Frostfell_ The Wizards - Mark Sehestedt [99]
It was not unlike the times she'd lulled Jalan to sleep as a baby with a lullaby-oftentimes nonsense words where the sound and melody were more important than the meaning.
Something within the staff spoke to her like that-not in words or even meaning, but in a deeper connection that had more to do with the beating of her heart and the passions of her flesh than the knowledge of her mind. Even now, she could feel it flowing through her, and she felt a strange communion with the golden wood, and through it to all the land around her. So strong was the sensation, that she could feel the sun setting in the distance, even though it was hidden behind countless miles of falling snow and cloud.
She heard movement and looked up to see a pale elf sitting down across the fire from her. At first she thought it was Lendri, but it was not. In his exile, Lendri had collected various bits of other cultures upon his person. His clothes and supplies showed he had traveled among half the peoples of the Wastes, but the one before her now was all Vil Adanrath, dressed only in leathers and the fur of various animals. His hair was wild and free, and though it was now sprinkled with snow, still it drank in the firelight and seemed to glow with its own warmth.
"I am Leren," said the elf, speaking each word with careful precision. He held his palms open before him and offered a small bow. "Son of Haerul, Omah Nin of the Vil Adanrath."
"I am Amira," she said, her voice low so as not to wake Jalan.
"Amira Hiloar, War Wizard of Cormyr. Yes, I know."
Amira did not know what to say, so she said nothing.
"I have seen you with the belkagen. He speaks well of you."
"He saved me and my son," she said, and placed a gentle hand on Jalan's shoulder. "He and Gyaidun and Lendri. They saved our lives."
Leren flinched at the mention of his brother and Gyaidun's names. "I did not come to speak to you of the hrayeket."
"Then why did you come?"
"My father sent out summons to all the packs. Many have come, and others may come still, but he and the belkagen agree on this: We cannot wait. The belkagen says our enemies will be here soon, and he says you know this also."
Amira nodded. "The belkagen speaks the truth."
"Then we must prepare. The omah nin will make amrulugek. You know what this means?"
"Yes. A council."
"Council, yes. The omah nin asks you to come."
A shiver went up Amira's spine. She'd spoken with a few of the Vil Adanrath over the last day or so, but for the most part they kept to themselves. She thought it was mostly because they avoided Lendri, and when he was in camp, he was most often around Amira's fire. The belkagen had acted as a sort of go-between, and Amira had liked that just fine.
The Vil Adanrath made every hair on her body stand on end. She'd known elves all her life, but none like these. Shapeshifters who could walk as wolves as easily as elves- and even when they walked on two legs the wolf never quite left their stride or their eyes.
"Will the belkagen be there?" she asked.
"He will."
"And Lendri?"
Leren flinched. "That one is hrayek. Exiled. He cannot join our council."
"He may join our fight and risk his blood but not sit at our fire?"
Leren said nothing, simply sat and watched her.
"I will come," she said. "But I do not like Lendri being excluded."
"You do not know his crimes," said Leren, though there was a tone of respect in his voice.
"And you do not know mine, but still you ask me to your council."
"Your crimes were not against the Vil Adanrath."
Amira scowled. "Fine. When is the council?"
"The scouts should return soon. We meet then. Someone will come for you."
Leren stood to go.
"My son," said Amira. "I will not leave him."
The elf looked down on Jalan. "Your son may come."
* * * * *
Amira did not have long to wait. Leren had been gone just long enough for full dark to fall when the belkagen trudged up to her fire, his long cloak trailing