The Taleweaver
Lovers

Harbendrecalled staring at Trai's ruined body. The fire mage was stillalive. Harbend knew, somewhere deep inside he ought to feel elated,but there was only an empty void. Trai should have been dead now, butNeritan had used her powers, and now she looked lifeless as well.Harbend shivered at the thought of any wound severe enough to force aMagehealer into unconsciousness.

Someone hadto bring help, and he should be that someone. This was when he neededto be strong, but that emptiness held him hostage. Right now hewanted someone else to take command.

Harbendforced himself to take a step forward. The snow was darker now fromdays of feet trampling it. The caravan must have waited for them. Hewondered if they were worried. What a strange thought.

Ofcourse they are not. They believe I've brought Arthur back. I shouldhave. It was my responsibility.

There wasanother problem he had brought upon them. While they were searchingfor Arthur the caravan wasn't moving, and even with the help of theescort sending out more hunting parties supplies were gettingstrained. A few more days and complaints would spread rampant as foodhad to be rationed.

He crossedthe dirty snow in search of his own wagon. Maybe he'd be able tochange his clothes without causing another disaster. He found hiswagon as he had left it. It was all too orderly to offer anysubstantial amount of diversion for him, and he was soon standing onthe ground again knowing he had to return to the accusing looks.

This was, ashis father would have said, what happened if you didn't lead a properlife, and Harbend knew his had been all but proper. Then the memoryof his meeting with Uncle Ramdar nudged at him, and Harbend admittedthat at least the head of their family had decided this was indeedhis proper path. Small comfort right now and here.

Unable todelay the inevitable questions he and left. He had brought them tothis. Now he would have to take responsibility for it. Somewhatstrengthened in his resolve he went to replace Trai. The wounded first.Questions could wait until later. Trai ought to be among themagehealers, and Neritan with him.

Harbendfound his horse and saddled it. Without Escha he needed to ride allthe way to the circle of wagons were the mages from Ri Khi campedtogether.

Mind stillfull of his own failure Harbend arrived at one of the rearmostcircles and dismounted. He walked the last bit with leaden steps, andwhen he climbed the wagon shown to him by a young, black haired groomHarbend didn't know what to say.

The scenedid nothing to dispel his dark thoughts. Escha crying, despairseeping through the Khar. Nothing left of the mighty mage but afrightened child.

Ihave never seen him like this.

Harbendwanted to comfort Escha, but how? Harbend looked down at the pronebody. A miracle Trai was still alive. Harbend couldn't understand howanyone had been able to gather such a mass of scars, but memories ofthe burning Khar more than hinted at the reason.

Neritan hadyet to awake, but at least she had been joined by another Magehealer.

Harbendwondered briefly what kind of people Arthur had managed to surroundhimself with during their short stay at the Roadhouse. Mages, allthree of them, and powerful ones as well. Still, Trai's body told thetelltale signs that power didn't always come with invincibility.

"How ishe?" Harbend asked.

"Hewill survive. Magehealer Hwain is very powerful. None of us couldhave done what she did."

Harbendstudied the woman who had answered his question. A Magehealer, andone he didn't know by name. That added to his discomfort as well. Heshould have known. Apart from Neritan they were only three, and anymage who dedicated her life to the healing of others at the cost ofher own pain had the right to command more respect than to remain anameless resource.

He'd becomehis profession and lost some of his humanity in the trade. Was it toolate to revert that transition? He searched his surroundings todistract his thoughts. magehealers didn't crowd their wagons withgoods the way other traders did, and they weren't supposed to. Mostof their earnings were made during the journeys they embarked uponfor different reasons, and the caravan was no exception.

Despite thisHarbend could make out crates obviously meant for trade, and eventhough he couldn't be certain he guessed their contents to be driedherbs unusual or nonexistent in Braka. magehealers were a kind oftheir own, and Harbend assumed the exchange would be on an herb forherb basis rather than money. As healers they were certain to wantmore items for their profession than any amount of wealth. Healingpeople wasn't a career anyone chose for becoming rich, and hecouldn't imagine a more uncomfortable way to make a living. From whathe'd learned they didn't really heal their patients. Rather theygradually transferred whatever had befallen the one in need tothemselves and then sped up their own healing process. No wonder theypreferred herbs in cases not requiring such a ghastly treatment.

Beds andstretchers lined the wagon, and one of the former was occupied by awoman who must have had some kind of serious mishap during theirtravels. He didn't know of what kind, and he didn't care to ask.

