Liara looked away. She would trust Valmir with her life. Would Brader accept that?

CHAPTER 13.

From The Songs of Earda Oh, my father was a soldier And he went off to war To use his sword upon our foes And keep our village free.

And when the great beasts came Thundering from the hills He stood his ground with pride And saved us from a rout For my father was a soldier The same as ye and me.

Andalor rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. The troop of volunteers and armsmen he'd gathered from among the guests at the inn had been on the road since daybreak. Now dusk gathered and the only sound was the clop of the horses' hooves against the hard packed surface of the road. Ahead the hills formed a narrow corridor. The black rocks loomed like shadows in the fading light.

An eerie scream shattered the near silence. His mount froze and for a moment, so did he. The shrill cry became a chorus. Andalor turned. The men and Disa seemed as shaken as he.

"Form a circle with the horses in the center," he called. "Light the torches. Fire is a good defense against any number of beasts. Pray these fanged apes are no different."

He thrust his torches in the brazier one of the men had carried from the inn. He touched Disa's shoulder. "Stay at my side."

She lit her torches. "We will beat them off. 'Tis not our time to die."

"Does your Healer blood speak?" He would have left her at the inn, but she had refused to remain behind. The determination in her voice heartened him more than her prophecy.

He saw a number of s.h.a.ggy forms climbing over the rocks. One giant ape, near white in coloring, stood erect and beat his chest. His scream rang out. Horses whinnied. Andalor wished there'd been a bowman among the men at the inn. Then the fight might have been over before it began. The ape's cry seemed to be a signal for the hordes of beasts to move swiftly toward their waiting opponents.

"Stand fast," Andalor cried. "Think of your families and homes!"

The scene turned to chaos with screams of the apes, shouts of the men and the terrified cries of the horses. Andalor waited with sword in one hand and torch in the other. An ape leapt toward him. He sliced the beast's arm. With wicked claws extended, the ape swiped a line down Andalor's chest. The beast howled, exposing fangs that dripped a viscous fluid. Andalor swung and decapitated his opponent. Where the blood and gore splattered, his skin burned.

Fang and claw. Sword and torch. Thrust and thrust. The stench of burning fur. The whickers of the mounts. Shouts and screams. The taste of salt on his lips and acid in his throat. 'Twas nothing like the games of swords he'd played when he'd been a boy.

The white ape that appeared to be the leader knocked Andalor off balance. Disa drove under the creature's arm and plunged her long knife into the ape's belly. The beast shoved her aside. Andalor recovered and slashed the ape with the torch before thrusting the point of his sword into the creature's eye. The ape screamed and fell to the ground.

As quickly as they had appeared, the remaining apes retreated to the rocks and vanished. Andalor thrust the point of his sword in the earth to steady himself.

Around him, he heard the cries of the wounded men and mounts. He sucked in a breath. Several of those still standing came to his side.

"Check the bodies and bind their wounds," he said. "We'll take the wounded to the nearest village."

One of the men nodded. "There's a Healer's House there."

"We'll have need of them." Andalor sent two men to check the mounts and with the others searched for both the living and the dead.

Five of the men had died and three were gravely wounded. He found Disa partly covered by the body of the white ape.

"Help me," he ordered.

When the beast was dragged from her body, Andalor knelt. Her brave act had allowed him to recover and kill the fanged ape. He pressed a hand to her throat and felt a faint pulse. Blood flowed from a slash that ran from her belly to her thigh.

One of the men shook his head. "She'll soon be dead."

Andalor shook his head. "We'll bind the wounds to halt the bleeding. She will live."

"Unless her flesh festers. Ape wounds be nasty and there's poison in their fangs."

Andalor grabbed the skin of tragon from his pack. He tore a shirt, saturated the cloth and bound her

wounds.

The other man laughed. "Do better inside us. I might lose my leg from this wound."

"A Healer told me that wounds cleaned with tragon heal better than those that aren't. We'll use this to

cleanse our wounds. There's wine for thirst."

Before long, they had the worst of the wounded on travois behind the remaining horses. One of the men,

an ostler from the inn, rode back to let the merchants know the road was open. Andalor cradled Disa in front of him and signaled the rest of the party forward.

"Ye will live," he whispered. "As ye said, 'tis not our time to die."

* * * Just after daybreak, they reached the village and rode to the Healer's House. The stone cottage had two floors and the worst of the wounded were carried to rooms above. The Healer and her two a.s.sistants took Disa from Andalor. He slumped on a bench beside the door and fell asleep. When he woke, he looked around in confusion. His wounds had been freshly dressed. He lay on a cot in what must be the kitchen of the house. Two women, one young and the other gray-haired, sat at a table near the fireplace. Andalor pushed his aching body erect and walked slowly to the table. One of the women handed him a mug of kaf. The other took a plate of biscuits and fatback from the warming oven built into one side of the fireplace.

He sipped the kaf. "My companion... Disa... How fares she?" "She lives, though gravely injured," the older woman said. "'Twill be more than a tenday before she can travel. The poisons must be leached and the wound must mend before I release her. If she is to go adventuring, ye should provide her with a mesh vest. 'Tis not only in these hills that beasts rise to attack travelers." Andalor reached for a biscuit. "I'll order one from the smith for her. Do ye know where my horse is? I must tend to his wounds." "There are two horses in the shed behind the house. They have been fed and their wounds washed with tragon." "After I eat, I'll see to them." She nodded. "'Tis a wise man who cares for those who serve him." Andalor finished the food and drank a second mug of kaf. Without warning, the crystal in his pocked grew warm and then hot. He limped to the door and ducked around a corner of the house before pulling the globe out.

