Lightnings Daughter (37 page)

Lord Athlone tried to hold his temper. Although the priests and priestesses of a clan did not have as much authority as the chieftain, even the chiefs did not deliberately insult or antagonize a representative of the gods. Thalar, however, made self-control difficult.

"We're trying to---" Athlone began, but Thalar turned away before he could complete the sentence.

The priest faced Gabria, and his color turned as red as a beet. "As for her," he shouted, pointing a trembling finger at the woman, "that evil-tainted sorceress has destroyed this gathering! The moment she appeared, all the fury of Sorh broke loose."

Gabria tried to stifle a smile. Thalar did not know the truth of the gorthling's identity, so he had little idea how close he was to the truth.

Unfortunately the priest noticed her half-hidden expression and misread it for ridicule. "See how she laughs? Does she care that six people lie dead, that many more are injured, that nine are hostage, including a chief and your own wer-tain? Does she care for the sacrilege that is being done to our holy temple? Lord Athlone, that woman is a menace, and I demand that you banish her from this camp before she destroys us all."

"No,” Athlone replied simply.

Thalar rose to his ful height and bel owed, "Then kil her! Root out her evil!" His voice thundered across the grove. Anyone nearby who was not already listening to the harangue turned to watch. "Put an end to this vile stain of magic or by Surgart, I swear I will bring down the wrath of the gods upon this clan. I will---"

He went no further. Lord Athlone had had enough. The chief raised his hand, spoke a single word, and the priest's voice caught in his throat. Thalar's face turned from red to a sickly white, and his eyes bulged as he attempted to speak. Sha Umar and Sayyed grinned; the other chiefs looked stunned.

"No,” said Athlone calmly. "As you can see, the stain of magic is spreading." Thalar gasped and gagged with a mighty effort to say something, but the words would not come.

"You will listen now,” Athlone ordered, a bite of steel in his tone. "I am a magic-wielder, too. I intend to help Lady Gabria as best I can to remove that gorthling."

Thalar abruptly stilled, and his body stiffened.

The chieftain saw his reaction and pushed the point home. "That's right. That creature is not Branth, but a beast of Sorh, and Lady Gabria was trying to save the clans from its evil. Do you understand?" Thalar nodded, his eyes narrowed.

"Good. If you wish to remain with the Khulinin, I suggest you think about your position on sorcery.

There are two sides to every argument." Athlone spoke a second command, and the priest put his hand to his throat. He cleared it a few times to make certain that he could speak again.

"So," Thalar said, his tone low and cold, "you, too, have succumbed to the heresy. Are you here to fight the gorthling or help it?" He glared ferociously at Athlone and stalked away from the group.

The men standing nearby stared at Athlone in amazement. "That was very interesting," Sha Umar said.

Gabria touched Athlone's arm. "You have been practicing,” she said reproachfully.

"A little,” he admitted. "Enough to get a feel for the way magic works."

She turned to Sayyed. "I suppose you have, too?"

He grinned. "Of course."

"How? You two don't know enough to teach yourselves."

Athlone replied, "By listening and watching you."

"You're lucky you did not destroy yourselves with an uncontrol ed spel ,” she said.

Sayyed lifted his hands and shrugged. "You can’t show us a feast and expect us to be happy with crumbs."

Gabria was about to reply when a shadow passed over the council grove. Nervously she glanced up, but it was only a cloud passing overhead, formed by the growing afternoon heat.

The sorceress was still gazing at the sky when an agonized scream tore through the camps.

Everyone within hearing froze in their tracks. As the scream died away, Gabria, Athlone, and the others ran to the riverbank and stared at the island where the gorthling was standing. He had dissolved his force field and had dragged a woman out of the circle of standing stones to the graveled bank. The other eight hostages stil huddled in the ring.

"Sorceress!" Branth yel ed. He yanked his prisoner to her feet and held her out at arm's length.

"Come to me or this female dies!" He shook the young woman viciously to make her scream again.

"Let her go!" Gabria shouted. "Let them all go, and I will come."

"You come now!" he screamed. "I wil not wait." So saying, he shoved the sobbing woman toward the water. She ran frantically to escape, but the gorthling's spell caught her before she had taken five steps. The magic seared through her. The creature did not kil her with a quick, explosive burst of Trymian Force. Instead, he used an agonizing power that arched through the woman's body in a slow, massive, disintegrating wave.

