From Darkness Won Part 28

A musical scream came from outside. "Kee-eeeee-arr." The majestic sound lasted several seconds. Averella turned to see a great speckled hawk light on the windowsill. It screamed again. "Kee-eeeee-arr."

Heat filled Averella from the inside. She could not keep from smiling.

The old man lifted a gnarled hand. "No, my lady! Do not trust it."

But Averella already trusted it with all her heart. She threw her arms around the hawk's neck, and it took off out the window and into the dark land.

Either the hawk flew faster or Averella was too filled with joy to notice the pa.s.sing time. For moments later the hawk soared through the roof of a round pavilion, setting Averella's transparent feet onto a woven straw mat.

With one last, "Kee-eeeee-arr," the hawk flew away, leaving Averella inside the warm tent.

15.

Achan lay on the bed in his tent. He'd been awake for hours, burrowing under his blankets like a mole, not wanting to get up yet. Today would hold much that he would rather not live through. A battle? A negotiation? Peace? Death?

He doubted peace would be the conclusion.

Sparrow would have said something sarcastic. She was able to make light of the heaviest circ.u.mstance. He hated the hole she'd left in his life. He wanted to bloodvoice her again, to spend the day searching, but the idea of failing... It was too much. Still, like a man who couldn't stop drinking, Achan reached for her, clutching the cord around his neck.

Sparrow? Please answer me.

Why do you call me Sparrow, Master Cham? Do I look like a bird to you?

Achan sat up so quickly he started to choke. Sparrow!

You can hear me now, Master Cham?

Aye. Where are you? Describe your surroundings.

I am in a tent. A hawk left me here moments ago.

A hawk? Describe this tent. Do you see Esek?

Who is this Esek everyone speaks of? And why have you ignored me these past days? I heard your calls and answered, but you never seem to hear me. How can this be?

You closed your mind. You forgot how to bloodvoice.

Me bloodvoice? I have no such skill. I only wish to go- You can bloodvoice, you've only forgotten. Part of bloodvoicing is placing shields around your mind. You likely did this to protect yourself. That's good, but when you hear the voice of someone you want to speak to, you must lower your shields so that person can hear you.

She sighed as if he were the most exasperating man in all Er'Rets. Can you tell me how to get back into my body?

Aye. Are you with your body now? Can you see it?

No. The black bird took me from it. Then the brown bird brought me here.

Achan paused, frustrated, yet desperate to control his temper so he would not frighten Sparrow away. Tell me about this tent. Are there any people in it?

Yes. There are two men.

What do they look like?

One looks to be a guardsman, asleep in a chair by the entrance. Drooling too, I believe, which is rather disturbing for a guardsman. The other man is shirtless, sitting up in a bed, looking around with the most puzzled expression.

Achan jumped off the bed. What is he doing now?

Oh, he just stood up. Praise Arman he is wearing pants.

Indeed. "Sparrow, you're here!" Achan said aloud. "You're with me right now!"

Sparrow gasped. You are Master Cham?

You don't recognize me?

Should I?

Aye, you should. Achan wheeled around and grabbed his Shield's shoulder. "Shung! Wake up, man. Sparrow is here!"

Shung moaned and glanced around the tent. "The little vixen has returned?"

"Yes! Yes! In this very tent."

He squinted past Achan. "Shung sees no woman."

"She's in the Veil. Watch my body. I'm going after her."

"Aye, Shung will watch."

"Good." Sparrow, I'm coming. Stay where you are. Uh... where are you?

I am by the center pole, over the straw mat.

Achan stared into the empty air surrounding the pole and exhaled. Amazing. He fell back onto the bed and closed his eyes. Concentrating, he sat up, this time leaving his body where it lay. He looked directly toward the center pole.

Sparrow hovered above the mat like a ghost. Almost before he thought to move, Achan was at her side.

She shrieked. How can you move so quickly?

You just have to concentrate.

Why call me Sparrow, Master Cham? Is that a code?

It's your surname, silly girl. Vrell Sparrow.

Sparrow's eyebrows puckered. Are we friends? For only my sisters and close friends call me Vrell.

You have sisters?

Four.

Really. Sparrow once told him she had no one in all Er'Rets. Since then he'd learned she had a mother and now four sisters. Where do they live?

Sparrow pursed her lips. If we are such close friends, you and I, how is it that you do not know I have sisters? Or where they live? Why should I trust you, Master Cham? You could be a scoundrel.

He laughed at her formality. I am not a scoundrel.

She lifted her chin so that her nose tilted upward. So you say. But how am I to know that for certain?

