Swords Over Fireshore (31 page)

She looked at Luruthin, worried that the sun might somehow affect him through the cloud. He met her gaze.

“I have been thinking, Eliani. If I remain with the Lost, you will only be two.”

“Sunahran and the others meant to return to Bitterfield. We will join them there, or catch up with them on the road.”

“Ah.” He nodded, though she thought he looked a bit disappointed.

Her brow grew warm. She glanced at Vanorin, his blanket-cloaked form almost hidden by the swirling snow, then closed her eyes and answered.

Hello, love.

It is snowing? Where are you?

Somewhere on the shoulder of the Sleeper. Yes, the storm is growing stronger, I think.

I thought Luruthin was too weak to travel.

Eliani swallowed. He is better now. We—I must confess something to you, love. We fed him.

She sensed Turisan's confusion. You found a kobalen?

No. Vanorin and I bled into a cup for him.

Turisan was silent. She feared he was angry. Nervous, she spoke the first thought that came to her.

The change it brought over him was quite striking. He is much stronger now.

Yes, it is remarkable how quickly they change.

You have seen this?

A faint ripple of amusement went through Turisan's khi. Yes, I have seen it. I must confess to you in turn that I fed Kelevon when he was being held in Glenhallow.

Kelevon!

Fury woke in her heart at the thought of Kelevon drinking her partner's blood. She tried to keep her anger from Turisan, but was so distraught she knew she had likely failed.

Turisan's khi filled with warmth and gentleness. I did not tell you at the time because I feared to distress you. If I have erred I ask your forgiveness.

I....

She could not form a reply. Shaking with anger, she opened her eyes. She could no longer see Vanorin through the snow.

I had two reasons for feeding him. One was that he was suffering. As we held him against his will, we were responsible for his welfare. The other reason was that in exchange for being fed he gave us information about the alben.

Eliani drew a deep breath, cold in her throat. I am not angry with you, love. But Kelevon....

Yes. We did not know then how destructive he was.

If I meet him again I will kill him.

I pray you will never meet him again.

Eliani let out an exasperated sigh. So do I.

She peered through the snow, seeking a glimpse of Vanorin. The flakes were swirling thicker now, agitated by an increasing breeze. Luruthin shifted beside her and she met his glance. She sensed movement from Turisan and focused her attention on him.

You are riding?

Yes.

Has the sun risen?

Not yet, but it will not be long.

All is darkness here. Love, I will speak to you later. I think we must find shelter.

Very well. Spirits guard you.

Thank you, my heart. May they walk with you also.

A last wave of warmth from him faded slowly. She gazed after Vanorin, but saw only swirling snow.

“Vanorin?”

Silence answered. Perhaps the snow had muffled her call. She tried again, more loudly. Luruthin added his voice to hers. They listened, then Eliani heard Vanorin's voice, indistinct with distance.

She looked at Luruthin. “I could not tell what he said.”

“Nor I.”

She paused, thinking she had heard Vanorin's voice again. After a moment she called his name. There was no answer. She tried to find his khi, but the snowfall confused her perception.

Eliani stamped her feet in the snow, both to warm them and to curb her impatience. She pulled her blanket closer and shook snow from her hair, wishing for her lost cloak and the comfort of its hood. It had been Turisan's cloak, his first gift to her after their handfasting. She was sorry to have lost it, for many reasons.

A sound caught her ear; the fall of a loose rock, muffled by snow. She stared but did not see it, though she heard it continue down the mountainside below.

“Vanorin?”

“Here.”

His voice was stronger than it had been, and came from above. Eliani tilted back her head and peered into the falling snow.

“Where are you?”

“On a ledge. There is another ridge beyond this, and the other has caves.”

“Good! We need shelter.”

“Can you follow my tracks?”

Eliani peered at the footprints he had left. They were mere dimples already, nearly filled with snow.

“If we hurry. The snow falls heavy.”

“Let me come down to you.”

Eliani waited, listening to his descent. She glanced at Luruthin, who was gazing eastward, frowning slightly. He sensed her gaze and turned to meet it.

“I think the sun is rising.”

“You can feel it?”

“I feel uncomfortable. Not burning, but ... if this storm clears suddenly....”

“We will find shelter before then.”

Eliani heard Vanorin's tread off to the right and peered through the snow toward the sound. A moment later she saw his huddled shape coming toward them. Snow lay thick on his hair and shoulders. As he reached them Eliani saw that his cheeks were flushed with exertion.

“A short climb, perhaps five rods. I sought a way around but there is no other. Can you manage it?” He looked at Luruthin, who nodded.

“I can manage. There are caves?”

Vanorin paused in drinking from his water skin. “Several. I only looked into the first, which was small though it would shelter us. I think we will have no trouble finding better.”

Eliani took a sip of her own water, then slung it behind her. Vanorin started off again, following his own trail. Eliani fell into step behind him.

The path climbed as the mountain slope steepened. Eliani trod on a stone hidden beneath the snow and lost her balance, flailing. Luruthin caught hold of her from behind, keeping her from tumbling down the slope. Together they fell heavily against the rock wall uphill from them.

Vanorin had turned, and now returned to them. “Have a care, my lady.”

