The White Dragon (87 page)

Josarian's brother-in-law crossed the vast temple to embrace him in greeting. "Praise Dar that you, at least, are safe," Emelen said.
 

"When did you get to Dalishar?" Tansen asked.

"A few days ago," Emelen replied. "Did you know that Lann slept through that first big earthquake we had? Let's remember never to leave him on sentry duty."

Tansen grinned, introduced Emelen to Zarien, then advised the boy they'd be here a little longer than expected. Seeing Zarien's impatient expression, Tansen distracted him by suggesting, "Go get something to eat. Here's some money." As expected, the ploy worked, and Zarien promised to leave him in peace long enough to talk with Emelen.

"I've got Guardians to deal with," Radyan said, excusing himself.

"Where's Jalilar?" Tansen asked, sitting down with Emelen.

"In Sanctuary, and not happy about it."

That didn't surprise Tansen. Josarian's sister had never liked confinement
or
being separated from her husband. "How is she?"

"Taking Josarian's death hard," Emelen admitted, his own face sad. "She knew it could come. We all did. But they were close."

"I know," Tansen murmured, remembering.

"Their parents are dead. Now he's gone." Emelen sighed. "To be honest, we fought badly before I left her in Sanctuary. She says..." Emelen shrugged and looked sadder. "Well, we still have no child, and with her family dead, there is only me. She said I could either stay there with her or take her with me, but I couldn't leave her alone in Sanctuary and go running off to die without her."

"So what did you do? You just said that she's in Sanc—"

"I left in the middle of the night. While she slept. And I, uh..." Emelen cleared his throat awkwardly. "I made the Sister give her something to keep her asleep for a full day, so she couldn't possibly follow me."

"Fires of Dar."

"Uh-huh."

"I wouldn't be you for all the diamonds in Alizar," Tansen said with feeling.

"No," Emelen agreed.

"She'll make you very sorry for that."

"I know." Emelen made a frustrated gesture. "I just didn't know what else to do. There was no time to keep fighting about it. I knew you'd need me to get back as soon as possible."

"I did," Tansen admitted.

"But Jalilar wouldn't stay there. Not unless I made it impossible for her to follow me. And she couldn't come. She
mustn't.
Who knows what Kiloran will do to the Firebringer's sister if she leaves Sanctuary?"

Jalilar was a strong and sensible woman, and Tansen was certain she understood what was at stake. "But the war has taken everything from her," he said, thinking aloud. "Her family, her village, her friends, her way of life..."
 

According to the customs of the
shallaheen
, Tansen would, as her dead brother's bloodbrother, be responsible for her if anything happened to her husband now. He would protect her, but it wasn't enough, he knew, not after all that Jalilar had lost. Yes, she could certainly be forgiven for quarreling with Emelen, whom she loved passionately, about leaving her behind in safety while he want off to probable death at Tansen's side.

Whether or not Emelen, however, would be forgiven for employing such drastic measures to protect and desert her... Tansen almost shuddered. He had enough problems of his own with women without contemplating Emelen's too closely.

Emelen said, "They told me at Dalishar. Zimran betrayed Josarian."

"Yes." Tansen waited to see how much Emelen knew.

No more than anyone else, apparently, since Emelen only said, "To be honest, I never really liked Zimran and never understood why Josarian loved him so much. But I never ever thought he would do something like that."

"No."

"Why?" Emelen asked. "
Why?
"

Tansen shrugged, concealing his discomfort with the subject. "Maybe because he could. You know the old saying: He who betrays you is never one from afar."

"Do you think it was because of you?"

That surprised him. "Me?"

"Zimran was always jealous of you, you know," said Emelen. "Josarian made you his brother. Loved you best. Trusted you the most. Relied on you more than anyone. Even when you weren't around, Josarian was always saying, 'Tansen says,' or 'Tansen told me,' or 'What would Tansen do now?' And Zimran hated that. Hated you for it. Maybe even started hating Josarian for it."

Tansen shook his head. "Zimran was a complicated man." One whom Elelar had played like a harp.

"Do you think Zim was in collusion with Kiloran?" When Tansen frowned, Emelen elaborated, "How else would Kiloran have known when and where to attack Josarian?"

How indeed?
 

Maybe I really should kill Elelar.

But he knew he wouldn't.

"Kiloran had tried before to kill Josarian, and he would have tried again if he'd failed that night. It was just another attempt," Tansen prevaricated. "The one that worked."

"And which one will work on you?"

"Oh, that's a cheerful thought."

Emelen smiled. "Sorry. Perhaps fear of imminent castration by my own wife is making me glum."

"Perhaps missing her is making you glum," Tansen suggested morosely. "Women can do that to a man."

"There is good news, though."

"What?" Tansen asked.

"Well...
strange
news, rather."

"Yes?"

"The visions at Dalishar are continuing."

Tansen stared at him. "What?"

Emelen nodded. "I've seen it myself. It doesn't happen every night, and it's not always the same thing. But once in while... I've never seen a vision before, but this could be nothing else."

Tansen listened while Emelen described the same sort of thing he'd heard before. Sometimes people saw glowing golden eyes in the night sky over Dalishar. Sometimes they saw an image like a fist—a symbol reminiscent of Daurion, the last great Yahrdan, who ruled Sileria, as songs and stories said, with a fist of iron in a velvet glove.

"And a voice?" Tansen prodded.

"Yes. Well, not a voice exactly, but something you hear in your head."

