“And if they turn north under cover of the Forest, how long before they reach us, here or in our autumn camps?” Pa asked.
“Oh, with women and children along. And their horses would be almost useless in there. I’m . . . not sure. Longer than if they come straight north from the ford. I was never in the Forest very far south of here, so I’m not sure what the terrain is like.”
Pa rubbed the back of his neck. “The chiefs can probably hold the clans here long enough to find out if they turn north across the plains. The clans will never stay here much longer than that without some tangible signs of danger. The Raven Clan—despite the shaman’s best efforts—is the most insistent. The Wolf and Bear Clans aren’t far behind.”
“Avaza,” Vatar spat. “For them to go against the shaman, she has to be spreading lies and half-truths again.”
“Most likely. And Ramel hasn’t helped, either.”
Vatar sat and rested his head in his hands. “If the clans disperse, I don’t see a way to defend against the Exiles.”
“Well, once the snow falls it’ll become a lot more difficult to feed—let alone move—that many people. They’ll have to take whatever shelter they can, I would think.”
Vatar huffed. “For what it’s worth, that snow is probably going to come as an unpleasant surprise to the Exiles. The Pass closes, but it never snows that much lower down in the Valley. I don’t know what winters are like wherever they’ve been in the intervening years, but probably not like winter on the plains. Unfortunately, desperation can make people do . . . unexpected things. And the snow also cuts the clans off from each other. Communication even between bands becomes problematic during the worst of it.” He raised his head. “But . . . maybe we have a way to remedy that. We have Theklan in the Eagle Clan and Kiara here. Teran, Balan, and Zoria, if they’re willing—and if we could get Balan and Zoria to part for the winter. That’s five of the clans. Maybe. Thekila and I . . .” Vatar stopped. He really needed to get back to Caere to help deal with Gerusa. And he really didn’t much care for the idea of wintering with the children—especially Zavar and Savara—as guests of another, less friendly, clan.
“Or Sharila,” Pa put in.
Vatar snorted. So far the girl had proved to be more trouble than help at anything. The only thing she seemed to be good at was complaining—about the huts, the bedroll on the floor, the food, most of all about being ignored and avoided by Theklan. Though Vatar couldn’t fault the boy for that. “I can’t see her being much help.”
“I don’t think you and Thekila—and especially your children—should be outside the Lion Clan, if you stay the winter. They’ve seen too much magic. And they’re too young to know how to keep a secret. With everyone crammed together for the winter, something would be bound to slip out. Kiara . . . well, maybe with the Horse Clan.”
Because, as Mother’s adopted clan, all of the young men of the Horse Clan were considered Kiara’s cousins and so not eligible to court her. And Uncle Bion and Aunt Lanara would be there to watch out for her. Vatar still didn’t like the idea any more than Pa seemed to. And then there was the question of whether Savara could quench the Talents of Gerusa and Selene—and what that might mean for the conclusion of this war. And whether it was safe for her to try. “I need to get back to Caere. Too. I can’t be both places at once. And Kiara should be here, where she’s safest. Her abilities are crucial to keeping the Exiles’ magic from overwhelming the Dardani without a fight.”
“Well . . . the Bear Clan’s autumn village and winter camps are farthest north. Farthest away from the Exiles, presumably. Maybe a . . . sentinel in the other five clans would be enough.”
“Maybe. We haven’t even established that any of them are willing. Well, other than Kiara and Theklan, anyway.”
Pa nodded. “We need to meet. Tonight after the evening meal? Here?”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll let the others know.”
~
When everyone had gathered, Vatar laid out the situation as clearly as he could. “We should know within a seven-day if the Exiles turn north at the ford. If so, the fight will likely happen within the month. Probably much sooner. Otherwise, the clans will separate until next spring. Thekila and I really should return to Caere, to help deal with Gerusa and Selene. But, if the Exiles strike before summer . . . .”
