Lyra: Caught In Crystal Part 12

TWENTY-FOUR.

The discussion lasted well into the night, but in the end the Sisters agreed that they had no more reasonable alternative than to take one of Ferianekas suggested routes to the Tower. They left at sunrise the next morning. Both Ferianek and the Wyrds came with them, much to the delight of Mark and Dara.

Ferianek made a marvelous traveling companiona"endlessly interested in everything he saw or heard, always willing to listen, yet with an uncanny ability to sense what subjects to avoid and when to be silent. His storytelling ability was unequaled in Kaylas experience, and his supply of tales never seemed to dry up. The children would have monopolized him completely, had they had their own way, but Ferianekas duties made that impossible. He acted as both guide and scholar for the party, and the Elder Mothers spent hours questioning him about the Tower and the valley, hoping to discover some clue to the power that had taken their magic from them.

The expanded party took six days to reach the foothills of the Windhome Mountains. The road was nearly level, which made walking easy, and the weather remained clear and sunny. On the third day after leaving the village Kayl saw the first quick shoots of a snowdrop poking up beside a rapidly dwindling mound of snow. The children kept each other amused, for the most part, and their occasional quarrels blew over quickly. In many ways, Kayl found it the most enjoyable part of the journey thus far.

Under Ferianekas guidance, they turned north for half a day when they reached the foothills, then resumed their easterly direction. Tensions among the adult members of the group began to increase. Barthelmy and Glyndon started spending much of their spare time discussing various magical alternatives with Corrana, Javieri, and the other Sisters who would be directly involved in the attempt to penetrate the Twisted Tower. Bryn and Alden joined Risper and Demma as advance scouts, searching for any sign of the Magicseekers, for none of the Elder Mothers was prepared to trust blindly Ferianekas a.s.surances.

All this activity left Kayl with little to do but think. The Elder Mothers seemed uninterested in making use of Kaylas strategic skills; the attack on the Tower would, after all, be almost solely magical in nature, and they had Ferianek to provide details of the terrain around the valley. Kayl began to wonder why they had wanted her along at all. She started volunteering for the late watches, so that she could at least feel she was contributing something. The technique was only moderately successful; she continued to feel restless and uncertain. Late one night, after making the rounds of the camp, Kayl settled herself in front of the fire and forced herself to begin putting her thoughts in order.

She began with the Sisterhood of Stars. In Kith Alunel she had discovered that she could not return to her life with the Sisterhood, but she had never thought that she might come to an active distaste for them and all they stood for. She had enjoyed traveling from Copeham to Kith Alunel with Corrana in spite of the irritations; the current journey was another story entirely. She was no longer sure the Sisterhood of Stars was worth saving, but a lingering sense of duty and honor held her to her promise. She would see this enterprise through to its finish.

That thought led, inevitably, to the well-worn reconsideration of her reasons for joining the expedition in the first place. Taken singly, they seemed too trivial a justification for such a dangerous commitment. There was the hope, however frail, that Glyndon might be cured of his visions; there were the threats to Mark and Dara; there was the obligation to try to mend something she might have had a hand in breaking; there was a continued affection for what the Sisterhood of Stars had once meant to her; there was a stubborn and senseless urge to be present for the end of the adventure she had begun sixteen years before. And, buried so deeply she was almost unaware of it, there was the desire to see some part of her past finished and its ghosts laid to rest, so that she could go ona Go on to what? Kayl realized suddenly that she had not thought past reaching the Twisted Tower. She scowled and s.h.i.+fted uneasily, staring into the fire. She was letting herself drift again, as she had in Copeham after Kevranas death, as she had on the journey to Kith Alunel. She was a better strategist than that, or she had been, once. When had she taken to reacting to things as they happened, instead of thinking ahead and preparing for them?

Kaylas frown deepened as she realized that again she was looking backward. Deliberately, she set herself the problem: what were she and her children going to do once the Sisterhood was finished with the Twisted Tower? The easiest path would be to return to Kith Alunel with the expedition, but what then? She would not rejoin the Sisterhood, and she had known for a long time that a widow with two children to raise could not make her living as a mercenary soldier or guard. She might be able to find work in an inn, but she found that the idea had little appeal for her now.

