Shadowfell: Raven Flight Part 4

aWest,a Tali said.

The man grinned, showing blackened teeth. aAny fool can see that. How far west?a aHome. The isles. Long way; wead best get on. Good day to you.a Tali lifted her staff.

The manas gaze sharpened; his companion strolled over to stand beside him.

aThe isles, is it?a the first man said, and something in his tone warned me that our prepared story might not be good enough here. aWhich part are you from, then?a I spoke before Tali could mention Stonyrigg. aYou wouldnat know the place; itas small. Iam hoping to see my brother before we cross over. We heard he might be riding out from Summerfort soon, heading this way.a I paused for effect, then added in what I hoped was a convincing tone of pride, aHeas with Stag Troop.a aBest be moving on, Calla,a Tali said. aThe morningas pa.s.sing and itas a long walk.a Neither man said another word. Indeed, they might have been frozen where they stood.

aGood day to you,a I said politely, and we walked on, doing our best to keep a steady, relaxed pace.

It was only when we had crossed the last of the farms and were making our way up the hillside into the sheltering woods on the far side that Tali spoke. aBlack Crow save us! What happened to Stonyrigg?a aHe sounded as if he knew the isles. I thought he might say No such place. With two of them, and two pitchforks, I didnat fancy the odds, not to speak of the tales people might tell afterward even if we did get away.a aA couple of farmers with pitchforks are no match for me, Neryn. But I see the point.a She paused to help me up a steep stretch of hillside. aYour brother, an Enforcer. Great story for shutting people up, true. But what happens if Stag Troop rides by and the fellow happens to mention that Calla was asking after her brother?a aWhat farmer in his right mind would go up to an Enforcer and talk to him about his sister?a aTrue.a We stood atop the rise to catch our breath. From here we had a fine view back over the patchwork of walled fields to the rocky hills around Hiddenwater. I could not pick out which field was the one where the men had been working, but Tali shaded her eyes against the sun, and said, aThe two of them are still there, forking soiled straw out of the pigsty. Good sign; n.o.body went running to share the news that two disreputable-looking women were on the road.a She set down her pack and reached for her waterskin, glancing at me. aSit down awhile, Neryn.a aIam fine.a The response was automatic; I worked hard every day to keep up with her. But it was not true.

aSit down. Thatas an order.a She pa.s.sed me the waterskin and watched my hands shake as I took it. Under her a.s.sessing gaze, I subsided onto the rocks.

aIall be fine soon. Sorry.a aYouare white as chalk. Are you hurt?a I shook my head. aIam all right. Those men, talking to them, it brought back some bad memories, thatas all. Last time someone asked questions like that I ended up tied to a post, wrapped in iron chains, waiting for an Enforcer to come and take me away. I thought Iad gone past that, but clearly not. Iam sorry.a aNo rush to move on. Weare in good cover here.a Tali fished out her packet of food and pa.s.sed me a wedge of dry bread. A few coppers had obtained us supplies from the inn.

aIam fine, Tali, I can go on.a aEat. Itall help. And stop saying youare sorry. You showed presence of mind down there. Gave me a bit of a fright, but you were probably right to change the story. The farther west we go, the more likely it is that people will know the isles.a She took a chunk of bread for herself. aThis stuff is as hard as stone. Weall soon be able to dispatch enemies with our teeth.a She dribbled water from the skin onto the dried-out crust. aMaybe I can go fis.h.i.+ng while this Hag of yours gives you lessons in spellcraft. Our diet could surely do with improvement.a WE CAMPED IN THE WOODS ABOVE SILVERWATER, close to the waterfall known as Maidenas Tears. The fall gushed like a lovely veil down the hillside, bordered by lush ferns and mossy rocks. The pool at the top was full of fish, and we caught enough for two daysa meals. We had made excellent time, reaching the place well before dusk.

While Tali scaled and gutted the catch, I went off to gather firewood. Last autumnas storms had brought down plenty of useful sticks and branches. I was making my way back to the camping spot with a load when I heard a noise that sent my heart leaping into my mouth. Hooves drummed on the road down the hill, signaling the approach of a large number of riders. I froze in place, waiting for them to pa.s.s.

Someone shouted and the hoofbeats ceased. They had stopped at the foot of the hill. Many horses. Many men.

What now? Creep back to Tali, then head farther up into the woods, or keep still and hope they would move on soon? Perhaps they had only stopped to adjust a load or water their horses, for the stream must flow across the track somewhere down there, perhaps as a shallow ford. But Tali might not have heard them. She might come looking for me. What if she made a noise, called out?

I laid down my load of wood as carefully as I might a clutch of new-laid eggs. Just above me was a rocky outcrop. I went straight up, placing my feet with unusual care. Climb like a marten, I told myself. Not a sound.

