FORBIDDEN TALENTS (56 page)

Ragni closed his eyes for a moment. He’d known Vali was, what? An idiot? A zealot? Wirmund’s sycophant? With others between Vali and the post, Ragni had never given much thought to the harm the younger man could do as Overprest.
“
Maggot
”
didn’t begin to describe him.

Vali could not become Overprest.

Ragni’s hand ached. He dismissed it. The pain was unimportant.

“
I’m glad to know that I’ll have such enthusiasm in one of my priests. As Overprest, I’ll need all your help.
”

Vali gaped.
“
You can’t!
”

Ragni enjoyed Vali’s astonished expression, even while he privately agreed with him.

“
Can’t? I was Wirmund’s Second. By tradition, I
am
Overprest, until the priests’ council removes me and confirms another.
”
And with luck I’ll find another priest to challenge Vali before they convene
.

“
You surely cannot expect to remain so. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if you stepped aside now and let the reins of power pass to another?
”

“
I believe a steady and experienced hand is needed on those reins.
”
Ragni said waving the fingers of his good hand.

“
And that’s
all
you have!
One
hand. An Overprest needs two. I’m convening the council. Brother to the Jarl or not, the council will not confirm you. You’re not fit to petition the gods!
”

His words echoed Ragni’s earlier thoughts, but now that the challenge was before him, he would not lie down.
“
We’ll let the gods decide that.
”

*

“
It’s too dangerous!
”
Saeun exclaimed. Fear for him gripped her heart in a cold fist.

She’d barely had time to get settled before Ragni had come to her. He’d seemed surprised to find her in rooms next to Utta’s, but then he’d shrugged and said it would save time to tell them together. Then he’d shocked them both with his news.

He was going to attempt a Great Healing of Father Sig. One-handed. To prove he was fit to be Overprest.

She looked at Utta, at a loss for words.

“
The full council won’t be able to convene for months, not until the snows melt,
”
Utta said.
“
You’ll be Overprest until then, and your hand may well improve. There’s no need to risk your life now.
”

“
Sig has need,
”
Ragni said to her.
“
I’ve just been to see him. He’s not recovering as we’d hoped. In fact, he’s failing. Valender can’t help him for the same reason he can’t help me. That’s reason enough.
”
He paused.
“
But beyond that, Dahl needs a strong Overprest to stand with him and show the Fey can be trusted. I can’t do that if the other priests believe I’m only acting on borrowed time. The whispers and infighting will undermine whatever I attempt to build. But if I succeed,
when
I succeed, no one will be able to question my fitness, one-handed or no. The gods will have spoken.
”

The gods. Would they hear him? Even one-handed he was a better man than Vali. Saeun bit her lip. Did he really believe he could do it? Or was he putting a brave face on it for their sakes? Was he looking for a glorious end? He’d been so quiet since his injury, saying little beyond asking for Valender’s help. She knew that had galled him. She looked at Utta, pleading.

“
Couldn’t you at least wait until you get me with child?
”
Utta asked.

Ragni gave her a lopsided smile.
“
What? No confidence in me?
”
He shook his head.
“
As much as I would enjoy the task, I don’t think Sig has that long.
”

“
Just take a few days,
”
Saeun urged. Given a little time, Sig might improve. Ragni might change his mind. See other possibilities.

Ragni laughed.
“
I’m flattered at your estimation of my virility, my dear. But such things are notoriously uncertain.
”
He stopped with his hand on the latch.
“
I hope you both will sit beside me at the feast tonight.
”

“
Both?
”
Saeun squeaked. He couldn’t be serious. Pardon or no, there would be whispers if she attended the feast.

Ragni shared a quick smile with Utta, then took Saeun’s hand in his.
“
Both,
”
he said firmly.
“
Both of you contributed to our victory. And you heard what the Aspen Mother said. Let us honor you in her stead, as well as for your own deeds. Say you’ll be there.
”

How can he be so sanguine about my lineage
? But under the snow of her disbelief, a little bud of hope sprouted.

Saeun glanced from Ragni to Utta. His betrothed wife was smiling.
“
You must come, Saeun. Or Lord Dahleven’s words will seem hollow.
”

Slowly, Saeun nodded.

“
Excellent. I’ll be the envy of every man there, with two beautiful women sitting attendance on me.
”

He sounded like the old Ragni.

