by Sean Russell
“What is that!?” Cynddl demanded, sounding like a man who’dhad the breath knocked from him. Tam could see the story finder’s eyes flick tothe thing, then away, as though he couldn’t bear to gaze at it too long.
“I don’t know,” Tuath answered, pale lips curling back in revulsionfor what she’d created. “We were hoping that Alaan might tell us.”
Alaan stared at this terrible portrait and seemed suddenlymore ashen, his lips tinged with blue, as though a nagar lay just beneath thesurface.
“Alaan …?” Nann prompted.
The traveler took a deep breath and leaned back in hischair. “A soul eater,” he whispered, then closed his eyes. “A monster. Only onehas ever walked the surface of the earth, created by a sorcerer from a spellgiven to him by Death-or so the tales say.”
“Why has this thing appeared to Tuath now?” Cynddl asked. Heslouched in his chair, and though he had eaten and bathed and wore freshclothes, water had not washed away his fatigue, nor had his clothes covered it.
“Because one will appear, I would imagine,” Alaan said. “Isn’tthat what a vision weaver does-sees things that might be?”
Tuath nodded, uncertainly, Tam thought. “It might already exist,”she said softly.
“Hafydd has made a bargain with Death,” Fynnol said, surprisingeveryone. “I–I saw it … in the tunnels. Hafydd found me and held a sword tomy throat, trying to find out what I knew about Elise Wills and her allies.” Helooked around at the others defensively. “Samul Renne appeared, and Hafyddspoke to him as though they were allies. I thought it was all up for me, but ashadow appeared … Not really a shadow but a darkness that seemed to pressback the light. Out of this darkness came a voice claiming to be the Hand ofDeath. Even Hafydd fell to his knees before it. The shadow offered Hafydd abargain. He could live for many lives of men if he would deliver two sorcerersto him.”
“Sianon and Sainth,” Alaan said.
But Fynnol shook his head. “Wyrr and Aillyn,” the littleVale-man said, causing Alaan to become very still and alert.
“These two are already dead-if they ever lived at all,” oneof the Fael elders said.
“That is not quite true,” said Eber son of Eiresit. “Theysleep, but they are not dead.”
“Nor are they alive,” Alaan answered. “Not in any way thatwe understand.” The traveler stared down at the ground a moment, his mannerstiff and grave. “Let me tell you a tale. A very ancient tale that even thestory finders do not know.” He pressed the fingers of his hands together andtouched them to his dark-bearded chin. “It began with a swan, a black swan whobecame known as Meer, and a sorcerer who was called Tusival. ‘Tusival FirstBorn,’ he was sometimes called. Like many creatures of that distant age, timehad little sway over them, and they lived on and on, year after uncounted year.
“But one day Meer was wounded by hunters and only just managedto escape. Luck was with her, however, for Tusival found her and nursed herback to health. Ever after, the swan stayed near the sorcerer, watching him.
“One night, Death came to Meer out of a rainstorm. 7 seeyou watching Tusival,’ Death whispered, ‘Tusival who saved youfrom me. But you are a creature of the water and air, and he is a manand a sorcerer. You shall never know him as you are. But I can offer the giftyou desire. I can make you a human-as beautiful as you are now.But by night you will become a swan again-an evenswan’
“‘ You have come to tempt me, but I know you, Death,’Meer said. ‘What is the price you will ask for this?’
“‘Your children will be born from a clutch of eggs-thosehatched by day will take human form, like their father, those born by nightwill be evenswans, as their mother will be’ Death paused, staring at herfrom his dark cloud. ‘And they will all be mortal, coming at last into mykingdom, where they will serve me!
“‘Aiye! You are cruel and heartless!’ Meer lamented.7 will not give my children to you. No, they will live as I do, untouched byage!
“Death retreated then, a hissing whisper reaching her. ‘Weshall see!
“And Meer continued to watch Tusival, something stirringwithin her that she did not understand. In time, Death came to her again. Andagain he offered to grant her deepest desire. ‘You shall know thelove of men,’ he whispered. ‘You shall know the depths of it andbear you children out of that love! But again Meer refused him, though notso quickly.
