The Law of Isolation (59 page)

Sar started toward the ship, so Josiah had to go along, propelling Tharan ahead. He was too exhausted to do more than shuffle. Sar’s hooves were heavy and clumsy.

Hanion’s voice was weary. “Elkan, please reconsider. I’m begging you. If you go, everything will change. Tevenar will never be the same again. We could lose everything we’ve spent centuries building.”

“It’s too late to stop the change, Hanion. It’s already happening. All we can do is try to follow the Mother’s will and help shape the future according to her design. You heard Kevessa. The time has come for the Mother to return her power to the rest of the world.”

As if summoned by her name, Josiah saw Kevessa appear at the rail of the ship. She was wearing her riding skirt and had Nina snuggled in the crook of her elbow. “Father, what’s taking so long—” She took in Hanion’s presence with big eyes.

Hanion ignored her. He scowled at Elkan. “They’ve done without for a thousand years. Why should that change now?”

Elkan looked into the distance before answering. “I don’t know why the Mother chose this time. But from what Ambassador Gevan says, Ramunna alone has three times the population of Tevenar, and the rest of Ravanetha dwarfs it. All those people, Hanion, with no access to the Mother’s power. Is it justice for us to have it while they don’t? Is it right for us to keep it for ourselves?”

Gevan stood back when he reached the plank, indicating with a jerk of his head that Josiah should take Tharan across first. Josiah surveyed the narrow strip of wood. His legs were trembling, and his head ached fiercely. Sar’s muzzle drooped so low it almost brushed the dock. The light of the Mother’s power surrounding Tharan had faded to a wan shimmer.
Sar, I don’t know if I can hold on.

We have to.
Sar’s sides swelled as he took a deep breath. He pushed power through Josiah, propelling Tharan forward.

Josiah was only dimly aware of Hanion and Elkan continuing to speak behind him. “…the way the Mother arranged things. Who are we to question her?”

“I don’t think she minds when we question her, Hanion. I think she wants us to. Dabiel never hesitated to ask—”

On the plank, Tharan threw all his effort into a violent contortion of his body. He lurched sideways, teetering over the dark water below.

Sar sent a surge of power through Josiah. The effort tore a cry from his lips. A wash of light surrounded Tharan, arresting his fall. It flashed bright in Josiah’s eyes just before his vision went dark.

He was certain only a second or two had passed when he came to, slumped over Sar’s back. The donkey was heaving great ragged breaths, his fur sweaty against Josiah’s cheek. A thread of light extended from Josiah’s limp hand to Tharan. So far it had kept him from completing his plunge off the plank, but Josiah couldn’t imagine that lasting much longer.

Elkan’s voice rang hollowly in his ears. “Tobi, come—”

But Kevessa was quicker. She put out her hand, and a bright wave of the Mother’s power enveloped Tharan. Nina perched on her other arm, front paws firmly grounded in Kevessa’s palm, bright eyes focused on Tharan, scolding the assassin in a stream of rasps and chitters.

Josiah nearly sobbed with relief when Sar let their light die. He glimpsed Elkan striding toward Tharan, Tobi bounding at his side. He closed his eyes and sagged against Sar, content to let his master take over. Maybe he could have a couple minutes to recover before he had to move.

“
Nina?
” The voice wasn’t loud, but it held so much shock and horror that Josiah jerked his head up. He blinked gritty eyes, trying to see.

Mathir scrambled up the high side of the hay wagon and vaulted across the gap onto the ship. He raced along the deck, shoving sailors out of his way. Kevessa whirled to face him.

“Nina, how could you?” Mathir grabbed Kevessa by the shoulders, shaking her violently. “You can’t have her! She’s mine!”

Nina sent a burst of the Mother’s power at him, but it went wide as Kevessa struggled in his grip. She pounded his chest with her fists. “Let go of me!”

Fear rushed through Josiah.
Sar! Grab him!

I can’t! You just passed out.

Calm and commanding, Elkan’s voice cut through the commotion. “Mathir, stop. Let her—”

Josiah caught a blur of motion from the corner of his eye. Nina had lost her hold on Tharan. In the instant when everyone’s attention was fixed on Mathir, he’d stepped back to the dock, stooped, and seized the loose plank he’d been standing on. He swung it in a whistling arc and slammed it into the side of Elkan’s head.