Saeun lifted a brow.
“
Sitting attendance?
”

Ragni winked.
“
Well, there may be some dancing, too.
”

DAHLEVEN STOOD AT his place on the dais. All around him those gathered for the feast fell silent as he raised his goblet in salute to Lord Kaeron.
“
To our hosts, no longer unseen. Accept our gratitude for your hospitality, and our thanks for your help. May this be the beginning of a new friendship between our people.
”

He took a long draught of his wine, then turned to where Saeun sat on Ragni’s left.
“
We owe you and your folk a debt as well. Without your aid, our victory would not have been possible. You will always be welcome and honored here.
”
He drank deeply before turning his attention to the room at large and lifting his goblet high.
“
To those who fell in our service. May they sup in delight with the gods tonight.
”
The hall was filled with approving shouts. As the roar died he added,
“
Now eat your fill! Slake your thirst! Be welcome to this house!
”

Servants appeared, carrying trays laden with succulent meats and roasted vegetables. It was a good thing the siege hadn’t lasted any longer than it did, or there would have been little left in the larders to celebrate with. All throughout the castle there was feasting among the high-born and low alike. The villagers were still within Quartzholm’s walls. Though anxious to return to their homes and bury their dead, the trees still thronged the village. Tonight the village folk would celebrate their survival and mourn their losses within the castle while the aspens withdrew.

Dahleven surveyed the room as the comfortable hum of conversation grew. Loloma and Lord Kaeron were talking together where they sat at one end of the dais. With the Praefect’s agreement, he’d seen that several of the Elven warriors were seated with some of the bolder Nuvinland men and women. He was still surprised that the Elves included females among their fighting force.
Celia will soon be arguing that women should be allowed to join the guard, no doubt
.

So far the pairings seemed to be a success, though for some reason Fender was frowning at Tiva’ti, where she sat conversing with an Elf lord.
Too bad Angrim is still recoverin
g, he thought.
She would have liked to be here tonight
. Valender had used his arts on her. She would live now, and even bear children one day, thanks to the Elf, but she was still too weak to join them.

Laughter erupted from where Ragni sat in Wirmund’s place, wearing the Overprest’s badge of office. Utta leaned close to say something to Saeun on his other side. Their friendship was an unlooked for blessing. His brother leaned back, listening to Utta with a grin on his face, his bandaged left hand resting on the table where all could see it. Was he going to keep the position now? Could he? Ragni seemed completely relaxed and at ease. What had changed since that morning?

*

Ragni rose before dawn. He grimly accepted the services of the servant he’d arranged for last night. He’d never wanted help dressing before. He didn’t want it now, but he needed it.

The sky had not yet begun to pink when a tap sounded at his door. Expecting the light breakfast he’d ordered, Ragni opened it himself. It was Che’veyo, escorted by one of the Tewakwe warriors. The Shaman was dressed in his full regalia, as he had when he’d asked the blessing of the spirits before they’d left on their Spirit Walk.

Ragni knew his surprise must have shown on his face, but at least Che’veyo couldn’t see it.
“
You rise early, my friend.
”

“
As do you.
”
Che’veyo smiled and reached out. Ragni took his hand and led him to a chair. He didn’t bother closing the door, instead leaving it open for the servant who would be bringing his meal. The warrior remained in the hall.

“
You will soon attempt a Great Working.
”
Che’veyo made the statement without preamble.

Ragni sat down, facing the Shaman.
“
Yes. My brother priest, Sig, is dying.
”

“
That is not your only reason for doing this thing.
”

Che’veyo saw more with his sightless eyes than was comfortable. Ragni hesitated, then acknowledged the truth.
“
No.
”

“
If you will allow it, I will perform a Healing Ceremony.
”

“
For Sig?
”

“
No.
For you.
”

Irrational hope leaped in his breast.
“
You said you couldn’t heal my hand.
”

“
You are about to petition the gods. You must go before them with a whole heart. I will perform the Healing Ceremony. And I will stand beside you in your Working.
”

“
As will I,
”
Father Lojal said, coming into the room.
“
Father Krimm will, too.
”
Krimm followed Lojal into the room. Both of his fellow priests wore their formal vestments of gray and purple.

Ragni looked up in surprise.
“
How many more are eavesdropping in the hallway?
”

Lojal grinned.
“
If you don’t want people to overhear your conversations, you should remember to close the door.
”

“
You will need a fifth,
”
Che’veyo said.

“
Father Kebban will stand with you,
”
Lojal said.

“
How did you find out about this?
”
Ragni asked Lojal.

“
Vali. He wants to convene a council.
”

“
This could well fail. Baldur may not see fit to give me his blessing. You saw what happened to Sig.
”

Lojal looked Ragni in the eye.
“
It has been no small matter for comment that Vali was present when Sig fell, nor did he attempt later to heal him, or your father. This is a risk worth taking—unless you mean to bolster your supplication as Father Wirmund did.
”

Ragni grimaced. He’d been Wirmund’s Second. The question wasn’t out of line.
“
Blood has great power, and I will do whatever I can for Sig, but I will not take one life to save another.
”

“
Then we are with you,
”
Lojal said.

Ragni nodded, and swallowed hard on the knot of emotion in his throat.
“
Thank you.
”
He put his right hand on Che’veyo’s shoulder.
“
My friend, how long will your Healing Ceremony take?
”