Swords Over Fireshore (16 page)

The others drew near. He heard Othanin's voice, speaking in low tones to one of the Lost, asking about water. Luruthin could not make out all the answer, but he heard mention of a spring.

Did they have hot springs in this part of the Ebons? Now that would be a luxury indeed. The thought of soaking his tired body in warm water was almost enough to banish his hunger.

He smelled the meat before the hunting party reached the glen. Raw meat, deer and hare, smelling of fresh blood. His stomach growled and he hugged himself, knowing he had still to wait some while.

Four Lost entered the glen including Kivhani, who had two brace of rabbits already spitted. Two others carried the carcass of a deer slung on a pole.

“I would not have thought the Lost would be so practiced at hunting game.”

His comment had been addressed to Vanorin, but one of the Lost at the fire turned to look at him. He could not help flinching from her gaze.

“We hunt for leather and fur.” She indicated her clothing. “Usually we give the meat to the kobalen.”

Vanorin looked surprised. “They do not fear to take it?”

“At the very first they did, but it has been many years since they hesitated. We leave it hanging near their camps, always in the same manner. They never let it go to waste.”

Luruthin nodded. “Generous of you to take such trouble for kobalen.”

“It is part of our atonement.”

He was silenced. She gazed gravely at him for a moment, then returned her attention to the fire, setting up forked sticks to hold the spits.

Eliani returned with a small cache of nuts she had gathered. She offered them to Luruthin, who took a share and then nodded toward Vanorin. Both hesitated, then Vanorin held out his hand and Eliani dropped a few nuts into it.

Luruthin chewed the nuts one at a time, slowly, making each last as long as he could while he stared at the roasting meat. Soon the first rabbit's fat began to drip on the flames and sizzle. When it was done Kivhani took it from the fire and offered it to him whole. He looked up at her in surprise, saw pity in her stern gaze. Sudden anger made him push the meat away.

“Let it be divided.”

“There are four, and there is also the deer. This is not more than your share.”

Unable to argue and ashamed of his reaction, Luruthin took the meat and mumbled thanks before biting into it. The hot juices ran into his mouth and he forgot all else as he tore the meat from the bone, not pausing until his jaws began to ache and he became aware that his stomach was full.

Eliani and Vanorin, the three other guardians and also Othanin were all eating rabbit. The deer was now roasting over the fire, the spit being turned by the Lost female who had spoken of giving meat to the kobalen.

Luruthin looked down at the rabbit in his hands. Still plenty of meat on it, but he could eat no more. He offered it to Vanorin, who was nearest him. Vanorin gave him a questioning look, then thanked him and took it.

“Better?”

Luruthin nodded. “Thank you for the food.”

“You are welcome.”

She offered him a flask of water. He drank two small sips and could take no more. He handed it back.

“You have been very patient with me. If we can rest a little more, I think I can go on.”

“We will rest here for the day. It is safe enough. Our hunting parties often camp here.”

Luruthin glanced upward. Yes, the canopy's gloom was lightening a little. Dawn was coming.

“Are we close to your main camp?”

“Another night's walking should bring us there.”

“Oh.”

The journey's end was near, then. This part of the journey, rather. It was only the beginning of the long, tiresome way back to Alpinon.

The Trade Road

 

F
ilari rode beside Rephanin, silent and sullen, appearing unwearied. Rephanin, whose aching limbs protested his horse's every step, was at a loss for how to approach his new candidate.

Reluctance showed in every line of her face and bristled in her khi. When he spoke to Filari she answered, but with few words and no enthusiasm. She would not initiate a conversation in mindspeech, despite his encouragement. She was withdrawn, and Rephanin did not understand why.

He thought of Ehranan's delight when he had reported Filari's response, of the commander's eagerness to send her at once to Hollirued. He had laughed as he told Ehranan they must first establish the extent of Filari's gift. Now it seemed possible that he must disappoint Ehranan altogether, and that was hard to bear. The commander's approval meant a great deal to him. Perhaps too much.

Rephanin turned his head to look at Filari. The spark of attraction he often felt for one with whom he shared intimate mindspeech was absent. Perhaps it was because of her trouble in Glenhallow; Ehranan had reminded him that she had been entangled with the traitor Kelevon. Her manner had been withdrawn, he assumed on that account, long before this morning. Her behavior toward Rephanin was reserved and formal.

