Kiara drew in an unsteady breath before asking, “What did you do?”
Savara shrugged. “Just opened it up.” She grinned. “Try it. I bet that helped.”
Kiara drew in another breath and blew it out, remembering the instructions Thekila had given her almost a year ago. She pictured Theklan’s face really clearly in her mind—not a hard task. Before she had a chance to think his name, she had an image of him, walking through trees—next to a girl. That same girl she’d seen or imagined once before—kissing him. She didn’t know whether this was her imagination again or . . . what was it Vatar called it?—Far Sight.
She did a quick calculation in her head. Yes. Vatar and the others might have started back from the Valley by now. So . . . that could be the Great Forest. And that could be what was really happening right now. Did she even want to know the answer to that?
She almost stopped, but curiosity won out. “Theklan?” she thought.
His head came up, eyes wide. “Who?”
So, it was real. Kiara bit her lip and didn’t answer. What, after all, could she say? She blinked and stopped concentrating. Maybe . . . maybe she’d just check a few more times before making up her mind. That girl might just be a friend, after all. She’d better be.
“Did it work?” Savara asked.
“I . . . I think so.”
“Why’d you stop, then?”
Kiara shrugged and tried to smile. “Vatar doesn’t think it’ll be much longer before I can actually see him. I think I’d like to see his face when I tell him.”
Savara nodded, satisfied.
“No! No! Papa said I’m not s’posed to!”
Kiara jumped to her feet, wheeling to see Avaza—who else—with a grip on Zavar’s arm as he struggled against her. “Let him go!”
Zavar screamed in fear. Kiara didn’t have any trouble imagining that he was remembering another time when someone had tried to take him from his home by force. Zavar and Savara had been only two then. As she had that time, Kiara put Savara behind her. “Look after Jadar.”
Fenar pulled on Avaza’s arm. “Let him go. Kiara said so.”
Avaza shoved him away so hard he fell on his back. Now both boys were screaming. And drawing a crowd. In this part of the village, almost entirely Lion Clan members who were not pleased to see anyone hurting two of their own. Savara’s pet raven added to the chaos by flapping around Avaza’s head.
Kiara picked out one of the growing throng. “Go find my mother. She was going to work in the vegetable patch today.” Then she advanced on Avaza, only pausing to lift Fenar to his feet and place him, too, behind her. Little Jadar had picked up the distress of his older siblings and started howling too. “Help Savara with Jadar.”
“He’s my son,” Avaza said. “And Vatar said I could see them while he was gone.”
“He’s Lion Clan,” Kiara said. “And what Vatar said was that you could see them—as long as a member of his family was present. Not take them out of the Lion Clan. Not grab them.”
Avaza raised her chin defiantly. “How do you know what he said?”
“Because he told me.” Kiara took another step forward, assessing her chances. She’d never attempted to assert herself as an adult. Well, except for that once, with Vatar. But that was very different than this. Safer. Avaza was taller. And meaner. Could Kiara force the other woman to let go of Zavar? She wasn’t sure, but she had to try. She was sure enough that no amount of persuasion or reason was going to make an impact.
“What’s going on here?”
Kiara sighed with relief. That was Pa’s bellow. He could deal with Avaza, no question. “All I know, Pa, is that Avaza came up while I was talking to Savara and grabbed Zavar. And held on despite Zavar’s struggles and crying. Then she pushed Fenar when he tried to help Zavar.”
Avaza had backed up while Kiara spoke, still clutching a struggling Zavar. But the nearly solid wall of Lion Clan members prevented her from getting more than a few feet.
Pa strode over to Avaza. “Let him go.”
“No. He’s mine, too.”
Pa didn’t argue with her. He just grasped her wrist and squeezed until she had to let Zavar go. The little boy scurried out of the way and over to Kiara, who grabbed him up and half-carried him to where the other children waited. Savara hugged her twin, sandwiching him between herself and Kiara.
