Shadowfell: Raven Flight Part 9

On the far side of the river, forested hills rose up from the loch sh.o.r.e. The two men took a path that meandered up the hillside through a stand of beech and birch; we climbed up and up in the long summer twilight. By the time Flint called a halt in a small clearing, evening shadows had robbed the forest of its color. Somewhere in the trees a bird sang a melodious, plaintive farewell to the day. Tali sank to the ground, hugging the cloak tightly around her. Her noisy protests had long since subsided to a weary whimpering.

aYouall camp here.a Flint examined us in the fading light, his face giving nothing away. aMake no fire tonight. Head off west in the morning and make sure you keep her quiet. The smirched arenat welcome on the main roads. Donat make trouble again. Believe me, weall be far less helpful next time.a aYou have supplies?a Rohan asked. aEnough for your journey home?a aWeall get by.a Since neither man had brought supplies to offer us, his question seemed pointless. aThank you for your help,a I made myself add. I didnat seem to be able to stop s.h.i.+vering.

They looked at us for a moment, and in their eyes I saw what they saw: myself, small, slight, and visibly distressed; Tali with her tall, strong body and the mind of a terrified infant. A heavy pack. A long walk through rough terrain. Folk on the road and in the settlements who would either shun us or subject us to open ridicule because of what Tali had become. aWe can manage,a I said.

They looked at each other. Rohan lifted his brows, then turned and headed off down the hill.

aTravel safe,a murmured Flint. For just a moment his gray eyes met mine, but what he read in them I could not guess. Love, disgust, grat.i.tude, reproacha"they all tangled in my mind, along with a bone-deep exhaustion at the thought of what lay ahead. He turned away, strode off down the path, and was lost in the shadows.

TALI SAT WITH HER ARMS AROUND HER KNEES, quiet now. Around us the forest was hushed. The sound of the menas footsteps faded away. I knelt to unfasten the pack; my hands needed something to do. I would not remember that last sad season with my grandmother, when I had fed her, cleaned her, held her when she panicked, kept steady vigil day and night as she shrank and faded and crumbled away. I would not think of how it might be with Tali. And yet, as I rummaged for the last sc.r.a.ps of our food, as I made sure the iron weapons were still well wrapped so I could call to Sage once I was certain the Enforcers were gone, that was the only image in my mind.

aShould be safe to talk now.a My skin p.r.i.c.kled. I did not dare turn around.

aNeryn. Theyare gone.a And after a moment, aNeryn?a I turned. She was still in the same position, on the ground, hugging her knees, watching me. Her face was a pale oval in the dimness of the forest shadows; her dark eyes were sharply aware. Around her neck the ravens flew their steady course, strong and true.

aTali?a It came out as a shuddering sob.

Her eyes widened in shocked realization. aYou didnata"you canat havea"oh, Neryn!a I put my hands over my face. A moment later, I felt her strong arms around me, and the warmth of her against me.

aBlack Crow save us,a she muttered. aYou thought it was real. All this time, youa" By all thatas holy, Neryn! How could you believe for a moment that Flint would do that?a I couldnat speak. She held me as I wept; as I tried to reshape everything that had happened since they first brought their captive out before that crowd. After a while she released me and stepped away. She cleared her throat.

aI hope you brought my spare clothes,a she said, kneeling to look in the bag. aThe sooner I get this wretched thing off the better. Oh, good.a She drew out her neatly folded trousers, her tunic, her s.h.i.+rt. aTake a few deep breaths, Neryn. Sit down and drink some water. We must move on quickly. That other fellow seemed mild enough, but heas an Enforcer, and no Enforcer can be trusted. Whoas to say someone may not have a change of heart and come after us, thinking it might be tidier to finish us off and get rid of the evidence?a aHow did youa"a I choked on the words, then tried again. aThat was so real. It was just likea"I never for a momenta"Flint didnat know you were there until they brought you out, did he? How could you know what to do? And how could he fake it with the other Enthrallers there?a She had stripped off the torn s.h.i.+ft and was getting into her own clothing. Even in the near darkness I could see the bruises on her pale skin, the marks of a savage beating. aI guessed what head do. I knew he wouldnat enthrall me. I told you once head never do that to a friend, did you forget? So there were only two choicesa"pretend it had worked or pretend it hadnat. Do the first, and Iad be stuck at Summerfort playing the same sort of part Flint does, and youad be on your own with n.o.body to look after you. Do the second convincingly and I had some chance of getting away. As for the other Enthrallers, I donat know the answer to that, but Flint did tell me once that the singing is mostly for show. The real magic is in the part you canat see, when they lay their hands on a person. The risk was that folk might not believe Flint could bungle an enthrallment. My acting must have been good enough.a She winced as she pulled the s.h.i.+rt over her head. aIt must have been extremely good. I hadnat imagined for a moment that you thought it was real. You were so self-controlled.a She put on the tunic and fastened the belt. aIam sorry you were upset. I had to keep up the pretense while that other fellow was here, amiable as he was.a After a moment she added, aMy guess is they were expected to bring me up here out of sight, then dispose of me permanently. Thatas more in line with Keldecas usual approach. Seems thereas at least one kindhearted man among Flintas fellow warriors.a I said nothing. I had misjudged Flint yet again. I had sent him away without so much as a smile when he had risked everything to save Tali and to bring us to safety.