Then, all ofa sudden, Neritan rose as did Trai.

"Thatwas, ah, unpleasant," she said.

"What...where am I?" Trai murmured, unsuccessfully trying to raise hisarms.

"I havesedated him. We'd better explain where we are before he tries toattack anyone. He still believes us where he went unconscious,"Neritan explained when Escha gave her a worried look.

"Trai,we are safe. You are with the caravan." Harbend felt strangelycompelled to be the one who came with the reassurance. He smiledweakly at the mage and turned to Escha. "I will leave you twoalone now. You can call upon me at any time you wish."

Receiving agrateful look he didn't think he deserved Harbend left the wagon andclimbed out into the wintry cold. Rather the cold of outside than theone freezing his heart. He put one foot in front of the other with adetermination sprung from desperation and headed away from the circleof wagons.

Alone, heneeded to be alone with the snow and the sky. Maybe there wasredemption, but he would have to replace it for himself. If it existedhe didn't know, and if it did he was even less certain he deservedit.

It was lateafternoon but still light enough for him to see the tracks fromwagons driven to form the circle. He struggled further away until hehad to trample unbroken snow beneath him and no longer saw any of thewagons. The pillar of smoke was still visible behind him though.Harbend knew it would be night and morning again before he could walkfar enough not to see it any longer. This had to do. He was aloneenough to be able to contemplate his deeds and decisions, and heslowly walked aimlessly with his misgivings and the sound of snowbreaking under his feet as his only companions.

"Howdid you do it?" Escha's voice was hoarse with fatigue born offear.

"Itransferred his wounds. He should be fine. Better than before as Ididn't bother to sort out which scars fresh enough to heal he hadreceived from previous mishaps," Neritan answered.

"Thosewere burn wounds. The pain should prevent you from concentratingenough to use the gift." Escha shifted uneasily on his seat.

"Let memake one thing clear," Neritan said, her voice taking on a sharpedge. "You may think yourself to be the greatest Transport Kharin living memory, and as far as you short lived ones go it may verywell be that you're correct, but I've met mages with powers youcouldn't imagine." Neritan gave him a tired smile while shegathered up hair that had become tangled during her healing sleep. "Imay not be the greatest Magehealer living, but I still have fewpeers. It wasn't easy. If I hadn't been here he'd be dead now."

"Yourisked killing yourself?"

"Don'tbe stupid. If there had been any risk to my life I would have let himdie. I'm far too valuable to my people to die for one of you, unlessyou're a taleweaver, like the one two anointed Khars and hundreds ofsoldiers managed to misplace."

Escha staredat her. There was a coldness in her scaring him, and now he knew whysome of the golden mages were thought of as arrogant. They wererumored to consider themselves peerless, and now he had seen thatrumor come true.

The finestof the magehealers were to be found in Khi, but he knew she hadn'tthought of any of them when she referred to her peers. All goldenmages were associated with either the tower in Kastari or the one inGaz. The tower of Khars in Khanati were only occasionally visited byone of them.

"Ithank you nonetheless, Khar Hwain," Escha said at last,uncertain if it was the correct title or not.

"As youshould do."

Eschadecided against saying anything in response. Instead he turned hisattention to Trai who still looked disorientated. His face did indeedshow fewer scars than before. There was love there as well, andrelief. Escha forgot where he was and who were there with them. Withdesperation pushing away all sense of proper behavior he went to hisknees and hugged Trai to himself afraid to ever let go.

Too close,he'd been too close to losing the only one who really mattered, butfor now everything was good and life smiled upon the two of themagain. The shock, and anger, Escha knew, would come later.

"I'llnever understand your kind," Neritan said as she rose to leave."There are beautiful women enough in Khanati for the both ofyou. Well..." She shook her head and climbed out of the wagon,the other magehealers following her.

Harbendbowed as Neritan entered. "What is the reason for your presencethis late?"

She bowed inreturn, more of a nod than a bow, but at least a token admittancethat she was a guest in his private quarters, as private as theycould be in a simple wagon.

"Iwould have your help in locating the taleweaver," she said aftershe'd seated herself on a chest.

"Ofcourse, even though I fail to see how I can be of any help to you."

"Youknow the man better than anyone else here. I've already got a pictureof where he must be, but I need to know how his mind is working toknow more exactly."

Harbendfrowned. Did he really know that much of the man he considered afriend? "I will try to help, but I cannot promise it will beenough."

"Ibelieve that I'll be the one to decide if your help is enough or not.Your promises are of little concern to me." She displayed an airof self-confidence he hadn't expected, but then who knew what toexpect from one of the golden?

