"Brother Dellman described her as beautiful," the ranger's companion remarked, "and I do not think that our friend Dellman makes that observation often of women."
"His words could not begin to tell the whole truth other," Andacanavar replied, and he gave his companion a sly look. "Beauty enough to make any man swoon."
"And are you not a man? " came the next question.
"Too old for her, but I'm thinking that she is about your own age."
The man, so easily defeated in the sword fight, only shrugged and smiled.
"Was that good enough for you?" Andacanavar called out to their newest companion, as Bradwarden trotted into the grove, though he stayed the proper distance from the humans, as centaur law demanded in times of the plague.
"She left with a smile," the centaur admitted, "one I've not seen on that beautiful face o' hers in a long while."
"Rangers have a way of doing that to beautiful women," Andacanavar said with a wink.
"Her pain's deep," the centaur remarked seriously.
"And tomorrow it might be deep again," Andacanavar replied, "for she will be meeting her lover again. It will hurt, no doubt, but it is a pain she is needing."
"I wouldn't've asked for yer help if I didn't think ye'd be helpin'," Bradwarden said. "And glad we are that you did," said the ranger's companion. The tone of his voice, wistful, even enchanted, made Bradwarden and Andacanavar look at each other and wink knowingly.
"I see it all the time," the centaur mumbled to Andacanavar.
Once again, Pony found her dreams filled with pleasant memories of her lover, of sword dancing and making love, of long walks in the forest or just sitting and talking on a bare hillock, hearing Bradwarden's song.
She awoke in a fine mood and once again rushed through her chores and out of Dundalis, riding Greystone as hard as the trails would permit back to the sheltered grove.
She found Andacanavar there alone, waiting for her, but she found that Bradwarden was not far away, for his piping filled the crisp winter air with warming notes.
"When I hear the centaur's song, it feels like Elbryan is still with me," Pony said wistfully. "He and I used to listen to that song when we were children, living in Dundalis."
"He is still with you!" Andacanavar roared. "Of course he is!" He looked all about, as if expecting a ghost to materialize nearby, and then a curious expression appeared on his face. "Did he not teach you anything of the other gift? " he asked. "The more important gift of the Touel'alfar? "
Pony looked at him curiously.
"Oracle," Andacanavar explained.
Pony nodded; she should have known. "He once tried," she explained, "that I might better contact the spirit of another friend lost to us. But I did not need it, for Avelyn was with me at that time. I could feel it."
"But now you need it."
Again Pony fixed him with a skeptical and curious expression.
"You do not believe that Nightbird, your Elbryan, is still with you," Andacanavar explained. "You are not even certain that he has found the next level of existence, or even if such a level truly exists. Oh, yes, Avelyn was with you, you say, but was it really his spirit, or was it just your own hopes and memories of him? "
Pony stared at him hard, feeling uncomfortable suddenly, feeling as if his words were a bit too intimate.
"That is your fear, I say," the ranger declared. "And because of it, you cannot get past your mourning."
"You assume much."
"I read well," Andacanavar corrected. "And the message is clear upon your face whenever you speak of Elbryan." He dusted the snow off his pant legs and stood up, bending and holding out his hand to Pony. "Come," he said. "Let me show you the other gift of the Touel'alfar, the one that will free you."
"LadyDasslerond-" "Is not here, now is she?" Andacanavar replied. "And if she allows you to live with the secret of bi'nelle dasada, then know that she has already passed judgment upon you, and that it is a favorable one. Come on, then. The weather will not hold another day and I've a long road before me."
Skeptical still, Pony accepted the large man's hand, and he pulled her up to her feet with hardly the slightest effort.
He had already prepared the cave, a hollow at the base of a great elm, for he had used the place extensively to contact the spirits of both Elbryan and Avelyn. He explained the process to Pony, carefully, then helped her into the hole.
She found that Andacanavar had set a log at one end, for her to sit on, and had propped a mirror against the opposite wall, facing it. He barely let her orient herself to the surroundings before he dropped the blanket over the opening, darkening the cave so that Pony could hardly make out the shapes.
But that was the way of Oracle. As Andacanavar had instructed, she took her seat upon the log and stared hard into the mirror, thinking of Elbryan, remembering their times together, and then her thoughts drifted deeper, deeper, until she was far into meditation, not unlike that which she used to enter the sword dance, not unlike that which she used to fall within the magic of a gemstone.
And then she saw him, her love, a shadow moving about the mirror.
"Elbryan," she whispered, and the tears came freely. "Can you hear me?"
She didn't get any audible response, nor did the dark shadow move, but Pony sensed a warmth suddenly and knew that her lover was with her.
But not close enough for her liking, and she shifted forward, even coming off the log seat, but her movement broke her level of concentration and the image faded-or maybe it had never really been there. Maybe it was a trick her heart had played upon her imagination.
No, that wasn't it, Pony realized. He had been there, in spirit. Truly.
She settled back on the log, thinking to fall again into the trance, but only then did she realize how much time had passed. And she had to be out of the grove long before dark.
She went to the cave opening and pushed aside the blanket, blinking repeatedly at the relatively bright afternoon light.
"Did you find him, then?" asked the ranger, seated comfortably nearby, his black-haired companion beside him.
Pony nodded. "I think…"
"Do not think too much, lass," said Andacanavar. "Feel."
He came over then and pulled her out of the hole.
"Your road is back to Dundalis," the ranger remarked, "and fast, for a storm will come up tonight, I am sure."
"And your own road? "
"Back to the east," the ranger replied. "And the storm?"
"Not much of one for one from Alpinador," the ranger replied with a laugh. "We'll find a difficult road, no doubt, but one that we can manage."
Pony stood and stared at the huge man for a long time, realizing then that, though they had known each other for only a few days, she was going to miss him very much. "You said that you would teach me," she argued.
"And so I have," the ranger replied. "You said that you think you saw your lost lover, and that is better success than one can ever expect for their first tries at Oracle. You'll get more tries, for I'll leave the mirror in place. It will become easier-you will begin to teach yourself-and then you will know, my friend. You will know that you are not alone, and that there is a place of peace awaiting us after this life. And when you know that, truly, and not just hope it, then you will be free."
Pony stared at him curiously, not really knowing what to make of him and his promise.
The cynical part of her remained doubtful that even Oracle could take her to such enlightenment, but another part of her, a very private and very big part, prayed that he was right.
"The covering should be over that window, brother," Master Fio Bouraiy said when he came upon Francis in his room, staring out the window at the western fields.
Francis turned about to face the master, his face a mask of pain. "To keep out the cold? " he asked. "Or the sounds of the misery? "