Ariad appeared from the same direction Pa had come from. He walked past Pa and Avaza with barely a glance and came up to Kiara. She kept herself between him and the twins. Ariad was one of Vatar’s oldest friends, but he was also Avaza’s year mate. She wasn’t sure whose side he’d be on just yet. “Is he all right?”
“He’s mostly just scared,” Savara said. “But Fenar’s shoulder is hurt.”
Kiara’s heart leaped into her throat. What if Savara decided to heal Fenar right there, in front of everyone? She leaned closer to Savara, grasping her arm around Zavar. “Not here. Wait until we get home,” she whispered fiercely.
Savara nodded. “I know.”
Ariad turned and advanced on Avaza. “What did you think you were doing?”
“I just wanted some time with my own children.”
“And you thought scaring the boy half to death would prove what a good mother you are?” Ariad asked incredulously.
Avaza glanced around at the Lion Clan audience before turning back to Ariad. “It’s not fair. Vatar never gives me any time with them.”
Ariad shook his head. “I begin to understand why.”
Avaza’s eyes blazed. “Well, if you’d ever just name me your life mate so we could have one of our own . . .”
Ariad met her glare without flinching. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Right now, I’m very glad that I haven’t.”
Avaza gasped and stepped back. “You don’t mean that.”
Ariad sighed and kept his voice pitched low. “Yes, I do. I’ve tried, Avaza. Spirits know how hard I’ve tried. Everything I could think of. But nothing I do will ever force you to let go of your past. Or ever take responsibility for anything you do. If you want children so much, perhaps you’d better find someone else who’s willing to take the chance. I’m not. In fact, I think you should go back to your own clan tonight.”
“No!”
Ariad turned and walked away.
Avaza sobbed.
Savara glared at her mother. “I don’t like you either.” She took Fenar by his uninjured shoulder and her twin with her other hand. “Come on, Fenar. Let’s take care of you shoulder.”
Chapter 24: Torn
Vatar stopped abruptly in the middle of the path, blinking against the sudden surge of fear—not his own.
Thekila put a hand on his arm. “What is it?”
“Zavar. Something’s . . . frightened him. Badly.”
Thekila’s brows knit in confusion. “What could scare him surrounded by your family?”
Vatar let out his breath slowly and drew in another, using the calming exercise. “I don’t know—yet.”
Another two slow, deep breaths were enough to allow him to reach out with Far Sight. He found Zavar easily. And the source of his fear. “Avaza,” he said with disgust. “It . . . looks like she’s trying to take him.” Vatar snorted derisively. “Out of the middle of the Lion Clan village. In the middle of the afternoon. Well, she never was much of a planner. Kiara might have trouble stopping her alone, but not the whole of my clan. Ah, there’s Pa. He’s gotten Zavar away from her.”
“It’s all right, now, then?”
Vatar grimaced. “For now.” He blinked himself out of his Far Sight and looked toward Zeda. “Zavar is still upset. I really should be there with him.”
“Your family will take care of him. I can’t imagine Lucina and Danar can’t make him feel safe.”
Vatar narrowed his eyes. “It would only take a few hours from here—as an eagle. I could see him. Reassure him.” And myself. “And be back by this time tomorrow.”
Thekila cocked her head to the side and loo
ked up at him quizzically. “And how would you explain a—very large—white eagle flying into the village? And your sudden appearance immediately after? It would make Theklan’s little demonstration look tame by comparison. You couldn’t keep something like that secret.”
Vatar chuckled reluctantly. “You’re right, of course. I just can’t help wanting to be there for him.”
“Of course you can’t. But you can look in on him. And even bespeak him, if you need to.”
Vatar really wanted to stop right now to reassure himself that all was well, but it had already taken them longer to cross the Forest than he’d expected. Sharila had not turned out to be a good traveler—not used to walking long distances or to the discomforts and inconveniences of travel. Sometimes, she put him horribly in mind of that last trip across the plains with Avaza.
