Sianim 02 - Wolfsbane

of Ridane for a lover, and that might help. Or it could simply be the fading of the spell.”
    “So your shapeshifter blood protected you?”
    She nodded. “Yes.” She hesitated, but decided the more people with as much information as was safe, the more likely it was that someone would figure out how to save the Lyon. “I suspect it might also have had something to do with my close association with another mage.”
    “His son.”
    She shrugged, then nodded.
    “You said that you’re afraid Geoffrey is not dead?”
    “All that was found in the ae’Magi’s castle were bits and pieces of Uriah leavings. It was impossible to know for certain that the ae’Magi’s remains were there. The bindings between the Archmage and the other sorcerers were broken, and the wizard’s council assumed that meant Geoffrey was dead. But who can say for certain?”
    “If he was not killed,” said Correy slowly, “would he have any reason to look for you?”
    Aralorn nodded. “He wanted to conquer death, and he thought he could do it through his son. He knows I am . . . a friend of his son—I, Aralorn of Lambshold, not just of Sianim. He might also have a touch of vengeance in his motivation. We—ah—had something to do with his untimely demise.”
    Correy gave her a small smile. “If he’s not dead, it would be his almost demise.”
    “Point to you,” she agreed.
    “You think he is responsible for what happened to Father,” said Correy slowly. “That he set Father up as bait, knowing you would go to Cain for help.”
    “I think that if he were alive, that is what he would do, yes.”
    “Do you think he is alive?”
    “No.” She sighed, rolling her shoulders to relieve the strain of reaching Sheen’s back. Short people should have short horses. “I hope not.”
    “Kisrah knew,” said Correy slowly. “He knows about you. Did the last ae’Magi tell him?”
    “I don’t know,” she said. “Probably. Or he scryed it somehow.”
    “Was it Kisrah who ensorcelled Father?” he asked.
    “I think . . . I think it was Kisrah and Gerem. I think someone used both of them to set a trap that neither was responsible for.” That sounded right and fit with Kisrah’s actions.
    “Someone like Geoffrey ae’Magi.”
    She nodded. “He’s not the only possibility.” But he was—unless a legendary, possibly fictitious, creature had begun to stir again. Unfortunately, the ae’Magi’s surviving a Uriah attack without use of his magic was more likely than the emergence of a creature who’d been trapped under a sea of glass for ten centuries.
    “Have you really asked for Cain’s help?” asked Correy. “Knowing it could be a trap set for him?” He hesitated. “Knowing what he is?”
    She decided that defending Wolf to her brother could be put off for another time, so she simply said, “He’s doing what he can.”
    She set the cloth down on a rough bench, took up a comb, and began to work on Sheen’s tail. The stallion jerked his tail irritably, twitching it halfway out of her hand before resigning himself to his fate with a sigh.
    Aralorn had been going back through the information she’d given her brother and regretted some of it.
    “Correy, for your own safety, don’t talk to anyone about the ae’Magi. His spell is waning, but it is by no means gone—most especially in connection with people he associated closely with, like Lord Kisrah. And I would appreciate it if you would try to keep Hart and Gerem from bandying Cain’s name about, for my safety. There are any number of mages who would like to have something to use against him, someone he cares about—like me.”
    “You care about him, too,” said Correy.
    “Yes,” she agreed without looking at Wolf. “I do.”
    “I will try to keep the others quiet,” Correy promised. He patted her on the shoulder and walked down the wide aisle between stalls. As he left, the wind, which had been still all day, flitted through the open stable doors in a ragged gust.
    Death is coming . . . Death and madness dreaming . . .
    “Aralorn,” said Wolf sharply, coming to his feet.
    She shivered, and, knowing he couldn’t hear the screaming shrieks, gave him a half smile. “I’m all right. It’s just the wind. Wolf, do you still think that talking to Kisrah is a good idea?”
    “I don’t know that we have any other option,” he replied. “If he can tell me what spell was used to bind your father, I may be able to unweave it. It’s obvious Gerem, if he’s