To Battle The Gods

12 Returning—and a difficulty is solved

As those who dwell within the Caverns of the Doomed are able to know the arrival of each new fey without seeing Mida’s light, so, too, did the strangers come to the chamber called cabin in which Aysayn and I had slept, to say that they were prepared to return us to our own. Indeed were we prepared to be so returned, therefore did we quickly follow where the male Aram led.

Briefly was it necessary to await the opening of the chamber which traveled about, therefore had I a moment of opportunity to consider what had passed between Aysayn and myself when once we returned to our chamber after having taken provender with Aram and Kira the unseen darkness previous. We had deemed the low square somewhat adequate for seeking our rest upon and had placed ourselves upon it, and then had Aysayn again taken me in his arms. The annoyance I had felt at having been given no more than water with my provender had been heavy, aiding me in resisting the male, yet had Aysayn done no more than chuckle.

“Am I to understand that you find falar-like drink more desirable than my use?” he had asked, holding me firmly to his body despite my attempts to squirm free. “Am I to be thought an inadequate substitute for that which is found in a cup?”

“That which is found in a cup may be put aside when there is no desire for it,” I had replied in greater annoyance, looking up to the amusement in his eyes. “Come the fey I am able to do the same with a fool of a Sigurri Keeper, then shall he be deemed equally adequate.”

“And yet, blessed Sigurr smiles upon the taking of unwilling wenches,” said he, a grin now covering his face. “Am I, a devoted follower of the great god, to overlook his teachings merely to soothe the pique of such a female? Sooner would I soothe another part of her.”

“No Midanna warrior seeks soothing from the use of a male,” said I with a snort of ridicule, seeing that he again attempted to rag me. “Vigorous use brings pleasure and easing, naught which might be considered soothing. Surely will Aysayn soon be offering a gentle caress of concern.”

“And yet it is indeed concern which Aysayn feels toward you,” said he, his gaze sobered and seeking within me. “Your pleasure from my use was as deep as when I took you in Chaldrin’s realm, yet did I feel that you might have had even greater pleasure. Is there a thing you would have me do or fail to do, a thing which would bring you what I wished you to have?”

The arms of the male this time released me when I attempted to move from him, therefore did I lie flat upon my back in the dimness of the chamber, gazing up toward the white of the ceiling. A faint bit of light had been left by the strangers, yet would it have pleased me just then to be in the midst of full darkness. The wide square beneath me gave greater comfort than sleeping furs or leather, yet for some reason I liked it not. Also was the chamber far too close, lacking the sweet cool which often eased the darkness from the warmth of the fey. There would be difficulty in finding sleep in that place, I knew, yet did not know how to change the matter.

“So there is but one thing I must do,” said Aysayn, leaning upon an elbow to look down upon me. “I must become either Mehrayn or Ceralt, or perhaps even both. Clearly are you unwilling to discuss the matter, yet must it at some time be discussed. When this battle with the Feridani is done, we shall see to it together.”

Then had he lain himself beside me, one arm about my middle, and had composed himself for sleep. As I had earlier surmised, the thing came far more easily to him than to myself.

The chamber which moved about returned us to the corridor which led to the place where Ceralt and Mehrayn were yet in their enclosures, and then did Aram free the two who glowered behind the unbreachable walls. The eyes of both came to me as soon as I entered the chamber, and when once they emerged they came quickly to stand before Aysayn and myself.

“What occurs here now, brother?” demanded Mehrayn of the other Sigurri, his glance to Aram filled with suspicion. “Ceralt and I thought ourselves forever forgotten.”

“Merely were we learning the truth of what we stand in the midst of, brother,” replied Aysayn, and then did he relate completely our thoughts and surmises, and that which the strangers had spoken of. Neither male interrupted the telling, and when the narrative was done, Aysayn added, “The wench and I have concluded that attack upon Sigurr’s Peak will only allow us to know the final truth. Should those who call themselves Sigurr and Mida be Feridani, we shall use the stranger aid to find victory over them. Should they, instead, truly be the gods we serve, we shall fight to reclaim our oaths of fealty. Death would be greatly more preferable to living lives of dishonor. ”

“Therefore shall we do well to now return to our own,” said I, filling the silence which Mehrayn and Ceralt seemed disinclined to break. “Aram and Kira shift with impatience where they stand, and I, too, feel the same.”

Quickly did I receive the agreement of the others, therefore did we all follow the strangers again, into the chamber which moved about. Another moment saw us emerging into a wide area rather than a corridor, clearly made of metal yet so high and with such distant walls that had there been feylight, surely would I have thought myself without an enclosure. The light, however, was no more than that which lit all the chambers of the place, and many large, oddly made objects stood all about with strangers scurrying between them. Aram strode unhesitatingly toward one of the nearer objects, Kira by his side, therefore did we four also follow, albeit more slowly. Endless seemed the number of wonders at which one might look, and yet, they made no sense.

“We’ll take you back to your people in this scout ship,” said Aram when we reached him, gesturing toward the object which loomed high and large behind him. “And now I think we’d all better get aboard, before every tech in this shuttle area goes cross-eyed from trying to stare at Jalav.”

Aysayn chuckled at the words of the stranger male, yet was it necessary that I glance about before seeing that the males of the place had indeed halted what they were about, to look upon me as males were wont to do. So taken with the wonders had I been, that I had not earlier seen their stares, yet had Aysayn and Aram observed them—and Mehrayn and Ceralt as well—as they also heard the long low two-note whistle which split the air. The two straightened where they stood to look all about, and surely did it seem that had they been armed, they would have brought their anger to the hand upon hand of males who then stood about staring. Without comment, therefore, did I walk after Aram and Kira, and Aysayn followed without the amusement he had earlier shown.

Once within the large object, we were all taken to an area of many seats, seats which were fitted with chains which were not chains. Gray were the walls of the area, and the seats as well, and black were the cloth chains which had strength as great as metal. With the aid of Aram and Kira did we all place the cloth chains upon ourselves across breast and belly and thighs, and also learn how quickly and easily we might free ourselves. Then did Aram and Kira take seats of their own across from where Aysayn and I sat, and enchain themselves as well.

“It won’t take long to get down, and once we’re there we’ll return your weapons,” said Aram after putting hand to a small square in the right arm of his seat. “I’m sorry, Jalav, but we’ll be keeping your equiresonator, to be turned over to our Union research people. Will not having it make things more difficult for you?”

“The absence of that life sign will be greater relief than difficulty,” said I with the faintest of smiles, only then understanding that anticipation of the return of the thing had been an unseen cloud above my head. “To know that it shall not be able to bring harm to another is indeed worth losing what benefits it brought to myself.”

“That’s an attitude not many people in your place would have,” said Kira, looking to me from beyond the male Aram, an odd glow in her eyes. “If all your people are like you, Jalav, I think we’ll be learning as much as we’ll be teaching.”

