'Are healed,' I said firmly. 'I coerced you to think them worse than they were because I knew I could not make it back to the mountains before the pass closed. But what has happened here? Was Obernewtyn like this when you arrived? Were any hurt in the firestorm? And when did the soldierguards come?'
Daffyd burst into laughter. 'It must be a powerful illusion if it fools even the guildmistress of the Farseekers. But they do say little Dragon is as strong as you were . . . are,' he added ruefully.
I felt my mouth drop open and a great joy welled up in me. 'Then . . . this,' I waved a trembling hand at the ruins. 'This is all an illusion?'
'Of course,' Daffyd said.
I sank to my knees, weak with relief. 'No wonder Gahltha behaved so oddly. Dragon's illusions do not work on animals.' I sent an explanation to Gahltha, who still looked puzzled.
'Then everyone is inside?'
Daffyd shook his head. 'Rushton thought that too much risk. We are using the teknoguild cave network as a base. Only a few live in the camp for appearance's sake. Rushton, of course, Ceirwan, Dameon and all others trained in empathy and farseeking.'
'Not coercers?' I wondered.
'They are in another hidden camp very near the pass,' Daffyd explained. 'They are our insurance, in case this sleight of hand fails to deceive the soldierguards, and open battle is needed to stop them carrying tales to the Council.' He frowned. 'But how is it they did not see you come through the pass just now?'
I shrugged thinking fast. 'I came very stealthily. And I have some coercive Talent . . .' I realized it would suit me well to have everyone think I had come from the Highlands, rather than from the high mountains. 'But we might have to fight despite this illusion.' I told Daffyd what I had overheard.
'It is true the soldierguards have stayed longer than we hoped,' Daffyd said worriedly. 'Tonight Rushton will come here, and you can tell him this news.' He gave me a quick look. 'He will be amazed to see you here. I think your death was a grievous thing to him.'
I nodded absently. 'I overheard one of the soldier-guards say they have been here for three days. How is it Dragon can sustain an illusion so long?'
'She has practised all winter,' Daffyd said. 'It is fortunate I was able to warn them, for as you feared the soldierguards came up here the moment the pass thawed. Dragon has proved our best defence. She is very powerful. Even so, it is a strain and she does not maintain it in the dark hours. Luck has made them come in the waning of the moon. The blue fumes are an added touch to give credence to Rushton's story that the ruins are contaminated. That stops the soldierguards wanting a closer look.' He glanced at the ruin pensively. 'I wonder what made them suspicious.'
'From what I heard, it was something Ariel told them, before they came.'
'Dragon is not far from here,' Daffyd said. 'It is easier for her to hold the illusion away from the distraction of people. Matthew stays with her to protect her. We three are camped not far from here. No one would dare come so close to Obernewtyn. They will be back after dark. In the meantime, what about some food?'
'I'm starving,' I said fervently. 'And so is Gahltha.'
As we walked to the campsite, I explained to the black horse all that Daffyd had told me. It did not take Daffyd long to make a small fire and warm some fruit stew. Gahltha preferred grass to the bags of horse feed. I sat gratefully by the fire Daffyd made and accepted a cup of strong fement to warm me, once I had eaten.
'I meant to go back down to the Druid camp after delivering Dragon and your message, but that very night snow fell thick and closed the pass,' Daffyd said, sitting beside me.
'You're worried about Gilaine and the others, I suppose . . .' I began, then faltered, seeing the grim look on the armsman's face.
'I don't know if they're still there. One of the soldier-guards said the firestorm had all but burnt out the White Valley.'
'Oh, Daffyd,' I said, aghast.
Again he shook his head. 'I don't believe they are dead. I would have known. Rushton has pledged Obernewtyn's help to find them when the soldierguards are gone.' He sipped his drink as if it held a bitter draught.
We both froze at the sound of running feet. The brush parted and Roland burst into the open. 'Where's Matthew?' he cried. 'We need him to farseek the camp! Something has gone wrong. All contact has been severed, but we dare not go down there with the soldier-guards . . .' He stopped dead, catching sight of me. 'Elspeth?'
'Yes it's me,' I said impatiently. 'Are there no other farseekers but those in the camp?'
