Shadow Singer

by Marcia J. Bennett

“The legend of the Tamorlee,” Poco explained. “The Sarissa believed it was a vast treasure trove. They tried to find it by following Dhal, only he didn’t know any more about it than they did. We came to—”

  “Do you let the Sarissa woman do your talking for you?” Paa-tol demanded. His eyes were narrowed in anger as he looked at Dhal.

  “Poco speaks when and where she will,” Dhal responded softly. If the look in his eyes was not threat enough, the tone of Dhal’s voice should have warned Paa-tol that he was swimming in dangerous waters.

  Before Poco could do or say anything to ease the tension, Chulu intervened. “Everyone will be given a chance to speak, Paa-tol. Please, go and see to our escort.”

  Paa-tol accepted Chulu’s subtle rebuke with a stiff nod and stepped out of the cell to speak with someone waiting beyond the doorway. His words were in Ni. A few minutes later Dhal, Poco, and their two furred companions were being herded down a stone corridor lighted with fayyal rocks.

  Poco leaned close to Dhal as they walked along. “The Ni seem to have a liking for caves and tunnels,” she said softly. “This is very much like Val-hrodhur.”

  “Such places are safe from draak and gensvolf,” Dhal pointed out. “And they are easy to defend.”

  “True, but would you like living the rest of your life in stone tunnels?”

  “No,” Dhal replied. “I love the forests too much. Don’t worry, Poco, you won’t lose me to another way of life. I promise.”

  But is that a promise you can keep, my love? Poco wondered.

  They followed their guides down the twisting corridors, then were ushered through a large, wooden portal into an oval meeting room lined with wood benches.

  At the far end of the room was a raised platform upon which lay a beautifully woven rug in Ni colors of blue and green. Poco’s gaze traced the lines of color in toward the center of the rug to the image of a large seven-pointed star, the same symbol they had found in the sun chamber in Val-hrodhur.

  Chulu waved them to a seat and turned to speak to Paa-tol. Poco could not hear what was being said, but the ten guards backed off and took positions along the walls. The look Paa-tol gave her as he joined the guard was anything but friendly. For the first time since joining Dhal, Poco wondered if her being a half-blood was going to be a detriment to Dhal’s reunion with his people. If the Ni did not trust her, would they trust Dhal? She could not really blame them if they didn’t. After all, the war with the Sarissa had cost them many lives.

  Chulu sat down on the rug opposite Dhal and glanced at Screech and Gi-arobi.

  “You have some very interesting companions, Dhal-vad,” Chulu said, speaking trader. “The furred ones seldom choose company other than their own.”

  “My companions may seem strange to you, saan,” Dhal answered carefully, “but there is trust and love between us. In the absence of others they have become my family.”

  “I see.” Chulu looked at Poco, then turned back to Dhal. “Would you introduce me to your friends, please?”

  Dhal looked to his left and indicated Screech. “This is Ssaal-lr.”

  Screech coughed a greeting that Chulu imitated, demonstrating that derkat customs were recognized by the mountain Ni.

  “Beside him is Gi-arobi,” Dhal continued. “Gi and I lived in the Deep, a marshland north of Annaroth. We have been friends a long time.”

  Gi whistle-clicked a greeting, but this time Chulu did not respond in kind.

  “I don’t think he understood you, Gi,” Dhal said.

  Gi cocked his head to one side, then stood up and strode forward to stand close to Chulu’s leg. “Gi saying avto, Chulu. Happy being here. Long time coming, yes.”

  Chulu looked bemused. “I don’t believe I have ever heard of the fur children speaking trader,” he said. “Is it a common occurrence in this Deep of yours?”

  “No. I think Gi has taught a few of his friends to speak trader, but most of them just use their own language.”

  “Do you understand the olvaar whistle tongue?”

  “Yes,” Dhal answered.

  “There are a few of us who have taken the time to learn the olvaar tongue, but not many. The olvaar are few in this territory.”

  Chulu’s glance lifted from the olvaar and came to rest on Poco.

  Dhal took Poco’s hand. “This is Pocalina-fel-Jamba, my mate.”

  “Is she Sarissa?”

  Dhal looked at Poco. “I think I will let her answer that, saan.”

