TheFinestinFantasybyMichelleWest

TheSacredHuntHUNTER'SOATHHUNTER'SDEATH

TheSunSword

THEBROKENCROWNTHEUNCROWNEDKINGTHESHININGCOURT

SEAOFSORROWSTHERIVENSHIELDTHESUNSWORD

TheBrokenCrown

(TheSunSword:BookOne)

MichelleWest

DAWBOOKS,INC.

DONALDA.WQLLHEIM,FOUNDER

375HudsonStreet.NewYork.NY10014ELIZABETHR.WOLLHEIM

SHEILAE.GILBERTPUBLISHERS

Copyright1997byMichelleSagara.

AllRightsReserved.

CoverartbyJodyLee.

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TheCerridwenEnterpriseP.O.Box10161KansasCity,MO64111Phone:1-800-825-

1281

MapbyMichaelGilbert.DAWBookCollectorsNo.

1061.---------------------------

Allcharactersandeventsinthisbookarefictitious.

Anyresemblancetopersonslivingordeadisstrictly

coincidental.

Ifyoupurchasethisbookwithoutacoveryoushouldbeawarethatthisbookmayhavebeenstolenpropertyandreportedas"unsoldanddestroyed"tothepublisher.Insuchcaseneitherthe

authornorthepublisherhas

receivedanypaymentforthis"strippedbook."

---------------------------FirstPrinting,July,199710111213141516171819DAWTRADEMARK

REGISTEREDU.S.PAT.OFF.AND

FOREIGNCOUNTRIESMARCAREGISTRADA

HECHOENU.S.A.PRINTEDINTHEU.S.A.

ForThomas,BecauseKirielwasalwaysforyou.

Contents

AcknowledgmentsDramatisPersonaePrologue:

CHAPTERONECHAPTERTWOCHAPTERTHREE

CHAPTERFOURCHAPTERFIVECHAPTERSIXCHAPTERSEVENCHAPTEREIGHTCHAPTERNINE.CHAPTERTENCHAPTERELEVENCHAPTERTWELVECHAPTERTHIRTEENCHAPTERFOURTEENCHAPTERFIFTEENCHAPTERSIXTEENCHAPTERSEVENTEEN

CHAPTEREIGHTEENCHAPTERNINETEENCHAPTERTWENTYCHAPTERTWENTY-ONECHAPTERTWENTY-TWOCHAPTERTWENTY-THREECHAPTERTWENTY-FOURCHAPTERTWENTY-FIVECHAPTERTWENTY-SIXCHAPTERTWENTY-SEVENCHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINECHAPTERTHIRTYCHAPTERTHIRTY-ONECHAPTERTHIRTY-TWOCHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

Acknowledgments

KenandTamiSagaramadethewritingofthisbook

possible,period.IfIstarttolisteverythingtheydo,I'llfeellikeI'machild,nottheirchild,althoughIadmitthedistinctionintheirmindshasprobablyblurredmorethanitshouldhavebynow.

Thomasmadethewritingpossible,becauseheoffersmebothencouragementandadvicewithoutbeingeithercloyingorhurtfulandforthisbook,Ineededalotof

both.AndeverythingelsethatgetstakenforgrantedwhenI'minthemiddleofobsessivewriterlyvision.

KellySagarareadthepageproofswhenIwastoosicktodosowhichtakesaspecialfortitudeallitsownandbecauseofherhelp,Ididn'tmisswhatotherwisewouldhavebeenanimpossibledeadline.

AndSheilaGilbertmadethewritingofthisbookasdifficultaspossiblebecausewhenshe'sright,shedoesn'tgiveup;shecaresaboutthebook.Which,inmyhumbleopinion,isexactlywhataneditorshoulddo.IhopeIliveduptothechallengessheset.

--------------------

--------------------

AnnagarianRanks

Tyr'agar-RuleroftheDominionTyr'agnate-RulerofoneofthefiveTerreansoftheDominionTyr-TheTyr'agaroroneofthefourTyr'agnateTyran-Personalbodyguard

(oathguard)ofaTyrTor'agar-AnobleinservicetoaTyrTor'agnateAnobleinservicetoaTor'agar;leastofnobleranksTorATor'agarorTor'agnateToran-Personalbodyguard(oathguard)ofaTorSer-AclansmanSerra-TheprimarywifeandlegitimatedaughtersofaclansmankaiTheholderorfirstinlinetotheclantitlepar-Thebrotherofthefirst

inline;thedirectsonofthetitleholder

DramatisPersonae

ESSALIEYAN

AVANTARI(ThePalace)

TheRoyals

KingReymalyn:theJustice-bornKingKingCormalyn:theWisdom-bornKingQueenMarieyan(an'Cormalyn)QueenSiodonayTheFair(an'Reymalyn)PrinceReymar:sonoftheQueenSiodonay&

ReymarisPrinceCormar:sonoftheQueenMareiyan&CormarisPrincessMirialynACormaris:daughterofQueenMarieyan&KingCormalyn

TheNon-Royals

Duvari:theLordoftheCompact;leaderoftheAstari

DevonATerafin:memberoftheAstariandofHouseTerafinCommanderSivari:formerKing'sChampion(attheSummerGames)

TheHostages

SerValedankaidi'Leonne(Raverra):theheirtotheSwordofTheDominionSerraMarlena

en'Leonne:Valedan'smother;bornaslave;grantedhonorific"Serra"becausehersonhasbeenrecognizedandclaimedaslegitimate

SerFillipopardi'Callesta(Averda):brothertotheTyr'agnateofAverdaSerraTaradi'Callesta:hisSerraMichaeledi'Callesta:

oldestsonFrederickdi'Callesta:youngestsonAndreaen'Callesta:hisconcubine

SerKyrodi'Lorenza(Sorgassa):theoldestofthehostagesSerraHelenadi'Lorenza:theonlywifehehas;hehastakennoothersSerGregoridi'Lorenza:

hisson

SerMaurodi'Garradi(Oerta)

SerraAlinadi'Lamberto(Mancorvo)

ImperialArmy

TheEagle:CommanderBruceAllen.CommandstheFirstArmy

TheHawk:CommanderBerrilya.CommandstheSecondArmyTheKestrel:CommanderKalakar.CommandstheThirdArmy&theOspreys

THETEN:

Kalakar

Ellora:TheKalakar.

VerrusKorama:herclosestfriendandcounselorVerrusVernonLoris:friendandcounselor

TheOspreys:PrimusDuarte:leaderAlexis(SentrusorDecarus)Auralis(SentrusorDecarus)Fiara(Sentrus)Cook(Sentrus)

Sanderson(Decarus)

Berriliya

Devran:TheBerriliya

Terafin

Amarais:TheTerafinMorretz:herDomicisJewelATerafin:partofherHousecouncil;alsoseer-bornAvandar:Jewel's

Domicis

THEORDEROFKNOWLEDGE

MeralonneAPhaniel:MemberoftheCounciloftheMagi;firstcirclemageSigurneMellifas:MemberoftheCounciloftheMagi;firstcirclemage

SENNIELCOLLEGE

SolranMarten:BardmasterofSennielCollegeKallandras:MasterBardofSenniel

ANNAGAR

TheTorLeonne

GeneralAlessopar

di'Marente-partoCorano;GeneraltotheformerTyrGeneralBaredankaidi'Navarre:GeneraltotheformerTyr;loyaltoLeonne.WidanCortanodi'Alexes:theSword'sEdgeLordIsladarofthekin:thelinkbetweentheShiningCourtandtheDominion

THECLANS

Callesta

Ramirokaidi'Callesta:theTyrKarrodiCallesta:Tyran;half-brother(concubine'sson);theoldestoftheTyranMikkodiCallesta:Tyran;half-brother(concubine'sson)

Garrardi

Garrardi

Eduardokaidi'Garrardi:theTyr'agnateoftheTerreanofOerta

Lamberto

Mareokaidi'Lamberto:theTyr'agnateofMancorvo

SerraDonnaen'Lamberto:hisSerraGalenkaidi'Lamberto:thekai(formerpar)

Leonne

Markasokaidi'Leonne:theTyr'agarSerraAmanitaen'Leonne:theTyr'agar'sSerraIllarakaidi'Leonne:theheir

SerraDioraen'Leonne:alsoSerraDioradi'MaranoSerIllara'sconcubines:

Faidaen'Leonne:OathwifetoDioraRuathaen'Leonne:OathwifetoDioraDierdreen'Leonne:OathwifetoDiora

Lorenza

Jarranikaidi'Lorenza:

theTyr'agnateofSorgassaHectorekaidi'Lorenza:thekai

Marano

Adanokaidi'Marano:Tor'agartoMareokaidi'LambertoSendaripardi'Marano:hisbrother;WidanSerraFionaen'Marano:Sendari'swife

SerArtano:Sendari'soldestsonSerraDioradi'Marano:Sendari'sonlychildbyhisfirstwifeSendari'sconcubines:

Alanaen'Marano:theoldestofSendari'swivesIllanaen'MaranoIlliaen'MaranoLissaen'Marano:giventothehealer-born

SerraTeresadi'Marano:sistertoAdanoandSendari

Caveras

SerLaonisdi'Caveras:healer-born;hiswifeisLissaen'Caveras.

THERADANN

RadannFrederokai

el'Sol:theruleroftheRadannJevriel'Sol:hisloyalservitorRadannSamielparel'Sol:youngestoftheHandofGodRadannPederparel'SolMarakasparel'Sol:contemporaryofFrederoSamadarparel'Sol:theoldestoftheparel'Sol

THEVOYANI

Arkosa

EvallenoftheArkosaVoyani:thewomanwhoruledtheVoyaniclanMargretoftheArkosaVoyani:herchosen"heir"

Havalla

YollanaoftheHavallaVoyani:ruleroftheclan

BIRTH

Prologue:

I:ASKEYIA

20thofHenden,411AAAveralaan,theCommon

Childrenwerealwaystheworst.FiveyearsspentcrampingkneesatthefeetofLevec,themostnotorioushealerontheisleofAveralaanAramarelas,haddrilledintoAskeyiaa'NarinthefundamentallessonsabouthowtobeahealerintheRealWorld.Butalthoughshecouldnowwalkpastcrippledmen,injuredwomen,peopleinpainsogreatthattheyhid

itbehindenoughaletofloodariver,shefoundithardtobypassthechildren.

Soshedidwhatmanyofthehealer-borndidwhentheywentabouttheirerrandsinthecityoutsideoftheirwalls:shedressedlikeoneofthepoorermerchants,andshekeptthemedallionwhichproclaimedherbirthrightthetalentwithwhichshe'dbeenbornhidden.Itmeant

thattheneedyhadtoactuallyknowwhoshewasbeforetheycouldapproachherwiththeirtalesofwoe.

Itwassohardtosayno.Itwasstillhard.Shewondered,asshepulledtheedgesofherwovenshawlmoretightlyaroundhershoulders,ifshewouldeverfinditeasy.Levechadperfectedsuchalookoftemperthatpeoplewereafraidtospeaktohim

andhewastheonlyhealerwhoworehismedallionopenlynomatterwherehetraveled.

Ofcourse,Levecalsohadasinglebrowthatcrossedhisforeheadinadarkunbrokenline,andhistempersuitedtheperpetualfrownhewore;hadshebeeninjured,withnowheretoturn,she'dprobablyhavetobepaidtoapproachthetaciturnhealer.

Askeyiaa'Narinhadnosuchbrow.Shehadnoheighttospeakof,althoughshehadsohopedthatshewouldtakeafterherfather'sfamilyandgrowalltallandwillowybythetimeshe'dreachedhernameage.Ithadn'thappened;she'dslimmeddownalittlehardworkandapoorharvestalwayshadthateffectbutshe'donlygainedaninchonhermother,andhermotherwas,toputitpolitely,short.

She'dtrieddifferenthairstyles,somethingsuitablysevere,buttheymadeherchinlookchubby,andshehad,althoughMotherknewitwaschildish,hervanity.Shealsohadanuncannyabilitytoberecognizedforwhatshewas,althoughhoworwhyshecouldn'tsay.

Healoneofthem,Levecwouldsaysternly,andthey'llfollowyouaroundlikerats

fortherestofyourlife,gnawingatyourstrengthwhenyoucanleastaffordtoloseit.

Youthinkyoucansavetheworldbecauseyou'reyoung.Youcan't.Andifyouletthepainoftheworlddragyouin,you'llfindtheundertowistoostrong;you'llbesweptawaybyit,andallofthegoodyoucouldhavedoneinalonglifeofhealingwillbe

lost.

Therearealwaysdyingmen.Dyingwomen.Dyingchildren.Theyneedandwillalwaysneed.Butyoudon'towethemyourlife,isthatclear?Ifyouweremeanttolivetheirlives,you'dhavebeenbornthem.Youweren't.Thosepeoplewithbrokenribsorinfectionsorillnessestheydon'tcarewhoyouare;theyreachforyou

blindly,thesamewaytheyreachforadrink.They'lldrainyouasdry,ifyougivethemhalfachance.Youcan'taffordtobeswallowedbythoseneeds.Askeyia,areyoulistening?

Shehadnoddedpolitely,thinkingthatDantallonwasahealerwithoutcompare,butagentleman,aquietone.Mostofthehealer'sstudentsfeltthatway,butthey'dlong

sincerefrainedfrompointinghimoutasacounterexample.She'dtriedit,once.

Ofcourse,he'sgentle,hadbeenhisreply.He'stheQueen'sownhealer.AcommonerwithacoldcomesnearhimandtheKings'personalguardwillmakethematterofahealingentirelymoot.You,ontheotherhand,arefartooapproachable.Itellyou,Askeyia,you'rethe

softestfree(ownerI'veevermet.

