"Just a night."

She stared at his arm. The splint was gone. "Thy arm?"

"Is healed," he said. "And Timir thrives under Gila's care. Nalor and Brader are making travois to carry

the wounded to a meadow behind the horn of the Hills. They've rounded up a dozen horses."

Liara stretched. "Will thee go with them?"

"I thought we both could go," he said.

"There is something I must do before I leave this place."

Stilenta looked up. "Take Valmir with ye. We will see to the wounded." She handed Liara several silk

scarves. "Two for the Jewels and two for your faces. The morning winds carry the stench of death. 'Tis

good we plan to move our camp." Valmir held Liara's arm as they strode across the plain. When they reached the dead Holders, she forced herself to remove their Jewels.

Beyond the Holders, she saw the dark mages. Four men with shaven heads and one with hair the color hers was now. Reena had named him as her father. Liara dropped to her knees and touched his face. "I thank ye for what ye did. Both your daughters live because of ye."

Valmir helped her to her feet. "Thee have my sorrow. 'Tis hard to find a father and lose him before thee knew him." She looked at the face of the sixth mage, the one with Andalor's knife buried in his chest. He'd been a handsome man, but even in death she felt a sense of his evil.

When she and Valmir returned to the camp, only Reena, Andalor and the Orange Holder remained. "How fares Andalor?" Liara asked.

"He's stronger," Reena said.

Nalor and Brader returned with the horses. First they put Andalor on a travois. As they lifted the Orange Holder, she gasped a breath and was still. Liara touched the young woman's throat and felt no heartbeat.

"She is dead." She reached for the Jewel. As she was about to wrap the gem, the center glowed and throbbed. She looked at Reena. "Come, 'tis yours."

Tears flowed down Reena's cheeks. "Why?"

"Ye are called."

"But I am unworthy."

"The Jewel has chosen. When we reach the meadow, ye can bond to it and it to ye. This plain of death and desolation is not right for a bonding." She put her arm around her half-sister's waist. "Come, let us leave."

CHAPTER 47.

From The Songs of Earda.

Away from the plains of desolation To right the wrongs The Black had wrought. There was no Queen Just Sister Holders Working in harmony.

Black night. Aching cold. Exquisite pain. Andalor tried to move but his limbs felt like stone. Even his eyelids weighed too much to lift. "Reena." Anguish rippled through him. He lived and she was dead. "Reena." "I am here." "Then I am dead." She stroked his arm. "Thee live, beloved, as do I."

A groan escaped, yet joy filled his heart. "And Liara?"

"The White and Liara are alive. The Black is dust and though I belonged to it, I survived." Her laughter brought to Andalor's mind the Reena of the manor house. "I even hold a Jewel."

He opened his eyes. "Thee have a Jewel?"

"The Orange called and I answered. I can hardly believe my fortune."

"Before the Black touched thee, thee were kind and caring."

"Thank thee." She looked away and he thought he saw the sparkle of tears in her eyes. "Andalor is

awake," she called.

"Well come," Liara said. "For near a ten day, ye have wandered in fevered dreams."

He met her gaze. "To the doors of death I wandered, and yet I found them barred."

"For that, I am glad. Ye are part of our company. Now rest."

During the days that followed, each of Andalor's travel companions spent time with him. Even Nalor extended the hand of friendship. Disa had returned his life and Reena had healed him. One by one, the remaining Guards, except for Timir, left the camp. Though the young Guard's burns healed without scars, Andalor felt responsible for Timir's injuries.

Three nights after Andalor woke, a fire started by lightning blazed on the plain and erased all signs of the battle. Already, green gra.s.s stretched to the horizon. Finally the day arrived when the Holders gave him leave to quit his bed. Nalor and Brader helped him to his feet. His legs felt as though his bones had no substance. He took one step and then two. Valmir presented him with a cane.

That night, they held a celebration. When they finished eating, Liara leaned forward. "We must make plans to leave. Earda has need of us."

"Which route should we take?" Brader asked.

"The desert," Disa said. "There is one in the tents of Valmir's clan who I'm sure will be called by one of the Jewels."

Valmir frowned. "Who?"

"Mara," Disa said.

"That one is no clan member, but an orphan my mother took into her tent. She is clanless."

"Ye are the only one of us who has a family," Disa said. "Who better than one without a clan to hold a

Jewel?"

"If she is called, she will find us," Liara said.

"Shouldn't we head to Pala?" Nalor asked. "Who knows what chaos has erupted?"

"I'd like to visit the Palace of the Seven Jewels and see it restored," Brader said. "But I don't look

forward to another desert trek."

"I must go to the desert," Stilenta said. "For I promised I would return."

"If thee go, I will follow," Nalor said.

Stilenta smiled. "As to water, my Jewel will cleanse the ruined waterholes and Gila can call winds to cool

us."

Andalor reached for Reena's hand and found she had left the circle. "I vote for the desert as well, for my

lute is there." He used his cane and walked to the place where Reena sat. "Have thee no opinion?"

She shook her head. "I must go where they decide, for there is much they can teach me."

A multi-colored flitter landed on one of the meadow flowers. "Look at that," Andalor said. "All the colors of the Jewels glow in its wings." Reena's shoulders shook. He lifted her chin. "'Tis lovely, but hardly enough to cause tears."

"I cannot see. My sight was burned during the battle."

"Thee have my eyes. Thee have my heart and my voice. We'll visit all the places I've been and some I've never seen."

"And if Liara has other plans?"

"I am thy Chosen. Where thee go, I will follow." He brushed her lips with his. "A minstrel has no home but where he gives his heart."

"And if we must face the Brotherhood?"

"I'll be with thee." He held her close. "'Tis the desert road we'll take. I must find my lute, for I have many songs to sing and a wondrous story to tell."

end.