It was only midafternoon, hours of daylight left. If he stopped now, Vatar wasn’t at all sure that he’d be able to get Sharila to go on. But . . . they were nearing the edge of the Forest. No harm in stopping a little earlier than usual. Vatar drew in a deep breath. “We’ll go on, but I think we’ll camp early tonight.”
~
As soon as the tents were set up, Vatar pulled out his pipes and played the lullaby that often helped him to watch over his children with Far Sight. It wasn’t necessary, now that he had full control of his magic, but it was familiar and therefore comforting. For him. Maybe for Zavar, too.
He found Zavar and Savara in Vatar’s parents’ hut. In fact, everyone was there. Mother and Pa. Kiara. Jadar. And Fenar. Mother was probing Fenar’s shoulder with her fingers.
Aware of Vatar’s Far Sight as always, Zavar turned toward Vatar’s viewpoint and smiled. He nudged Savara and pointed. She smiled at him, too, though a little off-center, since she couldn’t sense her father’s magical presence.
Somewhat reassured, Vatar switched to Far Speech, leaving his bond with Thekila open so she could hear too. “Zavar?”
“Yes, Papa?” the boy answered silently.
“Are you all right?” Vatar asked.
Zavar nodded. “Yes. Mama didn’t hurt me, really. I tried to tell her you said I shouldn’t go with her, but she wouldn’t listen. She hurt Fenar, though, when she pushed him.”
“Is he all right?”
“He is now. Savara fixed his shoulder. Grandma Lucina can’t figure it out, because Grandpa Danar said it was . . . in the wrong place . . . and she thought so too, but it isn’t any more.”
Dislocated, Vatar translated that. And he knew how painful that was. “Good for Savara.”
“She tried to explain,” Zavar added. “But Grandma Lucina doesn’t believe her. I think Auntie Kiara does, though.”
“Will you be all right, now? You’re not scared anymore, are you?” Vatar asked.
“I’m not scared,” Zavar answered. “Grandpa Danar said that Mama can’t come into the Lion Clan ever again. Everyone will keep her away from us.”
Vatar let out a long breath in relief. “Well, that’s good. You just have to stay away from the edge of the Lion Clan huts that border the Eagle Clan, then.”
Zavar’s face scrunched up in puzzlement. “Why?”
“Because your mother has gone back to the Eagle Clan with Ariad.” It wasn’t like Zavar not to understand something as simple as that. “Hasn’t she?”
“No. He told her to go back to the Raven Clan.”
Vatar drew in a deep breath. “Oh, I see. Well, they’re all the way across the square, so you’ll be fine.”
“Yes. Savara’s bird won’t let her close to us again, either.”
Vatar had never thought he’d be grateful for that raven. Its hostility was likely to make an impression on other members of the Raven Clan, too. “You do know that if you’re ever scared, you can contact me, just like this, right?”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Good night, then. Be good. Tell your sister and baby brother that I love all of you.”
Vatar broke off the connection.
Thekila rubbed his arm. “That sounded reassuring. Why are you still so tense?”
Vatar shook his head, trying to put his feeling into words. It definitely wasn’t Fore Sight, at least. Just a general sense of Avaza. He blew out a breath. “Banned from the Lion Clan village. And she’s apparently lost her relationship with Ariad, too. Avaza doesn’t take setbacks like that . . . well. I’m not sure what she’ll do—or try to do, now.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”
Vatar nodded, not that reassured. It wasn’t as if they’d have a choice, though.
~
By midday the next day, they emerged from the Forest to find Orleus himself waiting for them with five extra horses.
“Took you long enough,” Orleus teased. “I’ve been here since late yesterday.”
Vatar grinned. “I didn’t expect you to get here until late today. In fact, I didn’t expect you to come personally at all.”
Orleus shrugged. “My guards are capable of fighting off the Themyri without my direction—if we can get there in time, at least. And there hasn’t been any other activity, except for the reconnaissance. And Quetza and Zoridan, with a little help from Balan, can do that better than I can.”
“And what have they found out?”
