Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [68]
An exasperated sigh escaped Talieth. "You Oak Children and your obsession with purity. Does your god really deny you the pleasures of the flesh? Of women? I thought Silvanus was the god of wild and growing things. You do know where baby wolves and deer come from, don't you, Lewan?"
"To control one's desires is not to deny them," said Lewan, then he added a belated, "Lady. My body is… was sworn to the Oak Father and his daughters."
"If the girl is polluting your body and soul, I will have her removed," said Talieth. "Given that we need his favor, I would not want to offend your god."
Lewan thought he detected more than a little insincerity-or was it disdain?-in her tone, but she looked entirely serious. "No!" said Lewan. "But… but Ulaan concerns this also." "Indeed?" said Talieth. "How so?"
"If I help you, if I can figure out how to use Erael'len to stop your father, I want you to honor your offer. Give me enough supplies to survive and see me on my way."
"We have covered this ground already, Lewan."
"But I want something else."
"Ah," said Talieth, a knowing look on her face. "Do tell."
"Ulaan comes with me. If… if she wishes it."
Talieth cradled one arm in another and tapped her lips with one finger. "You are a puzzle, Lewan. First you plead help in purifying yourself, and with the next breath you ask for the little corrupting influence as a gift."
"Don't call her that."
"didn't, Lewan. You did. Dress her in leaves and put flowers in her hair all you like. Ulaan is still no dryad."
Lewan flinched. After a moment's thought, he said, "That's my concern, not yours."
Talieth turned and paced the room again, causing the candle flames to flicker in her wake. She stopped on the opposite side of the table from Lewan and placed her hands to either side of Erael'len. "I agree to your terms," she said. "You may leave the Fortress with the relic and go 'into the wild,' as you say, to try to discern its secrets and perform whatever rites suit you. If you succeed, I will shower you with gifts, and you and the girl can go wherever you like. All this you will have… with one condition."
Lewan tried to swallow, but his mouth had gone dry. Despite the innocent girl smile on Talieth's face, she had that predator's gaze in her eyes again. "What condition?" he said.
"You must not go into the wild alone. These are dangerous lands, Lewan, and I will need to send someone with wards I shall prepare that-I hope-will hide you from the Old Man."
"Someone?" said Lewan. "Who will go with me?" "Who better to guard you in the wild than the wildest of my blades?" said Talieth. "Sauk will go with you."
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sauk found them waiting just inside the main gate. Carvings decorated the arch beyond them. One side was all fair maidens with hair flowing down their backs, their arms reaching out to handsome men on the opposite side, their braids and beards carved in the style of the ancient Imaskari. The two sides' outstretched arms seemed both to reach out to the other and to bid welcome to those entering the gate.
Talieth wore that dress of hers that seemed half silk and half copper mesh. Sauk was warrior enough to know it was all for show; that pretty metal lace would never turn a blade. Talieth didn't need such things. The boy wore clothes suited for traveling.
Taaki padded along just behind Sauk. After several ministrations from the Fortress’s healers and a long rest, her mood and energy were back to normal, though the cavity where her eye had once been was now no more than a puckered scar of pinched flesh and fur.
As Sauk and Taaki emerged from the late morning shadow cast by the statue of a four-headed hound, Talieth saw him. She spoke something to Lewan and approached Sauk, stopping him well away from the boy.