"Where the b.l.o.o.d.y blazes are we?" Panic roared at the ship's captain. "This can't be the Xandim sh.o.r.e-we couldn't have reached it yet. You d.a.m.ned idiot! You've been going the wrong way!"

Jeskin tore his arm free from Panic's angry grasp, and spat over the side. "/ never said anything about going south," he pointed out truculently. "These folk have had quite enough trouble without me dragging them off on a three or four day voyage to foreign parts. That's Easthaven over there, mate- and that's where I'm headed. A lot of the folk here have family and friends in the village-I've a niece there myself-and they'll take us in. We'll blend in fine, become crafters and 37OMaggie Furey fishers-and who's to say we was ever Nightrunners? Not the Easthaven folk, that's for sure. They got no truck with anything that ever came out of Nexis-and it looks to me like they got more sense than some folk I could mention." He spat again, and glared defiantly at the thunderstruck and fuming Cavalrymaster. "If you want to go south, mate, you'll find somebody else to take you-and I wish you luck."

Suddenly a knife appeared in Fame's hand and levelled itself at Jeskin's ample belly. "Turn this b.l.o.o.d.y boat around- nowV'he barked.

Jeskin looked down at the knife, his expression unaltered. "No," he said calmly. "And if you stick that thing in me, there'll be plenty of others here to take us in-after they've hanged you, of course, and thrown your body in the sea." Turning his head he spat a third time, within an inch of Panic's boots. "And it's a ship" he added, "not a boat."

Cursing vilely, Panic put the knife away. He was beaten and he knew it. It had been pure misfortune that he had become separated from the others in the fighting and ended up on the wrong ship, and now there was absolutely nothing that he could do-except make his way back to Nexis, and deal with that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Pendral, the cause of all this trouble, once and for all. It wouldn't make much of a difference to Aurian, perhaps, but it would improve the lot of the Nexians at least, and it would make him feel a whole lot better.

Chapter 27.

The Mountain of the Blind I wo days later, the Nighthawk, with its cl.u.s.ter of smaller boats in tow, approached the Xandim coast. A ragged cheer went up when the dark outline appeared on the horizon, as the thirty-eight Nightrunner survivors looked forward to an end, at last, to their frightful journey. The last days had not been pleasant for anyone. Though the cargo hold had been scrubbed clean following Yanis's sea burial and the refugees could be sheltered from the elements, the s.p.a.ce below-decks had not been designed for human habitation. The quarters were cold, damp, cramped, and noisome; food had been scarce and water strictly rationed. Aurian had found her healing skills in demand over and over again, and it was only thanks to her that no further lives were lost. Compared to the horrors they had left behind them, the Nightrunners felt they had little to fear in the Southern Lands. Following Yanis's 3 72M-aggie Furey initial journey to the southern settlements some ten years ago, to pick up the Mage and her companions, the Xandim and the smugglers had formed a successful trading partnership that had ripened, though time, into ties of friend^iip. Tarnal knew that, though his people arrived as mendicants, they had valuable skills to offer the Horsefolk, including that of building the swift and st.u.r.dy Nightrunner ships in which the Xandim took a tremendous interest.

For Aurian and her friends, however, it was a very different matter. They had been responsible, some ten years ago, for tempting over a hundred Xandim from their homes, and leading them into slavery in a foreign land. The welcome that they might expect this time might be a great deal warmer than they would like. The Mage and her companions had discussed the matter with Zanna and Tarnal, and had decided to hide belowdecks when the ship docked and sneak away after nightfall, with Aurian using the Old Magic of D'arvan's talisman to give the Xandim the power of flight.

To Aurian's surprise, Vannor had insisted on coming too. She had expected that he would have wanted to stay with his daughter and his grandson, but he had insisted that he could be more use to the Mage, and besides, he wanted to escape the painful memories of Dulsina. After talking it over with Forral, Aurian had agreed. To be on the safe side, no one would know of this plan save the Nightrunner leaders, and the rest of the Wyvernesse community had been sworn to secrecy regarding the presence of the additional pa.s.sengers.

