“I know that sound,” she said. “The evil leech on Amee.”
“Ayes.” He hadn’t thought of it that way, but it was apt.
“Is this the future or the now?” she asked.
He turned his head away so his senses weren’t lost in her, focused, saw the wavering atmosphere. “Future,” he said, though he should have known. No humans were on the mountain tonight…this morning?
Voices lifted in excitement, triumph and glee came barreling toward them. He recognized Alexa’s. Before he could draw breath, they flashed past him…the Exotiques, grouped together, flying on the gong. On their way to the last confrontation.
“I must join them.” Jikata strove to break his grip, jump into the cavern, into the dark depths.
An ominous silence came from outside the mountain. He should be there, lending his arm to the fight.
He dropped his arms, let her loose. “Ayes, go.”
She jumped with a battle cry.
“I’ll follow,” he said, and did….
Luthan woke up gasping for air, drew clean cool breaths that soothed his lungs from the hot rancid air in the dream.
The night breeze fluttered the outer flap of the pavilion that had come undone. Outside came the rustles of volarans, and the physical/mental sound of Equine conversation, with the feycoocus, softly calling him.
Jikata was wrapped in his arms, skin to skin. Her personal Song gentle waves, dreamless.
Not in the Dark’s Nest. Not.
Had not lost Jikata.
His cold sweat dried.
That was in the future.
Jikata awoke to Chasonette tugging on her hair. It was still dark. Luthan wasn’t near and she felt a pang of disappointment. “What?”
Luthan says time to get up.
Jikata would have stared at the bird, but couldn’t see her in the dark. Could hear her, and smell the lavender scent of her wings.
She shoved herself sleepily to her elbows, then to her feet. If Luthan were waking her so early then it was important, but all the minds around her held excitement so nothing bad had happened.
Luthan was outside packing and a glance at his space told her it was bare. Humming a little spell light she went to the corner of the tent where a waterskin hung from a peg. There was also a collapsible canvas basin and a sponge for a quick clean-up. The sponge was already damp and held the faintest hint of Luthan. Memories of their passion heated her.
It had been a while since she’d had sex. There’d always been a sex buddy around. Now that she thought about it, she’d most often enjoyed herself with her sound engineer. He’d been clean, good in bed, and had no expectations of her.
He’d have gone wild here on Lladrana, she almost pitied him back on Earth.
This night with Luthan had been more than sex. How much more she wasn’t sure, but what she had learned in the days she’d spent with him was that they had many things in common, something she wouldn’t have guessed. Her feelings for him were unusually strong. They’d see where it went.
When she reached for her jeans and a shirt, Chasonette whistled a sharp negative. Flying leathers today.
After she was dressed, she tossed her head, Sang a little tune to arrange her hair just the way she wanted, and was pleased she could do that with Power instead of brush and comb or hours under the stylist’s hands.
The moment she stepped from the tent, it opened up at the top and collapsed around their things—her things. Both volarans were saddled.
Luthan simmered with anticipation, exhilaration, and she had to smile. She went over, twined her arms around his neck, pressed her body against his and kissed him soundly, then raised her head and said, “Good morning.”
His eyes gleamed brighter now than before. He brushed a kiss on her lips. “Wonderful morning.”
When she stepped away, she felt his reluctance and that pleased her. “What’s going on?” She helped pack her room and roll up the tent in bundles that seemed too small.
“There’s an event that is taking place you won’t want to miss—none of us want to miss.” He raised a hand as she opened her mouth, his own was curved. “You’ll enjoy the surprise more.” He turned to her bags and with a flick of his fingers had them settling on the volarans. The ties whipped themselves into excellent, practical knots.
“We’ll be flying far, using Distance Magic.” He checked the bags and the volaran tack again, opened a new pouch that hung on her volaran. Chasonette flew to the top of the stiffened leather, then lowered herself into it until only her curious head with gleaming eyes showed.