And if she did not return to Kith Alunel? She could, she supposed, take the children to Varna, as she had told Jirod so long ago. But she did not know how the Varnans would react to Kevranas northern-born, Sisterhood-trained wife and his half-Varnan children, nor did she think she would be comfortable for long in such a strange and rigid culture.

Then there was Glyndon. Kayl could no longer deny the strength of her feelings for him, any more than she could fool herself into thinking his love for her did not exist. She found herself wis.h.i.+ng she were twenty again, serenely confident that love was all that mattered. But she was not twenty, and she knew better. She had the children to think of, and even if she had not, she did not know what sort of life she would lead with Glyndon, or if either of them would be happy in it. So she continued to avoid admitting aloud what she knew they would both have to face sooner or later.

The real difficulty was, and had always been, that she had no clear idea of what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

She knew a great deal about what she did not want, but she could not plan her future on the basis of avoiding this place or that group. A branch broke in the fire, sending up a swirl of tiny sparks, and Kayl blinked. It was later than she had realized; her watch was over. She rose and stretched, then went to wake up her replacement, the unanswered questions still milling aimlessly about in her mind.

Kayl awoke early the next morning and decided to get her sword practice in before breakfast. She dressed as quietly as she could, to avoid awakening the children, then took her sword and went looking for a level spot to exercise.

Just outside the tent, she met Risper, who had drawn the early morning watch. aWhere away?a said the healer. aAnd why so early?a aPractice,a Kayl said, touching the hilt of her sword. aI couldnat sleep. Do you know if thereas a reasonably flat area anywhere close?a aThereas a spot over by the birches that Demma and Forrin were using last night,a Risper said, and pointed. aItas just around that hill there.a aThanks. If Mark or Dara wake up worried, would you let them know where I am?a Risper nodded, and Kayl started off in the direction the healer had indicated. She found the place easily, a gra.s.sy patch of land between two hills, and soon she was lost in the familiar rhythm of the exercises.

She was in the middle of a particularly complicated series of figures when she heard someone coming toward her from the direction of the camp. She finished the sequence just as Glyndon came into sight. aGood morning,a he called.

aGood morning,a Kayl said, straightening. She sheathed her sword and walked toward him. aYouare up early.a aI wanted to talk to you.a Kayl waited, but Glyndon did not continue. aWell, what is it?a she asked finally.

aHave you still got that crystal chip we found in Kevranas rod?a Glyndon said.

aOf course I have it,a Kayl said. The question of that demon-cursed bit of gla.s.s had been p.r.i.c.king at her since before the expedition had left Kith Alunel. She let some of her annoyance and worry show as she went on. aDoes this mean youare finally going to let me speak to Javieri about it?a aIad still rather you didnat.a Glyndonas tone was absently apologetic, as if he had more important things to concern him.

aWhy not? Weare only three or four days from the valley; we have to tell them now, while Javieri still has time to allow for it in her plans. Itas going to be hard enough to explain why we didnat mention it months ago.a aNo,a Glyndon said, and looked away from Kayl. aNot yet.a Kayl pressed her lips together for an instant, then voiced the suspicion that had been growing in her mind for the last week. aYou donat intend to tell the Elder Mothers about the chip at all. Why? Glyndon, what are you hiding?a aMust I be hiding something? Kayl, if I thought that knowing about the crystal would help the Sisterhood get us safely into the Twisted Tower, I would have told them of it myself, long ago. But it wonat. Theyall only try to keep us outside the Tower, and perhaps destroy the crystal chip as well. And that would be disastrous.a aJavieri has more sense than that.a aPerhaps. But it will take more than good sense to solve the problem of the Tower. And even with all her magic intact, I do not think Javieri capable of understanding the magic of the crystal.a aAnd you can?a aAs much as anyone.a Glyndonas eyes were haunted. aPlease, trust me.a aI should never have promised not to speak of that crystal without your consent,a Kayl muttered.

aBut you did promise. Iam sorry, Kayl, but I donat want to take the chance.a Kayl looked at him, wondering how far to press him. aThen what do we do?a Glyndon hesitated. Then, fixing his eyes on the mountains that loomed above them, he said, aI was going to ask you to give it to me.a For a long moment Kayl could not collect her thoughts. aIs that what you came out here to ask me about?a she said at last.

