Lady of Poison (35 page)

The cleric’s face reddened.

Araluen continued, “But I succeeded, finally. What power remained to me was called immediately to the fore when I faced the Rotting Man. As you saw, he carries much of Talona’s power within him. I had to exhaust my stores just to chase him away. Had he known how much power I expended, he might have stayed to finish me, risking his own final annihilation.”

“His strength is unchanged?” Marrec glanced around, studying the edges of the Close, making sure some new incursion was not even then creeping up unobserved.

“The Rotting Man, too, used much of his personal power just to control the form in which he put me. When I burst that control, that which he expended was wasted. While his act was pure evil, this project absorbed much

of his time and energy these last years that otherwise might have been put to more direct use, to the dismay of the Green Powers. Even though I was trapped and separated from myself, my entry into the world did, in truth, slow the Rotting Man and weaken him. Now all his best plans are in ruin. His most powerful minions, the blightlords, are slain; he’ll have to recruit anew. His massed forces are scattered or killed; his strength is only a tenth of what he promised his mistress Talona, and she punishes failure.”

All remained quiet for a moment to absorb the impact of the Aspect’s words, as well as wonder what form Talona’s punishment might take.

Elowen said, her voice still weak from her ordeal, “Thank you, Araluen. If the Nentyarch were here, he would thank you, but you must accept my thanks in his place.”

Araluen bowed her head graciously.

Gunggari was silent, his face betraying no reaction. Marrec knew his friend well enough to know that the Oslander showed respect through his reserve. Ususi, though also quiet, seemed strangely intimidated in the presence of Lurue’s Aspect. Funny—she’d showed less fear when she dumped spell after spell upon the Daughter.

Araluen sighed, stretching. “It is hardly fair, is it? I am finally set free of the trap, but I lack the power to remain. I so looked forward to treading the forests of this world. I must depart whence I came.” She sighed. “All of us must soldier on, doing our part, even one such as me.”

“Lest I forget,” added the Aspect, smiling fondly again, “Please give this to Hemish. Without his strength and goodness, all would have been lost long ago. His heartache at the loss of his child may be somewhat dampened if he can talk to me now and again.”

The Aspect dropped a small object into Marrec’s waiting hand. It appeared to be a figurine carved of crystal. The figure was that of a tiny unicorn.

She smiled, and light streamed from her form, suffusing all of them The light was more than mere illumination. It was … empowering. It was the power of Lurue. Within that gleam there was hope, salvation, and an offer of protection for the needy, forlorn, and forsaken. Also there was laughter, the satisfaction of quests completed, and wonder at all things. All who stood in the light knew that each of them, no matter their strengths and weaknesses, was worthy in the eyes of Lurue. Above all else, there was joy.

The Aspect turned her face one last time upon Marrec, saying “Search for the unicorn always, Marrec, and in the pursuit, find happiness.”

The cleric nodded, his face stern but his gaze watery.

The Aspect leaped upward, as lithe and bright as a shaft of light seeking to illuminate the heavens. It passed easily between a gap in the interwoven branches above and was gone.

Marrec brushed away a tear as he continued to gaze upward.

“Goodbye, Ash.”

IVJarrec and Ususi walked behind Elowen and Gunggari. Gunggari played upon his dizheri, Elowen laughing and sometimes clapping accompaniment. So they continued, slowly, taking the few days required, until they drew near the borders of Rawlinswood, to the south and west of where Dun-Tharos still sheltered in the heart of the forest. The journey back through the tangled forest was mostly uneventful, though they steered well clear of wells and other cavities that threatened a passage back into the Nar conjuries still below. All contemplated their touch with divinity. Indeed, all were touched. As the days of their journey toward Yeshelmaar passed, each noted slight changes in the other.

Gunggari was more talkative, as if the assurance of the Aspect’s smile had somehow given him a measure of poise, where before simple

reserve had always sufficed. On the other hand, Elowen took more time for introspection before speaking her mind, though as ever, the elf was still quick to find a bit of joy and wonder in the sight of a growing thing or forest creature. Ususi also seemed somewhat kinder in her dealings with the others, as if some bitterness was finally dulled. The mage was more thoughtful, and her biting remarks had yet to reappear.

