The Star Scroll Part 51

She had more success with her nephew and one of her sons. Though at first Pol seemed disinclined to eat, he succ.u.mbed to the demands of a healthy young appet.i.te; Sorin had never willingly missed a meal in his life. Maarken, busy trying to tempt Hollis with food, was hopeless. So was Sioned, though she rallied enough to give Rohan a look of mock horror when he offered her a slice of the marsh apple; the fruit gave her hives. One never worried about Meath; he had been born hungry and ate enough for two. As for Chay-like Rohan and Urival he ignored the food in favor of vintage Syrene wine.

Tobin frowned her disapproval as Rohan gestured to Tallain and yet another bottle was opened. But she realized that the liquor was unlikely to make any of them drunk. They did not drink for any of the usual reasons: to forget, to celebrate, to dull the pain. They drank to get up the courage to talk.

It was the lack of any but the most desultory conversation that concerned Tobin most. There were things that needed saying, discussing, explaining. But not even she dared introduce any dangerous topics tonight. Not yet; not until everyone stopped looking so d.a.m.ned grim.

She was not insensible to the undercurrents of feeling; she shared their abiding grief for Andrade, their shock over the manner of the other deaths, and most especially the lingering weariness of the Sunrunners. But without talk there could be no understanding, and thus no dealing with the horrible events of this Rialla. Rialla.

Yet there were people missing who should have been present. She beckoned Tallain over and asked him if he knew where Andry and Ostvel were. The youth shook his head and shrugged.

"I'm sorry, my lady. I left word at their tents, but. . . ."

Tobin gnawed her lower lip for a moment. "I see. Send someone to find them, please." She went over to Riyan, who was sitting beside Meath near the tapestry part.i.tion. They made as if to stand and she waved their back down. "Don't be silly," she admonished with a slight smile. "Riyan, what's happened to your father?"

"I haven't seen him since he went to see Prince Volog, my lady." He leaned forward and caught Sorin's attention. "Why did your lord want to talk with my father?'

"Oh, that." Sorin swallowed and shrugged. "He wanted to thank him again for helping Allie the other day. She was pretty shaken, you know. Ostvel got her calmed down, more or less."

"As you know so much, can you tell me where your brother is?" Tobin asked.

"That I cannot, Mother," he replied easily. "But quite frankly, Riyan, if I were your father I'd stay out of his way for a while. Did anybody else see Andry's face when Ostvel threw that knife to Lyell?"

"It was mercy," Meath said slowly. "But I'm not sure it fit in with Andry's notion of justice."

Tobin frowned. She agreed with the Sunrunner, but did not care to admit that she hadn't understood the reaction of her own son. It was a bad business, this not seeing one's sons while they were fostered. One remembered them as little boys, and the shock of meeting them again as young men was unsettling. It would be far too easy to wound their new adult pride by attempting to treat them as the children they had not been for years.

And now who was it, she asked herself wryly, who wanted to avoid something that needed talking about?

"Sorin," she said all at once, "get me a cup of wine." He rose to do her bidding, and she reflected that manners in the young were an excellent thing. She sat down near Meath and Riyan, saying quickly, "Tell me truthfully-what happened to Maarken while he fought?"

Meath blinked; Riyan, to whom the question had been directed, put down his fork and shook his head. "My lady, like the other Sunrunners I only caught glimpses."

"I think you saw more than that," Tobin murmured. He flushed. "Forgive me, but-"

"I know," he whispered. "But it'll take some getting used to."

Meath was looking baffled; neither enlightened him. Tobin said, "What did you see?"

Riyan looked down at his rings. "They burned. Perhaps that happened to Pandsala, too." He drew in a deep breath. "It wasn't so much actual things I things I saw as saw as feelings, feelings, my lady. It was like-like fear had taken on shapes, half-misted, felt but not quite seen." His luminous eyes lost focus as he remembered. "Air alive with shadows. Things escaping from cages, all of them black and terrible. Threats and dangers, some from childhood nightmares, others from-from all h.e.l.ls. Feelings sneaking up on you from behind, ready to tear your mind out and devour it. Shadows you couldn't quite see, but you knew they hid something hideous come to kill you and everything you loved-" my lady. It was like-like fear had taken on shapes, half-misted, felt but not quite seen." His luminous eyes lost focus as he remembered. "Air alive with shadows. Things escaping from cages, all of them black and terrible. Threats and dangers, some from childhood nightmares, others from-from all h.e.l.ls. Feelings sneaking up on you from behind, ready to tear your mind out and devour it. Shadows you couldn't quite see, but you knew they hid something hideous come to kill you and everything you loved-"

Pol had come over to them, drawn by the muted power of Riyan's voice in the abrupt silence as all turned to listen. His eyes were wide and dark, pupils swollen.

