Barb Hendee: Child of a Dead God

Magiere turned back to Cameron. "Our thanks, and I hate to ask, but might you have a packhorse or mule we can purchase?"

Beasts of burden were dear in this land, but Cameron nodded.

"There's an old horse I'd planned to take to the next market fair. Long past his prime, but he'll do all right… even as far as Belaski. Might as well sell him to you as anyone else."

Magiere handed Leesil the pouch. "Would you take Chap and Osha to go see about the horse? Wynn and I will settle our gear."

Leesil raised one eyebrow at her. For one thing, she had just handed him all their money, relinquishing her tightfisted ways to his openhanded ones. And two, she'd suggested he take Osha out into the village.

But in true Leesil fashion, he waved Osha along and then smiled at Cameron. "Lead the way."

The last thing Magiere wanted was to speak to Wynn alone about matters of the heart. But she had to.

Wynn was confused when Magiere sent Osha off with Leesil and Chap, but not curious enough to ask why. She was too tired-in body, mind, and spirit.

Since Sgaile's death, she had been wrung out with exhaustion every day beneath the canopy of the Droevinkan forest and its perpetual false dusk. Now all she could do was try to comfort Osha, but the pain of effort left her weary. She did not even want bread and cheese, only sleep.

"Wynn…," Magiere began, then faltered.

"What is it?" Wynn asked.

Magiere pulled out two stools at the nearest table. "Sit with me a while."

She ran a hand through her black hair as Wynn settled across from her. Twice Magiere opened her mouth then closed it again, dark eyes blinking rapidly as if she had no idea how to begin.

"Are you in love with Osha?" she asked suddenly.

Wynn flushed in embarrassed shock and sputtered, unable to get a word out.

"It's important," Magiere said, and her voice grew firm. "Do you remember the night in Crijheaiche… when Brot'an tossed you and Chap out of the tree dwelling, so he could speak privately with me?"

Wynn remembered quite clearly.

"He told me something about… about his people," Magiere added, squirming upon the stool. "When they choose a mate, it is for life. If they lose that mate, they suffer. Some don't recover-ever-and some even… it's part of what they are. They are different from us… humans."

Wynn was dumbfounded, not even sure what Magiere was trying to say. Then she remembered Osha's speaking of his father, who had died young for an elf. His mother had not risen from her grief-and had not lived her full span.

Wynn looked wide-eyed at Magiere. "What are you saying?"

"Leesil is everything to me," Magiere went on. "I'm sometimes afraid, thinking of what I've done to him, and that he'd suffer if anything happened to me-but I'll never leave him. I want to see his face every day of my life and just before I close my eyes each night. Can you say the same about Osha?"

Wynn swallowed and closed her eyes, finally catching Magiere's meaning.

She envisioned Osha's kind, long face. Then she thought of the days ahead, studying what texts she had saved from the castle's library.

Osha's face changed to a pale and narrow one, with red-brown hair and eyes almost colorless. Chane's image faded as Wynn opened her eyes.

"I cannot," she finally whispered.

Magiere reached across the table, gently gripping Wynn's small hand.

"Then don't give him false hopes. I know you'd never hurt anyone on purpose, but you could harm him just the same… and far worse than you'd care to imagine."

Magiere took a long breath, as if what she'd said cost more effort than trudging through the Everfen. She released Wynn's hand and stood up.

"Let's get our beds ready."

Wynn's legs trembled as she got up. "Magiere?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

A day across the western Droevinkan border, well inside Belaski, Chap barked as he saw a good-sized town ahead. Following Cameron's advice, they had kept due west without incident and only turned northwest after six days. It took longer to work their way into familiar territory.

They had all been surprised to find Belaskian cavalry patrolling the border-and then Chap realized he should have expected such with Droevinka in a state of civil war. But he and his companions passed through easily after answering a few questions about their destination.

Now, finally, they were nearing their home. If they maintained their direction along Belaski's inland roads, they could gain the coast soon enough, perhaps six or seven days in good weather.

He looked back at his companions, leading the old packhorse Wynn had named Aspen. Its coat was a mix of grays and browns, and Leesil had lashed the covered orb and Wynn's bundles of texts onto the animal.

Everyone was much improved physically, and Chap's relief grew by the day. Since leaving Droevinkan territory, they had been blessed by regular stays in villages and better food.

Wynn stumbled, eyes wide, and came running past him. "A town… an actual town!"

"Maybe we can buy horses," Magiere suggested. "And ride the rest of the way."

"Not for all the dead deities," Leesil grouched. "After all this, I'm not risking my neck on some half-mad bag of bones-not again."

"Fine, we'll buy a wagon," Magiere snapped back, "since horses frighten you so much."

Leesil scoffed. "You'd never part with that much coin… not before you got us thrown out of the town with your endless haggling and insults."

Magiere slowed, and her voice dropped to grating growl. "What did you say?"

Osha listened with startled interest, plainly baffled at this couple who never tired of their little battles.

Chap shook his head and scurried after Wynn.

Would Magiere never learn when Leesil was baiting her, or that making her angry gave him a thrill? But Leesil only prodded Magiere when he was happy-and he was happy to be going home. And Magiere only squabbled with him this way when she felt safe, for even a moment.

And they both believed they would stay within the Sea Lion Tavern, finally returning to the life they wanted.

Chap wanted to believe it as well.

But he could not-not since the wide cavern and chasm, when Magiere had mistakenly opened the orb. He had spent the passing days since watching over his shoulder.

They entered a bustling little town, and few townsfolk even looked their way. That in itself was another relief. People passed through the towns and cities of peaceful Belaski every day, and no one gave them much notice.

"I need to find a courier," Wynn said. "Or at least some place where the caravans stop. I want to send word to Domin Tilswith now, and not wait until we reach Miiska."

"Chap, go with her," Leesil said. "Meet us at that stable up the way. One of us will find an inn before you get back."

He grabbed Magiere's waist.

"Almost home," she said tiredly, and Leesil tucked his head in close to her.

Chap did not hear what was said, but Magiere turned a scowl on Leesil.

"Not until you've had a bath," she growled.

Leesil swatted her on the rump and took off before she snatched hold of him.

Wynn looked to Osha. He nodded to her, and she headed off.

Chap followed Wynn, wishing at heart that they could simply go home and stay there.

Magiere fell silent as she walked into Miiska.

She quickened her pace, not wanting to be seen by anyone they knew just yet, not until they reached the Sea Lion Tavern.

They'd arrived from the south, so the tavern was just ahead beyond the trees. All she wanted was to see her home. By the time she reached the sloping road's bottom, and stepped from the forest into the edge of town, Leesil had to jog to catch up with her. The others were left behind, but Chap bolted headlong around Magiere, racing toward the dockside of Miiska.