Chiamh had suggested making their way up to his old home on the upper slopes of the Wyndveil. They should be safe enough there, for the Xandim did not venture into the Vale of Death with its ancient tombs. The Windeye wanted particularly to consult with Basileus, the Moldan of the Wyndveil, who was better equipped than anyone to give the companions a clear picture of what had been happening here in these Southern Kingdoms.

As the ship entered the harbor Aurian craned her neck to see out of the small cabin porthole. The Xandim settlement had changed since she was last there. The low stone houses had proliferated around the edge of the cove and had a more permanent aspect, and the inlet had been dredged to form a harbor. Long stone piers had been built out on either point to increase the shelter afforded by the bay. A group of Horsefolk crowded the quays, looking slightly puzzled at this unscheduled visit, but waving a welcome to the ship nonetheless.

Izmir, the chief of the settlement, stepped forth as the Nigfathawk tied up, and Tarnal leapt ash.o.r.e and spoke to him softly and urgently for several minutes. Aurian saw the Xan-dim's expression change from smiling welcome to dismay and sorrow, and guessed that the new smuggler leader had told him of Yanis's death. When he saw the pitiful condition of the refugees, the Xandim leader welcomed them without delay or ceremony into the great communal meeting lodge of the settlement. The Nightrunners went gratefully, shown the way by members of the Xandim community.

Chiamh looked through the porthole and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like an oath. "Look at that," .; he said. "The Xandim never welcomed me anywhere in my : whole life, and I don't suppose they'll ever start now."

Zanna was the last to leave the ship-almost. Aurian and Forral, Linnet, and the three Xandim made their sad farewells, , and the Mage pa.s.sed on the thanks of the cats and Wolf. Then . she noticed that Grince was lurking in the shadows, in the -corner of the cabin.

"I'm going with you," the thief said firmly. ./, Aurian glared at him. "I thought we had already been Vf'l through this."

it "But you'll need me," Grince insisted. >s>; "In the name of all the G.o.ds, why would I need you?" Au-^*lian snapped at him, thoroughly exasperated.

To her surprise, Grince's brash front vanished. "Lady, iplease. In my whole life, no one has ever needed me-except

Warrior. I don't belong here with these people-not that I'm jpnot very grateful to you," he added, with a nervous glance at jlZanna. "Lady Aurian, you saved me, back in Nexis. I owe you

gaow. Give me a chance to pay you back, please. I was the best _"" ief in the city-my skills will do me no good here, they'll f;Just get me into trouble. They might be useful to you, though." 'Take him," Chiamh said suddenly. "I don't know why, ex-

actly, but I have a feeling . . ." He shivered. "Aurian, let him ne with us. You won't regret it."

Aurian looked quizzically at the Xandim seer, then flung j*dp her hands in defeat. "All right, Grince. You can come-but m can't take that dog with you, I'm afraid. It just wouldn't practical."

374Mzggie F 14 r e y "That's all right," Zanna said. "Martek will look after Frost until Grince returns." She stepped forward to hug them all. "Please," she said, "take care, all of you-and come back to us when it's all over."

"We will," Aurian said. But though no one would mention the possibility aloud, she knew they were all thinking the same thing-that this could be the last time they ever met.

That night, Izmir and his Council of Elders entertained the Nightrunners with a lavish feast, and for the first time in days, Zanna let herself relax a little-until the chieftain himself actually brought up the subject of the Mage. He had been asking Tarnal if the Nightrunners ever had any contact with the Phaerie.

Tarnal shook his head. "No-thank all the G.o.ds. At least we remained hidden from them. They view Mortals as no more than animals."

"Then you will understand the pdsition of the Xandim," Izmir said grimly. "How we rue the day that our folk were tempted across the seas by wicked traitors among their own kind. Not to mention, of course, the northern Magefolk who were fomenters of the whole sad business." He looked sharply at the Nightrunner leaders. "And they never did return?"

The swiftness of the question took Zanna completely by surprise. She inhaled sharply-and choked on a mouthful of food. Instantly the room dissolved into confusion as she was thumped on the back, given a cup of water, and handed a cloth to mop her streaming eyes. By the time she had recovered, Tarnal had gathered his wits. "It sounds very unlikely that someone could still be lost in time and then return," he said smoothly.