"I saw it, too," he breathed into the enthralled hush. "It was just like that. You reached to drive it away and it disappeared and something else just as deadly took its place. But you couldn't really see it or touch it-"

The look in his eyes frightened Tobin. "Pol. It's all right now. All over."

He gazed at her for a moment as if he didn't recognize her. Then the muscles of his face drew into taut lines much older than his years. "Is it? Sejast was only a little older than me. Maybe he didn't know all that much. What if there are more like him, older and more experienced, waiting for the right chance?"

Urival was at his side, one hand on his shoulder. "Then we shall deal with them. I wasn't going to propose this yet, but I think perhaps I must. I'll return to G.o.ddess Keep and stay with Andry while he finds his footing there as Lord. But I'm growing old. I've taught many hundreds of Sunrunners in my life-and the last one I will teach is you."

Pol stared up at him, brief incomprehension whisked away by complete understanding-and grat.i.tude.

Urival nodded. "When Meath says you're ready, send for me. I'll come to you wherever you are and teach you what you'll need to know. Andrade wished it."

They don't want him taught by Andry. The realization horrified Tobin. The tall old Sunrunner turned his beautiful, implacable eyes on her, not without understanding and even compa.s.sion. But she had no time to lash out in her son's defense. Ostvel had come in, and Alasen with him. The pair stopped just at the tapestry part.i.tion, the tense quiet startling them both. Alasen's fingers sought Ostvel's. The realization horrified Tobin. The tall old Sunrunner turned his beautiful, implacable eyes on her, not without understanding and even compa.s.sion. But she had no time to lash out in her son's defense. Ostvel had come in, and Alasen with him. The pair stopped just at the tapestry part.i.tion, the tense quiet startling them both. Alasen's fingers sought Ostvel's.

That single gesture was eloquent of all. Volog had thought to reward him; he had been rewarded with the love and the hand of Volog's daughter.

Riyan was the first to get to his feet. He went to his father and clasped his shoulder, sharing a wordless moment as they looked into each other's eyes. Then he held out his other hand to Alasen. She placed her fingers within it; he raised her palm to his lips.

Sorin's jaw had dropped open in amazement. Tobin thought that very odd and resolved to ask him about it later. But all her questions soon became unnecessary. For as the others, led by Rohan and Sioned, came forward to embrace the couple and express their joy-more than welcome on this sad, strange night-Andry came in.

The silence was even more sudden than before, and just as terrible. Sorin set down the winecup and started toward his twin. Hollis took an involuntary step back, clutching Maarken's arm. Chay glanced around from making a remark to Sioned. She turned stricken eyes to Rohan; his expression changed and he drew breath to speak.

But Andry had already overheard too much. Tobin ached for his pain as he stared gla.s.sy-eyed at Alasen and Ostvel. The young woman's green eyes filled with tears. Andry's gaze went from her face to the pleading fingers she held out to him-and when he looked up again, at Ostvel this time, his eyes were incandescent with furious hurt.

"You should know better," he said very softly, "than to interfere in the affairs of Sunrunners, my lord."

Tobin understood then why Andrade and Urival did not want Pol taught by the new Lord of G.o.ddess Keep. She raged silently at her kinswoman for showing Andry everything of how power was used and nothing of when not to use it. Andry lifted his hands, scant four rings glittering-and Fire gathered between his fingers to outblaze even that in his eyes.

Sickened, Riyan took a step toward Andry. "At least be honest about it," he rasped. "You don't give a d.a.m.n about what he did for Lyell and Kiele."

Andry didn't seem to hear. Ostvel pushed Alasen toward Sioned and faced the young man, his eyes like winter.

The Lord of G.o.ddess Keep held the sphere of Fire cupped between his hands, cold white-gold Fire like captured stars.h.i.+ne, giving off light but no warmth. He looked briefly at Urival. "You should have read more in the scrolls," he murmured.

"And you should never have read them at all. I'm the only one who can give you the ten rings, Andry. Stop this or you'll never wear them. You may put them around your fingers, but they'll stay hollow."

The fury shone in his eyes, the Fire in his hands.

"Andry." Rohan spoke into the terrible silence. "Please."

