Dave Duncan - Faery Lands Forlorn

The stones dug sharply into Inoss hands and hip. She was sprawled on the cold ground with Kades comforting arms around her; shaking uncontrollably, not trusting herself to speak.

I saw it, also! Azak loomed protectively over them, still holding his scimitar and glowering around at the dawn. Fooni had come out, rubbing sleep from her eyes, bewildered but mercifully silent. Other people were emerging from other tents, alerted by Inoss scream. The camels kept up their awful bawling in the background, and the peaks of the Agonistes glowed pink to the west.

A wraith? Kade repeated.

I know not what else, Azak snarled. Not that I have ever seen one before. You knew him? he demanded of Inos.

She nodded miserably.

Rap, oh Rap! It had sounded like Rap. It had looked like Rap, a faint transparent image in a blur of darkness. She had even made out his ever-tangled hair and the stupid tattoos on his face.

But why Rap? She had never thought of Rap as being wicked. Clumsy, maybe. Stubborn. Apt to do damage without meaning to, but never wicked. Yggingi had been an evil man. Andor, too, perhaps. Ekka had certainly schemed most foully. But Inos would never have imagined that there had been more evil than good in Rap. When the Gods had weighed his soul, then surely the balance would have been good, and gone to join the Good and become part of it forever, as the sacred texts said. Only a great sinner left a residue of evil that the Evil itself rejected and left behind to haunt the world as a wraith. Not Rap! If Rap had been judged so evil, than what hope was there for her, for her dead father, for anyone?

The others were approaching warily, starting to ask questions. Then the men noticed uncovered female faces and turned back. The women drew closer, jabbering.

Twas nothing! Azak insisted, whirling on them fiercely. Merely a bad dream. When they retreated in haste, he seemed to realize that he was still brandishing his sword; he sheathed it.

Kade tried to lift, and Inos let herself be helped to her feet. She fought to control her trembling limbs. Im fine! she said. Inos? Kade whispered, blue eyes wide. Who was it?

It was Rap.

Rap? Oh, no! But probably Kade was relieved that Inos had not seen her father.

Who was this Rap? Azak demanded. Inos just shook her head.

Kade explained. A servant in her fathers house. A groom. He was slain by the imps, we thought.

He must have died somehow. There are no footprints where I saw him. My blade passed right through the vision. Azak also was showing the whites of his eyes. He must be more troubled than he would admit. He rounded on little Fooni and roared at her to make coffee. Fooni fled. Kade helped Inos toward the tent, and suddenly her legs steadied.

Im all right, she insisted. I can walk.

Azak lifted the flap, and they all went inside, away from prying eyes. Inos sprawled loosely down on her bedding and shivered. Kade drew a blanket over her shoulders for her.

It spoke, Azak said. What did this apparition say to you?

It... he... it said something about me being in a trap. It said to flee, to run away.

The big man grunted. He adjusted his sword and sat down cross-legged. Which is exactly what we were about to do.

We cant now, Inos whispered, thinking of the crowd that had appeared. She huddled the blanket tighter.

Not today, anyway. Tomorrow we shall be farther inland, away from the boat. And it may not wait for us. He scratched at his stubbled face and scowled.

Wraiths are the embodiment of Evil! Kade protested. Whatever it said we must ignore! It would be the height of folly to take the advice of a wraith!

Inos looked at Azak and they nodded simultaneously. We must not trust it! he said.

Yet it had seemed so much like Rap! It had sounded so much like Rap, Rap very agitated about something. She had never thought of Rap as especially clever. Dogged. Well meaning. Earnest. And had Rap spoken as emphatically as that, he would have had good reason. He had never played silly practical jokes, like Lin or Verantor.

She discovered that her instincts were telling her to trust what the eerie vision had said. Run away! But Kade was being sensible. To take the advice of a ghost would be insanely foolish. Its motives would always be evil.

Rap had helped the goblin kill the proconsul. Had that been the wickedness that had tipped the balance? Oh, Rap!

Azak was staring. What must he be thinking of her?

Im a fool, she said. I should not have cried out like that. It was just so sudden, so unexpected.

Perfectly natural.

Perfectly natural for sheltered palace flowers, but that was not how she wished to be judged.

No, it was unforgivable. I am ashamed.

Queen Inosolan, Azak said softly, his dark gaze unwavering, you reacted by shouting for help. Why not? You faced an unexpected danger. You were alone and unarmed. I reacted by charging like a mad bull. That was not rational or forgivable, for I had not taken time to assess the nature of the enemy. And if you fear that I may think the less of you because of what has just happened, then please set your mind completely at rest. Ever since I watched you ride my most ungovernable horse, my lady, I have never doubted your courage, nor shall I ever doubt it. You taught me that a woman could be brave like few men I know, and that was a wonder beyond all my experience and outside the lore of the ancients.

Huh? Inos gaped. She had never expected to provoke a speech like that from the giant. In fact, she was astonished to discover he was capable of it. She had just found another unexpected facet of his character.

Before she could frame a reply worthy of her Kinvale training, the tent door was darkened by a large bulk. First Lionslayer, may I enter?

Azak flashed the women a glance of warning. Enter and be welcome to my humble abode, Greatness.

Sheik Elkarath stooped and came in, wheezing softly, massive enough to make the tent seem crowded. He had discarded his many-colored garments before leaving the city and now wore a simple white robe. He sank to his knees, not looking at faces. May all the Gods respect this house, he muttered formally to the matting.

Azak gave a ritual response, offering food and water.

You have troubles, Lionslayer? The sheik fingered his rings and still did not raise his eyes.

Azak hesitated, then told the story. Swift sunrise brightened the tent. Inos cowered inside her blanket, still trying to control her shivers.

Thinking of Rap.

And her Majesty knew the man, Azak concluded. The only item he had not mentioned was that the sheiks chief guard had been planning to desert and take his companions with him. But there were bundles lying around, and a wily old trader might well be wondering why someone had been packing at so early an hour.

Majesty? he murmured, with a glance in the general direction of Inos.

One of her late fathers stablehands, Kade explained. Slain by the imps who pursued us.

The old man thoughtfully stroked his snowy beard with plump fingers that splattered rainbows. And what did it say to you? Inos found her tongue and repeated the wraiths words as well as she could recall them.

Ah! Elkarath nodded. The sunlight flashed crimson from the rubies on his headband, and some jewel among his rings streaked orange fire. Did the sorceress ever meet this man?

Yes! Inos said excitedly. Yes, he was in the chamber when she came. It was she who showed me later that he had been killed!

He chuckled. Then she is playing tricks on you! Do you see?

Of course! Relief surged through Inos like spring sunshine melting winter snow. It was a sending from Rasha! She looked to Azak, who grinned with a ferocious joy.