The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
passions had been spent. But a time came when Womotomaj had to leave Svalen-Tu alone, and so sent for a guard, bringing Dojlan ae-Tsomso of Harro-ae to Tushan-Loz. At first, Dojlan, captivated by his charge, avoided Svalen-Tu for fear of what Womotomaj might do, but gradually he fell in love with Svalen-Tu and revealed his distress at his dawning affection, for Hyneimoj’s son was known to have a dreadful temper . In his apology to Svalen-Tu, Dojlan revealed all he knew, so that she would not think harshly of him.
“Now Svalen-Tu realized she had been deceived, and that her lover was not Rathmei-Ur, but Womotomaj, and her realization destroyed the magical palace. Their appeals to Womotomaj met with derision, and a reminder that life was harsh for those who forsake the sons and daughters of the god. Only the Silent One remains to receive the devotion of those who abjure their devotion.” All the Shadowshow islands and palaces vanished; Svalen-Tu and Dojlan were left on a barren rock, where they should have perished. “They had nothing to sustain them but their love for one another, and they swore that if they could not live together, they would die together. Then Kuyumai Aodil, who had seen what had become of them, took mercy on them and brought them food and bits of driftwood, helping them to construct a boat, and when they had built it, towed them back to Tirin-Dzur, where they lived in dread of Womotomaj’s ire until they grew old. Then, shortly before their lives ended, Womotomaj visited them and asked their pardon for using them so unkindly; they gave him their pardon, and then the trio swore friendship forever, so that when Svalen-Tu and Dojlan died, many, many vials of tears were offered to the Silent One, and the weaver and her guard were enrolled among the lesser god for all they endured.”
The three Spirits of the Outer Air remained in tableau for a long moment, then broke into scraps of light, fading away; after a short silence, the applause began. Erianthee ended the spell and rose from her place behind the screen, then went to acknowledge the guests’ appreciation.
* * *
Ninianee was startled awake an hour after dawn in the sitting room of her apartments by the sudden, brazen shout of the trumpets. She sat up, gathering her wits and trying to banish the fatigue that seemed to have swathed her in cloudy gauze; she was dressed in the clothes Erianthee had left for her in the arming room of the northwestern tower, and aside from lack of sleep, she felt well enough – no muscles pulled, no serious bruises. “Tonight,” she said to herself, “is going to be trickier. The hunters will be out in force, in our woods. They will be delighted to have a Challim-doe to chase.” She suspected she needed a bath and cleaner clothes, and several hours’ rest, but they could wait: she wanted to see her sister as soon as she could, to tell her what she had encountered in the night. She rubbed her arms as if trying to instill energy in her body, but only felt a greater fatigue seeping into her, stopping her from reciting a grooming-spell. If only she could find an hour for a nap, she thought. Just as she stifled a yawn, the door opened and Erianthee came in, eyes bright with excitement.
“I see you’re doing well,” said Ninianee, getting out of her reclining chair. “How did the evening go?”
“Easily enough, but for that Dinvee-creature, She has fixed her eye on Hoftstan Ruch, and this pleased no one but Dinvee herself.” Erianthee shook her head as if in disbelief. “She was blatant in her intent. Everyone saw what she sought, even Papa.”
“Not Yulko Bihn’s doing?”
Erianthee considered her answer. “Not that I saw. That’s not to say they didn’t arrange things before they arrived. That would be just the sort of trick that Magsto Bihn would delight in, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, well,” marveled Ninianee sarcastically.
“If he is in favor of her antics, he has shown no overt
“Now Svalen-Tu realized she had been deceived, and that her lover was not Rathmei-Ur, but Womotomaj, and her realization destroyed the magical palace. Their appeals to Womotomaj met with derision, and a reminder that life was harsh for those who forsake the sons and daughters of the god. Only the Silent One remains to receive the devotion of those who abjure their devotion.” All the Shadowshow islands and palaces vanished; Svalen-Tu and Dojlan were left on a barren rock, where they should have perished. “They had nothing to sustain them but their love for one another, and they swore that if they could not live together, they would die together. Then Kuyumai Aodil, who had seen what had become of them, took mercy on them and brought them food and bits of driftwood, helping them to construct a boat, and when they had built it, towed them back to Tirin-Dzur, where they lived in dread of Womotomaj’s ire until they grew old. Then, shortly before their lives ended, Womotomaj visited them and asked their pardon for using them so unkindly; they gave him their pardon, and then the trio swore friendship forever, so that when Svalen-Tu and Dojlan died, many, many vials of tears were offered to the Silent One, and the weaver and her guard were enrolled among the lesser god for all they endured.”
The three Spirits of the Outer Air remained in tableau for a long moment, then broke into scraps of light, fading away; after a short silence, the applause began. Erianthee ended the spell and rose from her place behind the screen, then went to acknowledge the guests’ appreciation.
* * *
Ninianee was startled awake an hour after dawn in the sitting room of her apartments by the sudden, brazen shout of the trumpets. She sat up, gathering her wits and trying to banish the fatigue that seemed to have swathed her in cloudy gauze; she was dressed in the clothes Erianthee had left for her in the arming room of the northwestern tower, and aside from lack of sleep, she felt well enough – no muscles pulled, no serious bruises. “Tonight,” she said to herself, “is going to be trickier. The hunters will be out in force, in our woods. They will be delighted to have a Challim-doe to chase.” She suspected she needed a bath and cleaner clothes, and several hours’ rest, but they could wait: she wanted to see her sister as soon as she could, to tell her what she had encountered in the night. She rubbed her arms as if trying to instill energy in her body, but only felt a greater fatigue seeping into her, stopping her from reciting a grooming-spell. If only she could find an hour for a nap, she thought. Just as she stifled a yawn, the door opened and Erianthee came in, eyes bright with excitement.
“I see you’re doing well,” said Ninianee, getting out of her reclining chair. “How did the evening go?”
“Easily enough, but for that Dinvee-creature, She has fixed her eye on Hoftstan Ruch, and this pleased no one but Dinvee herself.” Erianthee shook her head as if in disbelief. “She was blatant in her intent. Everyone saw what she sought, even Papa.”
“Not Yulko Bihn’s doing?”
Erianthee considered her answer. “Not that I saw. That’s not to say they didn’t arrange things before they arrived. That would be just the sort of trick that Magsto Bihn would delight in, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, well,” marveled Ninianee sarcastically.
“If he is in favor of her antics, he has shown no overt
Similar Books
The Puzzle of Left-Handedness
Rik Smits
Plain Jayne
Brea Brown
Burning Moon
Jo Watson
Dog Gone Lies (Pacheco & Chino Mysteries Book 1)
Ted Clifton
Black Sun: A Thriller
Graham Brown
Cradle to Grave
Eleanor Kuhns
Strike Eagle
Doug Beason
An Ordinary Fairy
John Osborne
The Crystal Clipper
B. Roman
Just One Night
Chloe Cole