The Heirs of Hammerfell (21 page)

So much time had been consumed by his effort at cloud-minding that the girls and boys who had been set to carrying water were again making their rounds. Among them he saw Lenisa, this time at a considerable distance, and he wondered if she had been moved to a different line. It was at that moment he realized he was jealous of the man who would receive water from her hands . . . more jealous than he was of Conn in Thendara with Floria. Of course, my brother Conn knows so little of city life that he would not even notice―-far less seduce―any woman if he thought she belonged to someone else.

For just a moment, Alastair's scorn of his brother flagged. Is that really something to sneer at, that Conn is honorable? But should I then be bound by his country-bumpkin sense of morality?

The sky was now so dark with clouds that a damp wind had sprung up. Alastair had

stripped to the waist for the work on the lines, and now he shivered and reached for the shirt he had tied round his waist. It was damp with sweat―no; they were drops of rain, large and sloppy and far apart as yet . . . but

he imaged them dropping down smoothly faster and faster. ...

Another cheer went up from the fire-lines as it began to rain hard and fast, causing clouds of steam to rise along the edge of the burning forest. Alastair laid down his hoe and gazed at the sky with relief and satisfaction.

"Look out!" someone yelled. Raising his eyes, startled, he could see a burned-through tree beginning to tilt and topple; and to his horror, Lenisa was hauling her water pail within a few yards of it. Even before he knew what he was doing, Alastair was streaking along the firebreak; he flung himself at the girl, tackling her and shoving her out of the path of the falling tree. ...

But not quite far enough. The tree crashed down with a great sound like the end of the world, taking a crowd of smaller trees and underbrush with it. Lenisa and Alastair were crushed to the ground beneath it; he thrust the girl in his arms as far as he could out of the tree's path and felt her body beneath his as the world collapsed on top of his head.

The last sound he heard was Jewel's frantic howling.

13

Conn had seen the fire from afar, with no particular wish to intrude on Alastair.

Somehow, sooner or later, Alastair must make his own peace with Markos and with the people of Hammerfell. If the people of Hammerfell saw him accepting his duty among them, including fire-watch duty, which Conn himself had done regularly since he was nine years old, they would certainly accept him all the sooner.

But. danger of death broke all barriers; Alastair's panic as he saw the falling tree and snatched Lenisa from its path broke into Conn's mind as if he himself had been in the path of the burning treetop crashing down; the stifling holocaust of the flaming forest and the cracking smash of the falling giant―even Jewel's frenzied howls―roared

through his brain as if it were all here in his mother's quiet room. He leaped to his feet, for an instant unaware that the pounding of his heart, the rush of adrenalin through all his limbs, had no reality for his own body and brain.

He was cognizant only of danger; desperate terror and danger; and not until several harrowing moments had passed was he once again aware that he was alone in the falling twilight, hearing only the sounds of the quiet streets of Thendara outside; a dog barking somewhere in the distance, the faraway rumble of a cart. Suddenly Alastair was

gone―dead or unconscious, that fierce situation wiped from Conn's awareness.

Conn mopped unexpected sweat from his face. What had happened to his brother?

Sternly as he had judged him at times, his heroism had endangered his life; had it actually taken his life, then? Cautiously, Conn sought in his mind for the broken rapport with Alastair, and found pain and darkness . . . but at least the pain meant Alastair had survived, perhaps gravely hurt, but he still lived.

On the floor the young dog Copper whined restlessly; perhaps, Conn thought, she, too, had picked up something from her absent master, or had she only picked up Conn's own disturbance and distress?

"It's all right, girl," he said, patting the puppy's silky head. "It's all right, then. Calm down." Copper's huge dark eyes looked up at him beseechingly, and he thought, Yes, I must somehow go to him; one way or the other, Markos will need me there.

He was accustomed to making his own decisions; he flung clothing into a saddlebag, and made his way to the kitchens for food for the journey before it occurred to him that he was living as a guest in his mother's house and he really should―if not actually ask her leave―at least inform her of his plans.