“Finally, Death came to her, saying her mortal childrenwould live many spans of common men, and finally she agreed, for her love forTusival was great, and the yearning she felt had become a torment.
“By moonlight Death performed his magic, and where the swanhad been a woman swam in the waters, her mass of black hair afloat on thesurface. She walked out onto the bank, and Death could not bear it. He who washeartless and cold was bewitched by the sight of her, heartbreakingly beautifulas she was. He poured out his heart to her, saying that he had never felt suchpassion stirring within before. That he was like a man awakened after a lifetimeof sleep.
“‘And what would become of our children?’ Meer asked.‘They would come to me,’ Death said. ‘You would all come to me anddwell in my kingdom!
“And Meer spurned him then, saying, ‘You shall have themsoon enough! She went then to Tusival, who lost his heart to her, for hehad never known a woman so captivating, and yet, despite her dark beauty, hefelt he knew her.
“Soon she was with child, and it was then that she toldTusival who she was and of her bargain with Death, and Tusival cursed Death andvowed to thwart him or to have revenge upon him.
“Three eggs the evenswan laid, and watched over them in bothher forms. ‘Those born by day shall take human form,’ Death had said. ‘Thoseborn by night shall be as their mother!
“Two eggs hatched before sunset-boy children, both-but thethird was hatched by night, and from that egg came a dark-feathered swan, achangeling who, by morning, became a girl child, as human as her brothers. Butthe joy of the parents was tempered by their bitterness, for one child was achangeling, and all three would be mortal.
“But Death had not done with them, yet. Spurned by Meer, hiswound festered in his dark kingdom. One night he ranged out into the kingdom ofthe living, and, finding the swan child, Sianon, aswim on the river, he drewher down into the waters to drown and carried her back to his kingdom. Butothers had seen this act of treachery and told Tusival, who wept bitterly.
“Saying that Death had broken his word, Tusival vowed thathe would have his daughter back. Twice he led armies to the gate of Death’skingdom, but both times his army broke upon that cold stone. Bitter and angry,the sorcerer swore that Death would never have his sons, whom he named Wyrr andAillyn.To this end a great spell was made to wall Death into his kingdom, andDeath never again walked beyond the borders of his dark land.” Alaan looked upat the others. “When he had made his great spell, Tusival collapsed from theeffort, saying, ‘There … never again will Death set foot in thekingdom of the living, nor see its light nor feel the warmth of humankind.’But an old man, Tusival’s servant in the arcane arts, was touched with thesight, and he was troubled and stared off into the dark distance. ‘No,’said the old man, ‘Death will escape in time, and when he does thekingdom of the living will fall.’”
There was silence among the Fael elders and their guests.They shared glances, despairing and brief. The whole camp had fallen quiet, sothat only the river could be heard, whispering as it wandered south toward thesea.
Nann leaned forward, her chair creaking. A skein of hair hadescaped a tight braid and stood out from one side of her face, adding to theappearance of fear. “Cynddl told us that servants of Death were abroad in thehidden lands, snatching living men into the darkness.” She paused as though tocatch her breath. “Has it begun already? Has Death escaped into our world?”
Alaan was drawn back to the conversation from some distantplace. He gave his handsome head a little shake. “No, Nann, not yet, but thereis some breach in the spell that isolates the kingdom of Death from the kingdomof the living. There can be
no other explanation. The spell is breaking down orDeath has learned to defeat it. If Tuath’s vision is true, Death will have asorcerer create a soul eater, almost certainly to destroy Aillyn and Wyrr. Howa soul eater can destroy Wyrr, who joined his spirit to the river, I don’tunderstand.”
Llya sat forward in his father’s lap and began to move hishands.
“What is it?” Nann asked nervously. “What does the childsay?”
“He says that ‘he knows where Wyrr sleeps,” Eberanswered, his voice soft and filled with sadness.
“Who knows?” one of the elders asked.
“Death knows,” Alaan said, gazing thoughtfully at the child.“And now Hafydd will know as well.”
“Why does this matter if Aillyn and Wyrr passed from thisworld an age ago?”
