The Voice of Prophecy (Dual Magics Book 2) (20 page)

Gerusa turned the bauble she’d been considering over in her
fingers, her eyes unfocused.

“What did we learn from that, Mother? Why send him back?”
Selena asked.

“We learned that Orleus will be leaving soon. That’s one
fewer ally on Vatar’s side. And that Vatar himself will be leaving before long.
It might be useful in several ways to know when—and for how long. It’s actually
much more than I expected to learn in just two visits. This kind of thing takes
time and patience, Precious.”

Selena frowned. “The longer he’s exposed to Father, the
greater the chance that he’ll be lured away from us.”

Gerusa nodded. “Yes, I know. But I’ve already told you, he’s
expendable.”

“What good is knowing that Orleus is about to leave? Or Vatar
for that matter?” Selena asked.

Gerusa put down the gem and looked directly at her daughter.
“Whatever my elder son’s faults, he was always a superior fighter. And
connected within both the Palace and Temple Guards. His presence complicated
things for us. But Vatar’s departure is more interesting to me. That opens up
possibilities.”

“Like what?”

“Well, we can’t openly flout the High Council’s decision, of
course.”
Especially after that misstep with the Temple Guard.
“Perhaps
we could arrange something while Vatar is gone, however. Something that would
discourage him from returning.” Her eyes narrowed. “Or . . . if we can find out
exactly when he plans to leave . . .”

“What?” Selena asked.

An unpleasant smile spread across Gerusa’s face. “The High
Council’s protection can’t be construed to extend beyond Caere, after all, can
it? If we knew the date of his departure it might be perfectly possible to
arrange an accident for him.” Her smile faded slightly. “Only if we have enough
time of course. Then again, knowing the date of his return would work just as
well.”

Selena smiled back. “I see.”

“I was sure you would, Precious.”

Vatar lowered the pipes after playing the lullaby and
watching over Zavar and Savara as they slept. He’d be back with them soon. Most
of the snow would have melted by now. There really wasn’t any point in waiting
much longer. He needed to talk to Trev again, too. Soon. He’d certainly gotten
no further on answering his most frightening questions.

“You seem unusually quiet, tonight.” Thekila paused in
brushing out her hair.

Vatar sighed. “I was thinking that we ought to leave for
Zeda soon. We don’t have to wait for Arcas.” He smiled wryly. “He’s not going
to want to stay at Zeda longer than necessary. Not with Elaria and Caslar here.
I know exactly how he’ll feel about that.”

Thekila smiled. “Because you’re just as eager to get back to
Zavar and Savara. So am I.” She nodded. “I think we should leave as soon as you
and Arcas can have everything ready.”

Vatar looked up at her. There was something more behind that
statement than her wish to see the twins. He doubted it was because she was as
eager to talk to Trev again as he was. “Why?”

She drew in a deep breath. “Vatar, I don’t want you to worry
about me riding to Zeda and back, but I did promise to tell you when I knew. I
know now. I’m pregnant.”

Vatar couldn’t control the quick flip of panic that
tightened his gut, temporarily overwhelming everything else. He gathered her in
to him, holding her close and forcing a smile. “That’s wonderful,” he managed
to say, trying to mean it.

She leaned closer. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

He closed his eyes. “I hope so.”

“It will. Trust me.” She leaned back to look at his face.
“If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll let Boreala check me over before we go.”

Vatar breathed out. “That would be good.” They’d leave early
and allow Arcas to follow in his own time. Arcas wouldn’t want to tarry at Zeda
longer than necessary. They’d all come back together and Thekila would be
safely back under Boreala’s care.

Thekila stroked his arm. “Now that the High Council has
promised to leave us alone, would it be possible to bring the twins back with
us? I’ve missed them so much. And, now especially, I want us all together, as a
family. And they should be here when their new brother or sister is born.”

Vatar blinked. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Probably it
would
be safe to bring the twins to Caere, now. “Yes, we should be together.”

~

Vatar breathed a sigh of relief as the low sod huts of Zeda
came into view. He knew he was being ridiculous. It was still very early in
Thekila’s pregnancy. And yet . . . it was good to know that they were now in a
place where there were women who knew about these things. Not as good as
Boreala, perhaps, but his mother was the best Healer on the plains.

Pa rode out to meet them before they reached the outskirts
of the village. “Vatar! You’re early this year. Couldn’t stand to be away from
the twins any longer?”

Vatar smiled. “That’s most of it.”

Pa scanned the group. “Where’s Arcas? And Quetza?”

Vatar shrugged. “Arcas will be along nearer our usual time.”

“He didn’t want to leave Elaria?”

Vatar could barely contain his smile. “Elaria and little
Caslar. Arcas has a son, born in early winter, during the month of First
Raven.”

Pa grinned. “Good for Arcas. And Quetza?”

