confrontation with the Black and the other Holders. 'Tis been much on my mind." "Could we eat first?" Disa asked. "I can think better with a full belly. Hunger makes me think of disaster. Let me set my fish traps."

Stilenta laughed. "She speaks for me as well." She rose from the pool and lifted her robe from the bush where she'd placed it to dry. "I'll go scavenging in the woods." "I'll go with ye," Liara said. Valmir followed them. Brader lifted one of the nets Disa had woven. "Where did ye learn to make these?" "When I was a child, my mum and I traveled with my da. He was a peddler. He taught me many things that have proved useful on this trek." She headed to the pool above the waterfall.

Brader gathered deadfall for the fire. "I never knew my father. He died before I was born. My mother

didn't speak of him. The head armsman of the keep was the closest to a father for me."

"What was your mother like?" Disa rose from the side of the pool.

"Sad, lonely and isolated. She chose the High Sanctuary as a refuge from the Queen. She loved Liara

and me and taught us about Earda and how the land had been before the Black Jewel arose."

"I envy your friendship with Liara. For me, there were no brothers or sisters, not even cousins. On this journey, I have found what I never had. Good friends."

"Even Andalor?"

She nodded. "He isn't evil, just misguided. I believe as Liara does that he will stand with us in the end.

Come, let's take this wood and build a fire. Then we can return and check the traps."

Once the fire burned in the circle Brader had arranged, he and Disa returned to the upper pool. In each of the fish traps, she found two large rock fish. She wrapped the fish in leaves from a water plant and

placed them on the rocks that jutted over the flames.

Nalor arrived with an antel on his shoulders. He quickly butchered and spitted the meat.

When Valmir, Stilenta and Liara returned, they added to the bounty. A pair of fat coneys was added to

the meat roasting on the spit. Liara tucked plump tubers in the coals. Stilenta's skirt was filled with briarberries and redda fruit. She put mintos leaves with the berries.

"There was no chakla," she said.

Disa laughed. "When this is done, I'll gorge on chakla in every dish and drink I know."

After they ate and wrapped the remains for the next day's meals, Liara called a council. "At sunrise, I'll leave ye and seek the White. 'Tis near. I feel the pull."

Stilenta nodded. "As do I."

"We are but six and they are many," Nalor said. "I'm sure the Queen has gathered an army and a corps of mages. How can we defeat a large number?"

"'Twill be a battle of minds rather than of weapons," Stilenta said. "Ye must be wary. Some of the men and beasts ye face will be shadow creatures, but if ye engage them, the wounds they make are real."

"So how do we defeat them?" Brader asked.

"Name them as shadows," Stilenta said.

"What about our Jewels?" Disa asked. "Can't we protect the group?"

"We can but protection is not enough," Liara said. "I must challenge the Black."

"Can Stilenta and I combine our Jewels and neutralize the Green?" Disa asked.

Stilenta nodded. "'Tis possible. And I can blunt the Violet and ye the Orange."

"That leaves the Red," Liara said. "She will be torn between helping one of the others."

"If she is the same Holder as when my mother lived, she is an ancient crone," Stilenta said. "The struggle may be too much for her to withstand."

"If she is old, she will be canny," Disa said. "The elderly often cling to their possessions... So tomorrow, do we join ye in the search for the White?"

Liara shook her head. "Disa and Nalor will go west. Brader and Stilenta, east. Seek a place where ye can see the plains and where there is a path down the cliffs. Valmir will remain with me."

Brader frowned. "Why must I go with Stilenta?"

"Because of what remains unsaid between ye and Disa and what must remain that way until the battle ends."

He nodded. "Then it will be as ye say."

After the others slept, Brader stayed by the fire and thought about what lay ahead. Could he handle shadow creatures rather than men of flesh and blood? He vowed to do his best.

He looked up and saw Disa beside the waterfall. He went to her. "Ye could not sleep either."

"I fear what will happen."

"The White will prevail and ye will help Liara." He put his arms around her and drew her closer. "When this is done, mayhaps ye will say the words."

"Aye, I will say them after I give Andalor his life."

* * * When he woke, Disa was no longer at his side. He leapt to his feet. "Liara, where is she?" His foster sister turned. "She and Nalor have the most distance to cover so they have gone." She held out her hand. "May the sun shine on your days and the moons light your nights." Why did she speak the words of the final leave-taking? He would not complete the rite but give another blessing. "May ye find what ye seek and use it for the land and the people." He knelt beside the pool where they had bathed and splashed water on his face. After eating fish and the rest of the berries, he belted on his sword and picked up the leaf-wrapped meat. Stilenta rose. "Come, we must find our place before dusk." They strode into the forest. "If we survive the coming battle, what will ye do?" he asked. "Travel through the land and set things aright. And ye?" "Rebuild the Palace of the Seven Jewels, visit Valmir's people, go home. Though I said the words of parting to my mother, I fear her spirit will linger until she hears we have rid Earda of the Black." She touched his hand. "What if Disa will not go with ye?" He sucked in a breath. "I do not know."

CHAPTER 34.

