“You concern yourself with the Chama Farian’s power?” I scoffed, still more than annoyed at Dallan’s attitude—and the way they were both treating me like a child. “One who falls upon others from ambush cannot be truly strong, else would the ambush have been unnecessary. I thank you for your hospitality, Leelan, yet shall I follow my own advice.”
Leelan looked momentarily upset and Dallan began drawing himself up again, but for the second time the explosion didn’t come off. The big blonde woman put a calming hand on his shoulder, then seated herself cross-legged beside him.
“I have not as yet heard how she and the others were taken-nor why,” she said to Dallan when his eyes came to her. “Has she spoken of it as yet?”
“She found too great a number of other things to speak of in its stead,” he answered sourly with a headshake, then looked at me again. “As the time of your departure draws so rapidly near, perhaps you would be kind enough to enlighten us before its arrival. We would not wish to see you gone before we were told the tale.”
“As there is very little to tell, there is scarcely a danger of that,” I said, feeling myself stiffen in response to his sarcasm. “We rode to the main gate of the palace and requested an audience with the Chama, were escorted within the palace to a room where we were to wait, and once within that room we were overwhelmed. When I awoke we had indeed been taken before the Chama-as captives and slaves. We had all been given some sort of potion, to add to whatever had felled us.”
“What felled you was the Chama’s Hand of Power,” Leelan said, her eyes angry, her right fist clenched on her thigh. “There are a number of our people with small traces of the power, incapable, of themselves, of making effective use of it. Together, however, under the guidance of Farian, five at once are frighteningly powerful. Each set of five performs only for a short time, and then is replaced with another set. They have recently begun broadcasting at a greater and greater distance from here, and that angers many of us greatly. Should it be Farian’s wish to go aconquering, the sword and spear and bow should be her weapons. To use the power is dishonorable. ”
“They attacked even before you had spoken with the Chama?” Dallan asked with a frown, while I stared at Leelan.
So that’s what that buzz was: five low-grade empaths projecting together! Even from a distance it had filtered through my curtain, and when I was right on top of it it had just about scrambled me. I’d known keeping my shield closed was a protection I needed; I just hadn’t known what I needed to be protected from.
“Wenda, for what reason were you attacked even before you had had an audience?” Dallan repeated, reaching over to touch my arm. “Were their suspicions aroused, or are all travelers done in such a manner?”
“They did not suspect, they knew,” I answered with a snort, only then really appreciating the point. “That we sought Aesnil was not in doubt, for she had been made to speak of the dark-haired, green-eyed wenda who would surely accompany those who rode after her. It was my presence which caused us to be attacked.”
Dallan stared at me with an expression of revelation-come-too-late, finally seeing how big a mistake Tammad had made in not listening to me. If he and Cinnan had shown up at the palace without me, they would have been nothing but two large, blond Rimilian l’lendaa, indistinguishable from all the rest. My presence was the equivalent of jumping up and down waving a red flag. Of course they hadn’t asked us what we wanted there; why waste time listening to lies when you already know the truth?
“You came here seeking someone?” Leelan said, looking at Dallan’s profile with confusion on her face. “I had thought the one called Tammad came to speak of the off-worlders, and you and Cinnan merely accompanied him?”
“Tammad did indeed come to speak of the off-worlders,” Dallan answered, taking a deep breath before turning his head to look at her. “Cinnan and I, however, have come seeking Aesnil, Chama of Grelana, who was taken from Cinnan in Gerleth, my own country. Aesnil wears Cinnan’s bands, and we knew not why she would depart Gerleth in the company of two wendaa from this place.”
“They mean to influence her in some manner before returning her to Grelana,” I put in, digging out the memory of what Farian had said about that. “Undoubtedly the entire matter is connected with the Chama’s plans of conquest.”
“Again with the use of the power!” Leelan snarled, fury in her eyes. “Before Farian is done, the name of Vediaster will be despised and spat upon the world over! She fouls our honor with her every act, and we are powerless to halt her! Truly do I give thanks that my mother was spared the pain of this. ”
“There are others who have not been spared the presence of pain,” I said, wishing I could get rid of the tray on my lap, finding that I leaned more heavily on the pillows behind me. “When I stand in challenge before Roodar, perhaps her Chama will attempt to intervene. Should she do so, I will see to her for you.”
“You?” Leelan snorted with contempt, her usual diplomacy lost momentarily beneath her anger, but then she realized what she’d said—and how she’d said it. “Forgive me, Terril, it was not my intention to give you insult,” she said apologetically, trying to throttle down her outrage over Farian. “You say you mean to face Roodar in challenge, yet Roodar is the finest sword among Farian’s w’wendaa, and one I, myself, burn to face. Less than two hands of darknesses ago, you asked to be taught the use of a sword; this day you speak blithely of facing Roodar, and Farian as well. Forgive me, Terril, for you are a guest beneath my roof, but the words you uttered are no other thing than foolishness.”
“I do not mean to face Roodar with swords, Leelan,” I said, too tired for insult or for apology. “That is a thing I have already done, and the lack I felt and attempted to remedy made itself known at that time. She knew I had no ability with a blade, knew I struggled in the grip of a potion and the Hand of Power, yet showed not the least reluctance to give me pain and humiliation. For that, and even more for whatever she has done to my sadendrak, she will regret the day she laid eyes upon me.”
“if not with swords, then how do you mean to face her?” Leelan asked, frowning, as if she groped for a memory. Dallan had been watching me rather closely; he took the tray off my lap and put it on the carpeting, then rose to get at the pillows behind me.
“Terril is the possessor of a skill other than sword use,” he told Leelan without looking at her, holding me up until he’d brushed the pillows out of the way, then lowered me to the bed fur. “For now, however, she is possessed even more of a need to rest and restore herself. After she has slept, we may speak with her again.”
Leelan rose to her feet with her lips parted, as though ready to argue what Dallan had said, but when she saw my face the words never came out. If I looked even half as pale as I felt I was surprised she wasn’t running for that healer, and I raged inside even as I closed my eyes. I couldn’t afford to be sick or pale or weak, and I wasn’t going to be. As soon as I got a little sleep I was damned well going to be just fine . . . .
I didn’t realize how quickly I’d gone out until I woke again, finding myself alone in an almost-dark room. Outside it was completely dark, and if not for the small single candle burning in a wall holder, I wouldn’t have been able to see anything.
I was lying face down on the bed furs, and once I was awake enough to think about that, I felt considerably encouraged. If I could turn over in my sleep I could do it awake, and turning over was a good start for bigger and better things. I was also feeling faintly hungry, another good sign of returning health. I thought about it for a while with my cheek to the fur, then decided to see how far it would go. The sooner I got myself up and moving, the easier I would find going back to the palace.