Right.
"I've got a few thoughts on that score," I said, and stumped over to where Varien knelt. He had not moved since Lanen had disappeared.
"You're going to have the most awful cramps in your legs, you know," I said as lightly as I could.
"Leave me," he said distantly.
"No, I don't think so," I said, moving to stand before him. "No, Varien, I'm going to stand here and talk at you until you break yourself out of mis."
"Begone," he said.
"No," I replied, and slapped him, lightly, on the face.
"How dare you?" he growled. Well, that was better than nothing.
"I dare because I think she's still alive, Varien, and we're not going to do anything to help her by kneeling here in the grass."
He finally looked at me, then, and saw that depth of resolve in my eyes which echoed his own thoughts. I extended a hand to help him up and he took it. Even for so young a man—well, you know what I mean—it was difficult for him to stand up after so long. To my amazement, the moment he got his balance he leaned down and kissed me, a quick brush of the lips. I couldn't help but notice that he smelled amazing.
"What was that for?" I asked gruffly.
"For rousing me. It is time." He looked around, and seemed to see his oldest friend for the first time. He walked over to Shikrar and embraced him awkwardly, putting his arms as far about that great neck as they would go. "My heart's friend, I have not thanked you for my life. You saved me from that Raksha, for I was demon fodder in another moment."
"It is always my pleasure to rend the Rakshasa, Akhor, you know that," said Shikrar, trying to keep his voice light. "On the contrary, I thank you for the chance. Alas, would that I had been faster!" he cried out suddenly, turning his head away. "Akhor, soulfriend, I ran as fast as I could but she was too far away—"
"Enough, my friend. You did all in your power. Name of the Winds, Berys had a legion of the Rikti at his command and the battle was not going well. We all owe you our lives."
"True enough," I said. "I'll thank you later, Shikrar, but for now the only questions before us are, where has he taken Lanen and how are we going to get her back?"
Varien winced from the pain of my words, but he followed me back to where the rest of us sat around a small fire.
I had healed all who needed it as soon as that huge dragon had destroyed the demons. Some of the Lesser Kindred were injured as well, but when I went to heal them my power would not touch them. It was not until Aral joined her power with mine that we could clean out the poisons and knit their torn flesh.
Only when all was done did Aral and I allow ourselves to rest. I was astounded that we had kept useful so long, for we had been putting forth our power all the night long, before the demons arrived, sealing the soulgems of the new race. Jamie and Rella had built a small fire in the shelter of the little wood and we joined them beside it, drinking from the stream nearby, eating whatever we could find in our packs.
A thousand thoughts were chasing each other through my mind. I wanted to thank Aral and to tell her that I would not have survived without her, I wanted to take die time to rejoice with Will, that he finally could speak with the astounding creature who now called him Father; and I wanted desperately to speak with the True Dragon who had saved us, and with the amazing dragons whose emergence into full sentient life I had witnessed and aided.
I could not imagine that any other event in my life, no matter how long I lived, could ever come close to the incredible joy of that time, of standing by and watching the light of reason take root behind the eyes and glow in the soulgems of the Lesser Kindred.
However, the unavoidable truth is that healing is exhausting for the Healer, and I had been working from roughly noon on die day before, with few breaks and no real rest. I asked Will to waken us when things started moving, and could only hope that Lord Varien would understand that we shared his sorrow but could keep our eyes open no longer. Aral slept already and I lay down beside her in the long grass. I remember putting my head on my arm but no more.
I sat tending the fire in a kind of daze. I was as sad as I could be that the Lady Lanen was taken and I'd gladly help to save her if I thought I'd be of any use, but I have no defence against demons. While everyone was trying to come to their senses I came to the only possible decision I could. I would go with Vilkas and Aral wherever they fared, for my fate was twined about theirs.
A bump on the shoulder reminded me that my fate was linked with another as well.
"Hhow ffare hyou, Ffather?" asked that wonderful voice, and suddenly Salera was curled about me. I shivered with relief and relaxed as her warmth wrapped me round about.
"Thanks to you, littling, I am not only alive but very well," I said, reaching out to stroke her cheek ridge. "You saved my life, Salera. I thank you, my kit."
"A liffe ssaved also hyou ffor me, hwen killing trruly I wass," she said solemnly, gazing at me.
"You remember that?" I said, astounded.
"I remember, Hooirr," she said. She dropped her jaw and hissed. "Hyour nname iss so hard to ssay!"
I smiled at her. "Then you can stick to Father."
"It iss good. Ffather, of hyourr kindness, come with me to the Great One. I long to sspeak hwith him."
I laughed quietly. "You don't need me, lass. You're all grown up and glorious and come into your own. I'm sure he will be delighted with you."
"Yess, I know," she said, her eyes gazing sharp and intelligent into mine. "But I hwould have him know you."
I glanced at Vilkas and Aral, drowned deep in sleep. They didn't need me for the moment. I added another few sticks to the fire and prepared to step forth with my strange and wondrous child. We didn't have far to go, though, for everyone was coming towards us.
She walked towards me as I was following Rella and Varien towards the fire. She moved carefully, almost fearfully, and at every other moment she would touch a tail or a wing-tip to the Gedri who walked with her for reassurance. He was a kind-looking—man, that was their word, man, with hair like old khaadish. I wondered how such a friendship could have been formed in so short a time.
When she came up to me she bowed, very skillfully. I returned the courtesy. "Welcome, little sister," I said, when she did not speak. "I rejoice that I may be with you on this first day of your flowering. It is a great wonder and a great blessing for the world."
"Hwat iss 'blessing'?" she asked.
"A very great good," I answered. I could not take my eyes from her. "You speak very well, littling. It is amazing. How have you learned so much so swiftly?"
"Ffrom the Ssilver King," she said. "He who wearss the wrong sshape but iss drragon nonetheless." She gazed up at me. "Hwere iss the Lady taken?"
I shook myself. She understood! It would take me a little time to realise that even if they looked like younglings, even if their speech was yet new to them, these creatures were aware and intelligent and to be treated as such.
I was a little ashamed of myself.
"We do not know, littling. Forgive me, I would call you by name. I am Shikrar, Eldest of the Kantrishakrim and Keeper of Souls," I said, bowing again.
"I am Ssallerra," she said, managing the T reasonably well for so new a speaker. It is a hard sound for us to make. And then she astounded me again, for she nudged the man who stood now a little behind her to come forward. "Tthis iss my ffatherr."
He bowed and laughed. "I am called Willem of Rowan-beck, Master Shikrar," he said. "I never dreamt I'd ever meet one of your people. I'm honoured to know you. I am no more Salera's real father than you are, of course, but I raised her from a kit and I love her like a daughter."