His other arm dangled at his side, and blood dripped from his forehead. But even injured he still retained sufficient power of will to call back one of the horses. The great grey gelding returned: agitated, dancing and sidestepping nervously, but obedient. It stood just long enough for Camhóinhann to mount, offer his good hand to Winloki, and pull her up into the saddle with him. Then he gave the gelding its head, and it leaped into motion, heading south.
Only then did Winloki’s kinsmen recover from the surprise and grief that had held them motionless. Running and sliding as Ruan had done, they stumbled to the foot of the hill. And there they found him, along with Aell, kneeling beside Sindérian’s body.
He had moved her from the sharp rocks where she had first landed. Blood was spattered everywhere. One sleeve of her dress was soaked with it; the hair on one side of her head was matted with it. There could be no doubt that bones had shattered in the fall, though her gown covered the worst of the damage.
As they approached, Ruan glanced up. He had been in the act of feeling for a pulse in her throat, but one glimpse of his face was enough to confirm what they already knew.
“So she is gone then,” said Kivik.
Ruan only nodded wordlessly before bending to imprint a kiss on her ice-white brow, her cold lips.
Then there was a sound overhead like an enormous heart beating. Looking up, they saw Faolein descending in a flurry of white wings. Instead of landing, the owl hovered in the air just above Sindérian’s face, with his wings beating and his yellow eyes glaring. As the men watched in pity and horror, Faolein gave a shriek like a dying man and rent his own feathery breast with his beak—
—and Sindérian, standing at the gate of death, between the immense pillars of light and shadow that mark the threshold between one world and the next, and wholly intent on the glory that lies beyond—the cities of burning gold, the rivers of molten silver, the immense figures with rainbow-colored wings who stand sentinel outside the city walls—felt the lightest of touches, as if it were hardly more than a breath, and heard somebody calling her name.
Turning, with great reluctance, from the light ahead of her to the shadows behind, she found herself face-to-face with Faolein: back in his own form, as she had known him for most of her life, the great wizard, the wise and gentle teacher.
“Father,” she said. “You have come to comfort me, even here on the threshold of death. But it wasn’t necessary to follow me. Do not think that I am afraid, or that I relinquish my life with any regrets.” She laughed softly, joyfully. “In truth, I have seen what waits for me on the other side, and I am longing to go there.”
“Nevertheless, you are overhasty in your departure,” said Faolein. “When Nimenoë died, she linked the threads of your life to those of Winloki’s. She meant it for her own child’s protection, knowing how strong you were, how strong you would become. But that is why the aniffath was ineffective against you. It was the one thing Ouriána needed to take into account in weaving her spell—and did not know. This I learned when I stood where you stand now, many months ago. But even before that, I knew this hour would come. That is why I died at Saer, that is why I turned away from the gate when I might have passed freely. That is why I allowed myself to be sundered, one half existing in the world of the living, one half remaining here all of these months. It has been an uncomfortable existence, but it was necessary to give you this message: you may cross over the threshold if you choose, but that would be an act of cowardice.”
He held out a hand. “Do not turn fainthearted now, you who have always been so courageous. Let me show you the way back.”
Her elation began to fade. In its place came bewilderment and the beginning of fear. “But there will be pain there, heartache and loss. I don’t wish to return to any of that. And my body is broken. Perhaps it can never be repaired.”
“Perhaps not. I cannot tell what awaits you—that vision was not granted me. You may live only a day, or a week, or for many years. You may spend all that time crippled in mind and body—or worse.”
Her confusion only deepened. “And to that you urge me to return?”
“When I made my choice at Saer, I thought as a man and a father. My understanding is greater now. The Fates are compassionate; when they allow us to suffer it is only that we may learn and grow, that we may be purified and better suited for the world beyond.”
She gazed at him doubtfully. “Not all are purified.”
“Some do refuse the gift,” he said. “They die with many hard lessons still unlearned.”
“Am I, then, so weak and faulty?” she protested.