"But they were your friends?" Izmir pressed.

"Yes," said Zanna belligerently. "Why, does that make a difference?"

The chief frowned. "Not to me, but sadly, I must ask you to forget your former friends-especially if you are speaking to anyone outside this community." He leaned forward earnestly. "It is different with us-for many years now we have traded successfully with the Nightrunners, and friendship has grown between our folk." He looked at Zanna and Tarnal. "Your people will stay with us, and become part of our settlement. You have skills, such as your shipbuilding, that would benefit us greatly."

m m 3 r a 375.

"Are you saying it could make trouble for us if it were widely known that we were friends with Aurian and the oth-ers?"Tarnal demanded. "Why?"

"Please-do not blame me too harshly, and do not let this affair deprive your folk of the sanctuary that they so badly heed. Your friends are under a sentence of death, Tarnal, if they ever return here. For many seasons now, a watch has been kept throughout the Xandim lands for your companions. I have the strictest orders concerning the Mage and the others, as does every chief of every settlement along the coast. If they are found in the Xandim lands they must be taken to the Fastness, and from there they will go to the mountain of the Blind G.o.d." He sighed. "I cannot say for certain-the decision will rest with the will, or the whim, of the G.o.d. I fear, however, that they will be sacrificed."

A lone Xandim herdsman, encamped by his fire on the broad, wind-scoured plains, looked up and saw a cl.u.s.ter of dark dots pa.s.s across the face of the moon, flying very high and fast. He frowned. What in the name of the G.o.ddess were they? Didn't < p="">

) Aurian had forgotten all her earlier fear, and was truly enjoy-< p="">

Grince rode behind the Mage, clasping her around the in a grip so tight that it was almost painful, and keeping 376Maggie furey a wary eye on the hawk that clung tightly to her shoulder, sheltering from the wind in a fold of her hood. From the corner of her eye, Aurian could see Schiannath and Iscalda speeding along beside her, their life force linked to the paths of the wind by the talisman's power and the Mage's will. Forral rode the great grey Schiannath, who was like a storm cloud, driven before the wild wind, and Vannor rode Iscalda, who shimmered like a pearl in the moonlight. Between the two Xandim, in a cat's cradle of rope, a great net was suspended-one of the cargo nets from the Nightrunner ship. Shia, Khanu, and Wolf, unhappy pa.s.sengers all, dangled in the net, and Aurian felt sorry for them. She knew from experience that it was definitely not the most pleasant way to travel. They would be chilled, cramped, and aching before the journey's end. Much happier was Linnet, who flew on the other side of the Mage, effortlessly matching the pace set by the Xandim.

Aurian was pleased with the speed they were making. Even though the Xandim carried extra burdens, she could feel the Old Magic buoying them up, and so far, at least, she was experiencing little fatigue from the maintenance of the spell that made flight possible. If they kept up this pace, she estimated, they could be in Chiamh's Chamber of Winds three nights from now. And then? The Mage wished she knew. When she had looked into the Well of Souls, she had seen Eliseth in Aerillia-but was that any guarantee that the Weather-Mage would still be there?

When she had first reached the Dragon City, not long before sunset, Eliseth had been somewhat dismayed by the extent of the destruction. Anvar's memories of the earthquake had been, of necessity, blurred by panic and the need for a swift escape. By the time the tremors had stopped, he had been safely back *underground, and had never had a chance to see the condition of the city as Eliseth was seeing it.

The Magewoman's winged bearers had landed her on the top of the highest tower-the very same place from which Anvar and Aurian had first looked down on Dhiammara. Below her, the great emerald tower in the center of the city was cracked throughout its length and splintered into a jagged spike, and the valley floor was a network of chasms and cracks, which gave the impression of ruin and decay. When Eliseth looked more closely, however, she saw that most of Dhiammara.

3 77.

the low buildings, each one hollowed from a single gem, appeared to have survived more or less intact. She turned to Sunfeather, who stood at her side, his mouth screwed into an expression of distaste. "It'll do," she said shortly, daring him with a frosty look to contradict her.

He shrugged, irritating her-deliberately, she knew-by his lack of response to her challenge. "Very well, Lady. I'll send the men down to check which buildings are safe, and to look for somewhere suitable for us to spend the night."