Harbendlooked away, knowing his eyes would have shown a sour enmity had sheseen them.

"Yourview of me is of little concern as well. I need your help, not yourapproval," Neritan said as if she had read his mind. Gods! Sheprobably had.

"Whatdo you want me to do?" he said, more to let words fly thanwanting any answer to his question.

"I wantyou to sit still and keep your mouth shut. Your insignificant rantingdisturbs me, and I need to be concentrated for what I have in mind."

"Listenhere, madam, I am not..."

"Silence,I said. Think of a good trade or something else your limited mind iscapable of grasping. I don't have time for the shortsightedwantonness of your kind."

Harbendwanted to lash out at her in any way possible at that time, butrecognition of his failures intervened, and he did as told.

They spent along time in silence. He didn't know how long, and afterwards therewas nothing but dreams and vague memories telling him it had everhappened. What he did know, memories or not, was that the golden mageknew more of his secrets than maybe he himself did after they weredone. Altogether it was an experience he didn't care much to haverepeated.

"Findthe others! You can tell them where we go now," Neritan saidwhen she was finally done, and with those words she left withoutdevoting a single moment of explanation to him.

Harbend feltdrained, but eventually he did her bidding and rode in search ofNakora, Escha and Trai.

"Ithink I know where they are," Harbend said. "We are neededagain."

Escha threwhim a look, turned to Trai and they shared a glance before nodding.That only left Nakora. Harbend almost didn't dare to meet her eyes.

"Well,are you going to ask me or not?"

He did.

She huggedhim in response. That was a welcome surprise. A warm surprise for afrozen heart.

"Wetrust you. I trustyou," Nakora whispered.

Her wordswere balm to his mind. Harbend found strength in that trust.

"Escha,we are ready when you are," he croaked.

"Then,Lord Garak, we jump."

Only two ofthem, and Harbend didn't even know where they were. He didn't mindhis company, but separating like this could be nothing but stupid.Harbend didn't like it, but Neritan was adamant, and eventually hehad agreed. Trai and Escha would accompany her so at least shewouldn't be defenseless. When Escha had jumped the three of them awayHarbend shrugged and gave Nakora an uncomfortable look.

"So,what happens now?" he asked.

"Wewait a while and then I guess we start walking."

"Whereto?"

"LordGarak, you are in the lead. I think you should make that decision."

"In thelead. A leader should inspire trust in his followers," he addedmoodily.

"Andyou do not?"

"Howcould I know any longer? Who would care?"

"Iwould."

Harbendlooked at Nakora in surprise. "Why?"

"Forthe same reason you care about me," she answered, her voicesuddenly very small.

Harbend felta punch in his stomach, a very pleasant punch. "Truly?"

"I hopeso."

Youhave beautiful eyes. Did you know that? She really was afine woman. Fine woman! Whatkind of expression is that? She is wonderful! He daredhimself to pull her into an embrace. They stood there for a long timehugging each other with a fierceness born out of desperation, but hefelt only relief, and joy. He caressed the back of her neck, allowinghis hands to explore the wonderful softness of her hair. It smelledso good. He laughed at himself knowing she probably smelled of sweatand long days without washing to anyone but him. He didn't care.There were only the two of them, and he wanted the feeling to last abit longer. They remained in each other's arms until the stingingwind reminded them it was too cold to stay unmoving outdoors.

Harbenddidn't want to let her go, but they were here for a reason. Hesuspected he wouldn't be able to bring them along for anotherdangerous search in unknown territory so they needed to act in atimely way. Slowly they walked towards the darkness ahead of them.That had to be the place. There was nothing else emitting such afeeling of despair, and once more Harbend wondered what kind oftrouble Arthur had gotten himself into.

Harbend washappy to have Nakora at his side. She seemed to be able to dispel theconstructed darkness ahead of them, or at least lessen his fears ofit. Peculiar to rely on someone else, even if he didn't say it aloud,but admitting something that unfamiliar to anyone else would taketime, a lot of time.

He brokesnow beneath his feet as he struggled ahead. One good sign if nothingelse. They had to be the first to take this route, at least since thelast snowfall, whenever that had been. Behind him Nakora followed inhis steps, and her presence was more than just reassuring. Whateverbefell them they would face it together. Harbend knew the giddyingelation to be foolish, but he didn't care.

