Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [172]
Fyodor awakened slowly, unaccountably stiff until he recalled the battle he had endured and the dangerous shapeshifting journey he had taken. He remembered nothing of what had happened after that. He blinked painfully, trying to find some focus.
A faint light drew his eyes, and a slow smile crossed his face. In the clearing before him, Liriel danced in the moonlight. The silvery radiance of Eilistraee clung to her like a shining cloak, and the aura of evil that had surrounded her during the battle was utterly gone.
"i'Little raven," he called softly.
The drow stopped dancing at once, and the fey silver light fled from her like a startled fawn. Only her eyes glowed-strangely, intensely-as she advanced upon the Rashemi warrior. From one outstretched hand dangled the Windwalker.
"i'Return to the village," she said softly, but her voice held the force of command. "i'There you will find a circle of skalds, singing the stories of Ruathym's heroic dead. Summon your berserker frenzy and silence them!"
For a long moment Fyodor stared at the drow, fearing mightily that she had lost her wits-and perhaps her soul-under the strain ofher Lloth-granted power. Then he saw the joy shining in her eyes, and it dawned on him that he need not obey her command.
At long last, they were both truly free.
"Stay with us and make your home on Ruathym," urged Aumark Lithyl as he stood at water's edge with the Rashemi and the drow. "i'There is a place of honor here for you both."
Days had passed since the battle's end, and life on the island had fallen back into its familiar routine. Fyodor's gaze swept the now-familiar landscape, taking in the village beyond the cove and the hills that cast long green shadows over both. In this wild and warlike land he had truly found a home, and he discovered to his surprise that the leavetaking did not come easily.
"Wedigar is nearly well, and he can choose his successor from any number of shapestrong heirs. He has released me from my pledge; i am honor-bound to return to Rashemen," he replied simply.
Aumark nodded, accepting the young warrior's duty. "i'And what of you?" the First Axe asked, turning to Liriel. "You have heard that Glammad has offered to yield the ruling of Hastor to the Raven. In ancient times, this village was led by rune-casters; it seems that all of Ruathym is eager to return to her former glories."
"i'Thank you, no," the drow said without hesitation or regret. "i'i have pledges of my own to keep. A cleric must be found who can unravel the tapestry and release the spirits of the elves and men entangled within. I must also seek tutors for a certain sea elf. Xzorsh shows genuine talent for the art of magic, but i lack the patience or the skill to teach him myself. It is one thing to do, another thing altogether to teach," she muttered with a touch of exasperation. "i know now why so many of my tutors quit in despair!" Fyodor passed a hand over his lips to hide his sudden smirk, for he was certain there was more to the story than Liriel's words suggested. He could not imagine the fiery drow had been the most biddable of students.
"We must go now," he said, placing a hand on Liriel's shoulder.
She nodded and stepped lightly along the plank that rose to the deck of the waiting ship. The Ruathen crew took her presence among them in stride; the three Waterdhavian men aboard, however-the lordly young man known as Caladorn and the two seal hunters-eyed the dark elf with a mixture of dread and foreboding.
Fyodor noted this with a touch of resignation as he followed Liriel onto the ship. The measure of acceptance she had won here on Ruathym had not come easily; surely she knew life elsewhere would be an endless struggle. He wondered why the drow was so determined to leave, but he dared not hope her answer would be the one he most longed to hear.
That night, in the cabin