The Jewels Of Earda

Table of Contents PREAMBLE CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 34 CHAPTER 35 CHAPTER 36 CHAPTER 37 CHAPTER 38 CHAPTER 39 CHAPTER 40 CHAPTER 41 CHAPTER 42 CHAPTER 43 CHAPTER 44 CHAPTER 45 CHAPTER 46 CHAPTER 47 CHAPTER 48 CHAPTER 49 CHAPTER 50 POSTAMBLE

THE JEWELS OF EARDA by

JANET LANE WALTERS

Starlight Writer Publications RFI West http://rfiwest.com

Credits: Cover Artist ~ Trace Edward Zaber Editor ~ Gail McAbee Copy Editor ~ Jennifer Pyper Editorial Director ~ Trace Edward Zaber RATING: PG-13

RFI West, Inc. 9920 South Rural Road PMB 107, Suite 108 Tempe, Arizona 85284 Copyright © 2001 by Janet Lane Walters ISBN 1-58697-204-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced electronically or in any form, or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher and Author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews. This title is offered for sale by several methods including pre-paid download. Because the author and others involved in its preparation depend entirely on sales-based royalties for their compensation, we ask your assistance in helping to keep these distribution methods viable. This is a work of fiction. All situations, characters and concepts are the sole invention of the author or are used fictitiously. Electronically published in the United States of America.

DEDICATION To John Kirkland, my grandfather who taught me to read almost before I could walk and to Norman Lane, my father who steered me into the world of fantasy.

PROLOGUE The black-robed mage slipped through the doorway leading to the Queen’s bedchamber. He paused and studied the wan woman propped against the black sheep-silk pillows. As he approached the bed, his robes rustled. The Queen grasped the Black Jewel, symbol of her reign. "Begone, I say. I have no need of ye." "Your time has passed. ‘Tis time to cede the Jewel to your successor." "Not yet." She raised the Black. Dark rays pulsed in its heart. "Begone and let me be." He evaded the dark beams. "What of the White?" She laughed. "Do ye think I fear that thing? My sister failed to find the gem. For generations, there has been no sign of its existence. There have been but myths and rumors." He smiled. "The White stirs. I sought and I found." "Where?" Her eyes narrowed. "‘Tis where it has always been, waiting for the one who can hold. But fear not. ‘Tis not your battle. Soon ye will be gone and I will have the training of she who is to follow ye. This time there will be no mistakes. As Holder and Chosen, she and I will rule." "Begone, dark mage." She raised the Black and poured her anger into the gem. Thunder roiled the silent night and a great display of colored lightning brightened the sky above the palace.

CHAPTER 1 From The Lore of the Jewels

In days long past, just after the world was formed and the people rose from the dust, Mother Sun and the sister Moons beheld what had been wrought and were troubled by what they saw. For as the people moved across the lands, chaos rather than harmony ruled. "We must bring peace and order." Mother Sun spoke to the pale reflections of herself. From her depths, she drew molten elements and fashioned them into Jewels. The icy breath of the sister Moons cooled the gems. To Earda they were sent, and for each Jewel there was a purpose.

And from the hearts of the six Jewels, light radiated and coalesced to become the White.

Liara closed the Lore of the Jewels. Everyone knows the ruling Jewel is black. And how the gems were formed is naught but an interesting tale. Her foster mother had given her the book on her last name day. Tana’s insistence that she learn the legends puzzled Liara. What use were these mystical tales to one who might never hold a Jewel? Though she hoped she would one day hold the Yellow, her foster mother’s answers to Liara’s questions had held no answers or promises. She heard a disturbance in the courtyard and peered through the open window. Several men dismounted. Their horses were magnificent beasts with burnished horns. Who were these visitors? They looked to be men of importance. Tana’s maid appeared in the doorway. "Milady Holder bids ye remain in hiding until her guests leave." Liara sighed. ‘Twas twice this lunar that visitors had arrived to see the Yellow Holder and both times, Liara was been bidden to keep her presence a secret. Not that she minded missing lessons. The complicated exercises in visualizing had no practical purpose she could see. What bothered her was not being allowed to sit in company and hear about events beyond the keep and the village. Curiosity gnawed in her thoughts. In hopes of learning more about these secret visitors to the High Sanctuary, she hurried down the back stairs and lingered in the shadows near the postern gate. But the men had gone inside before she could hear what they said. Excitement fluttered like the jeweled wings of a flitter. She was free, at least for the afternoon. She slipped outside and climbed the path beyond the walls of the massive stone tower. Then she broke into a run, deftly avoiding the roots of the gnarled wind-shaped balsa trees. A branch caught her kerchief and her hair tumbled free. Inky black strands whipped around her face. Clutching the kerchief in her hand, she reached the end of the path. Clusters of multi-hued silk-sheep browsed among the grass and wildflowers. After breathing deeply of the scented air, she ran across the meadow to the tumble of rocks at the cliff’s edge. She stared at the distant gray tower and peered down at the village where the houses resembled pieces from a child’s toy. She turned and gazed at the sea and watched white froths of foam roll across the dark blue expanse to dash against the rocky slope. She settled on the grass and used a rock for a backrest. As she soaked in the sun, she braided a necklace of yellow fiolas, Tana’s favorites. To the chain, she added blue hearts and red chrysmas. For health, she thought. Sadness rose. Her foster mother’s health failed with each lunar. Though Tana denied what Liara saw, she had no doubts that Tana was dying. What then? While Liara considered the future, the sun moved toward late afternoon. There were no answers, only questions. "Liara!"

Her foster brother’s shout set her heart pounding. She dropped the necklace in her skirt, quickly braided and twisted her hair then tied the kerchief over the crown of braids. Another puzzle to be solved, she thought. Her head had never been without a covering. Why? Though she’d asked, Tana had never answered. "Liara! Come!" She lifted the necklace and hurried toward the path. "I’m on my way." Brader emerged at the edge of the meadow. "Mother said ye’d be here. She wants ye." A lock of amber hair fell across his forehead and brushed his lighter eyebrows. Amber eyes studied her intently. She felt his leashed anger. With her or with his mother? These days, she barely knew him. Since she’d begin the intensive studies with Tana, their mischief days had ended. She and Brader had grown apart. Her lessons, his time with the armsmen, and his excursions to the village tavern had left them with little in common. "Have the visitors left?" she asked. "Didn’t stay for the evening meal. They’re on their way to Pala. I begged leave to join them but Mother refused to release me." He shoved his hair from his forehead. "I’m tired of being caged here. There’s much of Earda I want to see." "Did Tana say why she wanted me?" The setting sun stained the ocean whitecaps with streaks of orange. "Not for lessons, I hope." He shrugged shoulders that had grown broader the past year. "Ye are to sup in her room. Don’t stay long. The visitors tired her." "When has she listened to me?" Liara held up the floral necklace. "Perhaps this will refresh her." "Mayhaps. She’s worried about something and she won’t tell me what." Liara clasped his arm. "All will be well." He laughed. "Have ye become a Healer making vague and pretty predictions?" His muscles tensed beneath her hand. "All will be well for ye. Ye’ll have her Jewel. Why else has she kept ye by her side? I’m so tired of the High Sanctuary and of being the Holder’s son." Liara frowned. When had he grown so resentful? Did Tana know about his discontent? When they reached the postern gate, the armsman stepped aside so they could enter. Liara frowned. Never in all her years had there been armsmen at the gates. Once inside the massive stone tower, she hurried to her foster mother’s room. At the door, she paused and tucked stray strands of hair beneath the kerchief. Then she opened the carved wooden door and stepped inside. Tana was abed. Liara crossed the room and kissed the older woman’s flushed cheek. She slipped the floral chain over her foster mother’s head. Tana inhaled the blended fragrances. "Ah, Child, ye remembered a bit of the Healer’s teachings. Sit and

eat. Then there’s much I must tell ye." Liara studied her foster mother. Though flushed, there was a translucent quality to the aging woman’s skin. Sunken cheeks, glazed amber eyes. Brader thought his mother was tired, but there was more. The scent of death floated beneath the aroma of the flowers. Liara sat at the table and picked at the slices of roast banta, shredding more than she ate. The open window brought a breeze laden with moisture. Liara cut an appa, ate several crisp slices, then pushed the tray away. "Come closer. The time grows short." Tana’s voice held a whispery quality. Liara sat on the chair beside the bed and took her foster mother’s hand. "Mayhaps ye should rest." "There will be time for rest later." Tana sucked a breath. "Just listen… Your mother was twin to the one who holds the Black… Through trickery and deceit, the Jewel was usurped by your aunt… Your mother was the one who first found the book of lore I gave ye… For many years, she searched for the White." Liara shook her head. "The White is but a tale told by old wives and written in that ancient book. Tell me about my mother." Tana grasped Liara’s hand. "Child, myths are ever based on some truth." "My mother didn’t find this Jewel, did she?" "Alas, the Queen hounded her… She was chased from every refuge she found… She brought ye here and left… Her Chosen was captured by the Guards… His house was destroyed by the mages… One by one, your mother’s friends were killed." Liara studied the bedcoverings. "Why tell me now?" "The Queen is dying… While she is weak and before her daughter…your cousin masters the Black, ye must find the White… When ye do, the lessons I’ve taught ye will help ye master the Jewel’s energies. Ye must succeed. The people of Earda have suffered long enough." Liara shook her head. She had no desire to leave the High Sanctuary. She had believed one day she would follow Tana and hold the Yellow. Now all had changed. "Do not force me to leave ye." Tana sank against the pillows. "I’ve been summoned to Pala. Even now, Guards are on the way to act as my escort." "Will ye go?" "Nay, they will come too late. Ye must be gone before they arrive, lest someone questions who ye are. Child, your life is in danger should your aunt discover ye still live." Tears welled in Liara’s eyes. "I cannot leave ye." "Ye have no choice. Brader will go with ye." Liara held back her tears. She’d known no mother other than Tana. "But who will—" She couldn’t force

herself to finish. "There will be others who will do what is needed." Tana pulled her Jewel from around her neck and wrapped the gem and the chain in amber silk. "I have no daughter to follow me and the Yellow is not for ye. I’ve sent a call to my successor. She will meet ye on the way." A million questions arose, but they couldn’t push past Liara’s rising grief. "Does Brader know how ill ye are?" She forced that question past a massive lump that seemed to choke her. "He’ll want to stay. So do I." Her voice broke. She pressed her face against the blankets and let the tears flow. Tana stroked Liara’s arm. "Ye must go, for ye are needed. Take the book and seek the answers. Maps your mother brought are on the table. Memorize them. Once Brader has seen them, they will be destroyed so all traces of your journey will be gone. Ye must follow your mother’s path and succeed where she failed." Liara wiped her eyes and reached for the maps. She studied them until the images were engraved in her mind. Then she walked to the window and stared at First Moon. "I cannot leave ye." "Evil spreads through the land. The Black Jewel…the Queen…the Brotherhood of Mages… Soon Earda will be too polluted by evil to survive. Send Brader to me." Liara hugged her foster mother and fought another storm of tears. "Farewell, Mother of my heart." She bit her lip and hurried from the room. In the hall, she pressed her forehead against the rough stone wall. Soon Tana would leave this plane and journey to another. The High Sanctuary would never be home again. Liara gathered her tears inside and went to find Brader.

CHAPTER 2 From the Armsmen’s Guide Beware the hidden enemy, for he lurks in your heart.

Brader pulled a tunic over his head. The strains of music drifted through the open window. He leaned on the sill and thought about tonight’s festival honoring spring’s return. Last night, a lass newly arrived in the village had flirted each time she and her cousins had strolled past him. Alas, he’d already promised another to be her squire for the evening. Mayhaps tonight he could spend his time with the newcomer… He frowned. Mayhaps he should stay in the keep. There’d been a subtle tension in his mother’s voice when she sent him for Liara. The news brought by the afternoon’s visitors had troubled the Yellow Holder, but she hadn’t shared her concerns with him. Had she told Liara? He pressed his hands against the windowsill. His mother held a Jewel, but he could never follow her. Not that he wanted to stay here. He wanted to go to Pala and join the Queen’s Guard. He wanted to be recognized for himself and not for his mother’s position.

He strode to the bed and grasped the sword, his last name day present from his mother. That had been a day of triumph, for he had bested his trainer with the sword, knife and bow. The door rattled. He crossed the room and lifted the latch. "Brader, your mother wants to see ye." Liara leaned against the doorframe. He crystal blue eyes were rimmed with red. She had been crying. "What’s wrong? Is she worse?" "Not that she’ll admit." "And ye, is something wrong?" She shook her head. "I’m tired and confused. Go to Tana. Then we’ll talk." "In the morning. I’ve plans for the evening. ‘Tis the festival." As he walked toward his mother’s room, he shook his head. Liara, the stoic, had been crying and there could be but one reason. He smashed his fist against the wall. "Not yet." After swallowing the lump in his throat, he entered his mother’s room. He strode to the bedside and took her hands. Their iciness deepened his concern. "Has the Healer been summoned?" "There is naught she can do for me and I have no time for a Healing. Liara must leave at once. Ye must go with her." "How can I desert ye? Who will close your eyes and who will speak the blessing? Ye cannot embark on your journey to another plane alone." "I won’t be alone. Listen… Liara is niece to the Queen. When that evil woman dies, Liara must hold the White or there will be great destruction throughout the land. Even the High Sanctuary could fall." He slumped in the chair beside the bed. "Liara? I thought she would hold your Jewel. What do ye mean by the White?" "‘Tis the true ruling Jewel." "And Liara will be the one to hold it? That means she’s…" He shook his head. Liara was his foster sister, a foundling his mother had given a home. What would happen to their friendship now? "And your Jewel?" "Another will come for mine. Ye and Liara must leave. Go to Thanis and find a ship to Quato. She needs your strength and your skill at arms to keep her safe until she bonds with her Jewel. On the table are maps. Study and then burn them." A dozen protests formed and were swallowed as he reached for the maps and spent time studying the route marked with dark ink. Quato to Stone Mountain, across the Great Desert to the Screaming Hills. When he had the route memorized, he burned the maps in the fireplace.

"When must we leave?" "I should have sent ye a tenday ago. Ye must be gone before dawn. Take care. Guards are on their way. They may be accompanied by mages." She reached beneath her pillow and handed him a leather pouch. "Coins for the journey. Go not as yourselves but as villagers seeking a better life." He kissed her cheek and held her close. "Do ye want me to fetch your maid?" "Let her sleep. I will be fine." Would she? He had to believe her—he had no other choice. As he left the room, he began to plan. Two mail vests. Armsmen’s clothes for him. Dark cloaks. A sword with a plain hilt rather than the jeweled one he wore. Knives, ropes, bow and arrows for Liara, trail rations and hill ponies. The plans helped still his anxiety about his mother. And though he wanted to stay, he’d heard the command and concern in her voice and knew he had to obey. Second Moon had risen by the time he’d finished with preparations for the journey. He strode to his foster sister’s room. She stood at the window. "Liara." She turned. "She told ye." "Aye… Be ready to leave within the hour. Wear your oldest clothes. I’ll come for ye." "I’ll await ye by the postern gate." She shook her head. "‘Tis too much to understand." "I know. Seems strange to me as well." For a moment, he stared at her. She was beautiful and he had never noticed. Until tonight, she’d been his playmate and his friend. What was she now? He changed into travel clothes. Then he returned to his mother’s room. As he paused in the doorway, he knew she had lied to them both, a thing she’d never done before. At the bedside, he knelt and took her hand, even colder now. "‘Tis not my choice to leave ye before the parting but since ye believe Liara and I must go, so be it." He cleared his throat. "Fare well, Mother. May the sun shine on your days and the moons light your nights. When the quest ends, I will return and tell ye how we fared so your shade will no longer hover between this plane and the next." He closed her eyes and left the room. He would keep her parting a secret until he and Liara were well away from the keep for he knew she would want to return.

CHAPTER 3

From The Songs of Earda I’m on my way to Pala I need to see the Queen To ask her why the Jewel is Black And where the White has gone. Oh Earda, my Earda Once a land of light The magic of the Queen grows dim And soon the night will come.

A chill wind caused Andalor to pull his cloak tighter. He fought the gale for every step he gained. The words of a song he’d heard in a dreary inn played in his thoughts. He frowned. Everyone knew the Queen’s Jewel was as dark as a blind man’s sight. Leaves rustled in angry chords. The thin branches of a willah tree whipped across his face. In the distance, a display of colored lightning grew more vivid. Mayhaps he was a fool on a noddy’s errand, but the Queen needed to hear about the blights on the land and the desolation of people’s lives. Would she listen? A few drops of rain splattered on the dusty road. How far to the nearest inn where, for a few songs, he might earn a night’s lodging and a meal? He pulled his lute from his back and tucked the instrument beneath his cloak. If he didn’t find shelter soon, he’d have to burrow in the woods. Wind whipped his hood from his head, then changed direction to beat against his back. An omen? He wondered. He raised his head and saw a lane leading to a large house with lights in several windows. No inn, but mayhaps a place to shelter for the night. Chill rain sprayed his face. He broke into a loping run down the path that snaked between two rows of briars. Aided by the gusts that dashed against his back, he soon reached the steps leading to a broad porch. Several of the lights flickered and went out. Had the family retired for the night? ‘Twas not that late. He crossed to the door. If all were abed, he could sleep on one of the many benches against the wall. He’d gone hungry before and he’d slept outside, but he preferred to work for room and board. He raised the brass knocker and banged the metal plate. The door opened a crack. An elderly man peered out. "What do ye here?" "I beg a night’s shelter and a meal." "Do ye know whose house this is?" The man’s dark eyes skimmed Andalor’s face. "Afraid I’ve no idea. Saw the house from the road just as the storm broke." To the east and Pala, the sky displayed a multitude of many colored streaks of lightning.

"Who be ye?" The elderly man made his demand in a deep and haughty voice. "Andalor, a minstrel." His breath caught. Beyond the servant, a young woman appeared. Lovely of face. Comely of body. A rope of silver hair curved over her shoulder, caressed one breast and tumbled to her waist. Who is she? "Macker, who braves the storm to visit?" "No visitor," the old man said. "Just a minstrel seeking food and shelter from the storm." "Then bid him enter. We’ve rooms to spare. Mayhaps he’ll stay to amuse me while I await my summons." Her voice was silk and velvet, the tone rich and lush. Andalor stared into eyes of crystalline blue and found one of the things he’d sought in his travels—the woman of his dreams. "Ye know ‘tis not allowed," the old man said. "Ye have much to master before your time comes. Ye have lessons aplenty to learn about your future responsibilities." Her lips thinned. "For five years, since I was four and ten, I have been cloistered with none but ye and the servants for company, unless ye count the mages who creep and pry. Admit him." Her pale eyes darkened. "Any more lessons and I’ll scream." "It will be as ye wish, Milady Reena." The door swung wider and the stoop-shouldered man stepped aside. Andalor swept off his cloak and bowed low. "My humble thanks, Milady." He lightly touched her fingers and raised them to his lips. "How very pleased I am to meet ye." "And my pleasure as well. Ye may rise." Her eyes held a hint of the same bemusement he felt. Who was she? She’d been called Reena. Had she been named for the Queen? ‘Twas a frequent custom among the ordinary people, but this Reena was surely not of that class. He released her hand. She waved the old man forward. "Show him to the Blue Room and see he has a change of clothes." She took the lute. "Once ye are dry, ye may join me for dinner, and later, I will listen to your stories and your songs." Andalor bowed again. "‘Twill be my pleasure." Her sultry gaze held the promise of other entertainments, yet her cheeks glowed like those of an untried maiden. "I’ll not tarry, my queen of beauty." "I’m not Queen yet." Her response took him aback. He followed the elderly man up the carved and curved staircase. The Queen-to-be? Was it possible? If true, his luck had turned. Mayhaps she would enjoy his songs. Perchance his company would please her. If so, his fame and fortune were assured. He turned to Macker. "Just who is she?"