Scream after scream ripped from her throat as she thrashed and writhed in the shallow water. The clanspeople watched, motionless with horror. The woman gave a final shriek, then sagged face-first into the water. The current tugged gently at her lifeless body and swirled her fair hair.

Branth did not give the clanspeople time to react. Instantly he shouted a command, and the nearest hostage in the circle stumbled to his feet and began to walk helplessly toward the gorthling. It was Guthlac, the Khulinin wer-tain.

Gabria's eyes blazed with green fury. "Athlone . . ." she began to say, but something interrupted her.

A man stepped off the council grove riverbank into the water. His robes swirled around his short legs, and his face was red with righteous fury. He held his priest's staff over his head like a spear pointed at the gorthling.

"Begone, foul heretic! Beast of Sorh, leave this holy place!" Thalar shouted with all his rage and indignation as he waded toward the island.

"Thalar!" Athlone yelled. "Get back here."

The priest did not hear him. His mind was focused on driving the evil from the blessed island. The Tir Samod was the gods' holy temple, the sanctuary of the priests and the sacred heart of the clans, not a hiding hole for a creature of profane powers. If no one else was going to rid the island of this evil, Thalar swore he would do it himself.

He raised his staff higher. "Go, you gods-cursed worm. By the power of Surgart, I command you to leave."

The gorthling laughed and, without a word, struck the priest with a brilliant blue bolt of Trymian Force. Thalar shrieked once, threw his arms up, and toppled into the river. The rippling water caught his scorched body and carried him gently downstream.

"That's two, Sorceress,” the gorthling yelled. "Do you want more bodies to clog the river?"

Gabria spun on her heel and whistled for Nara. Both Hunnuli came at her summons. "That beast must be stopped,” she said as she sprang to Nara's back.

Athlone immediately mounted Eurus, and the big stallion blocked Nara's way. "We're going with you,” the chieftain said calmly.

Gabria looked from Athlone to Sayyed and saw the same look of determination on both faces. She could not leave them behind this time, even if she wanted to. She inclined her head once in gratitude and shoved her fear for them out of the way. Now, however, she hesitated, for she was uncertain how to mount an attack that would use the skil s of the two men. Sayyed had no mount, and neither man was very proficient with the Trymian Force.

She was still trying to think of a way when Nara perked up her ears. Eurus lifted his head high, and his nostrils flared. On the edge of her senses, Gabria felt something, a faint vibration like distant thunder, or . . . horses' hooves. She raised herself up on Nara's back and saw a plume of dust on the ridge of hil s to the west. The vibrations grew louder. A dark form appeared on the horizon, then another, then many more. Nara and Eurus suddenly neighed a joyful greeting that pealed through e gathering and was echoed by every horse in the valley.

A herd of horses galloped down the hills and across the valley, then black coats shining in the sun. A small rider on a little Hunnuli ran just behind their leader. The clanspeople saw them, shouted in awe and delight, and stood aside to let them pass.

The gorthling, too, stared at the approaching horses, and for the first time since he had taken his mortal guise, he felt a pang of apprehension.

The herd thundered down to the river and plunged in with a tremendous, sparkling splash. They ran through the water as easily as air until the entire herd had encircled the island, cutting off the gorthling from the clans. Then the Hunnuli stopped, their heads turned toward the island. Sunlight glistened on their wet coats; their lightning marks gleamed on their shoulders. They pawed the water and snorted in anger.

Five of the horses charged toward the island, their hooves flashing, and their teeth bared. The gorthling clasped his hostage in front of him like a shield. He backed away to the shelter of the temple just as the enraged Hunnuli burst up on the shore, then swiftly revived his protective shield of magical energy. The five horses circled the temple warily and waited for their Icing's command.

Finally the King Stallion cantered up to Gabria on the riverbank, his deep, wise eyes glowing with a golden light. He bowed his head to her.
Sorceress, you needed us, so we have come.

For a moment Gabria was utterly speechless. She gazed up at the magnificent old stal ion, then transferred her amazement to the beaming, dark-haired girl sitting astride Nara's colt.

