The finest thing she had ever made was the cloak he now wore. Into that she had put her greatest skill. And love and memories besides, she had said.
Where was his mother now?
I, of all people, should understand Dain’s grief, Lief thought. I know what it is to miss and fear for well-loved parents.
But you have not given up hope, a voice in the back of his mind whispered. You have not abandoned yourself to despair and become ill in body and mind. And did Jasmine give in and die when her parents were taken? Did Barda despair when his mother was killed and his friends were slaughtered?
Lief shook his head, to drive the voice away. People have different strengths and weaknesses, he told himself. I should not blame —
His thoughts took a different turn as another idea came to him. Perhaps there was something else behind Dain’s collapse that he did not yet understand. All the signs were that the boy was not simply grieved and disappointed, but deeply shocked. More shocked than was reasonable, if he had told the whole truth.
The entrance tunnel was before them. They entered its cool shade and once again Lief felt that mysterious tingling run through his body. He walked in a dream, moving out into the sun with regret.
He and Barda lowered Dain gently to the ground. The boy lay shivering as if with cold, his great eyes staring sightlessly at the bright sky.
“Dain, you must try to be strong,” Barda urged softly. “You are making yourself ill.”
He said the words several times, and at last Dain responded. Slowly the blank eyes came back into focus. The boy swallowed, and wet his dry lips.
“I am sorry,” he murmured. “Finding the city empty … was a great shock. But that is no excuse.”
Kree screeched, flapping his wings warningly.
“Someone is coming!” Jasmine exclaimed, drawing her dagger.
Lief looked across the lake, but it remained still. The danger was coming by land, then. From the hills that rose beside and beyond the city.
Kree soared upward, preparing to investigate.
“No, Kree!” Jasmine cried. “They may have bows and arrows. Stay with us.”
The bird hovered for a moment, then reluctantly came back to earth.
“Jasmine, are there many?” snapped Barda.
As she had done so often before, Jasmine knelt and put her ear to the ground. “Only two, I think,” she said after a moment. “Both tall. One heavier than the other.”
Dain was watching her intently, plainly very impressed. Lief saw that the trembling in the boy’s limbs had eased. Having something else to think about seems to be just what Dain needs, he thought. But he found that he was slightly annoyed.
Yet why should Dain not admire Jasmine? he thought, turning his irritation on himself. Anyone would admire her skill! Then it occurred to him that if he was still inside Tora he would not be angry, but quite calm.
The city’s spell is wearing off, he thought. I am almost back to normal.
And at last he understood what the tingling in the tunnel had meant. He understood why Tora remained perfect and untouched after over sixteen years of emptiness.
“Lief!” growled Barda. “Quickly!”
Lief drew his sword and hurried to join his friends. They were standing shoulder to shoulder, making a barrier between Dain and two tall figures approaching from the hills. The figures seemed to shimmer in the dazzling sunlight.
Were they bandits? Ols?
“Tora is protected by magic,” Lief said rapidly. “Magic that works on hearts and minds. The tunnel drains away all evil. If we return there, nothing can harm us.”
Barda glanced at him quickly, then back at the city’s shining walls. Lief could see that he was measuring the distance in his mind, trying to decide if they should risk turning and making a dash for safety. But it was too late. The strangers had seen them, and quickened their pace.
Dain began crawling unsteadily to his feet.
“Dain — go back to Tora,” Barda ordered. But Dain shook his head stubbornly, feeling for his dagger.
“Dain!” Jasmine exclaimed. “Go!”
“If they are Ols, I can help,” Dain said, through gritted teeth. “I will stand with you, or die. I have had enough of weakness.”
He moved into place beside her and frowned at the approaching strangers. Then suddenly his eyes narrowed. His mouth firmed to a hard line.
“Doom!” he muttered, and turned away.
Startled, Lief, Barda, and Jasmine realized that he was right. Now they could see that the taller of the approaching strangers was the man who called himself Doom of the Hills. Doom, who they had last seen in the Resistance stronghold. Who had held them prisoner for three long days.
To their amazement they saw that Neridah the Swift was with him. Why had he chosen her as a companion? As they drew closer, Lief could see that Neridah’s lips were curved into a smile. But Doom’s face was stern.
“Do not relax!” muttered Barda. “They could be Ols, trying to deceive us.”
Plainly, Dain thought not, and Lief did not, either. But still his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. Doom had shown himself to be as dangerous as any Ol, in his way. He was not to be trusted.
When he reached them, Doom wasted no words on greetings. “So, Dain,” he growled. “You are where you wanted to be. Are you satisfied?”
“You knew!” Dain burst out. “You knew all along what Tora was, Doom. You lied to me!”
“Of course,” said Doom coolly. “For what else was keeping you strong but hope? Has seeing that your hope was in vain made you feel better, or worse?”
Dain’s face clearly showed the answer. Doom nodded bitterly. “Ever since you came to the stronghold I have been seeking your parents, Dain. I had hoped to be successful before you could find out that they were not in Tora. But you could not wait.”
“No, I could not!” cried Dain defiantly. “But that is not my fault. I did not know the truth of things. I am not a child, to be protected and fed with fairy tales! You drove me to what I did by deceiving me!”
Doom stared at him for a long moment. Then, surprisingly, his grim face relaxed into what could have been a smile. “Once you would not have spoken to your elders that way,” he said. “Such a polite, obedient child you were, when first I met you.”
“I am not a child!” Dain shouted furiously.
“No, it seems you are not. Perhaps …” Doom seemed to ponder. “Perhaps I was wrong.” His lips twitched. “It does not happen often. But it is possible. If I beg your pardon, will you come back to the stronghold with us? You are sorely missed.”
Dain hesitated, swaying uncertainly.
Barda, Lief, and Jasmine glanced at one another. In all their minds was the thought that many problems would be solved if Dain agreed to go with Doom. But they had to be sure he would be safe.
Lief stepped forward. “We have learned, since seeing you last, that it is not wise to trust appearances, Doom,” he said in a level voice. “Before Dain decides what he wishes to do we would like you, and Neridah, too, to go into Tora.”
Doom’s dark eyes turned on him. And now there was no warmth or humor in them.
“You need not stay more than a moment,” Lief went on, refusing to be cowed. “The Tora tunnel discovers evil far more quickly than your Testing Room.”
“So — you have discovered Tora’s secret!” sneered Doom. “Congratulations! But what if I refuse to agree to your request? What then?”
Neridah moved to stand beside Doom. Barda and Jasmine stepped into place beside Lief. The two sides glared at one another. Then Barda spoke.
“If you refuse to go into Tora, then we must assume that you are Ols, and act accordingly.”
Doom’s sword was in his hand in an instant.
“No!” shouted Dain, thrusting himself in front of Barda. “You must not fight! You are not enemies, but on the same side!”