Wordsmeanttosting,andtheydid.Becausehewasright,andshehatedit.Asproofofthis,asproofthathiswordsheldbothstingandtruthasifwordswithnotruthcouldstingatallshelookedupfromherreverieandsawawomanstandinginthecobbledstreetsofthe

Common.ThebowersoftheRingstheancientstandsoftreesthatwerefamousthroughouttheEmpirecaughttheheightofthemiddaysunandmadeofitshadow,shortanddark,thatpooledaroundthewoman'sfeet.Hereyeswerewide,herskinunnaturallypale,andthecollarthatframedherneckwasworntothreads;Levee'ssecondyoungesthealerthoughtthattheshiftshe

worehadoncebeenadeepbluebytheedgeofcolornearseamsthatweresplittingwithage;itwaspalenow,whateveritscolorhadoncebeen.

AskeyiastartedtolowerherfaceagainshefounditeasiertowalkthroughtheCommonwithhereyescastgroundwardbutshestoppedasshesawthatthewoman'sarmswererigidlycurvedon

eithersideofabundleofcloth.Astillbundle.

PeoplewerealwaysinahurryintheCommon;theyglaredatthewomanastheyshovedtheirwaypasther,flowingtoeithersidelikeasluggishriver.Thewomanswayedasshouldersandelbowsbrushedhertoeitherside,butshestayedhergroundasifrootedtoit.Raisingherglancefromthebundletothewoman's

face,Askeyiamadeherfirstmistake:shemettheeyes,dark-ringed,horrified.

Youcouldn'tmeeteyeslikethatandturnaway.Youcouldn'tdoit;you'dhavetoleaveshredsofsoulbehindjusttotearyourselffree.

Swallowing,sheglancedoverhershoulderonce,buttherewerenootherhealersinsight;Jonashadrunahead,and

MercyAristide,really,buteveryonecalledhimMercy,forreasonswhichwereclearlylostonAskeyiahaddisappearedintoastallfullofpeoplewithtoomanyelbowsforAskeyia'slessprepossessingsize.Neitheronecouldseeher,andwhattheycouldn'tsee,theycouldn'treport.

Besides,itwasn'tasifshewasgoingtohealthebabe.

Shewasjustshewasjustgoingtoseeifthebabeneededhelp.Thatwasall.Shewasjustgoingtotakeasmalllook;justtouchthechild.Nothingtoodangerous.Andchildrenwell,iftheywerethemostcompelling,theywerealsobyfartheeasiesttohealallacrossthespectrum;theirbodieshelped.

Takingadeepbreath,Askeyiaa'Narinreachedinto

hershirtandpulledoutthemedallionofthehealer-born.Itglitteredinthesunasshelaiditflatagainstherbreast,aplatinumrectangle,simpleandsevere,withonlythegoldenglowoftwohands,palmup,toalleviatethestarkness.Nooneinthecitycouldmistakethemedallionitselfforanythingotherthanwhatitwas.

Theflashoflightcutthe

shadowanddrewthewoman'sattention,andalthoughshemadenomovetowardAskeyia,herdarkeyeslitwithahunger,ahope,thatthehealerhadseensooftenitshouldn'thavebeenjarring.Butitwas.

"Healer,"thewomansaid."Healer,Iknow"

Askeyialiftedahandthatwasatoncegentleandimperious.

Sheheldoutherhandsbutthewoman'sarms,thinandfragile,seemedlockedinapositionthatsheherselfhadforgottenhowtobreak.Shockorworse.Thewomanstartedtospeakagain,andagainAskeyialiftedahand.Ofallthethingsthatshefounddifficult,thepleadingwasalwaystheworst;itcuther,tohearavoicesodevoidofpride.

"IamAskeyiaa'Narin,"shetoldthewomangently."AndI'mI'mabouttostartmydayattheMother'stempleinthethirteenthholding."Itwasabsolutelytrue."Ifyou'difyou'dlike,youcanaccompanyme."Sheheldoutherarmsagain.

Thistimethewomanseemedtobreak;herfeetleftthecobbledstonesasifshe'dyankedthemfree."It'smy

boyhe'shurtmyboyHealer,myboy"

Thisclose,shecouldseethebloodthattrailedoutofeithercornerofthechild'smouth.Hewasyoung;nonewborn,butnotyetcrawling.Andasshetouchedhisface,assheconcentrated,callinguponthetalentthatwasbaneandboonboth,sheknew.Ribs,thinandflexible,hadbeencrushedwithenoughspeed

andforcetopiercelungs;bloodfilledthem,evennow.Hewasdying.Notsoclosetodeathastothreatenhershouldsheattemptthehealing,butnotsofarthathismotherhadthetimeitwouldtaketowalktotheMother'stempleandwaitforthehealertoarrive.

Notsoclosetodeath?

He'sonlyachild,she

thought.He'sonlyachild.Andchildrenaren'tsocostlytocallback.Everyoneknowsthat.

Shedidnotlookoverhershoulderagain.ShedidnotwonderwhereJonasandMercywere.Sheheldthelifeinherhands,andthelifewasalmosteverything.Itwaswhyahealercouldn'tfreelytouchtheinjuredorthedyingatherlevelofskill;thecallwas

almostimpossibletoignore.Notthatshewouldhaveignoredit;shewas,asLevechadsaid,thesoftestfreetownerthathehadevermet.

Shebrushedastraystrandoflimp,darkhairfromthecurveofhercheek;itwasshornbyfire,thecandle'skissoneshe'dbeentootiredtocompletelyavoid.Withcare,shetookthechildfromthearmsofhismother.

He'sonlyababe,shethought.Itwon'tcostmuch.

Babieswereneeddefined,buttheirneedsweresimple;eating,sleeping,physicalcomfort.Askeyiafeltthewarmthleaveherhandsinarushasthebaby'sthoughts,inarticulatepictures,smellsthesmellswerestrongimagesofaface,smiling,joyful,tearful,tired,andsometimesangryfilledher

vision.Shecouldnotrecognizethiswomaninthewomanwhostoodinsuchdesperation,beneaththetreesintheCommon;thiswomanwassafety.Hadthischildknownloneliness?Notyet;notyet.

Hewas'Lesso;adiminutive,Askeyiatoldherself,althoughitwasastruggletofindtheword.Whenhewashungry,hecalledforhismother,and

shecame;shewaswarmwhenhewascold,shewassoundandsightandsmell.

'LessothoughtthatAskeyiawashismother,andwhenshecalledhim,whensheheldoutherarms,hecamewitheaseandjoyorrather,hewailedthelouderforthesoundofhervoicebearinghisnameintheshadowsof.thefoothillsthatledtoMandaros.Shecalledhimagain,andagain

hewailed,louder;onelasttime,andshewasthere,hewasthere;shepickedhimupandheldhimtightagainsther,withinher,bringinghimbacktohimself.

Andallabouther,toostrongtobememory,toovisceraltoevokethatnaiveyearning,thethingsbywhichayoungbabeknowsamother.Bywhich,inturn,ayoungmotherknowsherchild.Andthiswasher

child,this'Lesso,thisbabe;thiswashers,toprotectandhealandcomfort.Hefellintothecradleofherhealer-strongarmsandrestedthereasifthosearmsweremadetodonomorethanholdhim.

Really,asshe'dtoldLevecahundredtimes,athousandtimes,healingbabieswasnoriskatall.

Really.

Butshecouldn'texplainthetearsthatcourseddownhercheeksastheworldreturnedtohereyestoheradulteyes.Couldn'texplainthewayherarmstightenedaroundtheswaddlingcloth,thewayshepressedthebabetight,tootight,toherchest.

Shespokephrases,thingsmeanttoseparatethehealerfromthehealedbutwordsofferednoseparation.

Thescreaming,thinandterrible,did.

Turning,slopinggroundwardwiththesuddendisorientationofmotion,shesaw'Lesso'smotherhisterrifiedmother,hisstrong,hishappy,hisangrymotherchalkwhite,whiteassnowonmountainpeaks.

"Healer!"shecried,pointingtoaplacebeyondthe

vulnerablehealer'sback.

Askeyiaspunagain,lighteronherfeet,surernowthatthepoundingofheartwaswithoutquestionherheart,nothis.AndasshegazedatamanwhowasmovingfromthecenteroftheRingbeneathwhichshestood,sherememberedwhat'Lesso'smotherhadsaid.

He'shurtmyboy

Nohealerhadevercomeoutofthecallwithsuchspeed,suchterribleurgency.Wasit'Lesso'sfear?Herownvulnerability?Theweaknessofahealing?Sheturned,handingthechildtohismother,tohisothermother,andthenturnedagain,asinglewordhavingpassedbetweenthem:Run.

Hewaswell-dressed,butnotsowell-dressedthathe

neededguardsorapalanquin;shethoughthimaSouthernnoble,someminorclansman,notthevalleyVoyaniwhosedescendantsnowcrowdedmanyofthehundredholdingsintheirattemptstomakerootsaplaceforthemselvesthattheirSoutherncompatriotsneitherwantednorclaimed.Hishairwasdark,andhisskinquitepale;hisshoulderswerebroadandhishandsunblemished.His

teethrareenoughinamanhisagewereperfect,aswashisbrow;hehadthelookofpowerabouthim.

Hecarriednoobviousweapon,worenovisiblearmor.

Inthelightofday,heshouldhavelookedlikejustanotherman,anotherforeigner.

Butthelightofdayshunned

him.

Sheglancedonceoverhershoulder,justonce,tomakesureherchildhadescaped,andthenshe,too,ran.

Light,asdistinctasabirdcall,sheheardhischucklecrosstheCommonasifnothingatallseparatedthem.

Askeyiaa'Narinwasgoodatrunning.Alifeofrelative

luxuryandindolencehadnotrobbedheroftheskillortheinstinctsthathadhonedit.Aircrestedheropenlipsandsliddownherthroatinarush.Thecobbledstonesbeneathherfeetwerehardandsolid;theyprovidedanevengroundwithnotreacherousdipsorholes,nounseenrootsorbranches.

Asahealer,shehadavalue.

Itwasbeyondmoney,althoughmoneywaspaidforit.Untrained,unknown,andunregistered,shewasworthhalfofthenavalfleet'sbestshipstotherightman,ifhecouldcatchherandremoveherfromviewbeforehecouldbestopped.Itwas,ofcourse,completelyillegal;thepunishmentsforkidnappingandforcedindenturewerealmostasharshasthoseformurder.Butmurderdidn't

stop,either.

Askeyiaknewhowtokeepherwitsaboutherwhilesheran.Itwasastrength,andtimeandagain,ithadprovedhersalvation.Andtherunningitselfclearedhermind;thedepthofthebreathing,theacheofherlungs,keptherfirmlyinthehereandthenow.Itwashardertopanicifshewasdoingsomething.

Anditwashardtodosomethingwiththepressofbodiesgrownsothickattheheightofday.Inthesummermonths,theheightofdaywastheemptiesttimeintheCommon,butinHenden,whatwiththecoolbreezeandrains,itwasthemostcrowded.Shehadnotimetoapologize,althoughsheheardthecursesatherbackandtoeitherside.Shehopedthatnoneofthemenor.women

wereforeign,andthatnoneofthemhadtempers,becauseshecouldn'taffordtobecalledtotaskfortheclumsy,horriblerun.Shehadtofind

There.Authorityguards.Armorgleamingostentatiouslyinadaythatwascoolenoughforit.Theirhelmsweredown;themetalbridgesthatfollowedthelineofthenoseusuallymadeher

thinkofsculpturedbirds.

Nottoday.Herfeetslowedtheirstrideastheyrespondedtothegiddyreliefshefeltatarriving,untouched,beforethemenwhokepttheKings'OrderintheCommon.Safety,here,althoughinheryouthshe'dbeenraisedtodistrustImperialauthority.Afreetowner'sdaughter,butnotafreetowneratheart.Beneathherchin,the

medallionsheworecaughtthelight,bendingit,scatteringit,andholdingitasshecaughtherbreath.

"Healer?"AguardwhoAskeyiathoughtworetheinsigniaofaPrimussaid,eyeswideningslightly.Hermedallionwasn'tacommonsightintheopenstreets.

"II'mbeingfollowed,"shesaid,drawingaharshbreath

aseriesofharsh,quickbreaths."Foreigner."

Theguardamanshevaguelyrecognizedfrownedasherwordsandhermedallionmadeclearwhatthethreatwas.Heturnedatonce,wavinghisthreecompanionsforward.Shehuddledbehindthemassoftheirarmoredbodies,feelingthesafetyoftheirheight,theirobviousweight,and

especiallyofthearmsthattheywereevennowunsheathinginaroughscrapeofmetalagainstmetal.

Thestrangerwalkedintoview.Walked.Yethefollowednomorethantwentysecondsbehindher;less,ifshewereacapablejudge.Hewascompletelyunruffled,asfinelyturnedoutinacitysortofwayashehadbeenwhenshe'dfirstseteyeson

him.

Andtheshadowsthatthetreescaststillflowedfromtheedgeofhiscloak,bleedingintothestoneslikeathick,richliquid.Hesmiled,glancingbetweentheguardsasifhecouldseethroughthem.

Thesafetyshefeltvanishedthen,asifshe,too,couldseethrougharmorandarmsand

simplephysicalstrengthastheillusionstheywere.Hadhereyeswidened?Hadshemadeanoiseanynoiseotherthanthesimpleandunavoidablerhythmofdrawnbreath?Shethoughtshemusthave,becausehesmiled.Winteronthemountainhadbeenjustascoldandjustasdeadlyasthatsmileforahealer-borngirlwhodidn'tunderstandwhatthewordstormmeant.

