Treasures of Fantasy - Margaret Weis [181]
“I was trying to help,” said Hevis, shrugging. “Besides, it’s not my fault. You should have told us the truth about the Vektia. You and your bloody secrets!”
He handed the dice to Joabis, then shifted his gaze to Aylaen. Hevis winked at her.
“You can stop the Vektia and save your friends. I can tell you how, but you must sacrifice—”
“You are wasting your time, Hevis,” said Vindrash. “Aylaen knows how to stop the Vektia. She doesn’t need you to tell her.”
“You taught me a song,” said Aylaen. “But it is only a song. I hear the words in my head. I don’t feel them in my heart.”
“To understand the song, you must become a Bone Priestess. No pretending. No playacting. You must dedicate yourself to me and to Torval, to Joabis and Aylis, and even Hevis.” Vindrash added gently, “You have been faithful all your life. Even when you raged against us, you could not deny us.”
“I would not be a good priestess,” said Aylaen, shaking her hooded head. “I am selfish and willful, obstinate and stubborn, as you know, Vindrash. I have a quick temper. I don’t like to follow rules.”
Vindrash smiled. “Those are the faults of a child. You must leave childhood behind, Aylaen.”
The bitter wind froze her tears on her cheeks. Aylaen knelt in the snow.
“If you can forgive me, Vindrash, I will serve you.”
“Give me your sword,” said Vindrash.
Aylaen handed the goddess her sword by the hilt. But the goddess gripped the sword by the blade. Blood ran from Vindrash’s hand, dripped down the blade, and spattered red on the snow.
She gave the sword back to Aylaen.
“I win,” said Joabis, triumphantly snatching up the jewels.
“For the moment,” said Hevis, shrugging.
“Aylaen!” Skylan was shaking her, shouting her name.
The battlements vanished in shards of sparkling ice and Aylaen was once more on the deck of the Venjekar.
The Dragon Kahg had infused his spirit into the Venjekar. He had, in essence, become the ship. The dragonhead prow was no longer made of wood. It was flesh and bone and covered with scales. The dragon roared defiance and outrage as he carried the Venjekar downstream in a terrifying race with the Vektan dragon. The warriors were hanging on to whatever they could find to keep from being washed overboard.
Aylaen looked down at the spiritbone in her hand. The gold gleamed in the fire of Kahg’s eyes, the emeralds were blood-red.
“Why didn’t the spiritbone disappear?” Skylan cried.
The wind whipped his hair across his face. He was bare-chested, having discarded his armor, wearing nothing but the leather skirt and his boots and sword. He had cuts and scratches all over his body and his face and arms.
“The Vektia is tied to it,” said Aylaen, “as the newborn babe is tied to its mother. As a man is tied to his wyrd.”
She slowly placed the golden chain over her head.
“What are you doing?” He had to yell over the shrieking wind.
“What I have to,” said Aylaen. “I am a Bone Priestess of the Kai. Vindrash has given me her blessing.”
She looked back at the dragon. Kahg’s mouth was wide open, gasping for breath. Spittle flew from his jaws. He had entered the world and he was now as vulnerable as the fragile humans he was trying desperately to protect. The Dragon Kahg rode the flood, keeping the ship afloat, keeping ahead of the raging Vektia. But his strength was waning. He was slowing. He could not go much longer.
Aylaen drew her sword and started to walk toward the prow. The Torgun warriors were hanging on for dear life to anything they could find to hold on to—the rail, the ropes where they would have mounted their shields, the mast. They urged her to go down into the hold or she would be swept overboard.
She couldn’t hear them. All she could hear was the voice of the goddess.
The wind shifted, blowing against her, trying to stop her. She could not move against it, and she feared, for one terrifying moment, that it would knock her off the deck. And then Skylan was there beside her. He caught hold of her and added his strength to hers. The two of them fought their way forward.
Aylaen placed her hand on the curved neck of the dragon.