"Why do ye fear them?"

"I've seen the way they act."

"'Tis simple when ye meet them. With Guards ye act meek and with mages, dumb. Why would ye and she fear them? What are ye hiding?" "'Tis Liara's tale to tell." He strode away from Valmir. At the end of the narrow trail, he paused. A young woman with brown hair embraced Liara.

"Sister Holder." The young woman frowned. "Ye bear a Jewel, yet ye do not hold. I do not understand."

"Speak not of the Jewels," Liara said. "Who are ye?"

The young woman pulled on the chain around her neck. "Stilenta, Blue Holder. Have ye come to take me home?" Her eyes widened.

Brader stepped into the clearing.

"I don't think we can," Liara said. "Our ship was storm-wrecked. We have but a small boat."

Stilenta looked past Brader. Her eyes were the color of the sky with streaks like the deep blue of the sea. "What happens in the land?"

"The Queen is dying or mayhaps dead," Liara said. "The Yellow Holder has pa.s.sed from this plane. She sent me to find her successor."

"Has she no daughter?"

Brader approached the pair. "I am her son and only child."

"Are ye two alone?"

"Valmir, the ship's steward, rescued us from the ship," Liara said.

Stilenta took Liara's hand. "Do ye seek the White as your mother did? How can I aid ye?"

"I must go to Quato and from there to the Screaming Hills."

Stilenta smiled. "If ye have a boat, I can lead us to Quato."

Brader turned and saw Valmir had reached the clearing. The Desert Rider drew his knife from its sheath. Brader slid his sword from the scabbard, but instead of attacking, Valmir laid his knife at Stilenta's feet.

"Lady of the Blue, my weapon is yours. My clan and kin need the power of your Jewel."

Stilenta touched his shoulder. "When the time comes, your clan and kin will have my aid, but there is something I must do first."

"Then I will follow ye." He turned to Brader. "I now see why we were led here. The Ladies of the Jewels kept us safe from the storm. Let's ready the boat."

Stilenta laughed. "Before we sail, we must gather provisions. Mayhaps a day or two of rest will make our voyage easier."

Brader nodded. "Ye are right. I'll fetch the salt rainbow I caught. 'Twill make a fine meal of celebration."

"There are kaf beans in my pack," Liara said.

Stilenta sighed. "'Tis been two years since I have tasted kaf. Ye have my thanks. Valmir, can ye skin the

palma trees and reap some of the fruit?"

Valmir chuckled. "Ye would ask that of a Desert Rider?" He pulled the bright blue sash from the waist of his breeches and used it to climb the smooth bark tree.

Brader shook his head in awe. Valmir's skills were alien to those he had mastered. Did that mean he was more or less than the Desert Rider?

CHAPTER 15.

Sayings of the People 'Tis t.i.t for tat. A life for a life and he who rescues ye from the bonds of death must have that life returned.

Disa struggled to sit up. A fair-haired woman moved to the bed and pushed a pillow behind Disa's back. A Healer's House. How had she come here?

"Well come," the woman said. "Ye have slept over half a tenday. Would ye like some kaf?"

"Do ye have chakla?"

The woman laughed. "We were warned about your tastes. I believe I can scare some up."

"My traveling companion-Andalor, the minstrel... Did he..." Then she remembered his voice telling her it was not their time to die. "Has he recovered from his wounds?"

"He left but a day ago. Healer Manga wanted him to stay, but he rose and walked to the door like he was being led. He left coins for your care. And this." She lifted a mesh vest.

Disa closed her eyes. Disappointment wove a web around what she had begun to feel for the minstrel. A friendship that went beyond mere liking. He hadn't encouraged or even treated her as other than his squire until she had been injured. Now there was a life between them. She owed him one and she couldn't return it if she wasn't with him. What would happen if she failed?

She slid her legs to the edge of the bed. Beads of perspiration covered her forehead and trickled down her cheeks. Pain, so intense her eyes teared, stabbed her belly. The room grew dark.

"Where are ye going?" the Healer's a.s.sistant asked.

"I need to get to Quato."

"Not today, ye won't. Your injury was grave. Near a hundred st.i.tches it took to close the wound. We used pounds of healall to leach the poison. Ye'll need special care before ye can walk."

Disa sank back against the pillows. "What can I do to speed the process? I must go, for I am called."

Healer Manga entered the room and studied Disa, "'Tis as ye say and ye must be on the road ere long.

Garia will carry ye to the heated pool and work with ye."

"How long?"

"Mayhaps another tenday."

"Do ye know where I can find a horse?"

"One was left for ye in the shed behind the house." The Healer walked to the closet. "Some grateful merchants left these gifts for ye and the minstrel."

She pulled out a shimmering gown of sheep-silk and a fur-lined antel cape. A box held lace kerchiefs and trinkets of gilt and silver set with semi-precious stones.

Disa laughed. "I've little use for such luxuries."