Andshewasahealer-borngirl,withallthatthatimplied.Allofit.

"Primus,"shesaid,standingforward,theheartbeneathherribcagetellingthetaleofthefearthatsheforced,withsomuchdifficulty,fromthelinesofherface.

"I'maSentrus,Healer,"hesaid,asthestrangerdrewcloser.Therewasasmilein

hisvoice,afriendlycorrectionofferedtoawomanwhohadseenenoughoftheeffectsofasword,butneverseemedtoknowenoughtorecognizetherankofthepersonwhowieldedit.

"IIthinkI'vemadeamistake."

Helookedbackoverhisshoulder,hiseyesnarrowing.

Sheswallowed,paleinthefadingday,thewearinessreplacedbythegiddinessoftoomuchfear.

"Healerareyoucertain?"Hedidn'tbelieveher,ofcourse.Askeyiaa'Narinwasaterribleliar.Especiallywhentheliewasforcedoutofherbyaninstinctthatsheonlybarelycontrolled:thedesiretopreserve,atanycost,thelivesofthosearoundher.

Becausesheknew,withoutknowingwhy,thatinseconds,thesemenwouldlieaground,dyingjustassurelyasthebabehadbeen,butwithnoonetocomeandrescuethemall.Noonetocomeforevenone.

Allhealerslearnedtohidefromtheinstinct;todenyit.Therewasn'tenoughpowerintheworldtostopdeathfromcomingtothosewhoheard

thecall;notenoughpowerintheworldtosaveeveryman,woman,andchildwhowasworthsaving.Buttherewasguiltenoughtodestroyahealer,andahealer'slife.

Andifnotguilt,therewasthecallitself.Toguideamanbackfromdeathwasthemostharrowingjourneythateitherthedyingmanorthelivinghealercouldmake.Orsoshehadbeentaught.

Butshedidn'tbelieveit,notnow.Becauseshesawthedeathinthestranger,writacrossthelivingshadowinhisface,andshecouldnotimaginethatanythingcouldbeharderthanthis:toswallow,tosmile,toforceafoolishyoungexpressionacrossherfaceinsteadofhuddlingbehindswordsandarmor,orbetter,fleeingandgainingthemomentseachguard'sdeathwouldtake.

Thestrangerhadstoppedcompletely;hestilllookedather,throughtheguards,buthisexpressionlostallsmile,alledgeofexpensivepleasure.

"Askeyiaa'Narin,"hesaid,andshesawthathiseyeshadnowhites."IamIsladar."

Shewantedtorun,buttheguardswouldn'tcouldn'titseemedquiteleaveher,and

sheknewthatthemomentsheunleashedherstrugglingfear,themomentherfeethitthecobbledstones,theywouldfulfilltheirduty.

Andwasn'tthatwhatthey'dtrainedallthoseyearsfor?Wasn'titwhattheysworetheiroathtodo?Wasn'titwhattheysayit,Askeyiariskeddaily,withfullknowledge?Ah,shewantedtolisten;thewordswerethe

strongestthey'deverbeen.Butshestayed.Becauseshewashealer-born.Becausesheknewnowthat'Lesso'sinjuryhadsimplybeenthetrapthathadclosedaroundher;thismanhadinjuredthebabetocatchherout,andamanwhocoulddothat,coulddoanything.

Levecwouldbeangry,whenhelearnedhowshe'dletherselfbecaught.

"Isladar,"shesaid,turningthewordaroundinadry,drymouth."W-whatdoyouwant?"

Heofferedherhisarm;shereachedout,hesitated,andthenletherhandfalllimplytoherside.Shecouldn'ttouchhim.Shecouldnot.

Hestaredather,hiseyesnarrowed,hislipsaslenderlineinhispaleface.Thenhe

smiled,andthissmile,unliketheother,was,ifnotfriendly,benign."Letus,"hesaid,withdrawinghisarm,"walk.Ihavesolittleexperienceofthehealer-born."

Sheswallowed,tookastepforward,stoodnearenoughthathemightactuallycatchherinthecircleofhisarms.Buthedidnottouchher;instead,hesmiledmoredeeply."Yourfear,"he

whispered,"issostrong.Iamalmostsurprisedthatyourememberhowtowalk."

SowasAskeyia.

Hedidnotwishtoinjureher,buthecouldnotquitebringhimselftosaythis;therewasnogentlenessinhisnature,norcouldtherebe.HewasFirst-born,hehadChosen,andheresidedinaplaceofpoweramonghiskin:

Kinlord.Demon.Kialli.Isladar.

Monthshadgoneintothecarefulwatchingandstudyingofthehousesofhealingontheisle.Thehealinghouseswerenotableforthesecurityoftheirwalls,theprofusionofguardsthatprotectedthestudentswithinthem,andthepersonalitiesofthepeoplewhoclaimedtoownthem.Hestudiedthem,butalwaysata

distance,hewouldcauseaninjury,payforitscorrection,andthentaketheinformationfromthemindofthemanorwomansohealed.Time-consuming.

Yetintheend,hehadsettleduponthehouseofhealingownedbyamannamedLevec.HealerLevec.Taciturn,sharp-tongued,andmorepossessivebyhalfthanthenextmanwhoundertook

therunningofahouseofhealing,hehadcaughtIsladar'sattention.IfhehadafamilynameasmostofthemortalsdiditwasnotonethatIsladarcouldfindeasily,andthevariousrecordsoftheAuthoritieswereopenforhisinspection.Inallofhisdealings,hewassimplyHealerLevec,andhewasknowntoanymanofpowerwhomadehishomeontheHolyIsle.

Thatislewasnohometohim,andhedidnotcrossthebridgethatseparatedAveralaanAramarelasfromtherestofAveralaanhappily,butheknewwhathesoughtwhenhelefthisLord'sside,andknewfurtherthatitwasupontheisle,andnowhereelse,thatitcouldbefound.

HechoseLevee'sHouse,andfromthere,hisintensepersonalscrutinybegan.

Levec,ofcourse,wasnotusefulinthegrandschemebutIsladarbelievedthatamanofLevee'stemperamentwaspronetofosterthosewhowere.Hewasnotcompletelycertain;theyoungerhealer-bornstudentsdidnothaveaKialli'swayofmeasuringthedepthofmortalaffection,andtheytookhiswords,often,aswordsthatheldallofhismanymeanings.

Hissmilefoldedintoaline;hisfacegrewremote,asitoftendidwhenhecontemplatedtheplansthatlay,stonebycarefullyplacedstone,ahead.Alwaysahead.Ifhewashonest,andinthesilenceofhisownthoughts,hecouldaffordtobelittleelse,hehadchosentheHouseofLevecforoneotherreason:Levecwasamanwhowouldbeinjuredbythelossofoneofhisstudents.Evenone.

Andsoweproveourselves,againandagain,truetoournature.

Thereweremanyhealerswhofitthekinlord'sneedsinapurelyemotionalway,buttheyweremoreoftenthannotyoungmen,andforhisparticularplan,ayoungmanwasoutofthequestion.YetinthecaseofahousesuchasthehouseLevecran,theyoungwomenwereoften

moreguardedinbothsensesofthewordanditwasnotuntilhefoundAskeyiaa'Narinthatheknew,withasmuchcertaintyasitcouldbeknown,thathehadfoundtheone.

Narrowingthescopeofhissearchhadbeensimple,andfollowingherhadprovedinstructive,althoughwhathesaidremainedtrue:healerswerealmostbeyondhisken.

"Askeyiaa'Narin,"hesaid,ashebroughthertooneofthestandingrings."Ihavebeenwaitingmanymonthsforthisopportunity."Hereachedup,caughttheundersideofaleaf,andfolloweditsveinsuptothethinstemthatfixedittoabranch.Withaquietsnaphepulleditfree,turningitoverinhispalmasifthat,andnothingelse,hadbeenhispurpose.

"Whatdoyouwant?"shesaidagain,thefearthickeningherwordsless."Whyhaveyouwhydidyou"

Itwashardnottofrightenher;shewassoclosetothebrinkofhysteriahehadonlytospeaktherightwordsandshewouldfallovertheedge.Intruth,hegreatlydesiredit,butthatwasthevisceral,andIsladarwasknownforthecontrolthatheexercisedover

baseimpulse.Overanyimpulse.Hehandedhertheleaf,takingcaretocausenocontactbetweenherfleshandhis.

Shaking,shetookit,pressingitunconsciouslybetweenthepalmsofherhandsasifitwereaflattenedglove.Theleavesverymuchresembledwide,oddlycoloredhands.

"Youareabouttobecomea

partofhistory,Askeyia.Itfallstoyoutobeginthegreatestempirethattheworldhaseverknown."

Shewasmute;shestaredattheleaf,asifmeetinghiseyeswaspainful.Heponderedamoment,wonderingifshecouldseehistrueeyes.Arareself-annoyancetroubledhim;ofcourseshecouldseethem.Whatotherreasoncouldshehaveforherterror?The

healerssawmuchthathehadnotexpected.Hereachedouttotouchher,andpulledawayashernostrilswidened.Thesunwasfalling;theshadowwasgrowing.

"Askeyia,"hesaid,hisvoicesoftandneutral,"Idonotintendtofrightenyou.".

Atthat,hereyesflashed."You'relying,"shesaidevenly.

"AmI?"

"Yes."Pause."No."

Helaughed,althoughheknewshewouldfindthelaughterunpleasant."Youspeaktruth.Anditisthuswithmytruth:thatoppositesareinequalmeasurevalid."Hefrowned,fellsilent.Hehadnotintendedtosayasmuch.

Itannoyedhim.

"Whatdoyouwantfromme?"

"Everything,"hesaidgravely,"butnotforme."Herfearwasasstrongasanyfearhehadtastedinthisdomain;hehad,afterall,beencautiousandinfinitelyhumaninhisinteractionwithothermortals.Butthisone,thisgirlshewouldseemuchmore

thanasimpleKialliindulgencebeforeherlifeended.

"Forforwho?"Sheedgedaway,hitthebarkofatreethatunexpectedlybarredpassageintotheCommonthatshehadtraversedfreelyforyears.

Hesteppedforward,cominguponherquickly,movingwithallofhisspeed,all

grace.Hereyeswidened,becomingwhitecirclesarounddilatedpupils;thefearmadeherwild,anditwaswildnessthathecraved.Shethrewupherhandsindenial,seekingtowedgethembetweenherbodyandhischest.Toolate.Hewasuponher;hisshadowranupthesidesofherface,herthroat,thebackofherneck;hecaughtherassheflailed,trappingthesoundofher

screaminherthroat;lettingenoughescapeforhisears,forhisearsalone.

Ithadbeenmillennia.

Itwouldbemillenniaagain.

Howodd,thattheonegirlhefoundsuitablewasalso,inherfashion,theonehefoundmosttempting.Thetemptationitselfwasanunexpectedsweetness,a

smallelementofrisk.Forheneededher,andheneededheralive.Andsane.Hewalkedtheedge,carryingherassheflailed.Knowingthathecouldnotgivehertheconsummationofherfear,ofherdread,ofhercertainty.

Heloweredhishead;hisface,wreathedintheshadowthathealersalonecouldfindsocorrosivenomatterwhatitsintent,restedamomentinthe

crookofherneck.Hislipstouchedherears,andintotheshadows,intothesoundsofherterror,intothecracklingsharpnessofthefantasiesofdeaththathenowletrunliketheWildHuntthroughherthoughts,hesaid,"Forwho?MyLord,dearchild;theonlyLordthatanyofthekinhavewillinglychosentoserve.Allasakar."

Andalthoughthewordsank

andtookrootsimmediately,althoughherfeargavethenameasgreataweightasherimaginationallowed,thespeakingofitfreedhim.

Impulse.

Control.

"Iapologize,"hesaid,withsomeeffort."Wearebothcreaturesofournature."Hissmilewasaglimmerinthe

darknessofhisshadow;itstartedandstoppedalmostatthesameinstant.Shecouldnotseeit.

Hedidnotreleaseher,butonlybecausehecouldnot;thespellwasnearcompletion,andthisparticularcastingofitrequiredphysicalcontact.Hewasnot,afterall,alordwhochoseostentationinanyofhisendeavors.

Hecastaglamouruponher,somethingtotakeawaythefearthatsheradiated;intheShiningCity,therewasnofasterwaytobenoticed.Nobetterwaytocallthekin,betheygreaterorlesser,tofeed.Shewasnotreadyforthatnorwouldsheeverbe.

ThekinthathadbeencalledtotheseplainsforthefirsttimeinmillenniafoundtheabsenceofThoseWhoHave

Chosenafarmorebitterthingthanany,evenIsladar,hadsuspected.

AndIsladar,ofthekin,wasthewisest.

Hecametothestonetowerthathadbeenbuiltuponitsownfoundation.Steps,ofapiece,wereshearedupthetower'sside;theyweresmallenoughforhumanfeet,andtheywouldserveuntilsucha

timeashumanfeetnolongerfounditnecessarytotraversethem.ThetoweroftheLordhadnosuchsteps;hisaudienceswerefewindeed,andhechosetoholdtheminthebasinatthefootofthis,hisShiningCity.Thekinlords,eachandeveryone,werecapableofrisingtotheheightofhisdoorswithouttheneedtotouchanythingasroughashewnstone;itwasasubtletest,anotherproofthat

onlythepowerfulreignedintheHells.

IntheHells.

Butinthisrocky,barrenplace,theskieswereclear;thesnow,whenitfell,fellinaclean,whitestormoficefromtheheights;theriversthatrancarriedwiththempebbles,stones,sandandtheairwassilent,thelandswereemptyforasfarasthe

eyecouldsee.