aNeryn.a aI know, we have to move on. Here, Iall take the bag.a aIall carry it. Thank you for bringing my weapons.a She waited while I picked up my staff and put on the cloak she had pa.s.sed back to me. aI wonat lie to you; we may find ourselves in real trouble soon. Whichever path we take from here, weall be near the Rush valley when people are heading home from the Gathering. If anyone who was down there just now spots me walking up the valley and obviously in my right mind, weall be reported straightaway. I donat need to spell out what the consequences of that would be. Even if n.o.body sees us, even if we have perfect weather and move as fast as we possibly can, weall reach Shadowfell much later than we originally planned. We could go to ground somewhere until the crowds have dispersed. But then wead have no hope of getting you to the Lord of the North and back again before winter.a aI have a plan. At least, I had a plan I was going to use when I thoughta"a aWhen you thought youad have to convey a half-wit all the way to Shadowfell?a I heard a smile in her voice. aTell me.a aI thought Sage or some of her clan might be close by; they were camped here once before. There were no Good Folk down at Summerfort, not a trace of them. Up here, farther from the iron weaponry, I thought some of them might be prepared to come out if I called them. I would have asked them for help to get you safely to Shadowfell.a aStill will, I hope, especially if they can do so quickly. Iave a good chance of getting you to Shadowfell alive. I can take you on to the north. But I canat achieve the impossible. You might still reach the Lord of the North before the autumn storms set in. But you wouldnat get back; youad be there for the winter.a aAnd so would you,a I said, realizing what that would mean for the rebels. Her role was vital, not only for keeping bodies strong and morale high over the long shut-in winter, but for helping Regan plan ahead. They would struggle without her. aOf course, someone else could go with me.a aSomeone could. Thereas no predicting what Regan will want. If heas there to make the decision.a A silence. aBut after whatas just happened, you may prefer it to be one of the others.a aYouad always be my first choice,a I said. aBut only if you wanted the job.a aWill you call the Good Folk, then? Or are they not here?a aOh, theyare here,a I told her. aI can feel them all around. But I may not need to call.a aWhy noa"a Lights appeared in the forest around us, closing in from the shadows under the trees. We stood silent as small beings came into view, eight of them in all, each carrying a tiny glowing lantern. They made a circle around us at a distance of a few paces, then sat down, placing their lights carefully on the ground. Rather than tower over them, Tali and I sat down beside them.

No Sage. No Red Cap. But these were familiar faces: the doubting Silver was here, delicate and fey in her s.h.i.+mmering gown, and beside her were others of her clana"Daw, Gentle, Blackthorn, and more. Despite Silveras misgivings, they had helped me before. They would help me again. aThank you,a I murmured. aOh, thank you for coming here.a aA wee birdie told us you were in strife,a said the little herbalist, Gentle, speaking as if it were only a day or two since she had last seen me. aThanks to your courage and your friendas quick wits,a she glanced at Tali, ayouare out oa trouble for now. But youall be needina to get awaa soon.a Silver spoke. Her voice was like the ringing of a lovely bell; her face wore a familiar frown. But her words surprised me. aWe believe that if you attempt to return to Shadowfell on foot, even on side paths, the Enforcers will catch up with you. You escaped tonight only by luck and quick thinking. We could not help you; not in that place of iron.a aHow do you know what happened if you cannot go there?a Tali asked.

aA crow flew over,a said the bird-man Daw. aWe have followed your journey, all of it, in one way or another. Our people are out and about, crossing Alban as never before, since Sage brought the word. Much change. Much disturbance.a aYou cannot reach the Lord of the North by human pathways,a Silver said in a tone that brooked no argument. aNot before the autumn. But a there is another way. A way that may be confronting to humankind, but a quick one.a aA very quick one,a said Blackthorn, the clanas wizened elder. aYou can be on the Lordas doorstep tomorrow.a aTomorrow?a Tali sounded incredulous.

aThat would be a a gift,a I said. No more long days of walking; no need to hunt, fish, and forage on the journey; no constant looking over our shoulders. No need to find our own way through the wild and perilous north. The relief was such that I felt faint.

aThe Northies have sent you a guide,a said Blackthorn. aSomething of a surprise.a aWhat guide?a Gentle said nothing, only looked up into the trees; the others too turned their gaze upward. There, perched on a branch above us, was a pure white owl, his feet neatly clad in small felt boots. The boots were a warm blue and had some kind of embroidery on them. I had encountered this creature before. When I had been struggling to survive on my own, after Flint first told me he was an Enthraller and I fled from him in revulsion, on a night when I might have died of cold, this being had come to help me. He was powerful, and he was from the Watch of the North.

I rose to my feet and bowed, then looked up to meet the beingas gaze. His face was not quite that of an owl; there was a suggestion of a young man about it too. aWe have met once before,a I said, aand I am deeply in your debt. May I know your name?a The owl being blinked his great eyes. aWhisper,a he said. aWord came that youare seeking the Lord oa the North. The Big Oneas sleeping and canna be woken. Maybe your call can stir him. Weave waited long for that. Iall be taking you tae his hall. Now, straightaway. Ready?a I longed to say a simple yes. This was just what we needed. But I must explain, for the offer was based on false hope. aMy gifta"itas nota"a aWait,a Tali said, and all eyes went to her. aStraightaway? Youare saying we canat go back to Shadowfell first?a If I had not known before how much it meant to her, getting back there and seeing Regan before he headed out on another mission, I heard it now in her voice.