  “I am half-blood Ni,” Poco said. “My father’s name was Askel. He was killed during the Sarissa war against our people.”

  “Our people? Do you consider yourself Ni then?”

  “Yes, part of me,” she answered.

  “And your loyalty lies where?”

  “With Dhal,” she replied firmly.

  Chulu looked at Dhal. “How long have you known her?”

  “Half a year,” Dhal responded.

  “You believe that she is Ni, or at least part Ni?”

  “Yes.”

  “Because she told you so?”

  “Because she is.” Softly, softly came that last answer. Dhal obviously did not like the direction of the questioning.

  But Chulu was not about to let Dhal’s anger put him off. “You must admit that she hasn’t the look of the Ni-lach. How do you know she shares our heritage? What proof does she offer?”

  “I know because I have heard her sing,” Dhal said. “It is all the proof I need!”

  Chulu again glanced at Poco. “Her singing is special in some way?”

  “Yes!”

  “How?” Chulu demanded.

  Poco could see that Dhal was barely holding onto his temper. “You need not explain anything to him, Dhal,” she said. “Not when he uses that tone of voice!”

  “Do you know about world gates, Chulu?” Dhal asked. “Do you know about the Singers who can find and open those gates? Poco is such a Singer!” Dhal paused, then continued. “We have come far in search of the Tamorlee, and we have discovered some very unusual things along the way. I have learned to use a Seeker ring and have traveled to the world of the Ancients; I have learned about the Ral-jenobb and believe there is a link between them and mankind; I have heard Poco sing of other places and seen them live in her chalk pictures; and we have met an old Ni who claimed that he was once a Seeker, one of those responsible for taking the Tamorlee to safety in another world! He died while trying to escape the atich-ar who followed us back through the world gate!”

  Poco squeezed Dhal’s arm, trying to warn him that he was saying too much.

  He ignored her. “We did not come this far to betray you to your enemies!” Dhal said. “We came to learn, and to warn you of danger! If what the old Ni said was true, you have more than the Sarissa to worry about! And that says nothing about the return of the Tamorlee! It isn’t here is it? It’s lost to you, but we know where it can be found!”

  Chulu silently studied Dhal, as if gauging the truth behind his statements. Not a flicker of emotion touched his face as he looked from Dhal to Poco, then on to Screech and Gi.

  Chulu turned and summoned Paa-tol.

  “Go and find Tidul and Amet,” Chulu said, when Paa-tol stopped before him. “Tell them—” Chulu hesitated. “—tell them it concerns the Tamorlee.”

  Paa-tol left and Chulu turned to Dhal. “You said that you are a Healer. Judging from what you said just moments ago, you also claim to be a Seeker.” Chulu’s voice had softened. “Is this true?”

  DhaJ nodded stiffly, not yet ready to lower his guard.

  “You are extremely gifted then, almost impossibly so,” Chulu said. “Those I have sent for will be better able to judge your claims than I. While we wait for them, would you allow me to see your ring?”

  Dhal glanced at Poco. She nodded and he slipped the Seeker ring from his finger.

  Chulu was still studying the ring when Paa-tol returned. With him were two more Ni, their braids of authority falling to their chests. Chulu apparently had call
ed in others of equal rank to help him sort out the truth.

  Chapter 21

  POCO UNCROSSED HER LEGS AND STRETCHED, EASING cramped muscles. The floor, even covered with a rug, was a hard surface on which to sit for so long. She was tired and thirsty, and she was becoming impatient.

  Amet held out his hand. “May I look at the pendant you found in Val-hrodhur, Pocalina?”

  Poco drew the chain and pendant over her head and handed them to the thin-faced Ni at Chulu’s right. She then glanced at Dhal, who looked as tired as she felt. Their story had taken him hours to tell, due to the continuing barrage of questions put to him by the three Ni.

  When Tidul opened his mouth to ask another question, Poco began to wonder if he would ever be satisfied. Tidul was younger than Amet and Chulu, but Ni longevity made it difficult to guess his age. He was heavier in build than Amet and his green hair was so light that it was almost a white-gold.

  “I am interested in the elder Ni you met in the atich-ar’s world,” Tidul said. “What did you say his name was?” The question was addressed to Dhal.

  “Retath,” Dhal answered.

