by Angus Wells
For now, it was a time to celebrate.
Matawaye, Grannach and branded folk, soldiers of the God’s Militia and masters, all joined together, sharing tiswin and brandy and ale, and vowed to stand together in perpetual friendship to make Salvation a free land.
And Davyd sat with Flysse and Arcole as Morrhyn took out the arrow and declared the wound clean. Tomas Var and Abram Jaymes waited outside the lodge with Rannach, who had his arm around Arrhyna and his left hand held by Debo. And Yazte, Kanseah and Dohnse and Kahteney, Colun, as if they were old friends concerned for another, a beloved companion.
“Shall he live?” Flysse asked.
And Morrhyn smiled and nodded and said, “He’ll live. He’ll hurt awhile, but he’ll not die. Indeed, he’ll hold you in his arms again before too long.”
Flysse said, “Praise the Maker.”
“Praise the Maker,” Morrhyn echoed, and looked at Davyd.
Davyd’s face was drawn, as if all the horror of the last battle were etched there.
“What’s amiss?” Morrhyn asked.
“I killed,” Davyd said. “I’ve slain men and not regretted it.”
“I think they deserved to die,” Morrhyn said.
“But what of the Ahsa-tye-Patiko? How can I be a wakanisha now?”
Morrhyn shrugged. “I think the Maker changes the Ahsa-tye-Patiko,” he said slowly. “I think that this is a new land, and that things change. I think that you can be a wakanisha; surely you’re already a Dreamer such as the People have never known.”
“But …” Davyd said.
“Would you become my pupil?” Morrhyn interrupted. “Would you learn the lore and dream for the People?”
Davyd nodded.
“Then it shall be so,” Morrhyn said, “and you shall be the first to be both wakanisha and warrior, and likely the greatest of all.”
“Thank you,” Davyd said.
“No.” Morrhyn shook his head. “My thanks to you. The People owe you a great debt, for what you’ve done.”
“No,” Davyd echoed. “I owe the People a debt, for making me what I am.”
Morrhyn beamed his approval.
“I suppose it’s settled now,” Tomas Var said. “Salvation’s independent.”
“Declared so, I reckon,” Abram Jaymes answered. “You regret it?”
“No.” Var shook his head.
“We’ll need an army,” Jaymes said. “Sooner or later, the Autarchy’s bound to send troops against us.”
“Then we’ll meet them,” Var returned, “and defeat them. We’ve friends now, eh?”
Jaymes grinned as he looked out at the celebratory fires and the folk dancing there. “Curious friends,” he remarked, “but good friends. Yes, I think we’ll do all right.”
Rannach and Davyd approached them. Colun was with him, and the Grannach held an empty bottle of brandy. “This is almost as good as tiswin,” he said. “Is there any more?”
Davyd laughed as he translated.
Abram Jaymes could not understand the words, only the gestures, and said, “Plenty. All you can drink.” He thought he should like this squat manling.
“He can drink a great deal,” Davyd warned. “I have never seen a man drink so much.”
“That so?” Jaymes said. “We should have a contest.”
Colun said, after Davyd translated, “I should like that,” and belched. “I should like that very much.”
“And you must visit Grostheim,” Var invited.
“And you our mountains,” Colun replied solemnly.
“And even Ket-Ta-Thanne,” Rannach added.
They began to laugh.
From where he lay on his blanket, Flysse at his side, Arcole said, “I think all shall be well now. Eh, Davyd?”
Davyd looked out at the feast. It was like a Matakwa, save now all the folk of Salvation and Ket-Ta-Thanne were come together in friendship. He ducked his head and said, “Yes, I think it shall.”
Perhaps time runs out,
but never love—
so this is for Liz
and Laurence James,
always.
Not only a character or two
(unless she cuts them)
but also a great editor
Thank you, Anne Groell.
And Jamie Warren-Youll.
The world’s finest art editor.
And Steve for the covers.
Of course I put your depictions in!
And special thanks to Maggie Mann,
for being who she is
Also by Angus Wells
Book of the Kingdoms #1:
Wrath of Ashar
Book of the Kingdoms #2:
The Usurper
Book of the Kingdoms #3:
The Way Beneath
The Godwars #1: Forbidden Magic
The Godwars #2: Dark Magic
The Godwars #3: Wild Magic
Lords of the Sky
Exiles Saga #1: Exile’s Children
About the Author
Angus Wells was born in a small village in Kent, England. He has worked as a publicist and as a science fiction and fantasy editor. He now writes full-time, and is the author of The Books of the Kingdoms (Wrath of Ashar, The Usurper, The Way Beneath) and The Godwars (Forbidden Magic, Dark Magic, Wild Magic). Lords of the Sky, his first stand-alone novel, debuted in trade paperback in October of 1994, and was followed by the two-book Exiles Saga: Exile’s Children and Exile’s Challenge. He lives in Nottingham with his two dogs, Elmore and Sam.