aAs I see it, you have a choice,a Whisper said. aAnd you wouldna be wanting tae dawdle over the choosing. The two of you come wia me and reach the Big One by morning. Or the Caller comes wia me, and the fighting la.s.sie returns tae Shadowfell on her own.a I could not let this go on. aWhisper a I canat use my gift to wake the Lord of the North. I understand that his people need him back. I need him too, so I can learn about the magic of earth. But a a person like me doesnat summon a Guardian.a Whisper regarded me gravely. aThen youall be needing tae wake him some other way, la.s.sie. Come on now, make up your minds. Is it the two of you or only the one coming north?a Silence. Talias jaw was clenched tight. I wanted to tell her she could go back to Shadowfell, I would be fine, some of the Good Folk could bring me safely home when my training was completed. But I couldnat give her anything but the truth.

aYou wonat be safe on your own,a I said quietly. aYou said it yourself; the moment someone spots you, theyall report you to the Enforcers. Now that the king and queen have seen you, along with their court and their guards, you wonat be able to go about openly at all. Not in this region anyway.a After a moment I added, aYouare not the easiest person to disguise.a Talias mouth twisted. aNow, thatas new, you telling me I wonat be safe. Neryn, forget strategy for a moment. What do you want me to do?a Wead started this journey in wary cooperation, at best. This question told me how much that had changed. If I had not been quite sure before that Tali trusted me as a comrade and as a friend, I was sure now. I spoke as if the Good Folk were not present, as if the two of us were alone together by our campfire.

aIad like you to come with me. I know you want to go back; I know how worried you are. But I would feel much safer if you were with me, and a when we were in the isles, it was much easier to learn, much easier to get through the long days, because I knew you would be there waiting for me. Iam not used to having friends to support me. It makes it much easier to be strong.a One of the Good Folk gave an audible sigh, as a listener might at a poignant moment in an old tale. Silver glared at the little creature and it fell silent, looking down at its three-toed feet.

aVery well, then, if thatas what you want.a Talias tone was gruff. She seemed to be avoiding my gaze. aCanat say Iam overkeen on heading up the valley alone. Regan and the others would probably be gone by the time I reached Shadowfell anyway. One thing, though.a aOh, aye?a Whisper was sounding somewhat cool now.

aIam not leaving my weapons behind. Theyave come all this way and Iam keeping them. They can stay wrapped up; Iam getting used to that. But if I go, they go.a aYou ask much.a aSo do you.a She met Whisperas owl-eyes with a steady gaze.

aAye, well.a This seemed to be a yes. Whisper lifted his wings and flew down to land beside us. aWead best be on our way. Gather your bits and pieces and follow me.a Our pa.s.sage to the north was indeed quick. Quick, dark, and confronting enough to turn a personas hair pure white. I should have remembered that the magic of earth included the magic of stone. I should have remembered how it was last autumn, when the kingas men almost caught me in a narrow defile. I had pressed myself up against the sheer cliff face and asked a stanie mon to hide me. For a little, that day, I had believed I would be entombed, immobile, within the rocks until I died, perhaps of sheer terror. Only when Iad remembered the need to address the stanie mon in a particular kind of verse, the kind used in a childrenas game, had he released me.

Whisper led the two of us up the hillside, with the Westies coming beside and behind, lighting the way with their small lanterns. Tali carried the pack; I brought my staff. We climbed steadily for some time, until we were high above Summerfort. By daylight there would be a fine view of Deepwater and the forested hills all around.

aReady?a Whisper said, halting abruptly and turning to face us.

Tali spoke for the two of us; I was still catching my breath. aWeare ready.a aSure?a aYes, weare sure!a I caught Talias unspoken words: Get on with it, will you? Perhaps she was remembering being caught up and whirled around in the descent from that cliff top on Ronanas Isle to the Hagas boat.

aVery well. Wee folk!a Whisper was addressing the Westies, his tone somewhat patronizing, though he stood no higher than Silver, who was the tallest of the group. aStep back. When weare gone, douse those lanterns and make your way home, quick as you can. You can tell the messengers the Calleras safe, and on her way north.a aThere is no need to spell it out for us,a said Silver testily. aFarewell, Neryn. Go safely.a aWhen you reach that place, Neryn,a put in Gentle, asee to it that the la.s.sie there gets some salve for her cuts and bruises. Iad have done it myself if wead had more time.a She looked up at Tali. aYouare a braw fighter, la.s.sie. Strong to the core.a aI wondered aa Tali was unusually hesitant; she glanced at Daw. aI know there are birds carrying news. Have you any news of Regan, our leader? When we left, he was heading for Corriedale. But he might be back at Shadowfell by nowa"a aNae time for chatter,a Whisper said. aWe must go now.a But Daw, ignoring this, said, aHe went to Corriedale. He returned to Shadowfell. More, I do not know.a Did I imagine the sudden glint of tears in Talias eyes, bright in the soft lantern light? aThank you,a she said, her voice a murmur.

aNow,a said Whisper, and this time everyone obeyed. The Westies retreated. Tali and I stood still, waiting for whatever might come, another whirlwind, a magical charm to make us fly, a vehicle of some kind, though what could cover the miles from here to the north in a single night, I could not imagine.

aGrasp hands,a Whisper said. aKeep hold and dinna let go. This will be long; hold still and quiet until I give you the word. Got that?a We nodded; I was not sure if the period of silence had already started.

aNow, then,a said Whisper, and everything went dark. Pitch-dark. Utterly dark, as it had been the other time, when the stanie mon had hidden me within a wall of stone. And it was silent; the small creaks and rustles of the forest creatures, the movement of trees in the breeze, the soft tread of our feet, all were gone. There was nothing; only Talias hand in mine, and the thunderous beating of my heart.