'None strong enough but Matthew,' he said in a dazed fashion. His eyes lit up. 'But you . . .'
I nodded impatiently and waved him to silence, closing my eyes to concentrate. I sent my mind flying towards the makeshift camp, seeking out any familiar pattern. It was as if all there slept, though it was not yet dark.
At last I located a weak sending. Focusing in, I discovered it was Ceirwan.
'Who . . . who is that?' he sent groggily. I was astounded at the weakness of his sending. His call was barely discernible.
'It is Elspeth,' I sent clearly. 'What has happened there?'
There was a pause. 'Elspeth . . . impossible.'
I felt his grief, but could waste no time on it. 'I did not die. Now you must concentrate. I can hardly understand you. What has happened?'
I sensed his struggle to concentrate. 'I ... They drugged us. But I drank little of their draughts. The soldierguards have grown suspicious and think we hide evidence of Sedition in the ruins.' His signal faded.
'Ceirwan,' I sent strongly. 'Are you hurt?'
'No one hurt. All. . . but me unconscious. Rushton bade me call in hope that someone would hear. You must stop the soldierguards from getting to Obernewtyn . . . Coercers . . .' He faded out again and this time it was impossible to recall him.
I opened my eyes. The soldierguards have drugged them and are about to go and examine the ruins. We have to stop them.'
'We'll have to fight. Can you call the coercers?' Daffyd asked.
I shook my head. 'I've a better idea, Daffyd. You ride Gahltha and bring back one of the coercers. Gevan if you can. As well, I want you to get a group of those left to go down to the camp as soon as the soldierguards leave . . .' I outlined my plan quickly.
'It might just work,' Roland said.
'And it would explain why Rushton was so anxious to keep them away from the ruins. But will the Captain react as you expect?' Daffyd asked.
'It's my guess they'll prove a craven lot, more worried about their own skins than their duty. But if not, Gevan is a coercer, and so am I, at need.'
'You?' Roland asked sharply. I ignored him, giving Daffyd a leg up onto Gahltha. The black horse allowed Daffyd to mount, then sped off keeping close to the tree-line.
'Come. We'll meet Gevan in front of Obernewtyn,' I told the Healer guildmaster. 'We'll have to make sure they don't come too close to the buildings. Now describe to me the symptoms of. . .'
It was dusk when the soldierguards appeared, riding along the entrance road leading up to Obernewtyn. Catching sight of Gevan and me, the Captain reined his horse.
'Who are you, girl? I've not seen you before. What trickery is here?' he shouted harshly.
When I did not answer, he ordered one of his men to bind us. The man dismounted, but he paused when he was close enough to see my face clearly.
'Captain ... I think there's something wrong with her . . .' he called uneasily.
I lurched towards him and he backed away hastily. 'Help me!' I moaned. 'Help me. I am ill.'
The Captain dismounted, staring at me suspiciously. 'Ill? What do you mean? I won't stand for . . .' He stopped, having come close enough to see the black blisters on my lips. Gevan moaned loudly, making him jump. His face changed, contorting with horror and he spun away. 'Lud's curse! This creature has the plague!'
The soldierguards murmured in dismay.
'Shut up and let me think!' the Captain snarled, mounting his horse. The other soldierguard did the same.
&
nbsp; 'What are we goin' to do, Captain? We won't be allowed to live if anyone finds out we've been in contact with the plague!' said one soldierguard in a frightened voice.
'We can't stay here. I don't want to die of plague!' wailed another man.
'We won't,' said the Captain tightly. 'Now listen to me, all of you. It will take close mouths and a tight story to save us from being Burnt. We will tell the Council all was as Rushton had claimed - Obernewtyn a poor ruin, the valley tainted. We will tell them we found no one here. No one must ever know there was plague here. Even a whisper would be enough to see us dead.'
The men nodded, ashen faced.
'But are we not already infected?' asked one of the men.
'Thank Lud we made our own camp and did not sup or dally with these wretched people. 'Tis said plague spreads by close living. I think we will be safe if we leave at once.'
'What about these two and the people in the camp? We can't leave them here alive,' said another of the soldierguards.
