:I know. Mirar told me. The Circle killed the other gods by drawing away the magic, didn’t they?
:Yes. Did he tell you that?
:No. I had an interesting experience with Huan earlier.
:Oh?
:She attacked me. I remembered what Mirar said about voids and decided to test a theory I came up with during those long hours chained up in one.
:Huan is dead? Surim asked excitedly.
:No. She dodged. But I guess that’s why you need me. You need six in order to stop them escaping.
:Yes, Emerahl replied. Will you help us?
:Yes.
There was a long silence. Emerahl felt excitement growing as she realized what this meant. The chance had come. It was going to work.
:What about Chaia? Tamun asked.
:What did you have to go and ask that for! Surim exclaimed.
:Because we don’t want her changing her mind at the last moment, Tamun replied.
:Chaia tried to kill me, Auraya told them. He’s the same as the rest. If I can’t trust him, then I’m just like any other Wild... Not that that’s bad...
:We know what you mean, Surim assured her. None of us like the prospect of hiding like criminals for millennia. That is why we’re here.
:Tell me your plan.
As Tamun began to explain, something - the sound of a horn - nearly dragged Emerahl from sleep.
:I must go, she began.
Then Emerahl started into consciousness to find Arleej leaning over her.
“I’m sorry if I interrupted something,” the woman said. “But the White’s messenger is at the door, asking why we haven’t joined them yet.”
49
Unable to stifle a yawn, Danjin covered his mouth. He hadn’t slept well despite Ella’s orders. Frustratingly, when the horn blew to rouse the army, his relief that the night was over had relaxed him just enough to fall asleep. By the time he woke again and reached Ella’s tent, she had left. A servant told Danjin where she would be. That news had shaken off all lingering sleepiness.
She had gone to join the White at the Isthmus.
Leaving the tent, he had jogged to the start of the Isthmus. There he found, to his relief, that the White hadn’t yet left. Ella smiled when she saw him, then beckoned.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” she told him. “You needed a rest after last night.”
“Hmph,” he replied. “I know the truth. You were trying to sneak away without me.”
She grinned. “Ha! You are too smart for me.” Then she sobered. “Are you sure you want to come? We are taking only a small group of witnesses with us. There are powerfully Gifted priests and priestesses among them, and Dreamweavers, but they may not be able to protect you if the Voices attack at full strength.”
Danjin felt a stab of apprehension. He shrugged it off.
“War isn’t without risks, and you may need me.”
He didn’t say why. There was a small chance that, if Auraya had joined the enemy, his presence might make her change her mind. It was a very small chance, but it was worth being ready for.
Ella nodded. “We might.” Her gaze shifted behind him. “And here are our Dreamweavers. I doubt they have a reason for sleeping late as good as yours.”
Danjin turned to see several men and women in Dreamweaver vests approaching. He recognized Dreamweaver Elder Arleej and Dreamweaver Adviser Raeli. The pair left the rest and approached Juran. When their short exchange ended, Ella smiled.
“Time for us to meet our adversaries,” she said. “Be careful, Danjin.”
“I will,” he assured her.
As she joined the White he moved to stand beside Lanren Songmaker. The military adviser smiled grimly, then they both started walking as the White set out along the Isthmus.
All were silent. Danjin alternately watched the white figures before him, their circs swaying as they walked, and squinted at the road beyond them, trying to see the enemy. Time dragged by. The sun rose higher, its rays delivering a heat that promised a hot day ahead. Water lapped at the sides of the isthmus in a gentle but relentless rhythm.
They must have been walking for over an hour when Lanren made a small noise of satisfaction. “Here they come.”
Danjin stared into the distance, but saw nothing. Perhaps there were dark specks in the haze ahead.
“You have good eyesight, Lanren.”
The man shrugged.
Several more minutes passed before points of darkness in the distance became moving shapes. By the time these had resolved into figures Danjin was sure he had been walking for another hour.
Slowly more details became clear. There were six figures. Five wore black. The other almost blended with the color of the road.
Mirar, Danjin thought. He drew up memories of the man he had spoken to the previous night and felt a mingled sympathy and annoyance.
I wish Auraya had killed him. I understand why she didn’t, but if she’d been a little tougher the odds today wouldn’t be balanced against us.
Soon Danjin could make out which of the Voices was male and which female. He recognized four of them, but he was more interested in the one he didn’t know. Nekaun, the new First Voice, was handsome in an exotic way. His bearing was arrogant. He was smiling as he strode toward the White.
When Danjin looked beyond at the small crowd of people that followed behind the Voices he felt a slight shock. A large, bald black-skinned man strode among them. He looked too much like the sea people who had attacked Danjin to not be of the same race. Gold jewellery glittered in the light. As Danjin watched the man dipped a cloth into a large bowl carried by a servant walking beside him then splashed and wiped himself with it.
This must be the Elai king, Danjin thought. The White hadn’t brought the leaders of Somrey, Toren, Genria, Sennon or Si in case a magical fight began and they were unable to protect them. The Voices must be confident of their superior strength. But they have Mirar, so they do have an advantage.
Several strides from each other, the Voices and White slowed to a stop and regarded each other warily. From behind, Danjin heard a Dreamweaver speak quietly.
“Mirar is with the Voices. We can’t hang behind like this and combat the advantage he gives them.”
“We will join them if they begin fighting,” Arleej replied.
“It may be too late by then,” the woman insisted.
He turned to see who was speaking, but stopped as he realized Lanren was staring up at the sky.
“Is that what I think it is?” the man said.
Danjin turned back just in time to see something blue flash across the sky. It came toward them. It took on form. Female form. As he realized who this was he felt himself go weak as relief and joy swept through him.
Auraya.
She was free at last. She had come to help them. No longer did the Pentadrians have the advantage. Now the Circlians did, if Mirar hadn’t lied about not intending to fight and kill. Auraya would fight for the Circlians, and the gods.
The White had seen her now. The Voices followed their gaze and their leader’s smile vanished. Auraya swooped downward, the blue cloth of her dress rippling. As she drew closer he saw how thin and pale she was. Her clothing was not a dress, but a length of cloth wound about her wasted body.