The boy held it out. Khaavren stood over him, then knelt and studied it close-up. “It really is quite remarkable,” he said at last.
“Yes,” I said.
“What exactly does it do?”
“We don’t exactly know. But I’m starting to suspect that it has its own plans.”
“It went through everything just because it wanted to get to this Teckla boy?”
I shrugged. “Any point in a process looks like the process was leading up to it if that’s as far as you’ve gotten.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, any point … never mind. No, I don’t think that was its goal. I don’t know its goal. I’m just starting to suspect it has one.”
“But, what does it do?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes.”
“All right.” I considered. “As far as I can tell—just guessing—it unites the conscious mind with the unconscious. Sometimes, and in some ways, and under some conditions.”
He frowned, studied the tiassa some more, then stood. “This is beyond the knowledge of a simple soldier.”
“I’ll be sure not to talk about it to a simple soldier, should I meet one.”
“My Lord Szurke, are you trying to antagonize me?”
“I’m not sure. Probably.”
“I am not unaware of what you did for my son. Are you unaware of what my wife did for you?”
That stopped me. After what seemed like a long time, I said, “What are you talking about?”
He shrugged. “Ask your wife.” Then he said, “Well. You’ve had that all along?” He drew and stepped back. “Use it, then, if you’re going to.”
I stared at Lady Teldra, not entirely sure how she had come into my hand.
“Vlad,” said Sara.
I shook my head, took a deep breath, let it out, and re-sheathed Lady Teldra. “I don’t know what—”
“Think nothing of it,” said Khaavren, returning his sword to his sheath. “I shouldn’t have been so abrupt; my apologies.”
“What do you mean about asking my wife?”
“What I said. I’m sorry, Lord Szurke. It wouldn’t be right for me to say any more than that.”
I felt a hand on my arm, and Sara was standing next to me. I looked at Savn; he was pale and his eyes were wide.
“Let’s all sit down,” I said, and set the example.
Sara sat on the grass next to me, with that breathtaking grace; Savn was still sitting. The Tiassa said, “Not me. I’ve found out what I needed; I’ll leave you in peace.”
“What did you find out?” I said.
“I’ll have to get back to you on that,” he said.
Then he mounted his horse, turned, and rode away. I turned my attention back to Savn. I took Sara’s hand, and she didn’t pull it away.
The Cycle
