Wolf's Blood (66 page)

The Bound were clearly unsettled. Postures were shifting from attack to guarded, angry defense. Firekeeper held her breath. The battle was not won, but would words be enough to unbind the Bound? What held them, after all, but words?

“Let us go through,” she said. “We do not seek to harm Virim or any of his followers. We seek a solution to this problem. Walk with us if you hold doubts. You have promised to protect them from their enemies. What is there in that promise that forbids you to bring them supplicants?”

The Bound looked at each other, then the bear scraped at its chest with those long, black claws.

“Supplicants …” he mused. “Asking, perhaps, that things be put right again. Yes. I can see my way to that. I will be among your escort.”

The other Bound mostly seemed to agree with the bear, although one or two looked uneasy.

“I will go also,” said a puma.

“And I, for my pack,” said one of the wolves, a handsome silvery grey male with a ticking of black across back and shoulders.

“And we will fly as escort above,” cried several of the raptors.

“And I will announce you,” croaked a raven.

“Then we go,” Firekeeper said.

She longed to place her hand on Blind Seer’s shoulder, but she was not quite ready to give up her bow. Besides, the gesture might make them look weak, and undo all Blind Seer’s careful stalking. She still wondered how he had found a path that would carry them to Virim while leaving the Bound’s honor intact. Judging from a certain stiffness to his shoulders as he began to walk, Blind Seer was rather astonished himself. Clearly, he half expected the need to fight.

Elation launched herself skyward with a mocking shriek—probably meant for a certain golden eagle. She caught the wind with admirable ease.

“We go!” she cried. “We go!”

XXXII

  THE RAVENS SUCCEEDED in getting a message to Doc and Elise. Bitter reported that he felt fairly certain that nothing had happened to arouse too great an interest in what might be going on at the Setting Sun stronghold.

A date and place for a meeting was set up. Once he had spoken to Ynamynet and others of the Nexus Islands informal ruling body and received their permission to confide in his friends, Derian impulsively invited both Isende and Tiniel to come with him.

“After all,” he said, “finding you was what brought me out here. It would be good if Elise and Doc could see for themselves that you really exist.”

Both twins accepted, although Derian felt that Tiniel’s reasons had less to do with any interest in meeting the Bright Havenese and more with providing a chaperon for his sister. Even so, Derian didn’t mind. If whatever was growing between himself and Isende developed, Tiniel would be a part of his life, whether or not Derian liked Isende’s twin.

As they prepared for the gate to be opened, Derian promised Ynamynet that they wouldn’t be gone long.

“I know we’re taking away much needed hands,” he apologized, “but I know Elise. She’ll push and pry, and we’ll find ourselves defending ourselves on yet another front. We need to have the New World mainland as a point of retreat if nothing more.”

Ynamynet nodded. “I agree. I cannot imagine that anyone who would befriend not only you but Firekeeper as well would be easily dissuaded when she sets her mind to a purpose.”

“In my messages. I asked Elise and Doc to pick up some small supplies for us in Gak,” Derian said, realizing that for all his pleasure at the prospect of seeing his friends he still felt guilty about leaving the Nexans. “I checked with Zebel and Harjeedian, learned what we needed for the hospital and sent along a list. Our bringing hack those supplies, at least, should help. And Eshinarvash assures me that the riding animals haven’t been let go completely wild. He has three waiting for us on the other side, so we’ll go faster than on foot.”

Ynamynet gave Derian a reassuring smile, a far cry from her usually cool expression.

“I can run things here for a few days. You will be missed. but I assure you, we can manage.”

Impulsively, Derian reached out and grasped the Once Dead’s slender hand in thanks. Her skin felt astonishingly cold. With a flash of insight, he thought he knew what querinalo had stolen from the Once Dead, and felt bone-deep pity.

“I’ll be back,” he promised. “We aren’t going to abandon you.”

Ynamynet’s smile was the warmest he had ever seen from her.