Alaan rubbed his fingers to his brow. “If it matters toDeath, there is a reason. Only Aillyn and Wyrr might have the knowledge torestore the spell that walls Death into his shadow kingdom.” He looked over atEber. “Does Llya speak to Wyrr, good Eber?”
Eber shook his head. “Llya hears only the mutterings of thesleeper. Bits of dream and nightmare, nothing more.” The man drew his soncloser, within the circle of his arms, as though he would protect him.
Llya must have understood the question, for he began to movehis hands. Eber watched a moment, then translated. “He says the sleeper doesnot hear. He is like Llya, in this.”
The gathering was silent a moment as everyone was drawn intotheir own thoughts.
“Where doesWyrr sleep?” Cynddl asked.
“I don’t know,” Alaan replied. He looked to Llya, but theboy shook his head.
“Then there is only one person who might answer that,” Alaansaid, “if she still lives.” He rose to his feet. “I have rested long enough.”He bobbed his head to Nann in a small bow. “I must make a journey now, beforeHafydd can unleash the soul eater-a dangerous journey.”
“But what can this thing do?” Tam asked. He pointed a fingeratTuath’s disturbing creation. “If it seeks sorcerers who have long passed fromthis world, why should we fear it?”
“Death has not sent this thing after Aillyn andWyrr for noreason. He means to escape his prison and tear down the world we know.” Alaandrew himself up, and Tam could sense his resolve. “You don’t understand thedanger. Only once before was a soul eater created, and it slew the greatTusival and dragged his carcass back through Death’s gate. This thing ismonstrous. As pitiless as a viper. It is a bringer of death. If I can’t stopit, if I can’t find the places where Wyrr and Aillyn have been laid to rest,then it will have them, and there will be no hope of repairing the spell thatwalls Death into his kingdom.”
“But how can Wyrr and Aillyn be any threat to Death?” Cynddlasked.
“I don’t know,” Alaan said, and he looked thoughtfully atLlya. “Keep that child safe at all costs. I will be gone at least a fortnight.Perhaps longer.”
“Will you go alone?” Crowheart asked, speaking for the firsttime that night.
“It will be a dangerous journey,” Alaan said. “The most perilousI have undertaken, but I will ask no one to accompany me, for I won’t havetheir fates on my conscience.”
“I will go, all the same,” Rabal said with finality. He satback in his chair, as at ease as a man who’d just volunteered to walk to town.
“I’ll go,” Cynddl offered. “You’ll need an archer if the wayis so perilous.”
“I’ll bring my bow as well,” Tam said. “There is no goingnorth for me now, not with what I’ve learned.” He turned and looked at hisfellow Valemen. “I’m sorry, but there is no choice for me.”
“Well, I won’t be left behind because I’m the only one withcommon sense,” Fynnol said, but his manner belied his words. He looked hauntedand frightened.
“I’ll stay here,” Baore said, “for I have offered my serviceto Lady Elise Wills.”
Prince Michael stood. “If they will have me, I will go withAlaan and the others.”
“I would gladly take you, Prince Michael,” Alaan said. “Butif you truly oppose Hafydd, then your knowledge will be needed by the Renne.Youmust stay and offer your service to LordToren, or whoever commands the Renneforces.”
“Against my own father …?” the Prince said softly.
“He has allied himself with Hafydd,” Alaan answered. “Howcan you choose otherwise?”
The Prince nodded and hung his head.
“We must go into Westbrook, this night,” Alaan said,clapping his hands together. “We’ll need to find almost everything for ourjourney-horses, weapons. I leave at first light.”
Five
She felt as though she were being torn in two.
“I’m as divided as my appearance,” Llyn whispered.
The night air required a light shawl, and she drew thisclose around her where she sat, hunched as she would never normally be. Her thoughtsjumped between two men-both of whom were gone-missing. Yet they were everpresent in her thoughts.
If only one were to return, she could stop feeling sodivided. At this thought, which had appeared not for the first time, she shookher head.
This was all ridiculous. Toren did not feel toward her theyway she did toward him. He did not have the feelings for her that Car-ral did.How foolish she was being!