Thekincouldseefarindeed.

Therewerenodemesneshere,althoughtherewereLords;therewerenosouls.Mandarosdidnotcontroltheonlygatetothisrealm,andthekinwerefreetogazeuponthesoulsofthosewhohadnotyetmadetheirChoice;whohadnotyettraveledthelengthand

breadthoftheirmany,manylives.Andthesoulsoftheundecidedwerebothanoffenseandadangerouscuriosity.

Helookedattherigidformofthewomanbesidehim,seeingbeyondthefragilenetworkofskinandveinandflesh.Shewaspale,palegray;ifdarknesslingered,itlingeredsofarawayfromtheheartthatheknewshewasa

lifetimeortwoawayfromherlastjourneytotheHallofMandaros.AndwhileMandarosreigned,whiletheKingsreigned,whiletheworldturnedandchangedinwaysthatwerelessconducivetothefearandthehatred,trielossandthebitter,bitterangerthatconsumedthespirit,suchasoulasthiswouldneverbetheirs.Orbehis.

Ah,buttheLordhadhisplans,andtheLordcouldseefarbeyondthespanofasinglehumanlife.

Thekinlord'slipsliftedinasubtlesmile.Becauseheknew,asdidtheLord,thatthespanofasinglehumanlifelesswasallthattheyhad,iftheyweretosucceed.WhatAllasakarhaddone,theOathmakercoulddoagaininamatterofdecades.

IftheOathmakerandtheLordstoodacrossafieldofbattle,bothatthepeakoftheirpowers,therewasnocontest.Buttheywouldnotstandatthepeakoftheirpowers;oratleasttheLordwouldnot.Notnow.Toexistinthisworldatallhehadhadtosevertheconnectionbetweenthehellsandthemortalplanebeforehewasfullyprepared.Hewas,asthekin,requiredtoformabody

outofthesubstanceoftheplainitselfandtobuildabodytohousethepowerofagodwasnosimpletask,noeasyfeat.Once,itmighthavebeen.

Beforethesundering.

Butthelandsofmanfoughtandpulledagainsttheimmortal;tocreatetheavataritselfwasatasknottobehurriedwhenonehadthe

luxury,andtheknowledge.Theyknewnow.Theyhadnotknownthen.ThusevenwiththeplansoftheLordoftheHells.Crippledorno,hewasstrong.Andcrippledorno,heworethemantle;hewastheLordofthemall.

TheLordtheyhadchosentofollow.

Shestirred,asshestoodbesidehim,drawinghis

attention.

"Welcome,"hesaid,hisvoiceonceagainsoft,"totheShiningCity."

Shedidnotblink,didnotreact.

Hecastagain,castswiftly,boundhertightlywithouteverliftingahand.

"Askeyiaa'Narin,"hesaid,

"fearisnotyourfriendhere.Youwillnotfeelit."

Andbecauseitwassomethingshedesperatelydesired,sheobeyedthecommandinhiswords.

Suchahumanweakness.

TheCityhadbeencarvedoutoftherockofamountainthatseemedtoexistforonlythatpurpose;itsface,whereits

facecouldbeseenwassheerandsharp,asiftherockitselfhadbeenshornandpullednewfromtheground.

Itwasthefirstthingshenoticed,thattherockwasnew,thatthecitywasrock.Thattherewas,fromthisvantage,nolifeatall,nogreenery,nocolor,nobirdonwingintheopensky.

Allasakar.Shecouldnot

speakthename;ithadbeenforbiddentoallbuttheboldestofchildrenforsolongthatshecouldnotclearlyrememberthefirsttimeshehadheardit.

Thelasttimewasstilltooclear.

Asiftodenyit,sheturnedherfacetothewindowandtheworlditframed.Nothingmoved;ifnotforthewind

throughtheopenframe,itmighthavebeenapainter'svisionofisolation.Butthewindwascoldandsharp;itstungtheskinanddriedtheeyes.More,itcouldnotaccomplish.Askeyiaa'Narinwas,afterall,ahealer-born.Sheadjustedtocold,anditsdamage,withthesameconsciouseffortittooktodrawbreathwhichwastosay,noneatall.

Shecouldnotbanishthefear.

LordIsladarcame,frequently,hisdispleasureacreaseatthecornersofblackeyes,oratighteningofthelips.Shewasafraidofhim;shecouldnothidethefear,andthemoreshetriedandshedidtrythemoreitcalledhim.Hewouldcome,standbyher,astatuethatspokeaword,ortwo,orthree.Then,satisfied,he

wouldnodandspeaksoothingwords,ofakindthatwereforgottenthemomentheutteredthem.

Shewouldspeakjustso,sheknew,toaninjuredchild.Orananimal,half-madwithpain.

Adusk,heraldingthenorthern,frozennight,hadcome;afterit,afteranightsolongthatshedarednotclose

hereyes,thedawnhadfollowed.

Andthedawn,inthisthin,dryair,wasglorious.

Thesunrose,framedbythestonesill;handsthatbarelyfeltlikeherowngrippeditsedge;breathstoppedamoment.Forthefirsttimesinceshe'darrivedinthisterribleplace,shedidtwothings.

Sheacceptedthatthiswasnodream,nocapriciousnightmare.Andsheprayed.

Therewas,inthisroom,abed;itwaswideenoughfortwo,shethought.Likethecitythatspreadinsilencefarbeneaththeopenwindow,thebedwasgrayandcolorlessandassheapproachedit,asthesun'srayscrestedthewindow'ssill,sherealizedthatitwasofapiecewiththe

wall.

Theheadboardthatgrewoutofthewallitselfwastallandplain,exceptforasinglesmalldetail,asymbolthatshedidnotrecognize,butfeltoddlycomfortedby,initscenter.Acircle,made,shethought,ofchain,withafloweratitscenter.Buttheflowerwasunlikeanyflowershehadseen;itspetalswerewild,unmatching.Thefirst

wasathingthatseemedtoflickerandburn,aleafofflame,thesecond,alily'spetal,thethirdalong,flatleafshethoughtitcornlike.Therewasafourthpetal,butithadbeenpulledfromtheflower,asifbywind.

Shereachedouttotouchthesymbol.

"Iwouldnot,wereIyou."

Herhandstoppedahair'sbreadthfromthestone;shedidnotlookup,buthisshadowfellacrossthebed.Swallowing,shepulledthathandawayandburieditinthefoldsofherskirt.

"Ihavebroughtfood."

Silently,sheturned;hesetitdown.Andthenhestaredatherforalongmoment,displeased."Askeyia

a'Narin,"hesaidsoftly,"whydoyoudispelmymagicks?"

Sheshookherheadnumbly,herhairtumblingintohereyesandawayattheforceofthemovement."IIdon'tI'mnot"

Heshookhishead."Theroom,"hesaidsoftly,"iswarded;fromwithout,nooneshouldsenseyourpresence.ButthisistheShiningCourt."

Hefrownedamoment,andthenadded,"Askeyia,youhavenofriendsinthisCourt."

Shenodded.

"NeitherdoI.IamKialli.TheKiallidonotknowfriendshipinanywaythatyouwouldunderstandit.Itisamortalflawanimpulsethatdrawstheweaktogetherandbindsthemfast.Weare,noneofus,weak;weseek

power,andthepowerthatweseekoverlapsinallthings.

"Youareapartofmyplan,ofmyLord'splan;myenemiesmaywellseekyou.Ifyoudonotstopthis,thosewhoseekwillfind."Hedidnottouchher;didnotmoveatall.

"IIdon'tknowwhatI'mdoing.Idon'tknowwhatyouwantmetotostop."

"Ihavecastthisspelltentimes.You"andthenhefroze,hisfrownofapiecewiththewall,grayandhard,butonlyhalfascoldashisnarrowedeyes."Isee,"hesaidsoftly."Thisismostunfortunate."

What?shewantedtoshout.Whatismostunfortunate?WhatamIdoing?Butshewasafraidoftheanswer,andshesaidnothing,andthis

timeheleftatonce,speakingnowordsatall,andmakingnogesturesaboveherupturnedface.

Thetowerwasofthestoneitself.Themattress,heavyrollsofcottonunderbroadsheet,wasnot,andthelightwarmedit.Shesat.Shesatinthesilenceofthisterribleroom,seeingthedawngivewaytoday.

Itfascinatedhim,thisunconsciousrejectionofhisshadow.Asifitwerejustanotherminorflaw,somepettyinjurylikethescrapingofskinorthebreakingofanail,hisshadow,hishard-wonKiallicloak,wascastaside.Hewascertainagreaterspellwouldholdher,justasagreaterinjurywouldcallherattention;hecouldaffordneitherforthemeretrifleofmaskingherfear;not

whensomuchlayaheadthatrequiredtruepower.

Hestoodbeyondherdoor,listeningtotherhythmsofhermortalbody.Hearingthebreath,thepassageofairintolung,theflowofbloodinvesselandvein.Hearing,beneaththat,otherworkings.Hehadstayedoutsidethisdoorforthepassageofadayandahalf,gleaningtheinformationthatherequired

tocastthisfinalspell.Itwasunlikeanyspellthatthekinlordhadcastbeforeit;asubtlespellaspellthatthehealerherselfmighthaveused.

Andbecauseofitsnature,thecostwashigh.Theshadowstruggledeverywhereagainsthiscommandashedrewitin;foughthimasifitweresentient,asifitrealizedtheperversionofitstruest

purpose.

Twobattles,then.Thecastingofthespell.Andthekeepingofit.Bysheerforceofwill,hecouldholdthespellinplace,anditwasnecessary;itwasherlife.

Hechosethatmomentwhenthenightwasstrongest,andthemoondim.Hetouchedthedoor,paused,andthenspoke;hissigilburneda

momentinairbeforehishandpassedthroughit.LetanotherLordspeakhisnameinthisplace,andthedoorwouldgrantnopassageunlesstheycoulddefeatthesigilitself.

Shewasawake.Whichwasunfortunate.

Thewindowframedher;thewindchilled.

"Askeyia,"hesaid."Come."

Butsheknew,hethoughtorsomepartofherdid.Shestoodasifshewerepartofthemountainpeak,frozen,immobile.

"Askeyia,"hesaidagain,ill-pleased,"ifyoufightme,thiswillbedifficult.Fightorno,youwillfulfillyourrole.Come."Heheldoutahandbutheknew,ashedidso,thatthegesturewasfutile.Shecouldnotgivehimwhathe

demanded;notwillingly.Itwasnotinhernature.

Andthatwas,again,unfortunate.

Hecouldnotwait;hisplanrequiredherpresence,anditrequiredhispower,andthetwowouldslipfartherapartasthenightwaned.Withoutanotherwordhecrossedtheroom,takingastep,lessthanastep,sogreatwasthe

shadowhecast.

Shescreamed,hesilencedher.

Then,inthedarknessoftowerandpalemoonlight,hesurroundedherwiththeeffortofdays,submergingher.Heforcedhertodrink,tobreathe.Andashefelttheshadowsslidedownherthroat,ashefeltthemtakerootinherheartandherlungs

andthevesselsthatcarriedhertalent-bornblood,heclosedhiseyes.

Forshewasnotquitereadyfortheevening'swork,buthehadherbodynow,andhebroughtit,quickly,toitstime.

ThescreamscouldbeheardacrossthebreadthoftheShiningCity.Thekin,lesserandgreater,frozeamoment

andthenshiveredinthisfamiliarwind.ThefieldsoftheHellswerebehindthem,yesbuttheywerecarriedwithinaswell.Theyhadchosentheirplacesolongagothelesserkincouldnotrememberthechoosing.Thegreaterkindid,buteventhey,liketheirlessercousins,weredrawnbythesoundsofterror,ofpain.

Throughtheemptystreets

theycame,leavingthemockeryofbuildings,ofmanors,ofdwellingsthathadceasedtohavemeaningforthem.Theycameasifcalled,asifcommanded,asifdrawnbyaspelltheycouldnotignore.

AndtheycametoringthetowerinwhichtheLordoftheHellsreigned.There,inbittersilence,theyacceptedthecrumbsfromhistable,for

theyknewthatthemortaltrappedwithinwouldneverbethrowntothem.

Itwasarape,yes,butofmorethanthephysicalbody;thedemandsoftheLordreachedfartherthanthemagicksofhismostsubtleservantcouldhaveguessed.Inthedarknessoftowerandstoneandshadow,herlifewasthebeaconthatdrewhim,andithadtakenallofIsladar'scraft

topreservehermindandherlife.

Hedidnothidefromherthefactofherviolation;couldnotalthoughhaditbeeninhispower,hewouldhave.

Hadshebeenotherthanhealer-born,hemighthavebeenabletoforcehertoseetheLordasthekinsawhim,andagainstthefaceofsuchmajesty,ofsuchpower,she

wouldhavewillinglyofferedwhathadinsteadbeentaken.

Andhadshebeenofweakerblood,theactitselfwouldnothavehadtoberepeated,overandover,untilthecourseoftheeveningitselfhadstrippedheroftheuseofherpower.Butheknewthemomentthatthosedefensesflagged,andwhentheydid,hekneltasthechokedandrawnoisesshemadediedintoalull,the

weakestformofapplausethatasoulcouldutter.

"MyLord,"hesaid,speakingclearlyenoughtomakehisvoiceheard,butnomorethanthat,"itisdone."WaitingwasasnaturalforthekinasdrawingbreathwasforamortalanditwasinfinitelymorenecessaryifonewaitedupontheLord.Impatiencewasrewarded,initsfashion.

"Bringherbacktome,"theLordreplied,"whenyouarefinished."

