* * * The next day, Brader sent Disa and Andalor to scout ahead. As soon as they were out of voice range, he turned to the others. "Last night, I heard Andalor report our route to the Queen. He held something dark in his hand."

"A com-crystal." Stilenta frowned. "I do not believe he's allied to the mages, but that crystal is something

they created in an attempt to copy the Jewels."

"Do the mages control them?" Valmir asked.

"I don't know. If he speaks to the Queen, he must be her agent. How much influence the mages have

over her, we don't know. Mayhaps he doesn't know either. From all I've heard, he has no love for the black robes."

"We must destroy this crystal," Brader said.

Liara shook her head. "I want the Queen to know where we go."

"Why?" Valmir asked.

She held up the Lore of the Jewels. "I've read here that there must be a confrontation between the Black and the White. I would have it take place near the Screaming Hills when I come into my power."

"How can ye believe ye will win when I fear she will capture ye before then?" Brader asked.

Liara smiled. "My mother wrote a note in the book. She found the White but could not hold it since

she'd been tainted by the Black."

"Why not go to the Queen in Pala?" Valmir asked.

"The darkness caused by the decans of rule by the Black would drain my power."

"But we could gather an army," Brader said. "People are ripe for rebellion."

Stilenta shook her head. "If there is a battle between the Jewels, many will die. 'Twill not be a time of

swords and spears but one of magic and illusion."

Brader rolled his eyes and rode away from them. As he pa.s.sed Andalor and Disa, he waved. "I'll do the scouting now. I want to seek tracks of the beasts we heard last night."

Toward evening, he found a stand of willah trees near a spring that bubbled from the rocks into an eroded stone basin before running down the hill. There was a meadow for the mounts to graze. He laid a fire circle and collected deadfall.

He yawned. Between his short night and the physical exertion, he was exhausted. When the others arrived, Disa started a stew from dried meat and vegetables.

When the sun had set, the others settled in their bedrolls. Disa brewed chakla and offered him a mug.

"Ye are tired. Why not nap? We have the easy part of the watch."

"'Twould not be right to let ye watch alone." He stared at the fire, dozed and jerked awake.

A pony squealed. He leapt to his feet and ran toward the meadow. He could see a tawny form attacking one of the ponies.

"Alarm," he called. "Beasts among the mounts." He drew his sword and slashed the fanged creature that clung to the back of one of the ponies.

"Dire wolves," Andalor shouted. "Beware. The poison in their fangs can eat away flesh."

Valmir used his spear against another of the beasts. An arrow whizzed by and caught one of the dire wolves as it sprang toward the Desert Rider.

Liara, Brader thought. Where are Disa and Stilenta? Have any of the beasts reached the camp?

He saw the Blue Holder, torch in hand, leading a pair of ponies toward camp. Brader cut down the beast that leapt toward her. Then one of the wolves howled and fell. Brader didn't think any of Liara's arrows could reach that far. Another of the creatures howled and fell.

Brader turned. Disa held her Jewel so that light from the moons glittered from the facets. A beam flashed from the Yellow. Each beast the ray touched howled and collapsed.

The dire wolves turned and fled the meadow. As quickly as they had appeared, they vanished.

Like a punctured wineskin, Disa collapsed. Brader carried her to the fire. Her skin felt as cold as the light from the moons.

Stilenta treated one of the ponies. "What happened? Was she bitten?"

"She used her Jewel against the beasts. She is cold and barely breathes."

"Wrap her in blankets and bring her to the fire. I'll prepare a restorative, but she is spent and may need days to regain her strength. We'll need more wood for the fire."

Brader wiped his forehead with his arm. He knelt beside Disa and grasped her hands. As he silently willed his strength to her, her skin seemed to warm.

Liara touched his shoulder. "Her color improves."

Stilenta handed Liara a mug. "See if she can swallow."

"I did not know Jewels could be used for harm unless they were tied to the Black," Liara said. "Could

the Yellow be tainted?" "'Twas used to protect," Brader said. "Without her aid, we would not have left here alive." He headed to the grove of trees. His mother had held the Yellow. Had she ever used the power in the way Disa had?