aYes.a aNo explanation?a Kayl felt her temper slipping. aYou can do better than that, Glyndon.a Glyndon lowered his eyes to hers. He did not seem rea.s.sured by what he found there, but he said with single-minded stubbornness, aWill you give me the crystal?a aWhy do you want it?a Again Glyndon hesitated. aI thinka"I hopea"it may help me understand what I aseea, or at least make the visions clearer.a aThereas more to it than that,a Kayl said with certainty. aI want the whole story, Glyndon. Now.a aKaylaa aIs it the visions again?a Kayl asked more gently, aor is it something else this time?a Glyndon muttered something under his breath, then said with difficulty, aItas the same thing. My visions are linked to the big crystal somehow, but theyare also tied to that chip you have, and itas still part of the Crystal in the Twisted Towera.a aHow do you know?a aI donat know how I know! But Iam right. I can feel those cursed crystals even in my sleep, and the closer we get to the Tower, the worse it gets. If I had the chip, I could work out whatas happening.a aAll by yourself?a Kayl said skeptically.

Glyndon raised his head. aI am still a Varnan wizard.a aIs that the real reason you donat want to tell the Elder Mothers about the crystal? Because they arenat Varnans? Youare as bad as they are!a aNo! You donat understand. Thatas a separate thing; it has nothing to do with my wanting to study the crystal.a aMaybe it should,a Kayl said grimly. Her immediate impulse was to drag Glyndon back to camp at once and find Javieri, but she forced herself to stop and think first. The Elder Mothers would certainly react badly to the long concealment of the crystal chip; Glyndon was right to fear that they might bar him and Kayl from entering the Twisted Tower. On the other hand, the crystal seemed to be at the center of the mystery of the Tower; letting the Sisters try to enter without knowing as much as possible about it went against all Kaylas training as a strategist and tacticiana. aThere has to be some way of telling the Elder Mothers,a Kayl muttered.

aNo!a Glyndon said sharply. Then he bit his lip and turned aside, as if he thought he had given away too much.

Kayl waited. When at last Glyndon turned back to face her, she asked, aWhat are you afraid of, Glyndon?a aIa"a Glyndon stared at her for a moment; then his shoulders slumped. aItas my fault,a he said in a low voice.

aWhat is?a aThe Tower. I was afraid to come back, and now itas been too long and itas all out of hand.a aWhat are you talking about?a Kayl demanded when Glyndon did not go on. aEven if you thought you could do something, youad have been a fool to come back alone.a aYou donat understand. I wouldnat have had to come back alone. I avoided being asked.a aYour visions,a Kayl said, suddenly understanding. aYou kept away from the Sisterhood the same way you kept away from the Magicseekers.a aNot exactly; the Sisterhood wasnat actively looking for me until recently. But I avoided a number of chance encounters that would eventually have led me back to the Tower. I never went near Kith Alunel, for instance. I got very good at it, untilaa aUntil I got involved,a Kayl said softly.

Glyndon looked away. There was a long pause. Kayl could feel the chill sweat from her practicing as it dried on her back. aYes,a Glyndon said at last.

aI see.a It was Kaylas turn to hesitate. aThe way you feel about me isnat new, then,a she said finally.

aIave loved you for nearly sixteen years,a Glyndon said. He stiffened like a man about to face the Kingas justice and met her eyes. aHow long have you known?a aI think Iave known since Kith Alunel, when you decided to come with the expedition without waiting to hear what the Sisterhood had to offer. It took me a long time to admit it to myself, though.a Kayl smiled slightly and shook her head at her own stubbornness.