For his part, Marrec was simply happier. He was happier not only because his contact with Lurue was as strong and steady as it had ever been, but also because he felt more a whole man for the first time that he could recall. He could accept his heritage, despite its monstrous origin. All that was required was one last remuneration.

It was Thanial, of course, his old mentor—Thanial, who had accidentally fallen afoul of Marrec’s gaze, the kind forest ranger, whose stone-entombed body was shattered and its pieces strewn far and wide.

“I’ve never heard you whistle before, Marrec, and I’ve known you long,” commented Gunggari.

“The tune is rather a happy one, too,” noted Ususi, her lips trying on a smile, which was becoming a less rare sight.

“Well, I don’t know the name of the tune. I’m just whistling because the mood struck me, that’s all. Plus, before she left, Ash gave me knowledge I didn’t know that I wanted, but now that I have it, I see that it is nothing less than essential.”

Elowen raised an eyebrow, inquisitive.

“It’s Thanial. I thought him destroyed forevermore, his fragments scattered beyond recovery, but Ash has given me special insight. I know where every last chunk, fragment, stone, and pebble of Thanial lies, across the entire span of Faerfln. Some are scattered strangely far, but I know even of them.”

Ususi began to nod, but Elowen said, “So?”

“I have been given the gift of salvation, and Thanial’s,

too. Once I have collected all the pieces, I can meld them into a whole, and once whole, my old mentor can be released from his mineral bondage.”

Gunggari clapped Marrec on the back.

It was true. The knowledge of each stony fragment sparkled in his mind, divinely provided, and for all Marrec knew, given directly by Lurue herself, but passed down through her emissary, the Aspect.

-Slit was midsummer, but a fair day without scorching heat. Looking backward at the edge of the Rawlinswood, as it lay lower than the higher point to which they had ascended, they saw the white sun stretching out over the dark cloak of the woods, the light penetrating shadows and turning shadow and darkness to the greenery of life. The sky was blue, but darkening swiftly as evening approached, with only a faint frosting of clouds high above, like white paint streaked across a cerulean canvas.

Yeshelmaar lay not too far distant, less than a day’s walk away, should they choose to push themselves, but comfortable in each other’s company, they chose instead to set camp early.

As the stars came out above, Gunggari began to play again on his dizheri. The song was one Marrec had heard the Oslander play before, but rarely. A salute to the stars, which the Oslander’s people believed to be the spirits of their ancestors looking down upon them, guarding them, or at least available for advice, should they be asked.

Elowen and Ususi were talking quietly together. When Gunggari began his music, they finished speaking and made their way up to where the cleric reclined on a great rock.

Elowen said, “Ususi and I find ourselves at loose ends.” “Loose ends?”

Ususi responded, “I have the Keystone, which is what

I’ve long sought, but gaining it, I have discovered that there are other things, too, beyond accumulation of knowledge, that are worth having.”

“What’s that?” wondered Marrec, frowning.

Elowen answered for Ususi, “Comradeship. Listen-now that the Rotting Man has been flushed from Dun Tharos, my priorities have shifted, too. For so long I have been focused on the Talontyr, but his threat is lessened. Like Ususi… I find that I prefer traveling with a group of friends instead of alone.”

Comprehension dawned across the cleric’s face. He shook his head, but a great contentment filled him up, causing him to laugh. “Then, two shall become four. We’re off in the morning. First, we shall visit Hemish, to tell him of his little girl that grew up and give him the token Ash wanted him to have. After that, we will search out the fragments of my past misstep. Thanial will enjoy meeting all of you.”

Marrec stood. The three, discussing their plans for the morrow, strode over to where the Oslander continued to play. Gunggari’s notes danced into the night sky. The stars twinkled their approval.

Lady of Poison

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