What the female would learn was not completely clear to me, yet before I might question her upon the point, a faint vibration began all about the chamber in which we sat. Perhaps two reckid passed before the vibration ended, and then did the male Aram look upon us with satisfaction.

“We’re now out of the ship and on our way,” said he, making no attempt to free himself of the cloth chains upon him. “It won’t be long now before we have you back where you belong. Would it be better if we grounded inside the city, or outside of it?”

Aysayn and I looked upon one another, for surely had we thought to be returned to the place from which we had been taken. To arrive in the midst of our warriors in a device of the strangers might well cause Midanna and Sigurri to attack, an occurrence which it might prove impossible to avoid. Words of dismay were immediately exchanged among the three males who accompanied me, yet did I look upon Aram with a question.

“This object flies, I take it?” said I in an effort to clarify what had been asked. “Aysayn had said that what found us to begin with fell from the skies. This device is the same?” With Aram’s nod, I, too, nodded in decision. “Then we must—alight—within the gates of the city.”

“Why?” asked Mehrayn, his light eyes filled with lack of understanding. “Sigurri and Midanna are to be found both without and within the city.”

“And yet those within have been cautioned to be alert for that which may come from the skies,” said I, speaking of the council I had had with my war leaders—and recalling the later council I had failed to attend. “This were my warriors to make mention of to yours, therefore are they less likely to attack without awaiting sight of what emerges from this object. It would grieve my Midanna to later discover that they had slain their war leader.”

“It would grieve me even more to be slain right along with you,” said the male Aram, looking upon me with wry misgivings. “I hope your guess about their not attacking immediately turns out to be good. But whatever made you think of telling them to watch for something that flies? Your people don’t have anything capable of taking to the air.”

“A war leader must consider all possibilities,” said I with a shrug. “I had thought it was the arrival of gods that we anticipated, and gods are able to do many things mortals may not.”

“That’s no more than a verbal rationalization for cogitation on the deepest levels,” said the male, then grinned at the frowns he received. “What I mean is, you react intuitively in a given situation, acting on a base logic that’s essentially non-verbal. Damn. That didn’t tell you any more than my first comment did, did it? Let’s just say you’re a great general, and let it go at that.”

The male then sat back in his seat, and I, too, allowed the matter to rest, for there were other things of greater import to consider.

In the following reckid the male Aram left us once, briefly, and then returned to resume his seat. Though naught of provender had been offered us after we had awakened from sleep, I thought it likely that once the reckid became hind, the oversight would be rectified; with this in mind, when faint vibration came briefly and then Aram left his seat to stand beside ours, surely did I believe that he came to anticipate the time of feeding and would question us regarding our desires. In this, however, was I greatly mistaken.

“Well, we’re here and down,” said he, gesturing to the cloth chains upon us. “You can get out of the safety harness now, and start trying your hands at keeping us from being attacked. I’d try it myself, but I think it would sound better coming from one of you.”

“We have already arrived?” asked Aysayn, putting words to the incredulous disbelief I, myself, felt. “Our journey from the city took more than three feyd. How is it possible to have returned there so quickly? Is the place where we were kept truly so close to Bellinard? And for what reason was it necessary that we be bound to our seats so?”

“I think I’m about to need an interpreter again,” said Aram, gesturing Kira beside him as the three males with me and I rose from our seats. “Let’s start walking as we talk; even if your people aren’t attacking yet, the longer we keep them waiting, the more likely it is that they’ll start. The exit hatch we’ll be using is this way.”

As quickly as we began to follow in the direction in which the male led, his glance went to Aysayn.

“This scout ship—object—moves so much faster than what you and your party were riding that I couldn’t begin to describe it to you—without having you think I was lying. If we had started out from the point you were picked up, we would have been here much sooner. It took as many minutes as it did because we started from much farther away, not because we have a base near the city. As for the reason for the safety harness—Kira, how do you explain what happens if an inertialess ship suddenly loses its drive and is no longer inertialess? I don’t know how to say that without the harness we’d splatter.”

“Why don’t you try saying that the harness is there in case an emergency comes up, but happily this time it didn’t come up?” suggested the female Kira, faint amusement in the glance she sent to me. “If you try taking it any other way, you have to first explain what inertia is, and I don’t think I have enough forward momentum for a job like that.”

“I always knew you were chicken,” said the male with a grin which the female echoed, and then had we arrived at a place which was wider than the corridor leading from the chamber of seats. Beside one of the dark metal walls were the weapons taken from the others and myself, stacked upon the uneven metal flooring which felt so odd beneath ones feet. Quickly did I move forward to reclaim my sword and dagger, and then stood aside to don them as the males did the same.

“You really do look at home with all that hardware,” said Aram as his eyes followed the manner in which I placed my dagger in its leg bands, then did they move to observe Aysayn and Mehrayn and Ceralt. “All of you, completely at home, and I think I’m beginning to feel jealous. Are you sure you want us coming with you right now?”

“My brother and I have already explained that we believe your presence vital,” said I, aware of Aysayn’s glance. “Our warriors must see for themselves the strangers who claim kinship with us, else shall we waste precious moments of battle preparation in speaking words of description and reassurance. Where is the door from which we are to emerge?”

“Right here,” said Aram, indicating a section of the metal wall we stood beside, his doubts no more than somewhat lessened. “Before we unbutton, though, I think we’d better take a peek.”

Once again the words of the male meant naught, yet did the doings of his hands halt what protest I would have made. The male had touched various odd projections upon the wall near to him, and what seemed to be a window appeared immediately beside the projections. We had come to a halt not far from the palace of the High Seat, I saw, and saw as well that many warriors were already about the object in which we stood, with more appearing rapidly each moment. Stares and gestures came from both Midanna and Sigurri, disbelief and outrage amingle upon their faces, yet had none as yet begun to loose arrows or spears at what had appeared before them. For some reason was sound denied entrance through the window, therefore was it possible to hear the sigh of the stranger male.

“Well, here goes nothing,” said he in a mutter, and then did a section of the metal wall begin to raise itself. Beyond the bottom of the rising wall was it possible to see the emergence of a flat section of—something—which stretched itself down to the ground, and the entrance of Mida’s sweet air, warmed by her light, quickly showed how flat was the air we had breathed during our stay with the strangers.

“All we have to do now is walk down the ramp,” said the male Aram, hand resting upon that which I now knew to be a weapon, one which Kira also wore. “Once we’re out, the scout crew will close the port behind us, to make sure no one comes souvenir hunting. Are you ready?”

Indeed was I prepared to return to those who were my own, therefore did I move quickly to the place which had now fully opened itself, and looked out. Arrows taut in bows, and arms cocked with spears were to be seen all about among drawn swords held in fists, yet was there no more than the sound of a great gasp at my appearance. Aysayn came behind me, Ceralt and Mehrayn behind him, and as the gasping gained in volume, so, too, did the many demands quickly shouted from many throats.