“I never thought that for a moment—and I’ll make certain that no one else does either.”

THEY MET UP with Elise and Doc at the second ford along the almost invisible trail that connected the Setting Sun stronghold to the city-state of Gak. To Derian’s complete surprise, the two adults were alone except for the infant Elexa.

Derian’s sense of smell and his hearing were both improved since his transformation, and he knew no one was hiding in the shrubs or even close by around the bend in the trail. Leaving his mount in Isende’s care, he trotted out into the open. trying to act matter-of-fact even though self-consciousness about letting his friends see his new appearance in daylight burned along his nerves.

“You’re alone?” he called, rather than any more standard greeting.

“We are.” Elise assured him. “Our escort is made up of natives of Liglim. When I told them that we were crossing into lands held by the yarimaimalom, and that the yarimaimalom themselves would keep us safe, they remained hesitant about leaving important foreigners like us without protection, but when the ravens …”

Here, clearly having chosen the moment for dramatic effect, Bitter and Lovable glided from the branches of an oak near the ford and strutted about importantly in front of Elise.

Elise grinned and shook her head in bemusement. “But when the ravens informed the Liglimom through appropriate signs and omens, as read by the aridisdu in our escort, that we would be safe, the Liglimom fell into line. It was rather disturbing to see such confident people taking orders from ravens.”

“I can understand that,” Derian said, “almost. For me, I’m getting used to being ordered around by almost anything with fur, fangs, or feathers. At least Bitter and Lovable didn’t decide to talk. That would have probably created theological controversy.”

Bitter fluffed out his feathers, while Lovable bounced and made little ears with her head feathers. Derian needed no translator to know that Lovable had wanted to show off her new skill, but that Bitter had dissuaded her.

Elise looked puzzled, but Derian didn’t take time to explain. She’d probably learn soon enough.

“Well,” Derian said, embracing Elise and clasping hands with Doc, and then motioning for Isende and Tiniel to join him, “welcome to the Setting Sun land grant. These are the formal holders of the land, by claim dating to before the coming of the Plague and still acknowledged in Gak. Isende, Tiniel, these are my good friends, Doc and Elise, more formally known as Sir Jared Surcliffe and Lady Elise Archer.”

Elise dipped a curtsy and Doc, hampered somewhat by the fact that he held little Elexa in a sling across his chest, bowed. In turn, Isende and Tiniel made polite gestures of greeting after the fashion of the Liglimom.

Doc and Elise had established a small, comfortable camp, and invited their visitors to join them. When they were settled, Elise went for the heart of the matter with a directness worthy of Firekeeper.

“Derian, what’s going on? Where are Firekeeper and Blind Seer? Why did you ask to meet us here rather than wherever it is you have been staying?”

Derian thought how to frame his reply. He and Ynamynet had discussed how much he should reveal, and Ynamynet had agreed that Derian might need to tell everything. She had asked that he try and swear the others to secrecy and he had agreed.

“I don’t know where Firekeeper is,” he began, “and I’m not being evasive. Truth says she believes they are still alive, but her ability to read the future is less than reliable.”

“I remember,” Elise said. “Truth went mad, didn’t she?”

Derian snorted a humorless laugh. “It’s worse than that now. The same ‘curse’ that changed me seized on her as well. I don’t speak jaguar, but from what I understand Truth now sees all possible futures all at once. She does her best to filter through to those that are most likely, but it’s difficult. However, she says that Firekeeper—or rather something that she refers to as ‘Firekeeper’s scent’—crops up frequently, so Truth believes this indicates that our wolf-woman is still alive.”

“And Blind Seer with her,” Doc said. “Or so we can hope. Where did she go?”

“To tell you that, I need to tell you a great deal more,” Derian said, “and before I tell you that, I need to swear you to secrecy.”

Doc was inclining his head as if to nod, but Elise looked guarded.

“Secrecy? From whom? From everyone or just from the locals? From our own government as well?”