But she knew that she was. Her impatience, her tendency to act on impulse, these were the least of her faults. Instead of rejoicing in her strength of mind and body, her many rich gifts, she had struggled with despair all this last year. And despair had led her to misuse the rune, to choose the sacrifice—not out of necessity, not in the spirit of acceptance—but as an escape from her own fear and confusion. At the least, that had been presumptuous; at the worst, wicked and cowardly.
But Faolein was none of these things. “You will not be able to return with me,” she said.
“I can go with you only part of the way. My life is done. What yours will be I do not know.” He held out his hand again. “But short or long, joyous or agonizing, I ask you to choose life.”
The touch of his palm was like the resumption of pain after blessed respite. Yet with it came a dread sense of inevitability. With one last regretful glance back over her shoulder—at the glorious city, at the shining river and the glimmering plain—Sindérian took a reluctant step in his direction, reluctantly allowed him to lead her on.
And going back was worse than dying; it was like passing through white fire, it was like being crushed and compressed and molded to fit back into the broken shell of her body. She did not know how huge she had become until the confines of the flesh required her to become small again. Nor did she fully comprehend what she was giving up, until the darkness washed over her and blotted out the light.
31
Out of respect for Faolein’s grief, Ruan turned away. Feeling numb and drained as he had never felt before, he rose slowly to his feet. Beside him, Aell did the same. It was only when he caught sight of Kivik and Skerry’s stricken faces that a vague memory of what brought them here, what they had hoped to accomplish by their long journey, surfaced in his mind. “Winloki?”
“She was unharmed. But…she had a chance to escape and she chose not to.” Skerry, like Kivik, had a dazed and bewildered look. “Two of the Furiádhin died; the others—the others were either killed or injured. And in all the panic and confusion, no one would have stopped her. But she never—she never even tried.”
“Yes,” said Ruan wearily. “Sindérian thought that might happen. She told me if we didn’t rescue the Princess soon enough, she might not want to be rescued. The Pharaxions are, after all, her mother’s people.” Then his glance sharpened. “You do mean to go after her? She won’t have seen you, she won’t have known you were here. Perhaps that would have made a difference.”
Kivik frowned. “But she went right to him. There seemed—there seemed to be some confidence between them.”
Ruan did not need to be told who he was. “Why would she not turn to Camhóinhann in the midst of death and confusion? You know something of who and what he was—and now that you have seen him, with all his rags of glory still about him, do you not understand? He was a great wizard, a noble prince—and still something of that high nobility shines out. That is what makes him dangerous. Perhaps most of all to someone like Winloki.”
As he spoke, Ruan saw eyes that had been dull take fire, faces that had looked sick and bewildered gain courage and determination. “Our horses,” said Skerry, glancing around him, as if wondering how he had managed to misplace them.
“Safely tethered under some trees,” said Aell with a gesture. “By good luck, just where the bulk of the hill will have shielded them from the worst o
f it.”
“Then we should not lose any more time,” said Kivik. He took several strides in that direction, then turned back with a shamefaced look. “I was forgetting—we can’t just leave her here unburied.”
“I will see to her and catch up with you later,” answered Ruan, kneeling beside Sindérian again. He never noticed the body of the owl lying stiff and still under a bush. “I would not leave her here for the wolves and wild beasts—” Then his body tensed, his breath caught in his throat. Had he seen her move? Or was it simply the edge of her cloak, a few tendrils of dark hair, lifted by the breeze? It could not be, and yet…
He put his ear to her chest; he placed a hand lightly over her mouth to feel if she was breathing. The others, who had just been turning to leave, were startled by the sound, half exultant, half disbelieving, that was torn from his throat. “She still lives! I don’t know how, but she lives.”
“Impossible,” said Skerry. He looked at Ruan—then back the way he had been about to go—then at Ruan again. “The fall alone—”
“Her heart beats, her breath comes and goes. I don’t say how long that will continue.” Then, seeing how the other men still hesitated, he waved them off. “Go. Go after Camhóinhann and the Princess. But be cautious. Even wounded, he is dangerous.”