Thekila laid a hand on his arm. “Of all the people here, except Theklan, we two can get back across the plain in only two or three days in anything but an all-out blizzard.”
Vatar drew in a deep breath and let it out. “That’s true. But of course, we’d have to know that there was a need.”
“What do you want us to do?” Balan asked.
“I’m asking for volunteers,” Vatar answered. “Because this will likely involve some hardships. But, if we have someone with each clan who has the ability to use Far Speech to communicate with the others and with us, I think we’d still have a chance to defeat the Exiles, even if they attack while the clans are dispersed. We already have Theklan with the Eagle Clan. And Kiara will be with Pa in the Lion Clan. That leaves four clans uncovered. And four of you.”
“What kind of hardships?” Zoria asked.
“Winter on the plains is colder than anything you’ve experienced. And more isolated, especially when the snow gets too deep for a horse to move through.” He tapped the side of his head. “Of course, you can never be completely isolated as long as you have Far Speech. And the Dardani have ways of dealing with the cold.”
“And our avatars would likely deal with the cold—and be able to travel through it—more easily than even horses,” Balan said.
Zoria didn’t seem comforted by this observation.
“That’s true,” Vatar said.
“It’ll be worse than here?” Sharila’s tone was disbelieving.
“In some ways, yes.”
“Would I at least be close to Theklan?”
Vatar ignored Kiara’s scowl and Theklan’s flinch. “No. The Eagle Clan winters farthest to the south—and therefore is likely the most in danger. If you agree, I would put you farther north, with the Wolf Clan. You’ve said you want to be adopted into that clan. I can’t think of a better way to arrange that than for you to live and work among them for a season or two. If you can do that, and make a few friends among them, your request to be adopted would almost certainly be granted.” Personally, he thought spending a season with Sharila among them would be more likely to guarantee the request would be rejected—unless she markedly changed her attitude.
Sharila’s eyes were wide and her voice quavered a little. “I’d be all alone? With strangers?”
Vatar felt sudden sympathy for the girl. She was most certainly out of her element. He remembered a little of how that had felt when he was first in Caere. And he’d at least been with family, if not family he’d known well at the time. “Alternatively, any or all of you can return to Caere with us. The climate is milder and we have a guest house where you could stay.”
Sharila looked between Vatar and Thekila. “At least I wouldn’t be completely alone.”
Vatar nodded acceptance of this. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to hosting the girl through the winter, but it was better than the disruption she’d likely have caused in the Wolf Clan. “And the rest of you?”
Zoria squared her shoulders. “I came to stop the Exiles. After they killed Zoridan . . .” Her voice broke and she paused a moment and swallowed visibly before continuing. “I won’t let him have died for nothing. I’m staying.”
“Me, too,” Balan said immediately.
Vatar would have bet Balan would choose to do whatever Zoria did.
Teran rubbed his chin. “It seems like I’ll be able to accomplish more here than back in Caere. I imagine I can survive one winter.”
Thekila smiled at him. “Thank you.”
Vatar sighed. “Yes, thank you all. I would recommend that Zoria go with the Horse Clan. My cousin Daron and Uncle Bion can look after you there. And Pa’s sist
er, Aunt Lanara, of course.”
Pa nodded at this choice.
“That leaves the Wolf, Raven, and Bear Clans. And two of you. Wolf is most central, just north of the Lion Clan. Raven will be the most difficult. My former year mate, Avaza seems to be sowing doubt and dissension in that area. The Bear Clan is farthest north and so possibly in the least danger.”
“I wouldn’t count on that,” Teran said. “If they winter in the Forest, Nertan is perfectly capable of passing up the nearer targets to strike where he’s least expected. And Loran’s avatar is a bear.”
“There are still only two of you,” Vatar said.
Teran’s eyes took on a faraway look of Far Speech for a moment. “Not if you can get Terania back here to join us. She’s willing.”
Vatar nodded. “I think either Arcas or I could manage that, yes.”