The Captain shook his head grimly. 'There must be no witnesses. If anyone ever does come up here, it must be exactly as we have said. Do not bother with these half-dead wretches. The wolves will finish them. But while the others are drugged, we will burn the camp. Now let's ride. I want to be quit of this cursed valley before full dark.'
It was growing dark when the soldierguards torched the camp.
As I had hoped, they did not trouble to make sure their victims were inside, else they would have found the settlement deserted. The coercers had carried all the unconscious out and set them under the trees.
From the distance, we watched the huts blaze. Silhouetted in orange light, the soldierguards let out a hoarse cheer before mounting and riding out of the valley. None looked behind him.
'Are they all right?' Gevan asked, watching Roland lift Rushton's eyelid.
He nodded in satisfaction. 'Only drugged, though I have not seen this kind of drug before.' He moved to look at Ceirwan.
I leaned over Rushton and stared into his ravaged face. In repose, he looked so terribly sad.
Unexpectedly, his eyes fluttered open, flamed with longing, then he shook his head and groaned. 'Ah, Elspeth, love,' he sighed, then his eyes fell shut.
I stared down at him in wonder.
27
'I am the Master of Obernewtyn. Who among you will Choose a guild this night?' Rushton asked.
Those prepared crossed to stand in line facing him. 'We Choose our places,' they spoke in unison.
Rushton handed each of the candidates a candle and then lit them all from his own, the flame guttering slightly. Usually the ceremony took place inside but fortunately the wind was low. 'May you Choose well,' he murmured.
'I am Merrett, I Choose the Coercer Guild,' said the first, a thin, dark-eyed girl.
There was a predictable buzz of surprise since Merrett's mother was a healer. Merrett crossed to the table and set her candle amidst the Coercer token.
Zarak, grinning with pride, held up his own candle. With permission, I Choose again, the Farseeker Guild.' There was a burst of applause as he crossed to the Farseeker table and I smiled inwardly at the success of Ceirwan's negotiations.
There were no other surprises and when all had Chosen, the newly guilded led a toast to Obernewtyn.
Able to escape at last from his affectionate guild, Dameon came to sit beside me. I was amused and flattered to hear some children begin to sing an idealized version of my own first journey to Obernewtyn.
'I had no idea how brave and wise I was,' I laughed.
Dameon smiled. 'I think they are already at work on the epic of the journey to the coast. But I doubt anyone will ever sing the complete story.'
I looked at him. Dameon had always been able to see more than most people. Like Atthis, his judgement lay in some keener place than his eyes. I had not told anyone what had happened in the mountains, but for a moment I was tempted to tell the empath. Such a secret made me feel lonely, even in the midst of my friends. Then I remembered Atthis's final stern warning. 'For your own sake, speak to no one of this quest, for it is yours alone.'
Behind my seat, Gahltha stirred, as if he too heard an echo of the voice which had changed his life. The black horse had become my shadow whenever I moved outside Obernewtyn's halls, regarding himself as my special guardian. Fortunately this was not too noticeably odd, since he and Avra had become the first animals to attend Guildmerge. Rushton had provided a direct entrance from the outside for them and they used it proudly.
Dameon patted my hand. 'Some secrets are safer kept.'
I smiled wanly. 'I'm glad to be home, but I can't help worrying about what will happen next.
Dameon shrugged. 'The battle is won but the war goes on. Do not dwell too much on yesterday's battles. Take things as they come. Today is a day for singing and laughing.' Dameon laughed. 'Do you suppose Kella and Domick will Bond before they go back to the safe house in Sutrium?'
I stared at the empath. 'They told you?'
Dameon smiled. 'I am an Empath master but the greenest novice might guess as easily. They might as well announce it and get it over.'
I grinned. They're working up courage. It will rock their two guilds on their heels. Merrett's Choosing will be nothing to that.'
'It is well done. Such divisions are not good for Obernewtyn,' Dameon said approvingly.
'I hear Dragon is doing well as an Empath novice,' I said, catching sight of the red-haired beauty.