Glyndon was silent for a moment, studying her. aWhat happens now?a aNothing, for a while,a Kayl said. Then, seeing the look on his face, she added quickly, aIt isnat that I donat care for you, Glyndona"a aBut you just canat see me as a lover,a Glyndon finished. aI know that; why do you think Iave never said anything?a aYouare being an idiot,a Kayl said, half annoyed, half sorry for him. aThe problem isnat how I feel about you. If I were twenty and didnat have the children to worry about, Iad have seduced you weeks ago. Possibly months.a aYou donat mean that.a Kayl gave an exasperated snort. She stepped forward and, before Glyndon could object, put both her hands behind his head and pulled his mouth down to hers.

aYou meant it,a Glyndon said in a dazed voice several minutes later.

aOf course I meant it,a Kayl said. She felt more than a little dazed herself.

aThen why are youaa aHesitating?a Kayl sighed and, reluctantly, moved away from him. aBecause it isnat a simple decision. What kind of a life would we have, Glyndon? Do I take the children wandering along with you, or do you settle down to innkeeping with me? It isnat an easy thing to do, giving up your way of life for somebody else; Kevran and I found that out. And what happens at the Twisted Tower could change everythinga. I canat decide now, itas just too soon.a Glyndon studied her gravely. aI think I understand,a he said at last. aBut you canat keep running away from your future, Kayl.a aThis from the man who spent years running away from the mere possibility of returning to the Twisted Tower,a Kayl said, smiling.

Reluctantly, Glyndon returned the smile. aYes. Weare that much alike. We may run from different things, but we both run.a Kayl nodded slowly. Glyndon was only voicing her own thoughts of the night before in different words. aMaybe we can help each other face things,a she said.

aMaybe.a Glyndon paused, considering. Then he sighed. aAll right; Iall start. Letas go talk to the Elder Mothers about that crystal chip.a

CHAPTER.

TWENTY-FIVE.

They found Javieri talking quietly with Corrana, while all around the other Sisters broke camp. Kayl drew them well out of the way of the hum of activity. The story of the crystal would, of necessity, be told to every member of the expedition before they reached the Twisted Tower, but Kayl felt that Javieri should hear the news first, in as much privacy as possible.

Javieri listened with increasing coldness to Kaylas awkward explanation, but Corranaas expression did not change. aAnd just touching this chip made you remember the truth?a she said when Kayl finished.

aIt was more than remembering,a Kayl said with an involuntary shudder. aI felt as if I were living through it again.a aInteresting,a Corrana said thoughtfully. aI would like to see this chip.a aWe should have been informed of this crystal earlier,a Javieri said, and there was a frigid undercurrent to her tone.

aWhy?a Glyndon demanded. aWhat would you have done differently?a aHad we known of the crystal, we would have had time to study it, and perhaps learn what manner of power it holds,a Javieri replied.

aYou would have learned nothing,a Glyndon said flatly. aWithout magica"a aMore can be done without spells than you may think, Varnan,a Javieri said. aSo much, at least, we have been forced to learn. Nor are we completely magicless.a aWe acted as we thought best, Your Serenity,a Kayl said with as much courtesy as she could muster.

aAnd we have little time for more disagreements and recriminations,a Corrana murmured. Her eyes stayed firmly on Glyndonas face as she spoke.

Javieri looked suspiciously from Kayl to Corrana; then she nodded. aYou are right, Elder Sister,a she said. aAsk Alessa and Miracote to join us, please, and Elder Sister Barthelmy. They must be told of this, so that we may consider it while we travel.a Corrana bowed and left. Javieri turned to Kayl. aMay I see this chip of crystal?a Kayl glanced at Glyndon. aSheall have to, sooner or later,a Glyndon said with a shrug.

aIall get it, then,a Kayl said, and left.

The tent Kayl shared with the children had not yet been taken down; inside, Kayl found Dara, just finis.h.i.+ng the packing. aThank you, dear,a Kayl said. aIad been wondering when I was going to find time for that. Where did you put your fatheras rod?a Kevranas hiding place had seemed the best spot to leave the crystal; certainly Kayl preferred not to carry it around unprotected.

Dara looked startled, then injured. aIn your pack. I wouldnat take it when you said I couldnat.a aThatas not what I meant,a Kayl said quickly. aI want to show it to Elder Mother Javieri, and I didnat want to disarrange all your bundles looking for it.a aOh.a Dara dug for a minute in one of the packs, then pulled out the oilcloth-wrapped rod. aHere it is. Why does Her Serenity want to see it? Can I come, too?a Kayl hesitated, then nodded. The time for concealment was clearly past. She waited until Dara had resettled the pack, and they left the tent together.