"Milady Reena, daughter of the Queen. Soon she will come into her own. At any moment, Milady will be called to Pala and the Black Jewel will be hers. I pray ye will do naught to upset her calm." "I’ll play and sing. ‘Tis what I do." Macker opened a door along the wide upper hall. "All ye need is here. Water will be brought." The old man wrinkled his nose. "Choose clothes from the wardrobe. They belonged to Milady’s father." Andalor waited until Macker left before he entered the room. Blue dominated from the bedcovers to the wall hangings and draperies. He strolled to the alcove where a deep hipbath waited to be filled. A stack of fluffy towels lay on one shelf and a second held a variety of soaps. While a line of male servants arrived with buckets of steaming water, Andalor stripped off his boots and tunic. Then he explored the wardrobe. Mayhaps a bit out of fashion but the quality was better than he’d known. He choose black breeches and a black tunic decorated with triangles in the colors of the Jewels. A shirt with full sleeves and tight cuffs completed his selection. One of the men took his boots and returned with a pair of house shoes. Andalor climbed into the water and scrubbed away the travel dust with spice-scented soap. He dunked his head and washed his hair. Once dried and dressed, he left the room and strode downstairs. ‘Twas the right time and the right place and he intended to advance his position. Macker waited at the foot of the stairs. He nodded in approval. "This way, Minstrel." A long table of ebonwood dominated the spacious room. Milady Reena sat at the far end. The black gown she wore made her skin moonlight pale. She was lovely, but he would have dressed her in pale shades. Six empty chairs stood on either side of the table. She pointed to the one at her right hand. "Sit here. Since we are so few, why must we shout to be heard?" "But…but…" Macker sputtered. Reena smiled at the old man. "‘Twill be easier for the servants if we all sit at one end of the table. Please let me dispense with formality tonight." "Very well." Andalor walked to the head of the table and bowed. "Ye do me honor, Milady Reena." "Just Reena, Minstrel." "Then I am Andalor." A servant filled jewel-encrusted goblets with ruby wine. Platters of food arrived, the most he’d ever seen at a single meal. Though he wanted to gorge, he followed his hostess’ lead and accepted small portions of rock salmon, banta, antel and hind, of vegetable and grain dishes, of appa, pinel and cheese. By the last sip of wine, he felt replete. Their conversation had been a struggle for him since he needed to follow Macker’s instructions. Reena bristled with questions about the places he’d been and all he’d seen. He told her of the beauty of the land

but his knowledge of unrest, disease and poverty remained unsaid. As the servants cleared the dishes away, Andalor held Reena’s chair. "What now?" "Come with me to the sitting room. I’ve had a servant oil and polish your lute." "I’d follow ye to the edge of the world and into the unknown beyond." At this moment, and mayhaps forever, he meant those words. "What songs would ye like to hear?" "Tell me about your childhood and how ye came to join the minstrel’s guild." She sighed. "I’ve had none but Macker and my mother’s counselors—" She shuddered. "I do not like the mages." "Nor do I, but most people fear them." She nodded. "I hate them. ‘Tis their fault I’m here with nothing but dreary lessons." Andalor saw no reason for her isolation. She should reside in the palace and have companions of her own age. Why was she hidden here? For her safety? Hardly. There’d been no Guards or walls with fortified gateposts. Though some of the male servants were burly men, they bore no weapons. She curled in a massive chair reminiscent of a throne. He sat on a stool at her feet. Warmth from the fire in the massive fireplace heated his back, and her beauty heated his thoughts. He told her of his childhood as the third son of a woodworker. He spoke of his gentle mother, of the father who’d made his lute, of the brother who’d followed his father into the shop. About the brother who’d shown a talent for weather prediction and who had been taken away by the mages, he kept silent. As he spoke, he strummed the lute. "I envy ye," she said. He heard yearning in her voice. "And when ye were a child?" She sighed. "I stayed in the nursery with my nurse or played alone in the garden." How sad, he thought. To change the mood, he sang a rollicking song about a lyrcat and a flutter who fell in love. She laughed and her eyes lost some of their sadness. "Now tell me about the land and the people’s lives. Tell me the things ye couldn’t say when Macker was here to listen. When I hold the Jewel, I must know who and where to help." He could spin a pretty tale where all was sweet and bright, but the truth beat in his chest like a blacksmith’s hammer. Until a servant came to bank the fire, he told her what he’d seen and heard. The tales were broken by songs, old and new. "Now ye know how the people suffer." She met his gaze. "I fear ye speak the truth. My mother is dying, and before her illness, she grieved for my father. One day, he vanished from the palace and never returned. My mother leans heavily on the advice of the Brotherhood of mages. When I am Queen, they will be dismissed." Her voice broke. "‘Tis not that I wish her dead. I just want her to hear me."

He took her hand in his. "Death comes to all and chooses its time with no thought for those left behind. Have the Healers no hope for the Queen?" "No one tells me a thing. I haven’t seen her since the day I was brought here." She closed her eyes, but not before he caught a glimpse of fear in her eyes. "How sad." She leaned toward him. "Can ye stay awhile?" Once again, he wondered why she’d been banished from the palace. He would not ask—yet. "A minstrel wanders when and where he will. There is no one waiting for me to arrive. Yes, I will stay and go to Pala with ye." Dimples appeared in her cheeks. "That would be most pleasant. I hope many tendays pass before I am summoned." He drew her into his arms and hugged her. A brotherly embrace, though he felt nothing like a brother. She touched his face with her fingers. "I’ve never had a friend." She stepped away. "Good night." "Until tomorrow." He watched her run lightly down the hall. Satisfaction filled him until a disturbing thought arose. If he didn’t take care, Reena would steal his heart and he would lose the freedom to wander as he pleased.

CHAPTER 4 From The Queen’s Diary

Just because she was the firstborn didn’t mean she deserved to hold the Black. Ten minutes separated us. She has the Jewel and the man I would have Chosen. He was mine first. Now he stares as though I am no one. Soon, she’ll remove the Jewel to give birth and I will be ready to act. The Black will be mine and so will he.

Reena reined her horse and looked over her shoulder at Andalor. "Your riding skills have improved. For a man who has never been ahorse, ye do well." He stopped beside her. "Just tell my body that. I’ve aches that ache. Ready for our luncheon?" "I’ve never eaten outdoors before." There’d been so many things she’d experienced for the first time since the storm a tenday before had brought the minstrel to her door. She’d only imagined how happiness would feel before he’d shown her how to laugh and play.

He grasped the saddle horn and dismounted, then came to lift her from the saddle. His arms were strong and his touch brought heat rising to her cheeks. He lowered her to the ground, and for a moment she thought he meant to kiss her. Instead, he brushed hair from her face. Sadness sliced through her thoughts. One day soon, he would leave. She wanted him to stay forever. Then she remembered she would be a Holder and once a Holder named a man as her Chosen, they were united for life. She almost spoke the words. Then a violent display of lightning colored the sky. She chewed her lip. The end was near and so was a new beginning. She would wait to make her declaration until the Jewel was hers. She sat on the grass and watched Andalor unpack the basket the servants had left for them. I wish this time would last forever. *** That night, sleep was as elusive as wisps of smoke. Reena stared at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted to the minstrel. She yearned to touch his copper-colored hair and to see laughter in his copper-tinted eyes. Lightning flared in the sky. The display had been constant all day. She knew her time at the manor house drew to an end. Soon, they would call on her to accept the Black Jewel and the throne. When I am Queen, the land will blossom, she vowed. Noises in the hall startled her. The door crashed against the wall. She clutched the covers and willed her pounding heart to slow. "Milady Reena, the carriage from the palace has arrived," Macker said. "Dress. Your mother awaits your arrival." Once he left, she pulled a dress from the wardrobe. A maid arrived to fasten the back and to brush her hair. Macker waited at the foot of the stairs. "I will bid ye farewell. May fortune shine on ye." "And on ye. In the morning, send the minstrel to the palace. Give him a horse and anything else he needs." "Are ye sure this is what should be? He is but a wanderer. The Jewel will change ye and he may no longer suit." She shook her head. In this, she would never change. "Do as I bid." "So be it," Macker said. In the carriage, she sought to still her racing emotions. Five years had passed since her last encounter with her mother. During that meeting the Queen had accused Reena of plotting to steal the Jewel. Her mother had also blamed Reena for her Chosen’s disappearance. The man who’d been her father had been a shadow figure. His blue eyes had always held grief. When she’d been a child, he had often crept into the nursery and watched her. One time, he’d called her Liara and his tears had soaked her hair. She still wondered for whom he’d wept. The rocking of the carriage lulled her body but her thoughts circled from her life in the manor house to

the years in the palace; dark memories of lonely days and nights. When Andalor had appeared at the door, her fantasies had become her reality. Too long and too soon, the carriage entered the city gates and wound through narrow streets to the palace. No lightning flashed overhead. Was her mother dead? A pair of mages stood beside the carriage steps. She glanced at them. Relief that neither face was Gregor’s arose. A hand of Guards waited at the door. Fear coiled around her thoughts. With the Guards leading the way, they bypassed the throne room and strode torch-lit corridors until they reached the Queen’s suite. With her heart hammering and her steps unsteady, Reena entered her mother’s bedchamber. The last time she’d been in this room, her mother had turned the Jewel against her. Reena had never forgotten the excruciating pain, the lesions and burns that had taken lunars to heal. She stopped at the foot of the bed. Her mother’s coloring seemed unnaturally bright. The sunken cheeks gave her face a skeletal appearance. Eyes once a pure blue had darkened to near black. Reena tore her gaze from her mother. A shudder rippled along her spine. The mage, Gregor, sat beside the bed. His shaven head gleamed and his features appeared to have been chipped from stone. How can Mother bear to have him near? He’s not her Chosen, and yet there are ties between them. He smiled and his lips stretched into a narrow band. Reena swallowed the acid that rose in her throat. When I’m Queen, he and his ilk will be driven from Pala. "Begone, old man," the Queen said. "There is much I must do to prepare my daughter for the Jewel." "As ye wish, my Queen, but soon, I’ll have charge of her teaching." A protest lodged in Reena’s throat. She bit her lip lest she blurt her plans. The tall, sinister man paused at the door. "Farewell, my Queen. ‘Tis but a step into eternal darkness." His black robe swirled and he was gone. Reena’s tension ebbed. "Why do you tolerate his presence?" "He has his uses, as ye will discover. I pray Macker has drilled ye in the ways of a Queen. Few women are strong enough to hold a Jewel. I pray ye are one." She leaned forward. "Ye will learn ‘tis control or be controlled. Ye must beware…" Reena grasped the bedpost and felt the carved swirls bite into her hands. "Why should the Queen fear anyone or anything?" The Queen smiled. "There are many who will envy your position and your power. The other Holders will scheme to go their own ways. The Yellow has not been seen in Pala since before your birth… Then there is your cousin who is also your half-sister." She laughed. "They sought to keep her survival from me, but I knew. She is your test. Like my own sister, who usurped my place and lost it, this sister-cousin will seek your Jewel. Unless ye destroy her, she’ll be your death." A sister who is also a cousin. Was she the one who brought sadness to my father’s eyes?

"What was your sister like?" Reena asked. "In appearance but for her ebon hair, the picture of myself. But weak. I drove her from the palace. Her Chosen became mine. She’s long dead. ‘Tis her daughter ye must fear." A paroxysm of coughing racked the Queen’s body. Her face turned scarlet. Reena moved from the foot of the bed. "Mother, let me help ye." The Queen’s eyes darkened. Thunder rumbled. She clutched the Jewel. "Bind the Holders tight. Make them swear to ye. Do not trust the Brotherhood." She raised the Jewel. Lightning flashed and brightened the room. Reena stared at the Black. Mine, she thought. "Hold out your hand to receive the symbol of power over the land and the people." The Queen’s voice was harsh. "Hold the gem to your heart and then to your forehead. Ye will be sealed to it and it to ye. Do not remove the Black until ye give birth to the one who is to follow ye." Reena reached for the Jewel. Her mother released the chain and then with clawed hands tried to snatch it back. Her strength seemed demon controlled. Reena jerked the chain and brought the Jewel to her heart. Cold spread from her hand and traveled along her arms. With difficulty, she raised the gem to her brow. Chill blackness filled her. All her fears and anxieties flowed into her thoughts. Agony pulsed through her nerves. She was lost in darkness. Tendrils of ice flowed through her veins. Colors swirled in whirlpool circles from bright to black. When she roused, she slipped the chain over her head. She struggled to her feet and touched her mother’s hand. "Dead. The Queen is dead." She staggered to the door and flung it open. "The Queen lives." Gregor stood with a cluster of mages. They bowed. "Be welcome, our Queen." "Bury my mother." "And the parting ceremony?" "Let the people of Pala provide the parting." "As ye will." "When Andalor, the minstrel, arrives, have him brought to the throne room." Gregor’s eyes narrowed. "What business have ye with him?" "I said I would see him." She raised the Jewel and pointed it at the mage. "Do ye question my commands? The power is mine."

He scurried away. She laughed. Soon, she would be rid of him. Guards lined the corridors leading to the throne room. One opened the door. Reena paused on the threshold. The gem throbbed against her chest, but she ignored the desire to attune herself again. Black hangings, each embroidered with the symbols of the Jewels of Earda, covered the walls. Red light from the setting sun streamed through the high windows. She crossed to the dais and strode up the steps to the ebonwood throne. A low stool also stood on the platform. She sat and folded her hands. A short time later, Andalor was announced. He crossed the room and paused before the dais. "My Queen, I’m sorry to hear about your mother and hope ye do not grieve too hard." Am I grieving, she wondered. She had thought she would but her feelings were blocked. "Join me." He made a sweeping bow. "Ye are Queen and I am but a minstrel." She scowled. "I would have thee as my Chosen." "And thee will be mine for as long as breath moves in my body." He knelt on the steps before her. "Thee do me the greatest honor." She placed her hands on his head and felt sensations akin to those she’d experienced from the Black. But these were warm and filled the empty places in her heart. "What about your plans for Earda? When do we begin to make changes?" His queries broke the enchantment. What right had he to question her? "Those plans must wait. I need thy help, for there is a danger to me and the Jewel." "My life is thine to command." He settled on the stool beside her. "What will thee have me do?" "I have a cousin who wants to take my place." She related her mother’s tale of the threat. "So see thee, she must be found before she finds the power to usurp my throne." He nodded. "I will leave at once." She caressed his cheek. "There is no need for thee to leave this night. A feast has been prepared. We’ll sup and retire. Mayhaps tomorrow thee can go."

CHAPTER 5 Sayings of the People When ye meet a Guard, make yourself small, but when ye encounter a mage, flee.

Disa reached for the brush and scrubbed the smooth wood of the bar. The last customer had finally staggered through the door of Fancher’s tavern and her workday had nearly ended. The Queen was dead. The parting ceremony had been that afternoon in the market square. Disa had joined the crowd to watch the procession. She had hoped for a glimpse of the new Queen, but only two mages and a hand of Guards had been there to speak the words of parting. With such a poor showing and no family member to attend, would the Queen pass from this life into the next? Rumors had spread from mouth to mouth about the new Queen. Disa had heard them all. "She is equal in evil with her mother." "She laughed when her mother died." "She stole the Black." Disa shrugged. Did it matter how the Jewel had been passed? A tavernmaid would never move in company with a Queen and certainly never have the chance to speak her mind without the mages dragging her away. With a final swipe, she dropped the brush in a pail, wiped the bar and carried the water to the door to fling it into the alley. As she climbed the stairs to her room beneath the eaves, she rubbed her back. She pulled a stool to the round window at the end of the narrow space. First Moon was full and Second Moon stood just above the horizon. The nightly display of lightning had ceased with the Queen’s death. Quickly, she combed the tangles from her hair and braided the long amber strands. After removing her skirt and blouse, she stretched on her straw mat and fell instantly asleep. Her dreams were troubled. Several times, she awakened and looked around in confusion. Who had called her name? Who insisted she leave Pala? Where would she go? Since her parents’ death she’d lived in Pala, and before that she’d been too young to form attachments to other places. During her childhood, she and her mother had traveled with her merchant father, riding in a painted wagon filled with an assortment of wares. When the first rays of the rising sun slid across her face, Disa rolled over and groaned. She felt as though she’d spent the night walking toward an unreachable goal. "Disa!" Fancher’s bellow sent her scurrying for her clothes. "I’m coming." She splashed cold water on her face. "Do ye want to be out on the streets? Work’s waiting and so am I." She pulled on a clean shift, skirt and blouse. To lose this job would leave her homeless. Fancher could easily replace her. Times were hard and work scarce. She slipped on her clogs and clattered downstairs, tramping hard on the third step to announce her

approach. Fancher grabbed her shoulder. A scowl brought his thick eyebrows together. "Ye must be wanting to walk. Been offered one who’ll work abovestairs as well as below. By the end of this day, ye got to do the same." She shook off his hand. "What would Aunt Tira think?" "Place be mine now, what with her three months in the grave. Ye got to choose." Disa strode into the common room and gathered orders for food and drink. What choice did she have? Between delivering orders of ryn porridge, rashers of fatback and eggs, she snatched bites of bread and cheese washed down with sips of sweet, hot chakla and avoided her uncle by marriage. Toward mid-morning, a gaunt stranger slunk into the common room and settled at a table in the shadows. He placed a gold coin on the table and ordered a skin of tragon. His rumpled and stained clothing had once been of good quality. He pushed the hood of his cloak to reveal a shock of near white hair. Disa stared. He did not seem that old. He raised the skin and swallowed. "The Queen is dead but her evil remains. The Queen has come. Soon her soul will be as black as her Jewel. Alas, alas, my poor child will be lost… My sweet Queen, where have ye gone?" He’s drunk and speaks nonsense, Disa thought. But for him to remain in the tavern presented a danger. She tugged on his sleeve. "Begone and take your traitor’s talk with ye." He looked up. His eyes were as blue as water beneath the sun. "‘Tis the truth." A pair of Guards and a black-robed mage pushed the doors open. Disa backed away from the stranger. He rose. "Halt," the Guard shouted. The pair headed across the room. The stranger shoved Disa into their path and ran toward the kitchen. The mage grabbed her arm. Her body and her speech froze. "What do ye know of him?" His dark gaze captured hers and she felt a probing in her mind. "I…" She gulped a breath. "Never been here before." "What did he say?" "Drunkard’s talk. Made no sense." She tried to look away but she couldn’t. Then in a voice she barely recognized as her own, she repeated the stranger’s words. "Forget all ye heard. Repeat not his words. Ye will be watched and if need be, ye will be taken to the house of the Brotherhood and then given to the Guards." He released her arm and strode to the door. Fancher deserted his place behind the bar. "What business have ye with the Brotherhood?"