Thekila smiled. “She chose to go with Orleus, to see a
little more of the world. He was in Caere over the winter, recruiting. They’ll
join us here before midsummer.”

Pa’s grin widened. “I thought there was something developing
between those two. I hope it works out well for them.”

Thekila reached across to take Vatar’s hand and her smile
changed. “So do I. Quetza deserves this kind of happiness, too.”

Pa chuckled. “Well, we’ll see you a little later, then.
After you have a chance to get your hut set up and get settled. I’ll take your
horses out to the pasture for you.”

Vatar dismounted, but paused before he turned his horse’s
reins over to his father. “There is one other thing, Pa. According to Orleus,
the Themyri have all abandoned the Land Between the Rivers. He thinks they’ve
gone south, but I thought you should be alerted, just in case.”

Pa frowned. “We’ll have to send scouts down that way, just
to make sure they’re not encroaching on our territory. Thanks for the warning.”

Vatar reached up to help Thekila dismount. “Maybe Orleus
will have more information when he brings Quetza up to join us here.”

The sod huts stood empty through the winter, but the hide
roofs were always removed and stored, since they’d never bear the weight of the
snows. Vatar and Theklan set about raising the roof on its supporting poles
while Thekila laid out the grass mats and the bedrolls.

Vatar was just hanging the hide covering over the door when
a shout alerted him to visitors. Ariad and Avaza stood outside with Zavar and
Savara.

Vatar leapt out to grab them up, laughing with joy. “You two
are getting so big. Soon I won’t be able to pick you both up at once.”

Avaza stroked Savara’s fine hair. “Thank you for letting me
have them for the winter, Vatar.”

Vatar set the children down and let them run to Thekila.
“You’re welcome, Avaza. They need to know you, too.”

“They missed you, though,” Avaza said. “Almost every
evening, Zavar hums a lullaby to Savara. He says you’re playing the same
lullaby and thinking of them.”

Vatar shot a quick glance at Avaza, trying to determine if
she’d made anything more out of it. He couldn’t tell. It had probably been too
much to expect that the little boy would keep that to himself. And Vatar had
said that it was all right to share with Savara. He looked over at Zavar. “Yes,
that’s our way of being together, isn’t it?”

Zavar nodded.

“They’re lucky to have a father like you, Vatar,” Ariad
said.

“No. I’m the lucky one.” Vatar shook his head. “I just hope
my luck holds,” he added to himself.

“
It will
,” Thekila answered in his mind.

~

Vatar looked out through the open door flap. It would be getting
dark soon and his Dardani family would be expecting to eat together.
Truthfully, he wanted to see Mother, Kiara, and little Fenar. But even more
than that, he wanted some answers to questions he hadn’t been able to even ask
out loud in Caere. He stood up. “I’m going to see Trev before it gets too
late.”

Thekila stood up, too, setting Savara down to chase after
her brother. “Do you want me to come with you? Theklan can watch the twins for
a little while.”

Vatar drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, maybe you’d
better.” Even he wasn’t sure if he wanted her there for support, for her
perception, or just for the comfort of her company. He did know he was tired of
letting these questions chase themselves endlessly around in his mind.

Trev was sitting outside his hut when they arrived. He
seemed surprised to see them, but invited them inside. “What’s this about,
Vatar?”

“Trev, I need to ask you . . .” Vatar trailed off, not quite
able to get his question out. As if saying it would make it real.

“Yes?” Trev prompted.

Vatar took a deep breath and then spoke in a rush. “Trev,
these strange things have been happening ever since I came back. Since . . .
Trev, did Maktaz complete part of his curse?”

Thekila drew in her breath sharply. Vatar swallowed past the
thickness in his throat. He really should have shared this worry with her, but
he’d tried so hard not even to allow himself to think it. He hadn’t meant to
ask the question directly, but Trev somehow had that effect on him. It wasn’t
the first time Vatar had told the young shaman more than he intended.

Trev’s brow furrowed with concern, but he shook his head.
“That curse must be pronounced in full. Only a part of it has no effect. What
made you think that?”

Vatar drew in a deep breath and plunged on. “That voice I
told you about . . . I’ve heard it again. Once, it felt like the voice took
over, acted through me.”

Trev’s eyes widened. “What did it make you do?”

Vatar looked away. “It improved my archery.”

Trev’s concern melted into a smile. “Hardly what one would
expect of an Evil Spirit, then, is it?”

Vatar grunted.

“What do you think this voice is, Vatar?” Trev asked.

Vatar shook his head and let out a long breath. “I don’t
know. My father in Caere thought that it was related to the gift of prophecy.
Or that I am one of my ancestors, reborn. Tabeus. But neither of those
explanations really fits, does it?

