From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [88]
Harnu shrugged. “How could she possibly hear me?”
“She’s only sleeping, you know. If she hears she’s dying she might give up the fight.”
Harnu looked like he was making an effort to stay calm. “Gren, we can’t stay here forever. My father needs me.”
“Your father. Everything is always about you. What about me?”
“Gren, I’ve done everything I can for you. I finished your cottage. Stood by while you married my friend. Stole this lady from Lord Nathak’s wagon. Unless you agree to be my wife, my responsibility is to my father.”
“So if I marry you, you’ll help me. That’s what you’re saying?”
“I’m helping you already. What more do you want?”
“I want you to leave me alone, Harnu. Go away.” She turned her back to Harnu and straightened the blanket around Averella’s chin.
Harnu stared at the back of Gren’s head until he finally said, “Good night, Grendolyn.”
• • •
The following morning, Averella, restless with boredom, followed Gren and Noam outside. Noam went around to the stable. Gren knelt at the water’s edge and washed her face. Noam appeared a moment later with Kopay and led the horse to the stream.
A bird squawked, drawing Averella’s attention to a tree across the creek. A gowzal perched in the branches, facing her, its eyes black and hypnotic. You have lost your way, my lady. Come with me and I will take you home.
Averella stared at the creature. Had it just spoken to her?
Do not fear, my lady, it said in a familiar humming voice. I have been sent to help you. Lady Nitsa awaits your company. The bird flapped its wings, quickly at first, hovering in the air above Averella, then it flapped slowly and rose above the roof of the cabin.
Averella floated up over the cabin and after the gowzal, eager to see Mother. The creature led her through a black void. How could it see in the dark? For that matter, how could she? By the time the questions occurred to her, she could no longer see the lantern glow at the cabin.
She hardly had time to panic for fear of losing sight of her guide. They flew a long time, occasionally passing over pricks of light below.
Suddenly, hundreds of sparks came into view like a swarm of fireflies. A city loomed ahead. As they neared, the sparks grew into torches perched along mismatched stone sentry walls, reflecting on oily water below. This was not Carmine, but Mahanaim. Averella had been here before with her mother. It must be time for another Council meeting. For that was the only reason Mother would be here.
The creature flew up to the central watchtower and entered an open window.
Averella slowed as she approached the window. She ducked her head, though her legs passed through the stone wall beneath the windowsill.
The bird soared into the open door of a birdcage and perched inside. It nipped at a dead mouse.
Averella stood in a circular room at the top of the watchtower.
The room was empty but for an elderly man wearing a black hooded robe, asleep on a small cot, and the birdcage on a marble pillar. A lone candle on the floor flickered, burned down to a stump of wax.
The man groaned, a long, keening sound. Averella backed against the window. Why had the creature brought her here? She did not want to meet this man. She wanted her mother.
The man lowered his feet to the floor and sat up. “Good, you are still here.” His droning voice was the same one that had come from the bird.
He stood, shuffled to the birdcage, and closed the door, latching the creature inside. The hood of his cloak covered his head, but she could see his face clearly. His skin had the color and leathery texture of oyster mushrooms. His eyes were grey, but stared at her in the same knowing manner the bird had.
“The problem, my dear, is simple. You have died.”
No. That could not be. For she had just left her body in the cottage, and, last she saw, it had been breathing.
“There is nothing you can do to put things back the way they were.”
Why, then, did you bring me here? Averella asked.
“We can help one another.” His voice was like the lowest string on a harp. “I have the power to reunite