Barthelmy and the Elder Mothers were waiting with Glyndon when Kayl and Dara arrived. Javieri gave Kayl a warning glance, then launched into a brief summary of what Kayl had told her. Kayl noticed that she did not include details of the memory-visions the crystal had brought to Kayl and Glyndon.

Elder Mother Miracote scowled at Kayl and Glyndon when Javieri finished, and even Barthelmy looked somewhat shocked. Javieri raised a hand, and the resentful murmurings ceased. The Elder Mother looked at Kayl and said, aHave you brought it?a Kayl nodded without speaking and untied the knots that held the wrappings around Kevranas rod. Javieri frowned as the rod came into view. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then appeared to think better of it. Kayl smiled grimly, and devoted her attention to manipulating the rod through the heavy oilcloth. Carefully, she twisted the ends of the rod.

The rod separated in the middle, and with even greater caution, Kayl tilted the hollow section and shook the chip of crystal onto the center of the oilcloth. She let the pieces of the rod slide out of her grasp and, still keeping the cloth between her fingers and the chip, held the crystal out for Javieri and the Elder Mothers to look at. The three Elders leaned forward, and after a moment Alessa reached out.

aI donat think you should touch it,a Kayl said softly, but she did not pull her hands away.

Alessa frowned and glanced at Javieri. aLater, I think,a Javieri said. She looked at Kayl. aI would prefer to begin by discovering whether this crystal affects Elder Sister Barthelmy in the same way you say it did the two of you.a Javierias tone was formal, but it seemed to Kayl that the Elder Mother was requesting, rather than commanding. Kayl nodded. It was only sensible to find out whether the crystal chip had the same effect on all three of those who had been part of the original expedition to the Twisted Tower.

Barthelmy stepped forward, her eyes wary. aItas not bad,a Kayl said in a low voice. aJust a bit of a shock.a She held out the crystal, and the sunlight made it glitter coldly against the brownish cloth.

Barthelmy forced a smile and touched the tip of her finger to the crystal in Kaylas protected hands. She stiffened and went pale, then sucked in her breath in a small, involuntary gasp. A second gasp echoed Barthelmyas, but this one came from beside and just behind Kayl.

Automatically, Kayl lowered her hands and whirled, in time to see a white-faced Dara sway and stumble. Kayl clenched her left hand around the crystal chip and flipped the oilcloth over and around it with her other hand as she stepped forward to catch her daughter in her arms.

Dara clung to her as she had when she was a small child afraid of the Night Men. Kayl murmured soothing words and stroked her hair, while behind them a babble of questions broke out.

aEnough.a Javierias voice cut through the hubbub, and the Elder Mothers quieted. aBarthelmy, what happened?a Daraas s.h.i.+vering had stopped, so Kayl half turned to hear the answer, keeping a rea.s.suring arm around her daughteras shoulders. Barthelmy was still pale, and she looked worried, or perhaps frightened. aIa saw the Twisted Tower,a she said slowly. aThe interior, when we were there fifteen years ago. But it did not happen as I have remembered it.a aAh.a Javieri glanced at Kayl. aHow did it happen?a aWe got to the room at the top of the Tower,a Barthelmy said, her expression changing to bewilderment. aThere was a huge crystal; Kevran knocked a chip from the corner, anda"a aAnd the black stuff came!a Dara said, and buried her head in Kaylas shoulder. aAnd it calls and calls,a she mumbled against the rough linen of Kaylas over-tunic.

aWhat?a Javieri said sharply.

aLet her alone,a Kayl said, her tone a match for the Elder Motheras. aCanat you see sheas had a shock?a aI can see it,a Javieri said dryly. aAnd I am wondering why. The child was not the one who touched the crystal.a She looked pointedly at Barthelmy.