Healer Manga touched Disa's hand. "Do not toss these gifts aside. Ye may not need them now, but soon they will be useful." Another prophecy, Disa thought. Mayhaps she should ask if the Healer knew who called her and why. She started to speak but the Healer was gone. Garia handed her a cup of chakla. "Drink this. Then I'll take ye to the pool." * * *

Nine of the tendays pa.s.sed before Disa left the Healer's House. Instead of one, she had two packs, but only a few coppers. In some town market, she'd sell the merchant's gifts. That must be what the Healer meant by her prophecy.

Her first night was spent at the farm of one of the men who'd joined the fight against the apes. As he recounted the story of the battle, Disa felt she'd grown taller and Andalor had become the hero of a minstrel's tale.

The second night was spent in a barn where she slept on a bed of straw. As she set out the next day, her body ached and itched.

That afternoon, she reached a small town. The sight of the Guardpost nearly kept her moving but the thought of spending another night in a barn or outside on the ground made her head to the inn. She spent her last coins for a bed and two meals. She looked out the window of the attic room into the Guardpost yard. After stowing her pack, she went down to the common room and sat at a table near the door.

Several Guards entered and called for a round of brew. Disa finished her food and slipped outside. Though she'd done nothing wrong, there was no sense calling attention to herself or in making explanations about why she traveled dressed as a boy. She headed for the stables. The sound of a lute made her jerk to a stop.

A man began to sing and she recognized her erstwhile companion's deep voice. She followed the sound until she reached the wall around the prisoner's compound.

"Andalor," she called.

"Disa?" He pressed his face against the bars of a window just above the wall.

"What are ye doing here?" she asked.

"I'm a madman."

"I've thought that myself, but what brought ye to this place?"

"My horse floundered and I stopped to requisition a mount from the Guards, the way Reena suggested.

They tossed me in here. Can ye get me out?"

"I'll try. Where's your horse?"

"The inn's stable, I hope."

"I'll check. I'll need some coins, enough for bribes. My purse is empty."

"Catch."

Disa picked the pouch from the ground. "How did ye manage to keep your coins? Guards are known for their greed."

"I'm a madman, so they keep their distance. If one gets close, I start screaming for Reena. They back off. She has promised to send a double hand to free me, but they'll be another tenday on the road. She wasn't pleased about my current situation."

Disa rolled her eyes. So he still claimed to be the Queen's Chosen. Could the Guards be right about his madness? But she owed him a life. "It may take a day or two to set my plans." "No matter, as long as I am free," Before returning to the inn, Disa entered the stables. She found Andalor's horse in a rear stall. When she scratched around his horn, he nickered a greeting. "Ye look fit." "This be your horse?" a stable boy asked. Disa nodded. "I've been seeking him for near a tenday." The boy eyed her with suspicion. "Was left by the madman. Do ye know him?" She did, but 'twas better not to admit her friendship with Andalor lest she end in the cell next to his.

"Loaned it to a man when we fought the apes. Mayhaps we were all mad." "Ye be one of them. Merchants bragged on ye. Guards might want to give ye a reward." Disa shook her head. "Don't want notice from them. Was injured and had to spend time in a Healer's House. Family's going to worry about me."

The boy smiled. "Don't blame ye for not wanting the Guard's attention. I'll keep your secret and if I can help ye, just ask." He pocketed the silver coin she slipped into his hand.

"Be more later."

Disa headed to her small room in the inn's attic. The low slanted ceiling brought to mind her s.p.a.ce in

Fancher's and how she'd escaped in disguise. That was what she needed to free Andalor. Then the Healer's prophecy popped into her mind and a plan formed.

The next morning, she left the inn riding Andalor's horse and leading hers.

* * * Three days later, a carriage with a burly coachman stopped in front of the Guardpost. Disa stepped out. Rings glittered on her fingers and she wore the sheep-silk gown with the fur-lined cloak over her shoulders. She carried a large leather bag.

The Guard at the door bowed. "A problem, Milady?"

"I must see the Commandant at once."

"At your service, Milady." He offered her his arm and once inside, rapped on the door at the end of the

hall. "Commandant Denger, ye have a visitor."

"Show him in."

A man with grizzled hair sat behind the desk. The instant Disa approached, he rose and bowed. "Milady,

how can I serve ye?"

"My brother..." She raised a lace kerchief and daubed her eyes. "I fear he may be your prisoner. I

heard tales in the inn about a madman. Not that I blame ye. He's not been right since he fell and hit his head." She sighed long and loud. "I fear he believes he's the Queen's Chosen. I'm sorely embarra.s.sed by his behavior."

"Aha!" The Commandant straightened. "I knew his tale was false. He said the Queen was sending a double hand from Pala to release him." "Can I take him home? I'll cover any damage he's caused." She opened the leather bag and placed several gilt coins on the desk.

"Sargan, fetch the madman and his belongings." The Commandant covered her hand and the offering with his. "He merely requisitioned a horse and raised a fuss when I refused. Shall I send a hand to see ye home?"

She opened the leather bag again. "I'll secure him with these." She drew out wrist and ankle cuffs. "He cannot get the key this time, for I have left it at home. No need for an escort. My coachman is strong and we do not have far to go."