I do not have the Distance Magic of the volarans.
Jikata caught the excitement from the others. “Are we going to meet the other Exotiques at the Marshalls’ Castle?” She wasn’t sure she was prepared, and Luthan had agreed that it would be her decision, but she trusted him. If there was something she should see—hear—then it was right.
He ran a hand down Lightning’s neck. “Ayes and ttho.”
No answer at all.
“There’s a…ritual…I think you’d like to see.”
“Will I be expected to take part?”
“Not unless you want to.”
Ah, he thought she’d want to. Too many questions and she felt his impatience to go, not linger and dodge more queries.
“Fine.” She looked around camp. It showed little signs of having been occupied. Good. Crossing over to Luthan, she kissed him again, let him help her mount, settled her seat on Hope and stroked a finger on Chasonette’s head.
The bird looked at her. We will watch history. She flicked her comb.
Luthan kicked the dead embers of the fire apart. He walked to her, set a hand on her knee and looked up. “Do you recall our lessons in Distance Magic?”
They hadn’t ever gone far, a mile or two. “Ayes.”
“Good.” He squeezed her knee, then surprised her by kissing it. “Beautiful Jikata.” Another smile. “There is no part of you that isn’t lovely.”
She chuckled. “You should know.”
He swung into his saddle, sent her a glance under lowered lashes. “And I’ll know more, again and again.” Then he stared at the open sky, the space around them. “You’re a quick study, Distance Magic will come easily to you. We’ll be some time in the saddle.”
Her eyes had become accustomed to the night so she could stare at him, handsome in his white leathers. Not his usual travel leathers, they appeared to be a newer set. Ayes, this was important. He looked much like the formidable man of her first impression.
“I’m ready.” She stroked Hope’s neck. A real road trip. “We can stop for a very few minutes now and then for a break.”
He grimaced, then called, “Feycoocu.”
A hawk spiraled down from the air, perched on a nearby branch. Chasonette chirped a greeting. Jikata thought it was the female one, Sinafinal.
Salutations, Jikata and Luthan and Chasonette and Hope and Lightning and Socks.
Luthan mindspoke, How are the preparations going?
Sinafinal lifted her wings. Everyone is still gathering and the schedule is lagging. If you leave now you may arrive just before the ritual begins.
Luthan frowned. I believe it would be best to arrive after the circle has formed and the event has started, less distraction for the others that way.
Less questions, Sinafinal agreed. Shrewd thinking.
Thank you.
Do you want to tell me what’s going on? Jikata asked.
With a ripple of amused notes, Sinafinal shook her head. You will see. And hear. She launched herself from the branch, rose quickly into the sky out of sight.
Luthan picked up his reins and Jikata followed.
“Let’s fly!” he said and Lightning took off. Jikata followed and understood something else, the slow pace she’d set for them had chafed at Luthan, yet he’d said nothing.
And real flying on a volaran was wonderful.
Addictive.
Creusse Landing
Ra
ine was dozing as the sun brightened the windows, warming the room. It was full morning when a quick strum of doorharp strings sounded and the outer door of the suite opened.
Marian entered the bedroom, unheeding of Raine’s yelp as she pulled the covers up. Faucon just grinned.
Then the Circlet Sorceress unfolded what she’d brought and held it up, and Raine forgot about everything else.
It was a gown of shimmering emerald and sapphire, like it had been lifted from the ocean itself. Around the hem of the dress and the sleeves were embroidered golden stylized waves. And in the satinlike fabric itself shone other silver symbols that Raine couldn’t quite see.
But she could feel them.
This was a gown of the utmost magic.
Marian smiled. “You like it, then.”
“It is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Nodding, Marian said, “All the Exotiques bespelled it, as did the feycoocus and even the roc. A Circlet wove the fabric and made the dress.” Marian chuckled. “One of the water persuasion.” She held it out, admired it. “I couldn’t make a dress like this for you in a million years.”