Talias fingers tightened on mine momentarily, then relaxed as she imposed her customary self-control. After the first jolt of panic, I drew on the Hagas training to keep my body still, breathing in a pattern. If there was anything I had learned in the isles, it was to maintain my balance when I could not see; I had spent long periods standing in that cave with my eyes shut, simply breathing. But this was harder. In the cave, even when the Hag was not guiding me with her voice, there had always been the sound of the sea.

I felt no sense of movement. As far as I knew, we remained standing on the hilltop above Summerfort, under the trees, and the forest creatures were carrying on their nightly business around us as always. Only, we had been rendered blind and deaf.

Time pa.s.seda"a great deal of time, or so it seemed. I maintained my steady breathing; I tried to keep my thoughts from wandering to treacherous areas, such as whether what Flint had done for us would put him in still more peril. Or whether, when the shocks of today had subsided, Tali would be furious with me for coming to Summerfort instead of escaping up the valley and leaving her to fend for herself as the rebel code required. I tried to banish the vile sights and sounds of the Gathering from my mind, but they would not go away.

G.o.ds, it was dark! I tried to s.h.i.+ft my weight onto one leg, then the other, without actually moving. My knees were starting to feel odd, shaky, even though all I had done was stand still. My throat was dry; I wanted to cough. And I needed to relieve myself. Whisper had said we would be there by morning. We didnat seem to be going anywhere. But perhaps, in some strange way, we were already traveling. Perhaps this was the journey north. Perhaps, to get there, we must maintain this pose all night. What would happen if one of us moved? If one of us, in a moment of inattention, asked the other how she was feeling? Would that leave us where wead started, on the hillside above Summerfort with enemies all around? We might never reach the Lord of the North. I fought back a yawn. Weapons sharp. Backs straight. Hearts high.

By the time our long vigil came to an end, I was almost beyond noticing. Half-asleep on my feet, I heard a sc.r.a.ping sound, as of a stick drawn across a rough stone surface, and I felt Talias grip tighten on my hand.

aClose your eyes,a said Whisper from right beside me. aCount to five. Now open them.a When I did so, there was light: not the first rays of the dawning sun, nor yet the welcoming glow of the Good Folkas lanterns, but a cool blue light like ice under a full moon. It was so bitterly cold that my breath caught in my chest.

After the time of utter darkness, even this low light was an a.s.sault on my eyes, and for a little I struggled to see clearly. One thing was certain: we were no longer in the forest. As my vision accustomed itself to the change, I saw before me a landscape of stone and shadow, remote and still, lovely in its chill perfection. We stood on a hillside, facing north. And now, to the east, the sun rose over snowcapped mountains, touching their higher slopes with rose and gold. To the north were more great peaks. What was it Tali had said once, that people hadnat seen real mountains until they came north of the river Race? Above us arched a pale and cloudless sky, and as we rubbed our eyes and stretched our aching bodies, an eagle flew over, its powerful wings bearing it westward.

aAye, well,a said Whisper, who was on my left and apparently none the worse for wear after the long nightas vigil. aYou might be wanting tae splash your faces and stretch your legs before we move on. Down that way thereas a wee stream. You might be needing tae crack the ice first. Iall wait for you here.a There was indeed a stream, and a hollow where a few straggly bushes grew, providing some cover while we performed our ablutions. Tali broke the ice with the heel of her boot. The bracing chill of the water was welcome, rendering us sharply awake. Together, we went through a sequence of exercises familiar from our time on the skerry, limbering up our cramped bodies.

aMove on,a Tali murmured. aHow far, I wonder? I have to say, youave looked better in your time, Neryn.a aYou look surprisingly good, all things considered.a In fact, she looked pale and tired, and she was not moving with her usual confidence. She was surely in pain; it wasnat long since shead been beaten by the kingas men. aBut you need that salve.a aWhat I crave right now is sleep. But after last time, Iam not fool enough to hope for anything. We were probably lucky to get a wash and time enough to relieve ourselves.a We did not need to walk far. Whisper led us to a hall whose entry was in a fold of the mountain. It reminded me of the pa.s.sages and chambers, the stairs and doorways of Shadowfell, and I wondered whether once, long ago, a powerful ent.i.ty such as the Hag or the Lord had made a home there.

Inside, the Lordas hall was far grander and more s.p.a.cious than Shadowfell. Even indoors it was bitterly cold. The arching walls were the stone of the mountain, but here and there paler patches glinted and glowed in the light of suspended lanterns, suggesting ice. Great skins softened the rock floor, skins of creatures whose kind I could only guess at. Wolves three times bigger than any known to man; jet-black cattle with hair as soft as a catas.

Whisper led us deeper in. Chambers opened to one side or the other, and there were many folk about, not men and women but Good Folk, though they were generally taller than the Westies, some of them of a height with humankind. Most were clad in gray, and some bore weapons. None of them were talking.

We came to a halt outside a doorway covered by a curtain of st.u.r.dy weave, patterned in various shades of gray. Whisper did not announce our presence, but suddenly the curtain was drawn aside and there was a wee woman in a gown and ap.r.o.n, her startling red hair as curly and wild as Sageas, her eyes bright as gla.s.s beads, and a welcoming smile on her face. A wave of warmth came from the chamber behind her.

aYeall be wantina a bath and a bittie breakfast,a she said. aCome on, then, dinna stand aboot lettina in the chill.a This small personage addressed Whisper. aYe can leave the la.s.sies tae me,a she said. aTheyall noa be fit for anything until theyave had a cleanup and a guid sleep.a Whisper went off without a sound. Perhaps he too was tired.