“As you are able to see, the strangers have arrived,” I shouted, my eyes narrowed against the brightness of the light. “Two of them accompany us and we must quickly hold council, for there is battle before us in which they and we shall join against a common enemy. Send without the gates for all war leaders and Princes of the Blood, for there is much to be done and little time to see to it.”

“At once, war leader,” responded several Midanna, turning and taking themselves off as I and the three males in my wake carefully made our way down the thing Aram had termed ramp. The steepness of its angle of descent was scarcely so extreme that we were unable to remain erect, yet was the thing far less comfortable to walk than would have been a comparable stair. When once we reached the ground I turned to see that Aram and Kira now walked the ramp a thing I had known of from the increased murmurs of exclamation of those who observed us.

“See to the hastening of all who are to come to council,” said Mehrayn to a Sigurri who had approached him in greeting, clapping hand to shoulder in return greeting. “I have not yet sorted the tale completely in my own mind, yet have the Shadow and the Midanna war leader seen the thing clearly.”

With a nod the Sigurri warrior made his way among those who surrounded us, allowing his place to be taken by others who clamored to know what we were about. Scarcely was it possible to speak over the growing uproar, therefore did we wait till Aram and Kira had reached us, then began making our way toward the overlarge dwelling called palace.

“Jalav, what occurs here?” demanded Palar, hurrying to remain beside me the while she looked upon the strangers and the odd coverings they wore. “Have we bested them, or they us?”

“Neither, sister,” said I with a faint smile for her confusion, knowing full well how she felt. “We have all of us spoken, and have discovered a common enemy. This enemy is greatly powerful, so powerful that neither we nor these strangers would find it possible to best them alone, yet together we shall prevail.”

“We, who are warriors, require the aid of the likes of them?” asked Palar with great indignation, again turning her auburn-haired head to inspect those who hurried to match our stride. “They appear to be no more than children, Jalav! In what manner are they to aid us?”

“They possess devices which will best the devices of our enemy,” said I, speaking softly so that Aram and Kira might not hear my words. “Also have they beseeched the aid of our warriors, for what being with eyes would not know them for the unskilled folk they are? We would find it possible to defeat the enemy without them, yet they, alone . . . To refuse to share a victory with one who would battle beside her sisters, were she able, is to be filled with a meanness of soul Midanna have never been cursed with. These stranger folk shall be our valued allies. ”

“Indeed,” said Palar with a thoughtful nod, her dark eyes upon mine with a great lessening in confusion. “They shall be our valued allies. And I shall go ahead to be sure you are all properly received. We will speak again in council, sister.”

With a brief grin did she then take herself off, trotting through and ahead of those who accompanied us. Surely would my words now be shared with her sister war leaders, and all would know the truth of them when once they looked upon Aram and Kira. Indeed had the presence of the stranger folk been necessary, to take hands from swords and fear from the minds of those who yet thought of the strangers as enemies. None looking upon them could see them so, and quickly would their thoughts turn to the coming battle—as was proper.

With some small difficulty did we gain the palace proper, and from there proceeded to the chambers which were mine. Ceralt departed before then to seek out Galiose and Lialt, and Mehrayn took himself off to confer with those who had been left to command the Sigurri in his absence. Both males had looked upon me briefly before departing, yet had I made it seem that their looks had gone unnoticed. Too many were the matters then before me, to spend thought upon difficulties which seemed without solution.

Fresh provender had already been brought to my audience chamber, and fresh daru and renth as well. I paused only long enough to ask Aysayn to remain with the nervously silent Aram and Kira, poured a cup of daru, and then had a Hitta warrior take me to where Chaldrin had been quartered. It was necessary that I see with my own eyes that the Sigurri continued to live, and then would I find it possible to consider no other thing than battle.

The chamber given to Chaldrin was not far from mine, and indeed did the Hitta know it at once. Much time had Ilvin and many of her sisters spent there, though the light-haired warrior was then standing watch. I pushed slowly through the door to find a chamber bright with Mida’s early light, S’Heernoh in a seat to the right feeding upon provender which seemed just recently brought him, a platform to the left called bed, in which Chaldrin had been placed. The large, dark male seemed asleep, and when I halted in uncertainty no more than three paces beyond the door, S’Heernoh left his provender and came to stand beside me.

“It pleases me to see you returned unharmed, lady war leader,” said he in a voice of softness, his dark eyes looking down upon me warmly. “Chaldrin, too, will be pleased, for he has not ceased to ask of you. We thought it best to tell him that you rode with certain of your warriors, to be sure that those who were defeated truly departed these lands. He grows stronger with each new light, yet shall it be some time before he is able to stand beside you once again.”

“For what reason does he live?” I asked as softly as he had spoken, my eyes unmoving from the still form upon the device called bed. “Many times has my sword found what it sought, and never did the one so found survive. I thank Mida most fervently that this time it was so, and yet— How might I have been mistaken over so familiar a doing?”

“Chaldrin has his great size to thank that he continues among us,” said S’Heernoh, smoothly. “The muscle within him deflected your thrust, else would he surely have died. The time he must spend unmoving in his bed will be adequate punishment for the foolishness of his actions, Jalav. He should not have done as he did.”

“You know?” I asked in surprise, at last looking up to the male. “You know what occurred between us?”

“I know only that the doing was his, that you sought to call back the slaying thrust even before it reached him,” said S’Heernoh, compassion clear in the gaze which came down to me. “For what reason he sought death at your hands, I have not been able to learn.”

“I sought death, for I knew that if I lived you would surely watch me starve with complete unconcern,” came a whisper of a voice, stronger than I had expected and yet so very, very weak. Quickly did I turn my head to see that Chaldrin was now awake, his dark eyes resting avidly upon me. “Pleased am I to see that you have returned, girl, for this heartless wretch refuses me adequate provender the while he swallows all which ventures past him.”

“You are not yet healed far enough to eat as you wish,” said S’Heernoh with the severity one would use with a disobedient child, little patience in the tone. “I have told you and told you, and still must I search each Hitta wench entering here, to be sure she does not bring what would surely make you ill. Do you now seek to give me a like chore with the war leader?”

“Few would consider the matter a chore,” returned Chaldrin with a shadow of the chuckle usual to him, his eyes more sober than his words. “Have you come to speak with me, Jalav?”

“Indeed,” said I, stepping nearer so that I might look down upon him as I sipped from my daru. “Not often does one find so great a fool of a male, therefore have I come to reaffirm your existence. I am told you grow well again, therefore shall I warn you now of the words to be exchanged between us when you are again as you were.”

“Words,” said he with a look much like that of an erring warrior-to-be, wilting beneath the eye of her war leader. In truth did the male seem far from well, his visage pale, his mighty arms apparently strengthless, his great body swathed in cloth which covered the wound which had downed him. A cover of cloth was upon him from waist to toes, a cover he seemed to require despite the warmth of the chamber. His dark eyes saw the great, seething anger which filled mine to overflowing, and indeed did he seem near to shrinking back against the sight.