At the top I went down on my belly and wriggled forward. No sense in finding a vantage point if all it achieved was to reveal my presence to someone below. I looked down over the wooded hillside. Much of the road was obscured by foliage, but through a gap I glimpsed a flat area beside the track, a number of big black horses, riders in dark cloaks dismounting. Enforcers. How many I could not count, for they moved in and out of view. Many. Perhaps a whole troop. Packs were lifted down, bedrolls unstrapped, horses led out of sight. It looked as if they were camping for the night.

Tali met me halfway back to the pool. Her expression told me she too had heard them. We held a rapid conversation in glances and gestures. Packs, staves, waterskins, knives. The fish? In my bag. The rubbish? Buried. Keep quiet. Up the hill, fast as you can. You all right? Yes, you? Mm-hm. Go.

We climbed far above the pool, to an area dense with bramble-netted rocks, a place a traveler would enter only if she were stupid or desperate. From up here, we heard no sound of horses or men. The lakesh.o.r.e below us was hidden by the trees; there was no way of knowing if the troop was seated comfortably at the bottom by a campfire or spread out on the hillside tracking us. The light was fading fast.

aA bit higher,a Tali whispered. aUp there near the ridge, see? Pick up the pace, I want to be under cover of those rocks before dark.a I gritted my teeth and moved on after her. The brambles had etched their own b.l.o.o.d.y tattoos on the skin of my arms. There was a jagged rent in my cloak. My feet hurt. What upset me most of all, foolishly, was that there would be no fire and therefore no fish tonight. Not for us, anyway.

By the time we reached the outcrop, I was stumbling, unable to see my way. Tali did not have the same difficulty.

aOver here, Neryn.a Even so far above the loch sh.o.r.e, she kept her voice to a murmur.

There was a slight overhang and beneath it a hollow, comfortable enough provided the weather stayed dry. We settled there.

aI was looking forward to that fish,a Tali said, getting out the remains of her dried-out bread. aBut not enough to eat it raw.a aDo you think they were after us? Because of what I said to that man on the farm?a aI doubt it. If theyad been tracking us, theyad have had men up in the woods, not riding on the road. Besides, you may be of interest to the king, but heas hardly going to send a whole troop of Enforcers thundering after you.a I said nothing. From the moment Iad spotted the troop, Iad been imagining Flint among them, at the bottom of this very hill. So close. My longing to see him was an ache in my chest. Foolish. There was no good reason to think this was Stag Troop, save for that dream of him at Summerfort.

aAt least we know where they are and that theyare heading west,a Tali said. aBe glad itas not culling time. Be glad they got there before we made a fire, not after, or theyad have been up the hill in a flash to see who was out wandering so late in the day.a She sat in silence awhile, then added, aTheyall be on the road ahead of us. Well ahead, since weare on foot.a I said nothing.

aThey could be going to Pentishead. If they take that road, we may need to change the plan. Go up the coast to Darkwater and find a boat there.a Go to the place where I had watched the Enforcers sweep in for the Cull. Where I had seen my father burned to death. aThe Northies did give us precise directions. That included heading out from Pentishead.a aMaybe so, but I know where Ronanas Isle is; I can find it from anywhere on that stretch of coast. The Northies would hardly expect us to walk into Pentishead if it was full of Enforcers.a Darkwater. The prospect made my insides shrivel up. It drained away all my courage.

aNeryn? Do you understand?a In a war, you obey your leader. aI understand.a Lying awake in the encampment, Owen Swift-Sword thought of Shadow. Many times he had regretted leaving her behind, though she was in good enough hands. It wasnat easy to conceal such a horse, all sleek, high-bred lines and muscular strength. You couldnat put a beast like that out to graze with mountain ponies, unless you lived so far from the tracks of men that theread likely be no grazing beyond lichens and mosses. She was far away; there seemed no chance she would be his again, unless the whole of Alban changed.

Now he had Lightning, one of the horses that had found their way back to Summerfort after the cataclysmic rockfall in which the men of Boar Troop had perished, high in the mountains, while pursuing erroneous rumors of rebel activity. An accident. A disastrous accident. Only one survivor: himself. At least, that was the story he had told, the one Keldec had chosen to believe. He wondered, sometimes, if the king was lonely. Perhaps Keldec had accepted his unlikely account rather than lose a man he regarded as a friend. He had so few friends.

Boar Troop had left their horses by the stream, hobbled, before theyad entered the rocky area where Reganas forces had ambushed them. Coming back down, alone, head set the animals free. There had been no other choice. One or two of them had kept pace with him as he walked along the valley, until head gone up to the high track to lose them. Riding an Enforcer mount back to Summerfort had not been part of his plan.

Not all the horses had found their way home. Some had probably perished in the highland winter; some might have been taken in by farmers, though most folk would see the peril in this. Among farm horses, an Enforceras mount would stand out like a fine-bred hunting hound among scruffy terriers. And n.o.body wanted to face the penalty for stealing what was, essentially, the kingas property.