aBath first,a the wee woman said. aYeall be the Caller, nae doot. And ye the keeper.a aIam Neryn.a I was not quite tired enough to forget the importance of courtesy. aAnd this is Tali. A bath a Thank you, this is more than we hoped for.a There were indeed two bathtubs in the chamber, ready and waiting for us. They must have known we were coming before we reached this hall. And there was a hearth with a fire; it was blissful to feel the warmth of it.

aAye, weel, yeall be cold. aTis noa the easiest way tae maka a journey, Whisperas way. Quick, aye. But chilly. And hard on the knees. Strip off your things. Here, let me help ye.a At the sight of Talias bruises, she sucked in her breath. aAch! Iall be findina a salve for those. Ye puir la.s.sie. Into the tub wia ye, go on now. Ye can caa me Flow.a After a pause, she spoke again, and her voice was shaking. aIs it true, what the messengers hae been tellina us? Can ye really wake the Lord?a In the face of her naked hope, I found myself incapable of telling her how unlikely that seemed. aI canat be certain of anything, Flow. I will do my best, I promise.a When we were washed, fed, and clad in new clothing that fit us perfectly, Flow led us to a little round sleeping chamber with a pair of shelf beds that appeared to have been hewn out of the rock. Each was furnished with pillows and soft bedding, atop which was spread a fur cloak, luxuriously warm.

I had never seen Tali so exhausted. Flow had salved her bruises, using a mudlike mixture, and covered one or two with dressings of moss and linen held on by neat bandages. Perhaps that had reminded Tali of the beating and of what had come before and after. I would not ask her about it. If she wanted to tell me, she would do so in her own time. Not now; both of us were dropping with weariness.

I sat on the edge of my bed, watching Tali as she checked every corner of the chamber, then came back to lean my staff against the wall close by her own sleeping place. Her staff had been lost when she was taken prisoner.

aWhat are you doing? Lie down and rest.a aIt feels wrong to have n.o.body on watch. But the fact is, Iam too tired to do anything about it.a aWeare safe here. Iam sure these people have their own guards.a There was a silence, during which she folded her arms and looked down at the floor. Then she added, aIave failed you once, maybe twice. I wouldnat want to do it again.a aFailed me? How?a What was she talking about?

aIn the isles, I let them take me from the skerry and leave you alone out there. By Deepwater, I had to leave you on your own again. I should have known youad come after me. I should have known you wouldnat put your own safety first. And now look where we are.a I blinked at her. aSafe, warm, bathed and fed, and exactly where we intended to be.a aButa"a aLie down, shut your eyes, and stop thinking so hard. If you werenat so tired, youad know youare talking nonsense.a aBut, Neryna"a aIf we donat sleep now, we wonat be at our best to face whatever comes next. Do as youare tolda"lie down, and not another word out of you.a She managed a smile, then winced in pain as she lowered herself onto the bed.

aI know youare worried about Regan,a I told her. aBut they said he went back to Shadowfell, and he has good advisers.a aMm.a She pulled the covers over herself and lay down.

aSleep well, Tali,a I said. But there was no reply.

We woke and found ourselves feeling better; Flow brought us a meal, which we ate hungrily. It could have been morning or evening when Whisper came to fetch us.

aIall show you where the Lord lies,a he said, and led us through a maze of pa.s.sageways to a grand chamber, its roof so high above us that it seemed lost in shadows. Silent attendants stood in ranks to either side of the hall, which was illuminated by a double row of flaming torches. At the other end of the room, on a pallet set high on a dais, a man lay sleeping. One guard stood at the head of his bed, another at the foot. They were tall, broad beings, manlike, but each would have dwarfed even Big Don. Their cap-like helms and breast-pieces were of a glittering substance I could not identify, and they held spears of pale bone. Brothers, I guessed, for their faces were nearly identical, strong-boned and impa.s.sive. Their eyes were as gray as their garments. I was reminded of Flint.

As Whisper led us forward, the vast cavern seemed full of an expectant hush. These people thought, perhaps, that I could work a miracle. Or their long-held hope had made them clutch at straws. Hadnat someone said the Lord of the North had been sleeping for hundreds of years?

We came before the dais. The guards did not move.

aYou can go up,a Whisper said.

I climbed the steps to the pallet; Tali stayed at the bottom, my staff in her hand. I looked down at the Lord of the North.

He was tall and appeared to be in his prime. His clothing too was gray, and over it was a coverlet of pure white fur. His face was snow-pale, his hair was dark, and his wide-open eyes were the color of a chill dawn sky. I waited until I had seen his chest rise and fall seven times before I accepted that he was not dead.

I cleared my throat, but found no words. This was not sleep, surely, but something deeper, a kind of living death that lay far beyond the limits of my understanding.

aCan you help him, la.s.sie?a I started in shock. The deep voice belonged to one of the formidable guards. Head turned to look at me, and I saw the same hope on his face as I had seen on Flowas. These folk loved their lord. Above all things, they wanted him back. aI donat know,a I said. aWhisper, how long has he been like this?a aLong years,a Whisper said. aLong, long years. Weave done our best tae tend tae him. Weave kept things going in his haa. Weave waited. But we canna bring him back. Before he lay down here, he ordered us not tae wake him.a aDoesnat that meana"?a aHe didna give you any orders.a There was no arguing with that. aYou say he lay down. He put himself into this trance? Why?a aYouad best talk tae Flow. Sheall give you the story. Weall leave him in peace now. We dinna expect you tae bring him back in an instant. Stane moves awfua slow.a As we made our way out between the rows of silent attendants, Tali asked him, aMay we move about here? Talk freely to folk?a aAye, wander as you please. Anyplace we dinna want you prying, thereall be a guard on the door.a aIave seen some unusual weaponry here,a Tali said. aIs there perhaps an armory? A master-at-arms, a person who is in charge of such things?a aOh, aye. There might be both. Iall have a wee word.a Later in the daya"or possibly night, for in this underground hall there was no way of telling if it was light or dark outsidea"we had settled in a small chamber where there was a hearth with a fire. Flow had suggested we would be more comfortable there, and had offered a choice of mending or cutting up root vegetables for our supper to keep us occupied. She had promised to tell me the tale later.