“Aye, words,” said I, stepping nearer yet. “Words concerning the actions of those who believe they do what is best for another, without first ascertaining the true desires of that other. There shall be no blades between us, for surely there has been enough of that already. Yet shall there be words.”

“I do not believe my strength will be sufficient for such words for quite some time,” said Chaldrin with an uncomfortable hollowness I had never before heard from him. “Should the wait prove too lengthy for you, sister, you may certainly begin without me.”

“The wait will likely be unnoticed by me, brother, ” I informed him, hearing the chuckling of S’Heernoh where he stood. “The strangers have arrived, and I have spoken with them. As soon as may be—with the new light at the latest—Midanna and Sigurri ride in war against ones who are enemies to us all. A pity you shall be unable to accompany us, for the wait would then be the same for you.”

“You ride?” demanded Chaldrin, greater strength appearing within him as though suddenly given by the gods. “You go to battle when I am unable to stand beside you’? I shall not allow it, wench, by my soul I shall not allow it!”

And then did the male begin to struggle as though to rise, truly a foolish act. Quickly did I put aside the cup I held, S’Heernoh coming as quickly to join me, and together were we able to force the large Sigurri back upon the platform. After endless reckid, amid much shouting and struggling, Chaldrin at last lost his battle with consciousness, and then were S’Heernoh and I able to straighten and step back. A trickle of blood had appeared upon the cloth wrapped about Chaldrin’s wound, yet were S’Heernoh and I nearly afloat in the moisture of effort.

“Praise all the gods that he is wound-weakened,” said S’Heernoh, drawing one forearm across his forehead. “Should he have been in full strength, likely you and I would have found ourselves ignominiously bested.”

“I, most certainly,” said I, attempting to coax my hair back from about dampened arms and breasts. “You, however, seemed well able to hold your own against him, despite the need to keep from doing him further harm. Will the struggle do him serious damage?”

“Less, I believe, than allowing him to rise,” said S’Heernoh, watching as I fought with my misbegotten hair. “Did you speak merely to give him further punishment, or were your words sooth? Have you indeed met with the strangers? Do you truly ride to war?”

“Indeed and truly,” I replied, at last able to retrieve my cup of daru. “Perhaps it would be best were Chaldrin bound where he now is, so that he shall not find himself able to add to his foolishness.”

“I shall send for servants to do that very thing,” said S’Heernoh, nodding firmly with decision. “Also to remain with him and tend him in his weakness. I, of course, shall accompany you to battle.”

“You would ride to battle?” I asked, having no wish to give the male insult, yet finding the suggestion more than inappropriate. “You, who bears no more than a dagger as weapon? You, who fears to face no more than the displeasure of Mehrayn and Ceralt? Warriors alone shall ride to this battle, S’Heernoh, for those we face shall be more than cringing city folk. Best would be that you remain where you are truly needed, here, with Chaldrin.”

With a final glance for the unconscious Sigurri, I began to turn from S’Heernoh, but the male halted me with a hand upon my arm.

“As you deem it necessary, I, too, shall be a warrior for this battle,” said he, striving for calm and certainty above the sudden vexation to be seen in his eyes. “I shall wear a sword as the others do, and shall stand beside you in the place that was Chaldrin’s.”

“Shall you indeed,” said I, sipping again from the daru to cool the words which wished to pour forth from me. “You shall don a blade, and thereby be made a true warrior, one fit to enter battle at the side of a war leader. Just so easily shall the thing be accomplished, in the same manner that we others have achieved our places.”

“Lady war leader, I mean no insult against your great skill,” he said at once, the words flowing as easily and earnestly as ever they did from him. “Well am I aware of the kalod required to attain even a semblance of such skill, for I have myself spent such kalod in the endeavor. I had chosen to leave my sword behind me for I was displeased with the fruits of my efforts, yet am I far from unskilled. I ask no more than that I be given what the others who wished to join you were allowed: an opportunity to prove myself before you speak a final decision. May I be allowed what others were allowed?”

I stood and considered the male silently for a moment, recalling the aid he had given me in the past, attempting to look beyond the manipulation he strove for. This male S’Heernoh was well-used to receiving all he desired, and perhaps seeing it so again would teach him the folly of his ways.

“Very well,” said I at last, giving no indication that I anticipated the outcome of a bout between the male and a warrior. “As the others were allowed their choice, so shall you be: which will you have to face you, Midanna or Sigurri?”

“Forgive me, lady war leader, yet I, too, must choose to face a man like myself,” said he, the deep pleasure in his dark eyes betraying the apologetic tone he used. “Were your wenches less skilled, I would not hesitate to face them, knowing I would fail to strike with full strength, and yet they are indeed most skilled. For so desirable an end, I shall not strive with less than my utmost.”

“As you wish,” said I with a nod. “I shall speak with Aysayn, and the Shadow will find one to face you. Remain here until the meeting has been set, for I would not have Chaldrin left unattended. Also, be sure you set one in your place when you depart.”

“Certainly, lady war leader,” agreed the male with the short, odd bow he was wont to perform, his hidden pleasure now less noticeable. With the matter seen to my movement was no longer halted, therefore did I take myself from the chamber and return to my own.

Within my meeting chamber were already a large number of war leaders and Princes of the Blood, yet were there clearly many to come. Each war leader attempted to demand an explanation of me as I passed her, yet did I reply that all must be present before the matter might be gone into. Aysayn stood beside Aram and Kira, the stranger folk continuing to appear ill at ease; when once I had worked my way through the throng, the large, light-haired Sigurri left them and stepped out to meet me.

“Our newly made friends seem to anticipate difficulty with our brothers and sisters,” said he in a lowered tone, his amusement clear. “Though I have attempted to assure them they have naught to fear, still they persist in looking nervously about themselves and starting in surprise at the arrival of newcomers.”

“Clearly, then, are the weapons they wear no match for such large numbers,” said I, also keeping my gaze from the stranger folk. “Were they adequately armed, there would be no need for fear.”

“One may be adequately armed, and yet be reluctant to use such arms,” said he, smiling in an odd fashion. “Either through reluctance of the soul, or hesitation approaching cowardice. One would be wise to ascertain the truth before acting prematurely. How fares our brother Chaldrin?”

“The fool of a male attempted to rise to his feet so that he might join us in battle,” said I, disgusted. “With great effort were S’Heernoh and I able to halt him, yet now does S’Heernoh himself seek to join us. I have promised him a Sigurri to face, so that he may prove his worth as a warrior. Will you choose one to stand against him?”

“As that is his wish,” agreed Aysayn with a sigh. “One would believe we embarked upon a journey of pleasure, so eager are all those about us to join in. The warrior I choose will be an excellent one; will S’Heernoh be greatly distressed when he is unable to accompany us?”

