White Road

them, however, they turned and disappeared up the trail to the waterfall.
    Micum reined Star to a halt. “I guess they can count at a distance.”
    “Or they have a special welcome for us,” Seregil said with a frown.
    “We should ride ahead and explain,” said Alec.
    “Not you, Alec. Rhal, will you come with me?”
    The captain drew his sword with a grin. “I’d be glad to.”
    “You’d better have Rieser with you,” Micum advised.
    “True. All right, you come with us. Alec, you and the rest stay well back from the trees for now. One of us will come back for you, or yell if we’re in trouble.”
    Alec took an arrow from his quiver and set it to the string, resting the bow across the saddlebow. “We’ll be ready, but I’ll only wait an hour. It will be almost dark by then.”
    “Good. See you soon!” Seregil took the lead ahead of the wagon, with Rhal in the rear.
    “I don’t see any sign of archers,” Micum said in a low voice, scanning the forest on either side as they entered the trees.
    “It’s the ones I don’t see that I worry about.”
    No one challenged them until they reached the clearing at the waterfall.
    Nowen and Sorengil came to meet them with swordsdrawn. Behind them Rane, Relian, Morai, and Allia had bows at the ready, and Turmay stood by the fire, oo’lu in hand. The other four were missing. Seregil wondered how many other bows were aimed in his direction. There was an air of tension here that seemed out of proportion with the situation.
    “Who are those men you brought with you, and where is Captain Rieser?” Nowen demanded.
    “Those men are our bodyguard,” Seregil replied. “We left them behind as a show of good faith, but I’d be happy to go and get them. As for Rieser, he’s here in the wagon and needs your healer badly.”
    The archers he could see lowered their bows and followed Nowen to the side of the cart.
    “Did they do this to you, Captain?” she asked, shocked.
    “He’s beyond hearing you,” Seregil told her. “And if we had, we wouldn’t be bringing him back to you, would we?”
    Hâzadriën and Sebrahn climbed into the cart while the youngster named Rane fetched a bowl of water and a knife.
    Seregil and Rhal dismounted and watched with the others as Hâzadriën drew his knife and slit his finger. He made half a dozen yellow lotus flowers and arranged them in a ring on Rieser’s shoulder. Each one melted away in turn, and their sweet scent mixed with the rank odor of pus and proud flesh.
    “By the Old Sailor!” Rhal exclaimed softly as he watched.
    “But it’s not enough,” said Nowen.
    Sebrahn reached for the knife, but before he could make his dark flowers, Seregil climbed in to stop him.
    “No,” he said firmly, holding Sebrahn by the wrist.
    “What’s this?” asked Nowen.
    “Rieser told me he didn’t want any of Sebrahn’s healing. I gave my word. Let your tayan’gil go on.”
    Nowen motioned for Hâzadriën to continue. At last the flowers began to take effect. The infection began to fade from the flesh, and the wound opened and oozed bloody yellow pus.
    “You’re bringing those men here?” Nowen asked, still suspicious. “If you come in peace, then why do you need them?”
    “They are my men,” Rhal told her. “We’re just here to ensure the safety of our friends. We mean you no harm.”
    “Is Alec with them?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Go get your people and bring him with you.”
    Rhal exchanged a quick, questioning look with Seregil.
    “It’s time you went back.” The sun was nearly touching the tops of the peak now, and long shadows were stretching across the clearing. Rhal mounted Windrunner and galloped off down the track.
    A few moments later Rieser came to with a sudden gasp and stared up at Sebrahn crouched beside him with a mix of awe and horror. “Nowen! Was I—Was I dead?”
    “No, but as good as,” Seregil told him. “And don’t worry. It was your tayan’gil who healed you. How do you feel?”
    Rieser flexed his shoulder. More pus streamed from the wound. Rane handed him a cloth and Rieser pressed it to the wound with a grimace of disgust. “Better than I was, except for this mess.”
    Nowen felt his forehead. “The fever’s gone down a bit.”
    Rieser smiled at Hâzadriën—the most genuine smile Seregil had ever seen on the man. “Thank you, old friend.”
    Hâzadriën just looked at him and twitched his shoulders slightly. Seregil could see the outline of the wings press out against the back