An angry Reena appeared. "Where have thee been? Thee has been told to report every night."

"There are times when this is impossible. We were held up at an inn by reports of fanged apes attacking travelers. I had to enlist an army to rout them. We fought a battle and I was injured. Disa, as well."

"I do not believe thee. Fanged apes are solitary creatures that steal into farmyards and carry livestock

away. They do not attack people."

"Mayhaps in the past that was their habit. In days just past, they slaughtered a double hand of Guards and attacked a merchant's caravan. We killed at least twenty."

Her eyes narrowed. "I have heard no reports from the Guards about such attacks, but I will learn the truth. I order thee to continue to Quato. If thee need supplies, I gave thee coins enough. If thee need a new horse, requisition one from the nearest Guardpost."

"But Disa-"

"Do thee care more for her than me?"

"Of course not."

"Thee have no need of her. Thee are my Chosen."

He sucked in a breath. Every time he talked to her, she moved further from the Reena he'd known. "I

was injured during the attack and must stay until the Healer releases me. Would thee have me collapse

along the road where there is no one to help me?" Her eyes changed and he saw an instant of caring there. "Then heal quickly. My cousin is on the move. The Yellow Holder is dead and her Jewel is missing."

"Do ye think there is a connection?"

"I do not know. She has a male companion-a fighter, from all I've heard. She's on her way to Quato. Thee must find a way to join her. When thee do, take care not to alert the Brotherhood."

He frowned. Has she rid herself of Gregor and his ilk? Must she now fight two sets of enemies? Would that he could be with her. "I won't fail thee. Good night, my love."

The crystal darkened.

CHAPTER 14.

From The Armsmen's Guide Ye must trust your brothers in arms until they give ye reason to distrust. For if ye do not trust them, they will pay ye in the same coin.

Brader sat in the bow of the small boat and stared at the dark water. The ache in his head had vanished and his wounds were now scars. He saw Liara swim toward the boat and felt a twinge of envy. He'd never learned to swim. Once as a child, he had tried and nearly drowned. Since then, he'd avoided water that rose above his waist.

The sun beat down and he shed his shirt. If he could swim, at least he could cool his heated skin. He frowned. Where had Valmir learned to swim? He claimed to be a Desert Rider. They lived in an arid, water-scarce land, hardly a place to develop water skills. A slight breeze filled the sails and cooled his skin.

Liara pulled herself into the boat and rubbed her hair with the edge of her cloak. After braiding the dark strands, she pulled on her skirt and blouse.

"Come in before we get too far from ye," she called to Valmir. "The wind's rising and we're caught in a swift current."

Brader frowned. Was Valmir friend or foe? Though he'd saved their lives, Brader wasn't ready to extend trust the way Liara had. After his betrayal at the inn, he intended to keep his vow of caution lest he endanger their quest.

Liara rested against the side of the boat. She yawned and closed her eyes.

Valmir emerged from the sea, clambered into the boat and pulled on his clothes. "My friend, ye should at least get wet."

Brader shook his head. "'Tis not for me. How did a Desert Rider learn to swim?"

"That was one of my manhood tests. There is a place of ruins in the desert with pools that never go dry. My clan visits once each year and when a boy comes of age, he is thrown into the deepest pool. He must swim. If he must be rescued, he is known as a child forever."

"How did ye become a seaman?" Valmir studied his hands. "Because I was a fool." "What's that supposed to mean?" "My mother sent me on a quest and I made some stupid mistakes." A quest for what, Brader wondered. Was Valmir seeking to prevent Liara from finding the White?

"What were ye seeking?"

"Not what, but who. Each year, the Great Desert grows and more of the water holes vanish. Soon the

clans will fight over water rights. I seek the Lady of the Blue jewel, for she has power over the waters of the land."

"Why didn't ye find her?"

"She was not at her home in Quato. 'Twas said she set sail for Thanis. When a thief stole all I

possessed, I signed aboard the Stormy Lady. But in Thanis, I learned she never arrived. I know not where to seek her now." Brader looked at Liara. She sat with her arms about her knees and the way she gazed at the Desert Rider filled Brader with alarm. He prayed she would keep her silence until they learned if Valmir could be trusted.

He felt a tug on the line and turned his attention to landing the fish. "'Tis large," he said as he struggled. Valmir joined his efforts. Soon they landed a large fish with iridescent scales. "A salt rainbow," Valmir said. "We must be near land large enough to have a fresh water stream, for they only sp.a.w.n in sweet water. This one is ripe with eggs." Liara pointed toward the horizon. "I see dark ma.s.ses that are surely land." Valmir moved to adjust the sail and directed Liara to the steering rudder. He pulled oars from beneath the seats. "Come, Brader, let's help the wind."

As though their destination had been chosen, the wind shifted until the boat was headed toward the middle of three islands. Valmir pointed to the stream that flowed into the sea. "I smell smoke," Liara said. "Mayhaps we'll be rescued," Brader said. "Or have been sent to rescue someone." Valmir slipped into the sea and grabbed the rope Liara tossed over the side. She jumped in and helped. When the pair was able to stand, Brader pulled off his boots and joined them. As the boat slid onto the sand, Liara laughed. Then she ran toward the trees.

"Where are ye going?" Brader grabbed his sword.

"Ye can't go yet." Valmir grabbed Brader's arm. "If we don't get the boat above the tide line, we'll be stranded."

"But she might be in danger." Brader joined the other man in beaching the boat.

"Why?"

"Who knows who might be stranded here? Could be Guards or mages."