Isladarnodded,stillwaiting,andatlasttheLordbadehimrise.Torise,otherwise,wasalsorewarded.IsladarhadstoodbythesideofhisLordsincetheHellsfirstopenedbeforethem;hewastheonlyoneoftheKialliwhohadoccupiedtheLord'sspacesocloselytoremainwithinit.

Theothershadperishedinthecharnelwind,theirscreamsloudenough,foraninstant,toquietthewholeoftheHells.ThewilloftheLord.

Hetookthehealer-borngirl,liftinghertightlycurledbodyinthespanoftwoslenderarms.Hedidnotshifther;ifhehadhadthepower,hewouldnothavetouchedheratall.Perhapsitwasbestthisway.Withoutpower,there

wasnoshadowtolingerinhereyes,acrossherskin,inallthewoundsandopenings.

Shedidnotcomeatnight,andnightwouldhavebeenmerciful.Thedarkness,withmoonlight'sweakersilver,wouldhavehiddenmuch:bruises,scrapes,tearsandrentsinclothandthesurfaceskinbeneathit.Itmighthavehiddentheoddangleofthelegthathadnotyetbeenset.

Moremercifulstill,itmighthaveblindedhertotheterribleemptinessoftheyounggirl'sexpressionorbetter,totheyounggirl'sfamiliarface.

ButthesunwashighandtheskyasclearastheskiesintheNorthernWastesalmostalwayswere.Shecouldseeeverything;everydetail.Nothingatallwassparedher.

IamEvaynea'NolanandEvaynea'NeaamisbutIsweartoyou,Father,thatIwillbea'NeaamisnolongerifHerhandshurt;sheglanceddownandsawthattheywerebleeding.Herownnailshadpiercedskininthemomentithadtakenhertodrawbreathandthink.Shewas,byherownreckoning,fiftyImperialyearsofage;herhairwasawhite-streakeddarkness,herskin,weathered

aseventherockswereweatheredbythepassageoftimeandthescouringofsand,beitcarriedbywindorwater.

Thepathoftheotherwhentookherwherenoonedesiredtogo,notevenshe;oflate,itledherfromdeathtodeath,andshewastired.Formorethanthirtyyears,shehadwalkeditatthewhimofimmortalfatherandTime,andifithadbeenahatedpath

inheryouth,itwasnowjustapath,apartofherlife.

Butherlifeitselfwasdedicatedtowar,andintheserviceofthatwar,shewasalonesoldier;shepausedamomenttofighthereandthereatthesidesofthosewhowereallies,butshedidnotlinger,nomatterhowmuchshemightdesireit.Andperhaps,justperhaps,shehadcometoseethewisdomof

thatforcedchoice.

Therehadbeenlittlerestinthepastfewmonths,andshewascertain,althoughnobattle'ssoundreachedherears,thattherewouldbenoresthere,foreitherherselforthegirl.Butthegirlwasnotdeadyet.

Atleasttherewashope.

Asifshecouldhearthe

intakeofbreath,thegirlwholaycurleduponthestonebedliftedherhandsinagesturethatwashalfpleaandhalfdefense;herlipswerethickandswollen,thesideofherface,purpledbytheblowbyseveralblowsofalargehand.

Andyet,eventhisdisfigured,Evaynea'NolanrecognizedAskeyiaa'Narin.Levee'sstudent;achild,analmost-

womanwithasoftheartandanaivedesiretoseegreatdeedsdone.OfLevee'smanystudents,Askeyiawasonewhohovered,hopingagainsthopetocatchsomesnippetofdreaddestiny,asifitwereadisease.NoteveninhercoldestmomentswouldEvaynehavepointedoutthatthis,thismeeting,wasonesuchthing.

Shehadneverseenahealer

thisinjuredwhostilllived;itwasagainsttheirnature,andtheirinstincts.

"D-don't"thegirlsaidpiteously,"don't."Butitwasweakandfragile;thesoundamousemightmakewhenithadbeeninplaytoolongbetweenthepawsofacat.

She,whohadseenmuch,lookedaway.

Shedidnotrecognizethisroom;itwasbarrenofanydetailthatmighthavegivenitlight,orasenseofcomfortorwarmth.No;lightcamefromthewindow,andthewindowwasathingofstone.Sheturned,asiftheneedforlightwasgreaterthananyotherimpulse,andstaredout;stareddown.

Whensheturnedbacktotheinjuredgirl,shewasasgray

asthestoneitself.Evayne'srobeswereblue,alwaysblue;shespokeaword,frowned,andspokeanother,astrongerone.Inthehazeofthelightbythewindowforshestoodbythewindowitselfthemidnightrichnessseepedskywardfromthemagicalweave,leavingherinwhite,allwhite.

Becausesheknewwhereshewas.Andsheknewthatthe

whitewouldbeacomfort,evenifitwasalie.

"Askeyia,"shesaidsoftly,speakingforthefirsttimesinceshe'denteredthistower.Shedidnotseekthecrystalballbywhichshewasknownasseer;shedidnotneedit.Sheknewthewhenandsheknewthewhere;theglanceoutsidethesingletowerwindowtoldherboth.

Thegirllookedupatthesoundofthevoice;shewasnotsobrokenthatsuspicionwasherfirstreaction."E-Evayne?"

Theolderwomanswallowedandthensmiledfalsely."Yes."

"Whatareyouwhatareyoudoinghere?"Hope."HaveyoucometohaveyoudidLevecsendyou?"

Levecdoesn'tknowwhereyouare.Butshedidnotsayit.Instead,shecrossedtheroom,leavingshadowsthatwereonlythecastoffsoflight.Shecaughtthegirlinherarmsandheldher,andafteramomentofstiffnessthattoldEvaynemorethanshewouldeverask,thegirlrelaxedandbegantosob,verylikeachild,intoherrobes.

Thoserobescaughtthetearsandkeptthem,abittermemento.Evaynespokeaword;sawthegreenglowofhermage-lighthaloAskeyia,hermomentaryward.Itwasaspellbetterusedinthepresenceofphysicians,forittoldhermuchabouttheconditionofthebodyuponwhichitwascast.Thespellcamemoreeasilythanwordswouldhave.

Anditgaveherabitter,bitteranswer.

Askeyiawaschilledbythefeversbroughtonbytoogreatauseofpowerintooshortaspaceoftime.That,sheexpected.Herlegwasbrokencleanly,butpoorlyset;herfacewasbruisedbutwhole,hervisionhadbeenhamperedsomehowbythestrikestothesideofherface.These,andmore,Evaynecatalogedinan

instant.

Butitwasthelastthingthatwasthemostterrible,becausesheunderstooditallthen.

Askeyiaa'Narinwaspregnant.

Shemusthavetightenedhergrip,forthegirllookedup,thematteddarknessofherhairscuddingtheundersideoftheseer'schin.

"Evayne?"

No.No,Iwillnotdothis.

"Evayne,whatisit?What'swrong?Ishecoming?"

Iwillnotdothis.Thefifty-year-oldwoman,whohadseenbattlesthatwerefardarkerandfarmorerealthanthegloryoflegendbitherlipuntilitbled.Heldthegirl,heldAskeyia,amoment

longer,asifherarmswerebowerorcradleorarmor.Sheloweredherfaceintothecrookofthegirl'sneck;bloodthere,stickybutdried.

ShehadnotbeenbroughttorescueAskeyia.

Thesilverlilythathungroundherthroatbitintohercollarbone;shedidnotmove,thinkingofwhatitsmakerwouldhavesaidtoherfor

whatshewasabouttodo.

"Askeyia,"shesaid,inavoicesohuskythewordcameoutarumble."Forgiveme.ButIcannottakeyoufromthisplace.TheLordwhorulesithasagripthatisfartoostrong."

Lies,alllies.Shehatedthem.Becausesheknew,now,thehowofKirieldi'Ashaf,thedark,wildchildthatdidnot

inthisyear,atthistimeexist.Andshewasgladthatshehadnotknownitsooner.

ButAskeyiawasgullible,eveninfear.

"Youarecaughtinawar,Askeyia.Andyouareahealer."Swallowinghurt;thewordsstuck."You'reyou'rewithchild."

White-faced,thegirldrew

back,coveringherself,pullingthescrapsofdresstogetherasifasifthenightjustpasthadnotpassed.Asifitneverwould.Hereyeswerewideanddarkandround.

AndEvayneraisedahand,gentlewiththegirlasshecouldnotbegentlewithherself."No,child,"shesaid,althoughtheAskeyiathatsheremembereddidnotcaretobecalledachild."Remember

yourtalent.Rememberyourbirth.Youarehealer-born.Ifthechildyoucarryisnottoyourliking,youneednotcarryittoterm."

"ButI"

"No,nottonight.Andnottomorrow,ifIamajudgeofthepowerthatyou'veused.Butthenightafter,ifyoudesireit,youwillhaveyourfreedomfromfromwhat

youbear."ShesawAskeyia'sshouldersslump.Relief,ofasort.

"Ifyoudonothing,"theseercontinued,"thechildwillnevercometoterm."Shestoppedspeakingamoment,andlookedbeyondthegrayofwall,towhateverlaywithout."Askeyia,InevertoldyouwhoIwas,andyouasked.Youalwaysasked."Shehadhopedthegirlwould

smile,buttherewasaboutherawatchfulfearthatEvaynewascertainwouldneveragainleaveherface.

"IwasraisedinCallenton."

Atthat,Askeyia'sbrowsrose."InCallenton?That'sthetownoverfromfromwhereIwasborn.Evanton.Iwentthereonce,withmyfather,inthesummer."Hereyescloudedthen,asshethought

ofthefatherwhohadsenthertothesafetyofthemightyhealinghousesinAveralaan.

"Myfatherwasablacksmith,anduntilhisdeath,Iwasonlyastrange-lookingchild.Afterhisdeathah.Afterhisdeath,Iwasastranger,aforeigner.Youknowhowcruelchildrenarebeforetheydiscoverthattheyaren'tchildrenanymore.

"InCallenton,Icameintothepowerthatbringsmetoyou."Sheverygentlyreachedintoherrobesherwhiterobesandpulledoutaglowingspherethatpulsedinherhandlikeaheart.Init,silvercloudsturnedinuponthemselves,roiling.Waiting.

"Amancametome,toteachmeofmygift.Ididnotknowwhohewas,butheknewmewell,andheofferedmegreat

mystery,greatadventure,glory.Itrequiredasacrifice,ofcourse."Sheshookherhead,staringatthesurfaceoftheseer'scrystal."Iwasnotasbraveasyou,Askeyia.Iwastimid.HetoldmethatIwouldhavetowalkapaththatnootherman,orwoman,hadeverwalkedbefore.ThatIwouldwalkitaloneandthatitwouldtakemeacrossdecadesandcenturies.That,onceIhadchosen,Iwouldbe

bound;Icouldspeakofnothingthathadnotyethappened.Offernowarning.ButififIdidallthesethings,ImightavertthecrowningoftheLordoftheHellsuponthemortallands.Itoldyou,Askeyia,thatIwastimid.Whatwouldyouhavedone?"

Askeyiastraightenedhershouldersthen,althoughherarmswerestilltightlywound

acrossherbody,coveringherbreasts."I"Shelookedatherlap.Swallowed."Iwouldhavesaidyes."

"Isaidno."

"Butyou"

"Andthatnight,thatterriblenight,thedemonscame.Wehadnosoldiers,Askeyia,exceptforonemanwhofledtheEmpiretoforgetthe

DominionWars.Wehadnomages.Therewerenogod-bornchildrentoleadusorprotectus.

"Andhecamebacktomeatthatmoment,andheaskedmeagainifIwouldfollowhispath.

"AndItoldhimyes.Yes,becauseeveryonethatIlovedpreciousfew,butpreciouswasthere."

"W-whathappened?"

"Idon'tknow,"shetoldtheyounggirlsoftly,morehonestnowthanshehadbeenindecades."I'veneverbeenallowedtogoback.Icannotchoosewherethepathtakesme.ButittakesmewhereIneedtobe.Ididnotknowthatitwouldbringmetoyou."Shesmiled,butthesmilewasabitterone."I'velostthemall.IfIweretogo

backtothemnow,theywouldneverrecognizeme.Mylifehasbeengiventothefight,andtakenbyit."

"Andwillitwork?"Askeyiasaidsoftly,asifaskingtheendofastory.

"Idon'tknow.ButIhavetotry.Whathappenedhere,whathappenedtoyouit'snottheworstthingthatwillhappeniftheLordofthe

Hellsrulesall.Askeyiaa'Narin,youcarryhischild."

"Iwon'tforlong."

Evayneswallowed."Ifyoudonotcarrythischildtoterm,westandnochanceofwinningthiswar."

Thesilence.Oh,thesilence.

Ofthetwo,itwasEvaynewholookedaway,castingher

gazestoneward.

"AndifIdo?IfIdo,canyoutellmethatwewillwin?Againstagod'?"Hervoicewasthinandhighandstrained.Butitwasnotmad,itwasnothysterical.

Evaynestartedtospeak,andAskeyiacriedout,"Lookatme!"andthewordsdiedontheolderwoman'slips.

"No,"shesaid,theliethatwassodistastefuldefeated."Icannotsaythatwithcertainty.Icanonlysaythatsheishope,andsheisourhope,assheishis."

"She?"

"Ifyouhavethischild,thischildwillbeagirl.Andshewillbeallthatshewasborntobe."

"Howcanyouaskthis?"

"Because,Askeyia,shewillbehisdaughter,butshewillbeyoursaswell.Itisonlyhope,yes.Butitishope."

"Andforme?"

"Ipromiseyouthatyouwillsuffernomoreinthebirthingthanmanyotherssuffernaturally."