Tobi screamed, high and piercing like a woman’s shriek. Elkan collapsed. Tobi leapt at Tharan, snarling. He cowered back, raising the plank, but she broke off her attack and dropped to crouch beside Elkan. She pressed her heavy paw into his limp hand. Golden light washed over him.

Josiah thrust out his hand, but Sar still stubbornly refused to do anything. With a cry of frustration Josiah stumbled toward Tharan.

A wild swing of the plank knocked Mavke away from Hanion, breaking their connection just as golden light bloomed around Hanion’s fingers. The bulldog slid across the dock. He tried to scramble to his feet, but yelped and pulled one hind leg up against his body. He limped toward Hanion, who lunged to meet him.

Gevan waved his torch in Tharan’s face. The assassin fended him off with thrusts of the plank. Gevan tried unsuccessfully to maneuver around Tharan and reach the ship. He shouted at Mathir, who was attempting to wrestle Nina from Kevessa’s arms. Kevessa and Nina were trying to hold him off with the Mother’s power, but seemed to be having trouble coordinating their efforts, because Mathir kept breaking loose and grabbing for them.

The plank slammed into Josiah’s hip, sending him sideways into Hanion. They sprawled to the dock together, pain blazing through Josiah’s side.

Tharan stepped toward them, raising the plank. Josiah tried to roll out of the way, but his leg wouldn’t respond. Over Tharan’s shoulder he glimpsed Gevan, fist raised to strike.

The blow knocked Tharan to his knees. But instead of continuing his attack, Gevan jumped across the gap to the deck of the ship and thrust himself between Kevessa and Mathir.

Tharan struggled up, once again lifting the plank. Josiah cringed, hands coming up reflexively to shield his face. But Tharan’s eyes were fixed on a point to one side. He swung the plank with fierce precision. It caught Mavke and flung him in a low, long arc. The bulldog’s stocky body struck the dock, rolled, and tumbled into the water.

Hanion cried out and scrambled after his familiar. For an instant he knelt on the edge of the dock, reaching down. Then he plunged over the side after Mavke.

Josiah jerked his attention back to Tharan, sure the plank would descend on him next. But Tharan must have considered him out of the fight, for he stood over Elkan, gripping the plank and eyeing Tobi. She snarled at him but remained crouched, maintaining her contact with Elkan. Tharan made a few feints without drawing her away. Gold light enveloped Elkan’s head, but he remained unconscious.

Sar thrust his muzzle in Josiah’s face.
Let me see what’s wrong.

Josiah obediently put a hand to the donkey’s nose, but he shook his head as gold light flickered over his hip.
Forget that. We’ve got to help Elkan.

I think the bone is cracked.
The gold light faded, and Sar lifted his head to survey the scene. His mental tone seethed with the same helpless frustration Josiah felt.
We haven’t got enough energy!

I don’t care. Burn me out. Just stop Tharan!

I can’t. One life doesn’t justify a sacrifice.

Aboard the ship, Gevan cried out hoarsely. Mathir ripped the torch from his hand and threw it hard into the wagon, still half full of hay. Flames leaped up.

Tharan jerked around. Josiah held his breath and lay still, afraid Tharan might realize he was still active. The assassin must have judged the fire no threat, because he turned back to Elkan.

Josiah bit his lip. Think. What could he and Sar do with no more than a tiny bit of the Mother’s power to stop Tharan, before he figured out a way to get past Tobi and finish Elkan off? That must be his goal, because otherwise he could have fled. He was still trying to prevent a wizard from going to Ramunna.

Josiah’s stomach dropped and his face went cold as the answer struck him.
Sar? How much energy would it take to—to kill him?

Sar considered the question calmly.
Slowing his heart would take too much. But there are blood vessels in the brain that are fragile. I think we could break one, even from this far.

Would the Mother let you do that?

His familiar didn’t hesitate.
Yes, in this case it’s permitted.

Josiah swallowed. Elkan had wanted to keep Tharan alive. He’d been so opposed to the idea of killing him that he’d defied the Guildmaster and risked the success of their mission. Something had happened to Elkan when he’d presided over the execution of the prisoner in Jianolan. Josiah thought of the way he’d slumped in his chair afterwards, the look in his eyes when he’d talked about it earlier tonight.
Just because we
can
do something with her power, doesn’t mean we should…

The act itself wouldn’t be Josiah’s, any more than it had been Elkan’s. But the choice would be his. Elkan had hoped he’d never have to face that choice.