He grinned, struck again by her regal behavior. Always the odd duck, Sparrow was. You just have to trust me.

Little Cham. Shung's voice roared in his head.

Achan spun around. Sir Eagan, Sir Caleb, and Matthias stood inside the doorway to his tent.

"Tell the prince to come back," Sir Caleb said.

Sir Caleb says come back, Shung said.

I heard him. Achan turned back to Sparrow. She had drifted to the wall of the tent. Her eyes were wide like a deer when it hears a branch snap in the forest.

Sparrow, what's wrong?

You are the prince? Prince Gidon? You look different.

I'm not Esek, Sparrow, blazes. Let me explain what- Your Highness, please, Sir Caleb said. New Kingsguard soldiers approach carrying a white flag.

Sir Caleb's words captured Achan's full attention. They surrender?

Doubtful, Your Highness. They wish to parley, more likely. We must ride out to hear their terms.

Terms? He looked back to Sparrow. Promise you won't leave, Sparrow? I can help you get back to your body. Say you'll wait.

She gave a sharp nod of her head.

Nothing Achan felt confident about, but what else could he do? I'll return shortly. Much has happened that you have forgotten. I' d like the opportunity to explain. Will you wait?

Yes.

Thank you. He bowed to her, a formal act for Sparrow, but it felt right somehow. Achan blinked and found himself back in his body. He sat up and stared at the place he last saw her. Sir Caleb gripped his arm to help him stand. Achan continued to stare into the empty s.p.a.ce at the wall of his tent. Please keep your word, Sparrow, he bloodvoiced.

She did not answer.

Sir Caleb and Matthias began dressing Achan in layers of padding and armor. Achan could hardly speak he was so overcome with having found Sparrow and not being able to help her. He had to force himself to spare a thought for the coming meeting.

Too soon he found himself atop Dove, riding out of camp, flanked by guardsmen carrying torches through the gloom. A hundred hors.e.m.e.n at his back were armed with bows.

They crested a small hill, and hundreds of torchlights came into view. Five hors.e.m.e.n stood abreast in the middle of a field. The men on each end held a torch. Far behind them, a wall of soldiers stood like a parapet, their torches reflecting off shiny black armor. Black knights. Many of which appeared to hold bows, arrows knocked.

Achan gripped Dove's reins and straightened, coming back to his calling. Be with us, Arman. Give me Your strength. Your words.

Terms. He didn't even know who approached. The Hadad? Lord Nathak. Or perhaps Lord Falkson of Barth?

As they narrowed the distance between them, Achan soon had his answer. Sir Kenton Garesh's curtain of black hair was like no other, a sharp contrast to the white flag he held in one hand. And Esek Nathak, unless he was a ghost, sat alive and well on a black steed, both arms intact.

How could that be?

A chill rolled down Achan's spine. He found it difficult to look anywhere but at Esek's arms. He had cut one off, hadn't he? The right arm. He had relived the moment again and again in his nightmares.

Your Highness? Sir Caleb spoke to his mind. Keep your wits about you.

But his arm.

Is likely a wooden one.

Achan's posture relaxed. Of course. Esek would want to appear whole to his followers.

"Heir of Axel Hadar, we meet again as equals."

Achan stiffened. Esek's voice was the same, yet different. A thick undertone drew out every word a breath longer than need be. Dove shifted beneath Achan, swished his tail. Achan stroked the horse's neck. I know boy, I feel it too.

Esek spoke again. "You have nothing to say?"

Sir Kenton and Esek wore marks on their foreheads. Three bars like those on the foreheads of the Eben giants who had attacked Achan outside Mirrorstone months ago.

"I say we are anything but equals, Esek," Achan said, his words bolder than his courage. "When I left you last, you were not even whole. Now you bear the mark of madmen and carry a white flag. You surrender so soon?"

Esek lifted both hands, stretched them out toward Achan.

Sir Gavin drew his sword. "None of that, now."

Esek chuckled. "I wield no magic in these hands, Sir Gavin. I am not a black knight." He wiggled his fingers. "I merely wish to show your prince that I am indeed whole."

Achan did not understand. "How?"

"One does not share secrets with the enemy, Your Highness."

Why does he show me respect? Achan asked Sir Gavin. What's his game?

I know not, Your Highness. Remain on guard.

"Your man carries the white flag, Esek. What do you want?" Achan asked.

Sir Caleb glared in Achan's direction. Apparently this was not the proper way to negotiate terms. Well, hang the proper way. Achan wanted to get back to Sparrow. Her face came to his mind now, lifting his mood considerably.