"AndwillIgohome?WillIbefree?"

Evaynerose,andinrising,shetooktheweightofheranswerwithher,carryingit,burdenedbyit.Shesawthecloudsrollingintoeitherside.

"No,"shewhispered."JustasIwillneverbe.Icannotforceyou,Askeyia,andIwouldnot.Butifahealer'svocation

istosavelives,youwillbethegreatesthealertheworldhaseverhad,knownornot.

"AndIpromiseyou,beforetheend,youwillbeknown."

SheheardAskeyiabegintocryasthepathclosedinabouther,takingherfromthedesperateyoungwoman,andleavingherwiththeburdenofwhatshehadasked,ofwhatshewouldask.

ShewasEvaynea'Nolan.

II:ASHAF

15thofWittan,412AATheTerreanofAverda,theGreenValley

Shewouldalwaysrememberthathecameatthebreakofdawn.Notatfullmorning,whentheserafswereoutinthefields,sunburnishingtheirforearmswithcolorand

theglowofsweatseenatadistance,butwhenthedarknesshadnotyetbeenbroken,andanoldwomancouldtakethetimetositbesidetheearthenshroudthatlayoversomanyofheronce-brightfutures.Ithappenedthatwaysometimes.

Sheliftedagobletcarefully,searchedthestill,darksurfaceofitsliquid,andthenspilledthecontents,dropby

carefuldrop,overthegraves.Thewinewasalmostfinishedfortheseason,andshe'dlittletasteforitotherwise;itwasfollytodrinkalone,atypeofweaknessthatshe'dsometimeslongedforbutnevertrulyapproached.

Harvestwasaroundthecorner;aday,maybethree,away.She'dseenenoughofthemtoknowthatitwouldbeagoodyear,Lordwilling.

TheTor'agarwouldbepleased.

Ashafkep'Valentehadmuchtobethankfulfor.SheservedaTorwhowasjust,ifattimesharsh;shehadherhealth,hersight,herteeth,andthekindofstrengththatyearsoflaborcannotdestroy.Notlabor.

Butotherthingshurt,andovertimeitbecameharder

andhardertoignorethem.Shewastired.TheLadyknewit,ifnooneelsedid.Shewantedtoseeherchildrenagain,andtherewasonlyonewayshecouldeverdoit.Oneway.

"Ashafkep'Valente."

ShelookedupfromtheLady'sblessing,althoughthesunhadnotyetrobbedtheskyofallitshiddenshadows,

itsquietdarkness.Andshesawhimforthefirsttime.

HewasneitheryoungnorhandsomeasAshafreckonedeither,butinhisfaceshesawtheconjunctionofcooldistanceandabsolutecertaintythatspokeofpower.Hedidwearafineandheavycloak,outofseasonintheAverdansummer.Itwasthecolorsofharvest,goldandgreenandbrownbutitfelt

blacktoher,andthatwasunsettling.

HadtheyanewTor?Itwouldnotbethefirsttimeshehadfoundoutthisway.Butitwouldbetheworst,anditwouldbepainful;thisTorwasagoodman,aknownone.

Thisstranger,shethought,althoughshedidnotknowwhy,wouldbeneither.Ah,

ageandfamilymadeacowardofawoman.Bowandscrapeandbegandgiveway,ifitkeptyoualiveforyourfamily.

Butshehadnofamilynow.

Hereyesfellatoncetohiscollar,hisbreast,butheworenosunwithraystomarkhisimportanceamongtheclansman.

"No,"hesaidquietly,"IamnoTororTyr;ifyoubowtomehere,itisatthedesireofyourcourtesy,nomore."

"AndhaveyoucometofindtheTor,then?"Sherose,standingimplacablybetweenthisstrangerandthosegraves,asifbyputtingherselfthereshecouldguardherheart.Asifsheknew,eventhen,thatitwasnecessary.

"No,"hesaidquietly."YourTorhaslittleofinteresttoofferme."Hepaused."Youarenotaverycuriouswoman,areyou?"

Sheshrugged,wonderingifshehadtimetoraiseashoutandcallthemenfromthefield.Wondering,intruth,ifitwasworththeeffort.PerhapstheLadyheardherprayers,andifthiswasnotthemethodshewouldhave

chosentoendhertimeandtoil,onecouldn'targuewiththeLady.Sometimestheanswerstoyourprayerswereanswers,likethemorno,andonceasked,verylittlecouldbetakenback.

Whenhesawthatshewasn'tabouttotenderananswer,hesmiled,theexpressionshroudedandsomehowdangerous,althoughshethoughthemeantittobe

friendly.Shewouldlearntheerrorofthat,andmanythings,intime."Iwasright,"hetoldher."TheAverdansaredifferent.Ashafkep'Valente,Ihavecometopurchaseyourservice."

"ThenyoudowanttospeakwiththeTor,"shesaidfirmly,thinkingthathewouldtakeherfromthisplace,thesetangible,buriedmemories,andnotmuchlikingit.

"Perhaps.Perhapsnot.YouarethefirstwomanIhavemetthatIthinksuitableformyneeds.ButIwillnottakeyourserviceifitisofferedunwillingly."

Atthat,thedaylightbroke;theLady'stimepassed.Ashafkep'Valentesnortedandsettledintothingspractical."Youaren'tfromtheDominion,"shesaidboldly,"ifyouthinkthatserviceand

willingareoneandthesame.Youbuyme,Iwork.Youdon't,Iwork."Sheshrugged."Butit'snotuptometojumpthroughyourhoopseitherway.YoutalktotheTor,andifhe'swilling,he'llgivemetheorders."Shestraightenedhershoulders,firstleft,thenright,andwipeddew-moistenedhandsonherapron,knowingwhatanswertheTorwouldtender.Orbelievingthatshedid."Now,

I'veworktobeabout."

"Indeed.AshaveI."

Buthiseyeswerethedarkestbrownshehadeverseenashecaught,andheld,hergaze."Ithinkwewillspeak,youandI,"hesaid,andforamomentshefeltlikeayoungwomanagain.Andshehadn'tmuchlikedbeingyoung,withnofreedom,andchoicesthatweresopainfullyfew.Age

haditspreciousvalue.

Hecamethatevening,againatthebridgebetweendarknessandlight;dusk.Ashafwasnotsurprisedtoheartheknockattheslidingdoorofherone-roomhome.Herhusbandhadbuiltit,withtheTor'spermission,whenthey'dbirthedtheirthirdlivechild.Hewasproud,saidtheTor,oftheirfecundity;hehopedthattheirchildren

wouldservetheclanaswellastheirparentshad.

Oh,herhusbandhadbeensoproudofthepraiseoffered.Andproud,too,ofthefactthathecouldlive,almostlikeapoorclansman,inahomeofhisown.PerhapsitwashishubristhatangeredtheLordabove,althoughithadnotangeredtheTor.Shewouldneverknow.

Youaremaudlin,shetoldherself.TheLady'snightisgoingtobealongone.Sherose,tookthestepsnecessarytoreachthescreen.There,silhouettedagainstthedarkness,shesawhimforthesecondtime.Noface,noclothing,novoicebutsheknewhimbytheshadowshislampcastagainsttheopaquecloth.Shehesitatedamoment,wonderingwhethertofeignsleep,andknowingat

thesametimethathehadheardherquietshuffletothisentranceway.

Sheopenedthescreen.

"Ashafkep'Valente,"hesaid,andhebowed.Heheldalampthatwasburningbrightly,somereminderoftheLord'spowerintheLady'snight.Butshethoughtthathehelditforherbenefit,andnothisown,forhiseyes

werethecolorofstarlessnight.

Shehadalwaysbeentaughtthatthegolden-eyedpretenderswerethedemonchangelingsborntoearth,butshefeltatthismomentthatgoldwaslifeandnightwasdeath;theechoesoftheLeonnewars.

Andshewassun-scorchedifshewasgoingtoletthisman

intimidateherinherownhome,thisoneremainingartifactofherpastlife."Idon'tbelieveIknowyou,"shetoldhimstiffly."Andstrangersdon'tcrossthisthreshold."

"Verywell,"hereplied,bowingwithsuchperfectgraceshefeltold,ungainly,ugly."IamIsladar."

"Isladarof?"

"JustIsladar."Herose,liftingthelampinhislefthand."AsyouwillbejustAshaf,ifyousochoose.HaveIsatisfiedtheguardianofthisabode?MightIbegivenleavetoenter?"

Therewereoldstoriesaboutcreaturesthatcouldnotenter,unlessinvitedbutthencouldnotbeforcedtoleavebeforetheyhadexactedtheirterribleprice,iftheycouldbe

forcedtoleaveatall.Shehesitatedamoment,andthen,feelingfoolish,steppedaside.Itwasclearthatthismanhadpower,muchofitunseen,athingmadenotbybirthandbloodandrank,butbysomethingother.IfhewereWidan,ifhewieldedthefullnightoftheSwordofKnowledge,hecouldstrikeherdownwithagesture,anddestroythetimberandwoodandclothofherhusband's

making.Whatpointinillmanners?

"Butbringthelamp,"sheadded."Wedon'tgetalotoftallow,andwedon'twastewhatwehave."

"Evenso."

Hestayedtheevening,whilingitawayasifhewereachisel,andtimearockorapieceofwood.Butheasked

herfornothing.Instead,heaskedaboutthisplace,thisone-roomdwelling.Shedemurred,sayinglittle;shedidnotknowthismanenoughtowanttosharethefewpreciousmemoriesshedidhave.Hedidnotseemdispleased,andturnedhisdiscoursetothequestionofwood,ofthetypeofwoodthatcouldbefoundintheAverdanvalleys,andofthefinishesappliedtothistiny

home.Shelistenedpolitely,thinkingthatmorningwasgoingtobehard;shewasnotayoungwomananymore,tospeakandwhileawaytheLady'shourswithoutsufferingduringtheLord's.

Asifhearingher,herose,liftinghislampandhislightandhisregard,asifeachweresomehowacloud."Ashafkep'Valente,"hesaidsoftly,bowing."Thestarsare

out;thenightisnotadarkone.Ithankyouforyourcompanythiseve."

Shebegantokneelbeforehim,asifheweretheTor,andstopped;thenshesaid,"AndIthankyouforyours.ItisnotwhatIexpected."

"Oh?Anddoyou,Ashafkep'Valente,knowwhatitis,exactly,thatyoudidexpect?"Andthedarknesswasinhis

eyes,andalongtheglitteringedgeoftheteethinhissensuoushalf-smile.

Shecouldnotspeakthen.Wordswouldhavemarredhismenace,andshegreatlydesiredtousethem,butshefelthispoweragain,anditmadeherfeelyoung,andinyouth,shehadknownthevalueofsilence,ofremaininghidden.TheLady'ssmilewasdarkthiseve.

Hestaredatheralongwhile.Thenhesaid,"MightIreturntovisityouagain?"

"CouldIstopyou?"

"Withaword."Heliftedthelamp;itslightlengthenedhisfaceanddarkenedtheshadowsaroundit.

Butshenodded."Asyouwill."Andturned,feelingold,knowingthatthemenaceand

thestrangeness,thesenseofhiddenpoweranddanger,didnotchangethefactthathehadnothurther,althoughhehadeveryopportunitytodoso.

When,shethought,didIbecomesuchalonelyoldwoman?

Theearththatlaybeneaththesilveredmoonwassilent,andthesilencewasalltheanswer

thatshehadneverwanted.

***

AsaconcubineinthecourtoftheTor'sfatheramanwhoreturnedtoherinnightmaresforyearsaftershehadbeen"discarded"shehadbeenenviedbytheotherserafsinthevillage;theyknewthatshewouldbetakenfromtheirtoilandhardship,andgivena

wife'sname,andawife'splace,atthesideofamanofpower;thatshewouldliveinluxury,andneveragainhavetofacetheheatoftheLord'sface,thechillofthewind.Andshehadthoughtsoherself,asshewastakenandcleanedandclothedandoiled.Onenight,two,andtheillusionwasgone,althoughappearanceshadtobemaintained.Shelearnedhermanners,herdiction,the

nicetyofmovementandthetricksbywhichtheTormightbepleased.Shelearnedtosingandplaythesamisen.Todance.Shewouldnotdancenow.

Intheharem,shehadneversleptwell.Therewasalways,beneaththesurfaceofsleep,acertainknowledgethat,atanytime,theTororthecerdanhethoughttorewardmightcomeuponherunawares.She

boretheoldscars,somevisible,mosthidden;timeundertheLady'sskies,withagentlemanwhomtheTor'ssonupontakingtheclan'stitlehadseenfittograntherpermissiontomarry,hadslowlymaskedandeasedthevisceralityofthosememories.TherehadbeenlittlelovelostbetweenthenewTorandtheold.

Butthathusbandhadpassed,

likethepain,andunderthisnightsky,hersleepwasasharshathingasithadoncebeenduringthoseyears.

Ashafdreamed,andherdreamshadneverbeenkind.

Thesoundofthechimeswokeher,orshethoughtitwaschimes;ahintofmusiclingeredintheair.Therewasnolightintheroom;shelayonhersideontheworn,wide

rollthathadservedherfortoomanyyears.Andsheheardthevoice.

ButwhereIsladar'svoiceheldthemenaceordangerofthenot-quite-known,thisvoiceheldsomethingfamiliar.Andbesides,itwasnight,anditwasawoman'svoice,andafterall,nightwastheLady'stime.

"Ashaf."

Shewasdisorientedbythenearnessoftheword;thought,foramoment,thattheharemenclosedheragain,andawifehadjostledhertogiveherafewminutesofwarning,grantinghertimetoprepare,ifsuchpreparationwerepossible.Keslihaddoneit,often,beforeheruntimelydeath.Kesli.Shesatupquickly,stiffly,pullingthesleepingsilksuptocoverhershouldersandbreasts.

