“Sebrahn’s not strong enough to bring them back,” said Alec.
“That’s just as well,” said Rieser. “It might be a temptation if he were.”
Rhal came to join them, covered in blood and pressing a hand to a gash on his forearm.
“How many men did you lose?” asked Seregil.
“Not a man. There are some wounds, but nothing we need the rhekaro for. But we’d better get out of these woods. The fire’s spreading.”
The entire clearing was bathed in the shifting red light now, and smoke was drifting over them in a grey pall. The surface of the pool below the waterfall reflected the color of blood; Seregil suspected that it wasn’t just a trick of the light. The wind was to the west, blowing away from the trail, but that could change in an instant.
“Nowen, get the dead tied on their horses,” Rieser ordered.
“Is there time for that?” asked Rhal, and got a cold look from the Ebrados captain.
“Then my men will help,” Rhal told him.
Rieser looked surprised, but nodded.
Hâzadriën tended the wounded while the others dealt with the dead. Rieser saw to it that some of the bodies were doubled on one horse so that Alec could ride out with Sebrahn. Rane, Sorengil, and Taegil slumped in the saddle and had to be tied on, but Nowen and Rieser made a quick job of it.
Meanwhile, Seregil and Micum went to where Turmay and the other witches had fallen. They lay just inside the trees, dead eyes staring up at the night sky, and still gripping the oo’lus. Seregil pulled Turmay’s away and ran his hands over it. “It isn’t cracked.”
“He failed his destiny,” Micum said.
Seregil gave him a tilted grin. “So much for fate. I think I’ll take these with us. Thero and Magyana will find them of interest.”
They left the smoke and firelight behind, moving as quickly as Rhal’s men on foot could, their way lit now by the moon. They stopped only long enough to take up Kalien’s corpse, then hurried on to the edge of the forest.
There was no question of taking the dead home, or burning the bodies without the proper resins and oil. Instead, Rieser and Nowen cut locks of hair for the families, placed the hunting masks each fallen comrade had worn in life over their face, and sewed them into their cloaks. Hâzadriën joined them as they carried the bodies just inside the forest and buried them side by side in the soft loam while the rest sat on the ground and wept. Seregil and the others had offered their help, but Rieser simply shook his head. When they were through, Sorengil and Nowen built tall cairns on top of each grave, then joined with the others in a keening song of loss.
Seregil and the others watched from a respectful distance, then headed back to the night’s campsite.
“Do your people do that, Lord Seregil?” asked Rhal.
“Yes, but the songs are different. They’re guiding the khi to their next life.”
“Khi? Is that a soul?”
“Something like it, but not exactly.”
“You believe there’s something after this life, then?”
Seregil nodded. “I didn’t, most of my life, but an oracle showed me glimpses of my lives to come.”
“Really? And what were they like?”
Seregil gave him a wry smile. “I always have a weapon in my hand.”
They set about making the evening meal. Alec had been silent, and he looked thoughtful as he tended the rabbits and grouse spitted over the fire.
* * *
The moon was setting when Rieser and the remainder of his people returned to the camp.
“Come and eat,” Seregil said.
The wounded were healed enough to join them, and they all ate in silence out of respect for the dead.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to go back the way we came,” Rieser said at last. “There will be more Retha’noi, and they don’t count us as friends.”
“There are most likely plenty more of them back in the hills,” said Micum. “I’ve been thinking. It would make your journey home a good deal shorter if you sailed with us. It’s no time at all to cross to Nanta from here, and you can make your way back up the river from there. What do you say, Rhal?”
The captain looked over what was left of the Ebrados. “As long as they leave Lord Alec alone, I’ve no reason to deny them. What say you, Lord Seregil?”
“I think it’s a good idea.”
Rhal offered his hand to Rieser. “Will you clasp hands on it, sir?”
Rieser took it with a weary nod. “You have my thanks.”
Seregil exchanged a secret grin with Micum. Rieser’s opinion of Tírfaie seemed to have softened just a bit.