Barthelmy swallowed, then raised her chin. aIt may be the link between teacher and student that is the cause of Daraas reaction. I have been instructing her in the basics of magic for several weeks.a aWhat?a The cry tore from Kaylas throat, and it was a moment before she realized that Javierias voice had joined hers.

aI asked her to, Mother,a Dara said, raising her head.

aExactly what is it that you have done?a Javieri asked Barthelmy. Her voice was as cold as it had been when she told Kayl that the Sisterhood should have been informed of the crystalas existence much earlier than it had been.

aI have taught Dara what any foundling child may learn in the Star Halls before her fourteenth birthday,a Barthelmy said, meeting Javierias gaze steadily. aThe shaping of spells, the words and rituals that mold all magic, and the beginnings of focusing power. Should I have denied her request?a aI wish you had told us of it,a Javieri said, gesturing to include the other Elder Mothers. She turned toward Kayl and Dara, and her face softened. aTell us, child, what you felt and saw when Barthelmy touched the chip your mother holds.a Dara glanced doubtfully at Kayl, then, when Kayl nodded, she said, aIt was like I was in a big room made of gla.s.s, and I could see people outside through the walls. Then there was a noise like a bell, and the gla.s.s cracked, anda"and the black stuff came. It was outside, but I could feel it calling through the gla.s.s.a Kayl felt her shudder. aI can still feel it. I wish it would stop!a aCalling?a Javieri said, looking at Barthelmy. aDo you know what she means?a aI may,a Glyndon broke in, and his tone was grim. As he came forward, Kayl felt an irrational gladness in simply knowing he was present.

aIf you know something, tell us,a Javieri said.

Glyndonas eyes were fixed on Barthelmy. aWhen you taught Dara the beginnings of focusing her power, did you teach her the Sisterhoodas method of using a name as the channel?a he asked. His voice was hard and shook slightly; he was clearly struggling to contain his anger and only just succeeding.

aYes, of course I did,a Barthelmy said, sounding puzzled. aAnd Dara is an apt pupil, the best I have ever had. Shea"a aOf course sheas an apt pupil for that kind of magic!a Glyndon said furiously. aShe has demon blood!a Javieri and the other Sisters stared at Kayl and Dara in shocked surprise. Kayl pulled Dara closer and glared back at them, wondering what Glyndon was getting at. Barthelmy went white. aDemon blooda And sklathranasy are vulnerable through their names! But I didnat know!a aYou knew,a Glyndon contradicted her flatly. aOr you would have known if youad bothered to stop and think.a aNo!a Barthelmy insisted. aDaraa"a aDara is Kevranas daughter. I was there when Kevran told you about his grandmother; I remember how shocked you were by the whole idea of a Varnan having a child by a demon. But you didnat want to remember that, did you? And now youave put Dara in a positiona"a aGlyndon.a Kayl reached up and touched his arm, and Glyndon stopped.

aIam sorry, Kayl,a Barthelmy whispered. aI didnata. If Iad had the slightest suspicionaa aI know.a It was difficult to say, but Kayl forced herself to do it, because it was the truth. aI didnat remember it myself until just now.a aYou think the calling the child spoke of has something to do with thisa sensitivity of hers?a Miracote asked Glyndon.

aIt must,a Glyndon said. He glanced at Barthelmy again and added bitterly, aThough I doubt that it would have happened at all if it hadnat been for her.a aMother, what does he mean?a Dara whispered. aAm I a demon?a aNo, of course not,a Kayl said. aYour great-grandmother was, but thatas a long time ago. Donat worry; it will be all right.a She wondered whether her rea.s.surances were doing any good. She didnat feel rea.s.suring; she was angry and frightened and very, very worried. A thought struck her, and she looked at Barthelmy. aWhat about Mark?a she asked in a voice she hardly recognized as her own.

aMark wasnat interested in learning magic,a Barthelmy said hastily.

aHeas been having sword lessons with Demma instead,a Dara said eagerly. Then her face fell and she said in a forlorn voice, aWe wanted to surprise you.a Kayl summoned up a laugh. aWell, youave certainly managed it.a She was relieved to know that Mark, at least, was not likely to have felt whatever had touched Dara. She knew, however, that if demon blood were a source of danger, Mark was as much at risk as Dara.

aNot that way,a Dara said indignantly.

Kayl laughed again, glad that Dara seemed to be recovering. aI should hope not.a aKayl.a Glyndon had finished whatever he had been saying to the Elder Mothers; now he was looking at Dara again. aDo you think Dara could answer a few more questions now?a aDara?a Kayl said.

aAll right, Mother,a Dara said.

aYou donat have to, if youad rather not,a Kayl said, feeling her daughter stiffen slightly.

