Dawnsinger (20 page)

Shae’s back ached and her legs cramped. She sighed with relief when Craelin halted on a high ledge beneath a sheltering overhang.

Ruescht landed with delicate grace behind Flecht , and Shae slid to the ground on weak legs. She sat on a sun-warmed rock, content to wait for the cramps in her legs to ease. At least the sun reached them here, and they could rest and eat a rough meal while sheltering from the worst of the wind ravaging the canyons. Kai offered her waybread and cheese, which she took with appetite. She would have relished a hot ginger drink, but found only flat water carried in elkskins and tasting of them.

Bees buzzed in a nearby patch of anemones, combining with the smell of sun-warmed soil to lull her. She sagged against the boulder at her back and let her eyes drift shut.

****

Craelin nodded to Kai. “Rest while you may.”

Dorann squinted a black-ringed eye at his brother, astride his ebony wingabeast,
Roaem
, named for the sound of thunder. “Take care, you.”

Eathnor, his light eyes shining in a dark face, sent his brother a swift smile. “That I will.” With his head tilted at a rakish angle, Eathnor seemed ready for anything.

Roaem lifted into the air beside Craelin’s Silver,
Mystael,
named for the wild wind.

“How soon before they return?” Dorann asked.

Kai refrained from pointing out that they had scarce vanished from sight. “Not long, I think. They’ll climb out of the canyon and find a high place so they can see the lay of the land and check our course. We must fly low through Doreinn Ravein for secrecy, but all the twists and turns and branches can prove disorienting.”

“What of danger?”

Kai smiled. “They shouldn’t find any. Come. You and I can offer our best service by following Craelin’s instruction to rest.”

Kai smiled when he found Shae sleeping upright with a crust of bread in her hand. He pried it from her fingers, then stretched out on a slab of sun-warmed rock. He didn’t intend to sleep but the droning of bees lulled him.

He woke with a start. The droning had grown louder. He raised his head. Perhaps a piece of honeycomb dropped during their repast drew bees. But the ledge, half in shadow, showed itself bare of food. Even Shae’s crust of bread had vanished, perhaps snatched by a greedy bird. He peered about but found no bees except those feeding in a patch of anemones.

Guaron stood in the sunlight brushing his Blue,
Raegnen
, named for the summer rain. His hands lingered over the simple task. From the look of the others, he had already provided this same service to Flecht and Ruescht.
Argalent,
Aerlic’s Silver, named for the luster of his coat, and
Sharten,
Dorann’s Gray, which truly did resemble a deepening shadow, waited their turn. Shae and Dorann slept in the shade cast by the outcropping of rock above the ledge.

The lengthening shadows caught Kai’s attention, and he pushed to his feet. How long had he slept?

Guaron nodded at his approach, straw-colored hair lifting.

“Where’s Aerlic?” Kai asked.

Guaron gestured with his curry comb toward the outcropping above them.

Kai’s gaze traveled the sheer face of rock that Aerlic must have climbed to gain a vantage point. On a different day, Kai might have followed him, but not now. The thought alone made his side ache. He left Guaron to his task and returned to Shae, who stirred at his approach. He smiled. “You look better for having slept.”

She sat up and returned his smile. “What did I look like before?”

“Always beautiful, but too pale.”

“Have you my comb?”

He gave the mother-of-pearl implement to her and lounged against a boulder, watching as she untangled her unruly locks. “Your beauty glows from inside you, Shae. Never waste it on the undeserving.”

The comb halted in its course down the pale copper river of her tresses. Her brows drew together. “I should not have let you think I considered Freaer. I don’t know why I worried you in that way. I’m sorry.”

“Did he…harm you?”

She stared at him, and then drew breath on a laugh. “Not in the way you mean. He took me to a strange place, Kai—an opening in the curtain wall that led to a passage with hewn stairs beyond. He called it a…a sallyport. The secret passageway from the Allerstaed is like to it, and so nudged my memory, but I didn’t connect it fully until now.”

Kai angled his head. “Perhaps that is how Freaer and the three shraens escaped after the coronation.”

“Do you think Elcon knows of the sallyport?”

“Secret passageways riddle Torindan, created against the need for a stealthy escape, so Elcon might already know of this passage. Perhaps Craelin can tell us.”