“Undoubtedly,” said I with a nod, “and yet do I prefer the thought of the male distressed to the thought of him slain. Also has it come to me that Chaldrin and any other Midanna or Sigurri who lies ill or wounded, must be removed from this city before our departure. Should there be vengeance sought for the taking of the city after our warriors have been withdrawn, we would not wish our ill and wounded to bear the entirety of it.”

“Indeed,” said Aysayn, of a sudden seeming more alert and animated than he had been. “Such a circumstance had not occurred to me, yet you are undoubtedly correct. I shall see to both matters now, and then shall return.”

With a single swallow did Aysayn take the remainder of what his cup contained, gave me the cup, and then began to depart through the throng. No more than a moment did I watch his departure, and then took myself to those who had named themselves kin to Midanna and Sigurri.

“When last we invited strangers to join us,” I remarked to Aram, sending my gaze to his, “they survived the ordeal a hand of feyd or more. Think you those who are the possessors of wonders may do at least as well?”

“First Aysayn, and now you,” the male replied, a wryness to his expression and in the manner in which he winced. “I can see I’m not being as nonchalant as I thought I was. Is it likely to insult your people?”

“They would not find insult in the doings of those brought by Aysayn and myself,” I reassured the male, also addressing Kira who had stepped nearer to hear our conversation. “Is there some difficulty with which I may aid you? Should you continue to be so ill at ease, the feeling will surely spread and raise suspicions in regard to your intentions.”

“Damn it, you’re absolutely right,” muttered the male, raising one hand to the back of his neck above his white collar. “The only problem is, Jalav, I don’t think you can help us. Kira and I have both found that to be with you and Aysayn and the other two men, is not the same as being in the middle of dozens of male and female giants, all of them armed with weapons they not only know how to use, but also enjoy using. I don’t mean to insult you, but when I think about there being no one but you—and earlier Aysayn—between us and them, and then think about the possibility of having them lose their tempers— It just doesn’t do much for our peace of mind.”

“You felt my presence inadequate for your safety?” I asked, in some manner more amused than insulted. “You believe that Jalav alone—or Aysayn alone—is insufficient protection?”

“Well—yes,” grudged the male, a shame-faced agreement from Kira accompanying the admission. “We appreciate your offer to help, but now you can see there’s nothing you can do.”

“Perhaps we may find a thing to be done,” said I, emptying my cup as Aysayn had done with his, and putting it down. Then did I survey those who stood about as I took two paces forward, and raised one fisted arm for silence and attention.

“Midanna and Sigurri,” said I, finding approval in the attention given my words. “Are there any here who are unfamiliar with this warrior who stands before you?”

Surprise greeted my words, and many exchanged looks with those who stood beside them, yet were there none to claim lack of familiarity.

“Very well,” said I when none other spoke. “As you all know me, I now ask if there are any who would stand in challenge against me.”

Again were there exclamations of surprise, yet were there also none who stepped forth. As I had expected no other response, I shared with them my faint amusement.

“Our guests, those who come from the skies, know naught of what skill I possess with the sword I wear,” said I, resting left palm upon hilt as I looked about. “Perhaps there are two here who would care to challenge me in tandem? Should the two be male, they may have the stranger female to taste in the event of victory; should the two be female, they may have the same of the male. Are there two who would face me?”

At these words did those before me begin chuckling, aware, now, that I proposed no serious challenge, though I required serious response from them. Heads shook as they looked about, faintly curious to see whether there were any foolish enough to believe they might do as they willed, yet did there continue to be none with a will to be ended.

“It has come to me that there may be a hand or more of those who are to come who may wish to face me,” said I, continuing to look about. “In such an event, are there any here who would stand with me?”

“I!” quickly shouted every Midanna, and “Certainly!” and, “At once!” shouted many of the Sigurri, smiles taking them all at thought of such excellent battle. The smile I wore warmed and my chin rose high with pride, and I turned to look again upon Aram and Kira. The stranger female gazed upon me with great approval, and the male chuckled softly in amusement.

“No wonder Aysayn said calling you a little girl was insulting,” said Aram very low, so that only I might hear.

“They’re yours, every one of them, but that’s not the reason they won’t face you. You’re better than they are, and they all know it. I didn’t ask this question before to keep from sounding nosy and pushy, but I think I can ask it now that you’re back among your own people. How many of them are there?”

“Of Midanna war leaders, there are eighteen beside myself,” said I, informing the male of naught which he would not soon see of his own self. “The Sigurri Princes of the Blood are four full hands in number.”

“That’s more than I expected,” said the male with a frown. “Aysayn told me that each of his Princes commands approximately one hundred fighters, and I suspect your war leaders do the same. I did some preliminary computer work on moving a fighting force from here to Sigurri’s Peak, and the computers tell me we can slip in about two thousand fighters before the Feridans notice what we’re doing. After that the risk of landing anyone safely more than triples, which means we’d be throwing away the lives of almost everyone beyond the initial two thousand. You have twice the number we can move.”

“Our force must be halved?” I asked with a frown, somewhat unsure of the single thing I had gleaned from the words he had spoken. “We may not all of us invade the domain of these Feridani?”

“I’m sorry,” said he, vexed. “We have only six shuttles, and maximum emergency load for each is two hundred. If we’re careful with our timing, and the first fighters landed don’t show themselves until everyone is moved in, we can get away with ten shuttle loads for certain, twelve if we want to push our luck. After that the safety margin drops to the cellar, and anyone we send out probably won’t make it.”

“Aram means that our—advisors—tell us that two thousand is the largest number we can expect to get to the place of fighting,” said Kira, clearly having noted my confusion over the male’s attempt at explanation. “If we try to send in any more, the shuttles will be destroyed and the people in them will die. Won’t two thousand be enough to win against whatever forces the Feridans have?”

“Even half the full number of Midanna and Sigurri are sufficient to best any force sent against them,” said I, fists to hips, far more vexed than the male Aram had been. “The entirety of those who serve the Feridani were not shown to me, I know, yet is the size of their force unimportant. We shall best them no matter their number.”

“Then what’s bothering you?” asked the male, his light eyes filled with perplexity, Kira’s look the same. “If you believe you can take them with the two thousand, what’s wrong?”

“In what manner am I to choose the ones who shall go?” I demanded. “All here shall demand their share of the glory of the battle; in what manner am I to broach the subject of fully half remaining behind?”

At last did the two stranger folk look upon me with understanding. A long glance was exchanged between them, and then did Aram show something of a smile.

“I can see our cultures are even farther apart than we thought they were,” said he, his smile having turned wry. “It never occurred to us that something like that would be the major problem. Will you be able to think of a way around it?”

“I must,” said I, turning from him toward the board and the daru it held. But three steps returned me to my cup and a pitcher, but I was scarcely aware of the doings of my feet and hands. Indeed was it necessary that I discover a manner of making the unacceptable acceptable, and that as quickly as I might. Deep in thought, I then took myself to one side of the board and crouched there, seeing naught before my eyes save the whirlings of vexation brought about by idle considerations.