The Sayings of the People Fear is easily handled when not alone, but fear becomes a spur for fools when there is a crowd.

Disa was glad she and Nalor had left before Brader woke. The need to be with him made her yearn to return. But she couldn't speak until her obligations to Liara and the minstrel were done. Thoughts and fears about the coming confrontation moved like whirlwinds through her mind. What if Liara was defeated? Disa hoped if that came to pa.s.s, she would die with her friends. To survive would be worse than her life with Fancher after her aunt left this plane.

Several times, Nalor helped her cross the rocky terrain. The Hills screamed and in the cries, she heard protests and anger about the way the land had suffered beneath the rule of the Black Jewel.

Nalor paused and pried a sticky substance from a burl tree. He put it in a bit of cloth torn from his desert robe. Four more times, he paused and repeated his actions.

"What are ye doing?" Disa asked.

"'Tis the makings of fire arrows. I've Liara's bow."

"Aha." She should have known he had a plan. "Will they help?"

"A dozen well placed fires on the sun-browned gra.s.s of the plain should spread chaos among the Queen's army. 'Twill create a diversion we might need." * * * By dusk, they found a sheltered place overlooking the plain. Disa could make out a path that though rugged would allow them to leave the cliffs. Nalor began to make the fire arrows. She joined his efforts. When they finished, she stared at the rows of dark tents and the gaudy pair that must belong to two of the Holders. She sighed. Andalor was there and the bond between them throbbed. The desire to seek him grew. She turned to Nalor. "Do not let me leave."

"If he is in danger, there is naught ye can do."

The pull stopped so abruptly, she jerked. What had happened? Was he dead?

Nalor touched her shoulder. "We must eat and then rest. There are some berries and meat and a nearby spring." * * * A cry, different from the sound of the Hills, woke Disa. She saw Nalor struggling with a man. "Who?"

she called.

"The traitor," Nalor said as he threw the man to the ground.

Disa frowned down at him. "Why are ye here and not with your Chosen, ready to destroy your friends?"

"I seek Liara. She was right. The Black is evil. Reena is not what she was when we first met."

"How so?" Disa asked.

"Her eyes-her hair-her nature grows as inky as her Jewel. She used the Black on me. 'Twas only luck I am here. The Brotherhood will be in control of her if she wins. Liara must be told that Gregor and six of the master mages plan to take a hand in the struggle. She must act before they add their power to that of the Queen and her Holders."

Disa saw anguish in his eyes. "Free him."

Nalor scowled. "Dare we take the risk?"

"My life is his. I believe the spell she cast is broken."

"No spell," Andalor said. "I am her Chosen. The bond is there but I loved a caring woman, not a power-mad queen. The Black must be destroyed."

"So be it," Disa said.

Nalor snorted. "Just like that. I know ye be his friend and he can claim your life. Time and time again, he has betrayed us. How can this moment be different?"

Though using the Jewel bore the risk of discovery, 'twas the only way to convince Nalor. She cupped the Jewel. Light from the Sister Moons filled the center and spilled from the facets to touch Andalor. "He speaks true. The Jewel would blast him for a falsehood."

"Even with the life?" Nalor asked.

"Even then. The Jewels are above vows and bonds."

Nalor released the minstrel. "Then so be it, but if harm comes from this-"

"If harm comes, my life is yours," Andalor said. "Where is Liara?" He grasped Disa's hand. "How can she expect to win against so many with so few?"

"The Jewels will determine the victors."

"But Reena has four. Liara but two."

"'Twill be enough."

He shook his head. "I must find her, for there is a need. I cannot explain."

"She's gone for her Jewel. Mayhaps ye won't find her."

"I must try, for I am needed."

Nalor nodded. "Go north, minstrel. 'Tis to the north she headed."

Andalor bowed. "Fare ye well, Disa. Do not seek to give me a life during the battle. Ye must stand with Liara."

CHAPTER 35.

From The Lore of the Jewels To hold the White is to be one with all the Jewels of Earda, to enhance and reflect their powers for the good of the land and the people. The Holder of the White must be prepared to aid each gem in its work.

When the Black became, it absorbed the dark emotions of the one who first held that Jewel. The evil of its creators, the Brotherhood, had permeated the making. These men were once the sons of the Jewel Holders, rich in powers but barred from holding any of the Jewels.

She who embraces the White must fight the mages as well as the Holder of the Black.

Liara strode beside Valmir. She used his spear to aid in walking over the rocky ground. The sun rose higher. She stumbled. Valmir caught and held her close.

"My thanks." She closed her eyes and listened to the screams. Which way now? 'Twas like their path led through a maze. She cried out in frustration, for the screams muddied her thoughts.

"What's wrong? How can I help?"

His touch brought an infusion of strength and deadened the voices. "I must find the voice of the Jewel beneath the screams." She c.o.c.ked her head and stepped out of his embrace. She followed a pulsing beat that matched the rhythm of her heart.

She barely noticed the ground beneath her feet. The screams grew louder and shriller. The beat accelerated until it sounded through her like the heart of a terrified child.