Whisperings of Magic (19 page)

“Open the gates,” she commanded. “Catryn, Seer of Taun, has business with your king.”

The gates swung open immediately. Catryn swept past the dumbfounded guard, dragging Norl behind her. The boy was swiveling his head, trying to see everything at once and tripping over his feet at almost every step in the process.

“It’s beautiful!” he cried. “I’ve never seen anything so grand!”

Relief flooded through Catryn. They had made it in time! The streets were thronged with people. People who sang and called out greetings to each other.

Then the relief ebbed and turned again to concern. These people—so happy and so innocent. They knew not the danger that was almost certainly bearing down upon them. She must get to Dahl’s palace as quickly as possible.

Was Dahl here already? Catryn wondered. The question was answered as she and Norl approached the palace gates, which opened to let out orderly squads of marching guards.

“Take cover,” one called out to her as they passed by. “Return to your home and stay inside.”

She watched as the lines of men flowed down into the city. They were disciplined and business-like. There was no panic. People questioned at first but, gradually, Catryn could see them beginning to desert the streets and take shelter in their houses. Good, she
thought. As long as they stay indoors they will be safe. She cast an anxious glance at the shadows she and Norl were casting—long in the rising sunshine.

“Come, Norl,” she said.

The guard at the palace gate would have turned them back, but Catryn had no time for him. Her eyes blazed as she fixed him with a fierce glare.

“I am Catryn, Seer of Taun,” she declared. “Do you dare detain me?”

The guard melted back, motioning her through with a bow and jumbled words of apology.

Norl was impressed. “Are you so important, then?” he asked in a whisper.

“I am,” Catryn replied.

“And you are going to save all these people?” he asked further. “They will not have their souls stolen from them as did the people in my village? As did my mother?” His voice broke on the last words.

“I am,” Catryn answered again without hesitation, her voice as determined and firm as she could make it.

But how was she going to do it? In truth, she was nowhere near as confident as she made herself sound. Then she pushed that question out of her mind. First of all, she must find Dahl. And was Sele the Plump here, too? Just what did the Sele have planned?

She marched up to the massive front door and through it. Guards scattered as she strode in. Holding tightly onto Norl, she made her way to Dahl’s private rooms. There was an air of uneasy bustle throughout the palace, but no sign of panic. When she reached
Dahl’s chamber she pulled back the heavy curtain in the doorway and went in. Dahl was seated at a low table, talking to Coraun. Deep frown lines—almost lines of despair, it seemed—lined the older man’s face.

“Again?” he was saying as Catryn entered. “Are we really to face enslavement again?”

“No,” Dahl answered, “I will not allow it. Then he leaped to his feet as he saw her. “Catryn!” he exclaimed. “You are well come indeed! How did you get here so quickly?”

“Is the Sele here?” she asked instead. Explanations could follow later.

Dahl’s forehead creased into frown lines as well, then smoothed. “No,” he said. “I have seen no sign of it. But we are taking precautions and we will be ready for the beast when she comes.” His hand strayed to the pommel of his sword.

Brave words, Catryn thought, but she was dismayed nonetheless. She had not realized how much she had been counting on Sele the Plump.

“The people are receiving orders to stay indoors,” Dahl went on. “If they do not go out, the beast will not be able to snatch their shadows away.”

“A temporary measure only,” Catryn said. “They will not be able to stay inside indefinitely. What if she just waits?”

“Then I will kill her,” Dahl said. His face was pale, the dragon scar throbbed scarlet, but his voice was firm. “I shall kill her or she will kill me. One or the other.”

Catryn’s heart stopped for a moment.
“We
will kill her,” she said. “We will do battle together.”

“As we did before,” Dahl said.

“Yes,” Catryn agreed. “As we did before.”

Dahl reached out to take her hand. The warmth of his grasp was familiar and comforting. “We must make plans,” he said. “Come, sit with us. You have met Coraun, I believe?”

The three of them bent to their work. Forgotten, Norl stood watching them.

“I will shield you as best I can, Dahl,” Catryn said. “When the dragon attacks and is concentrating entirely on you, she will be at her weakest. I am certain I can shield you from her fire.”

“And I will fly up under her and strike at the vulnerable spot on the underside of her neck, as I did with her child. I killed him that way; I shall slay her in the same manner.”

That reminded Catryn of Norl. She looked around for him and saw him standing, his mouth slightly agape.

“You must stay here, Norl,” she said. “In this room. In here you will be safe. Do you understand?”

The boy nodded.

“I mean what I say,” Catryn repeated. “You must not go outside.”

“I won’t,” Norl answered. His face was even whiter than Dahl’s, but he stood firm.

What is it about this boy? Catryn thought. He is definitely not like any other boy I have ever known.

“My mother said I was special,” Norl said.

Was he reading her thoughts again?

“She said that was why she feared so for me,” he said.

“All children are special to their parents,” Catryn answered, but even as she spoke the words, she knew there was something more here. And, it would seem, Mavahn knew it as well.

“Catryn?”

Dahl’s voice brought her out of her wonderings.

“We are going to patrol the town. Make certain everyone is inside. You will come?”

“Of course,” Catryn replied. “The maidservant will bring you food,” she said to Norl. “Remember your promise—you will stay here?”

