Taking his arm, she led him away.
Epilogue
Auraya walked the battlefield. Around her were twisted bodies. The pale, staring eyes of the dead filled her with horror. She was afraid to look into them, yet she could not stop herself. Blue lips opened and rasping voices pleaded for life. She tore her gaze away only to be caught by another corpse ranting at her. Accusing.
“It’s your fault I’m dead.”
She hurried away, but the sea of corpses was endless. They lay thick on the ground. She had to step over them. They tried to grab her ankles.
“We had to fight! We had to!” she protested. “You know that!”
Ahead she could see a light. Suddenly she was standing before it. A table and two stools had been set in a gap between the bodies. On the table was a game of counters—a game already begun. The set was beautifully made of black and white veinstone.
The corpses had fallen silent. She stepped over the last of them and looked down at the board. The two sides were caught in stalemate. No wonder they had abandoned the game.
A figure stepped out of the shadows. She felt a stab of pain as she recognized him.
Leiard.
He looked at her searchingly, then down at the board.
“What an interesting dream you’re having. Why did you feel the need for me to join you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want you here.”
“You called me.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
She glared at him. “Why did you answer then? I thought you preferred whores.”
He blinked in surprise. “So you know about that?”
“Yes.”
He looked thoughtful. “Probably just as well. You won’t be tempted to look for me.”
She felt a stab of hurt. “Oh, there’s no chance of that now.”
“You might find this hard to believe, but I didn’t want to hurt you. My people were in danger. Leiard’s weak and humble nature was meant to protect us, not lead us into danger.” He looked down at the board. “There are five white pieces and five black left. Which side do you want to take?”
She looked at the board. “White, of course.”
“Then you have won.”
One of the pieces had changed. It had been engraved with a gold circle, representing a priest, which made it a stronger piece than it had been.
“What happened? That’s not how it was before.”
Leiard smiled. “No?”
“Why did it change?”
“I don’t know. This is your dream, Auraya of the White, and I want no part of it. Goodbye.”
She looked up.
He had vanished.
Glossary
platten – two-wheeled vehicle
tarn – four-wheeled vehicle
dembar – tree with magic sensitive sap
felfea – tree of Si
florrim – tranquilizing drug
formtane – sophoric drug
fronden – fern/bracken-like plants
garpa – tree. Seeds are a stimulant.
heybrin – cure believed to protect against stds
mytten – tree with wood that burns slowly
rebi – fruit found in Si
saltwood – wood that is resistant to decay
shendle – plant on forest floor
velweed – cure for hemorrhoids
wemmin – fleshy flower
winnet – tree that grows along rivers
yan – tubers on forest floor
arem – domestic, for pulling platten and tarn
ark – predatory bird
breem – small animal hunted by Siyee for food
dartfly – stinging insect of northeast mountains
fanrin – predator that hunts gowts
garr – giant sea creature
girri – wingless birds, domesticated by Siyee
glitterworm – insect that glows in the dark
gowt – domestic animal bred for meat and milk, resides in mountains
kiri – large predatory bird
leramar – predator with telepathic ability
lyrim – domestic herd animals
moohook – small pet
ner – domesticated animal bred for meat
reyer – animal for riding and pulling platten
shem – domestic animal bred for milk
tiwi – insects that make a hive
veez – cute, telepathic pet that can speak
vorn – wolf-like animals
woodfish – tasteless fish
yern – deer-like, limited telepathy
yeryer – venomous sea creature
circ – circular overgarment worn by Circlian priests and priestesses
octavestim – garb of the Priests of Gareilem
tawl – overgarment worn draped over shoulders, fastened at throat
tunic – dress for women, shirt for men
undershift – undergarment for women
wafercakes – fried, flakey pastry
firespice – spice from Toren
nutmeal – paste made from nuts, Si
flatloaf – dense bread
ahm – drink of Somrey, usually warmed and spiced
teho – drink of Sennon
tintra – Hanian drink
tipli – Toren drink
lungrot – disease that, funnily enough, rots the lungs
woundrot – the festering of a wound
wayhouse – place for travelers to stay in
safehouse – place where Dreamweavers can stay
blackstone – stone that is dark colored
whitestone – stone that is pale colored
Acknowledgments
Many thanks:
Firstly to “The Two Pauls” and Fran Bryson who read the roughest of the rough drafts. Also to Jennifer Fallon, Russell Kirkpatrick, Glenda Larke, Fiona McLennan, Ella McCay, Tessa Kum for their feedback. To all the readers, especially all my friends on Voyager Online. And, finally, to Stephanie Smith and the Voyager Team.