“I . . .” Sharila paused to swallow. “If I wasn’t alone, I’d be willing to stay with the Wolf Clan.”
Vatar frowned briefly. His first instinct had been to put Terania with the Raven Clan. Between Avaza and Terania, he’d bet on Terania every time. But if he was going to pair Sharila with anyone, it had to be either Zoria or Terania. But he wasn’t about to refuse any help he could get. On the other hand, Balan’s amiable nature might work even better to turn Avaza’s malicious gossip. He couldn’t imagine what Avaza could say to make anyone think ill of Balan. And Sharila would probably be most comfortable with Zoria, who was nearer her age. Which would put Balan and Zoria in neighboring clans and undoubtedly make them happy.
“All right, then. Teran, I’ll ask you to go all the way north with the Bear Clan. Balan with the Raven Clan. Zoria and Sharila just south in the Wolf Clan.”
Balan grinned at that and Zoria looked considerably cheered.
“Kiara, of course, with the Lion Clan. Terania with my aunt and uncle in the Horse Clan. And Theklan with the Eagle Clan. Does everyone agree with that?”
“Sounds good to me,” Balan said. Everyone else nodded.
Chapter 45: Quenching
Vatar breathed a sigh of relief when he and Thekila reached their comfortable bedroom in the farmhouse outside Caere. It was good to be home.
Thekila snuggled in close and sighed. “So, now you have to turn around and take Terania back to Zeda—or wherever the Horse Clan is now.”
Taleara was already asleep in the crib in the corner, so they kept their voices low. Though Taleara seemed able to sleep through nearly anything—up to and including flying in a basket clasped in the talons of a giant eagle.
“No. Not immediately, anyway. First I want to talk to Father and see what’s being done about Gerusa. It’ll only take a day or two. I’d like to check in with my Guild Master and find out what’s going on in the city, too.”
~
That evening, Vatar pulled Thekila into their room. “I want to talk something over with Father. And I want your opinion about it.”
“All right.”
With their bond held open, so Thekila could join in the discussion, Vatar reached out to his father with Far Speech. “Father?”
“Yes. Vatar?” Father answered.
“Yes. I wanted to discuss something with you and Thekila.”
“We can meet tomorrow.”
Vatar shook his head. “We may want to do that. But I thought we could discuss this tonight. This way.”
“Well, if we were going to use Far Speech, we could have done it while you were still on the plains.”
Vatar squared his shoulders and admitted, “I . . . was still thinking it through myself.”
“What is it?” Father’s voice sounded concerned.
Vatar took a deep breath. “First let me explain about my sister Kiara, and what Savara did.”
When he’d finished, Father said, “Well, that’s very interesting, but I don’t see—”
Vatar interrupted, “Taleus thinks Savara could do the same thing in reverse. Block Talents the way Calpe blocked my ancestors’.” Vatar paused for another deep breath. He had a pretty good guess that Father wouldn’t care if Gerusa rotted in that oubliette, but that he’d jump at any chance to save Selene from that hole. He didn’t want to give Father false hope if this came to nothing. “If so, maybe you don’t have to keep Selene . . . or Gerusa . . . in that underground prison for the rest of their lives. If she can block their Talents, would it be safe to release them?”
“Hmm. Maybe. It would at least be safe to move them to a less depressing prison. Maybe even allow them back in their old chambers. Palace Island could be prison enough, if they couldn’t ever Transform again. Or send them away—to the north.” Father’s tone was markedly more cheerful.
Thekila wrapped her arm around his stiff shoulders. So that’s what you’ve been fretting over. Do you think it would be safe for Savara? I know Taleus does, but . . .”
“If Boreala was there to watch over her, I think so. I’d want to talk to Savara first, of course.”
“I . . . I think it’s worth a try,” Father said. “It would ease my mind, too. If Savara is willing, of course. And if Boreala agrees that it’s safe. Tomorrow morning?”
Vatar nodded. “I’ll let you know if Savara doesn’t want to. Otherwise, we’ll meet you there.”