The pale flames wavered as he heard the High Prince, his cherished uncle, say that word to him. He looked once more at Alasen's tear-streaked face, then down at the Fire. It died softly. The lines of his face crumpled into anguish for just an instant before he straightened his shoulders, his expression one of desperate pride.

"I regret. . . ." He bit his lip and tried again, and his mother moaned softly for the pain she could never comfort. "My Lord Urival, there's nothing to keep us here. Tomorrow morning we leave for G.o.ddess Keep." Alone, Alone, his eyes said as one last time he looked at Alasen. He swept his gaze around the other faces, then bowed slightly to Rohan. He left the tent swiftly, not quite running. his eyes said as one last time he looked at Alasen. He swept his gaze around the other faces, then bowed slightly to Rohan. He left the tent swiftly, not quite running.

Sorin was gone into the night after him before anyone could tell him not to. Chay slumped into a chair and covered his face with his hands.

"Gentle G.o.ddess," he said in a m.u.f.fled voice. "Why didn't I see? He's my son." His hands dropped to his knees and he met Urival's gaze. "Stay with him. Help him. He's so young, Urival. He's so young."

Tobin shook off Hollis' tender hand, stumbled into Pol's private chamber alone, and wept.

It was nearly dawn before Sioned gathered enough courage to ask.

"Beloved . . . how did you know what to say?"

Rohan turned his long-empty winecup between his hands. "His pride had been demolished. I had to restore it." He looked up with a bitter smile. "How many people have ever heard the High Prince plead?"

She nodded at his wisdom. "He might have killed Ostvel."

"I know. I understand it. I was about his age when I found you. If I'd lost you the way he lost Alasen-I might have been tempted to do the same thing."

Shocked, she protested, "You would never have-"

"Wouldn't I? Love is even more powerful than those faradhi faradhi gifts of yours, Sioned. Romantics would call us living proof of that." gifts of yours, Sioned. Romantics would call us living proof of that."

"So you understood his pride, and humbled your own." She hesitated a moment. "Pol won't."

"No. But maybe he won't have to." Rohan set the cup aside and got to his feet, moving like an old man. "He'll have Urival's knowledge. And power much different than Andry's."

"You're not talking about being High Prince."

"Oh, no. Not that at all."

Chapter Thirty-one.

Volog rode with them as far as the Faolain crossing, where in a sun-washed meadow he gave his most beloved daughter to Ostvel in marriage. On the same day Sioned fulfilled two promises: to stand with Hollis as she married Maarken, and to provide token of the union. She helped Maarken, whose injured hand was still useless, fasten around his new wife's throat a necklet of silver leaves clasping sapphire flowers. Then Sioned gave Hollis a simple chain made of gold to place around Maarken's neck. Three of its broad, flat links were studded with a ruby, a diamond, and a faceted chunk of translucent amber taken from one of Andrade's rings.

A prince's authority in recognizing marriages was equal to that of the Lord or Lady of G.o.ddess Keep. Lleyn and Volog both stood with Rohan to lend extra honor to the couples joined that day. Meath p.r.o.nounced the traditional words that should have been spoken by Andry; it would have been heartless cruelty for him to preside as the woman he loved wed another man. The new Lord was long gone in any case, riding with Urival and the contingent of Sunrunners back to G.o.ddess Keep for his invest.i.ture. Sorin had accompanied his twin to represent the family during the ritual and because Andry was in need. Rohan, watching as Alasen placed a silver necklet set with luminous gray agates around Ostvel's neck, thought of his nephew with sorrow. Perhaps Sorin would be able to help him through this. Perhaps not. But as he saw Ostvel's careful tenderness while clasping moonstones and onyx at Alasen's nape, he knew that these two at least had found peace. He hoped that Andry would, too.

There was a feast that night, and Sioned at last wore the dress Pol had had made for her. Tobin, astounded by the red-and-silver gown presented by her nephew, was not persuaded to risk it in the dancing that followed until Pol himself led her out into the center of the meadow. Among Rohan's suite were several musicians-and the moment when Ostvel borrowed a lute and began to sing brought tears to Sioned's eyes.

"You didn't know, did you?" she asked Alasen, who listened wide-eyed to her new husband's music and shook her head. "He hasn't sung like that since-" She interrupted herself with, "I'm so happy he found you."

"Then smile," Rohan whispered, kissing his wife's bared shoulder.