"None." Disa’s heart finally slowed from its rapid beating. "He came for the stranger." She ducked around Fancher. "I need three brews and there’s food waiting to be served." "Don’t be bringing trouble on my head." Yours, she thought. Ye didn’t have your head reamed by a mage. When she reached the kitchen and gathered the plates, she glanced through the open half-door. The Guards and the mage stood in the alley beyond the kitchen garden. A chill spread through her body. She’d heard of people who had vanished after gaining a mage’s attention. She wanted to run, but not yet. She needed a plan. "Come." She looked around. Who had spoken? The cook stirred a pot and hummed the latest minstrel’s song. Disa shook her head. Why was this happening to her? As the morning continued, the desire to flee Pala grew stronger. She had to leave but she had no idea where she should go. *** That afternoon, Disa left the tavern with the large market basket on her arm. A Guard lounged against the wall of a building across the street. He moved to follow her. Though she was tempted to wave, she resisted. To call attention to herself would only add to the danger. She stopped at a booth where old clothes were sold. The Guard paused nearby. "Cook’s boy outgrows his clothes." The seller laughed. "Boys do that. How large?" "About my size but fatter." "Cook’s boys usually are." She put two pair of breeches, two shirts and a jacket in the basket, paid and then moved to filled the cook’s requests for fish and spices. The Guard hovered near but made no move to stop or question her. She left the market and returned to the tavern and spent the afternoon helping the cook with dinner. The evening crowd was Guard-heavy. Fancher served them with a smile and cut-rate prices. He glared at Disa but spoke no words of blame. Those would come in the morning, but she wouldn’t be around to hear them. Every time she served one of the Guards, she hoped her voice didn’t quake the way her legs did. At least the increased traffic kept Fancher from demanding she serve abovestairs. After her closing chores were done, she crept into the dark kitchen and retrieved the clothes and a knapsack from a pantry shelf. Into the knapsack, she put links cut from a sausage rope, a small cheese, two rounds of bread, one small pan and a metal mug. She made packets of salt, sugar, kaf beans, ryn

meal and chakla leaves. She filled an empty wine skin with water and headed to her room. In the garret, she donned one of the boy’s outfits and her scuffed boots. She considered cutting her hair but instead pinned the braids and pulled on a knit cap. She opened the end window and watched the Guard who patrolled the alley behind the tavern, to time his rounds. After rolling the blanket from her bed, she tied it to the knapsack and waited for the Guard to start his march to the end of the alley. Then using the route she’d found as a child to escape Fancher’s tantrums, she crawled onto the kitchen roof. From there, she grabbed a branch of the large oka tree, found a perch and pulled up her pack. After the Guard passed, she dropped to the flat roof of the building next door and made her way across the rooftops to the one that abutted the city wall. She lowered her pack, then used the rope to climb down. As she ran down the road, she waited for shouts of discovery, but none came. *** For two days, she traveled by night and slept by day, choosing thickets to hide herself from the road. The voice that had called her out of Pala was silent, but somehow, she knew she’d chosen the right direction. On the third day, a lack of hiding places kept her on the road past mid-morning. Then she spotted a neglected appa grove. Briars and vines provided a sheltered spot, plus a bounty of gnarled, dried appas to add to her provisions. She ate two, a slice of cheese and a chunk of dry bread. Then she used the knapsack as a pillow and drifted to sleep. The nicker of a horse woke her. She jumped to her feet and crept to where she could see through the mesh of vines. A slender man with copper-colored hair dismounted and tied not one, but two horses to one of the trees. The sun was near setting and the sky had grayed. Disa watched as he pitched a small tent. She eyed the horses. The riding one was a magnificent beast, glossy black with a polished ebony horn and a body built for speed. With a mount like that, she could soon reach her destination. Such a beast could out-run any Guards and keep her out of the mages’ reach. The man opened a hamper and took out enough food to feed her for several days. He leaned against the tree and began to eat. She crept from her hiding place and edged toward the horses. Though it had been years since she’d ridden, she had to take the chance. For some reason, she knew speed was essential. As she freed the black’s tether, the horse nickered. The man leapt to his feet and was across the clearing before she could run. Her body slammed against the ground. Air whooshed from her lungs. She tried to scratch his face but he caught her hands and pulled her to her feet. She struggled to free herself but his grip was more powerful than she’d thought possible. During the struggle, her cap fell off and her braids tumbled free. "A female thief," he said.

She met his glare with one of her own. "I’m…" He arched a brow. "Just what were ye planning to do with my horse?" "Ride him." She caught a glint of humor in his copper- tinted eyes. "Where?" "To… I don’t know… I have to go…west." "The very direction I’m headed. Be ye a spy?" She shook her head. "I… I am called." "Called?" She nodded. "There’s a voice that I hear. ‘Tis like something from a tale." His laughter rang out. "I suppose ye can go with me ‘til we reach the nearest Guardpost." She froze. "Let…let me go… I won’t bother ye again." "So ye don’t like the Guards?" She nodded. "They…" "Do ye know the dangers for a woman traveling alone? Even the jewel Holders travel with armed escorts." "Why do ye think I go dressed as a boy?" He dragged her to his tent. "Why do ye fear the Guards?" "My uncle…he owns a tavern in Pala… He wants me to work abovestairs… If ye take me to a Guardpost, they will return me to him or worse, give me to the mages." She felt his gaze burn through the bravado she had donned. "The mages… Why?" She shrugged. "They kept an eye on the tavern and threatened to take me to one of their houses." "I wouldn’t want to see that. Ye remind me of someone I know. Not in form or face, but the loneliness in your eyes. If ye promise not to steal what I have, ye can travel as my squire." He meant those words. She heard the truth in his voice. "Ye have my promise. Just who are ye?" "Andalor, a minstrel, at your service." "I’ve never seen a minstrel dressed as fine or outfitted so grandly." "I’m the Queen’s Chosen."

Laughter brought tears to her eyes. Mayhaps he was a minstrel after all. They were known to spin fanciful tales. "Her Chosen, so ye say. Where are your Guards?" "I’m on a secret mission." He winked. "So will ye join me?" Should she? At least she wouldn’t have to walk. "Why not? I will be your squire for as long as our roads run together."

CHAPTER 6 From The Lore of the Jewels

And on the day the White Holder gave birth to twin daughters, trouble stirred in the land. The Holder was pleased, for her daughters were beautiful. One was in her image and the other bore the likeness of the mage who had fathered the pair. As the girls grew into womanhood, there was no love between them. They vied for the honor of holding the Jewel. When the younger bonded with the White, the older left the Palace of the Seven Jewels and sought a way to wrest the White from her sister.

The crow of a banta cockerel roused Liara from a troubled dream. She pressed her hand against the silk-wrapped Jewel and thought of her foster mother. Was Tana still on this plane, or had her shade departed? Had the Guards arrived to force the dying Holder from the High Sanctuary? Liara had to believe all was well or she would climb on her pony and turn back the way they had come. Too late to turn back, she thought. She and Brader had spent a full tenday on the road, camping in the woods or begging shelter in barns like this one. Though spring had come, the nights were cold and snow still threatened the passes. She rose and splashed cold water on her face and quickly dressed. Then she shook Brader’s shoulder. "Come. ‘Tis dawn. We must be on our way." He groaned and crawled from his blanket. While he washed and dressed, she rolled their blankets and loaded the pack pony. "We’ve been invited to break our fast with the family," he said. Liara looked away. Last night, she’d been glad they had arrived when the family was ready for bed. Brader had a tendency to brag about his heritage and his skill with arms. Instead of a brother and sister heading to Thanis to seek employment, she’d become one of the Holder’s maidens being returned to her family and he the armsman who escorted her. Though the tale had been told to farmers, Liara feared the story would reach the ears of one of the hands of Guards they’d seen. Brader lifted the saddles from the straw. "About breakfast."

She shook her head. "We can’t afford to linger. Tana said—" "I know. She should have sent us a tenday before she did." He saddled the ponies. "Can’t wait to sleep in a bed again. Mayhaps when we reach Thanis we’ll have to wait for a ship to arrive." "I pray there is one waiting. I don’t think it wise for us to remain long in one place." His shoulders braced and she waited for an explosion. Since they’d left the keep, his temper had been short and often it exploded for no reason. Instead of shouting, he spoke quietly. "As long as ye remember your place, we should have no trouble. Ye are a village woman who has found a job in Thanis." "Not a member of Tana’s court." He grasped her arm. "‘Twas tragon speaking." "Then leave it alone." "And ye must act meek and follow orders, not give them." She looked away. "Even if ye endanger us?" He made a face fraught with frustration. "What do ye know of the world? Mother sheltered ye from strangers and ye have had little experience with even the villagers… And ye think ye should rule Earda." "I have no desire to be Queen." "So ye say but I imagine ye could be tempted by the power a queen has." She mounted her pony. His comments sent her thoughts in a direction she had avoided. The White Jewel—myth or real? What she’d said was the truth and Brader was also right. What did she know about being a ruler? She rode into the yard where Brader waited. One of the children ran from the farmhouse. "Mum asked if ye would break fast with us." Brader shook his head. "We must go." He pointed to the sky. "A storm threatens and I would be through the pass before it breaks." "There be an inn ‘tother side of the pass. Pa and me stopped there when we took the sheep-silk to Thanis." "Thanks." The boy ran back into the house, but returned almost at once to thrust a napkin into Brader’s hand. "Be boiled eggs and fatback on fresh baked bread." "My thanks to your mother," Brader said. "May her larder be always full," Liara added.

All too soon, the rocking gait of the pony gave Liara time to think. Her mother had been Queen. She must have held the Black, but that Jewel and the Queen were evil. Have I been tainted? She shuddered. Even in the High Sanctuary where peace and justice had ruled, tales of the Queen’s injustices had been told. People dragged from their homes, never to be seen again. Lands seized by the Brotherhood of Mages. Young women taken from their families and enslaved by the Guards. Young men forced to serve in the mines or be impressed into the Brotherhood. Floods and droughts. Strange beasts and diseases sweeping through farms and villages. Tana had confirmed the stories. Only her power as Yellow Holder had kept the island free. What would happen when Tana died? A lump formed in her chest. She should have stayed to see her foster mother safely on her journey into death. She touched the silk-wrapped packet. For years, she had been sure she would be the one to follow. But another would hold the Yellow and reside in the High Sanctuary. How could she be sure the one who claimed the legacy would use the power for the people and not for herself? Her thoughts raced in circles until she shoved them into a dark corner. Speculation never solved a problem but only added more worries. She caught up with Brader. He passed her a portion of the farm wife’s gift. "How far to Thanis?" she asked. "In kils?" He shrugged. "We near the last of the three passes. Once through, the road leads down the mountain and across the plain. Maybe three days. Then we have the sea voyage to face. Who knows how long that will take?" "A tenday or so. ‘Twas what Tana said. She also said when she came here, the sea treated her ill." She chewed a bite of the food. "Do ye think she’s all right?" His shoulders hunched and his expression grew bleak. "Liara." His voice broke. "What’s wrong? Tell me." "Before we left, I closed her eyes and said the blessing." Tears surged so violently she couldn’t stop the flow. "Why… Why did you keep this from me?" "She ordered us to leave. If ye had known would ye have left?" She wiped her eyes on her cloak. "We should have stayed for the ceremony of parting." "And been taken prisoner by one of the hands of Guards we’ve seen? What if they had sealed the gates?" Though she knew he was right, she wished she’d had the choice. "Don’t ye care?"

He looked away. "How can ye ask that? She birthed me. She raised me. She was my mother, though since our fourteenth year, I have wondered if she wished to cast me off and choose ye instead." She heard anger and pain in his voice. "I never meant… There was much she felt I had to learn. I wish…" He shrugged. "She was a Holder. She saw a need, one I couldn’t fill. What will happen to her Jewel? Will the Guards take it to Pala?" "I have the Jewel. She said her successor would meet us on the way." "Is it true when a Holder cedes her Jewel, she dies?" The question caught her unprepared and raised a storm of guilt. By becoming a courier for the Yellow, had she hastened Tana’s death? Though the choice had been her foster mother’s, Liara wondered if she had done the right thing. Brader rode ahead and left her to deal with her newly charged emotions. Why had her foster mother sent them to find a myth? Why had Tana accepted her death? She heard Tana’s voice. "The Holder’s life belongs to her Jewel." *** When the sun reached mid-day, Brader turned from the road into a stand of trees. Though they were concealed, the road could be seen. As they lunched on flatbread and cheese, a hand of Guards galloped past, heading toward Thanis. Liara saw a flash of envy on Brader’s face replace the sullen anger of the morning. The Guards awakened her fears and stirred Brader’s admiration. Why the different reactions? Hadn’t he heard stories about the Guards? Had this hand been among those at the High Sanctuary? Did they seek the Yellow Jewel? When she and Brader resumed their journey, she watched clouds gather. The wind held a chill and a hint of moisture. A short time later, they reached the pass. As they rode through the gap between the high cliffs, rain misted in the rapidly cooling air. Brader waved her to his side. "Looks to be a drencher, but there’s an inn ahead." "Should we seek a public place? Mayhaps we’ll find a farm." "Who would farm in this tumble of rocks?" "What about camping out?" "Do ye see any trees to provide shelter?" "What if it’s discovered we’re from the High Sanctuary?" "How? If ye remember your role, all will be well."

"But if there are questions?" He glared. "Do we dress like we belong to the keep? Cultivate meekness. We’re seeking our fortunes in Thanis. You have a new-found position as a nursemaid and me as a merchant’s armsman." Wind whispered through the gnarled balsas, tearing needles from the branches. The mist became a steady fall of rain mixed with ice. Liara huddled into her cloak. Thunder rolled across the sky. Wind-driven water dashed in her face. Drop by drop, the rain changed to pellets of ice that punished when they hit her hands or her face. Dampness seeped through the cloak woven from the fleece of tamed antels. Brader turned. He shouted something but his words were swallowed by the wind. She urged her pony forward. "What did ye say?" "The inn. I see smoke from the chimney. We have to take the risk." She nodded. To continue would be foolhardy and court illness. Brader rode into the yard of the crude one story stone building. Liara followed. They led the ponies into a long shed where five glossy-coated horned horses stood in stalls. "We could sleep out here and be away before they wake," she said. "‘Tis too cold. We need a hot meal and a fire to dry our clothes." Liara rubbed her pony with straw and gave him a measure of grain from the bin near the door. Then she shouldered her pack and followed Brader to the door of the inn. Heat and laughter hailed their arrival. Liara wished she had checked her kerchief before they left the shed. What if strands of her hair had slipped from their covering? The rectangular room had a fireplace at either end. The hand of Guards seated at one table stared. Liara kept her head bent as she found a seat at the other table. She dropped her pack on the floor and hung her cloak on a peg. The way the Guards watched flustered her. Did they suspect her identity? Did they know she had Tana’s Jewel? Her knees shook as she sat on the bench. An old woman stood at one of the hearths and dipped food from a kettle. Liara inhaled the spicy aromas. A younger woman arrived with a slab of cheese, slices of bread and flagons of steaming mulled tragon. She smiled at Brader. "Two bits for food and the night. Ye’ll have to bed in here. Hope your wife don’t mind." "My sister," Brader said. He opened a leather pouch and placed five coppers on the table. "One for ye and the cook." She grinned. "I have a room in back if ye don’t mind sharing."

Brader looked from Liara to the Guards. "Next time I come through." The tavernmaid nodded. "Ye be right, though they be a somber bunch." She carried their bowls to the fireplace and returned with servings of stew thick with vegetables and meat. "‘Tis coney tonight." "Smells good." Brader dipped a spoon and sipped the broth. "Tastes good as well." As Liara ate, she felt warmth creep into her hands and feet. She touched her face and felt no betraying strands of hair had escaped. When she finished the meal, she spread her blanket near the hearth. Brader lingered at the table with a second flagon of tragon. She wanted to chide him. He had no head for spirits. But she had to remember her role. *** Sometime later, Liara woke and heard Brader bragging about his prowess with a sword. His voice was loud and the words slurred. "Been wanting to hire on as a merchant’s armsman for years. Do it soon as my…um…sister is settled in her place." "Why waste your time as an armsman? Sign on with us. The Queen has need of men to keep order in the land." "My mother don’t…" Brader hiccoughed. "She’s an impor…impor… She don’t want me to be a Guard and leave the island." "And ye are still tied to her strings. Be a man." Liara rose and headed to the necessary. The Guard who sat with Brader eyed her closely. "I’ll take your sister off your hands. Guards pay good for serving women. She’s a prime ‘un." "Can’t. She’s prom…prom…" Liara returned. She stumbled against the table. "Be ye tired?" "Get to sleep," Brader snapped. "I’m fine." She glared at him and he shoved her away. She returned to the fire and lay awake for a long time, waiting for their ruse to be discovered by the Guard.

CHAPTER 7 From The Armsmen’s Guide Before ye go into a battle, make sure ye have a trusted comrade to guard your back.

Brader refilled the flagon and sipped. The way the Guard had stared at Liara troubled him. As if I’d sell her to be a servant to the likes of him, he thought. He leaned forward. Had the man identified him and was he waiting to make a move? Earlier, he’d learned Rogir and the hand he traveled with had been sent to the High Sanctuary. They’d found the gates barred and armsmen on the walls. The hand had been sent back to Thanis for the rest of their decan and the pair of mages who had accompanied them from the mainland. What if they already knew what they sought wasn’t in the keep? He felt a bit muzzy-headed. His drinking companion must have a sponge for a stomach. Brader pushed the flagon away. Rogir laughed. "Ye’re leaving me? Man shouldn’t drink alone." He reached for the flask and poured more spirits. "Drink up, lad. Mayhaps ye and your sister could travel with us. Then after ye deliver her to her position, ye can come with us. ‘Tis a good life in the Guards." Brader raised the flagon. "I do not think I am good enough with the sword." Rogir raised his drink. "Didn’t think ye was. The trainers’ll take ye in hand. I could test ye now." "Don’t think our host would like us making a stir tonight." "Won’t matter. We be Queen’s Guards and none can tell us what we mayn’t do." "Mush be nice." Brader propped his elbows on the table. "No stirs. Mush go quiet." He hiccoughed. "Need to sleep." "On the morrow then." Rogir’s voice held both a promise and a threat. What have I done? Brader stumbled to Liara’s side. Had he betrayed them? *** The earth shook. He couldn’t find a place to stand that wasn’t moving. Brader opened his eyes a slit. Liara knelt beside him. She gestured toward the door. "Hurry," she whispered. What’s wrong with her? He staggered to his feet and bit back a groan. Pain stabbed his eyes and made them tear. He grabbed his pack, belted on his sword and headed to the door. A blast of frigid air added another dimension to the ache in his head. "Why are ye dragging us off so early?" She entered the shed. "We are discovered." While she talked, she loaded the pack pony. "The Guard ye drank with last night told his sargan we might be the ones they heard about. The ones who left the High Sanctuary. They mean to question us and afterwards—" Brader fumbled with the saddle straps. ‘Twas his fault. Had he babbled all their secrets last night? Liara grabbed the reins of the pack pony and her own and left the shed. "Come on." "Sneaking off?"