By nightfall the Weather-Mage had been installed, if not comfortably, at least adequately, in one of the simple buildings. Bern, whose task was still to carry the well-wrapped Sword of Flame for her, had deposited the Artifact here in her shelter before seeking his own bed in a nearby building. Her failure to master the Sword had been Eliseth's only setback so far-other than that, she had good reason to feel pleased with herself. Her plans were working out beautifully. She had been told by the ever-attentive Sunfeather that the Khazalim would be arriving the following night, in darkness, when it was safe to cross the desert. Tomorrow night also, the first of the slaves would begin to arrive from the settlement in the forest. Eliseth held out her hands to warm them at the flickering fire, and stretched with drowsy contentment. Now, before she curled up to sleep in the pile of thick blankets and luxuriant furs that Sunfeather had brought her, she would reach out to make contact with Vannor's mind, and check on Aurian's progress.

Eliseth filled the grail with water from the leather bottle by her side, and summoned Vannor's image, sinking into his mind like a stone falling into a clear lake. Her concentration faltered as she found herself flying through the air at a tremendous speed, and with a sickening lurch, she found herself back in her own body. With a curse, she collected herself, breathing deeply and sitting perfectly still until the giddiness had pa.s.sed. Then, cautiously, she tried again.

What in perdition was going on? The last time she had entered his mind Vannor had been on board a ship, and his thoughts were such a confused welter of anger, fear, and grief that she had been unable to make sense of them. Now, however, he was calmer, and raking through her victim's latest memories, she was astounded at what she found.

Eliseth discovered, with a flash of annoyance, that she was 378Maggie Furey too late to exact her vengeance upon Zanna-the wretched woman had been left behind in the Xandim settlement on the coast. Zanna's fate was a minor detail, however; soon forgotten when the Mage discovered, to her intense shock and dismay, that Aurian could make the Xandim fly. Eliseth fought against a cold, sinking feeling of unease. This changed everything. She had thought herself secure, with plenty of time to prepare before Aurian could get anywhere near the Jeweled Desert. Now, she would have to hasten her plans along-and, as well she knew, such haste could easily breed mistakes that might cost her, if she did not take the greatest of care.

For the first time, Eliseth wondered whether she had been wise to have left the Horsefolk unconquered; a potential enemy at her back. Then she shrugged. How foolish, to let panic cloud her thinking. After all, since the forest settlement had been taken, she had hostages that the Mage held dear. She made a mental note to discover the ident.i.ties of Eliizar and Nereni when the slaves arrived.

"So-let Aurian come," Eliseth muttered venomously. "I'll be ready."

By traveling at night, Chiamh and his companions succeeded in completing their journey unseen. Hiding each dawn in one of the spa.r.s.e stands of timber that dotted the otherwise featureless plains, they kept an uneasy watch in turns throughout the daylight hours, while the others rested. It had been a wearying, cold, and hungry journey. The Xandim were luckier than the humans, cats, and Wolf, for they could graze, at least, but Zanna had been able to furnish little in the way of rations for the others.

Just as Aurian had hoped, they arrived on the upper slopes of the Wyndveil on the third night, just before dawn. Though they were almost certain they had not been spotted from the Fastness, Chiamh deemed it wisest to get everyone out of the sky and under cover before the sun came up, so he searched for a current of gleaming air that dipped sharply, and, with Schiannath and Iscalda hard on the Windeye's heels, the horses and riders swooped down like striking hawks into the Vale of Death, where the Chamber of Winds speared the heavens.

Though Chiamh had long ago convinced himself that he and the Xandim were done with each other for good, he was astonished to find himself deeply moved by the first sight, V h i a. m m a. r a.

3 79.

blurred and vague though it was, of his old home. As his hooves touched lightly down on the stretch of short, soft turf in front of the soaring pinnacle of rock, he could scarcely wait for Aurian and Grince to dismount, so that he could change back to his human form. Without waiting for the others, he ran into the cavern at the spire's foot.

