"Be thou then as generous in thy love to him who was Akhor, Lanen Maransdatter, for that thou dost love him for us both,'' she said privately to me, the formality of her words a seal and a benison. "And remember also that distance is no hindrance to truespeech. Shouldst thou need me, here am I.''
I bowed to her. "I hear thee, lady, and will remember.''
I stood on the dais as I had hundreds of times and gazed deep into the eyes of my people. I knew well that I would never stand before them all again.
"Be well, my Kindred," I said, working to keep deep sadness out of my truespeech. ''Prosper and be well, and strive ever to restore the Lost, as shall I. O my people, my Kindred— know that the love of him who was your King is with you ever. In the name of the Winds, my people, I bid you farewell.''
I bowed one last time and stepped carefully down from the dais. Unaided, I walked slowly down the aisle they made for me, gazing at each in turn as I passed—then through the long dark passage and, finally, out under the stars.
XX
LANEN THE WANDERER
That Lord Akhor lived, in whatever guise, banished the raw wound of grief I had borne since hearing of his death, and left me rejoicing. When my father told me of the Council's final decision, I was astounded, and found hope in my heart for my people at last. At dusk, when the Lady Rella came once more to the Boundary, I answered her summons swiftly, my heart light with wonder and a reckless delight.
"Kédra, old son," said Rella, "the ship's Master is not going to wait for her forever. He's leaving at dawn and that's flat. I did my best, even suggested that we all come back ashore to get more lansip, but they're all spooked and won't come near for fear of DRAGONS." The way she said the word made me laugh. "Aye, I know, but true enough they'll leave without her sure unless she's at the landing before dawn."
"I thank you, Lady Rella, and I have a boon to ask. The Lady Lanen has asked that she might speak with you—will you come?''
She looked up at me with a curious arrangement of her features. Her Attitude seemed to have something of distrust in it. "You'll return me here in time, will you? Whatever she wants is her own affair, but I mean to be on that ship when it leaves."
"You have my word, lady," I answered, bowing. "Will you walk, or shall I bear you upon the Winds?''
Her eyes widened. "Fly? You'll take me with you while you fly?" As best I could tell she was well pleased with the prospect. ''How? Shall I sit where I did before?''
"No, lady. I bore Lanen thus aloft, but only of desperate necessity, and my neck aches yet. If you will permit, I shall carry you." I felt a curious sensation as I took her carefully in my hands. Her weight was barely noticeable, though my balance changed of course. It was the feel of it, though, that took me by surprise.
How should so new, so unheard-of a thing, feel so customary and so right?
I was terrified by the idea, but how could I refuse such a chance? "Very well," I said as he gathered me into his front claws. Oddly enough, it felt safe. "Now what?"
"Take hold of my hands and hold tight," he said. I'd barely taken hold when he launched himself into the air. It was better and worse than when he had run so swiftly with both Lanen and me on his neck. Scared witless and enjoying every moment, I held on like grim death until he came to ground again. I felt like a child, every dream of flying come true. It had been too short a trip, I didn't want it to end.
We landed in front of a cave (he had to drop me a little way to the ground so he could land).
Firelight flickered from within, and when we entered I recognised it as the same one I had gone into before. Shikrar was there, a golden patch on his shoulder gleaming in the firelight, along with the other Dragon I remembered seeing on the battlefield.
"They are not here yet, lady, but they should not be long," I said to Rella.
"Who else are we expecting?" she asked. "I wouldn't think many more Dragons would fit in here."
I found my mouth closed with wonder, I could not answer her, for there at the cave mouth entered the Lady Lanen, and on her arm—Name of the Winds, I could see it in his eyes. I had heard the words of the Council, but I had not yet seen.
It was Akhor become human.
I was surprised to find Rella waiting for us. She seemed a bit confused, as well she might be.
"Who are you, lord?" she asked, looking at Varien. She spoke in her true voice, with little accent. She seemed to feel instinctively the awe that surrounded Varien, and he still wore the circlet that Shikrar had made.
"Rella, you are welcome here. I am called Varien," he said simply. "Come, stand by the fire and be warmed."
She approached cautiously, looking from me to him. "Kédra told me you wanted to see me," she said at last, forcing herself to look at me. "What do you want? I came to tell you that the ship leaves at dawn tomorrow no matter who is or isn't on it."
"I was afraid something like that would happen," I said. ''I was going to ask you to scare up some spare clothing for Varien from the ship's stores. It doesn't look as if we're going to have enough time for that."
I turned to Varien. I hated to say it, but it had to be said. "Dear heart, could you bear to leave so soon? I was hoping to persuade the ship's Master to stay on for a time while you got used to—things, but it doesn't sound like he's going to listen."
"And what should we tell them, Lanen?" I asked. I found myself growing senselessly angry at whatever powers were forcing us to move so very swiftly, with not time even for me to find my balance on these new legs. "Have you any thoughts as to how we shall explain my presence?"
"I wouldn't explain it at all," said Rella's practical voice. "They don't need to know, and if they ask just tell them you are under the protection of the Dragons. That'll be true enough, I've no doubt," she muttered.
''And do you think that will suffice?'' I asked. She paused for a moment, thinking, when Lanen laughed and clapped her hands.
"Yes!" She turned to Idai, Shikrar and Kédra, her eyes shining. "My friends, will you consent to bear us one last time on the Winds? Not now. At dawn." She laughed again, "Oh, Akor, they will not question our protectors if they are the ones that take us to the ship!"
I laughed with her. "True enough, though it may be a long, silent voyage."
"Oh, you don't know them as I do. Give it a few days, they'll need all the hands they can find. We'll hear from them soon enough."
''Look to the lady,'' said Kédra in truespeech.
Varien and I turned as one, to see Rella sat on the ground, her face white as a fine sheet.
"Akor. You called him Akor. That was the big silver one, I remember," she mumbled to herself. "But he can't be Akor, Akor's a Dragon, he was near death just yesterday at the battle, I know he ..."
"Rella, I misspoke. This is Varien," I said, flustered. I hadn't noticed my slip. "How could he be Akor?"
"How could a man I've never seen suddenly appear from the dragonlands?" she asked sharply, then lapsed back into frantic muttering. "Can't happen, they kill the ones who cross, save you and me—oh Blessed Shia. You didn't come on the ship, so either you've arrived from thin air or you've been with the Dragons all these years. There isn't anywhere else."