Brader bolted outside. Rogir held Liara’s arm. Without thought, Brader slammed his fist under the Guard’s chin. The man fell backwards. A dusting of snow covered the inn yard. Brader mounted and waved to Liara. "They’ll be on our trail ere long. My fault. Ride ahead. I’ll delay them." The surge of energy had cleared his head. "We’ll stay together. Tana wanted that. We’ll find a place easy to defend. I’ve strung my bow." "Have ye ever thought how it would make ye feel if ye must kill a man?" "I’ll do what I must. I’ll aim for the horses." "Good thinking." The road narrowed so they had to ride single file. A rocky slope rose on one side and the other dropped to a valley far below. When the road widened and cliffs again rose on either side, Brader called Liara to stop. "Take the ponies around the bend and find a position on the rocks so ye can cover my back. If I fall, go ahead." "If ye fall, I won’t be able to escape." Moments later, Liara returned. Brader waited until she was in position. Then he drew his sword. The advice of the armsman who’d trained him rang in his thoughts. He felt both elated and afraid. He’d never fought an enemy before. His opponents had been friends and their strokes had never been lethal. What if he turned his sword at the wrong time? "I see riders. There are but three," Liara said. "May your blade swing true." "And your arrows find their marks." For an instant, he felt a sense of their old comradeship. Of the times before they’d gone in different directions. And before his mother had spoken of Liara’s future. Brader stationed himself in the road. His heart raced. Was he ready? Could he do what had to be done? He’d never faced three at one time. For a moment, he wished he and Liara had continued their flight. But hill ponies lacked speed. Endurance was their value. He sent a silent plea to Mother Sun for strength and the Sister Moons for calmness and courage. An arrow whizzed past. One of the horses screamed and fell. The Guard kicked free and landed several yards from Brader. More arrows flew and hit their marks. Brader faced Rogir and two others. The men slowly approached and tried to circle. Brader turned and met Rogir’s thrust. "Ye fight better than ye said, but ye are no match for a Guard-trained man." Brader danced away and immediately regretted the move. He’d given one of the Guards a chance to slide behind him. A cry of pain sounded but he didn’t turn to look. Instead, he matched swords with Rogir. As they thrust and parried, he noticed a pattern to the man’s style. When he nicked Rogir’s thigh, Rogir gave way to the other Guard.

The second Guard’s sword slashed toward Brader’s sword arm. He felt the blade bite into his flesh. Quickly, he switched his weapon to his left hand, with thanks to his trainer who had forced him to learn to fight equally with either. The switch took his opponent by surprise. Brader’s sword gashed a line down the man’s chest and pierced his gut. The Guard fell to the ground. Rogir advanced; his sword cut into Brader’s right arm just below the first slash. Blood trickled into his hand. He stepped back and stumbled over the body of the fallen Guard. Brader looked up and saw Rogir poised to plunge his weapon downward. Brader tried to roll away but the body beneath him impeded his escape. "No!" Liara’s shout startled Brader and Rogir. The Guard bellowed and stumbled backwards. An arrow protruded from his fighting arm. Brader scrambled to his feet and tapped Rogir’s head with the hilt of his sword. He turned and signaled Liara. "To the ponies. Now." She climbed from her rocky perch. "Are they…?" Brader dragged her along. "Dead… One maybe. Go." He wiped his blade on the fallen man’s cloak. As he mounted his pony, he felt the flow of blood from his wounds, but this was not the time to stop and tend then. He kicked his pony’s sides. "We must ride." "And pray we encounter no more Guards." He nodded. "Liara, this was my fault." "Ye made a mistake. I have no anger toward ye." "I should have told ye about Mother. ‘Twas wrong of me to hide her passing." "Ye were grieving. She loved ye." "And ye." He grinned. "I’ve had second thoughts about joining the Guards." "‘Tis good." *** They rode until the ponies flagged and then made camp in a stand of willah and oka trees. When Brader dropped his cloak, Liara gasped. "Why did ye not tell me ye were wounded?" "There wasn’t time." "We must have a fire so I can cleanse and treat ye." "I’ll allow a small one, but we must take no chances," he said. After the water heated, Brader sat with his back against one of the trees and let Liara cleanse the

wound. "We have no medicinals and I fear the wounds will fester," she said. He frowned. "I never thought to ask ye what we would need. For that I am sorry." "I would not have been much help. Tana’s news so shocked me, I think it was until last night before I truly realized what she meant. How can I be worthy to hold the fabled Jewel?" He took her hand. "Don’t worry about that until our quest is finished. We may never find what we seek." "Ye are right." She bound the wounds with strips of cloth torn from one of her clean shifts. "Ye are lucky, for the wounds are only in the muscle and did not reach the bone." "And we’re fortunate they thought so little of us to only send three." He reached for a mug of kaf. "If I ever drink tragon again, bean me." She laughed. "What, ye would ask your meek sister to do such a thing?" His laughter joined hers. "I feel we are friends again." "We always have been. We just lost our way." She dished bowls of ryn porridge with briarberries and dried banta. "Let’s eat. I’m starved." He took the bowl. "We’ll rest until both moons have risen. Then we’ll ride straight through to Thanis." "And pray there’s a ship for Quato waiting." *** By mid-morning, they reached the outskirts of Thanis. The scents of salt and seaweed drew them on the beach road to the harbor. As they skirted the edge of the sea, Brader watched a pair of lorns circle and then shoot into the sea for fish. Three ships stood at the docks. Brader spotted a seaman at the foot of one of the vessels. "Where do ye go and when do ye leave?" "Be new come to port. Captain’s seeking a cargo. Where ye bound?" "Quato." "Try the Stormy Lady. Last ship on the line. Sets sail for Quato on the morning tide."

CHAPTER 8 From The Songs of Earda She came to him in the evening,

When the sun was low in the sky. Her heart was filled with love. "I would have thee as my Chosen. Without thee I will die." He gazed into the Jewel she held And looked into her crystal eyes. He knew she was his fated love. "I will be thine forevermore And honor thee beyond the grave."

Andalor studied Disa. What had she meant when she said she was called? For the past five days, she’d more than done her share of work. She’d gleaned mushrooms and spring berries and greens to add to their provisions. After tasting his sole attempt, she’d cooked the meals. For some reason, she reminded him of Reena and he didn’t know why. Disa was tall and slender. Her hair was an amber shade where Reena’s was near white. Who was she? She’d come from Pala. She said she’d been a tavernmaid who’d refused to work abovestairs. He didn’t know how she’d avoided that fate. She was comely, and even the plainest of the tavernmaids he’d met earned extra coins on their backs. Why was she on the run? She feared the Guards and trembled at the mention of the mages. Was her fear an act? Could she be a spy set on him by the Brotherhood? The chief mage, Gregor, had been angry when he had learned Reena had Chosen a minstrel. The hatred in the mage’s dark eyes had made Andalor shudder. Reena had vowed to dismiss the mage and his ilk. She hadn’t. In one day, she had changed from a laughing maiden into a cold and haughty Queen. But he was her Chosen and bound to her for as long as she lived. He laughed at the turn his thoughts had taken. ‘Twas fodder for a minstrel’s tale, with him in the leading role and Reena as the heroine. What part would Disa play in this adventure? He noticed the ruins of an abandoned farm and turned off the road. "‘Tis a good place to camp for the night," he called. A lazy stream formed a deep pool near a stand of trees. He tethered his horse beneath a willah tree. Disa slid from her mount and began to build a fire circle. Andalor set up the tent. "Tell me true, why are ye running away?" She looked up. "I’ve told ye before. ‘Twas to escape my uncle by marriage and because… Ye wouldn’t understand." "Try me." "There was this voice that called me and no one was there. ‘Come,’ it said. Then Fancher made his demand and I ran." "Ye just walked out." "Hardly. I waited ‘til the tavern closed and Fancher was abed. Why all these questions?"

"‘Tis a minstrel’s curiosity. That’s all." She lifted one of the pans. "Are ye really a minstrel? I’ve seen minstrels in the tavern when they came to cadge a meal. There’s none of them like ye." He chuckled. "On that I’ll agree. How many minstrels become the Queen’s Chosen?" She headed to the pond. "‘Twas said on the streets she enjoyed a lot of men." "‘Twas the old one, not my Reena." She bent to fill the pan. "So ye are a Chosen and I’m a Jewel Holder." He arched a brow. "Really. Which Jewel?" "Of course I’m not one of them. I’m just Disa, tavernmaid from Fancher’s." "Where in Pala is Fancher’s? Mayhaps I’ve been there." She opened her knapsack and took out what looked like stale bread. To this, she added sausage and cheese. "Ye have never been there. I would have remembered ye." "This was my first trip to Pala, but I expect to go again. How about I give this Fancher a black eye?" She smiled. "That would be a sight. He’d make two of ye. Place is south of the market, not far from the city walls." She cut cheese in chunks and put them in the pan. "Fill the other with water," she said. "For all I know, ye might be a clever thief, but it’s no matter. At least ye can play the lute and ye have horses." He strode to the pond and filled the second pot. When he returned, he saw the sausage had been impaled on sticks and was toasting over the fire. She’d cut the bread in pieces and dropped it in the melting cheese. "So this is dinner." She nodded. "‘Twas my da’s favorite. When Mum and me traveled in his wagon, it had to be this meal at least once a tenday." She dropped chakla leaves in the second pan. Andalor took one of the sausage sticks and took a bite. Then he fished a chunk of cheese-smothered bread from the pan, blew and ate. "‘Tis good. So ye weren’t always a tavernmaid?" "Not ‘til my aunt died. She was Fancher’s second wife and was training me to be a cook." "She did a fine job." He finished the bread and reached for his lute. Disa poured mugs of chakla for them both. She raised the cup and before she drank, she inhaled the steam. "‘Tis heavenly." Andalor shook his head. "Haven’t drunk this since I was a lad." "‘Tis my weakness. Cook at the tavern used to flavor cakes and make chakla sweets for me."

He pulled a skin of tragon from the hamper. "A dram to help ye sleep?" She shook her head. "None for me. I’ve no head for the stuff. Best save it for a real need. Who knows when we might need the warmth it brings." She pointed to the burnt shell of the farmhouse. "Wonder what happened here?" He thought about the many abandoned farms he’d seen during his travels, and the nearly deserted villages with more graves than people. "Looks like a fire destroyed the house." "Before or after the people left?" "We’ll never know." She stripped leaves from willah wythes and began to weave the slender branches. "Just where does this road take us?" "Quato." She looked as though she listened to a voice. Did she have something like the crystal in his pocket? Something that allowed her to talk to a person at a distance? "Aye, that sounds like the proper destination." He strummed his lute. Disa finished weaving and carried the net and the pan used for the cheese to the pond. When she returned, she rolled in her blankets. He waited until her breathing changed into a sleep pattern. Then he slipped beyond the willah trees. He pulled the black crystal from his tunic pocket. A breeze rustled the thin branches of the trees at his back. He stared into the crystal and envisioned Reena’s face. The mist cleared and she appeared. A wave of yearning to be with her arose. "Thee are late. Why?" "We had to travel until sunset before we found a camp site. The road is near deserted and the farms are in shambles. What do the Guards say about the Quato road?" "I’ve heard nothing amiss. What more can thee tell me about this Disa? Thee cannot expect me to discover who she is unless I know where in Pala she worked." "The tavern owner is Fancher and the place is located south of the market near the wall." "And she’s headed to Quato?" "She never said where she was headed until I mentioned that was my destination. She looked as though she talked to someone. Could she be thy cousin?" "Describe her." "Tall for a woman and slender enough to pass as a boy. Her hair and eyes are the color of amber."

"Not my cousin. Her eyes would be as blue as mine." Reena frowned. "Is this Disa pretty?" He heard a trace of jealousy in her voice. "It’s thy image that’s forever in my thoughts. Would that I could be at thy side." "Soon we will be together. I miss thee." She scowled. "I must go. Gregor waits for me." "I thought thee planned to dismiss him." "Not while I can use him. Good night." The crystal darkened to deep ebony. He slipped it into his pocket. Why had she kept the mage and the Brotherhood in the palace? Had she forgotten the things she had wanted to do before the Black had come into her hand?

CHAPTER 9 From The Queen’s Diary She cannot have him. I saw him first. Then she looked into his eyes and said the words to bind him until death. There is but ten minutes between us. Why should the oldest sister have more than the younger? Since the Black came to Earda, there have been no twins born to the Queen until us. I wonder what it means? Still, I will have the Black and I will have him.

Reena put the crystal on the table beside her bed and turned to glare at Gregor. "Ye do not have my permission to be in this room." The ebon-eyed mage smiled. "I’m sorry to have interrupted your time with your Chosen, but ye have a duty to your Jewel. The White stirs and your mastery of the powers is sorely lacking. If ye desire the minstrel’s company, ye should have permitted me to send mages to find the usurper." She could have done that, but she had little reason to trust the mages. She also believed Gregor posed a threat to her Chosen. "The decision was mine. I don’t believe a mage would have suited. Do ye think she would trust someone from the Brotherhood?" "Mayhaps ye are right, but trust is not the issue. Finding and destroying her before she learns who she is seems to me more important." Reena laughed. "What do ye know of her? Do ye know where she was raised?" He shrugged. "Does it matter?" "My cousin spent her childhood in the home of the Yellow Holder." She moved away but not before she saw a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. "Did ye not know that my mother kept diaries? I have read

them." "I want to see them." "Destroyed. She seemed quite mad, ye know. My cousin was allowed to live because she’s my test." A smile crossed his lips but failed to reach his eyes. "Cousin. She is your half-sister. If the minstrel sees ye in her face, what will happen to your bonds? Your mother proved they could be broken." "Did she?" Reena’s memories of her father proved even death couldn’t break the bonds. "I have more information about Andalor’s traveling companion." She related what the minstrel had disclosed. He grasped her shoulders and turned her around. "Have him take her to the nearest Guardpost. She was caught talking to a traitor—a man who flits about Pala spreading treason. One day, she talked to him and the next, she was gone." "Why hasn’t this man been brought to my attention?" "The last time he surfaced was the day after your mother’s leave-taking." She crossed to the window. "And what is the news about the other Holders?" "‘Tis less than a lunar since Guards were sent to escort them to the palace. Why your mother allowed them to reside away from Pala puzzles me. Sometimes she refused to heed my advice." He stroked her arm. "But ye, my Queen, have more sense." An involuntary shudder rippled through her body. She jerked away. "Do not touch me in that manner. When does Macker arrive?" "He won’t be coming. Before the Guards reached the manor house, he left. Alas, he had a most unfortunate accident. His carriage was attacked by bandits and Macker did not survive." Reena sucked in a breath. "Why did he leave? Who told him he could go?" "‘Twas the Brotherhood who placed him as your teacher and the Brotherhood who released him from his duties. ‘Twas his choice to leave the manor. Ye are the Queen and have no need for those who knew ye as Milady Reena." Her hands clenched. Alone. She was alone, but then she’d always been. "Ye are dismissed." He stared into her eyes. His fingers touched her arms and felt like ice. She could not look away. "Take out the Jewel. ‘Tis time for another lesson in control."

CHAPTER 10

Sayings of the People When a Healer gives ye advice, ‘tis best to listen; when she makes a prophecy, ye must believe.

Disa woke at daybreak and fed the fire before walking to the pond to check the fish trap and to wash her face. With luck, there’d be enough for the morning meal. She glanced at Andalor. A most handsome man, but too polished for her taste. A short time later, she pulled the weir woven from willah wythes from the pool and cleaned the pair of rock fish it had trapped. Then she gleaned green briarberries from the low bushes beside the pond. Back at the fire, she set the fish to cook and mashed the berries to use as a side dish. Andalor stretched. He rose and walked to the pond. When he returned, he sat by the fire to pull on his boots. "Why bother to fish when we have plenty of supplies?" "And who knows when we can replenish them? Have ye seen any villages lately? Or even farms with people? Strange, for the land seems lush." He nodded. "And where did ye learn your method of catching fish?" "From my da." "He seems to have been a resourceful man." She slid a fish onto a plate and added the mashed and cooked berries. "Aye, he was. He would have been a wealthy man, but he left his family when they would not accept my mother as his wife. She came from Healer stock and some people think them strange." "I’ve heard it said they don’t marry." She nodded. "Tis true, but they are not barren. My mother and her sisters were proof of that. My mum had no talent for healing, and then she met my da." He tasted a bite of the fish and berry sauce. "‘Tis delicious. Ye will have no problem finding work as a cook. Your uncle was a fool not to use your services in his kitchen. He’d have made a fortune." "Fancher was a greedy fool. Thank the moons I’ll never see him again." She looked away. From whence had come that knowledge, and also the knowing that preparing food for others wasn’t her destiny? She finished eating and helped Andalor break camp. Then she gathered a pan of briarberries and also picked mushrooms from amidst the roots of the willah trees. *** The sky grew dark and the wind blew briskly. "Looks like a storm," Disa said. Andalor shook his head. "Though I can’t say I like the look of the sky, I don’t think it will rain. I’ve a bit of the weather sense like my second brother. Still, I’d like it better if we found shelter for tonight. I think I see a hut ahead."

"Probably deserted like most of the places we’ve seen." "Could be, but have we a choice? I’ve no desire to build a fire in this wind and I’ve little liking for cold food." As they neared the hut, Disa smiled. "‘Tis a Healer’s garden." "How do ye know?" "See the small beds where medicinals are growing and the paths laid out with stones? My mum and I visited several of these gardens, for my da sold what they produced. A Healer’s garden is where they cultivate and prepare their gleanings for use." "And will they take us in?" "I’ve no doubt we’ll be welcome." By the time they reached the door of the hut, the wind had reached gale force. Disa rapped on the door. An elderly woman with appa cheeks and a mass of short white curls answered. "Been waiting," she said. Andalor bowed low. "Old Mother, can we spend the night?" "Ye be well come," she said. "Ye be on a quest and what ye find will surprise ye. Tested ye will be. Ye will do the right thing though it pains ye, but in the end what ye seek will be found." "Thank ye for your prophecy," Andalor said. The Healer took Disa’s hand. "Ye be one of the Blood but ye are more than ye seem. A choice awaits that may a friendship mar, but to fail to choose is wrong." Disa swallowed. Since she had no friends and Andalor was no more than a traveling companion, the prophecy made no sense. "My thanks for your words and your hospitality." The Healer nodded. "There be a shed in back for the animals." Andalor grabbed the reins. "I’ll care for both." Disa carried their packs into the hut and looked around in interest. She inhaled the pungent aromas of the medicinals that hung from the rafters. On one side of the room were shelves filled with bottles and wooden boxes of various sizes. A fire burned in the fireplace and Disa noticed the wood supply was low. "I’ll fetch some wood and make dinner, if ye’d like," Disa said. "I’ve mushrooms, briarberries and some dried appas. The minstrel has trail rations, but I know ye don’t eat meat." The Healer nodded. "So she taught ye about us. ‘Tis good. If this were a Healer’s House and not a garden, there would be meat for sick people have need of such. In the cold room, ye’ll find eggs, milk, cheese and vegetables." Disa reached for the basket beside the door. "I’ll fetch them."