I was working my way through the mending; Tali had already accounted for the parsnips and carrots, wielding Flowas bone knife with precision. When someone marched in without knocking, she was on her feet in an instant. The implement, rock-steady in her hands, was aimed straight at the beingas heart.

aFriend,a the visitor said, holding up open hands to show he meant no harm. Tali lowered the knife but stood her ground. I set down my sewing.

Five of them came in, and the chamber was suddenly full. They were uniformly clad in short hooded cloaks over plain gray clothing and st.u.r.dy boots. Most striking were the leather protective garments they had on, arm braces and breast-pieces not unlike those worn by the warriors of Shadowfell. Three resembled shortish human folk, one was more wolf than man, and the fifth seemed to change its shape each time I looked. Two bore staves; all had sheathed weapons at their belts. Fighters.

aNext time, knock,a Tali said, putting the knife down on the table.

aThen we wouldna hae seen how quick ye were.a aYou want a demonstration of my fighting skills, just ask.a Tali folded her arms. Her stance, feet apart, chin up, was all challenge.

aEr a this might not be the place for that,a I put in.

The spokesman for our visitors folded his own arms. He had to tilt his head back to look Tali in the eye, but there was something in both his stance and his expression that suggested head be happy to give her a good fight if she wanted one. aAs tae skills, weave heard ye might have a thing or two tae teach us.a aYou know nothing about me!a she snapped. aHow could you?a aA bird,a I suggested. aYes?a aYour tale came before ye. A wee skirmish wia the kingas men, aye? One agin four or five, thatas what we heard. Not to speak oa the way ye train those fighters oa yours, back hame.a Tali scowled. aThat doesnat explain your storming in here and almost getting this knife through your chest.a aStormina? Lads, were we doina any stormina?a The other four shook their heads.

aYe want tae see stormina, just say the word,a the spokesman said.

It was time to intervene. aMy name is Neryn,a I said, aand this is Tali. You have a fighting force here? I thought the Good Folk shunned conflict. I thought you would sooner go to ground than become involved in such things.a The five of them took this as an invitation, strolling over to seat themselves on the benches beside us. One reached out to help himself to a piece of carrot; Talias glare stopped him before he set a finger on it.

aYe got it wrong, la.s.sie,a said one of the others, a red-bearded fellow almost as broad as he was tall. aThe disputes oa human folk, aye, we steer clear oa those, unless one oa your kind comes alonga"a Caller, that is. Even then we dinna much care tae get caught up in them. Oor ain fights, theyare a different matter.a aYour own fights?a asked Tali. aAgainst whom?a aAa sorts. Brollachans; trows; wolf-men. Thereas some grumly old creatures in the north.a aThen thereas clan disputes,a put in one of the others. aOver land, over law, over trifles. The winters here are lang; folk need somethina tae keep theirselves occupied.a Tali and I exchanged a glance.

aHow many fighters do you have here?a Tali asked.

aAch, thatas noa information tae be given oot lightly. Ye dinna hae oor names yet, and already ye want oor strategic secrets. Weare noa fools.a aUnderstood.a Tali was smiling now. aIf the situation were reversed, I surely wouldnat give you that information. As for names, you have ours; if you choose to introduce yourselves, I have a suggestion you might perhaps want to consider.a They looked at one another.

aItas to do with the long winters, and not getting restless, and honing your combat skills.a aOh, aye?a The red-bearded one sounded unimpressed, but there was no concealing the glint of interest in his eye.

aPiece of carrot, anyone?a Tali asked.

Grins broke out on every weathered face. aScar,a said the spokesman.

aStack.a aGrim.a aSteep.a aFleabane.a aHis mither was a herb-wife,a said Scar in explanation.

aA suggestion, ye say.a Stack stroked his beard thoughtfully. aWhat suggestion might that be?a aSeems we have the same problem: an army that needs to keep busy over the winter months, so itas ready for action once the thaw comes. And by busy, I donat mean folk getting into foolish disputes among themselves. I have ideas that I may be prepared to share once I know you better. If you want my help, Iam offering it.a aAt what price?a The wolflike being, Grim, was staring at Tali through narrowed eyes. He looked as if he might leap to the attack if she said a wrong word.

aIad like to see your armory and talk to you about your weapons,a she said with perfect calm. aIn time, Iall tell you more about our future plans, though you may know something of that already. It seems messengers have been carrying the word about our cause to the Good Folk all over Alban.a She hesitated, glancing at me. aOur leader would be interested to know you have a fighting force here.a I saw her deciding not to ask them if they were immune to the fell effects of iron. aYouave done a remarkable job to keep that going all this time without your Lord.a aAye, atis a lang while,a said Steep. aThe best we can dae, while weare waitina, is keep fightina. Keep oor heads up.a aWeapons sharp, backs straight, hearts high,a I murmured.