CHAPTER 22.

Sayings of the People If ye owe a life, only ye know when the bond has been broken and the life restored.

Cold. Never before had she felt as though ice encased her, invaded her bones and flowed with her life's blood to every part of her being. She wanted to cry but ice coated her tongue and throat. She felt a touch of warmth from large callused hands. Brader. I would have thee as my Chosen. Had the words been said or just thought? She prayed she hadn't uttered them. Until she returned a life to Andalor, she would form no bond with another.

"Reena... I can't... Dire wolves attacked... No... The Yellow has been pa.s.sed to a successor... Disa... Aye, I have no doubts. She drew on the power of the moons and killed more than half the pack... I'll try but I don't think she will leave them. Until tomorrow."

Disa struggled to speak. "Alarm. Alarm."

"Hush," a woman whispered. "The dire wolves are gone. Ye must rest for ye spent yourself greatly."

"Not beasts." She struggled to open her eyes. She moved her hand beneath the blanket until she touched

the Yellow. Warmth flowed through her. When she opened her eyes, sunlight filtered through the branches of a willah tree. Liara sat beside her. Disa cleared her throat. "How long?"

"Half a tenday."

"So long?"

"How do ye feel?"

"Near boneless. Why?"

"Stilenta said you worked through your Jewel."

Memories flooded back. "Andalor knows what I am. He has told the Queen. I have endangered your quest." Liara shook her head. "I don't know when he told her. He has been ever in our sight." Liara stroked Disa's arm. "No matter. The Queen will have the truth ere long."

Disa studied Liara. "Except that I owe Andalor a life. If he leaves ye, I will have to follow."

"What of your actions during the attack? Don't they count?"

"The bond remains. Mayhaps I will never be free. Now that he knows I hold the Yellow, he will think I

failed to act when the apes attacked."

"But you had not the Yellow then. Surely he knows that?" Liara reached for a pot that steamed on the fire. "I must see to the ponies. Two were badly scored."

A short time later, Andalor dropped an armload of wood near the fire. He hunkered down beside Disa.

"Why didn't ye tell me who ye were?"

"I didn't know until after we reached Quato."

"Ye could have told me when ye came to find me. Ye have made your journey long and hard."

"What journey?"

"Ye must go to the Queen. She has need of ye."

She shook her head. "Never. The Black taints everyone and everything it touches. Even now, the land

lies heavy beneath its rule." He grasped her arm. "If ye had laid the blame on the Brotherhood, I would agree. Ye do not know Reena. I do. She wants only good for the land and the people."

She closed her eyes. "She has bespelled ye. Ye know naught about the evil of the Black. Ye do not know how it corrupts. I will never go to her." He rose. "I'll not listen to your talk. She knows of ye and if ye refuse to join her, your Jewel will be given to another." "She doesn't have the power to take it." "Ye will see." Disa sighed. He was a good man, but so wrong. She could tell him tales of the Queen that she'd heard in Pala and of how the Brotherhood worked with the Queen, but he would not hear. The eyes of love had blinded him.

Liara came to Disa's side. "Have ye made your peace with the minstrel?"

Disa shrugged. "There is none so blind as a man tied with the cords of love. He wanted me to leave ye and go to the Queen. His will is completely hers. What if he tries to take me by force?"

"He wouldn't succeed, for none of us will allow that to happen."

"What if the Queen tries to control my Jewel?"

Stilenta joined them. "Rest your fears. Unless ye swear to her, I cannot see how she can touch your Jewel."

Disa prayed Stilenta was right. She accepted a bowl of stew from the Blue Holder. After tasting, she smiled. "'Tis pa.s.sable but I will take back the cook's duty."

"With my blessing," Stilenta said. "I'm better with medicinal brews and poultices."

"Me as well," Liara said. "I've treated men and now beasts. How glad I am none of us was injured by the dire wolves."

"The ponies. Were any killed?" Disa asked.