Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [101]
“Oh, that!”
“What did you think I meant?” Evandar scowled at her.
“That it was another one of your schemes, of course. My apologies, my love, but they get so complicated—”
“Oh, I know, I know, and mayhap this one is, too, but I could think of no other way.”
“Way to what?”
“Get Salamander home, of course.”
Dallandra waited for him to say more, but he merely turned away with a long, sad sigh and resumed his slow walk along the riverbank. In the west the sunset began to streak the sky with burnished gold.
“We're all going to be leaving soon,” Dallandra said. “I was hoping you'd take us through your Lands to Cerr Cawnen.”
“Of course I will. It's a long journey otherwise.”
All round them birds sang. Evandar walked as slowly as an old man to the streamside and stared into the water.
“There's somewhat wrong,” Dallandra said. “What is it?”
“Naught.” He looked up abruptly and forced a smile. “When will you want to go?”
“In a few days. Shall I send the Wildfolk for you when we're ready?”
“Yes, do. I've got so many errands to run that I know not where I'll be. But as for Salamander, he'll be returning to the Westfolk's lands by ship, sometime in the summer. They should put in to shore just west of Cannobaen.”
“They? Who?”
“It's a surprise.” Evandar grinned at her, and for a moment he looked his usual merry self. “One you'll like. The elephant won't be with him, though—I'll tell you that much.”
“That gladdens my heart. But—”
“Ah! No prying! I need to find Devaberiel soon, in fact, and tell him his son's on the way home. He can wait for them down on the coast and get word to you, I suppose, somehow or other. No, wait, I've a better idea. I'll get Salamander's old dweomer teacher to go with Devaberiel, and then she can call you through the fire.”
“Valandario? Yes, she'll do that if you ask. But I thought you'd be the one bringing him home.”
“I may not be able to, what with Shaetano working harm. Do you see, my love? I'm learning the lessons you've tried so hard to teach me—thinking ahead, laying plans, considering how it all fits together.”
“Well, truly, I'm proud of you.”
“My thanks.” He glanced her way, then looked up at the golden sky. Was he near tears? she couldn't tell.
“Evandar, beloved, what's so wrong?”
“Naught.” He forced a smile false even for him. “Well, I'd best be off to Cerr Cawnen. I need to keep an eye on my wretched brother.”
Evandar turned and took off running. For a moment it seemed that he would run right into the stream, but at the water's edge he stepped up onto the sunlight and disappeared.
For a long time Niffa kept her conversation with the Spirit Talker locked up in her heart. On the day when the black dragon had flown over Cerr Cawnen, Werda had made her see a hard truth, that Niffa's life work lay upon the witchroad, no matter where it led her. At the time, the road had seemed so clear, but now, days later, Niffa found herself wavering. Never will I leave my home! she would think. I'll marry Harl, mayhap, and live close to my mam and da for always. Yet, even as she treasured her defiance, she knew that she was only postponing the inevitable moment when she would admit that the black dragon had shown her Wyrd.
When she slept, she often dreamt of the dragon, but always she would see the beast from some distance, flying across the sky perhaps, or perched on a high cliff. She could never get close enough to speak to it. Finally, one night when she walked in the green fields of dream, she met Dallandra at the glowing red stars.
“It gladdens my heart to see you!” Dallandra called out. “You've not come in a long while.”
“I've not,” Niffa said. “But please, think not that it had somewhat to do with you. I've had much to ponder these past days.”
“I see. Well, I've got some grand news. We'll be bringing your Jahdo home soon. We leave Cengarn tomorrow.”
Joy rushed up and nearly washed away the vision, but over this past winter Niffa had learned to steel her will. In a moment the purple moon held steady over the grass and the warding stars. Dallandra's image returned,