Lynn Flewelling - The Oracle's Queen

“No, he doesn’t.”

“What’s he talking about?” asked Lutha.

Tamír shook her head wearily. “I suppose I’d better tell you everything.”

She pulled a chair up by the bed, and Ki and Lutha sat carefully on the edge of the bed beside Caliel. As she told them what she knew, Mahti hunkered down on the floor and listened intently, his brow furrowed as he tried to follow her words.

“Your brother was killed so you could take his form?” Caliel said when she’d finished. “Isn’t that necromancy?”

Mahti shook his head vehemently. “Lhel make mistake making baby die. Not should have—” He paused, searching for the word, then took a deep breath, pointing at his chest. “Lhel tells you this?”

“Lhel never told me how he died. I only heard the truth a few days ago, from some wizards who were there.”

“Iya?” asked Caliel.

“Yes.”

“Not breath. First breath. Brings mari into—” Mahti hesitated again, then pinched the skin on the back of his hand.

“Into the body?” asked Ki, touching his chest.

“Body? Yes. No breath in body, no life. No mari to be make like him. Bad thing. No breath for body, mari have no home.”

“Mari must mean spirit,” mused Ki.

“I mean no offense, Tob—Tamír, but perhaps he doesn’t understand what necromancy is,” Caliel warned. “Who else controls ghosts and demons, but a necromancer?”

“No necromancy!” Mahti insisted indignantly. “You Skalan, you no understand Retha’noi!” He held up the horn again. “No necromancy. Good magic. Help you, yes?”

“Yes,” Caliel admitted.

“Why would he help us if he’s evil, Cal?” Lutha insisted, and it sounded to Tamír like they’d had this debate before. “Tamír, couldn’t that friend of yours, Mistress Iya, tell if he’s that sort or not?”

“Iya isn’t with me anymore, but I have others to advise me. Ki, send for Arkoniel. He knows more about Mahti’s people than anyone else.”

Caliel waited until Ki was gone, then said, “I should tell you, Tamír, that I am not here by my own will. When I tried to come to you before, it was to parley on Korin’s behalf. He’s my friend and my liege. The oath I swore to him as a Companion is one I won’t break. I don’t mean you any harm, but I won’t dishonor myself by accepting your hospitality under false pretenses. I’m no spy, but I’m no turncoat, either.”

“No, you’re a damn fool!” Lutha growled. “Korin’s the one who’s mad. You saw it as clearly as I did, even before he had you flogged half to death.” He turned to Tamír, eyes flashing with outrage. “He was going to hang us all! You can call me traitor if you want, but I’m here because I think Korin’s wrong. I loved him, too, but he broke his oath to us and to Skala when he let himself become the puppet of a creature like Niryn. I can’t dishonor my father’s name any longer, serving in such a court.”

“He’s bespelled,” Caliel muttered, resting his face in his hands.

Ki returned and settled on the bed again, looking at Caliel with concern.

“He’s got Korin seeing traitors in every shadow,” Lutha went on. “All anyone has to do is disagree with him and they’re likely to end up at the end of a rope.”

“How did you get away?” asked Ki.

“It was your spy, Tamír. A fellow calling himself Eyoli? I don’t know how he managed it, but he got us out.”

“He’s a wizard,” Ki told him.

“I thought it might be something like that.”

“How is it in Cirna now?” Tamír asked.

“There’s grumbling among the ranks. Some don’t hold with Niryn’s ways. Others are losing patience with Korin just sulking there in Cirna. He’s sent some forces to put down nobles who’ve taken your side, but his generals want him to come after you.”

“He is,” Tamír told him. “I just had word of it.”

Caliel looked up at that. “With respect, I don’t want to be here for this. I’m sorry, Tamír. I can’t be party to any talk against Korin. I—I should go back. Sakor knows, I don’t want to fight against you, but my place is there.”

“He’ll hang you, sure as I’m sitting here!” Lutha exclaimed. “For hell’s sake, we didn’t drag you all the way here for you to just turn around and go looking for your death!” He turned to Tamír and Ki. “This is what he’s been like. He won’t listen to reason!”

“You should have left me, then,” Caliel snapped.

“Maybe we should have!”

“Please, don’t fight!” Tamír reached out and took Caliel’s hand. He was trembling with emotion. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere. Rest here until you’re stronger. Honor the laws of hospitality, and I’ll still call you friend.”

“Of course. I give you my oath.”

She turned to the witch, who’d been watching all this with evident interest. “And you. Will you swear by your great Mother to do no harm in my house, to any of my people?”

Mahti gripped his horn in both hands. “By the full moon of Mother Shek’met, and by the mari of Lhel, I come only to help you. I do no harm.”

“I accept your pledge. You’re under my protection. All of you are.” She looked sadly at her friends. “I won’t keep any of you here against your will, or expect you to serve me as you did Korin. As soon as you’re strong enough to ride, I’ll give you safe conduct anywhere you want to go.”

“I don’t think you’ve really changed at all, no matter what you’re calling yourself,” Lutha said, smiling. “If you’ll have me, Queen Tamír, I’ll serve you.”

“And you, Barieus?”

“Yes.” His fingers stole to the cropped hair at his temple as he added, “If you’ll have me.”

“Of course I will.”

“What about you, Cal?” Ki asked.

Caliel only shrugged and looked away.

Arkoniel came in, then stopped dead as he caught sight of Mahti.

The witch eyed him with equal interest. “Oreskiri?”

“Retha’noi?”

Mahti nodded and touched his heart, then replied at length in his own language.

The two of them conversed for several minutes. Tamír recognized the word for “child” and Lhel’s name but nothing else. Arkoniel nodded sadly at the mention of the dead woman, then continued with his questioning. He took Mahti’s hand but the witch quickly pulled away and shook an accusing finger at him.

“What’s he saying?” asked Tamír.

Arkoniel gave her a guilty nod. “My apologies. It was just something Lhel taught me, but it was rude.”

Mahti nodded, then handed Arkoniel his oo’lu horn to examine.

Satisfied, he turned back to Tamír and the others. “He claims Lhel’s spirit came to him in a vision, asking him to come and protect you. She’s been his guide and led him to your friends as they made their way here.”

“So he said. What do you think?”

“I can’t imagine a hill witch coming all this way without good reason. They’ve never been the sort to send assassins. I must warn you, though, that he can kill with his magic and has done so, but only in self-defense, or so he claims. You must either take him at his word or send him away. I’d like to keep him among the wizards for now if you have no objection?”

“Very well. I’ll come down when I’m done here.”

Arkoniel held out his hand to Mahti. “Come, my friend. You and I have much to talk about.”

“Lutha, you and Barieus are free to join the other Companions,” said Tamír when they were gone.

“Who’s left?” asked Lutha.

“Nikides—”

“Nik’s alive?” Lutha exclaimed. “Thank Sakor! I thought I’d left him to die. Who else?”

“Just Lynx and Tanil. We have some new members, though.”

“Tanil?” Caliel gasped.