  “And tell us again, what did he say about the atich-ar planning an attack?”

  “There wasn’t time for long conversations. I told you, we were being chased by—”

  “Chulu! Look at this!” Amet interrupted. “Read!” he said, pushing the wood pendant toward Chulu’s face. “I know of only one Ni with that name symbol! Zaa-ob, the Singer of Aphicoran, the one who discovered the I-naal gate!”

  Chulu took the pendant and carefully studied the glyphs on the back.

  “Well,” Amet pressed. “It is Zaa-ob’s, isn’t it?”

  Chulu nodded. “It looks like it, but I cannot understand it being found at Val-hrodhur unless—”

  “Unless what?” Amet demanded.

  Both Ni were speaking their own language now. Poco glanced at Dhal, wondering if he was keeping up with the conversation.

  Gray-crystal eyes clouded as Chulu looked at the pendant. “Unless Zaa-ob returned there sometime after we all left.”

  “But why go back there? Why not come through here instead? After what happened in Val-hrodhur, he must have realized that there would be no one left there to help him.”

  “He may have had no choice. Think what might have happened if he had opened the I-naal gate and led the atich-ar here.”

  Tidul broke in. “I have just thought of something. If Zaa-ob did make it back to Val-hrodhur, he could not have come alone. No Singer, even as fine a one as Zaa-ob, could make and hold a gate alone. Who came with him, I wonder, and why haven’t we heard from them?”

  “The answer to that last question would depend upon how long his namepiece has been lying there,” Chulu said, glancing at Poco.

  Dhal interrupted before anyone else could speak. “Please, both Poco and I understand some Ni, but it would be easier for us to understand what is being said if you would speak trader. You are talking about the world gate and the moving of the Tamorlee, aren’t you?”

  The three Ni exchanged glances, then Chulu spoke in trader. “Yes, we are talking about the Tamorlee and about the Ni who had it in their care.”

  Poco sat a bit straighter, wondering if they were finally going to get some answers to their questions. She realized that the Ni still did not trust her, so she decided to remain quiet and let Dhal do the talking.

  “What I told you about the atich-ar in that other world— you already knew about them, didn’t you?” Dhal said.

  Chulu nodded. “We know about the atich-ar, yes. And we know they are our enemies.”

  “Were we right about the Tamorlee being taken into the atich-ar’s world to safeguard it from the Sarissa?”

  “Yes,” Chulu said.

  Dhal frowned. “Tell us what happened. Why wasn’t the Tamorlee brought back to Lach?” When Chulu did not respond immediately, Dhal pressed him. “You did intend to bring it back didn’t you?”

  “Yes, that was our intention,” Chulu responded. “But before we can answer any more of your questions, there is another who must be brought into this. Amet, bring the atich-ar in, will you?”

  “Do you mean Taav?” Dhal asked, as Amet stood and walked away.

  “Yes, if that is his true name,” Chulu answered.

  Poco and Dhal exchanged glances, then Dhal voiced their shared thought. “What do you mean ‘if’? What does his name matter? How can you—”

  Poco was one step ahead of Dhal. “You see him as a danger to you. Why?”

  “You are very perceptive,” Chulu said, addressing Poco directly.

  So I am perceptive, Poco thought. Answer my question!

  “Is Poco right?” Dhal asked. “Do you see Taav as some kind of a danger?”

  “He is atich-ar,” Chulu answered.

  “But not one of them!” Poco said quickly. “Dhal told you how we found him. Taav may not be his right name, but if he has another, he has never been able to tell us what it is.”

  “Hasn’t or won’t?” Chulu said softly.

  “You would not ask that if you had seen him back in Port Sulta,” Poco said, forgetting her intention to remain quiet. “A few weeks ago Taav’s mind was little more than that of a pet nida. Since Dhal healed Taav, Taav’s mental alertness has improved, but in many ways he is still a child and certainly no danger to anyone, least of all his own people.”

  Chulu looked at Dhal. “I am most interested in observing your healing gift, Dhalvad, but until I do, I am afraid I must reserve judgment on whether or not the atich-ar was healed by you, or was only playing a part.”

  Dhal frowned. “Are you saying that Taav might be one of the enemy atich-ar from this other world?”