As she headed around the corner of the house, she heard Andalor’s voice and stopped short. "That I do not believe," he said. "I will tell thee if she meets in secret with anyone." "Andalor," Disa called. "When ye come inside, bring firewood with ye." He turned and glared. She glimpsed something in his hand but could not get a close look. "I’ll be in soon," he said. Disa shrugged. Mayhaps he heard voices like the one that had called her. At least she didn’t answer hers. In the cold room, she put eggs, a jug of milk with thick cream on top, some root vegetables and some scallions in the basket with a cone of honey. The wind was bitter, almost like winter though the season was early spring. Andalor carried in wood until the box was full. He sat at the table and strummed his lute. Disa beat the eggs with some of the milk, added mushrooms, scallions and cheese. She sliced the roots and set both dishes on the fireplace grill. She cut the appas, added honey, briarberries and ryn meal and set them to bake. While they ate, Andalor entertained with stories. The sound of the wind beating against the walls of the house made Disa glad they had found shelter. Andalor took the skin of tragon from his pack and added a measure to his kaf. The Healer’s eyes closed. "Save the tragon, for ye will need it. Wounds washed with tragon heal better than those that aren’t." "Mayhaps my wounds are inside," Andalor said. "Any wounds ye have or will have may be of your own making." The Healer rose and went to her bed. Disa cleared the table and then retired to her blanket. She fell asleep with the notes of a melancholy tune the minstrel played sounding in her dreams. *** Disa woke and found Andalor at the table. He cradled a mug. "Ryn porridge on the hearth. Help yourself." "Where’s the Healer?" "Gone just after I woke, but the food was ready. The wind’s down but the sky’s dark as ebonwood. The Healer said there’s an inn about a day’s ride ahead." He frowned. "She gave another prophecy." "What?" "Ye will face a test of courage and then one of loyalty. To fail one is to fail all." "Do ye believe?"

He shrugged. "The only test I’ve ever faced at an inn was in knowing obscure songs." *** By early evening, they reached the inn, a massive sprawling building. The stable held several dozen horses, and draft animals milled about in a fenced pen. The yard was filled with wagons and carts. "What goes on?" Andalor asked. "Fanged apes," the stable boy said. "Ye’ll have to bunk in here. Rooms are filled." Disa moved to unload their packs. "Where?" The boy pointed to the loft. Disa looked at Andalor. "Do we stay?" "I’m not much for night travel, and if there are fanged apes attacking, I’d rather go by day." Disa shook her head. "Aren’t they solitary creatures?" "Not no more," the boy said. "They slaughtered a double hand of Guards and tore a merchant’s caravan in shreds." Andalor joined Disa in the loft. "What do we do now?" she asked. "Is there another way to Quato?" "Not without returning to Pala." "So what do we do?" He winked. "Have no fear, squire. Let’s eat. Then I’ll entertain." After they ate, Disa listened to Andalor’s songs of courage and bravery. The minstrel’s plan became clear. She begged a long knife from one of the merchants’ armsmen. She would not be left behind.

CHAPTER 11 From The Queen’s Diary I am bonded to the Black and have come into my rightful place. I did not know the binding would take me from this time and place into an ebony world for nearly a day. While I was entranced, she escaped. How could one weak from childbirth have the strength to flee? Who were her accomplices? When I learn, they will pay. And the first will be her Chosen—my Chosen. Then wherever she is, I will find her.

The throne room was ablaze with lights. Reena paced like a caged cairn leopard. "I will not be controlled. The Black is mine. The rule is mine. Gregor and the Brotherhood want to use the Guards to

rule every town and village." Where is Andalor? Days have passed since he last reported. Has he deserted me? He was the one person I thought I could trust. He is my Chosen and a minstrel—a wanderer who has no taste for power. Was it all a lie? Her memories of the manor house faded day by day. She saw his face, heard his laughter, but all else seemed shadowy. What had they talked about and what had they done? The wide doors opened. Gregor and his entourage of mages strode into the room. "My Queen." He bowed and the others moved like a storyteller’s puppets. "Did I summon ye and is there a need for an audience?" She looked beyond him and studied his five companions. One bore a remarkable resemblance to her Chosen. Another looked like—she frowned and tried to set a name to the face. "But my Queen, we heard ye were troubled. We have come to offer comfort and counsel." She pressed her hand over the Jewel beneath her gown. This was her protection from the man whose presence brought anxiety and a foreboding sense of danger. "I have no worries, and if I am troubled, ‘tis because ye have failed. Where is my cousin? Where are the Jewel Holders? Why have they not been assembled to swear their allegiance to the Black?" "The Red, Green, Orange and Violet Holders are on their way." "What of the Yellow and the Blue?" "The Yellow Holder has died. Even now, the mages arrive to take her Jewel." She snorted. "No man can touch one of the Jewels. Would ye have them destroyed or the Jewel ruined?" He tapped his foot in a steady beat on the floor. "Every precaution will be taken." She reached for a cup of wine from the table beside the throne. "And the Blue?" "Gone. The Holder vanished years ago. When the Holder died, your mother could not touch the gem. So it is lost." She sipped from the cup. "Begone. Ye do not tell me a thing I have not heard from other sources." "How is your Chosen faring?" The sinister timbre of Gregor’s voice made her wonder what he knew. Did he have some method of learning what she and Andalor said? "He’s fine." "Mayhaps he has your cousin in his hands." "I have not told him to capture her but to join her party."

"I do not understand your reasoning. Ye must prevent her from reaching the White." Reena shook her head. "I think ye must study all the texts concerning the time the Black was created and the White vanished from the Palace of the Seven Jewels. ‘Twas then the Jewels became eight. I will not reign supreme as long as that Jewel exists. If ye stop my cousin, the White will still exist." He bowed. "I will look into this matter." He waved the other mages away. "Later, I will return for another lesson. If ye are to face the White, ye must be strong and completely attuned to the Black." "I think not. Do not return until I summon ye."

CHAPTER 12 From The Lore of the Jewels There were, among the people, men and women with small talents. Some had weather magic. Others had rapport with animals. Some dowsed for water. A group of women had a talent for healing. Some could make plants thrive. And there were those with the ability to force people to do their will and those who could see into the minds of others. Many of these, except for the Healers, were men. They banded together to form the Brotherhood of mages. And they learned how to use the other talented. But the Jewel Holders they could not use.

The Stormy Lady’s timbers were weather-grayed and the sails had been mended time and time again. Liara stood at Brader’s side and stared at the ship she hoped would carry them to Quato. "Are ye sure we must sail with them?" Brader asked. "Don’t look like much." "If they’ll have us, we’ll go. We can’t tarry here. The Guards will be nipping on our heels and they’ll have mages to help." "I’ll see about passage. Ye wait." She watched him climb the gangplank. A moment later, her eyes widened. On the deck of the second ship, a mage appeared. Just as she had feared. For years, Tana’s power had kept the Brotherhood and their evil ways from the island. As she stared, a hand of Guards joined the mage. She slipped into the shadows and fought a wild urge to flee. Before long, Brader returned. He glanced at the mage and his companions and joined Liara in the shadows. "They’ll take us but they asked a pretty price. We’ll have but a few coins when we reach Quato." "Let’s sell the ponies." "I paid passage for them."

"We can purchase others in Quato. Does the ship still leave in the morning?" "They do. I don’t see why we should sell the ponies. They’ve served us well." She edged out of the shadows. "It’s just a feeling I have. We’re known to have them. What if the Guards from the inn arrive and start asking at the docks about a man and a woman taking ponies aboard a ship?" She shuddered. "What if the mages question the sailors? Let’s find the market." Brader nodded. "Makes sense." They led the ponies down a narrow street with taverns on either side. At the end, they found the market square. Liara stared at the canopied booths where a wealth of goods, from cloth and jewelry to foodstuffs both raw and prepared, were offered for sale. A babble of voices made her want to cover her ears. Perfumes, medicinals, spices, cooking food—the aromas blended into a single pungent odor. People moved to and fro and brought to mind the steps of an impromptu dance. On the outskirts of the market, they found the animal sellers’ compound. With a bargaining skill she didn’t know she possessed, she managed to sell the ponies and their gear for more coins than the passage had cost. On their way to the docks, she stopped to purchase meat pies and vegetables roasted on sticks. When they had eaten their fill, Liara headed to the Healer’s stand and purchased a variety of medicinals. She bought spices, dried fruit, a scoop of chakla leaves and one of kaf beans. "What are ye doing?" Brader asked when she put appas, pinels and nuts in a sack. "They’ll feed us as part of our passage." "I know." She added a pot of honey and two skins of golden wine. "We’ll be glad of a change from ship’s fare." With the last of her purchases made, Liara turned toward the docks. Brader grabbed her arm. "We’d best find an inn for the night." She shook her head. "I’d feel safer aboard ship. Come." She grasped his arm and ducked into an alley. "Over there. Isn’t that one of the Guards from the inn?" Brader peered into the square. "‘Tis Rogir. The ship it is. Go first. I’ll make sure we haven’t been seen." *** As Liara boarded the Stormy Lady, a young man with hair sun-bleached to a near silver stopped her. "Who be ye?" "A passenger. My brother booked us aboard. He’ll be along soon." The young man bowed. "Welcome to the Stormy Lady. Sorry I asked, but we’ve no need of prying strangers. I’m Valmir, the cabin steward and cook’s helper. Ye and your brother are the only passengers this trip. Better than the hand of Guards we carried from Quato." "I’m Liara." She glanced toward the ship where she’d seen the mage and felt relieved to see a deserted

deck. "Could ye show me to the cabin?" "Ye’ll have to share with your brother. Captain took extra cargo this trip—to pay for what we lost on the last one." "‘Twill be fine." "If ye need anything, just ask when I bring your meals." He led her to a small cabin and deposited her pack and the sack of purchases on the lower of two bunks built into one wall. A table and a pair of chests anchored to the floor completed the furnishings. She asked for water and when it arrived, she washed their small clothes, her spare blouse and Brader’s tunic. She opened the porthole and emptied the basin. Where was Brader? Had he been captured? Her nerves were near screaming level when the door opened and he stepped inside. He put several meat pies and some berry pockets on the table. "Thought we’d eat here. The Guards are searching every inn and tavern for us." "Are we safe?" "I made sure they didn’t see me, and if we stay in the cabin, they can’t spot us." "Let me clean and dress your wounds." He grimaced. "I guess ye must." As Liara unwrapped the makeshift bandages, a foul odor arose. Ignoring Brader’s complaints, she scrubbed the deep slash lines and applied a medicinal dressing. Still, she worried lest the injury fester. *** By the time night arrived Liara felt caged, but she knew Brader was right to insist they remain in the cabin. She lay on the upper bunk. Though she didn’t think she’d sleep, the gentle rocking and the soft lap of the water against the hull lulled her into dreams. At sunrise, shouts brought her awake. Had the Guards discovered they were here? "Brader," she called. He sat up and nearly hit his head on her bunk. "What’s wrong?" "I think… I fear…" She lowered the bar on the door. "The Guards…the mages…" He stood at the porthole. "We’re under sail." She released the bar and slumped on the chest. "I’m glad…so very glad." Brader returned to his bunk. "Go back to sleep." She cut an appa and stood at the porthole while she ate. Sadness rose and she wished for a last glimpse of the island that had been her home. Tana, I vow I will see this quest to an end and accept what I

am given. But Mother of my heart, I wish ye could share the adventure. The breeze teased tendrils of her hair and she wanted to be on deck. She couldn’t, not in daylight, lest someone discover who she was. Tonight, she thought. When the Sister Moons light the sky. If I keep in the shadows, no one will see. *** A half tenday passed more quickly than she’d thought possible. Brader slept for long hours and she wondered if he was ill. She spent her days studying the Lore of the Jewels, and at night she escaped the cabin. This night, there was a different quality to the air. The sails flapped wildly. The seamen thudded across the deck. Dark clouds hid the moons and lightning flared in the distance. "Be a mother of a storm coming," a seaman said. "‘Tis the wrong season for a blow," a second sailor remarked. "Been an odd year all told, what with the Queen ill and the mages on the prowl," a third said. Liara returned to the cabin. Brader moaned and moved restlessly on the bunk. She touched his forehead. A fever. Why now of all times? By lantern light, she opened the dressings and saw the gashes were red and swollen. "I must open and clean your wounds." He groaned. She cleaned her knife in the flame of the lantern and cut the swollen flesh. With water, she cleaned away the exudates, packed the wounds with medicinals. What now? She was no Healer and the ship was staffed with men. She was all he had. Brader opened fever-glazed eyes. "‘Tis hot." He tossed the blankets on the floor. "I know." She dissolved feverfage in wine. "Sip this. ‘Twill help." He sipped most of the wine. "‘Tis punishment for my failure." "Don’t be foolish. The wounds have festered because they weren’t treated soon enough." "Aye. My fault." He closed his eyes. Liara pulled their packs from the chest and quickly filled them. She tied Brader’s sword and scabbard to his pack and put the pair by the door. Then she struggled to get Brader into his cloak before donning her own. As great waves slapped the hull, the ship jumped and lurched, leaning to one side and then the other. Brader moaned and thrashed. "Cold, so cold."

She pulled the blanket from the floor. "Ye will be fine. Ye must." The ship bucked harder than the wildest hill pony. The very boards creaked and groaned. A thunderous crack was followed by a thud that shook the cabin. She heard screams and shouts. "To the boats." "Out. We must escape." She shook Brader. "Ye must get up. Something has happened to the ship." "So cold." "Brader, up!" "I’ll try." His body shook but he got to his feet. She braced him against the door while she fastened his pack to his back and grabbed hers. She opened the door. A great gush of water shot through the opening and knocked them both to the floor. "Up, Brader. Get up!" Valmir entered. "Come. I’ll help. The crew takes to the boats. There is one for us." Between the two of them, they dragged Brader. The deck was in shambles. The great mast had fractured. Pieces of the sails flapped in the wind. Gusts of wind and rain nearly knocked Liara down. Valmir led them to a small boat that hung against the side of the Stormy Lady. "Get in. I’ll lift him to ye. Then I must lower the boat. Grasp the end of the ladder so I can climb down." As the boat moved toward the choppy water, she watched the rope ladder unroll. The wind played them like a child’s swing. When the boat slapped against the sea, she nearly lost her hold on the ropes. She looked up and saw Valmir scrambling down. The ship rolled. So did the boat. Brader slammed against her legs and toppled her. She lost her hold on the ladder. "Nay!" she shouted. Valmir fell or dove into the sea. He surfaced and she reached for him. He grasped her hand and then the side of the boat. "Cut the pulley ropes or we’ll go under." She turned and saw the Stormy Lady had started a slow spiral. Seizing Brader’s sword, she hacked at the ropes. Soon Valmir joined his efforts to hers. As the last rope parted, a wave tossed the small boat away from the ship. "We must be blessed by the Ladies of the Jewels," Valmir said. Liara looked at him. "I believe we are." She knelt beside her foster brother. A lump on the back of his head bled freely. She opened her pack and tore strips from her already ruined shift to pad and bind the wound. His clothes were drenched and she feared his fever. She and Valmir moved Brader to the side of the boat.

"Help me fasten this covering," Valmir said. "‘Twill keep some of the rain from us." With that done, Valmir placed some wide-mouth jugs to catch the rainwater. Liara stripped off Brader’s wet clothes. "Milady, let me help ye. There are blankets in the lockers beneath the seats." "My thanks, but I’m not Milady. Just Liara and my brother is Brader. How long will this storm last?" Valmir shrugged. "‘Tis but my second sea voyage. We should rest and let the sea carry us until the storm ends." *** Liara sat in the bow of the boat and rested her elbows on her knees. The sea was calm. Valmir had raised the sail. The surface of the water resembled dark blue glass with glints of sunlight dancing on the surface. Brader groaned. She moved to his side. "How do ye feel?" He struggled into a sitting position. "Where are we?" "Adrift in a small boat. The Stormy Lady is gone. Valmir saved us." "Then he has my thanks." Brader rubbed his head. "There’s a hammer pounding." "Ye fell and hit your head. Your other wounds are healing clean. The festering is gone. Valmir says the seamen swear by sea water as a cure." Brader raised his arm and stared at the healing gashes. Then he looked at Liara. "Where is your kerchief?" "Lost during the storm." He turned to look at Valmir. "Can we trust this seaman? Ye know the risks if people learn who ye are." Liara looked away. She would trust Valmir with her life. Would Brader accept that?

CHAPTER 13 From The Songs of Earda Oh, my father was a soldier And he went off to war To use his sword upon our foes And keep our village free.

And when the great beasts came Thundering from the hills He stood his ground with pride And saved us from a rout For my father was a soldier The same as ye and me.

Andalor rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. The troop of volunteers and armsmen he’d gathered from among the guests at the inn had been on the road since daybreak. Now dusk gathered and the only sound was the clop of the horses’ hooves against the hard packed surface of the road. Ahead the hills formed a narrow corridor. The black rocks loomed like shadows in the fading light. An eerie scream shattered the near silence. His mount froze and for a moment, so did he. The shrill cry became a chorus. Andalor turned. The men and Disa seemed as shaken as he. "Form a circle with the horses in the center," he called. "Light the torches. Fire is a good defense against any number of beasts. Pray these fanged apes are no different." He thrust his torches in the brazier one of the men had carried from the inn. He touched Disa’s shoulder. "Stay at my side." She lit her torches. "We will beat them off. ‘Tis not our time to die." "Does your Healer blood speak?" He would have left her at the inn, but she had refused to remain behind. The determination in her voice heartened him more than her prophecy. He saw a number of shaggy forms climbing over the rocks. One giant ape, near white in coloring, stood erect and beat his chest. His scream rang out. Horses whinnied. Andalor wished there’d been a bowman among the men at the inn. Then the fight might have been over before it began. The ape’s cry seemed to be a signal for the hordes of beasts to move swiftly toward their waiting opponents. "Stand fast," Andalor cried. "Think of your families and homes!" The scene turned to chaos with screams of the apes, shouts of the men and the terrified cries of the horses. Andalor waited with sword in one hand and torch in the other. An ape leapt toward him. He sliced the beast’s arm. With wicked claws extended, the ape swiped a line down Andalor’s chest. The beast howled, exposing fangs that dripped a viscous fluid. Andalor swung and decapitated his opponent. Where the blood and gore splattered, his skin burned. Fang and claw. Sword and torch. Thrust and thrust. The stench of burning fur. The whickers of the mounts. Shouts and screams. The taste of salt on his lips and acid in his throat. ‘Twas nothing like the games of swords he’d played when he’d been a boy. The white ape that appeared to be the leader knocked Andalor off balance. Disa drove under the creature’s arm and plunged her long knife into the ape’s belly. The beast shoved her aside. Andalor recovered and slashed the ape with the torch before thrusting the point of his sword into the creature’s eye. The ape screamed and fell to the ground. As quickly as they had appeared, the remaining apes retreated to the rocks and vanished. Andalor thrust the point of his sword in the earth to steady himself.

Around him, he heard the cries of the wounded men and mounts. He sucked in a breath. Several of those still standing came to his side. "Check the bodies and bind their wounds," he said. "We’ll take the wounded to the nearest village." One of the men nodded. "There’s a Healer’s House there." "We’ll have need of them." Andalor sent two men to check the mounts and with the others searched for both the living and the dead. Five of the men had died and three were gravely wounded. He found Disa partly covered by the body of the white ape. "Help me," he ordered. When the beast was dragged from her body, Andalor knelt. Her brave act had allowed him to recover and kill the fanged ape. He pressed a hand to her throat and felt a faint pulse. Blood flowed from a slash that ran from her belly to her thigh. One of the men shook his head. "She’ll soon be dead." Andalor shook his head. "We’ll bind the wounds to halt the bleeding. She will live." "Unless her flesh festers. Ape wounds be nasty and there’s poison in their fangs." Andalor grabbed the skin of tragon from his pack. He tore a shirt, saturated the cloth and bound her wounds. The other man laughed. "Do better inside us. I might lose my leg from this wound." "A Healer told me that wounds cleaned with tragon heal better than those that aren’t. We’ll use this to cleanse our wounds. There’s wine for thirst." Before long, they had the worst of the wounded on travois behind the remaining horses. One of the men, an ostler from the inn, rode back to let the merchants know the road was open. Andalor cradled Disa in front of him and signaled the rest of the party forward. "Ye will live," he whispered. "As ye said, ‘tis not our time to die." *** Just after daybreak, they reached the village and rode to the Healer’s House. The stone cottage had two floors and the worst of the wounded were carried to rooms above. The Healer and her two assistants took Disa from Andalor. He slumped on a bench beside the door and fell asleep. When he woke, he looked around in confusion. His wounds had been freshly dressed. He lay on a cot in what must be the kitchen of the house. Two women, one young and the other gray-haired, sat at a table near the fireplace. Andalor pushed his aching body erect and walked slowly to the table. One of the women handed him a mug of kaf. The other took a plate of biscuits and fatback from the warming oven built into one side of the fireplace.