He left the saddlebag half packed and went in search of Erminie. But as he traversed the hall, the outside door of the house opened and Gavin Delleray carne in, looking like a brightly plumed bird, the leather of his boots dyed crimson, to match the coloring of the tips of his curls and the ribbons in his shirt cuffs. He looked at Conn and could tell that something was wrong. "Good morning, dear friend, what's the matter? Have you had news of Alastair, then?"

Conn, who was in no mood to waste time on pleasantries, said curtly, "There's fire in the hills, and he's been hurt―perhaps killed."

The aspect of a young dandy slid off Gavin's face like a mask. He said quickly, "You should speak with your mother at once about it; she will be able to find out if he still lives."

Conn had not thought of that; he was still too new to the life of the laran-gifted. He found that his voice was shaking as he said, "Will you come? I cannot bear to face her if I should cause her to learn of Alastair's death―"

"Of course," said Gavin.

Together they went in search of Erminie, and found her in her sewing room. She looked up, smiling to her son, but when she saw he did not respond, her look turned to one of frightened foreboding.

"Conn, what's the matter? And you―Gavin, what are you doing here? You know you are always welcome, but to see you here at this hour―"

"I came only to ask for news, at first," Gavin said, "but I found Conn in this state―"

"1 must go at once to Hammerfell, Mother; Alastair

has been hurt―near killed, I suspect―on the fire-lines."

Her face went white.

"Hurt? How did you know?"

"I have been in contact with him before this; strong emotion―fear or pain―will do it,"

he said, explaining what she knew already as swiftly as she asked the question. "I saw him hit in the fall of a burning tree!"

"Merciful Avarra," Erminie whispered. Snatching out her starstone, she bent over it and in a moment looked up with relief. "No; I do not think he is dead. Badly hurt, perhaps, even unconscious, but not dead. He is beyond my reach; I should send for Edric-1―or for Renata―who will be able to reach the people in the Tower at Tramontana; they will know what is happening in the hills. All the Keepers can reach one another."

"Send for Floria, too, kinswoman," said Gavin. "She would want to know what is happening to her promised husband."

"Yes, of course," said Erminie, bending over her starstone. After a moment she looked up and said, "They will come."

Conn said, "I do not like this delay; I feel I should go to him at once."

Erminie shook her head firmly. "There can be no such haste as that; better, if you must go, to go knowing exactly what is happening. Otherwise you could ride into a trap set by Storn―as your brother did, long before you were born."

"If there is any question of that," Gavin said, "he shall not ride alone into danger; I swear I will be at his side for life or death."

Erminie embraced Gavin, so moved that she had no words; she stood clinging to them both until Copper pricked up her head and barked; there were steps in the hall, and Floria came in, with Renata in her crimson robes, and a little behind them, Edric Elhalyn.

"I came as soon as I knew you wanted me, kinswoman," he said, going quickly to Erminie.

Renata said in the husky and sexless voice of the emmasca, "Tell us what has happened, my dear."

Conn explained swiftly; Edric frowned. He said, "Word of this should be sent to King Aidan at once."

Renata frowned and said, "By no means; His Grace has enough troubles of his own at this moment, and no thought to spare for those of Hammerfell."

"Is Antonella dead, then?" Gavin asked. "I heard she was mending."

"Till last night, that was true," said Floria. "Last night they sent for me to monitor her; another blood vessel in her brain has burst. She will not die, but she cannot speak, and her whole right side is paralyzed."

"Ah, poor lady," Renata said. "She is good to everyone, and Aidan will sorely miss her; at least he must stay with her as long as his presence can still give her any comfort."

"I should remain with her, too," Floria said. "Perhaps vigilance and constant monitoring might prevent another stroke―which would most probably mean death."

"Then it is I who should go to her," Renata said. "At this time I think your place is here, Floria, with your promised husband's mother―" but it was directly at Conn that she looked, "and I think your father will agree. Erminie needs you, and I will remain with Her Grace. I was a monitor before I was Keeper―"

"And your skills are immeasurably greater than mine," added Floria, relieved and grateful.

Conn felt torn, too, between his brother's danger and the king he had begun to love. His voice was irritable. "Then, in the name of all the Gods there are, let us know at once what is happening with my brother."