Lightning, easily recognized by a small white blaze on his otherwise night-black coat, had belonged to Gusan. Now, as Owen lay among his sleeping comrades, the image in his mind was not of the dark sky above, spangled with stars, nor of the slumbering forms of the others, their bellies comfortably full after a supper of freshly caught fish. It was of Gusan lying dead on the battlefield, his leather breast-piece split open by the mighty blow of Talias ax. His eyes blank. His face like pale parchment. The wreckage of his body, and the crimson pool beneath, fast-spreading.

There was no escaping it. He had led them there. He had led them to their deaths; he had swung his sword in support of Reganas Rebels in the battle. And now here he was, heading west on the kingas mission with another troop of comrades around him, men who trusted him, men who believed in him. And if there was need, he would do it all again. What kind of man did that make him?

From the woods above their camping place came a high shriek of pain, abruptly cut off. Something hunting. Something dying. A man unworthy of friends.h.i.+p, he thought. A man unworthy of love. He closed his eyes, willing himself not to think of Neryn.

As we went farther west, the terrain became steep and rocky, the forested glens giving way to a far starker landscape, in which great seams and crevices split the stone like the marks of a giantas ax, and the air smelled of the sea. The plan was to come as close to Pentishead settlement as we could while staying off the main track. If the kingas men were there, we would retreat and head north. If there was no sign of them, wead risk going down to the bay and asking for a lift over to the isles. There would be fis.h.i.+ng boats going in and out every day, if the weather stayed fair. With luck, someone would be prepared to take us.

It was a long walk, and a difficult one. Traveling alone, Iad have been much slower. But Tali found paths where it seemed no paths existed. Her tireless determination pushed me farther than I had believed I could go. Only once, as we lay beside yet another meager fire in yet another windswept corrie, she said, aArenat you tempted to ask the Good Folk for help when you get cold and hungry or when it just seems too far to walk? That thing at the ford did exactly what you needed it to do. And I imagine there might be similar creatures everywhere we go. Iave noticed how you put offerings out for them each morning before we move on. You could make things much easier, couldnat you? You could call out some flying creature to transport us over to the isles right now with no need to worry about Enforcers. You could ask your uncanny friends to provide better shelter, a hot meal, all sorts of things. But you donat.a aUntil I find the Hag, Iam like a blind person feeling a way forward. The gift is so powerful. Itas frightening. It would be wrong to use it for conveniencea"if weare hungry, for instance, or if we want to get somewhere more quickly. It should be saved for the times when itas the only solution. When it makes the difference between life and death. If I hadnat called the river being, wead both have been killed.a aThat creature had to be there to be called,a Tali said. aDid you know it was in the water? What if there hadnat been any uncanny folk in that place?a aI felt them. I knew they were close. As they are here, all around us.a I glanced across the windswept hillside, a place of tumbled rocks, gorse, thistles. Lichens, yellow, white, purple, crept with gentle insistence over the stone, softening the gray. aIn the rocks. In the earth. Everywhere.a aBut they donat come out as you say they did when you were traveling alone,a Tali observed. aThey donat visit our campfire and stay for a wee chat.a aIf you wrapped up your knives, they might.a aHa! Out here in the open, with just the two of us, itad be foolish to take such a risk. With Enforcers in the district, doubly so. Neryn?a aMm?a aWhy are some of the Good Folk afraid of iron, when others arenat troubled by it? When that thing came up out of the river, there were weapons everywhere, not only mine but those menas as well. And afterward, someone took the trouble to wrap up our knives and deposit them where wead find them.a aThatas a question for the Guardians,a I said. aI hope the Hag of the Isles will have some answers.a aYou may be seeing her quite soon,a Tali said. aWe should reach Pentishead tomorrow.a aThen letas hope thereas no sign of Enforcers, and we find a nice little boat and a cooperative boatman to sail us across,a I said, attempting to be cheerful.

aMore likely weall have to trust to some leaky craft too unseaworthy to be of value to the local fishermen. And row it ourselves.a I hoped very much that she was joking.

The sun was in the west as we climbed the last rise next day, and the air above us was alive with wheeling gulls. I could hear the great, restless wash of the waves. We came to the top, and there before us was the sea, deep blue-gray and dotted with whitecaps. The isles lay in that vast expanse like a pod of strange sea creatures, some near at hand, some losing themselves in mysterious veils of mist. A larger island, closest to the coastline, had a settlement of low stone-and-thatch dwellings. On the sloping pasture-land behind it grazed hardy sheep. I could see a jetty and a row of boats pulled up on the sh.o.r.e beside it.