Well, formality would not do, not if they were to become distance speakers together. As she was reluctant, he must exert himself.

Filari, do you hail from Glenhallow, or some other part of Southfæld?

She glanced sidelong at him. Glenhallow.

He caught an echo of unhappiness in her thoughts. Keeping his own voice gentle and warm, he tried again.

Your family are there? You must miss them.

She grimaced. My father gave me to understand he would be grateful if I did not return home.

Rephanin was astonished. He cast you out?

Not in so many words, but he made it clear he thought the Guard was the best place for me.

The Guard, who viewed her with mistrust and barely tolerated her presence. Rephanin frowned, thinking her father must not have known how the Guard treated her. No father who loved his child could wish such a fate upon her.

I am glad we are going to Fireshore.

It was the first voluntary expression she had made. Rephanin glanced at her.

Why?

Folk there do not know me.

Rephanin closed his eyes briefly, sorry for her pain. For a moment he wished to escape it, to abandon the attempt to work with her, but she did not deserve that he should desert her as others had done. What she needed, he thought, was healing, but that was not his gift.

You and Lord Turisan are the only ones who have been kind to me.

He smiled slightly. We know there is worth in you, Filari.

She did not answer. When next he looked her way he saw tears upon her cheeks. Dismayed, his instinct was to embrace her and try to comfort her. That could not be done now, while they were riding. Instead he reached a gentle thought toward her, a wordless touch, a tentative intimacy.

She gasped, and in the same instant he felt as if she had struck him a blow, as if the door to her thoughts had slammed in his face. It cost him his balance and he clutched at his mount's neck.

Recovering, he sought to regain his composure. Never in his life had he encountered such a response; Filari's reaction had been violent, something he had not even imagined possible in mindspeech.

Filari coughed. “Your pardon. I was startled.”

“My apologies.”

“I w-will not do it again.”

Rephanin nodded. Despite this assurance, he was hesitant to open himself once more. He rode in silence for a while, thinking of the healers who traveled with the army, wondering if he might approach one of them to work with Filari.

“Please, my lord...”

He met her gaze, saw anxiousness in her dark eyes. Though they were not in speech he could sense desperation in her khi. She feared he would turn away from her as well.

“When you are ready, speak to me.”

Her eyes lit with terror for a moment. What had she to fear from him? What had she suffered to make her so afraid?

His gaze drifted to the reins in his hands. All at once he had a strong wish to be back in Glenhallow, in the quiet darkness of the magehall, in the comfort of his circle, who knew him and trusted him.

My lord?

Ah. She could indeed initiate speech with him. Her gift was true. Relief and a tingle of anticipation poured through him.

Yes?

D-do not be angry with me, please.

I am not angry.

I reacted without thinking ... I ...

Filari.

She ceased her restless stammering. He could hear her take in a long breath.

I will never knowingly hurt you. You have my pledge upon that.

T-thank you.

They rode on in silence for a few moments, though the contact remained open between them. Rephanin put nothing forward, leaving it to her to speak first. He sensed her struggling, flashes of emotion reaching him whisper-light, too swift to be understood. At last they faded and she grew somewhat calmer.

It felt like—when Kelevon touched me.

Her fear flared again, so sharply that Rephanin flinched and almost withdrew. Spirits, what had Kelevon done to the child?

I will not hurt you.

I know. I know.

She let out a shuddering sigh, and seemed to be gathering herself. Rephanin remained watchful, as nervous of her as of a horse that might suddenly kick.

Lord Turisan said this would be a way for me to atone, to perform a service that would ... I do not know what he meant by it.

Rephanin paused to choose his words carefully. He had not yet raised the subject of distance speech. He sought now to tell her his hopes in a way that would cause her no alarm.

You said you were glad to be going to Fireshore.

Yes.

What would you think of traveling to Hollirued instead?

Hollirued?

On your own, with none of the Guard to look down upon you.

She seemed to muse on this. As a child I wished to go to Hollirued. My father journeyed there once, long ago. He said it was the most magnificent city in ælvendom, that it cast Glenhallow into shade.

If you and I can speak at distance, Lord Ehranan will ask you to travel to Hollirued, to be our voice before the governor of Eastfæld.

She was silent for so long he feared he had frightened her again. Turning his head to look at her, he saw her eyes alight with a fire he had not seen there before.

When? When may I go?

II