Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [155]
“What's so wrong, lad?” Rhodry said.
“Raena, that's what. Niffa did send me to fetch you. Raena be down by the gates, up on that heap of wood the council did cause to be built, and she be talking nonsense.”
Dallandra took off running with Rhodry and Jahdo right behind. As she raced across the commons and through the el-ven camp, she could see Raena, dressed in her strange black brigga and shirt, standing on the improvised platform. To her right clustered the Horsekin; off to the left stood the Westfolk and the Gel da'Thae at a cautious distance from one another; out in front a crowd of townspeople was gathering.
“I do come to tell you of miracles,” Raena was saying. “And a promise of life everlasting.”
Some of the townsfolk laughed, and a few others yelled out “She be daft.” Raena ignored them. Dallandra reached the Westfolk and stopped beside Niffa, who turned and mouthed “gladdens my heart you be here.” When Dallandra glanced back, she saw Rhodry and Jahdo standing with Dar.
“I come to tell you of a goddess that we all may see with our own eyes,” Raena went on, “the great Alshandra!”
“And what kind of ale have you been drinking?” a man in the crowd called out.
All the townsfolk laughed and pointed, but Raena held her ground. Dallandra glanced around, but there was no sign of the Horsekin mazrak. Perhaps he knew that his presence would only disrupt Raena's attempt to spread the word about their goddess.
“Our goddess came to us here on Earth,” Raena went on. “She did show herself to us, not hide among the rocks and the trees as do those little spirits that you do worship in your ignorance. Miracles did she show us, a thousand of them.”
The Horsekin began to chant, as if to agree with her. Rakzan Kral stepped forward and called out to the crowd.
“I did see her myself, and so did all my men here. We will witness.”
The townsfolk began to talk among themselves in a current of whispers, but Dallandra hurried forward. She climbed halfway up the stairs leading to the platform and yelled for silence. Slowly they gave it to her.
“This goddess they speak of?” Dallandra said. “She's dead. She died like any creature, because a creature she was.”
“She lies!” Raena shrieked. “Look you all there, in the sky!”
Over the commons a sphere of silvery mist was forming, swelling, growing huge as it drifted back and forth on the breeze. All at once it broke in half and the pieces fell away to disappear. Floating above the crowd was Alshandra, dressed in buckskin tunic and trousers, with her long blonde hair braided and hung with little charms in the Horsekin manner. In her hands she held an elven hunting bow.
“So!” Raena turned to Dallandra with a flourish of both arms. “And what say you to this?”
Dallandra goggled, unable to find a single word. Did Alshandra truly live then? Had Jill's sacrifice been in vain? The Horsekin threw back their heads and roared a greeting, then fell to their knees, holding their hands up high to their goddess. Suddenly Dallandra heard a soft chuckle behind her.
“Shaetano makes a better-looking woman than he did a man,” Evandar said. “Less fur, shorter snout.”
Dallandra let out her breath in a laugh.
“More fool me!” she whispered, then raised her voice. “That's not Alshandra, you fools! It's but a lying image of her.”
“Indeed?” Raena snarled. “If you be so sure, then prove it!”
“Fear not!” Evandar called out. “I shall.”
Evandar climbed the steps up to the platform and bowed to Raena, who drew back with hatred etched on her face. He tipped his head back and called to the apparition in the sky.
“Little brother! I've come for you.”
The false Alshandra shrieked in fear, a high-pitched yelp that echoed like twisted thunder. Evandar ran forward, leapt off the platform, and flew into the air in the form of an enormous red hawk. Shaetano shrieked again, then flung himself to one side as the hawk swooped past. As he twisted, huge chunks of his illusion tore away and fell, melting like snow in sunlight. First his blonde mane shriveled and died; then the female face dissolved to reveal his vulpine features.