Immediately below us lay Pentishead settlement, a straggle of cottages and small jetties fringing the bay, with the main track coming in around the sh.o.r.e. It wouldnat be easy to get down there; wead be descending what amounted to a cliff path, and the rock looked broken and crumbling. To attempt it under cover of darkness would be inviting a long, damaging fall.

aIam going along there to get a clearer view,a Tali said, indicating a place where the hilltop rose to a cl.u.s.ter of high rocks. aStay here and keep still.a I moved back and sat down in a place I judged to be reasonably well concealed. I made myself recall the Northiesa strange map of the isles and the path theyad bidden us follow. The wee boat had pa.s.sed south of that bigger island, the one closest to sh.o.r.e. It had threaded a course between many other isles, until the tiny Twayblade had made landfall on Ronanas Isle, far to the west. The Northiesa map had shown at least one islet beyond it; I recalled it as high and flat-topped with towering cliffs all around, a place likely inhabited only by gannets.

When Twayblade had enacted the voyage in the safety of Shadowfellas dining area, it had looked peaceful. The ocean out there, stirred by a bracing westerly, was a different matter. Tali couldnat really be expecting me to row, could she? I was much stronger than I had been, but that looked a Donat say it. Donat say itas impossible.

The wind gusted; out of nowhere, something flew straight at me. I flinched, throwing my arms up to protect my face.

aKaaa.a The visitor made a neat landing by my feet. I breathed again. Only a gull. It did not seem alarmed by my presence, but stood with its head c.o.c.ked to one side, examining me with its curiously ringed eye. aMessage for ye,a it said.

Not a gull, then. I looked more closely. If this was one of the Good Folk, its disguise was utterly convincing. The beak, the feathers, the spindly bird legsa" Oh. Like the white owl I had encountered in the north, this creature wore little boots on its feet. And now that I looked at its head again, I could see an awareness in its expression that was not at all birdlike.

I scrambled to collect myself. aA message? What message?a aTomorrow. Before sunup. North cove, by the auld jetty.a My skin p.r.i.c.kled. aWho gave you this message?a The bird turned its head the other way. aKaaa!a it remarked, then lifted its wings and was gone.

I worked on slowing my racing heart. What did this mean, that Talias suggestion had proved prophetic, and that the Good Folk would take us over to the isles? Had Sage and Red Cap spread the word about the rebellion so effectively that it had reached the far west before us? Surely that was impossible.

Could this be a trap? To the best of my knowledge, the Good Folk would not turn against a Caller. I suspected they could not. They might doubt me, but I did not think they would lie to me. Perhaps they had been watching us all the way, tracking our progress but keeping their distance.

Tali was back, crouching down beside me. aNo sign of them,a she said. aI canat see a camp, or any horses, or a building large enough to house them.a Her gaze sharpened. aWhat?a aI got a message. From the Good Folk.a I told her the details.

aTomorrow! So soon.a Her dark brows drew into a frown. aIt makes more sense to keep our distance from the settlement for a few days, at least, so we can be sure the Enforcers are well away. We could get a nasty surprise the moment we step out of cover.a aThis may be our best, perhaps our only, chance to get across to the isles,a I said. aThe Northies showed us the map. They gave us detailed instructions. They seemed to know where the Hag might be found, even though Iad been told that she was in retreat, gone away deep. If we donat go down there at the appointed time, it might be viewed as an insult.a She gazed westward, arms folded, saying nothing.

aThe lightas fading. We must make a decision. If weare to be at this north cove before dawn, shouldnat we find a place to camp a bit lower down?a aA pox on it,a she muttered. aI donat like this. All right, get your things and letas move down the hill. Not that thereall be much camping. A swig of water, a bite of dried meat, and a night under a bush will be about the sum of it. I donat suppose you noticed a north cove on the wee folkas map, did you?a aNo. But the bayas small enough. If we make our way to the north end, it should be easy to find.a In the gray before dawn we crept down to the settlement. The place was sleeping and the only sound was the murmur of the sea. Yesterdayas gusting westerly had died down. A gentle breeze blew in its place. It was a good morning for fis.h.i.+ng. Early as it was, folk would soon be about.

Behind one cottage a dog barked, running to and fro at the end of its rope as we pa.s.sed. I tried to be silent as a ghost, subtle as a shadow. The paths were of crushed sh.e.l.ls; we walked on the earth beside them. My heart was beating fast. My staff felt slippery in my hand. When a bird flew over, squawking, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

It was not a big settlement. We reached a track that skirted the waterfront, by the jetties with their moorings for larger boats and the pebbly beach on which the one- or two-man craft were pulled up. The sea looked calmer today, but not so calm that I could easily ignore my churning stomach. Out by the skerries the water rose in white surges; the wind would get up soon enough. Those boats were so small.

Neither of us spoke a word. As we walked by the last cottage, Tali jerked her head toward the north end of the bay. She moved on along the sh.o.r.e path; I followed her. The sky was growing brighter, but I could not see any sign of a second cove. The beach seemed to stretch all the way to the high northern headland.

Tali kept walking. I hoped she could see something I couldnat, for it was almost day, and now that we were out in the open, as soon as someone saw us, wead have to revert to the old plan and ask if we could pay someone to ferry us over to Ronanas Isle. That would mean explanations, and explanations made things even riskier than they already were.