Some uncounted number of reckid passed before I became aware of one who crouched before me. My returning sight found the one to be Aysayn, who looked upon me in an odd manner.

“All those who were to come are now here, wench,” said he very softly, yet with fists clenched. “Has it yet come to you what may be done concerning this halving Aram speaks of? I would not have my warriors at each other’s throats by cause of it, yet does such a thing now appear inevitable.”

“To me as well,” I replied, with a sigh, reluctantly straightening from my crouch as Aysayn did the same. “Perhaps we had best begin the tale now, and trust to Mida to provide what is needed when the time comes to speak of it.”

“You may trust to your goddess, sister,” said he with a smile of shared pleasure. “I shall trust in Sigurr the while, and surely shall one or the other find what we seek.”

“Indeed,” said I, as pleased as he that we might consider the gods once again as something other than enemies. I stepped beyond him then to face those who had gathered in that candlelit chamber to await the telling of the tale we had, all conversation suddenly ceasing when they saw me prepared to begin. At my gesture did they all take seat upon the floor cloth, showing me the presence of Rilas and Ennat as well as Galiose and Lialt to the rear of the chamber, and then did I begin speaking of how we had come to find ourselves among the strangers. As the tale was not long I reached too quickly the summation I had hoped would find me prepared to continue on to that which none of them would wish to hear.

“Therefore are we now aware of the following facts,” said I, at the close noting with pride how well those who were leaders among us accepted so incredible a tale. “The ones presented to me beneath Sigurr’s Peak as Mida and Sigurr are in truth ones called Feridani, ones who would see both Midanna and Sigurri, not to speak of those of the cities and villages, as slaves to them or slain out of hand. These stranger folk were presented to us as enemies to our gods so that we would slay them, in the process learning naught of those who would take our lives and freedom. In no manner might they truly be Mida and Sigurr, for our gods would not demand the dishonor so often demanded by those who sought to gull us. This warrior before you is not chosen by the gods but by those who are blood enemies to them, yet does she mean to prove their choice a poor one. Aysayn and I shall carry battle to them, battle they had sought to avoid. Are there those here who would ride with us?”

Agreement rose as shouts at us from every throat, leaving no doubt as to the intentions of war leaders and Princes of the Blood. A Sigurri then voiced a question to Aysayn, the first of many which were eagerly put to Sigurr’s Shadow. As my cup was drained of daru, with the first question I turned to the board to see to it, my mind still confusedly asearch for that which would avoid battle amongst our own forces. Aram and Kira stood quietly to the side, aware of the stares of curiosity sent toward them, yet no longer disturbed. Galiose and Lialt, to the rear of the chamber, had seemed less believing than Midanna and Sigurri, and when I had turned to the board they had turned to the doors to the corridor, likely departing to seek out Ceralt and a confirmation of what had been said. I reached to a pitcher of daru, annoyed that those who remained upon sufferance would dare to doubt—and then merely held the pitcher without pouring. In the midst of all that had occurred I had forgotten a thing of great importance, a thing which would surely solve the dilemma of numbers for me.

Replacing the pitcher and cup without pouring, I turned again to Aysayn and those who questioned him, striding quickly to where Sigurr’s Shadow stood. The male was about to give ear to yet another query, but my abrupt return created a distraction.

“There are a small number of things which have not yet been discussed,” said I to the curiosity which touched me from all about, aware of the same even from Aysayn. “There is a greatly difficult decision to be made by those warriors now within this chamber, yet must the decision be made. Honor allows no other course of action.”

“What might such a decision be, Jalav?” asked Palar from where she sat, her frown mirrored by most of those about her. I looked from one questioning face to the other, then did I straighten myself where I stood.

“I have been told by the stranger folk with us that the Feridani are possessed of wonders,” I said at last, unable to keep the bleakness from my voice. “I, myself, have seen something of these wonders, therefore do I give full credence to the caution which I have had: these folk who are likely kin to us will do all they may to defeat the Feridani wonders with wonders of their own, yet are they considerably weaker than the Feridani. Should they fail, we who ride against the enemy may well fall to wonders even the gods seem unable to overcome. The glory of death in battle is the right of each of us in this chamber, yet shall the glory be tarnished with a matter of honor left unseen to behind us. Those of Ranistard continue to hold captive both Hosta and Silla.”

Again were there comments in many voices, shock from the Midanna, lack of understanding from the Sigurri. Quickly did those Midanna near Sigurri explain the meaning of my words, and shortly were all again looking upon me, this time tight-lipped. Sigurri warriors, I knew, greatly disliked the thought of Midanna held captive and their anger was clear.

“All, I believe, are now able to see the dilemma before us,” said I, continuing to look about. “Should we most of us fall to the Feridani wonders, who will there be to free Hosta and Silla? Which of us will find it possible to joy in eternity at the side of our gods, when we must recall that there were those abandoned by us for the sake of battle pleasure?”

“Jalav, what are we to do?” blurted Ludir, the Simna war leader putting words to the distress of all. “The Silla—and the Hosta—how might we abandon them? May we free them before we face these Feridani?”

“Should we do such a thing, the Feridani would be warned of our intentions,” said I with a headshake, knowing the truth of my words would be quickly seen. “The female, in her guise as Mida, has forbidden the freeing of the Hosta till the strangers have been seen to. Should this command be ignored, surely will she know what we are about. We must strike the Feridani as swiftly as possible—with or without dishonor left behind us.”

“We are to abandon those wenches to their fate?” demanded one Sigurri whose name I did not know, the outrage fairly glowing from him. “Should we do such a thing, blessed Sigurr will surely turn his back upon us in disgust!”

“What else can we do?” asked Aysayn, his gaze coming to me with the words, the deep pleasure in the depths of his eyes showing him filled with the knowledge that I spoke to a purpose. “In what manner might such dishonor be kept from us?”

“There is but one thing which might be done,” said I, speaking to Aysayn and to the others as well. “Half our number must see to the cleansing of the honor of us all, and must shoulder an additional burden as well: should those of us who face the Feridani fall before the enemy is bested, those who ride to free Hosta and Silla must in some manner attempt to reverse our failure. To fall in battle may be done by any; Midanna and Sigurri must gain victory with their deaths, else shall those who would steal our very gods from us, end with that which they covet. Can we allow that?”

“No!” came from every voice, male and female alike, and then did they all, by threes and fours, surge to their feet to surround Aysayn and myself. With some small difficulty did I make it known to them that each clan and princely legion was to be divided in twain, half to attempt the Feridani, half to free those held captive. Also was half of each group attempting its own objective to contain a war leader or prince, half a chosen designate, for there must be experienced leaders with those who rode to Ranistard, should the need for battle against the Feridani arise afterward. Those who stood in the chamber fretted, for each wished to be with both groups. I left the choice to those who knew their warriors best, and soon they all began to depart from the chamber. It had become clear that those who went to Ranistard must arrive there before the force of so-called warriors already returning there, therefore would those who rode depart with the new light and push to reach Ranistard first, to avoid the need for spilling unskilled blood. Aysayn departed with certain of his princes, deep in discussion and planning, but I was mistaken in believing all Midanna had already gone.