"I won't ask now how you did this, Tam," Gabria said softly. "You can tell me later, but I am deeply grateful."

The little girl blushed under her tan, and her shy grin grew even wider. Sayyed strode over and pul ed Tam off the colt into a huge hug of relief and pride. Tam wrapped her arms around his neck.

The King Stallion snorted angrily.
Tam has told us a gorthling has been released in the world.

Gabria gestured to the island where the gorthling was pacing back and forth within his defense shield, studying the new arrivals. "Do you know of any way to send him back?"

Sadly, no. That knowledge was never passed on to us.
The King Stallion swung his massive head toward his herd.
His magic cannot affect us, however. We wil try to keep him confined to the island so
he does not harm any more of your people. The rest you must do yourself.

Gabria was disappointed that even the King Stal ion did not know how to dispel a gorthling, but she appreciated his help enormously. She would not have to worry about the clans with the Hunnuli herd to protect them.

I see that you have one sorcerer unhorsed. That wil not do.
The King Stallion neighed and another stallion left the ring of Hunnuli. The new horse came to stand in front of Sayyed. He stretched out his muzzle to gravely sniff the Turic.

This is Afer. He wil be your mount for this confrontation
, the King Stallion told Sayyed.

For once the young Turic was nonplussed. He was torn between delight and awe as he ran his hand down the big Hunnuli's nose. Gingerly he mounted the stal ion and settled down on the broad back.

Gabria nodded her thanks to the King Stal ion before she turned to the two men. "Remember, Eurus and Afer are immune to magic," she said rapidly. "Stay on them at all times. If you need protection, form a shield between you and the gorthling." After a pause, she added, "Please try to use spells as little as possible. I will attack the gorthling, but I'll need you two, distract him. We will try to wear him down until he is too weak to use his power."

"What about the prisoners?" Sayyed asked.

"If we can cut the gorthling off from them and keep him occupied, maybe they'll escape on their own. Perhaps the Hunnuli wil help them."

"Have you tried the mask yet?" Athlone wanted to know.

Gabria shook her head. "I still don't know what to do with it."

"Sorceress!" the gorthling suddenly yel ed. "I see you brought some help," He laughed maliciously,

"These useless beasts will avail you not. Come. I grow tired of waiting. You or these mortals must die!"

Gabria curled her lip in a feral grimace. "We will find a way to destroy him.' She turned and cal ed,

"Lord Sha Umar, the Hunnuli wil try to protect the people from any destructive magic, but please keep the warriors and priests away from the island. Will you also watch over Tam?"

"With pleasure, Lady Gabria,” the Jehanan answered, coming forward to stand beside the little girl.

"The gods go with you."

Gabria turned away so quickly she did not see the stricken look pass over Tam's face. The sorceress signaled to Athlone and Sayyed, and the three magic-wielders rode down into the river. The gorthling laughed with glee as they came.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

While the King Stallion rejoined his herd, Gabria, Athlone, and Sayyed separated and spread out so they could approach the island from different angles. Their mounts passed through the ting of Hunnuli horses and carefully waded toward the island. The five Hunnuli on shore held their positions and waited.

The gorthling, wary but confident, watched the riders come. There were three humans now. That was an interesting development. There was only supposed to be one magic-wielder in the clans. Curious, he formed an opening in his defense field and fired a blue bolt at the nearest man. He was amazed when the clansman formed a shield and deflected the energy harmlessly into the air. For just a second, the gorthling felt a twinge of fear. Then it passed, and he snarled. What was another magic-wielder or two?

He would simply have to strike fast and kill them before they could wear down his strength with their greater numbers.

He glanced at the Hunnuli, too. They were another problem. He knew the five on the island were only waiting to break through his shield and chase him out into the open. No magic would stop them.

What he needed was a spel to frighten the humans and a weapon untouched by magic to drive off the horses.

His eye lit on the tal , upright monoliths of the temple, and a cunning grin curled his mouth. He spoke the words of his spel , and once again his body glowed red and began to grow. Soon he towered over the temple and could straddle his hostages. His defense shield dissipated. With a great laugh, he tore a stone from the sacred ring and swung it like a club at the nearest horse. The animal barely dodged in time.