Before sunup, the messenger had said. We didnat have long. From behind us in the settlement came sounds of activity now, someone opening shutters, the trundle of something on wheels, perhaps a handcart, the dog barking again. A rooster crowing a morning greeting. Another responding in enthusiastic compet.i.tion.

Tali came to a sudden halt. I stopped behind her, waiting as she scanned the terrain ahead.

She turned to me and nodded. Although I did not know what she had seen, my heart lifted. We moved on more quickly, and after a while I saw a jumble of rocks on the sh.o.r.e where perhaps a stream ran down into the sea, and beyond it a little cove, tucked almost under the looming headland. Still we did not speak, though Talias walk became a stride.

Along the path, past the rocks, and now I could see it: on the pebbles of the north cove was a boat, small but st.u.r.dy, the kind of craft that could go under oars or sail. And someone beside it, a man who was already pus.h.i.+ng the boat down to the water, readying it to put to sea. I had exercised perfect control during the walk; I had maintained my silence, following Talias lead. Now I put my hand over my mouth to stop a cry from bursting out. Never mind the masklike cloth that covered most of his face, the clothing that might have belonged to any fisherman, the lack of a warrioras accoutrements. It was Flint. One look and I knew.

aShh,a warned Tali under her breath as we made our way down to the boat, though the crunch of our boots on the pebbles made nonsense of this. But, then, she did not mean, Be silent. She meant, Keep control of yourself. This was a mission; my first for Reganas Rebels. I must act like a warrior. I must think the way Tali herself thought. So I spoke no greeting; I held back, not rus.h.i.+ng to embrace him as I longed to. His gray eyes met mine over the makes.h.i.+ft mask, wide with astonishmenta"this was as much of a shock to him as it was to us. I held Talias staff while she helped him push the boat into the shallows. I waited until he was ready to help me in. I sat quietly in the stern as the two of them loaded the bags, climbed aboard, and took up the oars. The rising joy in my heart, n.o.body could see.

With powerful strokes Tali and Flint rowed the little craft out from the sh.o.r.e, only s.h.i.+pping their oars when we were well clear of the breaking waves. Then, with barely a word exchanged, they hoisted the triangular sail, moving with perfect balance to tighten and secure the ropes. Flint came to sit beside me, unfastening a cord that had held the tiller in a fixed position. The wind carried us on a bobbing, scudding course to the southwest.

aAll right, Neryn?a Tali was as much at ease here as she was in combat or running up steps; plainly, both she and Flint were experienced sailors.

aMm.a The waters were heaving, and I was already feeling queasy. But I kept my eyes on Flint. He had stripped off his mask as soon as we were well clear of the sh.o.r.e. Had I forgotten how lined his face was? He looked much older than his two-and-twenty years. Since I last saw him, something had set a new shadow around his eyes. This was not a handsome face like Reganas; it was not a face that folk would remember as striking or unusual. It was the face of a fighter, the nose crooked, the skin slashed by the lines of old scars. A plain, strong face. But pleasing to me. His eyes were of a lovely gray, clear and honest.

Flint was not a man who smiled often, and he did not smile now, but the way he looked at me said everything I needed to know. It was like an embrace. To gaze into his eyes was to feel my body wake to his. What was between us had not grown colder with time apart.

aHow in the name of the G.o.ds did that happen?a he asked.

aWe might ask you the same,a said Tali over her shoulder. Shead taken up a position in the bow. aWeare headed for Ronanas Isle, following directions the Good Folk gave us. One of them told Neryn to be down in the cove there before dawn today. We were expecting a boat, maybe even a boatman, but most certainly not you. And it seems you didnat expect us. Are you traveling alone? A troop pa.s.sed us on the sh.o.r.es of Silverwater some days ago. Was that a?a aYou were so close? No wonder my dreams were disturbed that night.a Flint frowned. aI came to Pentishead with the troop, but Iam on my own for now. I take it youare seeking out a Guardian, part of Nerynas training.a aThe Hag of the Isles, no less.a aIad thought Regan would send Andra. Who went with him?a aHe decided Tali would be best able to protect me,a I said hastily, seeing her expression. aFingal went with him.a We had not spoken of this since we left Shadowfell, but I guessed her mind was often on Regan and whether he would be safe without her.

aAnd you?a Tali asked Flint. aAre you still on the kingas business? Surely Keldec didnat sanction another solitary mission after the losses of last autumn. Though he must have accepted your explanation, or you wouldnat be here at all.a aHe accepted the story.a There was a heaviness in Flintas voice. aOthers were less ready to do so, and have made that known to me indirectly. Iam on thin ice now. As for why Iam here, Stag Troop has a mission. We split into three; one team went north, another south. The third part of the exercise is me. I meet up with the others when the job is done. I wonat give you further details. But a it seems possible that I have unexpected support; otherwise, I would not be alone here.a aThe Good Folk?a I asked, not sure what he meant.

aNo, Neryn. Support from within my troop. I cannot be more specific than that. I could be wrong. I may find myself trapped and betrayed, but it seems one, at least, may have an inkling that I am not what I seem, and may be providing both warnings and a.s.sistance.a I thought immediately of the man he had been with in my dream, a fair-haired warrior with an open face. I remembered how that man had glanced over his shoulder as they conducted their intense conversation on the watch-tower.

aYouad want to be careful,a Tali said, then the boat hit a patch of rough water and the two of them were busy keeping a steady course while I tried hard not to be sick.

