The tree was silent for a long moment, and then…
Give Brot'an'duive my instructions. He will obey.
For the first time, Frethfare doubted Most Aged Father's wisdom. Perhaps he had not seen Brot'an'duive's face as the elder Anmaglahk stopped Sgail-sheilleache from going after the wild woman.
"Father, the situation is untenable. Osha is untried and in service to Sgail-sheilleache's guardianship. I do not believe they would submit even to Brot'an'duive in conflict with that purpose. And the Greimasg'ah is…"
She faltered at casting aspersions upon one of hercaste's eldest.
"Brot'an'duive is a stranger among us. Forgive my doubts, but would it not be better to lead this undead back to Crijheaiche? With those of our caste waiting, we could take her easily, especially if Leshil is to remain unharmed."
Again the tree went silent.
Yes… your wise counsel gives me great pride. Bring them to Crijheaiche.
Freth breathed easily again."In silence and in shadows."
The morning sun slipped behind thick clouds, and the promise of a fine day vanished. The sky turned gray, and the air grew chill.
Brot'an'duive knew what Frethfare would tell Most Aged Father-what she had seen and what he had done-but it could not be helped. He needed Leshil, or all the frail plans of Cuirin'nen'a andthe long lost Eillean would lead to nothing.
In the crypt of Darmouth, it was clear how much this tainted woman, Magiere, meant to Leshil. Perhaps dangerously more than the half-blood understood. Brot'an'duive could not allow her to be harmed, or Leshil would suffer and be lost from the purpose that awaited him. Brot'an'duive stayed close to Leshil and Magiere and made certain that En’nish and her companions remained far off.
It had been eight years since Brot'an'duive had seen Cuirin'nen'a, not since the night she had been banished into permanent isolation by Most Aged Father. There was too much risk in meeting with Cuirin'nen'a-for her, for himself, and for the few who supported all that Eillean had begun long ago. But the sight of Cuirin'nen'a's face with its hints of Eillean had put him off balance.
Though he had never spoken of it, perhaps the daughter suspected how much he had loved the mother. He had sacrificed so much to keep his promise to Eillean. He had sacrificed Eillean herself. Soon he would sacrifice yet more.
Leshil had good reason to hate him. But Brot'an'duive had no choice in bringing Cuirin'nen'a back for judgment. One of them had to remain free of Most Aged Father's confirmed suspicions, and Cuirin'nen'a hadalready fallen from their leader's goodwill. It remained imperative that Brot'an'duive not fall with her. She understood this.
He had manipulated Leshil into finishing his own mission and assassinating Darmouth. Again, he had seen no other option. What he did, he did for his people rather than the goals of Most Aged Father.
Sgailsheilleache and Osha returned with walnuts and berries. Sgailsheil-leache looked ill and would not raise his eyes to anyone. Brot'an'duive pitied him. Sworn guardianship or not, Sgailsheilleache would not rest easy in Magiere's presence-nor would Frethfare.
Neither would Brot'an'duive.
He reached out and took walnuts and berries with both hands. "Both of you stay with En’nish and the others. Frethfare will return soon."
Sgailsheilleache finally looked up. Before he objected, Brot'an'duive gave his assurance.
"I will serve your guardianship as if it were my own. Take your ease for a time. When we return to Crijheaiche, Most Aged Father will advise us wisely."
These last words stuck in his throat, but the pretense was necessary.
Sgailsheilleache glanced toward Magiere, and a hint of revulsion resurfaced. He nodded and turned away with young Osha following.
Brot'an'duive stepped off through the trees toward the separate gathering of Sgailsheilleache's charges. He had not met the small one called Wynn, who now sat against a large cedar, bare of branches at its base. She had torn a strip of cloth from some garment to make a bandage for the shallow slash on Leshil's forearm. Beside her was the majay-hi, Chap, who Sgailsheilleache and Leshil had both spoken to in the clearing-a strange moment.
majay-hiand human stared off through the forest, and Brot'an'duive caught a glimpse of the pack among the trees. Now and then, a white female ranged closer.
The fact that the pack and a clhuassas had aided a human in finding
Cuirin'nen'a was perplexing. Against their long-standing protection of this land from outsiders, they found nothing to fear from this little one called Wynn.
Brot'an'duive did not believe in portents, yet it was a strange sign. The doubts he had harbored over the years for Eillean's plan lessened a little more. The touched creatures of his people's land appeared to find Most Aged Father's ways unacceptable.
Magiere lay upon the ground away from the cedar's far side, looking weary and spent from her sudden fury. Leshil now crouched beside her.
Brot'an'duive knelt at Magiere's feet and began splitting the walnut shells with a stiletto.
"Do not strain Sgailsheilleache further," he said plainly to Leshil. "Your actions thus far have placed him in a difficult position. Frethfare will now seek any reason to execute Magiere."
Leshil stared at him. Wynn shifted around the cedar's side, followed by Chap, to listen in.
Magiere did not move. "Wynn, what were you thinking? Running off like that?"
The little human frowned. "How else would we get around Most Aged Father's coercion? Or should we just let him dangle Nein'a in front of Leesil?"
Chap nosed Wynn with a growl, and she put a hand on his head.
"I am sorry, Magiere," Wynn continued but without a hint of regret. "Chap was leaving with the majay-hi, and I… knew where he was going. There was no time to tell you."
Brot'an'duive remained silently attentive.
Most Aged Father tried to bend Leshil to his will-but for what? Aside from the custom to never spill the blood of their own, the only reason the patriarch had for keepingCuirin'nen'a alive was to learn of any others who aided her. The purpose for Leshil's safe passage became quite clear.
Brot'an'duive turned to Leshil. "You cannot free your mother… not without Most Aged Father's consent. He holds sway over the place of her confinement. If you still wish to free her, then you must return to Crijheaiche and bargain for it."
Magiere rolled up onto one elbow with a frown.
"What do you care?" Leshil spit out. "She's here because you dragged her back!"
"If I had not," Brot'an'duive replied, "then another of my caste would have done so… or worse."
"I thought elves didn't kill their own," Magiere said.
"Their own… are not always a matter of blood or even race," Brot'an'duive returned. "I was Eillean's confidant and friend. Yes, true. So who better to assure Cuirin'nen'a wasreturned unharmed?"
He turned back to Leshil. "You know our word… tru?"
"It means 'traitor'," Leshil answered coldly.
"Simplistically, yes.It also means outcast, outlawed, beyond the protection of a society. Our law against spilling the blood of our own is based in custom and tradition, not words or decrees as written down by humans."
"How convenient," Magiere said."So much easier to twist."
Brot'an'duive ignored her and kept his attention on Leshil. "There are those who consider a traitor beyond the shield of custom and society-and not one of their own. As did Groyt'ashia when he tried to take your life for interfering with my mission in Venjetz."
It was only half of the truth, but it served his purpose.