“But not for a long time,” Forral said hastily, ruffling her hair. “Anyway, I knew you felt the same, I tried to avoid this happening, to protect you, but I knew I was hurting you, and it hurt me too—-and so I started drinking,”
“Well, why didn’t you say something?” Aurian demanded, “Think of the time we’ve wasted!”
Forral sighed. “Look, let’s talk about this another time. We’ve been so happy today, I don’t want to spoil it.”
“No,” Aurian said fiercely, “I want to know. You said yourself that I’m not a child anymore. Is it something to do with this stupid Mage—Mortal proscription? Because I’ve already thought about that, and I don’t care. If need be, we can go away together. Miathan doesn’t own the world.”
“No, it’s not Miathan, though we’ll have trouble enough when he finds out about this. But there’s something that you haven’t considered.” Forral’s face looked very grave. “Aurian, you’re Mageborn. Unless something kills you, you can live as long as you want. It’s different for me—I’m a Mortal. I’m not a young man—I’m over forty now—and even if I survive the dangers of a warrior’s life, how many years do you think I’ll have left? I tried to stop this from happening because I love you, and all too soon I’ll be dead, and I can’t bear to think of you left alone to grieve.”
Aurian felt a dizzy lurch in the pit of her stomach. She had never considered Forral’s mortality. As she stared at him in horror, the room seemed to vanish around her, and she felt the same premonitory shiver of dread that she had experienced that morning. It seemed as though his features had been overlaid with a vision of that same dear face, but pale and still, the eyes closed in the sleep of death.
“No!” Her own tearing cry brought her back to reality. The vision vanished as she buried herself in Forral’s arms, sobbing.
He held her tightly, and it seemed as though his warrior’s strength were flowing into her. She stiffened her spine and wiped her eyes, and her chin went up in the old stubborn gesture. “If grief is the price of our love,” she said, “then I’ll pay it. Not willingly, maybe, but in full. I love you, Forral. I’ve waited years for this, and I’m not losing you now. Even Magefolk don’t live forever. We may be parted for a while, but someday I’ll find you again, I promise, in the worlds Beyond. I already have Miathan to fight—I’ll take on Death too, if need be.”
There were tears in Forral’s eyes, but he smiled. “My warrior,” he said gruffly. “I’m^lad you’re on my side.”
“Always. And I’ll be there for a long time yet!”
Forral hugged her. “The Gods help anyone who tries to come between us. One thing though, love. When I’m dead—”
“Don’t say that!” Aurian cried.
“Just this once,” Forral said firmly, “and I want you to remember what I’m going to tell you now. You don’t know grief yet, but I do, and I want to warn you. When I die, at first you may want to follow me. Don’t. You’ve been blessed with the gift of long life, Aurian, and many other gifts besides. It would be a grave sin to throw those gifts away. I can’t go on with our love if it will rob you of your future. No, love—when I’m gone, I want you to find someone else, if you can, and be happy.”
“How can I?” Aurian protested bitterly. “How could you ask such a thing of me?”
“Because I love you, and I don’t want you to go through the years alone. That would be foolish and unfair. I’ve seen people waste their lives moping around the graves of their loved ones. Don’t you ever make that mistake, because I won’t be there. I’ll be with you, wherever you are, in your heart. If I ever catch you at my graveside, I’ll—I’ll make it rain on you, see if I don’t!”
Despite her anguish, Aurian had to smile at that, and as the moment lightened, they turned to talk of happier things. But Aurian kept his words in her heart. She felt older now, and sadder, but stronger and more determined than ever. Now that she understood its transience, her love for Forral was bittersweet, but infinitely precious.
Miathan had missed Aurian the previous day. As soon as she entered the room, hand in hand with Forral, he knew where she had been—and why. Forral did not bow. “Archmage,” he said calmly, “Aurian and I have become lovers.”
At the words of this upstart Mortal, Miarhan felt his guts twist with icy rage. Aurian met him eye to eye, her face pale but her expression unrepentant. He turned his fury on Forral. “Lawbreaker!” he hissed, his voice shaking wi.th anger. “Seducer! Transgressor!”
“What?” Aurian was aflame with indignation. “You dare accuse Forral—” She bit off her-wojds with a sideways look at the warrior, and Miathan saw her fighting to conquer her anger. Ah, he thought. So she had never told him.
“What you have done is forbidden,” he snapped.
“Nonsense!” Aurian retorted. “The Mage—Moral proscription isn’t a law, and it’s not in the Mages’ Code. It’s a recommendation made for practical reasons. If Forral and I can live with the problems, what affair is it of yours?”
Miathan was beside himself with rage. “This affair will be the scandal of the whole city! How dare you embarrass the Magefolk, and me, in this way?”
“Not so, Miathan,” Forral intervened. “The people view Aurian differently from the other Magefolk, after that business of the drought. They^s.ee her with me, or going to and fro from the Garrison, and frankly, they find her much more acceptable than the rest of you. My people already think of her as one of themselves, and the troopers will soon deal with any loose talk. Vannor is fond of her too, so there’ll be no trouble from the merchants—”
“Well, there will be trouble from the Magefolk!” Miathan stormed. “I’ll break you for this, Forral. I’ll have you thrown off the Council! Banished from the city—”
Forral smiled coldly. “I don’t think so, Archmage, You see, it’s no longer up to you to arrange the military presence on the Council. You might be interested to know that I’ve already appointed my successor^-in case anything should go amiss. You know Maya, my Second-in-Command? For some reason, she has no time for this idea of the Magefolk running Nexis, You’ll really have fun wrangling with her on the Council! Vannor is looking forward to it already.”
“But—but you can’t do that!” Miathan spluttered. Forral grinned. “Oh, yes I can. Vannor seconded the nomination, and we had it set down in the official records.”
The Archmage was aghast. He took a step toward Forral, intending to blast him into oblivion. But Aurian stepped quickly in front of the swordsman, raising her hand in a sweeping gesture. Miathan saw the air blur and shimmer as her magical shield snapped into place. There was a look of pure hatred on her face that he had never seen before.
“Just try it, Miathan,” she growled, “I’m not your pupil for nothing. Let’s see how rtTuch you’ve taught me!”
She meant it! Miathan was on the verge of losing her completely, and his carefully tended plans would be lost with her. His age-old cunning reasserted itself. He was an expert in deceit, and he was ruthless. He knew now that he had erred badly in letting his lust get the better of him when Aurian had returned from the Valley. Somehow, in her absence, he had persuaded himself that once he possessed her body, he would win her heart. Witless fool! This was no simple Mortal girl, to be overawed by his position and his powers. And now, thanks to his clumsy haste, he had driven her right into the arms—and the bed—of that swordsman. A just punishment indeed, for his own stupidity!
Miathan knew he must win back Aurian’s trust—and in order to do so, he’d have to swallow his pride. Trembling with strain, he forced down his anger and schooled his features into a semblance of regret. “Aurian, please forgive me. I’m truly sorry —for everything. I have behaved very badly to you, and I truly wish to make amends. Forral, my deepest apologies. I should have anticipated this long ago, knowing how Aurian feels about you.” He sighed. “I cannot say that I approve—but I love Aurian, and I value your support. If this is what you want, I must accept it. Be happy, then—for as long as you can.”