“I can’t see how the gift of Fore Sight would control my
body—especially over something as trivial as archery practice. And I’ve read
everything I can about Tabeus. From what I know, I’m not very much like him at
all. The only things we seem to have in common is that he was also a smith and
he had one unusual Fasallon Talent that I also have—the ability to shield.
Other than that, he was more like Orleus than me—a warrior and a hunter. I was
hoping you’d have some more answers about what the voice is.”

Trev nodded. “I have expected you to come back to me about
this. I’ve still had no further guidance from the Spirits on this. I’ve thought
much about it and, over the winter, I conferred with some of the older Modgud
shamans. There is something that we might try.”

Vatar licked his lips. “Not an exorcism?”

Trev shook his head. “No. But not as likely to succeed as an
exorcism, either.”

“I’d rather try anything else before an exorcism,” Vatar
said.

Trev smiled slightly. “I thought you’d say that. What I
propose is less than an exorcism. But it will take some time to prepare for it.
It will have to wait until after Midsummer, at the earliest. And we will need
the cooperation of all the family you have here, except the children.”

Vatar’s mouth went dry. He’d have to tell them—Pa and
Mother, even Kiara. Not only about his magic, but also about the voice. Just
knowing about his magic hadn’t gone very well with Arcas and Elaria. At least
not at first. They both seem to have adjusted to it since Caslar’s birth. He
very much didn’t want his parents to know about this. “That’s Pa and Mother.
Arcas will be here by then. Maybe Kiara. She’s old enough to get her Clan Mark
this year.”

Thekila took his hand. “And me. I’m as much family as Danar
is.”

Trev nodded to her. “Yes. And your brother may be of help,
too. He also is old enough to receive the Clan Mark.”

Thekila chewed her lower lip. “Maybe Orleus will still be
here, too. We can ask him when he brings Quetza back.”

Vatar nodded. He really didn’t want to burden his Dardani
family with the knowledge—or risk their rejection—but there might not be much
choice. Vatar drew a deep breath and squeezed Thekila’s hand. “There’s no chance
that Thekila, Theklan, Orleus, and Arcas would be enough, is there?”

Trev shook his head. “No. Shall we say the first full moon
following the Midsummer Festival?”

Vatar swallowed. He didn’t want to do this. But he also
didn’t want to spend another winter wondering if he was losing his mind.
Especially now that Thekila was pregnant. He might just really lose his mind
worrying about her. He nodded. “All right.”

~

Thekila kept her hold on Vatar’s hand as they left Trev’s hut.
“What are you going to tell your family?”

Vatar let out his breath. “Nothing yet. I’ll wait at least
until Arcas gets here. Arcas knows about my magic, but not about the voice. I’d
rather not have to explain it all more than once.”

Thekila thought it would be better to get it over with, but
she decided not to try to argue with Vatar right now. Danar and Lucina were his
family, after all. And she could feel the tension in him at the thought. After
the way Arcas and Elaria had acted—and they were Caereans, not superstitious
Dardani—she couldn’t blame him for dreading it. Only, there didn’t seem to be
anything else he could do if he really wanted answers about his mysterious
voice. And, clearly, he did.

Returning to their hut meant crossing the entire Raven Clan
enclave. Thekila frowned when she spotted Avaza standing along their path,
apparently at random. She really doubted that it was as accidental as Avaza
wanted it to appear.

“I see you’ve been to see Trev, Vatar,” Avaza said. “Is
anything wrong?”

Vatar’s hand tightened around Thekila’s. “Nothing that need
concern you, Avaza.”

Avaza’s eyes glinted. “Then something is wrong. What?”

“Not in the least,” Thekila said, putting her arm around
Vatar and leaning against him.
“Let me handle this,”
she said silently.
“It’s just that I’m pregnant and Vatar is concerned for me. Trev has been
reading the signs for us.”

“Oh,” Avaza said. “Nothing to be worried about, I hope.” She
didn’t sound particularly convincing.

Thekila smiled brightly. “Nothing at all.”

They walked on. Vatar turned his head to look back briefly.
“I’ve never lied to Avaza before.”

“
You
didn’t lie to her.
I
did,” Thekila said.
“I don’t trust her and I don’t see any reason she needs to know our business.
Let me handle Avaza, Vatar. I’m much better equipped for it than you are.”

Vatar stopped and looked into Thekila’s eyes. “I have no
interest in Avaza, Thekila. I know her too well. She wouldn’t tempt me if she
danced naked in front of me.”

Thekila laughed at that picture. “I know that, Vatar. But
it’s still better if you let me deal with her. I can be as devious as she is,
if I have to. You, my love, don’t have it in you.”

Vatar half-smiled at that. He looked back toward where
they’d encountered Avaza. “I worry that she suspects something. She made a
point of bringing up Zavar and the lullaby. She’s made trouble for me before by
spreading tales.”

Thekila scowled. She had no intention of letting Avaza give
Vatar one more thing to worry about. “Let me handle that, too.”