When things were back under control, Flint asked me, aDid I hear right earlier? One of the Good Folk told you where and when youad find me? How could that be?a aA lot has changed since last autumn,a I said. aThey are helping us now, spreading the word about the rebellion to their own kind everywhere. The being that brought me the message looked almost exactly like a gull. Perhaps another creature observed your preparations, especially if you got the boat ready yesterday.a aHow could they know who I was? That troubles me.a aSage knows you. Maybe that was enough; I donat know. They promised secrecy.a aEven so.a The nearest island was close now. On the sh.o.r.e, folk were busy, loading nets and supplies, pus.h.i.+ng boats into the shallows.

aFlint, how long can you stay with us?a My attempt to sound calm failed miserably. He reached out and put his hand over mine. The warmth of his touch went deep within me, making my breath catch.

aIall see you safe to Ronanas Isle. But I can only be with you a day or two.a He glanced at Tali. aIall leave the boat with you. Sheas easy enough to sail single-handed in calm weather. I know folk over there; someone will ferry me back.a As we rounded the southern tip of the island and headed into more open water, the vessel gained speed, scudding over the choppy swell. I clutched the rail, my stomach protesting. Under the deep discomfort of seasickness, a confusion of feelings welled in me. Flint was here, right beside me. His presence was a blessing, a most wondrous surprise. He would soon be gone. But we would have time together on the island. We might steal a precious night together. As for the Hag of the Isles, I could hardly believe I might meet her this very day.

aLook ahead, Neryn,a Tali said. aIf you keep your eyes on the horizon, you wonat feel so sick.a I lifted my head and looked westward. There were so many isles. I had seen them sprinkled on the Northiesa magical map, but I had not thought they were so numerous or so varied. Tall, cliff-bounded towers; low-lying rocky skerries; here and there more substantial islands, on which the light of the rising sun showed me settlements and walled fields, stock grazing, threads of smoke rising from hearth fires. There were few trees; the westerly had bent those hardy enough to survive into prostrate surrender. On the sea, numerous vessels were heading out to their favored fis.h.i.+ng grounds. Many were similar to our craft; we might perhaps complete our voyage without attracting undue attention. It seemed the community of the isles might be far bigger than I had thought.

The farther west we sailed, the more creatures I saw. Seals basking on the rocks. Something large and sleek just under the water, keeping pace with our boat. Gulls; many gulls, flying above us, beside us, skimming over our wake, alighting atop the mast or on the rim rail to turn their heads and examine us. Their eyes were not as fey as those of yesterdayas messenger, but there was something in their gaze that went beyond mere hope of sc.r.a.ps from a fishermanas catch.

aUnusual number of birds,a Tali said.

aMm.a I found I was checking their feet. None wore shoes.

aNeryn,a Flint said quietly. aLook ahead, there.a He pointed westward, indicating a gap between two larger islands. Beyond, I saw only open sea stretching to the end of the world.

aI donat see anything.a aRonanas Isle. Slightly to the north of our prow.a Black Crow save us! How far out was it? Would we be lurching about on these waters all day?

aIn shape itas something like a whale,a Tali said. aAnd thereas a flock of birdsa"see, just over there, flying in an arrowhead shape and heading straight toward it.a Now I saw it, a speck in the ocean, so small I could not really tell if it resembled a whale or a haystack or a pudding bowl. aOh. Itas a long way.a aWeall be there when the sun reaches its peak,a Flint said. aItas too far to go under oars, certainly, unless you have the strength of a bear. A place seldom visited.a aYouave been there before?a It was, perhaps, another of those questions that should not be asked. He had grown up in the isles; somewhere in this widely scattered realm was the place where he had learned his craft from a wise old tutor. Somewhere too was Reganas childhood home, where he and Flint had become friends. Where something had occurred that had made Regan the leader he was, and set in him a burning will to restore Alban to justice. I had dreamed of Flint here as a small boy. Even then he had looked lonely.

aNot for a while.a aYou can make yourself useful, Neryn,a Tali said. aPa.s.s us the waterskin, get out some provisions. Not that thereas much left. I look forward to some fresh fish.a aI have supplies,a Flint said. aIn the bag, there.a I did as I was told. Flintas food supply included fresh bread, a luxury Tali and I had not seen for some time. I handed each of them what seemed a reasonable share.

aYou should eat, Neryn,a Flint said as I packed the rest away.