He eased up on one elbow, choking back a cry as fire shot through his hip. Tharan and Tobi were still in a stand-off. If they acted quickly, Tobi would be free to give all her attention to healing Elkan.

Sar put his head down within easy reach of Josiah’s hand, but didn’t touch him. He wouldn’t do anything unless Josiah asked.

Josiah hesitated. Elkan wasn’t in immediate danger. Tharan could still give up and flee while the wizards were disabled or distracted. He wouldn’t be able to escape for long, though, not once wizards started tracking him through widows. Maybe he knew that.

Tharan thrust the plank at Tobi, driving it hard into her flank. She leapt at him, teeth flashing. The light around Elkan winked out. Tobi drove Tharan back a few steps, snapping and lunging, but he fended her off with the plank. She broke off and dove for Elkan again. As soon as she touched him light burst into life around his head. Tobi whined and crept closer to Elkan, gazing with intense concentration into his slack face.

Josiah swallowed.
All right. Do it.
He laid his hand on the soft fur of Sar’s neck. The donkey lifted his head to focus on Tharan.

A commotion of shouts and pounding feet erupted behind Josiah. He and Sar both twisted around. A group of watchers, cloaks dull red in the light of the fire, charged down the dock. They raised their bows and he heard the twang of bowstrings. A flight of arrows ripped over his head. He cringed and his eyes snapped closed. An irregular series of meaty thuds, like the strokes of a butcher’s cleaver, sounded in his ears.

He jerked his eyes open. Tharan lay on his back, arrow shafts protruding from his chest. Josiah stared at him, breathing hard.

Watchers rushed past him. Some of them clustered around Tharan and Elkan. Others surrounded the burning wagon, calling for buckets.

Tobi crouched over Elkan, never sparing a glance for her fallen foe. What was taking so long? How badly was Elkan injured that she hadn’t been able to heal him yet?

Josiah gritted his teeth and rolled over. He got his one good knee under him and pushed up on his hands. Waves of pain washed over him until he was afraid he might black out again, but he did his best to ignore them. Inch by inch he dragged himself toward Elkan.

Sar’s muzzle brushed the back of his neck, his breath a hot tickle.
I can dull the pain. Just be careful not to make your injury worse.
Faint gold light washed over Josiah, reducing the agony to a more manageable level.

Thanks.
Sar kept pace with him as he crawled the last few feet. Finally he collapsed at Elkan’s side. Tobi edged over to give him room. He put his hand out toward his master’s head. The whole side of Elkan’s face was dark with bruising.

Sar sent the Mother’s power over Elkan. It took very little energy just to look, but even so Josiah’s heart raced. He tried to make sense of the wash of sensations flooding him.

Flashing lights, blinking on and off at irregular, dizzying intervals. Pounding like a huge drum resonating in his breastbone. A metallic taste and a sharp, sour smell like crushed berries. A damp, smothering pressure against his skin, as if he was cocooned in thick layers of heavy wet cotton.

Tell her to stop!
Sar lunged forward, knocking Tobi away from Elkan with his shoulder. Tobi snarled at him and tried to force her way back.

“Tobi, Sar says you have to stop.” He gasped as the mountain cat’s fangs slashed, just missing Sar’s nose.
Sar, why?

She’s making it worse. His brain is swelling, and she’s accelerating the process.

Josiah repeated Sar’s explanation aloud, hoping Tobi would understand. Her yellow eyes glared at him, but she quit struggling and settled into a tense crouch.

Sar pressed his nose into Josiah’s hand again, and the overwhelming sensations sprang back into his mind. He tried to organize and identify the impressions as he relayed Sar’s words to Tobi.
As part of the normal healing response to any trauma, the body brings blood and fluids to the site of the injury, which causes swelling. Normally that’s not a problem, but when it’s trapped inside the skull the pressure can rise and damage the brain. That’s the tactile sensation you’re feeling.

With effort, Josiah isolated the wet cotton sensation on his skin. Now he could grasp the relation it bore to what was happening in Elkan’s body. He shuddered at the way it pressed against him with constantly mounting force.

When Josiah finished repeating his explanation to Tobi, Sar continued.
I don’t think Tobi’s dealt with this type of injury before. She didn’t realize it would require a modification of the usual technique. When she accelerated the healing process the way she’d normally do, she sped up the swelling and caused the pressure to jump dangerously high.