Exceptthattherewerenosilks;therewasablanketofroughcottontwill.Shewashome.Home.

"Ashaf."

"Whowhoisit?Who'sthere?"Shehatedthesoundofhervoice,whenitcame;itwobbledsomuchsheknewshewasmakingachild'sdisplayoffear.

"Notafriend,"thevoicereplied."DoyoumindifIbringalittlelightintothisplace?"

"NottheLord'slight,"Ashafsaid,quarteringherselfwiththesignoftheLady'smoon.

"NottheLord'slight,no."Andlightcame,anditwastheLady'slight,asoft,silverglowthatdidnotdestroytheprivacyofnightcolors,but

didallowawomantoseeby.

Twowomen.

Notafriend,Ashafthought,repeatingthestranger'sphrasetoherselfasshestaredatthepalecontoursofthisotherwoman'sface.Sheworeblue,adarkmidnightbluethatmadeherseemonewiththeLady'sintent;thehoodframedherface,hidherarms.Therewereshadowsabout

herandwithinher;Ashafrecognizedthematonce,fortheybowedheraswell:oldpain.Oldfear.

"Whoareyou?"

"IamEvaynea'Nolan."

"a'Nolan?YouareaNortherner,then."

"Ihavenohome,"thewomanrepliedgravely,"Butifnames

areimportant,then,yes,IwasnamedintheNorth."

"Namesareimportant."Ashafrose."Itseemsthisisanightforvisitors."

"Itisnight,"theotherwomansaidsoftly,"andintheSouth,nightisthetimeofpossibility."

"Possibility."Shepaused."Youtoldmethatyouarenot

afriend,yetIdonotfeelyoutobeanenemy."

"Ifamanisdrivingawagon,andtheweatherispoor,andhedoesnotseethechildthatrunsoutintotheroad,thechildisstilldead.Thatman,ifyouarethemotherofthechild,isnofriend,althoughheintendedyounoill.Anaccident."

Ashaffeltthecold,then,but

thisEvaynedidnotstopspeaking;shemerelypausedamoment.

"Andifamanisatthetillofaship,beitNorthernorSouthern,anditisbeingpursuedbypiratesorvesselsofwar,andachildfallsoverboard,andheseesthisclearly,butraisesnocrybecausetostopistolosethelivesoftherestofhispassengersalthoughthereis

noguaranteethattheshipwillescape,regardlessthatmanislessyourfriend.Andthataccidentbecomesachoice.

"Andthatchoice"Thewomaninmidnightblueloweredherfaceamoment."Ihavemadethatchoice.AndIhavecometoyoutoaskyoutomakeachoiceaswell."

"Whatchoice?"

"Iwillnottellyou,Ashaf;youwillknowitsoonenough."

Theolderwomansnorted."Speakplainly."

"Verywell.Iwouldcometoyouindream,butyourdreamsaresodistantandsotroubledthatthepathhasbroughtmehere,instead,wherewordsareharderandmuchmoresolid.

"Ashafkep'Valente,ifyouchoosetoleaveyourhome,youwilljourneytoaplacethatdefinesdarkness,andyouwillsee,inthetimeremainingtoyou,thingsthatwillmakethedaysofyouryouthseemeasybycomparison."

Ashafwaitedinsilence,knowingthatsuchanobviouschoicewasnotthat:obvious.Howcoulditbe,andbe

calledachoiceatall?Shewaspatientnow.

"Andifyouchoosetoleaveyourhome,youwillbeawarrior,butyouwillbeunsung,andthewarthatyoufightwillhavenorewardforyou.Makenomistake;youwilldiebeforethebattleisfullyjoined.Youwillneverseeitsend,andyouwillneverknowwhetherornotyourlifeandyoureffortmade

anydifferenceatall.Noonewillfindyourbody;noonewillsaytheritesbywhichtheLady'sblessingisconferred.Yourstoryendshere,inthisvillage;therewillbenoonetotellit,tocarryiton,tobringittolight."

Itwasthestrangerwhopaledasshespoke,hereyesdarkening,hergazefalling;Ashafkep'ValentethoughtthatthisEvaynewouldfeel

moreateasespeakingofherowndeath.Shewaited,still,feelingdetached.

"Butif,"thestrangersaid,andAshafthought,ah,nowitcomes,"youchoosethistaskanditmustbewillinglychosenthenyouwillbeginthebattle,andyouwilldefinesomeoftherulesbywhichitisfought.Youwillstepintoawarthatstartedbeforethebirthofmanbeforethe

birthoftheFirstbornandyourpresencewillcountformuch.Withorwithoutyou,thebattleiscoming,andwithit,thedarknessthatclanLeonnefoughtsolongandsohardagainst."

TheclanLeonne.Theclanthat,byrightofbattleandbloodshed,nowruledtheDominionofAnnagarfrombesidethewatersoftheTorLeonne.Clanwarswereclan

wars,andtheyhappened;Ashafhadseentwoinherlife.Thelotofaserafchangedlittle,exceptwhentheraidingandreprisalswerefierceinwhichcase,theserafsdied.Whenthewarwasover,theyhadeithertheoldmaster,oranewone,andtheytoiled,asever.

ButLeonnewasmadebynopettyclaninfighting.Ashafknewtheoldstories,although

shewassimpleseraf.Thatthefounder,Leonne,hadbeengiventheSunSwordbytheLordhimself;thathehadfoughttopreservetheLady'sdomain,inthenameoftheLord.Andthat,ofcourse,hefacedthepriestsoftheso-calledLordofNighttodoso.Children'sstories.Truestories.Sooften,theywerethesame,ifyouknowhowtounderstandwhatlaybeneaththewords."Idon't

understand."

"Don'tyou?"

"You'retellingmeifIchoosetogoonLadyknowswhatjourney,thatIwillbeforgottenandunmourned."

"No,Ashafyouwillneverbeforgottenandunmourned."

"AndI'mtodothistosavethetheworld?"Theold

womanlaughed."Iamnotawarrior,Evaynea'Nolan.Eveninmyyouth,Icouldnotwieldaclansman'ssword.Youaskmetofight?Thenthedarknessofthenighthadbefuddledyou."

"Hasit?Thereareterritoriesoverwhichbattlesarefoughtinthisworldinwhichnoswordisraised."

Ah,yes.Howcouldshehave

forgotten,whohadfoughtandlostsomany?Andwhywasitthattowinwastoprepareforanotherbattle,buttolosewastoloseall?Oh,shewastired,wasAshafkep'Valente.Itwasonlywhenshewaswearythatthedeadweresostrong.

"Youwishmetomakethisjourney."

"Iwishyoutoknowand

understandthatthepriceofitwillbe,intheend,yourdeath."Therewasnosoftnessatallinthewords.

"AndifIdon't?"

"Idonotknow.PerhapsanotherwomanwillbeaskedtomakethechoicethatIaskofyou."Thestrangerwassilentalongtime.Andthenherfacesoftened;sheliftedahandamoment,asiftotouch

theolderwoman'sface.Shestopped,loweringthehand,lettingthegesturelingeronlyinherexpression."Icanpromiseyouthis:Youwillneverhavetoburyher."

Andthen,beforeAshaf'seyescouldstingatthewordsandthememoriestheyinvoked,thestrangertookastepintotheroom'sshadowsandsilverlight,paleandluminescent,swallowedher,

returningher,perhaps,totheLady'sMoon.

Shemissedthedawn,butmetthedaywhentheshadowscastwerestilllongandslender.Thefieldswerefullofmovingbodies;womentoiledwiththeirscythesintheirpersonalplotsinthecommonbeforebeingcalledtoserveupontheLord'slandsatthesidesoftheirhusbands.ThisTor'agargrantedthem

thatmuch.Hisfatherhadnot.Smallchildrengatheredtiedstalks;olderchildrenknottedandbundledthem.Duringthismonth,this,theonlytimeofyearwhentheLady'shandwasfeltduringthedaylighthours,therewerenoidlehands.

Noteven,shethoughtruefully,herown.Herbackwasstrong,herarmsstronger;shewouldbemissed.And

shedidnotcaretoofferexcuses,eitherofthetwothatshehad,forherabsence.ShescurriedwithhastetotheedgeoftheLord'sfield,knowingherownpartofthecommonserafs'plotwouldbetendedbytheyoungerwomeninthevillage.Agegrantedherthatunspokenright,butshehatedtotakeadvantageofitnowwheninherdotageshemighttrulyrequireit.Unself-conscious

inhermovements,sherolleduphersleeves,invitingthesun'stouchassheran.

"Ashaf!"

"Na'Carre,"shesaid,smilingbroadlyataslender,tootallyouth.

Heblushed,almostduckingunderthehandthatranthroughthesun-bleachedtuftofhiscurlyhair.Hewasa

youngmannow,andnochild,tobesocalled.Whenhadhegrownso?Lastyear,andhehadblushedandsmiled,joiningheramomenttobragabouthisnewexploits,hisabilitytotrapsmallgameintheforestsoutsideoftheLord'sfieldsandtheserafs'common.Hebroughtheranalmostrecognizablepelt,agiftofsorts,proofofthetruthofhiswords.

Shestoppedamomenttolookathim,andhismother,Vallakep'Valente,thwackedhimsoundlyontheshoulderforbeingwhathewas:ayouthyearningimpatientlyfortheimaginedgraceofmanhood.

Shehadbeenjustsuchayouthexcept,ofcourse,shehaddesiredtobewomanandwife.

"Ashaf,"Vallasaid,fallingintostepbesidetheolderwoman."Areyouwell?It'snotlikeyoutosleepsolate."

Not,Ashafthought,duringharvest."Isleptpoorly,"shetoldtheyoungerwoman,wonderingifshehadeverwalkedwithsuchunself-conscious,easygrace."Yesterdaywasthestartoftheharvestseason;Irosetooearly."

"Ah,"Vallasaid,herownfacetakingtheshadowsamoment.Everyserafhadherdead,betheymotherorsisterorchild.Orfather.Orbrother.Orhusband."Wesaidourrites.MyyoungestTiashewouldn'tmindme.Crawledalloverthegravesasiftheywerehillocksmadeforchild'splay."

"TheLady,"Ashafsaidwrylyandsadlyboth,"isthe

mother.Sheunderstands;thejoyofchildrenisnodisrespecttoeitherherorthosewhonowrestinherkeeping.Believethat,Valla."

Theyoungerwomansmiledandnodded,justasAshafknewshewould.Ashaf,havinglostsomuch,haddonewhatshecouldtofillherlife;shewasoldenoughnowtobeconsideredwiseatleastbythewomen.They

cametoher,whentheycouldnotorwouldnotgototheirownmothers,andsheletthemcome,takingapainandapleasurefromtheiryouthfulcompany.Thewhat-ifsofherownfamily.

Herarmsached,butthesmileacrossherlips,habitandmore,waspleasantandwarmenough."Nowcome.We'venotimefortalk;asitis,we'llbeundertheheadman'seyes.

Lookatthesun."

Shelovedtheharvestseason,andasshewatcheditunfold,shewonderedwhatthecoolerweatherwouldbring.Rain;probablytoomuchofit.AverdawastheLady'sland;therewasnodoubtaboutit.AndthosewhocalledtheLadytheweakerofthetwowerefoolswhodeservedtoliveintheharsh,wind-blasteddesertplains.Ifthesand

mademen,shethought,itscouredthemsocleanonlytheirswordsandtheirwillremained.Andswordsandwillwereapoorhomeandapoorhavenforlife.

Here,withgreenandgoldandredallabout,shethoughtshecouldbehappy.No,shedidnotthinkit;shefeltit,adeepandevenpeacethatcamefromworkingwithlife,forit.Thereweredrummers

onthefields'edge,andamanwhoplayedthepipesasifthepipeswereasweet,youthfulvoice.Shedidnotrecognizehim,andthatwasodd;sherecognizedallofthevillageserafsonsight.

"He'spretty,isn'the?"Vallasaid,catchingtheblackstrandsofhairthathadworkedfreeofherconfiningknotandtyingthemupagain.

"Doyouknowhim?"

"1?No."Theyoungerwomanlaughed."ButIwouldifArregoweren'tsojealous!"

"Valla!"

"He'sVoyani,"shereplied,asifthatexplainedanything.Oreverything.

Itexplainedmuch.

IntheDominion,thereweretheclansmen,andthereweretheserafs.Theclansmenwerefree,andwheretheyhadpowerandthewilltoprotecttheirholdings,theygatheredserafs,brandingandnamingthem.Iftheywerepowerfulenough,theychosetomerelyname;thenamewasenough.Ashafkep'Valenteborenoscar,nobrand.Sheunderstoodthatshewasownedbyapowerfulclan,

andperhapsshewasevenblessedbytheownership;today,underthissky,withthesmelloftheearthinhernostrils,thesoilbeneathhernails,theharvestbesideherbentback,shefeltso.AndsheknewitastheLord'swill,andtheLady's.Someserved.Someruled.

ButtheVoyaniwereasoldastheland.Theytraveled,manyuponthehorsesoftheopen

plains,andmanynot;theymovedingroups,andtheydefendedeachotherasfiercelyasblood-bornclansmen.Buttheytooknoserafs.Theyownednoland.Theycarriednowarwiththem.