Daraas chin came up. aMark answered questions, when that man in Kith Alunel tried to take him away, and Iam older than he is. Iall be all right, Mother.a Glyndon chuckled. aGood,a he said. aCan you tell us anything more about this thing that was calling you?a aIt isnat calling me,a Dara corrected him. aItas just calling. I think itas been calling for a long time, only I couldnat hear it before.a aAnd now you can?a Dara nodded. aI donat like it. It sounds just as nasty and awful as it looked.a aDo you mean you can still hear it?a Kayl interrupted. Dara nodded again, and Kayl turned to Javieri. aThat settles it,a she said. aDara canat go on to the Twisted Tower, and Mark probably shouldnat either.a aWe cannot leave her behind alone,a Javieri said. aAnd there is no one to stay with her.a aIa"a Kayl stopped, knowing that she could not turn back now. She was sure that whatever Dara was feeling came from the black thing in the Twisted Tower, and that it would be dangerous to take Dara any closer. But she was equally certain that leaving the mystery of the Tower unsolved would be even more dangerous, to Dara and everyone else. Kayl could not desert the expedition, buta"aIall ask Bryn and Alden if theyall wait here with the children. No one is likely to come by, and they have no need to go to the Tower with the rest of us.a aNo,a Glyndon said. Javieri and Kayl both looked at him in surprise, and he went on, aDara needs to know as many of the protective spells as she can learn. I can teach her, if she comes with us.a aWeall be at the valley in two days,a Kayl objected. aThree at most. How much can you teach her in that time?a aQuite a bit, I hope,a Glyndon said.

aI learn very quickly,a Dara put in hopefully.

aAnd what if it isnat enough?a Kayl retorted. aWhat if that black thing gets to her somehow?a aFor all we know, that could happen here as easily as in the valley,a Glyndon said. aAt least if Dara comes with us I can try to do something about it.a Javieri nodded approval. aAnd the protection of the Sisterhooda"a aThe Sisterhood got us into this in the first place,a Glyndon interrupted. aI wouldnat put too much emphasis on it now, if I were you.a Kayl stood still, staring around the circle of faces. She saw sympathy on some, but no support, and she felt her temper rising. Dara was her daughter, her responsibility; how dare these people try to say what she must do? Yeta Glyndon was right. Miles were no protection against magic, but the companions.h.i.+p of wizards might be. Kayl scowled. Barthelmyas companions.h.i.+p so far could hardly have been called a protection. Kayl knew she would have a hard time forgiving her old friend for what had happened, however harmless the original reasons for the magic lessons had been. But that was past; Kayl could not deny the validity of the argument just because circ.u.mstances had worked against it in a single instance.

Still feeling angry and worried, and feeling, as well, as if she were being pushed and bullied into agreeing against her better judgment, Kayl nodded. aAll right,a she said. aMark and Dara stay with the expedition.a

CHAPTER.

TWENTY-SIX.

The news of the finding of the crystal chip, and of Barthelmyas and Daraas reaction to it, had spread quickly through the expedition. Kayl could almost feel the curious gazes of the Sisters as they traveled. She did her best to ignore them, and walked in silence beside Dara and Glyndon. She had no real reason to stay close to them while they traveled; Glyndon was concentrating on remembering every bit of demon-lore and every protective spell he had ever heard, and Dara was completely absorbed in what Glyndon was telling her. Kayl had very quickly lost track of the conversation, but it made her feel better to be close at hand.

Mark walked with her during the early part of the day, clearly torn between worry about Dara and irritation with her for spoiling their planned surprise. Kayl heard him mutter, aI told her magic was stupida as they started up a steep incline.

aAnd why do you think magic is stupid?a Kayl said.

Mark looked up, startled; he had evidently not expected to be overheard. an.o.body does anything with it,a he said, waving toward the Sisters ahead.

aThey canat, Mark,a Kayl reminded him. aThatas why weare here.a aGlyndon never does anything either,a Mark said. aExcept see things, and he doesnat do that on purpose.a aMark!a Xaya came down the incline, half running, half sliding past the amused Sisters. aMark, Father says thereas a stream up ahead thatas got the kind of rocks with fish in them, and Mother says we can hunt for some if we want to. If itas all right with you,a she added, looking at Kayl.