raptorial, like Vree, and like him they enjoyed the hunt and the killâwhen they actually succeeded at the latter, which wasn't often.
“Yesss,” Hydona replied thoughtfully. “Hunting lesssonsss would be mossst appreciated.”
:Then come along, younglings,:
Rris said, trotting off with his tail high, looking surprisingly graceful for a creature the size of a young calf. The gryphlets bounded off after him, with a great deal less grace. Treyvan winced as Lytha crashed into a bush, tumbled head-over-tail, and kept right on going without even a pause. And Jerven was no more coordinated than his sister, blundering through the remains of the bush.
:This is not secret or private,:
Vanyel said then, looking at Skif and Nyara,
:Butâmuch will be very technical. You may stay if you wish. . .:
“I don't think soâthank you, but I'm not in the least interested. Really. I think I'd be better off not knowing,” Skif said hastily. “And I wouldn't have Mage-Gift if you offered it to me. I wouldn't have it if you paid me Cymry's weight in gold to take it!”
He glanced at Nyara, who shrugged. Elspeth hadn't thought she would be interested, and she was not proven wrong. “My abilities are at the level of Journeyman in a school, or so Need tells me. I would be wasting my time with higher magics. The mage who knows how to use simple spells cleverly is just as effective as the Adept with no imagination. I should enjoy simply being with my friends in this lovely place.”
And putting off the encounter with more strangers,
Elspeth thought.
I can't blame her, either.
:I'm too old to learn another style of magery without a long time to study it,:
Need said.
:To be honest, youngsters, there's things I know you people have forgotten. Simple stuff, but sometimes simple is better. We'll run along, and you'll have your conference without me going “What?” every few moments.:
Darkwind snickered.
:Van, I can show them the springs,:
Stefen offered.
At Vanyel's nod, Skif and Nyara followed the little wisp of mist that was Stefen out of the clearing. Firesong came back a moment later, face impassive and unreadable, but eyes sparkling.
“Mother says that this was quite discourteous and inconsiderate of you, even if you are our forefather,” he announced. “She told me to tell you that you are old enough to have better manners, especially by now. The only way she is prepared to forgive you is if you teach me what you did. And how to defend against it, if there is any defense.”
The spirit rippled, and Elspeth got the distinct impression Vanyel was either laughing or stifling laughter.
: Very well,:
he said after a moment.
:It is, after ad, the least I can do. Now if you could make yourselves comfortable. . . .:
That was not difficult to do, here. In fact, Elspeth suspected Vanyel
had
taken a leaf or two from the Hawkbrothers' book, and had constructed this place along the lines of a Vale.
The gryphons reclined on the soft grass, and Darkwind and Elspeth used them as backrests.
:The first thing I need to tell you about is what I call the Web,:
Vanyel said.
:I created it because there were too few Herald-Mages leftâoriginally there were four we called Guardians who remained at Haven and kept up a constant watch on the Borders. I changed that; I tied all Heralds and Companions into a net of completely unconscious communication. Now when there is danger in any direction, Heralds with ForeSight who are in a position to alert those who can do something about it have a vision or dream. That's how everyone knows when a Herald dies. And it's one way for the vrondi to know where Heralds are.:
“We have done such things, but only for ssshort periodsss of time,” Hydona offered. “Becaussse we did not know how to make it an unconssscious ability.”
:The Companions are the key,:
Vanyel told her
. :Because they are already linked. I couldn't have managed otherwise.:
“Hmm.” Treyvan nodded thoughtfully.
:I never meant anything but the Web to have to last as long as it has,:
Vanyel continued.
:The vrondi-spell has eroded near to nothing, and constant attacks on it from Hardorn are taking their toll. I'm going to have to take it down in a controlled manner before someone breaks it and harms the vrondi in the process. Whether or not it goes back up again will depend on your choices later.:
It was a good thing they were well-fed and well-rested, or Elspeth would have asked for a recess to think all this through. This was not precisely what Elspeth had expected to hearâbut it was logical enough. Harm to the
vrondi
might mean that they would flee Valdemar altogether, and that would cause more problems than taking down the spell would.
“If you remove the warn-off, then mages will be able to enter Valdemar,” Darkwind pointed out, as a light breeze stirred his hair. The breeze was from Vree stooping on Treyvan's head and crest-feathers, then angling up to perch in a tree and preen. “Many mages, in fact, through Valdemar's unfortified borders.”
:Precise/y.:
Vanyel was clearly pleased.
:Now I plan to do several things, besides removing the spell. First, I will need to build a Gate to send you home. This will deplete me seriously for a time, and I do not know how long that will be. I will have to concentrate all my attention on this Border, and I will not be able to even offer such paltry distractions as I did against your Falconsbaneâalong with the Shin'a'inâto make him think that another Adept was courting him for an alliance.:
Darkwind raised an eyebrow at Elspeth. She nodded; she had already known about the Shin'a'in Kal'enedral being involved. Vanyel's help was probably why the ruse had been so effective; Falconsbane would have seen the traces of real magic at work and if the suspicion that the Shin'a'in were running a trick on him had even occurred to him, he would have dismissed it immediately, since the Shin'a'in didn't use magic.
“What about Ancar?” she asked. “He'll know when that spell comes down.”
:Ancar, yes. And others. You will have to warn your people through Gwena and Rolan that the barrier is coming down. I will do this just before I send you home. That way they will be prepared for magical incursionsâalthough I do not think that Ancar will be able to react immediately. He is disposed toward grandiose plans, and those take time to prepare.:
“Hmm.” Elspeth replied, after a moment of thought. “Even if he's watching for it to break, he likely won't have anyone strong there to do anything. He doesn't trust his powerful mages out of his sight.”
:Once the barrier is down and you are home, there is nothing else I can do,:
Vanyel said.
:Now, about the new Heartstone in the Palace at Haven. . . .:
Firesong looked up alertly, interest immediately captured.
:I anchored the power in the stone I used to center the Web. You will find it in the old Palace in one of the old mage workrooms, and it is on the middle of a table that seems rooted to the floor. It is not yet activated, and I left it that way, keyed only to Firesong. . . . :
Â
Fortunately for Skif's mental comfort, as they left the clearing, Stefen became gradually less ephemeral and more solid, until at last he seemed almost normalâso long as you ignored the fact that you could see right through him. He seemed a cheerful young man, although his hair couldn't quite seem to make up its mind whether it wanted to be blond or red.