Bemused, he watched Shae’s fingers weave her gleaming hair into a plait.

The rock beneath him vibrated. Understanding dawned in an instant, and a sick feeling soured his stomach. He rolled to his feet and motioned for silence. What a fool he’d been, so focused on Shae he’d failed to notice the scolding of birds or that the droning of bees had strengthened and deepened. It had become something of which no bee was capable, a repetitive thudding that filled the air and shook the ground.

Shae looked to him, her eyes wide.

Dorann woke and jumped to his feet with a look of confusion.

The wingabeasts stirred, but Guaron hissed a command that settled them.

Above the ledge, Aerlic hung from a rope like a spider, pressing himself flat against the overhanging stone, his attention riveted on something in the canyons beyond.

The din swelled and grew, unmistakable now. Kai had heard the sound of marching in his early days when the guardians had defended against garn attacks.

Shae tugged his sleeve. “What is it?”

He spoke near her ear. “An army.”

Her face paled. “When will Craelin and Eathnor return?”

“Don’t worry about them. Craelin is First Guardian of Rivenn. He can take care of himself. And, if I’m not mistaken, so can Eathnor.”

“But what of the wingabeasts?” She stood, and the pitch of her voice rose. “Why don’t they panic from so much noise?”

“They are trained to keep Guaron’s commands. He won’t allow them to panic.”

His words at once found their test. A welke screeched from the sky.

17

Canyonlands

Kai heard Shae’s indrawn breath. He clamped a hand over her mouth to cut off her scream as he pulled her against him. The wingabeasts stirred, but Guaron’s swift signal brought them shuddering into stillness.

With slow movements Dorann eased his hunting knife from his boot.

The light in Shae’s eyes told Kai she understood his action. He lowered his hand but kept a protective arm about her.

The welke glided overhead, its talons curled against its leathery underbelly, and Shae pressed into his side.

Kai suppressed his own urge to flee and waited as the bird of prey’s ragged shadow fell on them like the curse of death. It was too late to pull his sword. If he moved, the welke’s eyesight, like that of any avian raptor, would activate. If the wind shifted, the welke would catch the scent of wingabeasts. Time hung suspended, like Aerlic on his rope. How the rider could fail to spy the archer, dangling against the overhang, Kai did not know.

The leather-clad rider flicked the reins and turned the welke. With a flap of wings, the giant bird of prey descended into the next canyon and passed from view.

Kai let out his breath. The sun, hanging low in the sky, must have blinded the rider.

He caught Shae, trembling like a small bird, into his arms but shifted her away from his injured side.

The marching grew until it thrummed through the very air, then silenced.

Aerlic lowered himself to drop with scant sound onto the ledge before Kai. “Freaer leads armies carrying the banners of Glindenn, Selfred, and Morgorad.”

“It’s no surprise Freaer would come against Elcon,” Kai said, “or that the Ravens of the three traitorous shraens
would rally behind him, but they descend on Torindan with such speed it must have been planned in advance. Elcon will not expect a challenge so soon.”

Aerlic dusted off his hands. “They break their march for the night in the next canyon. We should speak little and keep our voices down. There is yet danger, for they are sure to keep watch.”

The glow of campfires tinged the sky to the north and west, confirming Aerlic’s observations. It grew late. Already the westward sky flamed with dying fire and purple shadows lengthened across the canyon walls. The wind had changed direction and now searched the ledge with cold fingers.

“It will take several days’ march for the armies to reach Torindan, which must be their destination. That they risk lighting fires shows they don’t fear discovery.” Aerlic stretched and flexed his fingers, which must hurt after his long vigil on the rope. Kai nodded to him. “Let Dorann tend you.” An archer needed his hands.

Two shadows glided to them from across the canyon in the twilight—Craelin and Eathnor returning.

Craelin dismounted. “I must warn Elcon of Freaer’s army, which camps very near. Be careful. I wish I didn’t have to leave you.”

Kai clasped arms with Craelin, and then stepped back. “Your duty is clear. Elcon will need time to gather the forces of Faeraven. But take Eathnor with you. Returning to Torindan through Doreinn Ravein holds danger, and you could become lost. Dorann should remain with Shae, for he can act as both guide and healer.”