“I will,” Norl said.

By the time they left the palace, the streets were deserted except for the guards.

“What of them?” Catryn asked. “They will be in danger.”

“They have orders to take cover as soon as the beast appears,” Dahl answered. “You and I will fight her alone.”

Catryn nodded, but she could not keep from casting her eyes across the plain into the woods beyond.
Where was the Sele? What had happened to it?

When they had satisfied themselves that all the townspeople had taken shelter, Dahl turned to Coraun. “You must return to the palace,” he said. “It is necessary that you be in a place of safety. In case …” He did not continue.

Coraun looked as if he would argue, then nodded his head. “I will do as you command, my king,” he said. “But I like it not.”

Dahl clasped the man’s hand in both of his own. “You must stay safe,” he repeated. “Daunus needs you.”

Coraun grasped Dahl’s hands tightly, then turned back toward the palace.

Catryn swiveled to look all around her.

“It is so quiet,” she said. “So strange!”

“The people remember what things were like before,” Dahl answered. “They know enough to hide now.”

“Where is the horse?” Catryn asked then.

“In the shelter of the main gate. I left it hidden there. It is time, now, I think, for us to return to it.”

“Good,” Catryn replied.

They made their way to the archway of the gate. Catryn glanced repeatedly at the sky, ready to break into a run if any shadow appeared on the horizon. None did, however, and they reached its shelter safely. A guard stood underneath the stone arch. It was the same guard who had admitted Catryn earlier. He bowed to Dahl and looked at Catryn in fear.

The horse greeted them with soft snufflings and pawed at the cobblestones with one hoof. Its eyes glowed, the fire within them banked, but growing. As Dahl took the blanket off its back, it shook out its wings and unfurled them, spreading them out to their full magnificence. Dahl mounted, unsheathed his sword and held it ready. Catryn stood beside him.

They waited.

The sun rose to its zenith and began its descent. The afternoon shadows lengthened. Still they waited.

“No!”

Catryn heard Dahl’s quick intake of breath. She followed his worried stare to see a few people peering tentatively out of their houses. Even as she watched, one young woman stepped out of her doorway, cast a quick glance at the sky and then scampered down the path to the well. Another, seeing her, ran after her. Then a man nipped out of a back door and began to gather vegetables. One by one, more people emerged from their houses until the streets were once again thronged with people.

“What are they doing?” Dahl exclaimed incredulously.

It was the hour of the evening meal, Catryn realized. The people were hungry, and they must have thought it was safe since all looked so peaceful.

“They must return!” Dahl cried. He kicked hard into the horse’s sides and sent the animal into a startled gallop. “Guards!” Dahl shouted, “make those people take cover!”

“Dahl! Come back!” Catryn cried, but he did not hear. At the sound of his horse’s hooves, those who had emerged from their houses began to run back, but it was too late.

A shadow blotted out the sun. For an instant all was thrown into a dim penumbra, then the sun broke free again and the stink of dragon filled the air.

The beast swept down upon them, its wings making a sound as loud as thunder. People screamed. The guards, taken by surprise, turned to face the dragon, swords drawn. Dahl reined in the horse, leaned over its neck to speak a few words that Catryn could not hear, then the horse leaped into the air.

Catryn sent out a shielding with every bit of strength she possessed. But she could shield only Dahl—the guards and the people in the streets were exposed. She could not protect them.

And then, as if they had appeared by magic itself, the streets were suddenly filled with throngs of the Sele.

“Stay where you are!” they cried with one voice. The command rang loudly through the streets. The people and the guards alike froze in astonishment. Even the dragon seemed to hover motionless. One Sele ran to each person. And sat. On their shadow. In an instant, every shadow of every living being was covered by a Sele.

The dragon emitted a shriek of fury. She circled the town, swooping low, then rose back sunward. She turned upon Dahl. Catryn, as astonished as the rest,
had let her shield weaken. Just in time, she intensified it again. The dragon screamed with rage and turned toward her. A sheet of flame spewed forth from her throat. Catryn braced herself. She felt the flame sear into the space around her. She felt herself begin to weaken. Then, just as she knew she could hold on no longer, the dragon swerved in the air again. Dahl and the horse were coming straight up at her from below. Dahl held his sword high. The horse veered to the side at the last possible moment, and Dahl struck. But the dragon had seen him in time. She, too, veered away, and he missed.

The dragon made one last flight over the city. People cowered in fear, but none ran. It seemed as if they were anchored in place by the protecting Sele.

Catryn shifted her mind shield, trying to protect the exposed people and the Sele, but she could not extend it so far. Surely the dragon would unleash her fire upon them! But, to Catryn’s astonishment, after her last swoop across the city the beast rose again. She banked and flew directly at Catryn.

The battle is yours. This time.

The words seared into Catryn’s brain.

But I will be back!

And then she disappeared into the northern sky.

The silence after she left was profound, but the air hung heavy with the smell of fire. One by one, the Sele got up and melted back into the gathering shadows of the city walls.

“Wait,” Catryn cried, but they vanished as quickly
as they had appeared. All except Sele the Plump. Dahl landed beside her. The horse was breathing in great gulps of air. There was a smell of singed hair about it, but it was unhurt. Dahl’s face was taut with a fury equal to the dragon’s.