He sipped the kaf. "My companion… Disa… How fares she?" "She lives, though gravely injured," the older woman said. "‘Twill be more than a tenday before she can travel. The poisons must be leached and the wound must mend before I release her. If she is to go adventuring, ye should provide her with a mesh vest. ‘Tis not only in these hills that beasts rise to attack travelers." Andalor reached for a biscuit. "I’ll order one from the smith for her. Do ye know where my horse is? I must tend to his wounds." "There are two horses in the shed behind the house. They have been fed and their wounds washed with tragon." "After I eat, I’ll see to them." She nodded. "‘Tis a wise man who cares for those who serve him." Andalor finished the food and drank a second mug of kaf. Without warning, the crystal in his pocked grew warm and then hot. He limped to the door and ducked around a corner of the house before pulling the globe out. An angry Reena appeared. "Where have thee been? Thee has been told to report every night." "There are times when this is impossible. We were held up at an inn by reports of fanged apes attacking travelers. I had to enlist an army to rout them. We fought a battle and I was injured. Disa, as well." "I do not believe thee. Fanged apes are solitary creatures that steal into farmyards and carry livestock away. They do not attack people." "Mayhaps in the past that was their habit. In days just past, they slaughtered a double hand of Guards and attacked a merchant’s caravan. We killed at least twenty." Her eyes narrowed. "I have heard no reports from the Guards about such attacks, but I will learn the truth. I order thee to continue to Quato. If thee need supplies, I gave thee coins enough. If thee need a new horse, requisition one from the nearest Guardpost." "But Disa—" "Do thee care more for her than me?" "Of course not." "Thee have no need of her. Thee are my Chosen." He sucked in a breath. Every time he talked to her, she moved further from the Reena he’d known. "I was injured during the attack and must stay until the Healer releases me. Would thee have me collapse along the road where there is no one to help me?" Her eyes changed and he saw an instant of caring there. "Then heal quickly. My cousin is on the move. The Yellow Holder is dead and her Jewel is missing."

"Do ye think there is a connection?" "I do not know. She has a male companion—a fighter, from all I’ve heard. She’s on her way to Quato. Thee must find a way to join her. When thee do, take care not to alert the Brotherhood." He frowned. Has she rid herself of Gregor and his ilk? Must she now fight two sets of enemies? Would that he could be with her. "I won’t fail thee. Good night, my love." The crystal darkened.

CHAPTER 14 From The Armsmen’s Guide Ye must trust your brothers in arms until they give ye reason to distrust. For if ye do not trust them, they will pay ye in the same coin.

Brader sat in the bow of the small boat and stared at the dark water. The ache in his head had vanished and his wounds were now scars. He saw Liara swim toward the boat and felt a twinge of envy. He’d never learned to swim. Once as a child, he had tried and nearly drowned. Since then, he’d avoided water that rose above his waist. The sun beat down and he shed his shirt. If he could swim, at least he could cool his heated skin. He frowned. Where had Valmir learned to swim? He claimed to be a Desert Rider. They lived in an arid, water-scarce land, hardly a place to develop water skills. A slight breeze filled the sails and cooled his skin. Liara pulled herself into the boat and rubbed her hair with the edge of her cloak. After braiding the dark strands, she pulled on her skirt and blouse. "Come in before we get too far from ye," she called to Valmir. "The wind’s rising and we’re caught in a swift current." Brader frowned. Was Valmir friend or foe? Though he’d saved their lives, Brader wasn’t ready to extend trust the way Liara had. After his betrayal at the inn, he intended to keep his vow of caution lest he endanger their quest. Liara rested against the side of the boat. She yawned and closed her eyes. Valmir emerged from the sea, clambered into the boat and pulled on his clothes. "My friend, ye should at least get wet." Brader shook his head. "‘Tis not for me. How did a Desert Rider learn to swim?"

"That was one of my manhood tests. There is a place of ruins in the desert with pools that never go dry. My clan visits once each year and when a boy comes of age, he is thrown into the deepest pool. He must swim. If he must be rescued, he is known as a child forever." "How did ye become a seaman?" Valmir studied his hands. "Because I was a fool." "What’s that supposed to mean?" "My mother sent me on a quest and I made some stupid mistakes." A quest for what, Brader wondered. Was Valmir seeking to prevent Liara from finding the White? "What were ye seeking?" "Not what, but who. Each year, the Great Desert grows and more of the water holes vanish. Soon the clans will fight over water rights. I seek the Lady of the Blue jewel, for she has power over the waters of the land." "Why didn’t ye find her?" "She was not at her home in Quato. ‘Twas said she set sail for Thanis. When a thief stole all I possessed, I signed aboard the Stormy Lady. But in Thanis, I learned she never arrived. I know not where to seek her now." Brader looked at Liara. She sat with her arms about her knees and the way she gazed at the Desert Rider filled Brader with alarm. He prayed she would keep her silence until they learned if Valmir could be trusted. He felt a tug on the line and turned his attention to landing the fish. "‘Tis large," he said as he struggled. Valmir joined his efforts. Soon they landed a large fish with iridescent scales. "A salt rainbow," Valmir said. "We must be near land large enough to have a fresh water stream, for they only spawn in sweet water. This one is ripe with eggs." Liara pointed toward the horizon. "I see dark masses that are surely land." Valmir moved to adjust the sail and directed Liara to the steering rudder. He pulled oars from beneath the seats. "Come, Brader, let’s help the wind." As though their destination had been chosen, the wind shifted until the boat was headed toward the middle of three islands. Valmir pointed to the stream that flowed into the sea. "I smell smoke," Liara said. "Mayhaps we’ll be rescued," Brader said. "Or have been sent to rescue someone." Valmir slipped into the sea and grabbed the rope Liara tossed over the side. She jumped in and helped. When the pair was able to stand, Brader pulled off his boots and joined them. As the boat slid onto the sand, Liara laughed. Then she ran toward the trees.

"Where are ye going?" Brader grabbed his sword. "Ye can’t go yet." Valmir grabbed Brader’s arm. "If we don’t get the boat above the tide line, we’ll be stranded." "But she might be in danger." Brader joined the other man in beaching the boat. "Why?" "Who knows who might be stranded here? Could be Guards or mages." "Why do ye fear them?" "I’ve seen the way they act." "‘Tis simple when ye meet them. With Guards ye act meek and with mages, dumb. Why would ye and she fear them? What are ye hiding?" "‘Tis Liara’s tale to tell." He strode away from Valmir. At the end of the narrow trail, he paused. A young woman with brown hair embraced Liara. "Sister Holder." The young woman frowned. "Ye bear a Jewel, yet ye do not hold. I do not understand." "Speak not of the Jewels," Liara said. "Who are ye?" The young woman pulled on the chain around her neck. "Stilenta, Blue Holder. Have ye come to take me home?" Her eyes widened. Brader stepped into the clearing. "I don’t think we can," Liara said. "Our ship was storm-wrecked. We have but a small boat." Stilenta looked past Brader. Her eyes were the color of the sky with streaks like the deep blue of the sea. "What happens in the land?" "The Queen is dying or mayhaps dead," Liara said. "The Yellow Holder has passed from this plane. She sent me to find her successor." "Has she no daughter?" Brader approached the pair. "I am her son and only child." "Are ye two alone?" "Valmir, the ship’s steward, rescued us from the ship," Liara said. Stilenta took Liara’s hand. "Do ye seek the White as your mother did? How can I aid ye?" "I must go to Quato and from there to the Screaming Hills." Stilenta smiled. "If ye have a boat, I can lead us to Quato."

Brader turned and saw Valmir had reached the clearing. The Desert Rider drew his knife from its sheath. Brader slid his sword from the scabbard, but instead of attacking, Valmir laid his knife at Stilenta’s feet. "Lady of the Blue, my weapon is yours. My clan and kin need the power of your Jewel." Stilenta touched his shoulder. "When the time comes, your clan and kin will have my aid, but there is something I must do first." "Then I will follow ye." He turned to Brader. "I now see why we were led here. The Ladies of the Jewels kept us safe from the storm. Let’s ready the boat." Stilenta laughed. "Before we sail, we must gather provisions. Mayhaps a day or two of rest will make our voyage easier." Brader nodded. "Ye are right. I’ll fetch the salt rainbow I caught. ‘Twill make a fine meal of celebration." "There are kaf beans in my pack," Liara said. Stilenta sighed. "‘Tis been two years since I have tasted kaf. Ye have my thanks. Valmir, can ye skin the palma trees and reap some of the fruit?" Valmir chuckled. "Ye would ask that of a Desert Rider?" He pulled the bright blue sash from the waist of his breeches and used it to climb the smooth bark tree. Brader shook his head in awe. Valmir’s skills were alien to those he had mastered. Did that mean he was more or less than the Desert Rider?

CHAPTER 15 Sayings of the People ‘Tis tit for tat. A life for a life and he who rescues ye from the bonds of death must have that life returned.

Disa struggled to sit up. A fair-haired woman moved to the bed and pushed a pillow behind Disa’s back. A Healer’s House. How had she come here? "Well come," the woman said. "Ye have slept over half a tenday. Would ye like some kaf?" "Do ye have chakla?" The woman laughed. "We were warned about your tastes. I believe I can scare some up." "My traveling companion—Andalor, the minstrel… Did he…" Then she remembered his voice telling her

it was not their time to die. "Has he recovered from his wounds?" "He left but a day ago. Healer Manga wanted him to stay, but he rose and walked to the door like he was being led. He left coins for your care. And this." She lifted a mesh vest. Disa closed her eyes. Disappointment wove a web around what she had begun to feel for the minstrel. A friendship that went beyond mere liking. He hadn’t encouraged or even treated her as other than his squire until she had been injured. Now there was a life between them. She owed him one and she couldn’t return it if she wasn’t with him. What would happen if she failed? She slid her legs to the edge of the bed. Beads of perspiration covered her forehead and trickled down her cheeks. Pain, so intense her eyes teared, stabbed her belly. The room grew dark. "Where are ye going?" the Healer’s assistant asked. "I need to get to Quato." "Not today, ye won’t. Your injury was grave. Near a hundred stitches it took to close the wound. We used pounds of healall to leach the poison. Ye’ll need special care before ye can walk." Disa sank back against the pillows. "What can I do to speed the process? I must go, for I am called." Healer Manga entered the room and studied Disa, "‘Tis as ye say and ye must be on the road ere long. Garia will carry ye to the heated pool and work with ye." "How long?" "Mayhaps another tenday." "Do ye know where I can find a horse?" "One was left for ye in the shed behind the house." The Healer walked to the closet. "Some grateful merchants left these gifts for ye and the minstrel." She pulled out a shimmering gown of sheep-silk and a fur-lined antel cape. A box held lace kerchiefs and trinkets of gilt and silver set with semi-precious stones. Disa laughed. "I’ve little use for such luxuries." Healer Manga touched Disa’s hand. "Do not toss these gifts aside. Ye may not need them now, but soon they will be useful." Another prophecy, Disa thought. Mayhaps she should ask if the Healer knew who called her and why. She started to speak but the Healer was gone. Garia handed her a cup of chakla. "Drink this. Then I’ll take ye to the pool." *** Nine of the tendays passed before Disa left the Healer’s House. Instead of one, she had two packs, but only a few coppers. In some town market, she’d sell the merchant’s gifts. That must be what the Healer

meant by her prophecy. Her first night was spent at the farm of one of the men who’d joined the fight against the apes. As he recounted the story of the battle, Disa felt she’d grown taller and Andalor had become the hero of a minstrel’s tale. The second night was spent in a barn where she slept on a bed of straw. As she set out the next day, her body ached and itched. That afternoon, she reached a small town. The sight of the Guardpost nearly kept her moving but the thought of spending another night in a barn or outside on the ground made her head to the inn. She spent her last coins for a bed and two meals. She looked out the window of the attic room into the Guardpost yard. After stowing her pack, she went down to the common room and sat at a table near the door. Several Guards entered and called for a round of brew. Disa finished her food and slipped outside. Though she’d done nothing wrong, there was no sense calling attention to herself or in making explanations about why she traveled dressed as a boy. She headed for the stables. The sound of a lute made her jerk to a stop. A man began to sing and she recognized her erstwhile companion’s deep voice. She followed the sound until she reached the wall around the prisoner’s compound. "Andalor," she called. "Disa?" He pressed his face against the bars of a window just above the wall. "What are ye doing here?" she asked. "I’m a madman." "I’ve thought that myself, but what brought ye to this place?" "My horse floundered and I stopped to requisition a mount from the Guards, the way Reena suggested. They tossed me in here. Can ye get me out?" "I’ll try. Where’s your horse?" "The inn’s stable, I hope." "I’ll check. I’ll need some coins, enough for bribes. My purse is empty." "Catch." Disa picked the pouch from the ground. "How did ye manage to keep your coins? Guards are known for their greed." "I’m a madman, so they keep their distance. If one gets close, I start screaming for Reena. They back off. She has promised to send a double hand to free me, but they’ll be another tenday on the road. She wasn’t pleased about my current situation." Disa rolled her eyes. So he still claimed to be the Queen’s Chosen. Could the Guards be right about his

madness? But she owed him a life. "It may take a day or two to set my plans." "No matter, as long as I am free," Before returning to the inn, Disa entered the stables. She found Andalor’s horse in a rear stall. When she scratched around his horn, he nickered a greeting. "Ye look fit." "This be your horse?" a stable boy asked. Disa nodded. "I’ve been seeking him for near a tenday." The boy eyed her with suspicion. "Was left by the madman. Do ye know him?" She did, but ‘twas better not to admit her friendship with Andalor lest she end in the cell next to his. "Loaned it to a man when we fought the apes. Mayhaps we were all mad." "Ye be one of them. Merchants bragged on ye. Guards might want to give ye a reward." Disa shook her head. "Don’t want notice from them. Was injured and had to spend time in a Healer’s House. Family’s going to worry about me." The boy smiled. "Don’t blame ye for not wanting the Guard’s attention. I’ll keep your secret and if I can help ye, just ask." He pocketed the silver coin she slipped into his hand. "Be more later." Disa headed to her small room in the inn’s attic. The low slanted ceiling brought to mind her space in Fancher’s and how she’d escaped in disguise. That was what she needed to free Andalor. Then the Healer’s prophecy popped into her mind and a plan formed. The next morning, she left the inn riding Andalor’s horse and leading hers. *** Three days later, a carriage with a burly coachman stopped in front of the Guardpost. Disa stepped out. Rings glittered on her fingers and she wore the sheep-silk gown with the fur-lined cloak over her shoulders. She carried a large leather bag. The Guard at the door bowed. "A problem, Milady?" "I must see the Commandant at once." "At your service, Milady." He offered her his arm and once inside, rapped on the door at the end of the hall. "Commandant Denger, ye have a visitor." "Show him in." A man with grizzled hair sat behind the desk. The instant Disa approached, he rose and bowed. "Milady, how can I serve ye?" "My brother…" She raised a lace kerchief and daubed her eyes. "I fear he may be your prisoner. I

heard tales in the inn about a madman. Not that I blame ye. He’s not been right since he fell and hit his head." She sighed long and loud. "I fear he believes he’s the Queen’s Chosen. I’m sorely embarrassed by his behavior." "Aha!" The Commandant straightened. "I knew his tale was false. He said the Queen was sending a double hand from Pala to release him." "Can I take him home? I’ll cover any damage he’s caused." She opened the leather bag and placed several gilt coins on the desk. "Sargan, fetch the madman and his belongings." The Commandant covered her hand and the offering with his. "He merely requisitioned a horse and raised a fuss when I refused. Shall I send a hand to see ye home?" She opened the leather bag again. "I’ll secure him with these." She drew out wrist and ankle cuffs. "He cannot get the key this time, for I have left it at home. No need for an escort. My coachman is strong and we do not have far to go." Four Guards arrived with Andalor. Disa flicked his cheek with her finger. "Ye naughty boy. Ye have worried your sister to tears." She blotted her eyes. "Ye must stop running about the countryside proclaiming ye are the Queen’s Chosen." "I am her Chosen. She will free me." He thrust out his lower lip. "Don’t want to go with ye. Ye are mean to me." The Guards cuffed and shackled him. Then they dragged him to the door and shoved him into the carriage. Disa paused on the carriage step. "My thanks, Commandant. I pray we won’t meet like this again." The Commandant bowed. "Milady, an honor to serve ye. Are ye sure an escort is not needed?" "As ye can see, my coachman is quite strong and can control my brother." "Then, farewell. Ye might take him to the Red Holder. ‘Tis said she can heal all ills." "An excellent suggestion. Again, my thanks." She signaled the coachman to leave. Once they had left town, Andalor began to laugh. "Did ye leave the key at home?" She fished it from the bag. "Since my home is wherever I go, I spoke the truth." She freed his wrists and then his legs. He put an arm around her. "Ye make a lovely lady. I never noticed before." Disa looked up at him. Something stirred inside, except the words of choosing would not be said to him. That thought made her sad. The coachman stopped near a grove of trees. "This is our destination," she said. "Our horses are hidden beyond the trees." She climbed down and paid the coachman. "My thanks." "Ye be most welcome. The coins will feed my family for a lunar."

As Disa headed to where the horses had been left, she pulled off the trinkets and stuffed them in her pouch. By the time they reached the horses, she had stripped off the gown and was again dressed as Andalor’s squire. "Would ye like to eat before we journey on? I’ve meat, cheese, bread and berry pies." "What, no wine?" "Just water. The inn’s wine was sour and the brew flat." She pulled the food from one of the packs and handed him a share. "Tell me true. Are ye the Queen’s Chosen?" "‘Tis the truth." "Why did she send ye away?" He stared at the sky. "I can’t tell ye the reason. Why did ye return to the Guardpost? Ye could have taken my coins and left me to await Reena’s men." "I owe ye a life." He shook his head. "I don’t see why. Ye diverted the ape and that saved me. There is no life owed." "Ye are wrong. There is no life owed or given in the midst of a battle. Ye saved me when ye begged me to cling to life on the way to the Healer’s House." "Then I won’t accept this life." "Ye do not have the power to refuse. Only I can say when ye are paid." He finished his food. "Then we are stuck together. To horse, Milady." She laughed. "On to Quato, Milord."

CHAPTER 16 From The Queen’s Diary She moves like a shadow through the land. She and the bratling she bore. No matter where I look, she has been and gone. She seeks to enlist the Holders—my Holders, those whose Jewels are subservient to mine. With one, she has succeeded. Another wavers. A third cries neutrality and stands apart. They do not know that the Black has touched their Jewels and tainted them enough for the Black to control. They will learn that only the strong will survive.