“Jalav of the Midanna,” came the voice of Ennat, drawing my gaze to her and Rilas, the two Keepers standing side by side near to the seats of the chamber. Both wore smiles of great satisfaction, and indeed did Ennat appear filled with amusement. “I had not thought to say this to you, yet am I, and Rilas as well, bound to intervene when a Midanna speaks words which are clearly untrue.”

“You both believe I spoke lies?” I asked, more perplexed than insulted. “How might I have done so, when all I said may be proven?”

“War leader, you announced yourself as other than chosen by the goddess,” said Rilas, clearly sharing the amusement of Ennat. “Such a statement is patently not so; are you not to lead the battle against those who attempted to sully the glory of Mida? Do you not take vengeance in her name? No other than one beloved and chosen might do so, a fact most clear to Ennat and myself. We determined to speak of this to you, so that you would not utter such a falsehood again. Also would we know which set she and I are to accompany. With all warriors riding off to battle, we would not be left behind.”

“Rilas, you have spent too long a time with Ennat,” said I with a smile, warmed by the words they had spoken. “Those who go to Sigurr’s Peak must all be warriors, and those who go to Ranistard will ride hard to arrive before city males already gone on their way. Neither set must be given the added burden of seeing to the safety of Keepers, yet is there a doing which must be seen to despite the certain reluctance of those who will be given the task. In that place shall the presence of Keepers be a blessing, to soothe tempers and pride, and disallow the probable sacrifice of those filled with guilt. ”

“Of what do you speak, war leader?” asked Ennat, curiosity battling with outrage at the knowledge that she would not be permitted to ride with warriors. Rilas had merely sighed and accepted the limitation, for Rilas had had many kalod more as a Keeper; Ennat, new to the honor, continued to think as a warrior would.

“I refer to those who are ill or wounded or in some other manner incapacitated,” said I, speaking gently out of deference to Ennat’s hurt. “Already has Aysayn seen to their removal from this city before it is abandoned by us, but those warriors given the task of caring for them are sure to chafe at being left behind, when their brothers and sisters ride off to battle. Those requiring care will likely assure these warriors that they are able to see to themselves, which will surely not be so. I have need of those who will also require the assistance of warriors, but ones who will not feel guilty at keeping them from battle. Will you be able to do such a thing, while you all travel slowly in return to the lands of the Midanna?”

The frown now upon Ennat was one of thought, and Rilas smiled quietly to see the other Keeper’s outrage so quickly soothed and silenced. My request had not been idle, she knew, therefore it was likely to be heeded.

“Such a doing does indeed require our presence,” allowed Ennat after a moment, the decision reluctant yet firm for all of that. “To permit our warriors to go unattended by cause of their knowledge of honor would be dishonor in itself, therefore shall Rilas and I accompany them. Also shall I pray to Mida that she remove some measure of elegance from her chosen—so that in future her Keepers need not bow so low and so often to necessity.”

The sourness of Ennat’s words and glance brought chuckling to myself and Rilas, and then did the Keepers take their leave. When the doors swung closed behind their backs, I turned to find the eyes of Aram and Kira upon me.

“She wasn’t joking about your eloquence,” said Aram, his smiling gaze touched in an odd manner with that which seemed to be desire. “You’re also one hell of a leader; one I wouldn’t mind serving under myself. And that’s something I never thought I’d say to a woman.”

“What he means, Jalav, is that he really admires you,” said Kira with an odd smile of her own, stepping forward to take one of the male’s arms in both of her hands. “He isn’t really volunteering to serve under you in a capacity other than military, because he already has that sort of commitment with another female, namely me.”

“Are you serious?” the male asked of the female, looking down upon her with great surprise. “All we have between us is last night. You can’t mean it was as good for you as it was for me?”

“Why not?” asked the female belligerently, looking up to meet the eyes of the male. “I’m old enough to know when something real comes my way, something I’ve never had before. Are you trying to say you’re thinking about refusing me?”

“Refusing you?” echoed the male very softly with a smile of joy, raising his free hand to touch the face of the female who was now his. “You’ll never live to see the day. And if you try dumping me, I’ll hit you with the hardest breech of promise suit you’ve ever heard of. Jalav, Kira and I have an engagement to celebrate. Is there some place private we can do our celebrating?”

“You may have the use of my inner chamber,” I replied to the sole part of the query I was able to understand, yet pleased to see that Aram no longer had eyes for any save Kira. I had no true wish to use the male, yet would it have been necessary that I agreed, had he, an ally, asked it of me. I watched as they walked hand-in-hand through the doorway of my sleeping chamber, then did I look about the now emptied outer chamber, attempting to put my thoughts in order. Surely were there matters of import I had not yet touched upon, matters which would need to be seen to before we faced those called Feridani . . . .

“Jalav. ”

The single word halted me in the pacing I had begun, for it had come just after the sound of my door being pushed inward. The voice was clearly Mehrayn’s, and I found great reluctance in the thought of turning to look upon him. Here, then, was a matter I had not yet attended to, yet was I unable to conceive of a manner in which it might be settled.

“Wench, I have little time to speak with you, yet are there so very many things I wish to say,” said he, his voice nearing as his steps did, and then were his hands upon my arms from behind. “With the new light we go to face these Feridani, therefore must I see to my legions, and yet—how may I go to battle without first speaking of what my heart is filled with for you? Should I fall—should I fall, you must know that my love continues on through all eternity, never to be ended, even by death. It is yours no matter your own willingness to accept or refuse it, yours no matter the occurrences which are to come. I have come to hold you one last time in my arms, for the new fey will allow the indulgence in duty alone.”

Duty. With the sound of that accursed word I turned beneath his hands to clasp him to me as hard as I might, unable to bear the thought of his loss. So large and strong was that red-haired Sigurri, so broad and attractive to those who were Midanna—and so dear to she who was war leader to warriors. His arms closed about me as mine had done with him, and then were my lips his, his fist in my hair seeing it so. Ruthlessly was I crushed to the warmth and strength of his body, ruthlessly yet so very willingly, and then, far too soon, was I released so that Mehrayn might hurry from the chamber. Perhaps I had seen a glistening in the green of his eyes before he had turned away, perhaps the glistening had been in the vision which was mine. I knew only that I had not wanted him to go, that I had so great a need for his arms about me that I could not bear it, yet had I been unable to speak the words which would have brought him back. Duty had he to see to, and I as well, and nothing would change that.