They stared at me with new respect. aAye,a said Scar after a moment. aAye, ye got it exactly.a aLike you, I donat much care for being idle,a Tali said. aNeryn has a job to do here. While sheas working on it, I think I can help you; I think you can help me. But, of course, itas your decision. The only thing is, thereas a limit to how much of the day I can occupy in chopping vegetables.a The fighters roared with laughter. Then, without another word spoken, they were all on their feet. aCome on, then,a said Scar. aLang way doon tae the armory. Best be movina.a Trust had come with surprising speed. Tali glanced at me, brows raised.

aGo on,a I said. aIall be fine. Flowas not far away, and the place is full of guards.a aGuards?a Steep spoke with derision. aYe mean them in the haa? Just for show, they are, save for the Twa. The real fighters, weare aa doon below. Weare the strong backbone oa this place; wiaoot the likes oa us, whaad keep the Southies in check?a They left the chamber with Tali in their midst. I picked up my mending, but my mind was on the Lord of the North with his open, empty eyes and his n.o.ble features clean of expression. I felt the weight of expectation from this household of loyal folk, all of them hoping I would be the one to do what their lord had forbidden them: wake him from his deathlike sleep. A sleep he had imposed upon himself. What could drive a Guardian to do such a thing?

a aTwas long ago,a Flow said. The two of us sat with the mending basket between us. Tali had not returned; I decided to take that as a good sign. aA sad tale, simple enough. In the old days there was a Lady here, his wife. They had a wee daughter, just the one. Our folk, ye understand, live lang, but dinna often bear children, so this la.s.sie was rare and precious. Everybody loved Gem; she danced around this gloomy old haa like a bright b.u.t.terfly. She was full oa questions, wanted to know the makina and workina oa everythina. Hardly stopped movina frae dawn tae dusk. When she grew up a bit, her father began tae teach her the magic oa stone, the spells and charms, the deep knowina. Folk would come on the twa oa them, the tall man and the half-grown la.s.sie, heads together over some old scroll or conjurina up creatures out oa the bare rock.a She folded up the garment she had been mending and reached into the basket for another.

aWhat happened?a I asked, knowing it could be nothing good.

aMany enchantments she learned from her father; she was skilled in that work. But she was always wantina more. The Lord, ye understand, would hae kept her safe at home, nae wanderina beyond the haa unless she took him along wia her. He didna ken that aa la.s.sies want tae run free when they start tae grow older; aa la.s.sies want tae be let off the leash and maka their ain errors.

aGem took tae slippina oot. She was clever, she had spellcraft, she learned tae get by her fatheras guards unseen. The Lord had given her the kennina oa deep magic. Mebbe he forgot tae teach her common sense. One day in summer, Gem went missina. Naebody saw her leave, but she wasna tae be found anywhere in the haa. Ye ken how steep the paths are in these parts, sheer up and doon on either side. The Lord used a spell tae find his daughter, but it was too late; shead lost her footina, or somethina had startled her, and shead fallen tae the rocks far below. Broken. Dead. The cruel part oa the tale is, the la.s.sie was skilled in magic. She could hae changed her form and flown oot oa trouble. But she was still young, and she wasna quick enough.a She fell silent for a little, her sewing forgotten in her hands. aTheyad been arguina that same mornina, before Gem left. He wasna happy wia her work on some charm or other, and she lost her temper and shouted at her papa. Why canna ye leave me be? Why canna I be free like the creatures on the mountain? aTwas only a small quarrel; she loved her father weel. But that lay heavy on him once she was gone.a aWhat about Gemas mother?a aShe faded.a Flow resumed darning the stocking she was holding. aGrief shrank her down tae a shadow. In the end she went awaa. Couldna bear tae be in the place where her only child had perished. And he was left on his ainsome. One day he lay doon and didna get up again. Told us, before he crept awaa inside himself, that we werena tae wake him. Weave watched ower him ever since, hopina things would change, but they havena. Until the twa oa ye came along.a She cast me a sideways glance. aWe never had a Caller before. Weare thinkina mebbe ye can do what weare forbidden tae try.a Hope shone in her eyes.

aIt must have been very hard for everyone here,a I said eventually. aLosing Gem, and then the Lady, and him as well.a aGem was oor wee one, the only bairn ever born in this haa, and we aa grieved for her. The Lady, aye, atwas indeed sad. As for him, we tried tae coax him oot oa his sorrow, but he was deaf tae us.a aBut youave kept the household going, kept it all ready for him.a Hundreds of years; such hope.

Flow sighed. aItas been hard, sometimes, tae gae on believina that someday heall wake. The lads, the Twa, theyave been staunch; they havena slept more than a s.n.a.t.c.h since he lay doon there.a aThe Twaa"you mean his two guards?a aAye, la.s.sie. aTis special hard for them, since they were always by his side before. Weare thinkina ye might be the last chance. If a Caller canna reach him, wha can?a I hesitated. aI think a I must speak honestly, Flow. I donat believe I should call a Guardian as I might a less powerful being; it feels wrong. I need time to think about it, work out another way.a But Whisper said stone moves slowly. We had some hopes of returning to Shadowfell before the winter.a aWeave waited lang. We can wait a bit more. Could be youall know when itas time.a In the isles Tali had been counting the days until we might move on with our journey. Here she was busy from dawn till dusk with the northern warriors, somewhere down below. She fell into bed each night content but exhausted and slept soundly until morning.

My days were spent with the Lord of the North, in the great silent cavern where he lay with his eyes on nothing. The ranks of attendants who had been present when I first entered this chamber were gone now, but the Twa kept me company. They stood alert, spears in hand, while I sat by the Lordas pallet and tried to find answers.

