‘The Evanesar told Corisand that it could be used to free her people, but how can that be done in practice?’ Iriana asked.
‘As I said, Hellorin let a great deal of his power pass into the Fialan when it was created. It is that power - the Old Magic, the Phaerie magic - that you must use to break the spell. I do not know how it can be done, but the wielder of the Stone must persuade it to release the Xandim.
‘In the meantime, I suggest that you, Tiolani, return to Eliorand to take up the rule of your people once more, with Taine and Aelwen to assist you. It will be your task to support Corisand and Iriana in this world, by giving the Xandim over to them when they return.’
The Phaerie girl turned very pale. ‘But . . . but my father,’ she stammered. ‘If I let the Xandim go, he’ll kill me.’
‘Slay his only daughter? His only remaining child?’ Athina said. ‘Surely it would not come to that. But I was just coming to the fate of Hellorin.’ Her expression turned granite-hard. ‘The Phaerie, with their powers of the Old Magic, should never have come to this world. They do not belong here. They are a dangerous, unpredictable force, without conscience, without limits. Hellorin, who brought them here, is the worst example of his kind. His ways are the old ways, and in a sense, he has never truly understood the differences between this reality and the one from which he came. The Elsewhere has great magic of its own. It is able to withstand the strains that the powerful Old Magic can place upon its fabric. Not so this world. When I foresaw the chaos and destruction to come, it was the Phaerie I feared most, for they have the ability to wreak such destruction, and Hellorin has the will to use that ability.’
She paused and looked straight into Tiolani’s eyes. ‘Under a different ruler, a more understanding and enlightened ruler, the outcome might be otherwise.’
‘Me?’ Tiolani gasped. ‘But that means—’
‘That means leaving Hellorin exactly where he is, in the Elsewhere, and making absolutely certain he stays there.’ The Cailleach’s tone was flat, matter-of-fact and brutal. ‘Corisand, Iriana, you must do whatever is necessary to prevent him from following you back. Tiolani, you must ensure that his corporeal form remains fettered by time spells. If he cannot return to his body, then he cannot endanger you here.’
‘Exile my own father? Forever?’
‘For your sake, it had better be forever,’ Taine said harshly. ‘Athina seems to think that Hellorin wouldn’t kill his own child, but I know from bitter experience that there is no telling what he might do in a fit of rage.’
Aelwen hushed him with her hand on his arm. ‘Tiolani, you must listen to Athina. I also find it hard - very hard - to consign the Forest Lord to such a fate. But what is the alternative? The Cailleach is not the only one who has received these premonitions. Iriana tells us that her Archwizard has also seen dread visions of bloodshed and catastrophe. Your father is proud and independent. He would never work with the Wizards and the other Magefolk to find a solution. Under the circumstances, I would be very surprised if he had not experienced similar warnings already, but rather than share the knowledge with the other magical races, I believe he would be plotting ways to take advantage of the coming upheaval.’
‘And what about my people?’ Corisand added. ‘If he were here in this world, do you think he would allow the Xandim to escape his clutches? I agree with Athina. For all our sakes, he must be kept where he is.’
‘Can you do it, Tiolani?’ the Cailleach asked gently. ‘Are you capable of exiling your own father? Because if you are not, you must be honest and tell us now, and we will think of another way; one that does not involve you.’
Tiolani’s thoughts were racing. Here was a way to expiate her guilt, a way to help these strangers who had saved her life. A way to give herself another chance to rule the Phaerie, to make herself into a benign, enlightened ruler who would work alongside the Wizards and the Xandim to save the world from disaster. It wasn’t as if she would be killing her father, after all. He would still be alive in the Elsewhere.
She must be brave.
She must be strong.
As painful as it was, she must sacrifice Hellorin to the greater good.
‘I’ll do it.’ She lifted her head and her voice gathered strength. ‘You can depend on me to do my part - you have my word on it.’
Athina nodded gravely. ‘Thank you, Tiolani. Your courage and sacrifice will make all the difference to our success.’
‘And what about us?’ Danel’s voice cut harshly across Athina’s melodious tones. ‘Now that you great folk have finished deciding everyone’s fate between yourselves, what about the poor, ordinary humans? We’ve been enslaved down the ages too, but because we have no bloody magic, no one gives a damn about us.’
‘The world is entering a time of upheaval and change,’ the Cailleach replied, looking from face to face. ‘This is something that you must all understand. And though we are doing everything in our power to forestall the cataclysm to come, I doubt that we can prevent it completely. We cannot stop Fate - we can only work within its limitations and try to minimise the damage.’
She turned her attention to the leader of the humans. ‘This new era will be your opportunity, Danel. You cannot conquer the magic-using races - you would be mad to try - but you can influence their attitude towards you by helping them in their time of crisis. In other words, this is the perfect opportunity to make yourself some powerful allies, and—’
‘Help them?’ Danel spat. ‘I’d rather die.’
‘Then die.’ Athina shrugged. ‘If that is your choice.’
With a sullen glare, Danel lapsed back into silence.
‘There are already some independent humans in my realm,’ Iriana said. ‘The fisherfolk who live up and down the coast near Tyrineld. They started by chartering their boats from the fish merchants in the marketplace. A tithe of the catch goes to the merchant, then the remainder is theirs to sell or trade. Now they are beginning to build their own boats, and working to become truly independent. If you’ll leave the Phaerie realm and come to us, I’m sure there will be a place for you.’
‘I can find a place for them in my own kingdom,’ Tiolani snapped.
‘Surely - at the end of a spear,’ Kelon sneered.
‘Enough.’ Athina’s voice cracked out like a whip. ‘It reveals a great deal about the nature of humankind that when everyone else is making great sacrifices to assist this undertaking, you are only concerned with what we can do for you. The decision must be yours, Danel, whether the humans will be part of our company or no. If you think it better to return to grubbing for survival like wild beasts in the forest, constantly looking over your shoulders for the Wild Hunt, you can leave immediately. Your people have been well fed and clothed today, so you’re ahead of the game. If, on the other hand, you decide to join us, we would expect you to pledge us your loyalty; but we would welcome you gladly, and do our best to render you all the aid we can.’
‘Yes, you’ll help us if it’s to your own advantage,’ Danel snarled. ‘Where was your help when we were being hunted down by the Phaerie? Where were you in the winter, when we were dying from cold and hunger? Where were you when we were betrayed into doing the dirty work of a Phaerie traitor?’
She looked around the table, her eyes bright and fierce with contempt. ‘No one helps the humans. As always, you just want to make use of us, for your own convenience. Well, you meddlesome crone, if what you say is true, and this period of chaos and disaster is upon us, there should be plenty of opportunities and rich pickings for us among you high-and-mighty folk with magic in your blood. I hope you’ll all kill each other, you Wizards and bastard Phaerie, and when this world is well rid of you, the humans will grow fat upon your leavings, and rule the world at last.’