  “It is possible. Before the I-naal gate was closed, more than a handful of atichrar slipped through. It was they who killed the two Sensitives who held the gate on our side and twenty-four more of our people. When the battle was over, all but three of the enemy atich-ar were killed. Those three escaped into the forest near Val-hrodhur. Only one was ever caught. We never learned what happened to the other two.”

  There was no way Taav could have fooled them this long, Poco felt sure. Dhal would have discovered any attempts at subterfuge long ago—or would he? Dhal’s ability to link his mind with the body of another in order to heal did not necessarily mean that he could touch the thoughts of his host. At least Dhal had never explained it that way. Still, it would seem that if Taav had been faking idiocy, Dhal would have sensed it.

  Poco’s thoughts were interrupted by Amet’s return. Taav looked small and vulnerable walking between Amet and another Ni. As the three neared the platform, Taav saw Dhal and immediately began to struggle to free himself. The Ni to Taav’s right pulled Taav’s arm around and up in a painful hold. Taav made no noise of protest, but by the look on his face Poco knew Taav was being hurt. Then she noticed the gash below his left eye.

  She stood up and stepped down from the platform, but Dhal was already ahead of her. He reached Taav in six long strides.

  “There is no need for that!” Dhal snapped, stopping before Amet. “Release him to me!”

  Amet and the other Ni stiffened at Dhal’s tone of voice. Amet started to say something, then hesitated uncertainly. Who was this strange Ni who claimed to be both Healer and Seeker? Who came to them with stories of time travel and world gates? Poco felt she could almost read Amet’s thoughts as he looked to Chulu for direction.

  Poco was aware of Screech moving up behind her, his furred hand coming to rest on her shoulder, but her attention remained on Taav. She could see that he had sustained several other injuries. Besides the gash under his eye, his lower lip was cut and swollen and there were red marks on his neck as if something had been drawn tight around his throat.

  “That split lip looks new,” Poco observed.

  Amet answered her criticism without turning. “He was violent yesterday. It took three to subdue him.”

  Poco glared at the side of Amet’s head. “Taav has ne
ver shown himself to be violent, at least not in our care. May I ask what you were doing to him?”

  Amet turned; his crystal eyes were cold with dislike for anyone linked with the Sarissa. “We were trying to break through his silence. We had questions we wanted answered.”

  “And you were not above a little physical persuasion to get those answers were you?” Poco snapped.

  Amet started to reply but was interrupted by Chulu. “Enough! What has been done cannot be undone!” Chulu turned to Poco. “If we have made a mistake, we will apologize, but until we know whether or not this atich-ar is a friend or an enemy, he must be handled with extreme caution. The lives of our friends and the recovery of the Tamorlee are at risk!”

  Chulu’s words died away and suddenly everyone became aware that Dhal was talking softly to Taav, whose eyes had closed as if he were asleep. Poco knew what Dhal was going to do the moment he raised his hands to cup Taav’s face and head.

  Well, they wanted a demonstration of his powers, she thought. Now they were going to get one.

  Chulu and Tidul moved closer as Dhal closed his eyes to better concentrate on the job before him. Amet opened his mouth to speak, but was waved to silence by Chulu. Poco realized that Chulu, at least, had at some time witnessed a Healer’s trance and was willing to let Dhal perform.

  Several minutes passed. No one moved or spoke. Suddenly Taav’s eyes fluttered open, and a second later Dhal withdrew his hands. Poco caught one quick glimpse of Taav’s face and knew that Dhal’s healing touch had been successful. Anticipating his need, she moved up behind Dhal and wrapped her arms around his waist. She could feel the tremor in his legs and knew he had to sit down.

  “Screech, help me put him over there,” she said, indicating the platform.

  Dhal gratefully sank to a seat as Chulu, Tidul, and Amet stood and stared at Taav. Taav brushed his fingertips across the cheek that had been cut and the lips that had tasted of blood. Ignoring the presence of the other Ni, Taav came and knelt at Dhal’s knees; then he took the Healer’s hand and brought it to his lips. The look of gratitude that filled Taav’s face made Poco’s eyes mist.

  Dhal gently withdrew his hand. “You are welcome, Taav. Come, sit here beside me. Everything is going to be all right now. I promise.”