CHAPTER 35
Farewell
THE VOYAGE to Nanta took three days—three all-too-short days for Alec. He spent most of his time tending Sebrahn, and had him in the bed with them every night. Seregil made no complaint, but let him know with a silent nod that first night that he understood. They’d soon be saying farewell.
Alec grieved in silence; his decision back on the island seemed harder now that he was so close to losing the little rhekaro. Sebrahn wasn’t strong enough to walk yet, and Seregil kept the Hâzad away.
They reached Nanta in the morning, and the time to part forever came at last. Alec said his good-byes to Sebrahn in the privacy of their cabin, with only Seregil there to see.
Seated on the bed with the rhekaro on his lap, he stroked that pale hair for the last time and whispered, “This time it’s you leaving me.”
Sebrahn touched Alec’s cheek. “Leeeeving.”
“That’s right. But you’ll be with Hâzadriën, and other rhekaros. You’re happy with him, aren’t you?”
“Haaaaa-zen.”
“I’m sorry.” Alec was fighting back tears now. “I wish—I wish things were different but—I want you to be safe and—” Overcome, he hugged Sebrahn close, wondering what Rieser would do if he refused to give him up.
Seregil sat down and put an arm around him. “It’s time, Alec,” he said gently. “Do you want me to do it? Rieser’s just outside.”
Alec wiped the tears from his cheeks. “No. I will.” Rising, he carried Sebrahn across the room, committing the feel of those cool little arms around his neck to memory.
Hâzadriën and Rieser sat on the stairs outside, but rose when he came out.
“You’re ready?” asked Rieser.
“Yes.” It took all of Alec’s will to place Sebrahn in the tall rhekaro’s arms. “Take—take care of him for me. He trusts you.”
“I’ll see that they remain together,” Rieser promised.
And then there was nothing left to say. Unable to watch them climb the stairs, Alec turned and walked back into the cabin. Head down, he mumbled, “I need to be alone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Just for a while.”
“All right then.” Seregil paused and embraced him, and Alec knew how important it was for him not to pull away. Instead he hugged him back gratefully, then found he couldn’t let go.
Seregil stroked his hair. “I know, talí. I know. It’s all right.”
“No, it’s not!” He already felt the burning ache of loss in his chest. His “child of no mother” could not be his. Not if he wanted the life he had. Seregil’s arms tightened around him; he knew loss, too. Somehow, that helped.
From Nanta, Rhal set sail for the Cirna Canal, and the little port of Ardenlee nearby. Seregil spent the first day in the cabin with Alec, and Micum let them be. When Alec appeared at supper the following night, his eyes were red and he was very quiet. Micum looked over at Seregil, but his friend shook his head. There was nothing anyone could say to Alec right now that would ease his pain.
Alec was a little better the next day, and by the time they reached Cirna, he seemed nearly himself again, though there’d been no singing or gaming this crossing. Seregil spent a great deal of time poring over the pieces of the stolen books, trying to pierce the code, but with little success. Micum suspected his heart wasn’t really in t
he task just now. Sebrahn’s absence was palpable between them.
They arrived at midmorning, guided in by twin columns of smoke from the beacon fires above the Astellus and Sakor columns. It had been a few years since Micum had sailed through the great Canal, which connected the Inner and Osiat seas. As they sat at anchor, waiting for the harbormaster to signal their turn, he stood on the deck with Alec and Seregil, taking in the sight of it.
“I’ll never forget the first time I saw this, aboard the Grampus,” murmured Alec.
“While I was busy dying in the hold,” Seregil said with a chuckle.
The ships ahead of them disappeared one by one into the dark maw of the channel, each signaled in by a mirror flash from near the top of the Astellus pillar.
“That’s our signal!” the lookout cried.
It was too dangerous to sail though the narrow channel, so ships like the Lady that were not fitted out with oars were towed through by large longboats.