They lingered for several days along the river, enjoying the late summer calm. The events of the Rialla Rialla had faded a little with every measure they put between them and Waes. Meadowlord was green and golden, as if summer lingered, holding its breath. There was no hurry to return to the Desert; the Sunrunners among them took turns scanning the Veresch, and no storms had yet gathered enough strength to spill from the mountains and shatter the delicate stillness. had faded a little with every measure they put between them and Waes. Meadowlord was green and golden, as if summer lingered, holding its breath. There was no hurry to return to the Desert; the Sunrunners among them took turns scanning the Veresch, and no storms had yet gathered enough strength to spill from the mountains and shatter the delicate stillness.

After Volog and his retinue left them, returning to the coast to take s.h.i.+p for Kierst, they crossed the Faolain. The promise of continuing good weather allowed Rohan to act on whim, and he took most of the party north, leaving Meadowlord for Princemarch's lowlands. The rest would return to Stronghold and Radzyn by the usual routes, but there was a pa.s.s through the Vere Hills which, though not particularly steep or arduous, was not often used. The way was long and twisting, and it was shorter and faster to follow the river south. But they had time, and Hollis needed time to wean herself from the dranath. dranath. That alone clouded the soft, warm early autumn. Sometimes they lingered in one place for a day or two while she tested her strength against her addiction; with Maarken and Sioned and Tobin attending her, she refused the drug until she could stand no more. But the amount of it in Sejast's pouch diminished by a lesser amount each day. That alone clouded the soft, warm early autumn. Sometimes they lingered in one place for a day or two while she tested her strength against her addiction; with Maarken and Sioned and Tobin attending her, she refused the drug until she could stand no more. But the amount of it in Sejast's pouch diminished by a lesser amount each day.

Old Prince Lleyn stayed with them after telling Chadric and Audrite to head south to the sea and wait for him there. "Haven't seen this part of the country for years," he told Rohan. "Not since I was a boy and my father sent me on a grand tour. I'll tag along, if you don't mind. I'd like to see it again before I die."

Meath stayed, too, once again taking up his duty as Pol's guardian. By unspoken agreement between him and Sioned, he began to teach the boy some of the more basic faradhi faradhi arts. The results showed up sometimes when a tiny whirlwind would skitter across the road ahead, or dancing color touched the minds of the other Sunrunners. Sioned would arch her brows at Meath, watch her son give an apologetic shrug-and smile. Pol delighted in power just as she herself did, loved its beauty and joy. Let him learn the best of it now, she told herself. He had already found out the other. arts. The results showed up sometimes when a tiny whirlwind would skitter across the road ahead, or dancing color touched the minds of the other Sunrunners. Sioned would arch her brows at Meath, watch her son give an apologetic shrug-and smile. Pol delighted in power just as she herself did, loved its beauty and joy. Let him learn the best of it now, she told herself. He had already found out the other.

The fourteenth day of autumn saw them in the foothills of the Veresch, to the west of and almost directly between Stronghold and Skybowl. It was stiflingly hot, even riding creekside through the woods. Sweat clogged Rohan's hair and his thin s.h.i.+rt clung soddenly to his back. He called a rest stop and turned in his saddle to survey the fifty or so riders, all of them drooping in the thick heat. As he settled again he made a wry face at Prince Lleyn and said, "You'd think a lifetime in the Desert would accustom us to this kind of thing. But I swear I'm about to melt!"

"Ah, but the heat you get there can suck water from stones. This is like high summer on the seacoast: air thick enough to swim in." Lleyn stretched, his old bones cracking, and smiled. "I find it quite comfortable, really."

Rohan laughed-then swore in startlement: there wasn't a cloud in the sky, but all at once a cool rain descended, drops indenting the road's dry dust. There were whickers from the astonished horses and exclamations from their riders. Rohan glanced around wildly. The invigorating shower extended the length of the column-and nowhere else. "What in the-?"

Sioned, shaking out her loosened hair in delight at the coolness, rode up to him and grinned. She gestured to the nearby creek, whence the water drifted up to sprinkle down, and said, "Don't look at me! me! If you want a culprit, talk to your son!" If you want a culprit, talk to your son!"

Sure enough, Pol wore a mischievous smile and Meath was trying without success to appear disapproving. The boy urged his horse forward and said, "It's so hot, Father. I thought it'd be nice to cool off."

Rohan eyed him. "You did, did you? And what else have you been learning?"

He shook water from his face. "Nothing Meath will let me try-yet."

"Tallain," Rohan said to his squire, "ride back and let people know what's going on here."