Reena stood at the window and stared into the palace garden. Alone, she thought. She was Queen and

what had changed. Her mother had relegated her care to her nursemaid. Her father had cared for another. There’d been Macker, teacher and foster father and a tool of the Brotherhood. He was dead and she hadn’t been told so she could take part in the ceremony of passing. And Andalor. Though she spoke to him nearly every night, ‘twas not the same as being in his company. ‘Twas not the same as being held in his arms and being loved. She frowned. He had become just a voice whispering in her mind. There was Gregor with his dark mutterings about her Chosen’s vanished loyalty. His hints that her Chosen had betrayed her with the tavernmaid troubled her. Gregor ordered her to control Andalor through the Jewel, the way she had forced him to leave the Healer’s House. All that had done was bind him more closely to the tavernmaid. She paced to the door. Where is my half-sister? Nay, I cannot call her that. To name her as sister would mean there are bonds between us. My cousin seeks the White and I hope she finds it. Then all this uncertainty will end. A welcome pulse of cold spread from her fingers as she brushed the Black. She resisted the lure of attunement. She would not plunge into that dark abyss and lose control. The Jewel slid from her grasp. She stared at her mother’s portrait. Why did ye exile me and fail to train me to use the Jewel? Why did ye leave this chore to Gregor? Reena swallowed. Though she distrusted the mage, each day and every encounter weakened her ability to resist him. She strode to the desk and read the reports from the various Guardposts. As Andalor had reported, a double hand of Guards had been slaughtered by the fanged apes. The most direct route to Quato had been closed for several tendays but thanks to her Chosen, the road lay open again. The next reports troubled her. Riots had broken out in two towns east of Pala, and to the west, famine grew. The sands of the Great Desert ate more land every lunar. Rumors spread through the land that the mages ruled the Queen. Never, she thought. The Jewel throbbed. Ice traveled along her skin, and this time, she didn’t resist the communion. She raised the Black and gazed into its ebon depths. Rain, a gentle rain to bathe the earth and slake the thirst of the plants and trees. She swirled into blackness. Thunder rumbled. Lightning flashed and rain pounded the palace walls. A frantic pounding broke the trance and left her shaken and bereft. "Go away." she shouted, The door crashed against the wall. A scowling Gregor stood framed in the doorway. "Ye have been playing with the Black. ‘Tis not a toy. Ye must allow me to train ye in the way to use the gem. The Brotherhood demands—" "The Queen holds and rules, not the mages. I am the Queen." His features shifted from scowl to smile. "Indeed ye are, and no man can hold a Jewel. Ye lack training. When your mother came to the throne, she was my student in all things. She welcomed the training sessions. If ye do not learn control, ye will die and another Queen will come. Mayhaps ‘twill be your sister."

She clutched the gem. "She is not my sister but a usurper and a fool. When I need your help, I’ll ask. Until that time, begone." He wheeled. She laughed. Another round in the battle of wills belonged to her. "Wait," she called. "Where are the six Holders? I grow tired waiting for them. Today, I leave to wrest their Jewels from them and choose others to Hold them." "Two arrived last night and two this morning." "Why was I not informed?" "That is what I came to tell ye before I found ye toying with the Jewel’s powers." "And the other two? Have ye located them?" He shrugged. "Ye would benefit from a lesson to aid ye in finding them." "I think not." She hid her smile. He did not know about the Yellow. Her own troop of Guards dispatched to Thanis had reached, not Quato, but a small fishing village, and had sent a man ahead with a report. The Yellow Holder had sent her Jewel to Quato and her cousin was the courier. She laughed. Andalor would find them both. "Have the Holders brought to the throne room within the hour." "Why, when ye have waited a lunar for them? Why face them before ye can control them?" With the Black in her hand, she strode toward him. She could call lightning to strike him…but not yet. "Now, I said." "As ye wish, my Queen." She nodded. He will not tell me what to do. I am the Queen and I do not share the rule. She clapped her hands. Two maids arrived and helped her dress in a gown beaded with jetta and black crystals. Her hair was brushed until it crackled. She lifted a black metal band to her head. Then, escorted by a hand of Guards, she walked to the throne room. The Commandant of the Pala Guard stood beside the door. He bowed. "My Queen, the Holders have arrived." She swept into the room and ignored the cluster of women who stood near the dais. Once she settled on the throne, she raised the Black. "Commandant, make the introductions." He clicked his heels. "Waika, Holder of the Red; Lippa of the Green; Gila, Violet Holder; Phila of the Orange." "Well come," Reena said. A wizened crone stepped forward. "Ye have the look of your mother. Be ye as fool-hearted as she? Ye

be the fourth Queen I’ve seen." "Have ye the strength to aid me?" Waika cackled. "So your mother lied and the White awaits the rightful ruler. Her sister sought the gem but no one tainted by the Black can touch the White. I am content to watch this battle of wills." "There is no place for one who chooses neutrality. Surrender your Jewel." The Red Holder laughed. "Would ye have a novice at your side? I’ve no desire for the death that comes to a Holder when she parts with her Jewel." Her laughter rebounded from the stone walls. "Power is never ceded willingly and experience will out over youth." "My dear, she is absolutely right." Lippa waddled to Waika’s side. Though not as old as the Red Holder, the Green Holder’s hair was streaked with white and her green eyes were a muddy hue. "Why must ye battle with the White? Send the mages to deal with your cousin." "Her death will not mean the end," Phila said. "I’ve studied the matter fully. As long as the White exists, the Black is in danger." "Pish-tish," Lippa said. "My dear Queen, before we begin wrangling, I have some requests. Your mother sapped my power without asking my permission. Do not do the same. The bounty of the earth is mine." "And the famines as well," Reena said. "I will do what I must for Earda." "Then order your servants to provide softer sheets and warmer blankets. My skin is tender and the rooms are cold. Stone, ye know. My house is made of weed. Much warmer. And the palace food—abominable. I’ll gladly lend ye my cook. Her meals are divine and her confections magnificent." Phila laughed. "And with each bite, ye grow an inch wider." "Do not insult me. I know how ye took your Jewel from your mother and laughed when she died. Ye are not a nice young lady." "Ye were not there," Phila said. "Do not be prey to gossip," Reena said. "This is no time for dissension among the Holders." "I do not understand," Gila said. Reena studied the girl who had barely left childhood. "How did ye come by a Jewel?" "‘Twas my mother’s. Just before she died, she placed it around my neck. She spoke of chaos carried in the whispers of the wind. She could not bear to see the end. Until the Guards came, I thought ‘twas but a pretty bauble. What does it do?" "Gives ye power," Phila said. "Allows ye—" Reena held up her hand. "Enough. Phila is right. Ye must learn to use and control the power of your Jewel. I’ll send ye a guide." She smiled. With Gregor busy attending this child’s training, she would be freed from his attention.

Phila winked. "She’s a sweet thing, but do ye think she can bond to the Jewel?" Reena’s lip curled. "As well as ye have." "So tell me of your plans. I would like to know how ye plan to destroy the White. Will ye allow the seeker to activate the Jewel?" "My plans are my own and ye will be informed of what ye need to know when the time is right." Phila stared into the depths of the Orange Jewel. Through the window, a gilt gryfalcon soared. A pair of striped felines slithered through the doorway. The gyrfalcon landed between the felines. The three posed like statues. Phila smiled. "As ye see, I have complete control of my Jewel. Can ye send them away without them destroying each other?" "I have no time to play games. Holders, ye are dismissed until the evening meal. Come, we must allow the servants to set up the tables for a feast of celebration and your public swearing of allegiance." As she watched the women leave, she wished she could take their Jewels and give them to those of her choosing. Women who would appreciate the honor she bestowed on them. When she entered her suite, the twin to Andalor’s com-crystal glowed. She cradled the globe in her hand and studied his face. For an instant, she dreamed of touching him and resting in his arms. Then she recalled why she had sent him from her side. "Where are thee?" "We’ve reached Quato." "We? Oh, yes. The tavernmaid. Send her away. She’s no longer of use." "She owes me a life." "Superstitious nonsense. Where is my cousin?" "I have not found her yet." "Thee must. I’m sure she has reached Quato. If thee had not played hero and then a fool, thee would have joined her party. Check the ships that have arrived from Thanis. Be quick, before the mages locate her."

CHAPTER 17 From The Songs of Earda Oh, the Jewels came tumbling down and down

And the six Holders took them up And looked into the glittering depths. Then from their hearts called one more. Oh, the Jewels came tumbling down. "Send her on her way." Andalor groaned. Reena’s words had troubled his sleep and produced dreams filled with impending danger. Though she had called Disa’s need to return a life to him as a foolish superstition, he didn’t agree. The bond between the tavernmaid and him was different from the one between Chosen and Holder, but it existed. No matter what he said or did, Disa wouldn’t walk away until she had fulfilled the promise. He closed his eyes and brought Reena’s image into his thoughts. She had changed and he wasn’t sure what the change meant. She named me Chosen and sent me away. Does she regret her choice? Didn’t she know there could be no other for either of them? The bonds between a Holder and her Chosen were formed before they met. "Thanks." Disa’s voice carried through the door separating his bedroom from the sitting area of the suite. He heard her knock. "What?" "Our lunch is here." "I have to go out." "After ye eat. I’ll go with ye." "‘Tis best I go alone. There’ll be places unfit for a woman." "But I’m your squire." He shook his head. "I need to go alone." She piled cheese and fatback on a soft round flatbread. "Then eat this as ye go. Was bought with your coins." He smiled a thanks. As he strode from the inn, he ate. At the docks, he inquired about ships from Thanis. "Been but one. There’ve been storms out of season. Ships have been wrecked and lives lost." "The one ship? When did it arrive?" "Ye be wanting no part of that one. Was filled with Guards and a pair of mages." "Guess not." He turned away. What now? His news would anger Reena. She would blame him or choose not to believe his tale. He left the docks and strode along the beach. His thoughts centered on the unexplained events occurring in the land with greater frequency every year. He sat on a rock near the water’s edge and drew his lute from the soft leather case, a gift from Reena during the days they’d laughed and played at the manor house. He plucked the strings and wove notes into a lament, a song without words or hope.

The sun moved toward evening. He dusted his breeches and continued along the shore. A tavern stood on a spit of land that formed a cove. He entered and ordered a brew. A group of tattered sailors turned to stare. He joined them. "What do ye want?" one of them asked. Andalor flipped a silver coin on the table. "A brew around." He put his lute on the table. "Andalor, minstrel, seeker of songs and stories and a bit of information. My lady was supposed to meet me here. She set sail from Thanis but the only ship to land was filled with Guards and mages." One of the men spat. "Me thinks they caused the storm. A mighty blow and not natural. We be the last of the crew of the Stormy Lady. She set sail from Thanis and was storm wrecked. We abandoned ship. One and twenty of us there was. Nine are left." "Did ye have passengers?" "A lass and her brother. Lovely she was, with blue eyes and ebon hair." Andalor strummed a discordant chord. "Was she in one of the boats?" "Nay. We were three boats. Neither of the passengers was there. I fear she dances with the fishes." "No chance she lives?" "A wee one. The ship’s steward, a Desert Rider, stayed to help her with her brother. He’d took sick. Was a small boat. If the larger ones went down, not much chance for them." After buying another round for the remaining crew of the Stormy Lady, Andalor played for a bit. What now? How would Reena react to the news that her cousin had died? He didn’t know her anymore. He left the tavern and continued along the strand heading away from the tavern and Quato. In the distance, he spotted a boat pulled onto the sand. When he reached it, he saw the name on the side. He turned and ran back to the tavern. "Where did ye land? "At the Quato docks." He sat with a thud. Reena’s cousin had arrived. He had to find her. Did she now travel with two men? If so, a Desert Rider should be easy to spot. Before returning to the inn, he stopped in the market and inquired about a woman accompanied by two men, one of them a Desert Rider. His queries were met with shrugs. His shoulders tensed. How long would Reena wait before she sent a mage sniffer? He had no desire to partner with one of that ilk. After First Moon rose, he returned to the inn, ordered tragon and dinner. Disa wasn’t in the suite and no one had seen her since lunch. He played a few songs for the gathering and then went upstairs. There, he took out the crystal and tried Reena with no success. He tried again just after Second Moon rose. "Report," she said.

"Thy cousin has reached Quato." "Have ye joined her party?" "Not yet." "When?" "Soon." He looked away to hide his failure. "My traveling companion has vanished." "Forget her. She has no place in the matter. Thee must find my cousin. I must know where she goes. Do not report her presence to the Guards, for I fear the mages have infiltrated them." "She may have a second companion." "No matter. She is the important one." He touched the crystal and imagined her soft skin. "I would rather be with thee." "Oh, Andalor, ‘tis not to be." "Are thee all right? Thee look tired." Her eyes narrowed. "‘Tis not thy concern. If thee do not find my cousin, ‘twill mean my death."

CHAPTER 18 Sayings of the People Friends expect naught from ye in return for what they give ye.

Disa lingered in the bustling market. She’d sold the sheep-silk gown, the cloak and the trinkets. The pouch she’d tucked inside her shirt was weighty and she no longer had to depend on the minstrel for her keep. Not that she planned to leave him. She still owed him a life. She bought a chunk of chakla-flavored toffee and savored the sweet. "Come." She frowned. No call had come while she’d been on the road. Why here and why now? She thought about ignoring the silent command, but found herself striding away from the center of the market. A pair of mages engaged in earnest conversation caused her to step into the shadows beneath a canopy.

"I say she drowned in the ship wreck." The other shook his head. "The master says she has arrived and we must find her before the Queen’s minion does." They moved away. The tension in her body eased. Who did they mean? If she knew, she would warn the woman that the mages were on the hunt. "Come." She left her hiding place and hurried past booths selling everything imaginable and some things she couldn’t name. Her path took her to the animal sellers’ compound situated near the city walls. Smells assaulted her. The cacophony of animal noises made her want to cover her ears. At the horse sellers, she stopped and looked at a group of shaggy beasts. They resembled horses but they lacked a horn and their coats were long and matted. One of the beasts came to the fence. Its coat was brown with splashes of rust and white. She touched the rough fur. "Be ye interested?" the seller said. "They’re not much for beauty but they’re sturdy beasts." "What are they?" she asked. "I’ve never seen the like." "Hill ponies from Thanis. Don’t get many here. Brought in by a group of mages." Disa noticed the sores beneath the brown and white coats. "They’ve been mistreated." "That they were, but not by me. Mages have no care for their beasts." Disa backed away. She refused to be tricked into speaking against the mages. "Didn’t mean anything," the man said. "Just hate to see good beasts ruined. Ye could have the lot of them cheap. Hill ponies are known for their stamina." Disa grinned. "Do I look like I can afford them?" She strolled away. At another stall, she saw a broad-shouldered man with hair the color of hers, the first such coloring she’d seen in her travels. Curiosity pulled her toward him for a closer look. "I need several mounts and this one won’t do." he turned and stared at Disa. His eyes were amber, too. "Who are ye?" he asked. She braced to flee. "A tavernmaid. Mayhaps we are distant kin. Are ye of Healer stock?" He shrugged. "I know little about my parents lines." He turned back to the seller. "I need several mounts with stamina." "There are hill ponies over there." Disa pointed to the fenced yard she’d just left. "I doubt I can afford them," the young man said. "They’ve been ill-treated. I might buy one but I don’t know much about riding beasts."

He frowned. "What do ye want with a riding beast?" "I am called." He stared, then nodded. "Show me these ponies and mayhaps I know where ye can find what ye seek." He touched her hand and a spark leapt between them. "Sorry." "No fault." Words formed in her thoughts. How could she say them when she owed the minstrel a life? "I am Disa." "Brader. Show me the ponies." She watched as he examined the shaggy beasts and listened to him bargain with the seller. A short time later, the bargain was struck. "My thanks," Brader said. "Would ye help me take them to where I’m staying?" She nodded. "I’ve nowhere else to be." She grabbed three of the leading ropes and followed him. A sense of rightness settled over her. He was a stranger and yet she knew him. After they left the city gates, Brader helped her mount the pony that had chosen her. He mounted another. About a kil from town, they came to a walled estate. Brader passed the large front gate and opened one hidden by a patch of briars. Another young man with hair bleached to silver and skin burned by the sun stepped from the stable. "The beasts I expected, but who is your friend?" Brader slid from the saddle. "‘Tis my concern, not yours." "Is it wise to bring a stranger here?" the man asked. "I believe it is." Brader turned to Disa. "Come with me. There is someone you need to meet." "I do not think—" the silver-haired man said. "I said ‘tis not your concern." The undercurrents between them made Disa uneasy. "I’ll leave. I won’t tell anyone ye are here." Brader shook his head. "Come, you are called and what ye seek is here." Her eyes widened. The other man grabbed the lead ropes from her hands. "Sorry. I’m Valmir." She frowned and then realized he’d offered his name. "Disa." She followed Brader into the kitchen of the villa. Two women sat at the table packing medicinals. They looked up. A wave of dizziness swept over Disa. She grabbed the back of a chair. One of the women left her seat. "Ye are well come. I have a gift for ye."

"A gift?" A dozen voices shouted in her head and made a sound like a swarm of hummers. The other woman reached her side and slid her arm around Disa’s waist. "Sister… Come with us." The voice was like and unlike the one she’d heard in her head. "I need…" "Come with us and ye will have all ye need." The other woman took her arm and led her into a room where several cots stood. She turned. "Brader, we will be awhile." "I’ll see to the ponies. There are six and they’ve been ill-used." He touched Disa’s shoulder. "Do not fear. All will be well." Warmth and comfort flowed from his touch. Once again, she wanted to name him—What? "I am Liara." The woman’s blue eyes showed kindness. "Be at ease." The other woman led her to one of the cots and opened the shutters to allow the rays of the setting sun into the room. "I am Stilenta and from this day, I am your sister." Liara placed a silk-wrapped packet in Disa’s hand. She smiled. "Aye." She turned to Stilenta. "Do ye know what to do?" Stilenta nodded. "My mother drilled me in the steps of the ritual I must follow when the time comes for me to choose a successor. The rite is the same for all." Disa looked from one to the other. "What do ye mean? I don’t understand." "Ye will hold the Yellow," Stilenta said. "The Yellow? Ye mean a Jewel? How? I am but a tavernmaid from Pala." Liara smiled. "Who is now in Quato. Was it happenstance that ye came here and that ye met Brader?" "I am called." Disa opened the ties of the packet. She freed the gem and stared into its depths. Alive. Yellow bright and yellow pale. An eagerness to be part of the light made her hands tremble. Stilenta knelt beside the cot. "‘Twill be best if ye lay back, for the energies of the Jewel will overwhelm ye. Ye must to the Jewel be bonded and it to ye. For ‘tis yours and ye are the Jewel’s. Place the gem to your heart." Heat and cold combined to spread along her skin in waves. For the first time in her life, she felt complete and as though a missing piece of herself had been found. "Now, place the Jewel to your forehead. Be sealed to your Jewel forever." The voice sounded distant. Disa’s arms felt heavy but her heart was light. A golden glow surrounded her. She saw faces of smiling women. One resembled Brader. "Come," they called. "Ye are well come to our sisterhood."

