Trudi Canavan - Priestess of the White

She stared at him. “Why would I have to do that?”

He grimaced. “Long story.”

She nodded, then closed the distance between them. He had aged. She had never seen him so thin and wrinkled. His hair was so light it was nearly white, and she could see from the untanned skin around his jaw that he had only recently removed a beard. It it weren’t for the recognition in his eyes, and the little mannerisms she had once known so well, she might not have recognized him at all. But here he was, changed but alive. She would ponder the impossibility of this later.

Taking his arm, she led him away.

Auraya walked the battlefield. Around her were twisted bodies. The pale, staring eyes of the dead filled her with horror. She was afraid to look into them, yet she could not stop herself. Blue lips opened and rasping voices pleaded for life. She tore her gaze away only to be caught by another corpse ranting at her. Accusing.

“It’s your fault I’m dead.”

She hurried away, but the sea of corpses was endless. They lay thick on the ground. She had to step over them. They tried to grab her ankles.

“We had to fight! We had to!” she protested. “You know that!”

Ahead she could see a light. Suddenly she was standing before it. A table and two stools had been set in a gap between the bodies. On the table was a game of counters—a game already begun. The set was beautifully made of black and white veinstone.

The corpses had fallen silent. She stepped over the last of them and looked down at the board. The two sides were caught in stalemate. No wonder they had abandoned the game.

A figure stepped out of the shadows. She felt a stab of pain as she recognized him.

Leiard .

He looked at her searchingly, then down at the board.

“What an interesting dream you’re having. Why did you feel the need for me to join you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you here.”

“You called me.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

She glared at him. “Why did you answer then? I thought you preferred whores.”

He blinked in surprise. “So you know about that?”

“Yes.”

He looked thoughtful. “Probably just as well. You won’t be tempted to look for me.”

She felt a stab of hurt. “Oh, there’s no chance of that now.”

“You might find this hard to believe, but I didn’t want to hurt you. My people were in danger. Leiard’s weak and humble nature was meant to protect us, not lead us into danger.” He looked down at the board. “There are five white pieces and five black left. Which side do you want to take?”

She looked at the board. “White, of course.”

“Then you have won.”

One of the pieces had changed. It had been engraved with a gold circle, representing a priest, which made it a stronger piece than it had been.

“What happened? That’s not how it was before.”

Leiard smiled. “No?”

“Why did it change?”

“I don’t know. This is your dream, Auraya of the White, and I want no part of it. Goodbye.”

She looked up.

He had vanished .

platten – two-wheeled vehicle

tarn – four-wheeled vehicle

dembar – tree with magic sensitive sap

felfea – tree of Si

florrim – tranquilizing drug

formtane – sophoric drug

fronden – fern/bracken-like plants

garpa – tree. Seeds are a stimulant.

heybrin – cure believed to protect against stds

mytten – tree with wood that burns slowly

rebi – fruit found in Si

saltwood – wood that is resistant to decay

shendle – plant on forest floor

velweed – cure for hemorrhoids

wemmin – fleshy flower

winnet – tree that grows along rivers

yan – tubers on forest floor

arem – domestic, for pulling platten and tarn

ark – predatory bird

breem – small animal hunted by Siyee for food

dartfly – stinging insect of northeast mountains

fanrin – predator that hunts gowts

garr – giant sea creature

girri – wingless birds, domesticated by Siyee

glitterworm – insect that glows in the dark

gowt – domestic animal bred for meat and milk, resides in mountains

kiri – large predatory bird

leramar – predator with telepathic ability

lyrim – domestic herd animals

moohook – small pet

ner – domesticated animal bred for meat

reyer – animal for riding and pulling platten

shem – domestic animal bred for milk

tiwi – insects that make a hive

veez – cute, telepathic pet that can speak

vorn – wolf-like animals

woodfish – tasteless fish

yern – deer-like, limited telepathy

yeryer – venomous sea creature

circ – circular overgarment worn by Circlian priests and priestesses

octavestim – garb of the Priests of Gareilem

tawl – overgarment worn draped over shoulders, fastened at throat

tunic – dress for women, shirt for men

undershift – undergarment for women

wafercakes – fried, flakey pastry

firespice – spice from Toren

nutmeal – paste made from nuts, Si

flatloaf – dense bread

ahm – drink of Somrey, usually warmed and spiced

teho – drink of Sennon

tintra – Hanian drink

tipli – Toren drink

lungrot – disease that, funnily enough, rots the lungs

woundrot – the festering of a wound

wayhouse – place for travelers to stay in

safehouse – place where Dreamweavers can stay

blackstone – stone that is dark colored

whitestone – stone that is pale colored

Many thanks:

Firstly to “The Two Pauls” and Fran Bryson who read the roughest of the rough drafts. Also to Jennifer Fallon, Russell Kirkpatrick, Glenda Larke, Fiona McLennan, Ella McCay, Tessa Kum for their feedback. To all the readers, especially all my friends on Voyager Online. And, finally, to Stephanie Smith and the Voyager Team.