"'He is coming.'"

"Yes. You've seen... heard it?" Emelen asked.

"No, but I've heard
about
it." A few times, by now. "So it's not connected to Mirabar," he mused. "It's something all on its own."

"Something amazing."

"How are people responding?" Tansen asked.

"Everyone from Chandar and other nearby villages is crowding the camp at Dalishar now, eager to see it."

"They're not afraid?"

"Depends on who you ask. I mean... who is 'he,' and what's he going to do when he comes? People are either excited or afraid depending on what they think the vision means."

"Mirabar said—"

"That it's a promise of this new ruler she has foreseen," Emelen said. "I know, and so does everyone else. It helps. It definitely helps."

"But some people disagree?"

"Of course. This is Sileria. Some people insist it means terrible things."

"Of course," Tansen said dryly. This was Sileria. "What does Lann say?"

"Lann says visions make him queasy, and he wants you to put someone else in charge at Dalishar so he can go kill assassins and be happy again."

Tansen grinned. "Fair enough."

"Dalishar's not the only place where strange things are happening."

"The colored smoke and lights at Mount Darshon," Tansen murmured.

"When Jalilar and I left the east, after Jalan brought us news of Josarian's death and word started spreading, the
zanareen
went mad."

"The
zanareen
have always been mad," Tansen pointed out.

"I mean, they got even stranger. Haven't you seen any of them lately?"

"No, I've been busy," he said dryly.

"They're raving about how Dar is angry, Dar wants vengeance, Dar will have blood—"

"But that's good," Tansen interrupted. "The Society killed the Firebringer, so surely Dar's fury will help us convince people they've got to oppose the waterlords now."

"They're also saying Dar wants sacrifices."

"Such as?"

"So far it's just the usual: flowers, fruit, grain, wine, livestock, gold, jewels, bones of the dead..."

"But?" Tansen prodded.

"The
zanareen
say if it's not enough, She'll take more."

"That's Her way," Tansen said with resignation. "It always has been."

"People are already afraid," said Emelen. "Traveling west, Jalilar and I met people going east, men and women. They were summoned to Darshon, they said. Called to worship and praise Dar. They didn't seem to know what in the Fires they would actually do once they got there, but they were going."

"Where is Jalan?" Tansen asked suddenly. The
zanar
was a raving religious fanatic and possibly Tansen's least favorite person; but he'd been right all along about Josarian's true identity, and maybe he'd have something useful to say about all of this.

"He came with us as far as the Sanctuary where I left Jalilar. When he was sure the Firebringer's sister was in a safe place, he left us to return to Darshon." Emelen added, "And I would rather face a White Dragon myself than travel with Jalan again. So would my wife."

 
"Even Josarian didn't like him."

"I doubt that Dar Herself likes him," Emelen said with feeling.

Tansen smiled wryly, then asked, "What about the fighting in the east?"

"Jagodan shah Lironi won't back down," Emelen said. "And his entire clan, as well as several others, are with him. Jagodan lost a brother and a son in the rebellion. He says they didn't give their lives just so the Lironi could spend the next thousand years being ruled by the Society instead of by the
roshaheen
."

"That's good," Tansen said, feeling encouraged. He remembered his meeting here with Kiman shah Moynari. "Other clans are joining them, or soon will. I sent Cheylan east again, to pledge our support to Jagodan and encourage the Lironi."

"What would encourage
everyone
," Emelen pointed out, "is presenting this new ruler that you and Mirabar have promised Sileria."

"I know." He spread his hands helplessly. "I don't think anyone but Mirabar can find him, and she's... frustrated by the vagueness of her visions."

"Where is she now?"

"Mount Niran."

"Niran?" Emelen exclaimed. "Have you lost your mind? Kiloran could get to her—"

"She needed to go."

"What could be so important—"

"She's hoping her teacher can help her understand these visions, unravel their meaning. She's seen... things that disturb her."

"Like what?"

"I don't know," Tansen lied. No need to spread the worry around, he thought.

"Why not have her teacher brought here?" Emelen asked. "Or somewhere safe?"

"Tashinar is very old. I doubt she can travel this far anymore. And Mirabar was... restless. She needed to go." More worried than he wanted to admit, he added, "I've learned it's usually best to let her follow her instincts."

"What about you? Radyan says you're leaving for Shaljir."

Tansen nodded. "There are things I need to do there."

"And who," Emelen asked with emphasis, "is that sea-born boy?"
 

"A runaway."

"With an enchanted oar." Emelen's tone was pointed.

"Ah, so you've heard about that?"

"What's going on, Tansen?"

"It's a long story." He was getting tired of saying that.

"You used to trust me," Emelen snapped.

Tansen met his friend's dark gaze. "I still do." He rubbed a hand across his face, coming to a sudden decision. "All right. I'll tell you about the boy. Someone besides Mirabar and Cheylan ought to know—"

"If
Cheylan
knows, then
I
certainly deserve to—"

"—in case I don't come back."

"Don't come back?" Emelen pounced. "From where?"

"Or in case Zarien's right and it comes to pass." He still didn't believe it though. Not at all.

"Right about what?"

Tansen frowned and wondered where to begin. "How much do you know about the sea-born?"

"Nothing, of course. I'm a
shallah
."

"Then this will sound very strange."

"Oh, I don't know," Emelen said. "After all that's happened this past year, I've become pretty hard to surprise."