Darkwind was not certain what Falconsbane intended to do with the proto-Gate, or where he planned to anchor it, for that matter. Presumably on something like a Heartstone, somewhere deep in his own stronghold.
If he did that, it would give him access to something that had the potential to become a full permanent Gate. If he knew how to effect the rest of the spell, that is. Firesong did, or at least Darkwind suspected he did. Not too many did, except for Healing Adepts-and not many of those. No one had had the secret in k'sheyna for as long as Darkwind had been alive.
But even if Falconsbane didn't know the trick, having the proto-Gate in his control would give him access to a great deal of power.
Nor was that all; unless Firesong freed himself first, access to the proto-Gate meant access to the Adept.
Darkwind did not want to see Firesong-or anyone else, for that matterin Falconsbane's hands. Firesong might be able to defeat Mornelithe in a head-to-head battle. He might be able to hold Falconsbane off long enough for someone to help to free him.
Darkwind was not prepared to bet on either of those possibilities.
Dealing with Falconsbane had taught him this: it was much safer to overestimate the beast.
He could take over Firesong the way he took my father, and have the power of a Healing Adept to pervert. With that-he could undo anything any Vale has accomplished.
Horrible thought.
If he had a permanent Gate, he could bypass our shields and send his creatures straight into the mouth of the Vale at no cost to himself. That was another unpleasant scenario.
So it was time to consult Nyara who alone of all of them was an expert on her father.
Nyara had always liked Darkwind; now, with the pressures of her body and of her father reduced or gone altogether, she had discovered it was possible to simply be his friend. Over the past few days she had found him to be kind, courteous-and oddly protective, determined to keep his people from snubbing her or making her feel uncomfortable.
That was not to be expected, particularly not with the pressures that were on him now.
She and Skif were actually working on sword practice; although Need had been putting her through exercises, this was the first time she had ever had an opponent to practice with. She welcomed the physical activity as a release from direct thinking. She did not want to consider what she would do when the time came that they both must leave the Vale.
She wanted to go with him, but at the same time she was afraid to. It was much easier to lose herself in the hypnotic dance of steel and footwork.
Darkwind must have been standing at the edge of the practice circle for some time before she and Skif realized he was there. She spotted him first, and signaled a halt; only then did he enter the circle.
"You two look very good," he said quietly. "I hated to interrupt you, but I think we're going to have to figure out exactly where your f-Falconsbane is after all." She wiped sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, and nodded. "Did you find those maps you were talking about?" Strange; not so long ago, even thinking of her father brought her to the verge of hysteria. Now-well, she was afraid, only a fool would not fear Falconsbane, but she could face that fear. in my ekele," Darkwind replied, with a nod. "Could you even by Vale standards. Together he and '-'in maps out of their leather cases kap mere interest. They ad first encountered as she puzzled her ointing to an otherwise oi e not had much training d apologetically, "but I fortress to be." rolled up the thick sheets aj I t/e is being pulled, so that jo he said. "And it confirms Vol.
worit cc j k proto-k,~ QNI b In the -4:7 (U
I4 Nknew that 0. "I, comforted. AQ' cloak of arrogai. now. The young Then again, it cot~ illusions were as subst~ my guess as to who is behind this. Firesong is trying to second-guess our would-be Gate-thief, but I don't think at this point that there could be much doubt about motivation. If it's Falconsbane, then there is only one real answer. He wants what he's always wanted; power."
"The proto-Gate would be irresistible to him," Nyara agreed, then widened her eyes as something occurred to her. "You know-it is rather odd, but he becomes more predictable under stress, had you noted that?
I do not know why, but it is true. I have seen this over and over again, when I was still with him. The more he is forced to react to the surprises sprung upon him by others, the more likely he is to act as he has always acted, and think it is a clever new plan." Darkwind nodded, as if what she had just told him confirmed something he had thought himself. "What do you think he's planning on doing with the proto-Gate when he captures it?"
"oh, he will install it in his stronghold," she said immediately. With no effort at all, she could picture him gloating over his new-won prize as he had gloated over so many in the past. "That is predictable, too.
Probably in his study; he is jealous of his things of power and often will not put them where other mages may even see them. He will want such a thing as near to him as may be."
"That would be a bad place to put a Gate," Darkwind observed. "A Gate works both ways-"
"No, I suspect he will try to anchor it in a stone or crystal of some kind, rather than as a Gate," she said, trying to remember if Falconsbane had ever indicated that he knew how to make the Greater Gates.
"I am not sure. I believe he knows how to make a Gate but has not the strength. I think he would rather create something to use as a powerpole, to bring in more lines, if he can."
"What, use it to create his own kind of Heartstone?" Darkwind asked in surprise, and was even more surprised when she nodded. "Make a Heartstone like a Hawkbrother?"
"It seems amazing that he should imitate you," she told him earnestly," but he has seen your success. He is not good at creating things.
He is good at twisting them to his own ends, or warping them to suit his fancies, but not at creating them. He will imitate you, therefore, and tell himself that he is making something entirely new."
"So, whatever he tries is going to have a focus," Darkwind mused.
"The personal link will have to be taken from Firesong, of course-but if he has to have a focus, he has to have something physical. Focus; his ideal choice would be something shaped the way the proto-Gate Looks in the halfworld. And we can attack that."
"What are you thinking of?" Skif asked, sounding just a little belligerent and definitely protective.
Darkwind looked up at the tall Herald, and shook his head. "You are not going to care for my notions," he said. "No, you are not going to like them at all."
"Probably not," Skif agreed. "On the other hand, I don't like the idea of Falconsbane with all that power."
"Nor do I." Darkwind turned back to Nyara. "Before I broach any ideas, there's something I really need to know, both from you, and from your friend in the sheath." He nodded at Need. "Do you think you can hold out against your father's control now? I mean in a face-to-face confrontation; can you hold against his will?"
"Good question, boy. My vote is yes-but she won't unless she believes she can." Nyara looked deeply and carefully into his eyes. "I think so," she replied after a long moment of thought. "I know that I can for some time if we are not near one another. I think that I can, if we are not in physical contact. If he had me in his hands-" She shrugged, trying to hide her fear, but Darkwind saw it and sympathized with it anyway. "I would have no chance with him, if I were in his hands. But the old means by which he controlled me no longer work. He tried upon me what he perfected upon your father. Because none of this was perfected, there were places where Need and I could break what he had done to me. He would have to work magic-perhaps even cast actual spells-to get new controls on me. And just at the moment he might not realize that."