Bones of the Dragon - Margaret Weis [183]
The grief-stricken Fria, mourning the loss of her dearest friend, proved unequal to the task of trying to quell the anger and assuage the mounting fears. Rumors flew. Some Priestesses said they had heard that all the gods were dead and that the Vindrasi were now alone and abandoned in the universe. Others countered angrily that this was not true, that they had been in communication with the gods and that they were still able to heal in the name of the goddess. Few believed them. The women shouted and screamed at each other. Fria tried to restore order, but no one paid any attention.
In this time of crisis, it was Treia who stepped forward and took charge. Her cold, dispassionate voice fell on them like a bucket of chill water thrown onto a pack of snapping bitches. The conflict ended abruptly, though the dogs continued to watch each other warily and occasionally showed their teeth.
Fria wanted those Priestesses who claimed to have healing powers to be put to a test. Treia rightly pointed out that such a test would serve nothing except to further fan the flames of discord. She suggested that the Kai leave the past to the past and deal with the dire events of the present. The Kai should select a new Kai Priestess.
Bjorn, standing guard at the door, was able to overhear what was said. He handed over his duties to his brother and went to report to Skylan in the Chief’s dwelling in the city of Vindraholm. Skylan had not intended to return there until after the Kai Moot, but Aylaen had amazed him by coming to him, telling him meekly that she had changed her mind. She would attend the Kai Moot with Treia, as he wanted.
Skylan was overjoyed and congratulated Garn on persuading her. Garn swore he’d had nothing to do with it.
Garn was telling the truth. Aylaen had flown into a rage when he’d told her he was going to go with Skylan to war. She had called him a coward for not standing up to Skylan, and then she had run off and refused to see him. Garn had no idea why she should suddenly change her mind about attending the Kai Moot, but he didn’t like it. He had traveled to Vindraholm with Skylan, hoping to be able to talk with her, but Aylaen had gone out of her way to avoid him, and now she was shut up inside the Great Hall of the Gods.
Bjorn found Skylan and Garn together, sharing ale and making preparations for war. Wulfe was with them, sitting cross-legged on the floor near the door, which had been propped open to catch the late afternoon breeze. The boy was playing with the dragonbones from Skylan’s game, stacking them up, one on top of the other, to see how high they would go before falling. He always laughed heartily whenever the bones tumbled down in a heap and went bounding about the floor.
Skylan didn’t like to see Wulfe playing with the dragonbones. The sight reminded Skylan uncomfortably of the draugr, who continued to force him to play. After his talk with Owl Mother, Skylan had questioned the draugr, trying to find out what she wanted to tell him. All to no avail. The draugr always started every game by rolling five dragonbones. She almost always ended by claiming all his pieces.
Bjorn had to step over the tower Wulfe was building as he entered the door. “I have news,” he said.
Skylan and Garn both stopped to listen. Judging by Bjorn’s air of importance, the news was momentous. Skylan motioned Bjorn to sit. Garn handed him a foaming drinking horn.
Bjorn drank thirstily. Standing guard in the afternoon sunshine was hot work. He was about to launch into his tale, when Skylan asked him the question of the moment.
“Have they chosen the Kai Priestess?”
Bjorn shook his head, and Skylan breathed a sigh of relief. Bjorn went on