Vatar let the contact go along with a long breath. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”
Thekila nodded. “It’s worth a try. We’ll both be there to see she doesn’t hurt herself. And surely Veleus and Boreala can make sure no one else . . . no one we don’t trust finds out.”
“Let’s go talk to Savara, then. And see what she thinks of it.”
~
After breakfast, Vatar turned to Arcas’s wife, Elaria. “If you don’t mind watching Jadar and Taleara for a little while, Thekila and I thought we’d walk down the hill with Terania and take Savara and Zavar to visit their grandfather and aunt.”
Thekila cocked her head to one side. Zavar, too?
Yes. I think he’ll make Savara feel more comfortable.
Thekila looked toward the twins, sitting side by side. You could be right.
“I’d be glad to,” Elaria said. “But why just the twins?”
Vatar blinked. “Uh . . .” After Elaria’s initial reaction to discovering their magic, Vatar and Thekila had taken pains to do nothing visible in her presence. And not to talk about it in front of her if it could be helped. He really didn’t want to draw her attention to Savara’s magic if it could be helped.
“It’s time to start thinking about their education,” Thekila put in.
“Oh, that makes sense, then. Will you be sending them to the Temple School?”
“Probably not. Most likely I’ll teach them right here, with some help from Boreala and Cestus. But we’d like to look into all the options,” Thekila answered.
~
A short while later, Vatar led his family to the door of the Healer’s Hall where he’d arranged to meet Boreala.
Boreala glanced at Savara “I’ll be glad if this works.”
“Are they likely to break out?” Vatar asked, suddenly concerned.
Boreala shook her head. “Not anytime soon, certainly. It’s just . . . depressing. I know what they’ve done, but I don’t like to think of them never getting out of there.” She led the way through the back entrance of the Healers’ Hall and on across a garden that separated the Healers from the Temple School.
They passed through what was clearly a residential area, neat little houses set farther apart than in the city.
“I’ve never been in this part of the Temple complex before,” Vatar said. “It’s a lot bigger than I thought. But . . . are they keeping Gerusa and Selene among all these families?”
Boreala pointed ahead. “No. Farther out. Past the guards’ practice grounds. Almost to the bluffs.”
There was indeed a broad open space, more than large enough for a game of jarai, in that direction. Beyond that, the bluffs rose, effectively walling off that side of the Temple complex. Like the rest of Caere, the Te
mple and all its outlying buildings was built on a shelf angling gently down toward the sea and backed by steep hills or bluffs that separated it from the farms and plains beyond. Only the shelf was wider and flatter here. If this side of the bay wasn’t so rocky and shallow, the original fishing village that grew into Caere might well have been located here instead of across the bay.
As they crossed the practice field, Vatar recognized his father, waiting in an apparently empty scrubby area with four burly guardsmen. “This is very isolated.” He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Less likelihood that Gerusa could influence anyone to help her, but if any of her old cronies wanted to help her escape, there would be a lot fewer people around to prevent it. It’d be very dark and quiet out here at night.
“Yes,” Boreala agreed. “But there was already a pit where they used to dig clay for pottery, back in the early days. It was easier to brick up the sides, for safety, and close part of the top than to dig another hole this size in the time we had.”
They reached the far side and Vatar greeted his father as he looked down into the prison he’d helped design. No, they really couldn’t imprison anyone—not even Gerusa—there for life. They had to at least try this.
“Do you want to go down, or have them brought up?” Father asked.
Vatar glanced back at that hole in the ground and then at his daughter. “I think it would be better if you bring them up. One at a time. Gerusa first. Selene will likely follow whatever her mother chooses, but I doubt the reverse is true.”
Father nodded and gave the order.
Gerusa scowled at the people assembled before her as she reached the top of the ladder. Both Zavar and Savara shrank closer to Vatar’s sides.
War of Magic (Dual Magics Book 4) Page 29