They hadn'twalked for long before the darkness surrounded them and soon afterHarbend noted that it wasn't as absolute as he'd first believed.There were shadowy shapes visible in the distance, and as he turnedaround he could see a white curtain of light from where they hadcome. It was like walking around in a cloudy night, and but for theborder to daylight he could have thought himself having overslept anentire day.

Theoppression, though, was nothing he'd experienced earlier. Whatevermagic caused the night here also carried a sinister addition, andHarbend doubted he'd be able to carry on alone. The wind was gone aswell, and so they trudged on in an eerie silence bringing a differentkind of fear to him as he could imagine what kind of sounds he oughtto have heard.

A whilelater he felt rather than saw planted lines of trees. Apples orpears, he wasn't sure which, but the presence of something asordinary as an orchard calmed him somewhat. The darkness must besomething temporary then.

They hadalmost made it all the way through the orchard when Neritan suddenlyappeared together with Trai and Escha. Harbend didn't need to ask bywhat means. Escha's smug smile was broad enough to be seen even inthe darkness surrounding them. A sense of reassurance coveredHarbend, and for once he was happy to be the target of whatever magicNeritan used.

"Theyare in the main building," she said.

Harbendsquinted but couldn't make out any features revealing anything like abuilding.

"You'llsee when we get there," she answered his unasked question.

He shot anirritated glance her way but refrained from saying anything.

They movedcloser to wherever Neritan wanted them to go and before long abuilding appeared before them. At first he couldn't believe what hesaw. There had been nothing telling him they were nearing a town, andnow a castle soared up into the darkness far beyond his reach ofsight.

"Almostlike one of the towers," Neritan whispered beside him.

Harbendturned. "The towers of learning?"

"Yes,but this is not one of them. I would know."

Harbenddidn't ask how. He merely forced his way over the thin layer of snowhoping his feet wouldn't get tangled by something on the ground. Itwasn't right. The snow should have glistered white even in the night,but then this was hardly a natural darkness.

"MageTrai, could you make us see our way here?" he asked wistfully.

"Ofcourse, Lord Garak. A simple spell that will keep us warm as well."

"Nolights, you fools!" Neritan hissed behind them. Nakora added asigh of relief at the intervention.

"Whynot?" he asked at the same moment he understood how stupid hisquestion was.

"Whydon't we all start singing as well. We wouldn't want any blind guardsto fail noticing our coming, would we?"

"Sorry,I didn't think."

"That,Master Garak, hardly needs any confirmation."

Harbendgroaned in response and returned to fumbling his way to the building.A fine example of a leader he was. Butthere is something in the air, something sinister, bringing out thefool in me.

The groundwas slippery under his feet and hands as he crawled on, but he didn'tdare walk here. The temperature had risen slightly and he was sure toslip and fall should he risk standing.

As they camecloser he could see narrow windows letting out light, and at least afew of the lower lights had to be entrances. Now he only needed topick one of them so they could go inside.

Then what?

"Whereto?" he asked Nakora.

She wassilent.

"Justgo on. I'll tell you when we're close enough," Neritan answeredinstead.

He did asbidden, and a while later she asked him to turn right, and not longafter that he found himself watching wide stairs climbing to a grandpair of doors. They were wide open, yellow light streaming out givinglife to the stairs and a narrow strip of ground below them. Theopening beckoned to him. A light promising refuge from the chillingdarkness surrounding them, and he almost ran for it without thinking.

"No!Please be careful this time!" Nakora's voice held him back.

What did hethink he was doing?

"MistressHwain, is he in there?" Once again Nakora using her mind beforethey headed further into the unknown.

"Yes,and he's close enough that I can keep track of him as long as heisn't jumped from here."

"I canlead if you give me directions, or can you sense him and yourself atthe same time?"

Neritan'steeth showed white in a surprised grin. "You are a quick one,aren't you, Captain Weinak?"

"I wasjust guessing," Nakora answered with a mixture of embarrassmentand pride in her voice. "I always send out my scouts in pairs ifwe are close to our target."

"Goodfor them," Neritan muttered, and Harbend could hear her laughingunder her breath. Some joke the two women shared although he couldn'tunderstand how they had had time to get to know each other wellenough for that. Women!he thought grimly. They were a kind apart. Gring, Arthur's hairycompanion, probably hid most of her strangeness in her womanhoodrather than in her being Khraga.

"Afteryou then," Neritan said.

"Aslong as you lead," Nakora answered.

"Ofcourse. As long as we lead we should be able to replace Arthur and ourown feet at the same time."

Golden mageand beautiful captain started forward as one, and Harbend could swearhe heard them giggling in unison.