He looked at Floria; she raised her eyes to his and neither of them dared acknowledge the thought that hung between them.

I wish my brother no harm. I swear it; but if he is no longer between us―-

And her answering thought: 7 think maybe I only loved Alastair because it was through him I saw you. . . .

One way or another, Conn knew, he and Floria could no longer ignore their feelings. But first, they must care for Alastair.

Even before Renata could raise or uncover the starstone, the outer house door opened and Valentine Hastur came in. "Ah, Renata, I hoped to find you here. You are needed; go at once to His Grace, I will look after the Lady Erminie and her sons―after all, they are to be my stepsons."

Renata nodded briskly and hurried out. Erminie blushed, then looked up briefly and smiled at Valentine.

I am so glad you are here, kinsman; you always come when I am most in need.

Conn thought: 7 am glad for her; she was married to my father almost before she had put away her dolls, and has lived alone all these years, thinking only of my brother's welfare. It is time she had someone to think first of her happiness.

The starstone blazed in Edric's hand; swiftly he drew them together into the circle. At once, Conn felt the presences of another circle, and knew without being told that they were the assembled workers of the faraway Tower at Tramontana.

Welcome, kinsmen; the fire is contained and we have leisure to greet you now. In Conn's mind was a picture of the timberlands burned over, one village made all but

uninhabitable―a village on Storn lands, not his own―and the shelters set up for the homeless, food and clothing distributed.

What of my son? It was Erminie who formed the question, and her mind went out

seeking him, Conn immediately present in the search.

He is recovering, but in Storn's hands―pledged as a guest, under the laws of hospitality which he holds sacred, the faraway Keeper reassured Erminie at once. No harm will come to him, and his wounds are not mortal, we assure you.

"If Alastair is wounded, Markos―and my people― will need me," Conn said. "Mother, give me leave to depart. I am already packed, but you must let me have a good, strong horse. My old pony has gone with Alastair. I must go as swiftly as I can."

"Take whatever you need," said she. "Any horse in the stables is at your service. I shall follow at my best speed; but you can ride faster alone."

"We will follow," Floria said firmly. "I'm coming, too."

"I shall ride with Conn," said Gavin.

Conn turned to Gavin and his mother, "Why need either of you come? Mother, you should remain here in safety, and Gavin, you should stay to care for her. 1 know your good will, my friend, but you do not

know the mountain roads, and one can still travel faster than two."

"If Alastair is hurt, he will need me," Erminie said firmly. "And you will be busy on the king's business, raising the armies he spoke of. I know the road to Hammerfell as well as you. But you must go as quickly as you possibly can."

"Then, Gavin, you must stay and escort my mother and Floria if they feel they must come; this would be the best service you could possibly do me, my friend," Conn entreated, taking Gavin's hands in his.

Floria said in a low voice, "I feel I should go with you, Conn. This is between you and me―and Alastair."

"You are right," he acknowledged, "but you dare not. Stay with my mother. She will need you."

Erminie followed Conn to his room, where he finished thrusting a change of clothing into the saddlebag, fetched bread and cold meat from the kitchen, and saddled a good horse. She stood watching him at the gate as he rode away.

Copper scrambled through the gate after him, hauling Erminie bodily after her. Erminie tried to hold the dog, then, resigned, let go her collar, whispering, "Take good care of him, girl." She stood and watched her second son ride away into the mountains that had already swallowed up her first. Then she went into the house, sent a message to the Tower that she must have a leave of absence from her work, and arranged matters with her servants, preparing to leave at first light in the morning. The time had come to return to the heritage she had abandoned twenty years before.

She slept but ill, and woke in the morning to

discover Floria already in the kitchen preparing travel bags.

"I did not wish to wake you," the younger woman said, "but we should begin our journey as soon as possible."

"But, my dear," Erminie protested, "it is not right that we should both be absent from the Tower at once."

"Nonsense," Floria said. "Now and especially at this season there is little work to be done. There is another monitor who can take my place in the circle if the circle bothers to gather at all, and two young trainees to work in the relays if there is need. To stay here when I am needed elsewhere would simply be cowardice―using my work in the Tower