Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [34]
Ash wandered up of her own accord and fixed the dying druid with her guileless stare.
Seeing her, Briartan's eyes widened. "This is the child?"
Marrec nodded.
Briartan made a reverent sign with a shaking hand. He said, "Yes, she is special; I can see that with even my failing eyes. Keep her safe, unicorn warrior. One day, this Child of Light will answer to the Rotting Man's depredations." He broke into a fit of coughing. The druid's time was drawing to a close.
Briartan's cough subsided. He fixed his gaze straight up. At last he whispered, "The cycle of life may not be denied. Death gives way to life, and life…"
The druid's gaze remained fixed even as his breath whispered away, rising in to penetrate the boughs and branches that hid the clearing from the sky above. Never more would the wisdom of the druid of Lethyr grace the forests.
Marrec closed Briartan's eyes. A tear traced a path from Elowen's full eyes down her cheek. She spoke then in the language of the elves.
Though Marrec knew only a few fragments of the sylvan tongue, it seemed that Elowen was asking for blessings and aid to Briartan's spirit from a series of elven deities and great spirits of the forest.
When she finished, Elowen stood. She said simply, "He will be missed," then walked to the edge of the clearing, seeking solace in the unContaminated growth beyond the stone circle.
***
Later, they laid Briartan to rest according to the rites of elves and druids. When finished with that solemn duty, the five rested in the bowl of the Mucklestones. Already the rot and crusted growths that had overtaken the stone circle were receding. The power of the stones was greater than that of the Rotting Man, at least without one of his blightlord emissaries present.
Gunggari had offered condolences to Elowen earlier, but the wisdom of Osse was apparently too gruff for the elven palate. Elowen continued to sit, facing away from the rest of the group, staring into the trees.
Ususi spoke up, after a long silence. "Briartan was my friend, too, in his own way. He allowed me my researches. I will continue in your company, if you'll have me." She looked up, meeting Marrec's eye.
Marrec raised an eyebrow. "I thought you'd go back to Two Stars. The Mucklestones are clear."
"If I'm not welcome, then Two Stars is where I'll go, of course," responded Ususi.
"Don't misunderstand me; there is nothing I'd like better than your aid," said Marrec, trying to keep his voice from sounding testy. "I've rarely seen your skill with wizardry equaled. Plus, we enjoy your company."
Out of sight of Ususi, the Oslander cocked his head. Marrec read it as a sign of amusement.
"Good!" exclaimed Ususi, smiling, which was an event in and of itself. "Then I have good news. I can get us to Yeshelmaar quickly over the course of a single march."
Elowen finally broke her silence, saying "Via the Mucklestones?"
Ususi nodded, "I can reroute one of the main portal lines from here to there. With the Keystone, once in the keeping of Briartan, I can do it with little effort." The woman produced a polished, amber colored stone with a natural looking hole piercing its center. The stone was strung on a leather thong. As Ususi handled it, the stone brightened, giving off a glow all its own.
Elowen gave Ususi an appraising look.
Ususi said, "I know, Elowen. I know. The Keystone shall go back to the keeping of the Nentyarch, but we shall reach the Nentyarch all the sooner if I use it, even without his blessing."
"So be it," said the elf.
Gunggari spoke up, "Shall we leave immediately?"
"It will take more than a few minutes to set up our route. I must make preparations using the Keystone. The dimensional referents must be navigated then posted."
Marrec lifted an eyebrow and put on exaggerated expression of confusion. For his trouble, he received a flicker of