"They already do, my lord. And who caused it." He looked consideringly at Pol. "Just don't soak the bedrolls, if you please."

Instantly contrite, Pol flicked a finger and the gentle rain stopped. "Sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking."

"Hmm," Rohan said.

Later, when they had made camp for the night beside a forking of the same creek, he asked his wife, "Should he be able to do that kind of thing?"

There was something in his eyes that kept her from a light answer. She hunched her shoulders briefly and stared into the little fire near their bedrolls. The night air was still very hot, but Sioned preferred having light to see by. She glanced around briefly. Ostvel and Alasen were not yet returned from their usual moonlit stroll; Maarken and Hollis were also absent, but not for romantic reasons. Though her dependence on dranath dranath was waning, she was restless and wakeful for most of each night. Husband and wife paced together while he talked to her about Whitecliff, Stronghold, Radzyn, anything to distract her from was waning, she was restless and wakeful for most of each night. Husband and wife paced together while he talked to her about Whitecliff, Stronghold, Radzyn, anything to distract her from dranath dranath-hunger and rea.s.sure her about the life awaiting them. Sioned, remembering the way it had been with her, had comforted Maarken with the reminder that insomnia and its accompanying exhaustion were only temporary. But there were deep, pain-weary bruises under their eyes, and Sioned was saddened that their first days together should be shadowed thus, a longer and more painful version of what she and Rohan had endured.

Chay, Tobin, Riyan, Lleyn, and all the retainers except those on guard duty were already asleep, worn out by muggy heat. Pol was down at the creek with Meath and Tallain, trying to cool off with a more conventional wash than the one he'd given them all that afternoon. She heard m.u.f.fled laughter and splashes that hinted at a water fight, and smiled.

At length she answered her husband's question. "I don't think anyone can say what's usual and what isn't for Pol. Or Riyan either, for that matter. I suspect Urival is the same as they. They saw most of what Maarken saw during the combat. I only caught glimpses, and so did the other trained Sunrunners."

"That's no indication-"

"Pandsala must have seen," Sioned murmured, not looking at him. "And she as much as stated that her mother was of the Old Blood."

"But she never got sick crossing water," Rohan pointed out. "Pol and Riyan do-and I remember Cami's hatred of water very distinctly."

"But Pandsala didn't have any Sunrunner blood, either. Pol does, through you. I think we can conclude that someone with only sorcerer's heritage doesn't, but something in faradh'im faradh'im causes it whether the Old Blood is there or not." causes it whether the Old Blood is there or not."

"You're reaching," he said flatly.

"Am I?" Sioned picked up a twig and poked at the fire. A spark danced up nearly to the trees overhead. "Pandsala could cross water without difficulty-and that alone made her different from the rest of us, suspiciously so. She could sense when sorcery was being used. I felt her drag herself out of the weave I tried to protect Maarken with. And there was something strange about her colors, Rohan. I'd never noticed it before, because the only other time I was ever in close contact with her was the night her father died. I grabbed onto anyone I could then-even Pol, day-old though he was. I've been thinking about that lately."

"You sensed the same in him?"

"No. But I wasn't looking for it. But consider, my love." She met his gaze across the fire. "When Pandsala withdrew most of herself from my conjuring, what she left behind was faradhi faradhi-or the parts of her that were faradhi faradhi-trained. I only had a glimpse of what she took with her. It was very like what we are, yet subtly different." She paused, frowning as she tried to find words. "Like almost identical mirrors reflecting back and forth. But not angled quite right. Strange depths in each that didn't match the other."

Rohan mulled that over. "When Pandsala's gifts were first discovered, Andrade went back in the genealogies as far as she could, and nothing on Roelstra's side even hints at the gifts. So Pandsala's heritage was only of the Old Blood, through her mother. Not Sunrunner at all. Yet she learned the arts. Because Riyan could sense what Pandsala could, Cami probably had the same heritage along with her faradhi faradhi gifts." gifts."

"Either that, or it's in Ostvel the same way it's in you. But we're not discussing Riyan," Sioned told him softly.

"No."

"Pol can't cross water-that makes him Sunrunner," she said. "But he also sensed the visions Sejast used to a.s.sault Maarken. That makes him part of the Old Blood."

"It makes him a sorcerer," Rohan said grimly. "And sooner or later he's going to figure it out."

"What of it? We've always said that Maarken will be his example of a Sunrunner who's an important political power as well. In this other, he'll have Riyan to look to. No one could accuse that boy of being a sorcerer! Pol will understand."