My fists clenched, my gut tightened, I felt the whole fabric of my impassioned plea to the Kantri crumbling from under my fingers, but there was no help for it "Akor, I tell you he is here in your lands even as we speak. I know in my bones that he has found kadish or something he desires even more. As sure as I live he will take it with him tonight and be gone in the morning. He must be stopped!"
Akor stared at me. "It would explain much. I could not find you in your imprisonment until you bespoke me, though once past the wards the Raksha-sign was obvious and the very air was thick with it." He shook his head, a very human gesture. "Name of the Winds, is such a thing possible?"
"It must be. He told me, Akor. He meant to kill me, he taunted me with it. Oh, dear Lady. Now we are lost." I bowed my head, despair rising in me like a flood until I could hardly bear it. Here I had stood before the Greater Kindred, forced them into silence with my version of the truth, forced them to see their failings as a people, and now I must tell them their fears were true and my words the ramblings of a dreamer. I felt as though I had held out a new beginning for Kantri and Gedri shining in my hands, and Marik had snatched it away before ever it knew life.
There was nothing else for it. I mustered my thoughts, how to tell them, how to—
''My people, hear me!'' called Akor. His voice caught me unawares, stirred my blood. Even those few words had my heart hurrying to answer. His truespeech sang like a call to battle.
''Truly it is said the great balance will not be denied. While we work here to find justice, another has brought a great evil upon us. The Merchant Marik, he who would have sacrificed Lanen to the Rakshasa, has made some new league with them.
"He has been in our lands already, though no Guardian sensed him sight or smell, and none felt the Raksha-trace even so near. We must disperse now and find him. He seeks plunder or worse. Go carefully, find him if you can. If not, find what has been taken. Look even unto the khaadish in your chambers. Go, my people.''
There was some movement among the gathered Dragons, but suddenly a voice rang loud in my mind. Someone else was shouting in the Language of Truth.
"She is here as distraction, Akhor, it is a plot between them!" cried Rishkaan before any other could speak. His voice flew high, cracking with emotion. I shrank back. Suddenly Rishkaan reminded me of Marik, Marik with his knife at my throat. "She must be kept under guard lest she escape the Council's decree!" He moved towards me with the grace and speed of a striking snake, he was upon me in an instant. I cowered and raised my arms, turning my head away, for I knew that my death was come upon me.
And so it would have been, but Shikrar was faster. He all but flew to stand between, taking across his chest plates the swipe that was meant to appear accidental. It barely scratched him. It would have cut me in half.
I fell to my knees.
None of the Kindred had moved.
They watched.
Shikrar stood, wings spread wide to protect my Lanen, all his being fixed on the furious figure before him.
"Why, Rishkaan?" I asked quietly. "This is not for some ancestor you never knew. This burns in your heart."
"Burns! Burns! Yes, yes, you speak truth at last, Silver King. She must die, she is a Lord of the Hells in Gedri guise. You have not seen what I have seen!" he raved. His voice echoed in the shocked stillness of the chamber, throbbing with a truth that spoke only to him. "I have seen, I know what is to come. I too have had Weh dreams, Lord Akhor, but mine have been of death and ending. My people, she would mingle the blood of Kantri and Gedri! Her children will be monsters, the world will fill with Raksha-fire and none to stand between because of her!"
Shocked silence swept the low murmurs out of the air. Where could such thoughts, such words come from? I had heard tales of madness among our people but never thought to see it myself. I did not for a moment believe that he had had such a dream in Weh sleep.
Kédra called out to all of us, his voice urgent in our minds. "Akhor, what is happening? Are you there yet? Time is precious. The Lady Rella says that this Marik will not wait, and I believe her. Find him, I beg you, lest he do more harm. Quickly, Akhor my friend!"
I needed time to think, but there was no time. I could make only a few swift plans. "Shikrar, take Rishkaan with you to my chambers. They are nearest, there you will find water and a place to rest until this is over."
"Akhor, no!" cried Shikrar. "The Chamber of Souls! I must go, I am Keeper of Souls, I cannot—"
"Then call Kédra to watch over Rishkaan for you, but guarded he will be. I know Kédra is Guardian tonight, but I think we need not fear other Boundary crossings for this while. Wait for Kédra to arrive before you go to the Chamber of Souls." When Shikrar and Rishkaan had gone I turned to the others, my people, tumbling as was I in a wind we had never known. "The rest of you, go now out into your chambers, into all our lands. Find if there is khaadish missing or aught else. And if you can, find the hidden thief."
For one last time they obeyed me. Still in silence, the Greater Kindred left the Council chamber quickly. I had seen vengeance in some eyes, fear in others, wonder and excitement in the very youngest, but below and beyond all of these something new. I did not know what it might be, and I had no time to think.
I knelt still, unable to move. So close to my dream, so near the joining of the Two Peoples, and the shadow side of both rose up to blight my bright, shining vision of peace. Rishkaan's words had pierced my armour of courage with the shaft of a dark vision at least the equal of my own.
She would mingle the blood of Kantri and Gedri! Her children will be monsters, the world will fill with Raksha-fire and none to stand between because of her!
The black pull of despair closed like dark water over me. If I was truly destined to bring such evil to the world, better far that I should die at the hands of the Kantri. Shikrar at least would be merciful.
"Rise, Lanen. You must hurry, there is no time."
It was Akor, speaking in tones that dragged me to my feet. Whatever I might need must wait now upon a larger purpose. I stood ready and asked, "What would you have me do?"
''Wait outside this chamber for Kédra to arrive. Then you must go with Shikrar to safety."
"Akor, please, let me do something! Anything! I have to help you, I must, there must be something I can do to help stop that damned son of a bitch—''
Akor waited, a very little time, until I ran down of my own accord. "Littling, I will not allow it. What should you do that I and my people cannot?"
The worst of it was that he was right. I've thought since that if I had any decent sense of the dramatic I would have begged, nay, insisted on going with Akor, as so often happens with the women in the bard's tales. I never did have time for those idiots. Why stand by unarmed and helpless in a fight, waiting to be taken hostage or distract your loved one's mind during a battle? Despite my anger, my despair, my frustration, I did no more than bow my assent and say, "The Winds and the Lady keep you, dearling. I will await you here." And in truespeech, focussed as tight as I could, I added the blessing that Jamie had given me when we parted. "Akor, beloved, go you safe and keep you safe, and come safe home to me.''
His own farewell was a swift touch of the mind like a caress, and then he was gone. I took a small brand from the great fire that lit the chamber and followed the passage out. I had little hope now for myself, but in the face of Marik and his demon master I cared little for that. In my heart I begged the Winds and the Lady to keep Akor from the evil of the Rakshasa, and protect him from Marik.