“Everyone,” Derian said. “Governments in particular. I can assure you we’re not planning a revolt—far from it—but we’ve stumbled on things that are better not too widely shared.”

Elise frowned, but her gaze rested on Derian’s hands with their thick, hoof-like nails, on his mane-like hair, on his eyes, once hazel-green, now dark brown and almost without a white. She looked then at Isende and Tiniel, and her frown shifted to a look of deep concern.

“Derian, I need to know more before I can promise something like that. Not only am I an assistant to an ambassador—as you are, in case you’ve forgotten—but I am a future baron of Bright Haven. I need more than vague warnings of doom.”

Derian had expected this, and when he felt Isende shifting and knew the younger woman was feeling indignant on his behalf, he reached out and patted her arm in reassurance.

“Very well, Elise. Do you remember what started the war between Bright Bay and Hawk Haven?”

“Of course I do,” Elise said indignantly. “Queen Valora—Queen Gustin IV as she was then—started meddling in our local politics, trying to press her own candidate for the throne of Hawk Haven. Then rumors got out that Bright Bay still possessed magical artifacts. Suddenly, we found Stonehold and Waterland breaking their alliances with us and turning against us. New Kelvin wasn’t far behind.”

Derian nodded. “And all that was over the rumor of three magical artifacts whose very existence and powers were mere rumor. Had Allister Seagleam, as he was then, not allied himself with King Tedric, and had we not won that battle, not only wouldn’t Bright Haven exist to make you and me assistant ambassadors, but Hawk Haven and Bright Bay might exist only as sections of other lands. And all of that was over the rumor of three magical artifacts.”

“Is this about magical artifacts again?” Elise said.

“That,” Derian said, “and worse.”

Elise pressed her hands to the corners of her eyes, looking down into nothing, not even stirring when baby Elexa began to fuss. After a long moment, she reached out for the child.

“Can you promise me that these artifacts are not in danger of being turned against Bright Haven—or the Liglimom?”

“I wish I could,” Derian said. “The honest fact is, if those with whom I am currently working and I fail, well, not only are those artifacts likely to be turned against those lands, but none of the New World will be safe.”

Elise gasped and Doc gave a sharp cry of surprise.

“It’s that bad,” the knight said.

“It’s that bad, and probably worse,” Derian said. “Honestly, one of the reasons I want to tell you about this is so that if we do fail, someone will have warning.”

“Derian, why haven’t you asked for help before now?” Elise said.

“We can’t,” Derian said. “It’s a very complicated story.”

Elise looked at Doc, then down at the toothlessly smiling face of her baby, then back at Derian.

“So you found more than these fine twins when you went looking for them, didn’t you? I think you’d better tell me. I’ll keep silence, as long as I have your word that I can speak if danger threatens those lands to which I have sworn loyalty.”

Doc nodded somberly. “That goes for me, too.”

Derian felt relieved. “This is going to take a long time. Bitter, can you go back and have Enigma tell Ynamynet what we’re doing?”

“Yes,” croaked the raven. “Tell.”

Elise jumped, jolting Elexa, who started fussing, and Doc laughed.

“So that’s what you mean by them talking. That’s startling.”

“Good,” said Lovable, bouncing up and down. “Go. Back. Soon.”

The two ravens took wing and before the sound of their wings had faded, Derian had begun his tale. He began with the search for the twins, and the apparently deserted stronghold, and where that had led. He told of querinalo, and of what it did to those who had even the least magical talent. The twins helped him there, and when the discussion turned to the Once Dead and their powers.

He had to explain about the Meddler as well, and that was incredibly difficult, for although the people of Hawk Haven and Bright Bay paid great respect to their ancestors, ghosts and disembodied spirits were things that belonged to fireside stories. However, when he reminded them that giant wolves and talking ravens had belonged in the same category until Firekeeper and Blind Seer had crossed the Iron Mountains, they did their best to put disbelief aside.