EPILOGUE
THE WESTLANDS AUTUMN, 1160
Your soul does not sit in your body like a nut in a shell. It
forms the etheric double, which interpenetrates the flesh.
Indeed, the soul creates the body for its own purposes.
The Secret Book of Cadwallon the Druid
THE ROYAL ALAR REACHED the trading grounds near the seacoast shortly before the autumnal equinox. Several other alarli had already gathered there, and a few last traders from Eldidd lingered for the inevitable feasting and celebrations as well. The news spread quickly, that Prince Daralanteriel had established new farmlands and planned to found a city up north along the river that men called the Melyn but elves, Cantariel, though the name means honey-colored in both languages.
News of a quieter sort arrived when Medea flew into camp, carrying messages and a passenger. The bards immediately dubbed Prince Dar Dragonfriend, an epithet that Medea graciously acknowledged.
Hes certainly my friend, she told Dallandra, so your people can call him that if theyd like.
The passenger, Pol, whom Laz had freed from slavery, stood quietly beside the young dragon and looked at the trading ground with wide eyes. Contrary to Lazs descriptions of him, Dallandra decided, he wasnt so much obese as oddly formed, thanks to the barbarous practice among the Horsekin of turning young boys into eunuchs. Hed continued to grow long past the usual age, so that he was nearly seven feet tall with an abnormally large rib cage and long spindly arms. When he finally spoke, his voice was high-pitched but strong.
I have messages for the prince. Pol laid a hand on the leather pouch he carried. From the Red Wolf dun.
Excellent! Dallandra said. Am I remembering this correctly? Youre a scribe?
Yes, I am, but Im just learning the syllabary. I can write in Deverrian and Gel daThae, though.
Youll pick up the Elvish script fast enough. The prince needs a scribe. The last one left his retinue to settle in the new town up north. Come with me.
As Pol accompanied her through the camp, Dallandra noticed the other Westfolk doing their best not to stare at him, and he grimly kept his gaze fixed ahead. When they reached Dars tent, however, painted with red roses in memory of the Far West, the sight of the flowers made him smile. He reached out and touched one of the images.
We have these at home, he remarked, in the seacoast villages. The legend runs that the People brought them from the old cities.
Do you? Dallandra said. So something of the Vale of Roses survived. Thats lovely.
At Dallandras urging, Daralanteriel took Pol on as his new scribe. When he read the messages out, Dallandra heard what shed been waiting for. Lady Solla had been safely delivered of a fine, healthy son. Gerran and his wife and heir would spend the winter with Tieryn Cadryc, then move out to the Melyn Valley with the spring.
Thats splendid, Dallandra remarked to Valandario later. The Gold Falcon clans off to a good start.
So it is. Gerran will make a decent lord, I think.
If he doesnt, Dar will take him in hand.
Valandario nodded and pulled her cloak a little tighter around her shoulders. They were sitting in front of Dallandras tent and nursing a tiny fire against the chilly evening breeze. Around them swirled the normal sounds of a night camp: children crying, dogs barking, harp music, singing, and the occasional angry quarrel followed by soothing words.
Summers almost gone, Dallandra said. Will you be going back to Mandra for the winter?
I dont know, Valandario said. Im too comfortable there.
What? Theres naught wrong with being warm and dry.
Thats not what I meant. Comfortable in my soul, with my gems and the books all around me. How long has it been since I truly worked dweomer?
When you evoked the spirit of Hanmara.
Oh, that was just a typical evocation. I wouldnt call it a real accomplishment.
Well, your scrying system is certainly valuable.
I know, I know, but once Sidro gets it written up from her notes, anyone with the smallest dweomer gift will be able to use it. I mean real dweomer, something to stretch my mind and soul, something with risks, even. Val paused to add another patty of dry horse dung to the campfire in front of them. Ever since I approved Ebays plan to go live in that tower, Ive felt guilty. I was always badgering him to do more with his dweomer gifts, but I wasnt using mine fully, either.
I wouldnt say that.
But I would. Val smiled at her. Ive been looking back over my life. When Jav died, I retreated from it, life that is. Ive been living in a jewel-encrusted shell, Dalla. Ive forgotten that Im still young, and Ive been a coward.
Here! I wouldnt call you that.
Thank you, but I would. I cant even make up my mind whether to destroy the black stone, can I?
Why should you, really?
It caused a murder, and Evandar meddled with it.
Thats true. Dallandra hesitated then decided against saying anything. She badly wanted the crystal, she realized, wanted to cherish it as the last token of her love for Evandar. Its Vals, she reminded herself, not yours to have or destroy. She concentrated on watching the salamanders basking in the tiny flames. For their sake she added a few sticks to the fire.
Im going to ride out tomorrow, Val said eventually. I want to take the black crystal back to the place where Jav found it, the ruins of that tower. I have the feeling that Ill know what to do with it once Im there.
But the tower fell nearly two hundred years ago. There wont be much left. You probably wont even be able to find the place.
He said the broken stones were huge. The tide wont have washed them away.
Ah, I see. Whos going to go with you?
No one. Im going alone.
What? Thats dangerous!
I dont care.
Val! You cant!
Ive made up my mind. Val rose from her seat. Im leaving on the morrow.
When the morrow came, Dallandra continued arguing the point while Valandario loaded supplies onto her pack mule and saddled up her riding horse. Val merely smiled, refusing to answer. Eventually Dallandra ran out of words.
If I get into trouble, Val said, Ill call to you mind to mind. Besides, if youre truly this worried, you can always scry me out.
Thats true, Dallandra said. Very well, Ill hold my nagging tongue. The truth is, I keep wanting to beg you for the crystal. Its the last thing of Evandars that I have.
I know you loved him, but its time to put his schemes to rest.
So it is. Dallandra hesitated, then forced out a smile. Take it and give it to the Lords of Aethyr then, should they want it. Its time, indeed, for me to let Evandar go.
Over the next few days, as she rode west, Valandario was aware now and then of the touch of Dallandras anxious mind, watching over her. At first Val found it annoying, but by the end of an eightnight, she began to welcome it. The grasslands stretched out empty to the north; to the south lay only the sea, muttering on its rocky beach. For company she had only the seabirds, wheeling and mewling over the green swells and the dark water that stretched to the southern horizon.