“But what will you do?” said Kivik.
The stubborn set of Ruan’s jaw wavered, and then solidified. “I will take her to the Ni-Féa; there are healers among them, some of them extraordinarily gifted. It is only a two-day ride. If she can survive that long.”
“But you said—”
“I said I would not ask them for aid if my life depended on it. Hers is another matter. And yes, they will not be much interested in helping her, but I will find a way to convince them. It is her only chance.” He made another impatient gesture. “As you are Winloki’s only chance. Don’t delay a moment longer.”
But as Kivik and Skerry went off, almost at a run, Aell still lingered. It was plain that he was uncertain where his duty might lie.
“Do not follow them just yet,” said Ruan. Lifting Sindérian very gently, he moved in the direction of the horses. “Hand her up to me once I am mounted, and then go.”
And a little while later, when he was in the saddle: “Try to prevent our Skyrran friends from doing anything foolhardy. If they do—and I don’t catch up with you later—do what you can and then go home to Thäerie. Tell my grandfather all that has happened.”
Looping the reins around one hand, he reached down and took Sindérian’s limp body out of Aell’s arms, resting her in the position he hoped would do her the least harm, in his own.
“The Ni-Féa will help her,” he said fiercely. “They do not love me, my mother’s people, but there are those among them who would be very glad to see me at a disadvantage. And I—I will humble myself to the dust, I will give them my heart’s blood in a silver goblet, if that is what they ask.”
Then, with a flick of his reins, he was on his way.
GLOSSARY
People & Places
Adfhail the youngest acolyte to accompany the Furiádhin to Skyrra.
Aell (“air”; ale) son of a fisherman, a common soldier under Prince Ruan’s command.
Aethon (“furze”) itinerant wizard, educated at the Scholia on Leal, who brought word of Guenloie/Winloki’s survival to the council.
Alluinn (“many lakes”; al-oo-WIN) kingdom at the center of the northern empire. The name was also applied to the Empire itself. Pendawer kings and emperors ruled Alluinn for approximately a thousand years. Her downfall was the war with Otöi, in which wizards and mages made such reckless use of their magic that both empires fell and the world was Changed.
Anerüian (“midnight”; an-eh-ROO-yon) Pendawer full name of Prince Ruan. The youngest grandson of High King Réodan, human on his father’s side and Ni-Féa Faey on his mother’s. Named for the hour at which he was born.
Apharos (af-FAY-rows) Ouriána’s capital city on Phaôrax.
Arkenfell a northern kingdom, originally of the same tribal stock as Skyrra and Mistlewald, with whom they continued to be loosely allied.
Arvi Skyrran rider in Kivik’s army; Winloki’s bodyguard for a time.
Aurvang a town in Arkenfell, from which Sindérian, Ruan, and company sailed for Skyrra.
Autlands northeastern region of Skyrra, closest to Eisenlonde.
Baillébachlain (“town of bees, beehive”) the largest town on Leal, and the site of the wizards’ Scholia.
Brielliend a heavily forested region south of Rhüaddlyn. Although Ouriána’s troops were able to win much territory there, the eastern portion continued to resist.
Brihac a knight in the household of Prince Cuillioc.
Cadmin Aernan (“iron mountains”) a great range of mountains west of Alluinn running more or less north-south.
Cailltin (“hazel”) of Aefri nobleman and captain of a small troop of Rheithûnian fighters. He was betrothed to Sindérian. They parted just before the fall of Gilaefri, one of the last three Rheithûnian fortresses to be captured by Ouriána’s armies.
Camhóinhann (“still waters”; cah-VHOYN-ahn) enslaved and corrupted by Ouriána, he eventually became the High Priest of her cult, and the most powerful of the Furiádhin.
Ceir Eldig (“city of princes”) the capital of Alluinn and the seat of the Emperors; ruined and deserted after the Change.