Itwassaidthattheywerenotaversetorobbingtheclansmentheyfoundwhowerepoorandunabletodefendthemselvesproperly,

andAshafknewitfortruth.Yettheyweresufferedtosurvive,andsurvivetheydid,tradingandbarteringandcarryinginformationfromoneTerreantothenext.TheyevenmovedoutoftheDominionfromtimetotime,seekingthemerchantsintheNorthernEmpire.Itwassaidthatsome,oneortwo,settledthere,likesomanyofthepoor,freeclansmenwhocouldmakenomarkfor

themselvesintheDominion.TheNorthtooktheweakones,andacceptedthem;theLordletthemgo.TheLordhadnouseforweakness.

Itwasalsosaid,althoughshedidnotknowifitweretrue,thatserafswhoescapedtheirclancouldtravelwiththeVoyaniandfindbothhomeandfreedominEssalieyan.Sheandherhusbandhadspokenofitinwhisperswhen

theirfirstchildwasborn.PerhapstheLadyhadheardthem.PerhapstheLadyhadbeenangeredbyit.PerhapstheLadyhadchosentokeepthechildrenwithinherreach.

Toomuchdarkness.DuringtheSun'sdance.Sheshookherself."WhyaretheVoyanihere?"

Vallashrugged.

"Whichfamily?"

"Hers.Yollana's."

Ashaffeltalittlechillinthesun'sheat.Sheraisedahand,adjustedherhat,feelingtheedgeofthewidebrimasifitspresencewereacomfort."Hasshecometotrade?"

"Ithinkit'stooearlyforthat.We'rejuststartingourharvest."

"Thenwhat?"

"Yollana,"Vallareplied,loweringhervoice,"ismoon-touched.Shegoeswhereshegoes.Youknowthat.I'veevenheardthattheTor"

"Enough,"Ashafsaid,raisingahandandtouchingthemovinglipsofacarelessyoungwoman.Thegesturebroughtthesilencethatshehopedforanddemanded.

Whetheritwastrueorno,itwasneversafetospeculate,beneaththeday'sopensky,aboutthehabitsandthesecretsofpowerfulmen.Thewindcarriedcarelesswordsfartherthanarrowsandspears.

Yes,sheknewYollanawell.Whatgirl,withaheartfulloffoolishdreamsinthese,therichestlandsofAnnagar,didnot?Whatgirl,withsucha

heart,couldresistthetrekoverfieldsandhill,beforenighthadfullyset,toofferthemysteriousVoyaniwomanwhatlittlefoodoritemshecouldfindinordertoprocurebothablessingandahintofthefuture?

ShehadalreadyfacedYollanaonce,intheyearbeforeherfirstmarriagetothemanofherdesire.Shecouldremember,clearly,the

icynightofYollana'sface,thedarknessofunblinkingeyes,asYollanahadpromisedherthatshewouldhaveherheart'sdesire.Thefirstintimationthatherheartwasathingtobefeared.Shewouldhaveothers,butlikesomanythings,thefirstwasascarthattimedidnotdiminish.

Thatyear,shehaddiscoveredthatnightmareanddream

comefromthesameplace.Anditwasnightmarethatreturnedhertoit,timeandagain,strippingherofthestrengthofwisdomandexperience,paringherdowntoagirl'sfearandhelplessness.

Herarmsached,andherback,astheminutesdwindledintoastreamoftime;hourspassing.

Thingshappened,whentheyhappened,inthrees.Threevisitors:Isladarofnoclan,EvayneofNolan,andnowYollanaoftheHavallaVoyani.

Iamtooold,shethought.Ihaven'tthestrength.Butshewipedherdirt-crustedhandsonthethickcottondrapeofherlongskirtsandshieldedhereyesagainstthesun'sfall.ShecouldseetheVoyani

wagonsatthecrestofthegentlyslopedhillbeyondwhichherhouselay.Sheknewthatshewouldgoaroundthem.

Andthatitwouldmakenodifference.

Duskwasthetimeofshadows.

Night,andtheLady'smoonwasbrilliantagainstthe

speckledbackdropofcool,darkblue.Day,andtheLord'sfaceturnedamerciless,necessaryheatuponthegreensandthegolds,theredsandthebrowns,theearth'scolors.

Butatdusk,withneitherLordnorLadyinascendance,thelightandthedarknessintertwinedandeverypossiblepathwasastepintotheunknown.

Shecouldnotsleep.

Andsleepless,sheleftthesanctityofhersingle-roomdwellingtostandamomentinthewashofaskythatwascaught,incrimson,betweentwoshadesofblue.Beneaththatsky,crossingthefootpathsthathadbeenwornbytimeandthesteadymovementofsturdyheels,wasalonefigure,illuminatedfrombehindbythelampthat

hungacrossherleftshoulderbytheshaftofalongpole.Thefigure'sfacewasinshadow,butshedidnotneedtoseeittofeeltheapprehensionofrecognition.

Fate.

Ashafwaitednumblyasthefigurecamecloser.

Yollana,thewisewomanoftheHavallaVoyani.

Buthere,shefeltastrangething:notfear,asshehadexpected,andnotevenresignation,althoughitstouchwasheavyuponherunbentshoulders.No,shefeltkinship;thekinshipofthosewearywiththeburdensoftheresponsibilitiestheyhavechosenandwearierstillwiththelossofthem.

TheYollanaofheryouthwasgoneinthatinstant;her

perfectmidnighthairbleachedeverywherebythetouchofharshsunandtime.Herpaleskinwaslinednow,althoughnotfurrowed;itwasnolongertranslucencedefined.Butifshedidnothavetheslendernessofyouth,shehadthemuscled,sturdyappearanceofonewhohasbeentriedandtestedwithoutbreaking.

Asifshehadexpectedno

less,Yollanalookedupfromtheground'sevenslopeassheatlastapproachedthehouse,noddingattheyoungerwomanwhowaited.HereyesweretheeyesthatAshafremembered.

"Wellmet,"theVoyaniwisewomansaid,bowinglowenoughthatthefoldsofhervoluminousshirtobscuredthewide,redsashacrosshermidriff.

"Andyou,"Ashafsaidsoftly.Shewaitedalongmoment,andthenlookedaway."Ihavenowatertooffer."

"Ido,"Yollanareplied,andsheliftedtheskinfromthefoldsofherwideskirts.Thoseskirtscouldhidemanyathing:water,gold.Adagger."Willyoudrinkwithme?"

Itwasformal;anofferof

sorts.Butofwhat,andforwhat,Ashafcouldnotguess.Shenoddedquietly."Nightiscoming,"shesaid."Ishouldsleepsoon."Butsheturnedquietlyandopenedthedoortoherhome,invitingbygesturethisthirdvisitorforwhomshefeltsuchambivalence.

Thelampwasbrightenoughtoilluminatethefourwallsofherlife;tocastashadow

aroundthesaggingcottonmatsuponwhichshelaynightbynight;toshowthemarksandstainsandscratchesinthewoodofthesmalltablebeforewhichsheknelttoeat.Topray.

Shecrossedtheroomandknelttherenow,takingfromasmallshelfbesidethetablethedelicateclaybowlsthathadbeenagiftfromherhusbandandplacingthem

uponthewornwoodensurface.Afteramoment,Yollanajoinedher,unhookingthelampandplacingitonthefloorbyherbentknees.Theystaredateachotheramomentinuneasysilence;itwastheVoyaniwomanwhospokefirst.

Yollana'ssmilewascrooked."You'veaged,"shesaid.Shetooktheskinfromherbelt,

uncappedit,andpoured.Shewasskilled,anditwasclearfromthewaythatshewatchedeachdropthatshehadtraveledintheLord'sheartlands.

"Andyou,"Ashafreplied."Butmoregracefully."

"Voyaniblood."Carefullyliftingabowl,sheofferedthesweetwatertoAshaf.

Ashaftookitandliftedittoherlips,acceptingthevisitor'sgiftasiftherewasnothingunusualaboutsuchavisit."Allbloodisred,"shesaidsoftly.Thenshestopped;thewaterthattouchedhertonguewassweetandcoolitwasalmostasifshedrankwater'sideal,andnotthewateritself.

Atthat,Yollanasmiledbroadly."Allblood,yes.I

giveyoumywordundertheLady'smoonthatIwillspillnoneofyoursthiseve."

Ashaflaughedbitterly."Andthatismeanttocomfort?Oh,no,Yollana.IknowtheHavallaVoyaniwell.Youaresubtlewhenyouexactyourprice."

Historystoodbetweenthem;historyandthepiercingclarityofthememoryofa

younggirllonggone.

"Wehaveallmetourheart'sdesire,"Yollanarepliedatlast,speakingtoapastthathadnever,andwouldnever,fullydie."Andmostofushavesurvivedit.IfIhadwarnedyouthen,whatwouldyouhavedone,youaserafoftheclanValente?"Sheliftedahand."Don'tanswer.Webothknowthatyouwouldnothavechosentobelieveme.

Youweresixteen,Ashafkep'Valente."Hersmilewasoddlycrooked."Iwassixteenonce.Iknowtheage."

Theyoungerwoman'sfacetwistedamoment,andthenrelaxed."Isurvived,"shesaidsoftly."Andforatime,Iflourished.Itisgonenow."

"Yes.Youhavelosttwolives."

Shestarted,asifinpain,andthensaid,"Ihavelostmorethanthat."

"Youhavemournedandburiedmore,"Yollanareplied,ascoolthisnightasshehadbeenalmostthirtyyearspast."ButthetwothatIspeakofareyours."Yollana'swordswerecarriedbyacold,sharpwind;theypiercedtheskinandmore.

Ihavelosttwolives,Ashafthought,feelingthestrangetruthofthewordsastheyechoed,unspoken,betweenthem.

Thingsweredoneinthree.Sheexhaledslowly,feelingthedreadofthemomentgivewaytoweariness.

"Whyhaveyoucome,Yollana?ItisnotthewayoftheVoyanitoseekoutthe

serafsortheclansmen,forthatmatter.Youhideinyourtentsandyourwagons,inyourstallsandbeneaththemasksyouwearuponyourstages.Ifyouwantgold,Ihavenonetogiveyou.Ifyouwantfood,therearericherwomenthanI.

"Andifyouwishtotellafortune,youmustfindsomeonewhoisfoolenoughtoaskyou.Ihavealready

beenbled.Iwillnotholdmyhandbeneathyourdaggeragain."

"ThisnightIcannotseetheanswertothequestionofyourfuturewrittensoclearlyacrossyourface.Youwerebeautifulinyouryouth,Ashaf;youwereknownforittwovillagesinanydirection.ItdidnottakethemysticalskillsoftheVoyaniancestorstoknowwhatthatbeauty

presaged."

"Iwillnotspeakaboutmypast,"Ashafsaid."AndIhavenotaskedyouaboutmyfuture."Shespokecalmlynow,andclearly,meetingeyesthathadoncebeendarkandicyandyes,mysterious.

ShewassurprisedwhenYollanaturnedaside,hereyesflickeringwithsomeemotionthatmadeherseemhuman.

Madeherseem,foramoment,asmuchaserafasAshaf,andnotawomanofVoyanifreedoms."No.ButIhavecomeinsearchofyourfuture,whetheryouaskitofmeorno."

"What?"

"Ihavecrossedtheplains,Ashafkep'Valente."Shelookeddownatthestillsurfaceofthealmost

untouchedwaterinherbowl."IhavestoodbesidethewatersoftheTorLeonne,andIhavegatheredthem."

Ashafgrewstill;herbowlwashalfempty.

"Youhavelosttwolives,andyoustanduponthethresholdofathird.Icannotinfluenceyourchoice,andIwouldnot;Icouldnotbearyourburden;notthen,andnotnow.

"Icometoperformnoactofmagic,noactofmysticism.Ihaveleftmytentsandmywagonsandmyfamilybehind.Tonight,wearetwowomenbeneaththeLady'sMoon."Sheraisedherheadandthelamp'sglowcaughtandwhitenedherchin,makingofherfaceastarkrelief.

Ashaflookedoutandsawthatatleastsomeofher

wordsweretrue;duskhadpassed,andthesecrecyofdarknessheldthem.Shelookeddownatherhalfemptybowl,asifdeciding,asifafraidtodecide.

Thewaterwassweetassheliftedthedelicateclaytoherlips.FromtheTorLeonne,shethought.Forme.SodidtheSerrasdrinkinalltheirfinery,surroundedbyserafsandcerdan.

Butsheknew,fromhertimeintheharem,thattheSerraswereonlyalittlemorefree,andonlyalittlemorehonored,thantheserafsthemselves.ThewilloftheLordwhosewatersweresosweet.

"Why?"

"Becauseyouhavehauntedmydreamsforthreenights.Threenightsbeneaththe

Lady'sMoon,IhavedreamedofthedeathoftheHavallaVoyaniandmore,thedeathoftheDominion."Shedrewbreath;herlipsthinnedasifshewereattemptingtoholdthewordsback.NoVoyaniwomanspokehermindsofreelytostrangersnotforfree.AndamongtheVoyani,Yollanawasmoremysteriousthanany.

"Didyouhavethesedreams,"

Ashafasked,asiftherevelationwereasnaturalastheturnofseasonsinthevalleythathadbeenhomefortheonlypartsofherlifethatshecaredtoremember,"beforeyoujourneyedtotheTorLeonne?IhavenotheardthattheTyr'agarfreelygrantstheVoyanipermissiontotakewhatthelakeholds."

"Yes,"Yollanasaidstarkly."Threenights."Shemoved

then,unbendingatthekneeandrisingasiffreedomofactioncouldsootheher.

"Yousawme."

"Isawyou."

"Where?"

Yollanaavertedhergazeanddidnotspeak.

"Yollana."

"Iwillnotlietoyouthiseve.Iwillneverlietoyouagain."Shefellsilent,anditwasamomentbeforeAshafrealizedthatYollanadidnotintendt