It was just short of noon now, and they could clearly see the glassy places on the rough, towering walls, signs of the ancient magic used to make this wonder. Freshets of water flowed here and there, their tinkling splash sounding loud in the narrow space.
As they reached the halfway point, Micum saluted the statue of Tamír. “Thanks for the use of your road, Majesty.”
Reaching the far end at last, the longboat cast off and they hoisted canvas and sailed down the rocky coast to Ardenlee.
They’d decided to put in here, rather than Rhíminee, and enter the city as quietly as possible, which for Seregil and Alec meant evading any of the queen’s spies who might recognize them. There were still the pieces of the books to be dealt with before they made their presence generally known.
The sailors swam their horses ashore, and they followed in a longboat with their gear. Rhal came along to bid them farewell.
When they were ashore at last, he clasped hands with each of them and held Alec’s the longest. “Take care, my lords, and see if you can keep out of trouble for a while.”
“Good hunting,” said Seregil.
“And a full hold,” added Micum.
They stayed the night in a small inn, and set off the next day for the Bell and Bridle once again. “It’s good not to be pursued this time,” Micum remarked.
Seregil chuckled but Alec just looked away and said nothing. He’d been carrying Sebrahn the last time they came this way.
They spent the night at the Bell, and Seregil used one of the message sticks to let Thero know of their return. The following morning it was time to finally say another farewell.
“I could ride to Rhíminee with you,” Micum offered as they stood together in the stable yard.
“You’ve made Kari wait far too long already,” Seregil told him. “Give her our apologies, and tell Illia and the boys that we’ll bring presents to make up for your absence.”
“They’ll hold you to that. And see that you come out to Watermead soon.” He wagged a finger at them both. “I expect to see you before the spring foaling’s done.”
“You will,” Alec promised. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Micum embraced them each in turn. “I’ll miss you. I always do.”
Mounting his horse, he turned and headed for home.
Alec and Seregil watched him out of sight, then headed for the stable to get their horses.
“What do you say, Cynril, my girl?” Seregil asked, rubbing the tall black’s nose. “Ready to turn your head for home?”
Home, thought Alec. “The villa or the inn?” he asked, hoping for the latter.
“The inn, of course. I think we deserve a few days’ peace before we plunge back into society.”
“Good.” After all the horrors and hardships of these past months, Alec wanted to hide away in their secret rooms for about a year before he even considered parties and intrigues.
CHAPTER 36
Rhíminee in the Dark
THEY ARRIVED at the north gate of the city just before midnight and rode through into the Harvest Market. The labyrinth of stalls was dark, and the great square was deserted except for a few sleeping beggars and a stray tomcat howling its lust somewhere in the shadows. From here they followed Silvermoon Street into the Noble Quarter, past the Palace grounds, and on to the walled grounds of the Orëska House. The soaring white palace towered above its walls, gleaming like pearl in the moonlight. The huge glass dome that topped it, and three of the four towers that stood at the corners, were dark, but light still showed through the dome of the east tower.
“Looks like we won’t be waking Thero,” said Alec.
“Perhaps he waited up for us.” Seregil patted his saddlebag and the two oo’lus strapped behind his saddle. “This time we brought presents for him, too.”
Guards in the red livery of the House stepped out to challenge them, but their names were password enough. They rode on through the dark, ever-fragrant gardens and left their horses with an attendant. Climbing the broad steps, they entered the huge, echoing atrium and strode across the great dragon mosaic floor to the stairway. Five stories of elaborately carved balconies and walkways were lost in shadow, except for lanterns hung at intervals along each.
Thero was uncommonly disheveled when he answered their knock. His blue robe looked slept in, and there were purple ink stains on his fingers and right cheek. “There you are! I didn’t expect you until tomorrow.” He looked them over, taking in their mud-spattered boots and trousers, and the saddlebag and oo’lus Seregil carried over one shoulder. “Where is Sebrahn?” he asked as they came into the workshop. The smell of a brazier hung on the air, and the stink of some spell.
