White Road

of the rhekaro’s tunic and wondered what kind of garment he normally wore.
    “The small tayan’gil has great power,” Turmay replied, “but Seregil would not let the little one touch you. Why not, if it can heal, too?”
    “I prefer the tayan’gil who is my friend,” Rieser told him. “Now let’s see if I can hold myself up.”
    He climbed unsteadily from the back of the cart, then gripped it to stay on his feet.
    “Good to have you back, Captain,” Nowen said, helping him over to a log seat by the fire. It was clear he was in no condition to fight.
    “How are things here?”
    “Not good. Some Retha’noi are massing on the heights. I don’t know how many, but more than we have, I’d say. Theydon’t want us here and we won’t get through without a fight. Kalien and the rest are on guard duty in the woods. That man Rhal has gone back for his men, and Alec. I hope I did right, letting him go?”
    “You did. They only came to make certain of their friends’ safety, which I have sworn to.”
    “Did you find the book?”
    “We did, thanks to Seregil and Alec. Seregil, show them.”
    Seregil pulled his share of the halved, salt-warped volumes from his pack.
    “You have already tried to destroy them,” Turmay said with evident approval.
    “Not quite. We’re splitting them,” Seregil replied. “No one will have a complete book. We take half and the Ebrados take half and they’ll never come together again.”
    “No, they must be burned!”
    “They won’t burn, thanks to the alchemist’s magic. It’s better this way,” Seregil explained.
    “Then cast them into some deep, dark place!”
    “That’s for our khirnari to say, Turmay. You know that,” Rieser said.
    “But the small tayan’gil? You will destroy it?” asked Turmay.
    “No! That was never our intent. You know we honor tayan’gils.”
    “This is not like the others. You know what it can do. It’s already killed one of your people.”
    “We’re taking him back with us, to protect him, like the books,” Rieser said firmly. “You’ve guided us well so far, but you have no say in this.” He gestured at the heights where watch fires were burning. “What is the meaning of all this?”
    “They don’t like outsiders,” Turmay replied, but Seregil caught the hint of untruth in his words, and the way he glanced around at the surrounding forest as he spoke.
    “You’ve agreed to give up Sebrahn?” Nowen asked Seregil, evidently not noticing.
    “It was Alec’s decision,” said Seregil. “It won’t be easy for him, when the time comes, but Sebrahn will be yours.”
    “I see.” Turmay was frowning now.
    “There’s one more thing, though,” Seregil said, turning to Rieser. “You have the tayan’gil and the books, or parts of them anyway. In return, I need your word, on your honor, that Alec will be free to go.”
    Rieser hesitated, then nodded. “You have my word.”
    “Those were not our orders!” Nowen said.
    “I am taking responsibility for that. I’d never have found the books without them. And they saved my life twice over. No, Alec will go his way in peace, and we will not hunt him again.”
    “What will you tell the khirnari?”
    “Just what I have told you. It’s a debt of honor and I take full responsibility. I have seen what these men are capable of. Alec will not be caught and used again.”
    Seregil looked around at the others, watching the different emotions play out there: doubt, anger, acceptance.
    Meanwhile, Hâzadriën had made a few more flowers for Rieser’s shoulder. Rieser waited until he was finished, then reached out and stroked Sebrahn’s hair. “And this little one will be treated with honor and kindness.”
    “He’s unnatural,” said Turmay.
    “Aura’s white road runs in his veins, however mixed. He’s not an abomination.”
    “That’s for the khirnari to decide,” Sorengil warned.
    “No, it has been decided!” cried a voice above them.
    The witch Naba stood above the waterfall with several other Retha’noi men, all with oo’lus poised to play. Behind him Retha’noi archers were taking aim, and two other witch men were there with their horns.
    “This can’t be good,” muttered Micum.
    “If any of you move, the archers will find you,” Turmay warned. “Rieser í Stellen, you were sent to find this tayan’gil, and to destroy the ya’shel. I was sent to destroy both, and the Mother has given me the means and brought me to my brothers of the south.”
    “This is