Within, he found the devastation often years' neglect. His blankets and furs had been eaten away by mildew, and his scanty belongings had been scattered and gnawed by wild animals, who had decorated the floor with piles of droppings as abundant evidence of their tenancy. Chiamh was suddenly grateful to Parric for teaching him some new curses while they stayed together in the Nightrunner caverns.

"Windeye1. I have never heard such language1. Do you not know that all wild creatures are the little children of the G.o.ddess?"

"Then Iriana should teach them better manners . . ." Chiamh began; then he recognized the voice. "Basileusl"

"Indeed-and who did you expect? Well met, little Windeye. I have never been so delighted to see any living creature in all the endless ages of my existence. But where have you been ? Why did you stay away so long?" Abruptly, all the joy left the Moldan's voice. "There is much that you should know, my friend. Events of considerable gravity have transpired here, these last few years...."

Not again, Chiamh thought. Lately,life seemed to consist of nothing but evil tidings and dire events. In that moment, he became aware that he was phenomenally hungry, dirty, and cold-and so weary that he felt about a thousand years old.

"Rest then," the Moldan said kindly. "I forget the frailties of you flesh-and-bfaod folk. My news has waited almost ten years- it wiU keep a little longer."

Just then Aurian entered, and viewed the scene with a low whistle of dismay. "Seven b.l.o.o.d.y demons!"

"Greetings, Wizard."

"Oh-greetings, Basileus." The Mage inclined her head '*respectfully, though there was no point in looking in any particular direction-not when the Moldan was the entire mountain. "It's good to be back again. We have a great deal to tell you."

'"And I, you. But settle yourselves first I will wait."

Shia entered the cavern and sniffed. "Squirrels," she said decisively, wrinkling her nose. "Rats and a family of foxes."

Chiamh looked around grimly at the devastation. "I don't know where to start."

3 SOMaggie Furey "I do." Aurian stuck her head out of the cavern entrance. "Grince?" she sang sweetly. "Remember what you said about being useful? Well, how are you at scrubbing?"

"Khanu and I will go hunting," Shia offered. "Maybe there are still wild goats on the slopes of Steelclaw...."

"WATT1." Basileus shouted urgently. "Do not set foot on Steel-claw--it has become an evil place once more! There are rabbits and deer in the woods down this valley-you can hunt there for what you need."

Shia, who had become increasingly irritable and short-tempered as the journey had progressed, now had a stubborn light in her eyes. "But there are already cats on Steelclaw," she argued, "so whatever it is, it won't harm ..."

"No," said the Moldan flatly. "There are no cats on Steel-daw. Not any longer."

Shia and Khanu were too stunned to speak.

"But what happened to them?" Aurian demanded. "Was it disease? Did something attack them? Are they all dead? If not, where did they go?"

"I do not know what became of them," Basileus replied, his voice heavy with regret, "but I do know why it happened. It is all part of what I must tell you, after you have rested. There will be time enough then-but in the meantime, keep away from Steelclaw, all of you. Be sure you warn the others, who cannot speak as we speak."

"My people . . ." Shia murmured. "All gone." Head drooping low, she left the cavern, Khanu padding close behind her. The Mage started to follow, but Khanu forestalled her. "Wait a little, Aurian. Later, she will need you. For now, I think she needs another cat. We'll help each other." He followed Shia out.

Chiamh sighed. "Well, I suppose the best thing we can do now is make this place habitable."

Among the Windeye's belongings, Forral found an old copper cooking pot and a bucket that did not leak too much, and Aurian lit a fire to heat water. The nearby stand of pines by the pool provided twigs and a st.u.r.dy bough to make a broom. Vannor and Chiamh sorted and tidied his belongings, throwing out what could not be salvaged. Even with everyone helping, the sun was high enough in the sky to be peering over the high, sloping sides of the sheltered vale by the time they had the place straight. Afterward, they took turns bathing in the phiammara381 churning pool beneath the waterfall, and dried their shivering : bodies on the few blankets that they still possessed.

By sunset, the companions were clean, sheltered, and fed, for . Shia and Khanu had returned dragging the carca.s.s of a deer. As darkness fell, they retired to the cavern, and Basileus began to speak, with Aurian and Chiamh translating his words for the others.

