How could this be true of her father? Had Hellorin really been so heartless and amoral as to strip another ancient magical race of its powers and its birthright? To destroy their civilisation and turn them into beasts of burden? But there was no denying it. She closed her eyes and shuddered. Had she not planned to rid the world of humankind for good? Like father, like daughter, she thought grimly. Are we really so very different?
Desperately she tried to find some excuse for her actions. Humans don’t count. They aren’t civilised beings, aren’t so advanced, have no magic. They’re only one step above the beasts. Her encounter with the ferals, however, had made her see things otherwise.
‘Tiolani?’ The firm voice of the Horsemistress penetrated the dark whirl of her thoughts. ‘Tiolani? Now that you know the truth, will you come back to us? Will you help us?’
Tiolani blinked herself back to reality, and the face she had known since the day she was born. Something in Aelwen’s eyes, a look of approval and pride, had changed; had gone, she knew, for ever. But even after everything that had happened, there was kindness, pity - and she hoped with all her heart maybe there was still some love. The sight undid her; shattered the remnants of her stupid pride, dissolved the last dark shadows of her hatred and planted, in their place, a kernel of hope. Was there really a way to atone for her terrible deeds, or wash the blood from her hands?
No. She knew in her heart that she could not undo what she had done, and never would. But atone? Maybe. She could hope for that.
‘What do you want me to do?’ she asked.
Aelwen, still holding her hands, looked at her gravely. ‘I told you about Athina, and what she said. She has foreseen that our world is headed for destruction, and she came to prevent that, if she could. But she is losing her powers here and must return to her home, so the future will be our own responsibility after all. She foresaw three people pivotal to the outcome; three who, in the days to come, will hold the destiny of the world in their hands, to doom or to save. One is Iriana, a remarkable young Wizard whom you will meet; one is Corisand; and the other is—’
‘The other is you?’
‘No, child. It’s you.’
Tiolani was stunned. This was worse than she could ever have imagined, and she quailed from the responsibility. ‘How . . . how can I possibly put an entire world to rights?’ she quavered. ‘Look what a mess I made of caring for my own realm.’
Aelwen’s eyes burned into her own, such was the intensity of her stare. ‘Don’t be so spineless, Tiolani.’ The words were like a slap. ‘You can’t afford to be a spoilt little girl any more, whining and wailing when things don’t turn out the way you want them to. One thing is not your fault: Hellorin overprotected and overindulged you. You never had a chance to grow and learn by making your own mistakes, so when you were suddenly catapulted out on your own, with so much power in your hands, your mistakes were catastrophic, and you will have to live with their consequences for the rest of your days.’
Her strong, horsewoman’s fingers ground painfully into Tiolani’s hand. ‘However,’ she went on, ‘the past is done, and now you must put it away from you - not to forget it, never to forget the lessons you’ve learned - but so that you can seize the future. You used your power and authority to take innocent lives. Now, instead, you must save them. It’s time to grow up, Tiolani. Take responsibility for your deeds, and move on. Don’t let those whose lives you ended die in vain. Join us. Help us.’
For the first time since Ferimon’s revelations, Tiolani knew hope.
‘I will help you, Aelwen,’ she said fervently. ‘Tell me what I must do.’
Pride shone in the Horsemistress’s eyes. ‘Come downstairs,’ she said. ‘Meet the others and hear what they have to say. Then we can work out what we all must do.’
Athina looked around the table at the incongruous group that she had gathered together in her kitchen. Though it seemed a peculiar place to be discussing the fate of the world, she had decided that everyone would feel more relaxed in such homely surroundings - not that the idea seemed to be working so far. She could see that Dael, who had finally returned to the tower, was still angry and upset that she was leaving. Daniel and Kelon, who had also just arrived, distrusted the Wizards and Phaerie; everyone was suspicious of Tiolani; Iriana was still worried about Avithan; and Kelon looked as if he would like to murder Taine.
Well, putting things off wouldn’t help. Athina took a deep breath, and began. First, to make sure that everyone had all the available information, she started from the beginning, with her visions of catastrophe and ruin, and her decision to enter this world. She then sketched brief histories of everyone present, ending with Corisand - which gave her a place to launch into the subject of the Fialan, the story of its creation, and its importance to the future of the Xandim. She was glad that Iriana seemed to have formed a close bond with Corisand. They had come to speak to her before this council, asking whether she could send them into the Elsewhere together, and she had been more than happy to agree. It would be a strain for her to send two rather than one, but she was willing to take the risk since she was sure that the Windeye stood a much greater chance of succeeding with the Wizard’s help.
‘Corisand and Iriana will be sent into the Elsewhere to seek this powerful Stone,’ she went on, ‘for it can, according to the Evanesar, be used to free the Xandim from their long slavery. Also, it must be prevented at all costs from falling into Hellorin’s hands, for he is also in the Elsewhere and will certainly be plotting to retrieve it in order to return to this world. You must understand the danger here. When Hellorin originally formed the portal to bring the Phaerie here, he let a great deal of his power pass into the Stone. He will be looking to regain that lost magic - and that must not be permitted. The intrinsic magic of the Fialan is that it can store and amplify the powers of others - and everything it absorbs is locked within it forever. None of the energies it stores can ever be removed - but they can be utilised. Now—’
‘Excuse me, Cailleach.’ Aelwen held up a hand. ‘What would happen to all the power if the Stone were to be destroyed?’
‘You cannot destroy the Stone of Fate. The Fialan was created to absorb the powers of others. Because of the magic it already holds, there is no physical way to destroy it. It will protect itself if anyone tries. Lives - many lives - would be lost, and all for nothing.’
‘And we cannot use magic to destroy it, can we?’ Iriana asked. ‘It would simply absorb everything we threw at it, becoming ever more powerful, better able to protect itself, and more dangerous.’
‘Yes.’ Athina was pleased with the Wizard’s reply. This young blind girl, with her extraordinary mix of all four Magefolk powers, possessed the intelligence and common sense to use them wisely. For now she was still young and lacked confidence, but because of the current crisis, she was learning, developing and growing at an extraordinary rate. The Cailleach was certain that her name would be carved into history as an example and a beacon of hope to all future generations.
Suddenly aware that everyone was looking at her, waiting for her to continue, she gathered her straying thoughts. This tendency to distraction was getting worse all the time. It was as well that she’d be returning home soon.
‘Iriana is exactly right,’ she continued. ‘She has grasped the paradox of the Fialan: the more magic you hurl at it, the stronger it becomes. She leaned forward, her hands on the table, and looked at them with compelling eyes. ‘But over the ages, the Stone has absorbed enough power to develop a primitive consciousness. Since the Moldan is no fit guardian, I am hoping that the Fialan can be persuaded to pass willingly to either Iriana or to Corisand, but there is no way of knowing who it will choose, and only one of you will be able to wield it. Accordingly, it is vital that absolute trust exists between you. Whoever gains the Fialan must do everything in her power to use it to help the other. Whoever does not must accept the disappointment. The entire existence of the Stone has been marred by violence, jealousy and greed. That is all it knows. It will be up to you to teach it that there is another way.’