aIam not hungry.a I had thus far managed not to retch out the contents of my belly over the side. I was feeling useless enough without that.

aBest eat.a Talias tone was neutral. aEven if youare sick afterward. A couple of mouthfuls, at least. And make sure you drink some water.a aIs that an order?a I attempted a smile.

aIt is. When we reach Ronanas Isle, itas your turn to be leader. Dealing with uncanny beings, especially ancient and powerful ones, is not my strength.a aHere,a said Flint, pa.s.sing me the waterskin. aDrink. Eat. Then keep your gaze forward, to the destination. By midday weall be on solid ground.a More birds came: not only gulls but terns, gannets, and puffins, a soaring, wheeling banner around our little craft. So much for going unnoticed in these waters. I hoped people would a.s.sume wead taken an especially good catch.

As we traveled on westward, the other craft were left behind. Out here, the islands were farther apart, the skerries more treacherous. The sea grew turbulent, and I soon lost my meager meal over the side. My companions were stern-faced and silent, fully occupied in keeping the boat on a steady course. I tried to fix my eyes on the destination. To take my mind off how wretched I felt, I hummed under my breath the song of truth, the old forbidden anthem I had once sung for the warrior-shades of Hiddenwater, and later for a lonely brollachan. There was a verse in it about the Guardians, its words mysterious but strangely comforting: White Lady, s.h.i.+eld me with your fire; Lord of the North, my heart inspire; Hag of the Isles, my secrets keep; Master of Shadows, guard my sleep.

I had met the Master of Shadows, and he had not been a restful sort of being. If he watched over a personas sleep, it would likely be full of nightmares and sudden, startled wakings. If the same principle held true for the entire verse, perhaps I could expect the Hag to be a gossip and unreliable. Who was there to hear secrets in a lonely place like that isle ahead of us? The Master had a curious little dog. Maybe the Hag liked birds.

Time pa.s.sed. Ronanas Isle changed from a dot to a blob, and from a blob to a discernible ma.s.s of land that was indeed whalelike in shape, high without being unduly steep, and big enough to house a community of sorts. A cl.u.s.ter of huts fringed the near sh.o.r.e, and there were boats drawn up on the s.h.i.+ngle, as at Pentishead. Nets hung from poles, drying in the midday sun. A pair of old men sat side by side on a bench gazing out to sea. As Tali and Flint brought our craft in to the sh.o.r.e under oars, they watched us without getting up.

Relief to be on dry land at last did not overwhelm my caution. aWhat about a?a I murmured, indicating the men with a jerk of the head.

aItas safe here,a Flint said.

I could not believe this. Nowhere in all Alban was safe, save Shadowfell. Where the king did not have eyes and ears, there were always ordinary folk ready to betray their neighbors. aButa"a aItas safe, Neryn.a Flint helped me out of the boat and onto the pebbles. I waited while he and Tali hauled the craft up and secured the rope around a stone slab. As wead reached sh.o.r.e, the birds had risen in a cloud, then winged away across the island. A solitary gull watched us from the rocks nearby. aThese folk know me.a We slung on our packs, grasped our staves, walked up the beach. My knees were wobbly; I could not balance. If anything, I felt sicker than I had on the boat. And now here was one of the old men, rising without haste, walking over to take my elbow and guide me to the bench.

aSit ye doon awhile, la.s.sie, yeare the hue oa fresh cheese. Noa a sailor, are ye?a And while I muttered a thank-you, the other old man said to Flint, aI hardly knew ye, laddie. The winters sit hard on ye.a He examined Flint, his blue eyes bright and fa.r.s.eeing in a face seamed by age and weather. aHow lang will ye be bidina in these pairts?a aA day or two, old friend, no more. Iave come only to see Neryn and her guard here safely across.a Flint nodded toward Tali, who was standing somewhat apart, scanning the terrain around us as if Enforcers might appear at any moment despite Flintas promises of safety. aIall be needing a lift back to Pentishead.a aOh, aye.a The tone was measured. I thought it would take a lot to disturb the natural calm of these two islanders. They seemed like men who had seen many storms come and go, and who had the measure of most folk. But not Flint, I thought. Plainly they knew him. They knew him well. They spoke to him as if he belonged here; he addressed them with the respect due to familiar elders. But if he had once been one of them, surely he was no longer. A kingas man. An Enforcer. Worse than that, an Enthraller. Could it be these folk knew nothing of his other life?

aOne oa the lads will ferry ye tae the mainland, when atis time,a the old man said.