This was surely a charmed sleep, a spell turned inward that could only be undone by magic. As a Caller, I had no magic of my own; I was neither fey nor a mage. My time with the Hag had made it clear to me that my power lay in opening myself to natural magic, becoming a conduit through which it could flow. But I would not call a Guardian. To attempt that seemed not only presumptuous and foolish but, under the current circ.u.mstances, perilous. If the Lord had put himself into an enchanted sleep, then ordered his household not to wake him, he wasnat going to be well pleased by a human woman breaking the spell, then asking him to teach her. It seemed to me I must find a way into his slumbering thoughts and seek there the answer to bringing him back. How I might go about this, I had yet to work out.

Meanwhile, I imagined him as a friend who had been grievously hurt, someone I could not cure, and I did what I might have done if he were human. Sang songs. Told stories, including my own with its losses and its learning. Talked to him of other things: the turning of the seasons, the harvest, the weather, my hopes for Albanas future. At my request, Flow prepared for me the meals the Lord had most enjoyed and brought them on a tray so I could eat by his side. I always asked him if he wanted a share. I encouraged the Twa to talk to me about the past, not the sad past of Gem and her mother, but the time before, when this household was full of laughter and life. The Lord lay quiet as our talk flowed over him; under our smiles and tears he remained impa.s.sive. The days went by.

Tali was making better progress. She was helping train the Lordas fighting forces, or rather, training Scar and his fellow leaders to do the kind of work she did at Shadowfell. At the same time, she was making these folk into comrades, talking through our strategy, explaining why it was so important that we all work together. She was listening to their contributions, some of which, she told me, were immensely valuable.

I was glad she was so busy. It stopped her from worrying about Regan and the others, from trying to guess where theyad gone after midsummer and what risks they might be taking. Tali either absent or fast asleep was a great deal easier than Tali bored, restless, and anxious.

Early on I had asked the Twa for their names, so I could address them individually. They did leave the Lordas side occasionally, but not for long, and never at the same time.

aNames?a one of them echoed. aWeare the Twa. The ane, and the other.a aBut didnat your mother and father name you when you were babies? They cannot have given you only one name between you.a Then again, perhaps that was quite common among Good Folk.

The other guard took off his s.h.i.+ning helm and scratched his head. Both of them had long, thick fair hair, worn neatly plaited. aLang time ago,a he commented. aMebbe. But I canna recall any names.a He looked at his brother. aThe ane, and the other. Thatas us.a I asked Flow about it later, and she said n.o.body could remember. aThe ane, and the other,a she said. aAll this time, only those.a I had sown a seed in the minds of the Twa with my question. One morning, as I approached the dais where the Lord lay, ready for another long dayas vigil, they were not standing silent as usual, but were engaged in a lively conversation.

aa but dinna ye think, if we had our ain names, we wouldna be the Twa anymore? That would be awfua hard.a The other guard shook his head. aThe Twa are strong as granite, laddie. A wee thing like a name canna split us apart. Tae my thinkina thereas pride in a name. A man can be part oa the Twa, and be hisself at one and the same time. Dinna ye think so?a aIsna it a bittie late for namina, wia the Lord gone awaa inside himsela, and nae work for the Twa but keepina watch ower his sleep?a I came up the steps to stand beside them. aItas never too late for naming,a I said. aBut only if you both wanted it, of course.a The Twa exchanged a look, then spoke at the same time.

aWhat ye sayina?a aYe got names for us?a Already, in my mind, I thought of them by the names I had given them. Not mountain names like those of the fighters; perhaps not names for Good Folk at all. aI have suggestions.a aLetas hear them, then.a I looked first at the brother who was just a trace taller, his eyes perhaps a little lighter, his hair slightly paler. aFor you, Constant.a I turned toward the other. aAnd for you, Trusty.a Neither said a word.

aChosen in recognition of your long and faithful service to a lord who cannot honor you himself,a I said. aBut if you donat like those, we could think of some others. And, of course, you will always be the Twa.a It was only after I had settled myself on my stool at the Lordas bedside, and one of Flowas helpers had come in with breakfast for the three of us, and gone out again, a small figure hurrying away across the huge, empty chamber, that the Twa made comment.

aConstant,a said the one. aThereas a guid ring tae that. I like it weel enow.a aAye, and Trusty, thatas a name like a strong helm or a thick winter cloak,a said the other. aA fellow can wear it wia pride. Ye give us a guid gift, Neryn.a aThen Iam happy.a aNo yeare noa,a Trusty said, setting down his spear and lowering himself to sit on the step beside me. Constant sat down on my other side. I pa.s.sed them their bowls of porridge from the breakfast tray.

aNoa happy at aa,a said Constant. aNoa in yersela, I mean.a aI donat know how to reach him,a I said. aCompelling him to come out of the enchantment is wrong, I feel it in my bones. I need to a coax him out. He needs a reason for coming back.a aYe give us a gift,a Trusty said. aCanna ye offer him the same?a I recalled that campfire on the cliffs of Ronanas Isle, and sharing our soup with the Hag and Himself. It seemed a long time ago. aHow can I? Where heas gone, I canat reach him. And I donat know what he would want.a This was greeted with a weighty silence, during which I realized that of course I knew; there was only one thing the Lord wanted, and n.o.body could give it to him. aI canat bring Gem back from the dead,a I said. My mind was still on the Hag, and the teaching she had given me, teaching that had allowed me to single out one mind from many and direct my call there. The test she had set me, in which I had chosen not to call away the gull, which would have s.n.a.t.c.hed up the wee fish, but to summon a far more powerful being: Himself. My mind raced ahead into the realm of the impossible. The near impossible.