I stood unthinking and unfeeling for I know not how long, lost to all lucidity and reason, and then, between one breath and the next, became aware of the fact that I was no longer alone. I raised my head in confusion to see who might have entered without speaking and found the light eyes of Ceralt upon me. The male stood no more than two paces away, and when my gaze touched him, he smiled with a good deal of pain.

“I see I intrude at a time when intrusion is unforgivable,” he said evenly. “My beloved is needed to assure our victory over those who would enslave us all, therefore am I forbidden to distract her. The lives of so many depend upon what is done with the new light, and Lialt tells me I dare not attempt to keep you from leading those who attack, else shall victory likely not be ours— Woman, how may I consider others, when it is you alone I wish to consider? And how may I not consider others? In what manner have I so displeased the Serene Oneness, that he now demands the risking of your life rather than mine? Why am I not allowed to stand in your place?”

The confused, agony-filled demands cut me so deep that I nearly gasped, transfixed by the bewilderment in his gaze, and then were there no longer two paces behind us, not even a finger’s width. With arms of metal did Ceralt hold me to him, no more than his breech and mine keeping our bodies from touching at all points, his face buried in my hair.

“Forgive me, satya, yet I may do no other thing than hold you a final time,” said he, the words muffled to near incomprehensibility. “I have loved you from the moment I first saw you, and shall love you through all of forever. As I am unable to stand for you, I shall stand with you, and perhaps learn what it is to share pain with one I most wish to keep all pain from. I have no true desire to do this—yet I must—and the pain has already begun. I love you, my Jalav, and shall never cease loving you.”

In some manner were my arms as tightly about him as his about me, the strength in his grip one I longed never to have lessened, and then were our lips upon each other’s, frantically taking joys that might never be taken again. I, too, felt the pain he had spoken of, a longing for that which could not be, and again were the arms which held me gone too soon. Ceralt, too, nearly ran from my chamber, and once the doors had ceased their swinging behind him, I slowly folded to the floor cloth and wept as though I were city slave-woman and unashamed.

The strength of the sobs taking me were a storm, one so strong that I lay with cheek to the floor cloth, aware of nothing else, concerned with nothing else. At some time did another enter and pull me from the floor cloth to be held in arms of strength, yet were the arms other than those I longed for so uselessly. Broad was the chest I wept against, attempting to give comfort even in the face of lack of understanding, yet I cared not. The chest was covered with hair of yellow rather than red or black, and naught might be done to change that.

“Sister, why do you weep?” asked Aysayn at last, when the storm subsided. “What has happened?”

I sat upon the floor cloth with my cheek pressed to his chest, his arm tightly about me, my body shuddering still with the echo of desolation. How might I speak of the truth which had been shown me, the truth of that which I now faced? No longer was battle to be between myself and Mida, for she who had caused me such humiliation and pain was less than a god—and considerably more. The battle I would stand in would be shared by those males I could not choose between, those who meant more to me than life itself; what if one or both were to fall? And what if neither fell, what if both were left hale and strong at battle’s end, and myself as well? Would they not then face one another, as they had earlier intended to do, and would not one at least fall in that meeting? In Mida’s name I could not bear the thought, yet I could not see an alternative. I lay against the warmth of Aysayn, held in his arms, and my tears flowed more freely with the knowledge that never would I find it possible to do the same with those I most desired.

“Perhaps I need not ask why you weep,” said Aysayn with a sigh, the pain of shared understanding in his voice. “Merely shall I marvel that it has not occurred much the sooner. I came with some small amount of news; once I have given it you, I will see that you rest.

“Already are those in need of tending, as well as your Keepers, in the midst of leaving the city,” said he, his hand gently stroking my hair. “It was necessary that Chaldrin be given a potion to bring him sleep, yet was the thing done without hesitation. Their set is small, your wenches and my men riding in attendance, yet shall they move no better than slowly. I thought it best to have them as quickly as possible upon their way, so that none will pursue and find them without effort. Should any chance upon them our warriors will see to the matter. Also you must know that another will journey with us to the battle at Sigurr’s Peak.”

“Another?” I asked, at last finding myself able to push from Aysayn’s arms to sit straight upon the floor cloth. I felt as though all strength and will had drained from me, and also did my voice seem hoarse in my own ears.

“Indeed,” said Aysayn, attempting a smile as his hand smoothed the moisture from my cheek. “One we had neither of us expected to accompany us. S’Heernoh has faced my Sigurri warrior—and has emerged victorious.”

“S’Heernoh?” I echoed in great surprise, indeed, nearly in shock, staring at Aysayn. “I had thought you were to find an excellent warrior to face him, one who would not be easily bested?”

“And so I did,” said he, somewhat wryly, a lack of understanding beneath his faint amusement. “The warrior was designated by Mehrayn, who had observed him in battle, and still do I lack comprehension of what occurred. Though I failed to see the thing my own self, I was told that S’Heernoh nevertheless bested him easily and quickly.”

“S’Heernoh?” I said again, still unable to accept the truth of the thing, and deeply disturbed. “Had he such skill to call upon, for what reason did he go about bare-waisted? For what reason did he not wear a sword?”

“I know not,” returned Aysayn with a shrug, as perplexed as I, yet far less disturbed. “I know only that now he wears the sword he earlier had no wish for, and sends his word to you that he will be beside you at first light of the new fey. For the balance of this fey he will accompany the wounded, primarily Chaldrin, I believe, upon their way, and will return before darkness has fallen. For the darkness, I am told, there is one who awaits him.”

“Therefore am I to look elsewhere, should I wish companionship of my own for the darkness,” said I with a nod and something of a smile, then arose from the floor cloth. “S’Heernoh is more than willing to stand beside me in battle, yet for the darkness I must seek another.”

“Will you do so?” asked Aysayn gently as I turned from him, concern behind the words rather than an urge to intrude. “We will each of us require all the strength we possess, in the battle to come. Will you use the darkness to restore your own with pleasure, sister?”

I gazed upon a blue-silk-hung wall without truly seeing it, feeling from the presence of candles that darkness had already come, and rubbed upper arms to chase away the chill of the lightless time.

“Likely I will do that very thing, brother,” I replied, knowing that pleasure would never touch me again, nor did I wish it to. “There is, however, a battle which we must now prepare for, therefore must you and I discuss matters other than pleasure.”

“But what of the rest you were to take?” he asked, moving to stand before me so that I might see his frown. “There is indeed much to be done, yet would I first see you rested.”

“You have my word that I will rest,” I assured him, putting one hand to his arm. “Should there not be opportunity sooner, I will certainly rest once battle is done.”

“Excellent,” said he with a smile, well pleased with my vow, his hand coming to cover mine upon his arm. Though I had not thought to question Chaldrin upon the oddity of his appearance before me when I lay in the capture of city folk, I nevertheless recalled the promise I had been given. One more task and then I might rest, and soon would that task be behind me. Once battle with the Feridani was done—then would Jalav at last find rest.