aTwa days,a commented the other ancient. a aTisna lang. Thereas folk will be wantina to see ye. Three winters, thatas a guid while tae be awaa.a Flint made no response to this, but came to crouch down beside me. He took my hands in his. aWhere do we go now, Neryn?a aTake the narrow pathway to the west, over Lanely Muir,a I said, quoting Hawkbit. aWhen we get to the end, we wait.a aThe la.s.sie doesna seem fit for a lang walk,a observed one of the old men. a aTis quite a way.a aIam perfectly fit.a I rose to my feet. The ground tilted; I fixed my eyes on a point straight ahead and managed not to fall. aIf the boat will be safe here, we should move on.a As I spoke, the solitary gull took flight, following the narrow pathway that led from the sheltered bay up the hill before us. This was a place of stone and rough gra.s.s; nothing grew higher than my knees.

aYour wee boatie will meet wia nae harm.a The old men watched us go. Halfway up the hill I looked over my shoulder. The two of them were back on their bench, gazing out across the water, where a single fis.h.i.+ng vessel moved on the swell, a mere speck in the immensity of the sea. Looking back eastward, I saw the humps of the bigger isles, part veiled in sea mist, but I could not see the mainland. It was a strange feeling to be thus cut off from the rest of Alban. Something inside me longed to stay here, to ride out the storm in safe harbor as so many of the Good Folk had chosen to do when Keldecas rule plunged our peaceful realm into darkness. To leave cruelty and hards.h.i.+p, wars and struggles, for other people to deal with.

aAll right, Neryn?a Tali was climbing the track with her usual ease, seemingly not in the least tired by the trip.

aFine.a The gull flew above us, moving in slow circles to keep pace. An ordinary bird in every respect, complete with webbed feet. But nothing was ordinary here. For now, as my legs reacquainted themselves with solid ground and the queasy feeling subsided, I began to sense the strength of Ronanas Isle, an old, old strength. Magic breathed from every stone. The air was alive with it. The sea that circled the isle whispered tales of wonder. There were Good Folk here, no doubt at all of that.

aYou should wrap up your weapons now,a I told my companions. aI feel uncanny presences here. The Hag may be close.a In fact, Flint was carrying no visible weaponry, though I doubted he would go anywhere completely unarmed. Tali took out the cloak she had put in her bag, slipped her knives from their sheaths, wrapped them in the garment, and stowed them without a word.

We climbed the hill, and found ourselves on the edge of a broad, treeless area that must surely be the Lanely Muir the Northies had mentioned. There was indeed not a soul to be seen here, only some tough-looking sheep with wool in long, twisted locks, grazing with new lambs by their sides. To the south, at a distance, a cl.u.s.ter of low stone dwellings huddled behind protective walls, and between them and us stood stacks of peat drying in the wind. I could see the dark gouges in the earth where folk had been digging, and here and there a patch of water s.h.i.+ning amid the brown. Above the moorland the spring sky was alive with birds.

The gull led us, now winging ahead, now alighting on a stone or a stretch of tumbledown wall to wait while we caught up. We made our way across the island to the west, where the rising land of the moor gave way, with shocking abruptness, to sheer cliffs. There had been cliffs on the Northiesa map, but nothing could have prepared me for this. The height was immensea"surely we had not climbed so far? The cliff edge was split with crevices, its uneven surface treacherous. Here and there sections had broken away to stand alone, craggy giants with the ocean was.h.i.+ng white around their feet far, far below us. Each solitary stack was crowned with a colony of nesting gannets, and in the nooks and crannies of the precipice more birds roosted. The noise of their voices filled the air, a constant screaming. Birds dived to the sea below and rose with fish in their beaks. Others circled above, perhaps seeking their own young among a myriad of squawking, jostling creatures.

aWhat now?a Tali had eased off her pack and was looking along the cliffs, one way, then the other.

aWe wait. Perhaps not right here.a I recalled the tiny Twayblade seated on the very edge of the cliff, dangling his feet over the mind-numbing drop. aWe might sit over there by the wall.a The drystone wall had probably been erected to keep the livestock from coming to grief. It seemed whoever had built it had run out of energy quite soon, as the wall stretched only a short distance along the cliff top. We sat, our backs to the stones, our faces to the endless sea. The gull flew off with a squawk.

aCouldnat we explore along the cliff top?a asked Tali. aMaybe look for some sign of her? I donat know where a Hag would live, but you mentioned a cave. Sheas hardly going to come strolling along looking for us.a aWe wait because thatas what we were told to do. We donat go exploring. We might blunder in somewhere weare not welcome and cause offense. Iam here seeking a big favor. I need to approach it in the right spirit.a It occurred to me that when Iad met the Master of Shadows, he had indeed come strolling along looking for me, if in a somewhat roundabout way. I had not sought him out; he had approached me.

Silence, then. Flint was beside me, his legs stretched out, his hand right beside mine. I found myself wis.h.i.+ng, unreasonably, that Tali were somewhere else.

aTell me more about this change in the Good Folk,a Flint said eventually. aI thought your friend Sage was unusual in her support for the cause. But it seems the tide has turned far sooner than anyone expected.a We broke the news to him that Lannan Long-Arm had set a time limit on his support. We explained the council at Shadowfell, and the Good Folkas belief that a season of change was upon all of us.