Setting forth again, Vanorin walked more slowly. After a short while he turned back across the slope and began to climb the craggy rock. Now and then his foot dislodged a loose rock, and Eliani watched it tumble down and away to disappear in the snow.

They reached a narrow ledge, Eliani assumed the one on which Vanorin had stood to call down to them. There they paused, clinging to the rock wall, crowded together in the small space.

“Another rod or two to climb. Are you fit for it?”

“Yes.”

Vanorin started upward again. The rock had plenty of cracks for handholds, but some broke away under Vanorin's hands. Eliani watched where he found steady footing and followed his path up the steep cliff. She could hear Luruthin behind her, his breathing beginning to labor with exertion, as did her own.

A broader ledge came in view above. Vanorin had almost reached it.

His foot slipped as he was pulling himself up to the ledge. With a startled cry he slid back, clung with both hands to the rock, then dropped.

“Vanorin!”

Eliani heard him scrabbling down the cliff, ending in a heavy thump. Clinging to the rock, she craned her head to see beneath her.

He lay face down on the narrow ledge, his head and one arm hanging over its edge.

“Vanorin!”

The captain stirred, pushing himself back from the edge, rolling onto his back. Even through the falling snow Eliani saw his grimace of pain.

Luruthin looked up at her. “Stay where you are, Eliani. I will go to him.”

Eliani held still, her heart pounding. She tried to slow her breathing, tried to think what was best to do.

Looking down again, she saw Vanorin sitting up, both arms wrapped around his right leg. Luruthin knelt beside him on the ledge, searching inside his pack.

“Are you hurt?”

Luruthin looked up. “He has twisted an ankle. He cannot climb. We can raise him with rope, if we can find a place to tie it.”

“Shall I come down?”

“No, climb up if you are able. I will throw you the end of the rope.”

Eliani swallowed, looking at the short distance she had left to climb. It was nothing, a mere leap, yet she feared it. She tried to remember exactly where Vanorin's foot had slipped, but that was useless. Drawing a deep breath, she started upward.

In three breaths she was pulling herself onto the ledge. She got to her knees, then looked down at her companions.

“I am up. Throw the rope.”

She watched Luruthin twist the rope twice about his wrist, then fling the rest of the coil up toward her. It passed her hands as a gust of breeze pulled it beyond her reach. Hoping to catch it as it fell onto the ledge, she lunged after it, but the rope did not fall.

Hands had caught it. Gloved hands, reaching from beneath a furred cloak. Eliani scrambled backward, looking up at a male, white hair whipping around his face and his black eyes boring into her.

The Great Sleeper

 

S
crambling to her feet, Eliani drew her sword. The alben male took a startled step backward and raised a hand.

“Stay your sword! I mean you no harm.”

“Give me that rope!”

He tossed it to her. She caught it, then stood staring at him, breathing hard, wondering what to do. Snow swirled around her, making her blink. She could not hold the stranger at swordpoint and manage the rope as well.

“Eliani!” Luruthin's voice from below.

The alben's glance flicked toward the cliff. “May I be of assistance?”

“Who are you?”

“My name will mean nothing to you, but I give it you. I am Ulithan.”

“That is an ælven name!”

A smile twitched at a corner of his mouth. “Yes.”

Eliani frowned. “Are you one of the Lost?”

His brows rose in surprise. “One could call me that.”

“Eliani!”

She took a step sideways toward the cliff's edge and glanced down at Luruthin. He had tied a loop in the rope and settled it under Vanorin's arms.

“Is your friend hurt?”

Eliani's eyes narrowed as she looked back at Ulithan. “We seek shelter from the storm.”

Ulithan nodded. “There are several caves along this ridge. You are welcome to shelter there. Shall I help you?”

He gestured toward the rope. Eliani hesitated. She tried to get a sense of the stranger's khi, but in the gusting snow it was difficult.

No malice showed in his face. He seemed unusually calm, in fact—untroubled by her sword, unhurried for an answer.

After a moment he unbuckled the belt at his hips, which held a long knife in its sheath and a battered water skin, and set it down by the cliff wall. He took off his cloak and laid it over the belt. He was dressed in deerskin, with furs strapped about his lower legs.

“There. I am unarmed. Shall I help you or no?”

Reluctantly, Eliani gave him the rope. He pulled up the slack, then set himself to haul and glanced at her.

Eliani looked over the edge. “Are you ready?”

Luruthin looked up at her. “Yes. Shall I come up?”

“Not yet.”

She stepped back and nodded to Ulithan, who began to haul at the rope. When she heard Vanorin coming near the top she sheathed her sword and went to help him over the edge.

The captain winced in pain as he crawled onto the ledge; Eliani felt sharp flashes of it in his khi. Her hands went at once to his ankle, which she could feel had swollen inside the boot.

After a moment she sighed. “Not broken.”

She glanced at Ulithan, who still stood holding the rope. Carefully, she took the loop from around Vanorin's shoulders and tossed it down to Luruthin.

“Send up his pack and bow.”

A sound of shifting made her glance up. Ulithan was stepping toward his belongings, still holding the rope. Eliani rose to her feet, hand to her sword hilt, but relaxed when she saw him pick up his furred cloak and shake off the snow. He carried it toward her, offering it at arm's length.

She laid the cloak over Vanorin and knelt beside him. His eyes were closed, his face twisted in pain.