Raine jumped out of bed, uncaring of her nudity, of Faucon’s indulgent and admiring gaze. “Oh, thank you.” Tears prickled behind her eyes.
“A magic gown for a magic day,” Marian said lightly. “I see that you had a good night and a good sleep, too.”
“Yeah.” Raine was stroking the dress, but saw Faucon’s eyes roll at her understatement. So she sent a grin to him. “Excellent sex and excellent sleep.” He subsided back onto his pillows with a satisfied grin.
“An excellent breakfast awaits you both,” Marian said.
“Should I dress in this?” Raine loved the dress but it wouldn’t be better with egg.
“Absolutely,” Marian said.
“Ayes,” Faucon said.
Marian aimed a stern gaze at Faucon. “After he’s gone. I know all about men and magical gowns.”
She would.
Raine said, “I’ll go shower then.” Reluctantly placing her dress on the end of the bed, she left.
She was reviewing the ritual, the Song and the steps for raising the ship in her head when Faucon joined her in the shower.
They made love, but Raine felt a slight tension in him that hadn’t been there before, and a little withdrawal. This was the day she would finish her task for Lladrana and Amee.
After that the Snap could come at any time.
So she made lusty and tender love with him.
In Flight
Jikata and Luthan flew over green land, rolling hills, and angled over the ocean and Circlets’ islands that belonged to the Sorcerers and Sorceresses. Since they didn’t land, she guessed they weren’t visiting any of the chief magic workers and wasn’t sure how that made her feel. She was used to having more Power than those around her.
Or thinking she had more Power. She sensed Luthan had a great deal of his own that he hadn’t revealed, and the other Exotiques, of course, would have as much as she, wouldn’t they?
But they wouldn’t have her skills.
As she wouldn’t have theirs, and that felt right.
Creusse Landing
It was a half hour before noon and the tide was ebbing, would be at the low mark at midday when the ship should be raised. Though it couldn’t be seen, the moon was full.
Raine went to the middle of the pentacle drawn in the sand, faced west toward the sea where the materials had been laid out for the ship on the beach and in the shallow water and on the sandbars.
Everyone took their place, bonded pairs alternating with each other on the beach. It was a large circle and inner joy welled through Raine as she looked at them. All the Marshalls and Chevaliers, of course. Townmasters like Sevair Masif, Bri’s husband, and others who’d been curious enough to respond to the invitation. Circlets and Scholars of the Tower community matched the numbers of the warriors, led by the greatest of them all, Marian’s mentor Bossgond. All the Seamasters and many seafolk, Raine’s own community. Even an acceptable number of Friends, those who lived in local villages, some from a small nearby abbey, and those who’d arrived from the Singer the night before.
Most wore colorful, formal robes, though none as gorgeous as her own, and the people themselves were beautiful.
All the segments of Lladranan society had come to support her and this task of hers. For the first time in ages they would all be working in concert.
More than pride washed through her as she took her place in the center of the circle, Power rose.
Only a few had no mark of Power at their temples. This could also be the most Powerful circle ever and that made Raine’s breath catch. What was she doing?
She set her shoulders. She was building—raising—a ship. Something she’d been born to do, something she’d been doing, with a twist, since she’d been old enough to be taken to the shipyard and sand the boats her family built. She could do this.
Bastien Sang the blessing, and with his wild black-and-white magic, he invoked a no-tell spell on everyone, sent it rippling around the circle. Raine saw some disconcertment and an angry look or two, but the spell was effective. No one could talk about this except to others who had participated.
She was the center of a vortex of Power like she’d never known before and would never feel again. This was her moment. The fulfillment of her being, her fate.
Power sizzled around her, time to harness it and raise the ship. So she winked at Faucon, opened her mouth and Sang the first note of the ritual. Everyone joined in. Then she continued with the simple verse, gathering the Power, steadying it, melding it for her use. Harmonious voices rose around her.