Citadel the palace-fortress at Xanthipei, in which Cuillioc made his headquarters on his arrival in Mirizandi.
Corridon (“stone folk”) another name for the dwarves. Many humans believed the dwarves originally were generated from a stony matrix.
Cuillioc (“pledge” or “word of honor”; QWILL-ee-ahch) Prince of Phaôrax, Ouriána’s second-born son, sent by her to conquer Mirizandi. An honorable but conflicted man.
Cuirarthéros one of the last three fortresses to be conquered in Rheithûn. Sindérian was close enough at the time to psychically experience its downfall, and the death throes of hundreds of its inhabitants.
Curóide (“hero”) a wizard, formerly Éireamhóine’s apprentice, who later took his place on the council of the Nine Master Wizards of Leal. His most notable talent was as a weather-worker.
Deor Skyrran warrior, one of Kivik’s captains.
Drakenskaller (“dragon’s skull”) Mountains a high range in the northern part of Skyrra and the western part of Eisenlonde. Winters in the Drakenskallers were very harsh, and inhabitants were few.
Dreyde lord of Saer. He welcomed Faolein, Sindérian, and their companions into his fortress and then betrayed them.
Dyonas (dye-OH-nahs) youngest of the Furiádhin, but also the most powerful after Camhóinhann.
Efflam in Apharos, one of Ouriána’s temple guards. He accompanied the Furiádhin to Skyrra.
Éireamhóine (“noble eagle”; AIR-ah-vhoyn) at one time the most powerful wizard on Leal, he disappeared while trying to smuggle Guenloie away to safety.
Eisenlonde a region east of Skyrra, occupied by a loose confederation of barbarian tribes, given to border raids and horse thievery. The formation of a vast Eisenlonder army took the Skyrrans by surprise.
Elidûc High King Réodan’s court wizard, close friend, and valued counselor. Because he was also a great scholar, he acted as a tutor to Réodan’s sons and grandsons, including Prince Ruan.
Erios (“shining hills”) an island in the sea of Orania, invaded by Pharaxion forces.
Faellanëos (“dark hair”) family name belonging to a long line of wizards, including Faolein and Sindérian.
Faey a long-lived nonhuman race. Divided into two subraces, the Ni-Ferys and the Ni-Féa. Each branch regarded the other with unfailing suspicion, for though they came of similar stock they were temperamentally opposite. The Ni-Ferys often intermixed with humans, but the Ni-Féa remained extremely insular.
Faolein (“sea-lion”; FAY-oh-LINE) Master Wizard and Sindérian’s father. Adept in all aspects of wizardry, though his particular gift was the abil
ity to divine the name of anyone he met.
Faol-Mora (“the ocean sea”) in one sense, all the oceans of the world, more commonly applied to the uncharted waters beyond the named seas.
Fenéille Galadan (“crown of the north”) a high range of mountains roughly describing an arc from east to west, north of Alluinn and south of Arkenfell and Mistlewald.
Furiádhin (“the changed men” or “the mutated ones”; FOO-ree-AHD-in) Ouriána’s warrior-magician-priests. Singular: furiádh.
Gerig a knight in the household of Prince Cuillioc.
Gilaefri a fortress that long held out against Ouriána’s invading forces, until the Furiádhin overthrew it with magic. See Rheithûn and Cailltin of Aefri.
Goezenou furiádh who served as one of Ouriána’s generals in Rheithûn.
Guenloie (translation uncertain; may be a variant of Guinalli, “lily,” or a combination of guin, “white, clear,” and hloë, “aura, halo”) Princess of Phaôrax, daughter of Ouriána’s twin sister Nimenoë, and therefore regarded as the child of the prophecy. Hidden away in Skyrra for many years, she grew to womanhood under the name Winloki.
Guindeluc (“unblemished honor”) Prince Cuillioc’s late brother. Ouriána’s eldest son, and a dazzling figure to whom Cuillioc was always comparing himself, to his own disadvantage.
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