Dameon shook his head. 'She is a handful that one. I do not envy Matthew her violent affections. Yet I would like to know more about her past. Her fear of water is extreme. Brydda has promised to find out what he can about her. We will see.'
Lina ran up, grinning. 'Dance with me, master?' she cried, taking his hands. I opened my mouth to rebuke her but, to my surprise, Dameon let himself be coaxed to his feet. As if sensing my surprise, he cast a smile over one shoulder. 'Remember, today is for dancing, not worrying about the future.'
I sat back in my seat astonished. So much had changed subtly at Obernewtyn, as if winning one battle, even if by trickery, had given everyone bolder hopes. I looked up, caught Roland's eyes and looked hastily away not wanting to face more questions about my legs. What would he think if I told him a Guanette bird had healed me?
It was spring, and the Choosing ceremony had been the high point of our own Moon Fair. It was the wrong season and the moon had waned, but the brief lovely spring and an increasing feeling of hope for the future ensured its success. After the Choosing, there were tests of skill between the coercers, a vision demonstration by Dragon, and various demonstrations by the other guilds. These were followed by a merry feast. Last of all, the musicians brought out their instruments.
Daffyd appeared beside me with a mug of fement. I motioned him to sit as the musicians began to tune and strains of discordant music filled the air.
Daffyd smiled, but his eyes were sad. 'Gilaine would love to hear this,' he said wistfully.
'Is there any news of them?'
He shrugged. 'Nothing definite. You might remember Gilbert, the leader of the armsmen? He devised a plan some time back in case there were a need to evacuate the camp in a hurry. It was meant to be used in case of soldierguard attack, but it would have served well in the firestorm. If Gilbert survived to put it into operation, he would have kept the survivors together.'
'Have you spoken to Maryon? She might be able to help pinpoint them.'
'The Futuretell guildmistress thinks they're alive, but it is hard for her to get a definite reading because she doesn't know them.' Daffyd was sunk in thought for a minute. 'I mean to leave when Domick and Kella go. I'll travel with them as far as Sutrium and then . . . well, I'll keep looking. Rushton has offered help, but until I find some clue as to where they are, I'm better working alone.'
I felt a shadow touch my own heart at the thought that each had his own deeds to do, his own battles and quests. Mine lay in a dark chasm across endless Blackland plains.
I caught sight of Rushton deep in conversation with Brydda and Gevan, apparently oblivious to the music and laughter. As ever, he treated the festivities as yet another Guildmerge, going from one group to the next in his effort to have everything organized before his departure. He was going down to the Lowlands with Domick and Kella when they returned to Sutrium with Brydda. The big Lowlander had been vastly impressed with all he had seen at Obernewtyn and he and Rushton had taken an instant liking to one another. Brydda was eager to have Rushton meet his allies.
Addressing a Guildmerge, Brydda had made it clear that though he had no prejudices about Misfits, he would not speak for his allies. But he was certain that in time the book I had found about mind powers would convince them that Misfits were not mutants or evil caused by the Great White, but a natural development of human abilities which had existed in the Beforetime.
Brydda had brought Katlyn and Grufyyd to Obernewtyn to stay. The group had arrived soon after we had sent word to Sutrium that the way was clear. Brydda told me his parents had hated the city, and had only been too glad to be invited to live at Obernewtyn. Katlyn had already begun to replant her collection of herbs, much to Roland's delight.
The news of Pavo's death had saddened me, though I had expected it, and the Teknoguild, still mourning his loss, had mounted an expedition to the city under Tor in his memory. It had made me think of Jik, and of Maryon's words.
'It is true, the prediction focused on the boy, but I think the dog would not have gone without the boy. Futuretelling is inexact even for a futureteller. Not long after you departed, I foresaw the boy's death, but not the dog's. But there is no sense in blaming yourself for Jik's death. Who knows what would have happened to him, if he had not left the Cloister, or if he had not gone, and because of this Obernewtyn had failed. Only a fool plans his deeds by future plans. Who knows what will come to change matters. Dwell not on this death, but on his last happy days with us.'
Brydda whirled Kella past me in a dance, rousing me from my memories. I smiled, already regretting that Brydda had to leave. He had a heartening manner and a cheery way of making everything seem possible.