"It must have been almost ten years ago when I first realized tkat Steelclaw was inhabited again. There was a new feeling of . tension in the stone-some tentative probing and prying, across the Dragon's Tail ridge. At once, my heart misgave me. 'Who is ;' there?' I asked-knowing that there could be but one answer.

( Ghabal. He was still as mad as ever-he spoke in riddles and ^ inysteries, saying that he had been freed from his imprisonment ;,, when the last of the Magefolk had quit the world-yet it had &;' been a Mage who had brought him home, his consciousness still ./ held in that same piece of rock torn from Steelclaw, in which it

}v had been imprisoned long ago.

"Ghabal's presence made me uneasy at once-such a mad ted creature as he would always make a perilous neighbor, his power seemed as great as it had ever been, making the ger even greater. One of the earliest results of his return was vanishment of the cats. To this day, I have no idea what be-e of them. I cannot think that Ghabal killed them aU-there ... no concentration of scavengers around the mountain, and jflffeere certainly would have been if that many bodies had been vsent. It is my belief that the cats, sensing the Moldan's return, of their own accord-but where they went, who can say? Nevertheless, Shia and Khanu should not despair. Their people ty now be living happily in some other place." Basileus paused a moment, as if to marshal his thoughts, efore continuing. "/ was also worried about the Mage who was jaming at large on Steelclaw's slopes-and on mine, whenever

w felt so inclined. I could tell at once he was as mad as the ioldan."

Dread had settled like a cold stone in Aurian's belly. She jjfeould keep silent no longer. "A Mage, you say?" she inter-apted. "An old man, with gems for eyes?"

"Indeed, it is just as you say. I had a feeling you would know i. He has no eyes, just shining jewels, which is why the Xandim ! him the Blind G.o.d, though somehow he still sees. ..."

382.

Furey 3 m m 3. r 3 383.

"Blind G.o.d?" Aurian snorted. "Well, I see his arrogance has not been blunted by the years - nor by what Eliseth did to him. I was hoping she'd finished him for good. . . ."

"No you weren't." Forral looked at her shrewdly. "I know you better than that, Aurian. You wanted to finish him yourself."

"And?" the Mage challenged.

"Yes, yes/' Forral grinned. "You know that / want to finish him, too. You must admit, love - I've a d.a.m.ned good reason."

"So what is this cult of the Blind G.o.d, Basileus?" Chiamh interrupted.

"At the full of the moon, and at the dark of the moon, one of the Xandim - usually a criminal, or one who has earned the dis pleasure of the Herdlord and the Council of Elders - is brought up to the Field of Stones and sacrificed. The Xandim purportedly earn the favor and protection of the Blind G.o.d - not to mention immunity from his wrath - though it seems to me that the Council and the Herdlord perpetuate this brutality to get rid of those against whom they bear grudges. The G.o.d, on the other hand, gains ..."

"Don't call him a G.o.d," Aurian said tightly. "His name is Miathan, and I know what he gains. The monster is feeding on the life force of his victims to increase his powers."

"Well, he won't be doing it much longer," Forral said grimly.

The Mage nodded agreement. "There'll never be another chance like this. It's time to complete our unfinished business with the Archmage."

Forral was awakened by a cold nose poking in his ear. He jumped up, reaching for his sword - and found that his a.s.sailant was only Wolf The swordsman sat down again and took deep breaths to slow his racing heart. "Ho, Wolf," he said tentatively in mind-speech. "What's the matter?"

The wolf whined and stretched out its forelegs, dropping its nose down to its paws and c.o.c.king its ears. "Are you really my father?" it asked.

The question, coming out of nowhere as it did, took Forral completely unawares. "Yes," he said firmly. "As a matter of fact, I am."

Wolf gave a little whine- "I don't understand. Grandma Eilin said you had brown hair, and a beard. She said you were dead. Everybody said that - except Shia, and she won't even talk about it."

~ "Hasn't your mother told you all about this?" Forral asked .in some surprise. "I should have thought . . ."

"Well, it was my fault, really. I wouldn't talk to her at first, *feecause I thought she didn't want me - then when I got on '; the ship, there was just no time. She never really had a chance v to explain."

"All right," he said to his son, "I'll explain instead. This is what happened. . . ."