Orleus gestured to the horses. “Let’s talk as we ride. There’s time to make it to the first waterhole before sunset, if we move now.” He glanced over to where Sharila was staring out at the vast, empty expanse of the plains. “Even with your newcomer.”
Vatar followed his gaze. “Yes, she’s going to need help. Not the best traveler.”
Orleus shrugged. “Ah, well. Between us, we’ve taught new riders before. We’ll manage. I brought a nice, quiet mare for her.”
Vatar nodded and went to help Orleus pack up his very basic camp and get the horses saddled and ready.
Sharila shrieked when Orleus led the docile mare over to her. “What is that?”
“It’s a horse, Sharila,” Theklan said. “I told you we’d have to ride once we got to the plains.”
“I thought you meant like in a boat.”
Theklan sighed. “Look around. Do you see any water? How would we use a boat out here?” He shook his head. “Look, it’s not all that hard. This is a nice, steady mare.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because she barely turned an ear when you shrieked.” Theklan pointed over to where Vatar held the reins of four other horses, including Orleus’s war-trained black. “Racer over there almost pulled his reins free. And he wasn’t nearly as close as she was. I’ll give you a leg up and then I’ll show you what to do from there.”
Once Sharila was perched uncertainly in the saddle and had reluctantly taken the reins from Theklan’s hands, she asked. “How do you . . . steer it?”
“I’ll show you,” he answered. “But I doubt you’ll need to do much. Horses instinctively stay together. She’ll most likely follow along with the others if you don’t do anything.”
Theklan mounted the tall bay Orleus had brought for him. “Or I can lead her for a while, if that makes you more comfortable. Then all you have to do is concentrate on your balance.”
Orleus cast a glance back toward Vatar, one eyebrow cocked in amusement. He patted Theklan’s leg. “You take care of teaching your friend, then.”
They all mounted up and rode out in two ranks. Orleus, flanked by Vatar and Thekila rode in the lead. Theklan followed, with Sharila’s calm mare following along. Teran riding on her other side.
“So, what have Quetza and Zoridan been able to learn about the Exiles movements?” Vatar asked.
“Not too much,” Orleus answered. “They can’t fly directly over the Exiles’ encampment because they’ve built a ballista, like the one they built last year, only stronger.”
“What’s that?” Thekila asked.
“A kind of very strong bow that rests in a frame. It can shoot an arrow as high as Quetza normally flies. In fact, they narrowly missed her
the first time they used it. If she wasn’t so nimble in the air—and the ballista made less noise—they might not have missed. So she and Zoridan have to glean what they can from a distance. Balan’s actually been doing almost as well, because the Exiles have camped on the Gna River, just a day’s ride or so west of the new bridge on the western end of the lake. They’ve just been sitting there for almost a month now, waiting.”
“What for?” Thekila asked. “If they were looking for more help from Gerusa, wouldn’t it make more sense to stay closer to Kausalya?”
“Does Zoria know anything about it?” Vatar asked.
“Zoria’s reports are less frequent now. Maybe she’s being watched. Or there’s some other reason she can’t communicate as often. She contacted Zoridan just before I left to meet you. The Exiles’ women were packing up to leave their safe camp on the other side of the mountains. She hadn’t been able to learn where they’re going. I suspect that the Exiles are bringing them forward for their assault on the Valley. Whether they mean to go straight there or cause more trouble—for us or for the Dardani—on the way, I don’t know, yet.”
“Either could be very bad news,” Vatar said. “The Council sent an escort of veteran guards with Miceus, partly to train the Valson—if they can get their attention. But we expected they’d have more time.”
Orleus nodded. “Your Dardani scouts are helping keep an eye on the Exiles. My scouts check in with them from time to time. We’ll know when they make any move.”
Vatar stared out past his horse’s ears. “I hope the Dardani scouts don’t get too close. It wouldn’t be good if one of them got captured.”
Orleus grimaced. “No telling what the Exiles might do to him.”
“Not only that. What the Exiles might learn.”
“Like what?” Thekila asked.
War of Magic (Dual Magics Book 4) Page 16