When Power peaked, filled her, swirled around her in a sparkling, golden cloud, enough to raise the ship, she started the first chorus with the ebb and flow rhythm of the sea. She Sang it slowly, visualizing the outline of the hull, began building from the bottom up.
Time passed and planks curved and snapped together with woody groans, bound by pressure and Power into a watertight whole. She rearranged the great Power stones a trifle, lifting them as if they were marbles, though her dress now gave off the sweet scent of herbs brought by her sweat. She built the hold, storage and cabins, and now the ship was high, throwing shadows from the sun reaching its zenith. Decks came next and she had to use Power to propel her breath, keep her voice even, but Power came as those around her marveled at the ship, Sang louder, wove the melodies for her.
Finally, near noon, Jikata and Luthan flew across a bay to a peninsula and dropped the Distance Magic spell. Immediately, Jikata heard a Powerful, fabulous Song as if Sung by several choruses in perfect harmony.
She could only wonder what kind of great spell they were doing, could hardly wait to see, to listen close up. Soon the volarans reached the shore with a large manor house set back from the ocean and a wide beach.
Gathered on the sand was a huge circle of people, all linked and Singing. All wearing bright clothing indicating different groups. There were those with leathers like Luthan’s—though not white. Others wore rich robes, some long, or for those actually standing in water, they were belted up above legs, like people Jikata had seen in the towns, urbanites, then, and nobles.
Headbands glinted from several with marks of great Power—Circlets, the Sorcerers and Sorceresses.
Chasonette had been right, this was some historic event, pulling in all portions of Lladranan society. Who else?
Ah, Marshalls. Marshalls came in pairs, and as the volarans began to land, Jikata saw couples in colors—ruby red, sapphire, emerald…each had a sword on one hip and a tube on the other, for their batons. Armor was under the matched tunics.
There were people dressed roughly and wearing some sort of scaly ponchos.
Luthan landed near a couple who wore Friends’ robes. So even the Singer was represented here, though Jikata only vaguely recognized them.
Narrowing her eyes, she saw they all surrounded what looked like a bun
ch of planks set in a regular pattern of a…boat?
Then, as Jikata watched in amazement, the boat came together as if a giant were building it, snapping it together like it was some sort of great model.
She turned her attention to the woman Singing the lead, the focus of them all, a Caucasian brunette Singing her heart out, totally concentrating on the boat. She was the one pulling the planks together, Jikata realized with wonder. It was her vision and her skill and her Power that was actually building the Ship, others were supporting her, funneling her Power, but she was the creator.
Raine heard each lilting Exotique voice arrowing to her with Power they’d had on Earth but was magnified a thousandfold on Lladrana. They joined with her in the giddy delight of building, seeing a design of her own form before her eyes. No double-hulled aluminum racing yacht this, but a warship.
The masts rose majestically. Sails, lines, blocks and tackles, threaded themselves, arrayed themselves.
An idea had occurred to her, an extra defense for the ship. Something she hadn’t spoken to anyone. Too many things about this invasion were too well-known, too few things were secret.
She was a twenty-first century shipbuilder and twenty-first century woman, so as all the others gasped in awe at a ship like the planet had never known, she used that awe, the surprise, the out-rushing of feeling and Power, every last mote of water and air and earth and fire and spirit to coat the ship, protect it, with a layer that could be activated at the right moment.
Raine Sang on.
33
“Wait here,” Luthan said to Jikata and the volarans. Jikata knew none of them would obey. They were all too curious.
Luthan went to stand behind a man slightly shorter than he with striped black-and-white hair. Carefully, Luthan placed his hands on the man’s shoulders and Jikata knew at once they were brothers and that Luthan’s presence hadn’t surprised the man, nor had his becoming a part of the ritual. That was Bastien, then, the husband of Alexa. The woman next to him, the small one with white hair and an attitude, was Alexa herself, not looking much like the holograms Jikata had seen.
Echoes in the Dark Page 31