Craelin turned to Eathnor, who came to stand near him. “It seems I have need of your services once more. Tell Dorann the way through the canyons, but hurry. Much depends on our speed in reaching Elcon.”

****

Shae twisted her hands together as Craelin and Eathnor, astride their wingabeasts, vanished into the mist. If only she’d summoned the courage, she might have warned Elcon through the shil shael instead. But the soul touch remained a mystery she feared to explore. What if by using it she alerted Freaer to her presence while so near him? A sinking feeling settled over her, and she fought tears. She would not cry, not now. Nor would she lean on Kai. He already carried burdens enough, for in Craelin’s absence, he led them.

In the last failing light, they rolled out sleeping mats and packed for an early departure while Guaron settled the wingabeasts. When Dorann gave out rations—a crust of bread and a portion of moist white cheese—Shae took her share from his hand with a smile. He appeared tough, this flame-haired trapper, but his shoulders slumped. He must already miss his brother.

Darkness closed in around rising mists. Shae pulled the hood of Aeleanor’s cloak over her head, warmed by its fur lining. Her lips curved at memories of Aeleanor of Whellein, who would ever remain a part of her. Some things went beyond blood. Her thoughts turned toward Katera who, warm and safe with her new husband at Graelinn Hold, would never find herself hiding from welke riders. How would Katera receive them if, filthy and bedraggled, they managed to reach her fireside?

They had no fuel with which to build a fire now, even if wisdom did not deny them such a comfort. Shae huddled with the others in the lea of the overhang and did her best to sleep despite the cold.

Shae trudged across a forsaken landscape by the meager light of a new moon. Water ran in rivulets down her skin and dripped from her garments. Shivers racked her body.

She was utterly alone.

Freaer drew near. She felt his presence. He searched through the night. In time he would find her.

Darkness glided toward her. A welke’s screech raised her hackles. She called for Kai without hope, for he was dead.

“Shae?” Kai’s hiss woke her. “Are you all right? You cried out.”

It was yet night, but close to dawn, just at the time when owls cease calling but graylets have yet to coo. The wind stilled, but cold and damp crept from the ground. The breathing of the others sounded loud.

“Strange dreams haunt me, Kai. And Freaer searches for me—I know he does. It’s as if he looks upon me, even now.”

“The
shil shael makes you vulnerable. I wish that I could shield you.”

“I must find a way to shield myself, if I can. But Kai, we should leave soon. Only danger can come from waiting. I know it.”

He made a shushing sound she remembered from her early days. “Calm yourself. You’re overwrought. Leaving before first light, in darkness and mist, would put us in a different kind of peril. Rest now and I’ll check that all is well.”

Shae opened her mouth to protest but shut it again. “I’ll trust your guidance.” She lay down again, certain she would never sleep.

“Wake, Shae.”

She sat upright, blinking in thin light at Kai, who bent over her. She smiled at him and opened her mouth to speak.

Wings flapped.

Aerlic’s warning whistle pierced the air.

Kai’s head jerked up.
“
Welkes!”

Shae came fully awake. She struggled to her feet, and Kai caught her against him. He half-carried her toward the dark shapes of the wingabeasts.

Ragged breathing and the thud of feet overtook them. Shae’s own feet left the ground as Kai hoisted her onto Ruescht’s back.

Aerlic leaped onto Argalent and, in what seemed a single movement, drew his bow. An arrow thwanged upward into the mist, followed by the thump of impact.

A shriek rent the air. A welke dropped to writhe together with its rider on the ledge behind them.

A wingabeast
screamed and, under Shae, a great shudder rippled through Ruescht.

“Follow Flecht!” Kai, on Flecht, leaned over to slap Ruescht’s flank.

The small wingabeast shrilled and took to the air.

The flapping of wings drew nearer. But for the mist, Shae would see the welke riders chasing them.

Ruescht twisted and dipped, making Shae’s head reel, but she held on. Plunging headlong through the mist while pursued by an unseen foe, she couldn’t escape a strange sense of unreality. The wild ride took on the quality of a nightmare. She longed to wake, safe in her bed at Whellein, to face no more trouble than she made for herself. She saw, then, how she must appear to Kai—heedless and willful. Had she really argued with him for warning her away from Freaer?