Andre Norton - Gryphon's Eyrie

Her answer was chill. “Do not underestimate her Power, Kerovan. Even before we left the Kioga camp she was dabbling along paths better not trodden by any who value their spirits. Do you not feel that she has taken further strides along the Left-Hand Path?”

I could feel it. Nekia trembled beneath me, rolling her eyes and sweating as we took those last few strides to halt, facing the Shaman, just on the other side of those protecting globes. The smell of the mare’s fear sweat was rank in my nostrils, and, glancing over at Guret’s and Joisan’s mounts, I saw they fared no better. Even the stallion, Vengi, who should have reacted to the presence of another male of his kind with open challenge, hung back, eyes rolling, not in anger, but fear.

Nidu’s black mount stood quietly, wearing neither bit nor saddle, every shining line of it reflecting the afternoon sun in ebony glimmers. There was something deeply unsettling about the stallion’s perfection of form, for true perfection is a thing outside of nature. As the sun caught the creature’s eyes, they flashed red, deep within their depths.

“Fair meeting. Lord Kerovan—Lady Joisan.” Nidu’s voice held some of the low, silken hum of the spirit drum hanging by her side. “My thanks for bringing my Drummer of Shadows. You have saved me the trouble of breaching your gate and reclaiming him.”

I kept my voice very level. “Guret refused your service, Nidu. I am surprised Jonka did not tell you of this.”

Her dark eyes pricked at me like an ancient, keen-pointed dagger. “Jonka does not rule the Kioga, save by my will. Guret was rightfully Chosen, therefore he will serve. ”

“Rightfully!” My temper, usually well leashed, flared at her straight-eyed untruths. “I watched you alter the selection! Whyever you did so remains your own reason, but you called upon the Power—and a Dark one at that—to aid your will in the ceremony. Guret is thus twice free—by his own will, and by your unclean cheat during the selection!”

She regarded me narrow-eyed, as though only now seeing me as a man, not just an object to be moved aside by her will. “Do not think you can cower here behind your ancient barriers and safeguards for long, Kerovan. Give me the boy— then your safety, and the safety of your whey-blooded wife is assured. Otherwise—”

“Otherwise, nothing! ” Joisan spoke for the first time. “Get you hence, Nidu, and take your insults with you. Guret goes where he chooses. He is free to stay with us until he wishes to move on, and naught you can say or threaten will alter that.”

“Have you forgotten the mandrake charm?” The Shaman smiled suddenly, and for a second it seemed that her mouth bore too many teeth for one of humankind. “Best guard yourself, Lady Joisan. Something saved you that first time, but the next you may not be so lucky—

I interrupted her threat with an expletive better confined to the company of one’s barracks-mates, then, in cold silence, signaled the unwilling Nekia with my knees, so the mare moved to front the Shaman directly. “Get you gone, Nidu, or you will be sorry.” Quickly, with my right hand, I drew the symbol of the winged globe in the air, saw it flame violet. As the symbol formed I spoke two w ords, ones that came into my head unbidden, words that shaped and honed Power as a smith may strike the edge to a blade.

The woman’s face went ashen as those words struck at her like a sword-thrust. Her mount shrieked, a sound no natural horse had ever uttered, and turned, rocks and sod spurting from beneath its hooves as it raced away.

“By the Amber Lady!” I turned at Joisan’s exclamation to see her arch her brows in feigned shock, then grin wryly at the Shaman’s rapidly disappearing figure. “One would think she’d never heard anyone swear before.”

I began to chuckle. “Your pardon, my dear. I forgot myself. It’s been long and long since anyone—man or woman—rubbed my temper so sorely.”

“How did you know what would chase her off?” Guret asked.

“The same way I ‘knew’ what would vanquish the well,” I made answer. “Which is to say, I acted solely by instinct, with no forethought. Besides, Nidu might well have been able to front and vanquish what I sent against her—but her horse decided otherwise.”

Guret looked at me squarely. “I know not magic, nor words of Power, m’lord, but I do horses. Whatever that… thing… was, it was not a horse.”

“I agree that it was only that by outward seeming.” I nodded. “What then, was it?”

“A Keplian. A Soulless One, who travels in the seeming of a stallion,” Joisan replied absently, gazing through the entrance to the rolling foothills beyond, where Nidu and her unearthly mount had vanished.

“Where did you hear of such?” I asked.

“Old legends, old tales,” she said. “It is said to be a harbinger of death, for one who sees or trafficks with it.”

A shiver worked its way along my spine, crawling upward with icy little claws. “Do you think she will be back?” I asked.

“Oh, yes,” she replied calmly—her very lack of emotion the more chilling than overt fear would have been. “Nidu is not the sort to give up what she wants.”

“Which is why I am leaving,” Guret said, urging Vengi forward, crowding Nekia aside in the narrow passageway. “I will ride for the camp, give my message to Jonka in person, and let her tell the Shaman I refuse to be Drummer of Shadows.”

I made a quick motion to grab his arm, but Joisan was even swifter as her hand closed on his chestnut’s rein. “No!” we said as one.

“Don’t be a fool, Guret!” I said. “It is not just your service she wants, but your spirit. You must not!”

“Even if you go, she will not leave us alone.” Joisan’s eyes were very level, despite her pallor. “She is not one to endure slights easily, and both Kerovan and I have bested her, now. She will not turn aside from her revenge just for you.”

The young man’s mouth was a grim line as he shaded his eyes against the scarlet-dyed rays of sunset. “If what you say is true, then my proper place is here, to help you against her, and whatever she may try to unleash. Still, I could find it in me to wish that I had done as she demanded in the first place, no matter what price it meant tor me. Not for anything would I have had this happen…”

I absentmindedly smoothed Nekia’s mane. “We had best return before the last of the light is gone. We need clear heads to plan our defenses, and none of us has broken fast since the morning.”

“Well said, my lord,” Joisan agreed. “I will start back to Kar Garudwyn, prepare food from our gleanings… I am a bit tired. Perhaps you and Guret should patrol the valley borders to make sure there are no paths down from the heights for Nidu to discover.”

I was troubled and not by any thought of the Shaman, “Joisan, you have been tired overmuch lately. Are you weary?

She hesitated for a second, then her small, pointed chin came up as she smiled. “Completely, my lord.”

“But—”

She interrupted me briskly. “I am the healer in this company, Kerovan, and you may rest assured I take no chances with anyone’s well-being, least of all my own. When we are sure that Nidu cannot enter the valley, that we are safe, then there will be a time for talking. We are all looking a bit worn after our journey.”

What she said was true, making such good sense there was no arguing with it. Yet I found myself watching her as she cantered Arren away, back up the faint trail our horses’ hooves had left, truly worried for the first time since we had found Landisl’s ancient home.