"Right there." Elspeth glanced at the niche among the stones by the door that Nyara had been occupying since the fight, Need on her lap, only to find her gone. And she didn't recall seeing the girl move.
Darkwind glanced up at the same time, on hearing Skif's voice; their eyes met across Nyara's now-empty resting place.
"I didn't see her leave," Darkwind began.
"Nor did I," Elspeth replied grimly. "And she's got my sword." What do you mean, your sword?" Need's mind-voice asked testily, the quality hollow and thin, as if crossing a bit of distance. Elspeth had started to get to her feet; she froze at the touch of the mind-voice, and a glance at Darkwind showed he had heard it, too.
"I'm not your sword, Elspeth, I'm not anybody's sword. I go to whom I choose. And frankly, child, you don't require my services anymore. You're a fine fighter; a natural, in fact. You're going to be a better mage than I am.
And you are ridiculously healthy in mind and body. Nyara, on the other hand... A feeling of pity crept into the sword's tone. "Let's just say she's a challenge to any Healer. And if she's not going to fall back into her father's hands, I figured I'd better take an interest in her. she needs me more than you ever would." The mind-voice began to fade. "Fare well, child. We'll see you again, I think." Then it was gone.
Elspeth stared at Darkwind with a mingled feeling of relief and annoyance.
At least this meant there was one less thing to fight, but she'd gotten used to having the blade around to depend on.
I'd gotten used to it-well, maybe she was right. If what she told us was the truth, she never let anyone depend on her powers..."Do you think the artifact will be strong enough to keep Nyara out of his hands?" Darkwind asked, worriedly.
Elspeth shrugged. "I don't know. She was strong enough to turn Falconsbane's spell against him." Darkwind nodded, slowly; his face was in shadow so that Elspeth could not read it, but she had the feeling he was somehow at war within himself. As if he was both relieved that Nyara was gone, and regretting the fact.
Then he moved a little, and the cold light showed a look of such naked loss and loneliness that Elspeth looked away, unable to bear it.
She turned to Skif instead, who was still trying to sit up. "Nyara," he said fretfully, squinting at her. He was doubtless experiencing double vision, and a headache bad enough to wish he were dead. "Where's Nyara? Is she all right?"
"Need's taking care of her," Elspeth told him, giving him the bare truth. "She's fine." Satisfied, he stopped trying to fight his way into a sitting position, and permitted her to feed him one of the herbal painkillers she had picked up in Kata'shin'a'in. Shortly after that, he was snoring; and she looked up to find Darkwind gone as well, taking his thoughts and his pain into the night.
She hugged her knees to her chest and waited for a while, but he did not return. Finally she went to bed, where she lay for a long time, listening to Skif's drug-induced snores and the young gryphlets making baby noises in the next room.
It was a long night.
Darkwind returned to the gryphon's lair late the next morning; it had been a long night for him, as well, and it had ended with a morning session of the Council of Elders.
He had found himself in the odd position of Council Leader; he was not certain he liked it. Virtually anything he thought to be a good idea would be adopted at this point, when his credit was so high with the rest of the Elders, but how was he to know whether what he wanted was going to be good for the rest of the Vale?
Especially where these Outlanders were concerned.
But he wanted them to stay. Although he was tired, heartsore, and uncertain of many things, of that much he was sure.
He found the young woman outside the Lair, taking advantage of a cool breeze and a chance, at last, to rest in the open without fear of attack. She rose on seeing him, and he made idle talk for a moment before finally coming to the subject. ' Falconsbane is gone; perhaps for good. Your sword is no longer with you. I can and will direct you to a teacher among the Vales, and k'sheyna is not likely to be a comfortable place to live for a while. So what is it you would do now?" he asked, refusing to meet Elspeth's eyes. "There is no need for you to stay." She set her chin stubbornly. "You promised to teach me magic; are you going back on that promise?"
"No," he replied slowly. Is this wise? Perhaps not-but I am weary of being wise. "But" Does the Council want us to leave?" She looked very unhappy at that idea; he rubbed his hand across his tired eyes. Was it only she thought there would be opposition that she would have to fight without an advocate if she went to another Vale?
"No, not at all," he said wearily. "No-it is-I thought perhaps you and Skif-"
"Skif isn't going to leave here unless you force him to," she told him bluntly. "It's that simple. He can't travel any time soon, and after that-" She shrugged. "He may go home, he may decide to stay, that's up to him. Nyara's out there somewhere; he may decide to try to find her, and personally, I think he will. But I plan on staying, if you're still willing to teach me."
"I am," he replied soberly, "But I must warn you that I have never taught before. And you are a dangerous kind of pupil; you come late to this, and you wield a great deal of power, very clumsily." She bristled a little. "I haven't exactly had a chance to practice," she retorted. "I don't think you'll find me unwilling to work, or too inflexible to learn."
"I, too, will be a kind of pupil," he reminded her. "I have not used my powers in a long time; I shall have to relearn them before I can teach you.
But it is easier for two than one. And my friends are few enough. Elspeth has become one.
She shrugged. "If you don't care, I don't. What I do care about is that you can teach me as quickly as I can learn. I don't have a lot of time to spend here." Dark thoughts shadowed her face; he guessed they were thoughts of home, and all that could be taking place there. He softened a little, understanding those worries only too well. "If you will give me your best, I will give you mine," he replied.
She met his eyes at last. "I never give less than my best," she said.
He glanced at the slumbering Skif out of the corner of his eye. "Not even to him?" he asked, a little cruelly, but unable to help himself. You must know yourself, strengths and weaknesses, before you dare magic.
"I gave Skif my best," she replied instantly, without a wince."
"It just wasn't what he thought he wanted. He's still my friend." He nodded, satisfied, and rose, holding out his hand to her. "In that case, lady, gather your things again." This time she did wince. "Why? Did you change your mind just now about throwing us out?" She sounded a little desperate.
"No." He stared at the forest for a moment, wondering again if he was doing the right thing.
But he was doing something, and his heart told him it was right. And that was infinitely better than doing nothing.
"No... no, Elspeth," he replied after a moment, tasting the flavor of the strange name, and finding he liked it. "I have not changed my mind. As soon as you are ready, I will have Skif brought to the Vale, and conduct you there myself." He turned toward her and found himself smiling at the look of complete surprise she wore. "You have succeeded in winning a place where no Outlander has been for generations."