"You must stay," Wilmar protested, fearing this. "You will not leave again. There is no dishonor this time. You have more than made up for the sins of the past, sins forgiven by all but you long before you ever returned. What am I without you, and what of the twins? This is your home, Frost. You are needed here."
Frost listened stone-faced as the others chimed agreement. Only Sharryl and Rosivok were silent on the matter.
"I will not argue, Wilmar, but I have unfinished business," Frost said at last. "I do not intend to be gone so long this time. First I will travel north and visit Kolhol once more. I must speak to him, and be sure he listens." He set his hand solidly on Wilmar's shoulder. "I will tell him you have heard his messenger and agree for now, but that it is only by your grace that you and I do not destroy him, and half his kingdom. Should he change his mood and choose to move against Briarlea, the Demon Blade and an army loyal to you will be his welcome."
Wilmar didn't understand this last. "That won't be true if you leave."
"He will not know where I am, how far I have gone, or when I might return," Frost replied. "Then, there are these two." He turned to Dorin and Dara. "They are both born adepts. Young and inexperienced, but learning fast. When I return I will teach them much more, but for now, Kolhol has no court wizard at all. Having adepts will be to your advantage. Kolhol is a warrior and an opportunist, but he tries not to be the fool. Taken all in all, I think Grenarii will no longer be a threat."
"And then what?" Wilmar asked, waiting until he met Frost's gaze again and holding him there. "What is it that takes you away at all?"
"Cantor speaks a burning truth. Too much unpleasantness will yet find its way here, too many men drawn by visions of the Demon Blade, and the one who controls it. It is a dangerous thing all on its own. More so than I can tell any of you here. More so than Andair or Gentaff were willing to believe—than I would believe myself, for a time. I must go, if for no other reason than to take the Blade away from here."
"You still hope to find the Keeper?" Dara asked, all traces of her earlier mood gone from her young features now, replaced by the weight of this one truth.
"Yes," Frost said. "Gentaff took my best chance of that with him to the grave, but there is someone, I know that much."
"How can you know for certain if you will ever return?" Wilmar asked, and he knew he was speaking for his son and the twins.
"Nothing is ever certain," Frost replied. "But none of us can deny fate. I know the task of rebuilding Worlish is a great one, but you have all that you need." Frost turned to Wilmar and Tramet, then to the twins. "All, and more."
"Frost," Wilmar told the sorcerer, searching for the words. "All Worlish thanks you. As do I, and I wish to . . ."
"There is no need," Frost said. "Your forgiveness and your friendship are enough. I ask only that you be here when I return."
"We will each see that day," Wilmar replied, and they embraced one another. Wilmar felt other arms around him then, Tramet and Dara, then Dorin. His side hurt with the added weight. He didn't say a word as the celebration began.
* * *
The sun had already set as Frost, Sharryl and Rosivok left the courtyard, but oil lamps had been lit throughout the castle halls and grounds, casting warm light and soft shadows. Frost had been in just such a place at just such a time, in Ariman, not a year ago. He felt disturbed by the notion, but he could think of nothing he would have done differently, at least not so far, and he took comfort in that. Perhaps with hindsight he would eventually second-guess himself, but not for now . . .
"Dorin has something he must talk to you about," Dara said. Frost turned to find the two of them hurrying to catch up, with Dorin out in front.
"And so do I," Dara added as they came near, both of them glancing nervously at one another.
Frost waited, but they tended not to get any further.
"Yes, speak," he said.
Dorin swallowed as if something were caught in his throat, then he set his jaw and took a breath. "I am going with you," he said.
Frost's eyes widened. "What?"
"I wish to be your third Subartan. I have given this a great deal of thought, and it makes complete sense no matter how you see it. I know I will require much training, and I know the dangers, but I am able and ready for both. I also need to be trained in the arts of magic. You have promised to do as much, but I have no wish to wait untold months, or perhaps years, for you to return. If I go with you, you can begin right away."
He hadn't let Frost get a word in. But already Frost was thinking that perhaps it was just as well. Nothing the boy had said was incorrect. Frost thought of Taya's son, Lan, standing before him much like this, saying much the same things. But Lan had been younger and no mage of any kind; more than that, there had been no blood between them, and Frost had not owed Lan anything. He owed Dorin so very much, almost as much as he owed Shassel. Dorin would learn such things one way or the other, but if he stayed behind he would have to learn them on his own, without the watchful, knowledgeable mentoring of his great uncle and the known world's two most capable Subartans. . . .
Still, it was not as simple as all that. "I couldn't bear to lose you, I have lost too many already," he told Dorin. "And how can I be sure I won't? Besides, I am certain your sister is here to talk us both out of it."
"Nothing is certain," Dara said, using Frost's own words. "And we must think of the future, not the past, at least that is what I am told."
They were in this together. Frost could see the determination in both their eyes. He had seen something like it before, once or twice, looking at his own reflection.
"I can't say I dislike the idea," Frost told Dorin. "Or parts of it. You have a gift and you can be trained to fight, and fight well, I think. But I have no idea where we are going or what we might face, and as you know, I tend to lose my third Subartans. A triangle cannot stand without three equal sides, and each side must agree on what `equal' means. Therefore I insist that no matter what I think, it is left up to Sharryl and Rosivok. They will decide."
Dorin turned to the Subartans and waited, weathering their scowls at having such judgment thrust upon them.
"He may just do," Sharryl said, tipping her head side to side, considering. "Just."
Rosivok moved toward him and Dorin stayed put. The big Subartan reached out and grabbed the boy's arms, and began testing his muscles with a squeeze here, then a thump there as he released his grip. All the while looking him over like a mule up for purchase. Finally he nodded. "I will see that he does," Rosivok said.
"And you, what do you say?" Frost asked Dara.
"I want him to go, to live his life as he should, and this is something I know in my heart he should do," Dara said. "I am tempted to go with you myself, there is so much to learn, and I am as anxious as my brother. But I am needed here, at Tramet's side. The task of rebuilding Briarlea is a great one, and he has asked my help with it."
"I think my sister is capable of that," Dorin said. "She thinks I am capable of going with you and learning what you can teach. One day, even if you cannot, I will come back, and teach my sister."
Frost had no reply, other than to nod.
"If I could, I would make both of you stay," Dara said softly. "You went away once, Frost, and now I am losing you again, and my brother as well, but I know you must tend to the Blade."
Frost nodded again. His reasons for leaving were not the same this time, but the need was just as great, and the decision was just as difficult. "I have no choice," he said.
"None of us do," Dorin said, and Dara put her arm around him.
"Andair was not the only reason I left," Frost said. "I felt the need to find my own path, to learn the truth about myself. I knew I must find the answers if I was ever to serve anyone else, or myself. I think, perhaps, Dorin feels much the same right now."
Dorin closed his eyes, and Frost thought a tear was about to form. But the boy drew a deep breath, and none did. Instead he opened his eyes again and threw both
his arms around his sister, and held her for a very long moment.
"We will not leave for a few days yet," Frost said. "There will be time for all of that."
They parted, and Dorin smiled at his sister as a tear glistened at the corner of her eye, no matter.
"I will come home again, my sister," Dorin said.
"And so shall I," Frost said, feeling a chill, sure that it was true. "So shall I."
Maps
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