“He’s safe. I’ll tell you the tale in a while,” Seregil said quietly with a meaningful look in Alec’s direction. “When we’ve had some wine.”
“Very well. I’ve had some news of my own, today. Ulan í Sathil died in Riga.”
“When?”
“Not long after you left, I’d say. He was carried back to Virésse in state with a boatload of ransomed slaves, a hero to his people.”
“A hero?” Alec exclaimed.
“It’s all right,” Seregil told him. “He’s more use to everyone that way. No good could come of the truth.”
“But, still, it’s sort of ironic, isn’t? Us keeping his secret for him?”
Seregil gave him a wry smile. “Life does tend to work out that way sometimes.”
“Did you find the book?” asked Thero.
“Books, as it turned out,” Seregil told him.
Seregil set the saddlebag down on one of the workbenches and took out the three halved volumes.
Thero looked at them in dismay. “What happened?”
“I split them with a Hâzadriëlfaie captain we got to know, with the idea that it was safer with no one having all of any of them. I did try to salvage the best bits, though.”
Thero gaped at them. “Hâzadriëlfaie? Really?”
“That’s who was chasing us when we met you at the Bell and Bridle,” Alec told him. “It’s a long, long story after that.”
“Another one. Then you’d better come downstairs and tell them.”
“Is Magyana still awake?” asked Seregil. “She’ll want to hear it, too.”
“She went down to Rhina to visit Hermeus. I’ll send word to her tomorrow.”
“Oh, and before we go any farther?” Seregil pointed to Alec’s hair; Thero’s magic had not worn off and it was still brown. “Will you please put this right?”
“Of course.” Thero stood behind Alec and ran his hands over his head. When he was through Alec’s hair was back to its normal honey blond.
“Ah, that’s much better!”
“And these,” said Alec, pushing his sleeve back to show him the slave brand.
Thero removed those as well, and led them down the back stair to his tidy sitting room.
The room hadn’t changed since Nysander’s day. There was still the band of mural around the room, magical as well as decorative, and t
he old comfortable furnishings. A dining table stood at the center of the room, with armchairs by the hearth beyond. The walls were filled with bookcases, scroll racks, and dusty objects of uncertain origin.
Thero wove a quick spell on the air with one finger and a burlap-wrapped wine jar appeared on the table, still crusted with snow from Mount Apos. He poured them goblets of the chilled Mycenian apple wine and they sat down at the table with the books.
Seregil took a long sip of the cold wine and sat back in his chair. “Oh, I have missed that!”
“The books?” Thero asked impatiently.
“I think you’ll find this one of the most interest.” Seregil said, showing him the one with the most drawings of rhekaros. “I don’t know if the whole thing is about the making of them, but I tried to get as much of it for you as I could.”
“Excellent!” Thero looked as happy as Micum’s daughter Illia with a new necklace. “This is wonderful! Given Yhakobin’s skills, this could prove very useful, even if it is incomplete. I’ll need your expertise in figuring out the code, I’m sure.”
“Once we get settled in again,” Seregil promised, then presented Thero with the oo’lus. “I thought you’d like these, too.”
“Also part of the long story,” Alec told him.
Thero refilled the cups. “I’m ready to hear it.”
It did take quite a while, even with two of them telling it. When they were done, Thero shook his head. “I’m sorry about Sebrahn, Alec.”
“It was the best thing we could do,” Alec told him, but there was still a raw edge of sadness in his voice.
“The things you two survive! It never fails to amaze me.”
Seregil saluted him with his empty cup, then set it aside.
“Where are you going tonight? You’re welcome to stay here.”
“Thanks, but we’re headed for the Stag,” Alec told him.
“Shall I send word to Runcer?”
“No, thanks.” As much as Seregil trusted the man who oversaw the running of the Wheel Street villa, he didn’t want to chance word getting out of their return.
“When will you see the queen? She’s not very happy with me for coming back without you, or about your extended absence.”
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