Her head knew this. But feelings were not wise. That was thesad truth of them. Feelings made fools of the wisest, even the eldest. They didnot care if you were noble or if you were an uneducated costermonger. All weretreated the same-fools in their turn.
And yet her feelings for Carral were not feigned. They, too,were strong. And he felt the same, and even more so-she could sense it.
Unlike Toren, he would never see her face, never look uponher with horror, as did all who saw her. No, all of her thoughts and feelingsfor Toren were foolish, utterly misplaced. She had no doubt of this.
Then why could she not put Toren out of her mind? Out of herheart?
“You sit up late, my lady,” a familiar voice said.
Her breath caught. “Have you not injured me enough, Alaan?”
“More than I ever meant to. No apology will suffice for whatI have done.” He was in the dark, some dozen feet away. She, too, was in theshadow of a tree, hidden even from starlight.
“Then why are you here?”
“To offer my humble apologies, even though they will meannothing.”
“I do not accept them,” she said firmly. “Begone.”
But he did not go. She could sense him there, lurking in thedarkness.
“What is it you want of me, rogue?”
He shifted from foot to foot. “There is a man here in CastleRenne-he is called Kai-”
“Yes, the man in the barrow. I have heard all about him.”
“You can’t begin to know Kai’s story. His life has beenlonger than any mortal man’s. Had you heard that?”
“I had not … How would you know this?”
“Because my memories, Lady Llyn, stretch back to times forgotten.To times when the Kingdom of Ayr was a wildland, a vast forest we called TolYosel-the River Lands. The forbears of the Renne and the Wills were hunters, orfishers of the great river-later called the Wyrr, after my father.”
She tugged her shawl closer, as a chill seemed to washthrough her heart. “You frighten me, rogue,” she said. “Tell me no more. I donot wish to know why you have come. Leave me in peace.”
“Peace is no more. We are at war.” He took a few stepsacross the walkway, gravel scuffing beneath his feet. His voice seemed to haveaged; though melodious yet, it was heavy and world-weary. “You know that Hafyddis a sorcerer.”
“I know that you are a sorcerer!” she said angrily.
He did not respond right away, and when he did his voice wasquiet, conciliatory. “Kai cannot fall into the hands of our enemies. Hafyddcannot find him. It is of the utmost importance.”
“Why?”
“You would not believe me if I told you.”
“You do not think me intelligent enough to unde
rstand?”
“I think you too intelligent, Lady Llyn. That is why youwouldn’t believe me.”
“You are a flatterer and a rogue. Where is it you go now?”Llyn asked, not sure why.
“I have a task to complete, and then I go to war, I think.”
He stood still a moment, as though expecting her to speak.
“Luck to you then, Alaan,” she said, feeling confused andweak, unable to maintain even feelings of anger.
“Luck to us all, Lady Llyn.” But he did not go. She couldhear him breathing, almost, she imagined, hear the beating of his heart. “May Ioffer an observation?”
“Of what?” she asked apprehensively. He had never asked forpermission to speak his mind before.
“Of Lady Llyn.”
“You may not!”
She imagined the shadow gave a slight bow and turned awayagain, taking a few purposeful strides.
“What is it?” she called out. “What is it you would say?”
He stopped, farther off, now. For a maddening moment he saidnothing. Llyn felt herself lean forward, holding her breath, her heart racing.
“You shall regret this choice you’ve made, Lady Llyn. I willtell you this-when you stand before Death’s gate you will wish you had lived,for it is a place of regrets.” He hesitated, then said very quietly, “You willwish you had lived.”
And he was gone.
For a moment she sat utterly still, unable to rise, asthough the wind had been knocked from her. And then she was striding toward thestairs. She snatched up a lantern that stood there and went quickly down thepath Alaan had taken. He was not to be found. But then she stopped. There,beyond the doveplum tree was a narrow cleft in the in the shrubbery that sheknew had never been there before. She stared into this dark void, the lightdancing as her hand trembled. There was a path into her garden! She almost feltan urge to walk down it, to see where it led. But she only stood and stared,her arm quickly tiring as she held the lantern aloft.
In a moment she turned and hurried away, breaking into arun. She dashed up the stairs and slammed the door behind her, almost droppingthe lantern to the door.
