“So I understand the Silver Lady has taken you under her protection,” Ellynor said in her gentle voice.
Amalie grimaced. “That’s what everybody thinks. And I don’t feel blessed at all. I feel cursed. I’m afraid she’s an evil goddess.”
“Oh, not at all,” Ellynor said, and she spoke with such certainty that Cammon saw Amalie instantly relax. “She’s a complex lady, easy to misunderstand, but she is beautiful and she offers unexpected gifts.”
Amalie looked hopeful. “But she steals magic. And she’s deceitful.”
Ellynor smiled. “It’s true that she’s curious about everything, and she looks in private windows and rummages through furtive souls, and it’s true she likes to keep what she finds. But it’s even more true that she reflects, rather than steals. What she loves most is to be bathed in praise and affection. She offers much to those who offer a great deal to her first. The more she is given, the more beautiful-and bountiful-she becomes.”
Now Amalie’s expression was thoughtful. “But Coralinda Gisseltess-”
“I believe that the Lestra has misinterpreted the will of the goddess,” Ellynor said sadly. Not until then did Cammon remember that Lestra was the title Coralinda Gisseltess had bestowed upon herself when she founded the Daughters of the Pale Mother. “She is so filled with hatred for mystics that she believes she sees that same hatred mirrored in the Pale Mother.”
Valri looked over. She and Cammon were sitting nearby, listening. “If she can’t control her followers any better than that, she’s a weak goddess,” the queen said contemptuously. “The Dark Watcher does not let any of us behave so badly in her name.”
“She’s not weak,” Ellynor answered. “But she is, to a large extent, at the mercy of those who worship her. She can only give back what they give to her. If Coralinda radiates hatred and greed, hatred and greed are all the Silver Lady has to offer.” She paused a moment to think something over, and then smiled. “When I was in the Lumanen Convent, I grew to truly love the Pale Mother. I saw that she could be changeable and moody, and yet at the same time I learned that she could always be relied on. The moon shifts through its phases, but you know what those phases will be. They do not alter. If the moon makes you a promise, she will keep it in her own time.”
“I am starting to like her a little,” Amalie said cautiously. “If what you say is true.”
“She helped me on the most terrifying night of my life,” Ellynor said.
“Tell me!”
“You remember that we told you about the night Justin was hurt, and I had to go to the nearest town to ask for help. I needed to find one man in that whole city, and all I knew was his name. And she guided me to the very building he was in, and made him cross the room to ask me if I needed aid.”
Valri looked unconvinced. “That might have been extraordinary luck, but you can’t be sure it was a goddess at work.”
Ellynor nodded. “It was. She is the giver of extreme and unexpected gifts. I know her hand was on me that night.”
“And now I like her even better,” Amalie said. “So what must I do? To show her honor?”
“She likes moonstones.”
Amalie glanced at Cammon and he rolled his eyes. “It seems a little disruptive when I put one on.”
“You might carry one with you and only let it touch your skin when you want a stronger connection with the goddess,” Ellynor suggested.
“That’s a good idea. What else should I do?”
Ellynor smiled. “She likes music. I’ll teach you the prayers that we would offer up every night. You could almost feel her preening when the songs reached her ears.”
“I don’t sing very well.”
“That doesn’t matter. And she likes it when you are mindful. When you know where she is in the sky, when she is scheduled to rise, what phase she will show. She is vain, it’s true, but she’s also generous. Pay attention to her, and she will most definitely pay attention to you.”
“I wouldn’t have patience for such a goddess,” Valri said.
“No, but you don’t have to,” Cammon said. “You follow the Dark Watcher, and she’s served you pretty well. I think maybe all of us are drawn to different gods for different reasons. Maybe that’s why there are so many gods.”
Valri looked skeptical. “Then why are there so many forgotten gods?”
“Because people got careless and arrogant,” Ellynor said. “They started to think that they were doing everything themselves. They didn’t realize that the gods still watched over them, even though they stopped honoring the gods.”
“Maybe that’s why the gods created mystics,” Amalie said. “To remind us that they’re powerful-and that they can interfere in our lives.”
“If, indeed, the gods created mystics,” Valri said. “I think that’s just a theory of Senneth’s.”
Cammon shrugged. “It makes sense,” he said. “It seems to explain the range of magic.”
“The only goddess I am certain of is the Black Mother,” Valri said.
“I know there is at least one more,” Ellynor said softly. “And sometimes she’s powerful, and sometimes she’s lonely, and she is always beautiful.” She smiled at the princess. “And I believe she likes you. And I believe you will be safe in her hands.”
AMALIE cheered up considerably after that conference. Cammon could see Valri visibly restraining her desire to scoff when Amalie practiced the prayers that Ellynor taught her. Valri would never be particularly open-minded about the deities, but even she could tell that Amalie needed to make peace with her goddess, and so she held her tongue.
You stayed up last night and sang that to the moon, Cammon thought when Amalie completed one of the prettier songs.
She smiled and answered indirectly, because Valri was sitting right there. “That’s my favorite one, I think,” she said. “Ellynor says it’s most beautiful when there is a whole chorus of singers, although some of the prayers are meant to be sung by only a few voices.”
“Well, I’m not sure we should be inviting acolytes of the Pale Mother to take up residence here and harmonize with you,” Valri said, with a touch of humor. “And surely we should not be sending you to the Lumanen Convent to pray with all the Daughters.”
Amalie answered, but Cammon lost the thread of the conversation. For the past few minutes, he had been feeling dense with uneasiness, and now suddenly the sensation intensified. Donnal had seen something that distressed him-Donnal was in motion to Kirra’s side. A few moments later he felt Kirra’s sharp concern knife through him, and then Senneth was on guard, then Tayse.
A hand touched his arm and he almost shivered. Amalie. “Cammon? Are you all right? Cammon?”
He must look as if he had fallen into a trance. His sensibilities were divided; part of him felt like he was hundreds of miles away, viewing a large, crowded hall from four perspectives. Part of him was sitting in this cozy room, with Amalie’s grave eyes on him and Valri’s face a study in worry. It was hard to speak coherently. “Something’s wrong. In Danalustrous,” he said. “I can’t tell what.”
“Something’s happened to Senneth?” Valri said sharply.
“Or one of the others?” Amalie added.
“No. They’re all just-worried-afraid-grim.” He couldn’t find the right words. “Tayse is preparing for battle.”
“Battle? In Danalustrous? At a wedding?” Valri exclaimed.
“I can’t explain it. There’s a mood that settles over him when he thinks he’s going to have to fight. It’s very distinct.” Tayse was preparing for combat, but Kirra was the one who was most upset. Danalustrous, Danalustrous, Danalustrous! “They’re under siege,” he said abruptly. “Someone’s attacking the Hall.”
Valri jumped to her feet. “I’ll tell Baryn.”