"'Tis one reason the White was created. To keep the Holders from falling into the elation of control."

"Then go," Stilenta said. "We will keep watch."

Liara left the shield she had created and strode toward her sister-cousin. She gathered the power of the

White and plunged into the ebony depths.

"Ye will not win," Reena said.

"Come," Liara said. "Ye were once different. Ye once loved."

"Never."

"Not even Andalor?"

"He betrayed me." Reena held up the Black. "This Jewel brings the only communion I need. With it, I am

never alone. With its power, all I touch is mine." She sent tendrils of ebon rays toward the White.

Liara waited until the dark beams were reflected by the radiance streaming from the White. Then choosing one bright ray as a spear, she plunged into the heart of the Black Jewel.

She saw Reena's lonely childhood. She experienced a mother's rejection and a father's grief and guilt. She listened to the old Queen's envy of Reena's youth and beauty. She saw the truth and it sickened her. She nearly lost the spear of bright light when the truth blasted her.

She watched as two women, mother and daughter, grappled for power and each possessed the Black for a time. Then the Black possessed them. She saw the history of the dark gem unfold from the day of its creation.

Was it possible to destroy the Jewel and leave her sister alive?

Fingers of darkness clawed at the steady white beam of light that poured from the heart of Liara's Jewel. Slowly, the White expanded until with a final surge, the Black exploded into ashes.

Like a doll with no stuffing, Reena collapsed. Liara staggered away. Then she fell to the ground.

CHAPTER 43.

From the Armsmen's Guide After a battle, seeing to the care of the wounded, whether they be friend or foe, becomes the proper course.

Brader groaned. Memories of the battle slipped into his thoughts. He eased his battered body erect. The stench carried on the wind made his stomach roil. Was he the only survivor of a battle unlike any he'd been prepared to fight?

He looked for his companions and saw no one. After retrieving his sword and putting it in the scabbard, he made his way among the fallen and searched for familiar faces, for the living among the dead.

He found Liara and knelt beside her. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm but she didn't respond to his voice or touch. He carried her to a place where a ledge jutting from the palisades provided shade from the rays of the afternoon sun. As he returned to his search, he wondered if 'twas the day of the battle or another.

The Queen lay face down with one hand outstretched. She moaned. What should he do? She'd been the cause of the battle. Or had she? Andalor said she'd once been kind and caring. Liara had blamed the Black Jewel, not the Holder. He rolled her to her back. She wore a chain around her neck, but if there'd been a Jewel, there was none now.

He carried her to the place where he'd left Liara. He frowned. The resemblance between the two was uncanny, but now Reena's pale hair bore traces of copper and Liara's was as light as her gem.

Three more times, he carried living women to the sheltered spot. Stilenta and two he didn't know.

"Disa!" he cried. "Where are ye?" Anguish poured from his lips and his shoulders shook. He thought of her promise to speak the words that would bind them. The Black had been destroyed. Would he be alone forever?

Then he saw a glint of sunlight bouncing upward. He strode toward the glow. "Disa." He carried her to the sheltered place. What now? He was no Healer, and though he knew a bit about the care of battle injuries, the Holders bore no wounds.

"h.e.l.lo!"

He rose, waved. "Valmir, over here."

Valmir limped into view. He slumped on the ground with his back to the cliff. He cradled his arm. "What happens now?"

Brader shrugged. "I don't know." He moved to Valmir's side. "Your arm?"

"Broken."

"Other wounds?"

"A few, but none serious."

"At least I can take care of your arm." Brader ripped his desert robe and fashioned a sling. "About the Holders. They live, but I don't know how to help them."

Valmir stroked Liara's arm. "We'll need food, water and a fire."

Brader rose. "I can climb the cliffs and find some wood. There's so much death. I fear disease will follow. But until they wake, I don't see how we can move them."

Valmir nodded. "Not all the deaths were caused by natural means. I saw creatures from my nightmares. Let me scout their camp. Not all the tents burned. Mayhaps there will be things we can use."

Brader waved as Valmir headed across the plains. He climbed one of the paths to the top of the cliffs and tossed armloads of deadfall to the plain. When he reached the ground, he built a fire circle.

As the sun moved toward evening, he heard Valmir call. "Come and help me. I've spoils aplenty and there's more to be had." He dragged a dark panel of cloth. "Blankets, food, tragon and wine. I spied several horses in some kind of enclosure."

"We'll go for them tomorrow." Brader grabbed an edge of the cloth. "Ah, I see you brought some stakes. For your arm?"

"Aye."

"h.e.l.lo!"

"Nalor, where are ye?"

"Up here."

Brader looked toward the palisades. The older man climbed down. "What happened? How did ye get

up there?"

"When I woke, I didn't see anyone moving so I went hunting. Got an antel and several fat bantas."

"And your wounds?"

"No longer bleed. They'll wait 'til I clean my kills." He stopped at a distance from the shelter.

"Keep a watch on the Holders. Once I splint Valmir's arm, we'll return to forage in the Guards' camp."

"Don't ye fear any of them lurk there?"

Valmir shook his head. "I saw no one when I made the first trip. If any survived, they've either fled or

are too injured to fight."

A short time later, Brader and Valmir dragged up another tent panel filled with food and cooking

supplies. Brader also rolled a barrel of water.

He heated water in a pan and dropped in chakla leaves.

Nalor frowned. "Where is the minstrel?"

"I didn't see his body. Later, we'll search again."

The aroma of the spitted meat and the chakla made Brader realize how hungry he was. He poured a

mug and sipped. Disa moaned. Brader knelt beside her. "I knew this would rouse ye."

Nalor touched his shoulder. "How will your lady react when she learns about her friend's death?"

"I don't know... Your fire arrows turned the battle."

"Mayhaps, but Disa did something with her Jewel to speed them on their way. 'Tis a puzzle how the

gems work." "Agreed, but we'll never have to worry about having one." He reached for a banta leg. How would Disa react if Andalor's body were never found? He didn't know and he refused to speculate.

CHAPTER 44.

Sayings of the People If the one ye owe a life pa.s.ses from this plane before ye return the life, ye will carry the debt through your future lives until what ye owe is paid.

Disa opened her eyes. "Brader? The battle?"

"Is over and the Black is no more." He raised her to a sitting position. "Drink. 'Tis what brought ye awake."

The sweet taste of chakla brought a sigh of pleasure. "'Twas perfect and what more could I want to

drink?"

"Kaf, brew, wine," he said.

Though his eyes pleaded for her to say the words, she couldn't. "The others. Who still lives?"

"Liara, Stilenta, Nalor, Valmir, the Violet and Orange Holders and the... I suppose she's no longer

Queen."

Disa choked and coughed. "She lives? How strange. Mayhaps she wasn't completely bonded to the

Black." She touched her Jewel. "What of the Jewels belonging to the dead?"

He shook his head. "I never thought of them and I could not touch them."

"I forgot," she said.

"Holding a Jewel is new to ye. My mother made sure I knew the rules."

"Now, what about Andalor?"

"I didn't find him during my search. He was sorely wounded by one of the shadow Guards. I fear he is