From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [89]
What do you want in return?
“Your eyes.” His eyes drilled into hers, pale and moist. She wanted to look away, so horrible was the chill his gaze inflicted. “Join with this gowzal. Fly where I need you to. Report to me what you see. When I am satisfied, I will put your mind back in your body.”
It wasn’t until he replied again that she realized he could hear her! Still, she didn’t like his look. How can I know you will fulfill your side of this bargain?
“You cannot, my dear. But you have no other choice. Do not worry. I shall be more than fair.”
Averella stared at the caged creature and saw it had a fuzzy black beard. It is a male bird?
The old man chuckled. “That does not matter. Simply concentrate on the creature. Look out through its eyes.”
Averella wrinkled her nose. The bird was so hideous that looking at it twisted her stomach. How could she bear to share its mind? What if it bit that mouse again?
But she so wanted to return to her body. Could this truly be the only way? She focused on the creature, felt herself draw nearer. Something dark gripped at her heart.
Sparrow, please speak to me. Tell me you are not in that coffin. Please?
Master Cham’s voice pulled Averella away from the bird. Master Cham! Can you hear me?
She waited, glanced from the old man to the bird and back to the old man. Master Cham had mentioned a coffin. Had he followed her trail from Sitna? Come upon Lord Nathak’s procession? He seemed intent on finding her. The idea of such devotion filled her with familiar warmth.
Arman! She had forgotten her Creator.
Forgive me, Arman. I am lost, separated from my body, and, I fear, my memories. Is this man and his bird the only way back? Why can Master Cham not hear my words? What should I do? Help me, please.
A musical scream came from outside. “Kee-eeeee-arr.” The majestic sound lasted several seconds. Averella turned to see a great speckled hawk light on the windowsill. It screamed again. “Kee-eeeee-arr.”
Heat filled Averella from the inside. She could not keep from smiling.
The old man lifted a gnarled hand. “No, my lady! Do not trust it.”
But Averella already trusted it with all her heart. She threw her arms around the hawk’s neck, and it took off out the window and into the dark land.
Either the hawk flew faster or Averella was too filled with joy to notice the passing time. For moments later the hawk soared through the roof of a round pavilion, setting Averella’s transparent feet onto a woven straw mat.
With one last, “Kee-eeeee-arr,” the hawk flew away, leaving Averella inside the warm tent.
15
Achan lay on the bed in his tent. He’d been awake for hours, burrowing under his blankets like a mole, not wanting to get up yet. Today would hold much that he would rather not live through. A battle? A negotiation? Peace? Death?
He doubted peace would be the conclusion.
Sparrow would have said something sarcastic. She was able to make light of the heaviest circumstance. He hated the hole she’d left in his life. He wanted to bloodvoice her again, to spend the day searching, but the idea of failing… It was too much. Still, like a man who couldn’t stop drinking, Achan reached for her, clutching the cord around his neck.
Sparrow? Please answer me.
Why do you call me Sparrow, Master Cham? Do I look like a bird to you?
Achan sat up so quickly he started to choke. Sparrow!
You can hear me now, Master Cham?
Aye. Where are you? Describe your surroundings.
I am in a tent. A hawk left me here moments ago.
A hawk? Describe this tent. Do you see Esek?
Who is this Esek everyone speaks of? And why have you ignored me these past days? I heard your calls and answered, but you never seem to hear me. How can this be?
You closed your mind. You forgot how to bloodvoice.
Me bloodvoice? I have no such skill. I only wish to go—
You can bloodvoice, you’ve only forgotten. Part of bloodvoicing is placing shields around your mind. You likely did this to protect yourself. That’s good, but when you hear the voice of someone you want to speak to, you must lower your shields so