She plunged into the light and felt herself joined to the sun and the sister moons. Yellow tinkled as a merry melody. Yellow tasted sweet and tart. The scent and touch of Yellow flowed through her body. She soared until she brushed the burning sun and embraced the icy moons. When she looked down, Earda glowed like a many-hued gem. "Rest now," Stilenta said. "Once ye have rested, your training will begin." *** Disa rose and walked to the kitchen. How many days had passed since her arrival? She had learned so much and she had reveled in the friendship of the others. Liara and Stilenta stood at the table, stowing dried foods into packs. Disa sat on the bench. "What can I do?" Liara turned. "We have been warned and must make haste to leave. ‘Tis said in the market there are those who look for us…and for ye." "Andalor," Disa said. "How could I have forgotten him? I owe him a life." "One ye must pay?" Disa nodded. "I’ll go to him." Brader lifted a pack from the floor. His scowl surprised Disa. "He saved my life. I would have died without his assistance," she insisted. Liara touched Disa’s hand. "Do ye trust him?" Disa frowned. She wasn’t sure trust had a place in the bond she shared with the minstrel. "I don’t know. He swears he’s the Queen’s consort, but there is the life I must return." "Then ye must seek him, but do not tell him what you hold for if he is indeed the Queen’s consort, he will want ye to go to her." Disa nodded. "Ye are right." "What if he betrays us to the Guards or the mages?" Brader asked. "We will leave by the secret gate," Stilenta said. "I will show ye and Valmir where to wait for me. Liara can go with ye." Brader shook his head. "I’ll stay. Show me this gate. If the minstrel betrays Disa, she will need a fighter at her side." Liara nodded. "He’s right. Come. Disa, take every caution for I will need ye before this is done." Disa embraced Liara. "Ye speak true. Fare well until we meet again. How will I find ye if what we fear comes to pass?" "I will be with ye," Brader said. "I know not the route Stilenta speaks of but I know the route we must

take to reach our final destination." Disa left the estate and rode a hill pony into the town. As she hurried through the market, she heard rumors about a movement of Guards into the town. Whispers about the return of the Blue Holder abounded. Tales of the mage’s search for the Queen’s cousin were on many lips. What if Andalor wasn’t at the inn? Should she wait for him? She spotted the minstrel in the inn’s courtyard. His horse was saddled and the one she’d ridden bore a number of packs. "Andalor, I’m glad I found ye." "Where have ye been?" "With friends." "I thought ye knew no one here." "These are newly met friends." She dismounted. "One of them helped cure my limp. They’re leaving Quato and I want to go with them. But there is the life." "Aye, there is that. I have no desire to remain here. The town crawls with Guards and mages. Where are your friends?" "In a villa outside town." "Is one of them a Desert Rider?" "Aye." "Then I will speak to them." She wondered what the expression on his face meant. She didn’t ask, but mounted and led the way out of town.

CHAPTER 19 From The Armsmen’s Guide When ye spend your time searching the shadows, ye can miss the enemy in front of ye.

Brader crossed the courtyard to Stilenta’s side. "Ye should go. I will stay and we will meet ye." She shook her head. "My Jewel will warn me if the mages are sniffing." "Then let me go and look for Disa."

"She will come with danger on her heels." "Do ye mean the minstrel?" "Mayhaps, but I think not. All she has said of him makes me feel he hates the mages. While there is a life between them, she will not be free." Brader shook his head. "I do not understand that kind of bond. Armsmen would never be able to fight if such a thing held them. Mayhaps we should forget about Disa." "Liara has need of her and what she bears." Brader held up his hand. "Someone comes at a gallop." He opened the side gate. Disa rode through. A man with copper-colored hair followed. "Brader, Stilenta, this is Andalor. He will come with us, but we must hurry. There are Guards and mages on the way." Stilenta mounted her pony and started toward the grove of oka trees. "Come. Brader, take the lead. I will be in the rear." Brader led them along a path that twisted through the grove. He heard pounding on the massive front gates and then a crash. The Guards must have broken down the gate, he thought. He freed his sword and noticed the minstrel did the same. He reached the hidden passage, dismounted and sent his pony through. Disa dismounted, as did Andalor. Stilenta reached them. "Go," she said. "Lead the horses through. Minstrel, go with her. Once ye are through, Brader and I will follow." "Mayhaps I should stand and lend my sword," Andalor said. "Swords will not be needed. Now go."

CHAPTER 20 From The Lore of the Jewels In the days of yore, the Queen’s oldest daughter found the secret place of the Brotherhood. Though she was a woman, they admitted her to their stronghold. The Master Mage believed he could use her to gain control of the Jewels. But she was not one to trust anyone. Still, she worked with the mages.

Liara and Valmir returned from taking the ponies to the hidden meadow beyond the cave entrance. "Do ye think they will be all right?" he asked. "I believe Stilenta knows some secret that will protect us." Just then, Brader’s pony emerged. Valmir caught the reins. Before he could move away, Disa appeared with her pony and Stilenta’s. A man leading two horses followed. "Where are Stilenta and Brader?" Liara asked. "They come," Disa said. Valmir grabbed the reins from Disa. "Come, we must take the beasts to the meadow." Liara remained near the mouth of the cave. The man whose copper-hued hair glinted in the sunlight stared at her and she wondered why. He bowed. "Andalor, minstrel, at your service." "And the Queen’s Chosen?" she asked. He grinned. "Some will not believe that tale." "Mayhaps I do." Stilenta and Brader arrived on the run. "Help me," Stilenta cried. She grabbed a chain that was embedded in the rocks. Brader and the minstrel added their weight to hers. Liara heard shouts. "This way." A loud crash was followed by a cloud of dust. Brader jumped back and knocked Andalor and Stilenta to the ground. Liara ran to them. "Are ye all right?" She helped the Blue Holder to her feet. "We are safe for now. They must travel many kils before they can scale the cliffs, and by then we should be well on our way." Stilenta took Liara’s arm. Brader and Andalor followed. "Do ye think the minstrel brought them?" Liara asked in a soft voice. Stilenta shook her head. "I believe he looks on the mages with distaste. About the Guards, I don’t know." They reached the others and mounted. As they rode across the meadow, Brader caught up with Liara. "Why have ye allowed yet another potential betrayer to join the party?" "There is but one who might betray us. I have no doubts about Valmir’s loyalty. He has done all he can

to help us." "But the mages and the Guards learned where we were. Someone must have told them." "How could Valmir be responsible? He never left the villa the way ye and Stilenta did." "How would I know? I say that tonight, ye and I steal away." She shook her head. "I’ll need Stilenta and Disa’s help when I find the White. ‘Tis not a battle I can fight alone. Brader, ye must put your suspicions aside." "I’ll say no more." He spurred his pony. What am I to do with him? Since the night in the inn, he has trusted no one. Valmir joined her. "Where are we headed?" "To the Great Desert." He frowned. "Though we head in the right direction, this seems a longer route. There is a trade road from Quato." "Except that route would take us into Pala and that is the last place I would go." She smiled. "Tell me about the desert." His stories about freedoms she’d never known enthralled her. Her life had seen her sequestered behind the walls of the High Sanctuary, except for the times she had escaped into the mountain pastures. "About this minstrel. I fear we will regret his presence." "Brader feels the same." "About me as well. I don’t care where we go. My pleasure is to be in your company." And mine in yours, Liara thought. But now was not the time for a declaration. ‘Twould only upset Brader and drive another wedge in the unity they needed in the coming days. How could she dispel the distrust that rode as an uninvited member of the party?

CHAPTER 21 From The Armsmen’s Guide When lives are at stake from acts of nature or attacks from beasts, a truce may be formed with an enemy.

Brader rode in the rear position and took care to cover their trail. Though there were no signs that anyone followed, he felt caution was needed. As the road rose toward Stone Mountain, the forest changed from hardwoods to a mix with conifers. Spring had come to the lowlands, but here the air retained the smell of winter. Disa rode beside him. He looked at her and smiled. "I’m glad ye wear my mother’s Jewel. She would have liked ye." "I don’t understand how the Yellow came to me." He shrugged. "She called and ye came." "Why didn’t your mother live in Pala?" "The old Queen sought to taint her Jewel, so my mother fled. ‘Twas before Liara’s mother became Queen and her evil sister stole the throne from her." "I thought Liara was your sister?" "She came to us when I was too small to know how Mother fostered her." "She is beautiful." He wished to tell Disa that in his sight, she outshone Liara. The words refused to emerge. "What do ye think of Valmir?" "I don’t know him." Stilenta’s pony had stopped to browse. "Do not fear Valmir. Desert Riders have ever been loyal to the White." "We have only his word he is one." "He has the look and the manners. Why are ye so wary?" "I cannot let Liara walk into danger. My mother sent me as her protector. I failed her once. Perhaps Valmir belongs to the Brotherhood?" Stilenta shook her head. "There has never been a Desert Rider among the mages. Don’t battle with shadows. Soon we will face real enemies." Brader nudged his pony and rode ahead. "I’ll find a spot for tonight’s camp." *** As Disa prepared the evening meal, Brader lounged beside the fire. Being in her company made him feel at ease. When Valmir strode from the forest with a pair of coneys, Brader’s shoulders tensed. "Good," Disa said. "These will make a welcome addition to dinner."

"What if they’re poisoned?" Brader asked. "I won’t eat them." Valmir faced him. "What have ye against me? If I hadn’t dragged ye from the ship, ye would be riding with the fishes." "I say ye spy for the mages." Valmir straightened. "I would never serve those abominations. No Desert Rider has a use for the black robes. To ye, I offer challenge as my people do. No weapons and we fight until one of us can no longer stand." Brader rose. Though Valmir was a shade taller, he was of slighter build. Brader felt confident that his own knowledge of fisticuffs and wrestling would bring him a win. "If ye lose, ye will leave." "And if ye lose, we will cry truce." Brader crouched and waited for Valmir to move. The arrogant expression on the Desert Rider’s face triggered Brader’s anger. He charged. Valmir stepped aside and grabbed Brader’s arm. When the Desert Rider spun, Brader’s feet left the ground. He landed with a thud. With a shake of his head, he rose and attacked again. Just as fast as the first time, he was upended. *** "Are ye happy?" Brader groaned and rubbed his head. "What happened?" "Ye would fight and ye lost," Liara said. "Ye have been unconscious, except for a short time, since last evening. We have lost a day’s travel to your stubborn foolishness." "He issued the challenge." "Hah! I do not understand ye. Why must ye see a traitor riding every horse and pony? Since ye have lost the fight, ye must accept that he is not one who will betray us. Andalor is the one, but he is only allowed to let the Queen know what I wish her to know." Brader clenched his hands. "So ye knew this and did not tell me. Let us find a way to send the minstrel on his way." "Nay. Though I don’t know why, I know he must be with us and I know the Queen must know where we head. Make your peace with Valmir or ye will be the one who leaves." For the first time since his mother’s announcement, he saw Liara as Queen. "I won’t fail ye again." She walked away and spoke to Valmir. Though Brader couldn’t hear her words, her stance showed her anger. The Desert Rider left his place by the fire and crouched beside Brader. "I did not mean to cause ye injury." "Where did ye learn that style of fighting?" "‘Tis the way of my people."

"And a secret to be kept?" Valmir grinned. "I can teach ye." *** Two days later, Brader and Valmir rode together. Liara was at Andalor’s side. Her laughter drifted toward them. Valmir scowled. "Why does she seem to favor him?" Brader shrugged. "Who can understand what a woman does?" "Not me. I dislike the way she seeks his company." "Agreed. Since we fought, she ignores me as well. ‘Tis a puzzle. Tonight before ye wake them to stand watch, rouse me. When he leaves camp, I’ll follow and see by what means he speaks to the Queen." "Ye will be tired tomorrow. I’ll stay up." "And if Liara learns what we plan, she’ll be angry. It’s better if she’s angry with me and not ye." Valmir nodded. "Ye are right. Have ye noticed how little small game we’ve seen?" "Aye. Nor have I seen antel tracks." "‘Tis puzzling. I wonder what hunts these hills…" *** That night, Brader prowled the campsite. He heard a distant howl that held an eerie tone. He dumped an armload of deadfall near the fire. "Why are ye on edge?" Disa asked. "Do ye sense danger?" He shook his head. "It’s too quiet, except for that distant howl." She nodded. "‘Twas like this just before the fanged apes attacked." "Are the cries the same?" She shook her head. "The apes sounded like a person in pain." He rose and checked the mounts. Their calmness eased his uneasiness. Though he knew little about horses, he knew hill ponies as wary beasts. When he returned to camp, it was time to wake Stilenta and Valmir. He paused beside the Desert Rider. "Remember our plan." When Valmir touched his shoulder, Brader opened his eyes. He’d chosen his sleeping spot at the edge of camp so he could follow the minstrel without alerting Liara. Liara and Andalor spoke quietly. About what, Brader wondered. Then the minstrel walked the perimeter of the camp and returned to the fire.

A short time later, Andalor rose again. This time, he moved into the woods. Brader slipped from his blankets and followed. "Reena, I am here." Intent on seeing what the minstrel held, Brader peered through a break in the brush. Though moonlight filtered through the canopy, all Brader could see was a dark object in Andalor’s hand. "Over Stone Mountain… Impossible… I am but one and they are five… I see. When do ye leave? I await the day when we are together… Until tomorrow, unless I do not find a chance to report." Andalor shoved the object in his shirt. When he stopped to gather deadfall, Brader slipped back to camp and burrowed beneath his blankets. *** The next day, Brader sent Disa and Andalor to scout ahead. As soon as they were out of voice range, he turned to the others. "Last night, I heard Andalor report our route to the Queen. He held something dark in his hand." "A com-crystal." Stilenta frowned. "I do not believe he’s allied to the mages, but that crystal is something they created in an attempt to copy the Jewels." "Do the mages control them?" Valmir asked. "I don’t know. If he speaks to the Queen, he must be her agent. How much influence the mages have over her, we don’t know. Mayhaps he doesn’t know either. From all I’ve heard, he has no love for the black robes." "We must destroy this crystal," Brader said. Liara shook her head. "I want the Queen to know where we go." "Why?" Valmir asked. She held up the Lore of the Jewels. "I’ve read here that there must be a confrontation between the Black and the White. I would have it take place near the Screaming Hills when I come into my power." "How can ye believe ye will win when I fear she will capture ye before then?" Brader asked. Liara smiled. "My mother wrote a note in the book. She found the White but could not hold it since she’d been tainted by the Black." "Why not go to the Queen in Pala?" Valmir asked. "The darkness caused by the decans of rule by the Black would drain my power." "But we could gather an army," Brader said. "People are ripe for rebellion." Stilenta shook her head. "If there is a battle between the Jewels, many will die. ‘Twill not be a time of

swords and spears but one of magic and illusion." Brader rolled his eyes and rode away from them. As he passed Andalor and Disa, he waved. "I’ll do the scouting now. I want to seek tracks of the beasts we heard last night." Toward evening, he found a stand of willah trees near a spring that bubbled from the rocks into an eroded stone basin before running down the hill. There was a meadow for the mounts to graze. He laid a fire circle and collected deadfall. He yawned. Between his short night and the physical exertion, he was exhausted. When the others arrived, Disa started a stew from dried meat and vegetables. When the sun had set, the others settled in their bedrolls. Disa brewed chakla and offered him a mug. "Ye are tired. Why not nap? We have the easy part of the watch." "‘Twould not be right to let ye watch alone." He stared at the fire, dozed and jerked awake. A pony squealed. He leapt to his feet and ran toward the meadow. He could see a tawny form attacking one of the ponies. "Alarm," he called. "Beasts among the mounts." He drew his sword and slashed the fanged creature that clung to the back of one of the ponies. "Dire wolves," Andalor shouted. "Beware. The poison in their fangs can eat away flesh." Valmir used his spear against another of the beasts. An arrow whizzed by and caught one of the dire wolves as it sprang toward the Desert Rider. Liara, Brader thought. Where are Disa and Stilenta? Have any of the beasts reached the camp? He saw the Blue Holder, torch in hand, leading a pair of ponies toward camp. Brader cut down the beast that leapt toward her. Then one of the wolves howled and fell. Brader didn’t think any of Liara’s arrows could reach that far. Another of the creatures howled and fell. Brader turned. Disa held her Jewel so that light from the moons glittered from the facets. A beam flashed from the Yellow. Each beast the ray touched howled and collapsed. The dire wolves turned and fled the meadow. As quickly as they had appeared, they vanished. Like a punctured wineskin, Disa collapsed. Brader carried her to the fire. Her skin felt as cold as the light from the moons. Stilenta treated one of the ponies. "What happened? Was she bitten?" "She used her Jewel against the beasts. She is cold and barely breathes." "Wrap her in blankets and bring her to the fire. I’ll prepare a restorative, but she is spent and may need days to regain her strength. We’ll need more wood for the fire." Brader wiped his forehead with his arm. He knelt beside Disa and grasped her hands. As he silently willed his strength to her, her skin seemed to warm.

Liara touched his shoulder. "Her color improves." Stilenta handed Liara a mug. "See if she can swallow." "I did not know Jewels could be used for harm unless they were tied to the Black," Liara said. "Could the Yellow be tainted?" "‘Twas used to protect," Brader said. "Without her aid, we would not have left here alive." He headed to the grove of trees. His mother had held the Yellow. Had she ever used the power in the way Disa had?

CHAPTER 22 Sayings of the People If ye owe a life, only ye know when the bond has been broken and the life restored.

Cold. Never before had she felt as though ice encased her, invaded her bones and flowed with her life’s blood to every part of her being. She wanted to cry but ice coated her tongue and throat. She felt a touch of warmth from large callused hands. Brader. I would have thee as my Chosen. Had the words been said or just thought? She prayed she hadn’t uttered them. Until she returned a life to Andalor, she would form no bond with another. "Reena… I can’t… Dire wolves attacked… No… The Yellow has been passed to a successor… Disa… Aye, I have no doubts. She drew on the power of the moons and killed more than half the pack… I’ll try but I don’t think she will leave them. Until tomorrow." Disa struggled to speak. "Alarm. Alarm." "Hush," a woman whispered. "The dire wolves are gone. Ye must rest for ye spent yourself greatly." "Not beasts." She struggled to open her eyes. She moved her hand beneath the blanket until she touched the Yellow. Warmth flowed through her. When she opened her eyes, sunlight filtered through the branches of a willah tree. Liara sat beside her. Disa cleared her throat. "How long?" "Half a tenday." "So long?" "How do ye feel?" "Near boneless. Why?" "Stilenta said you worked through your Jewel."

Memories flooded back. "Andalor knows what I am. He has told the Queen. I have endangered your quest." Liara shook her head. "I don’t know when he told her. He has been ever in our sight." Liara stroked Disa’s arm. "No matter. The Queen will have the truth ere long." Disa studied Liara. "Except that I owe Andalor a life. If he leaves ye, I will have to follow." "What of your actions during the attack? Don’t they count?" "The bond remains. Mayhaps I will never be free. Now that he knows I hold the Yellow, he will think I failed to act when the apes attacked." "But you had not the Yellow then. Surely he knows that?" Liara reached for a pot that steamed on the fire. "I must see to the ponies. Two were badly scored." A short time later, Andalor dropped an armload of wood near the fire. He hunkered down beside Disa. "Why didn’t ye tell me who ye were?" "I didn’t know until after we reached Quato." "Ye could have told me when ye came to find me. Ye have made your journey long and hard." "What journey?" "Ye must go to the Queen. She has need of ye." She shook her head. "Never. The Black taints everyone and everything it touches. Even now, the land lies heavy beneath its rule." He grasped her arm. "If ye had laid the blame on the Brotherhood, I would agree. Ye do not know Reena. I do. She wants only good for the land and the people." She closed her eyes. "She has bespelled ye. Ye know naught about the evil of the Black. Ye do not know how it corrupts. I will never go to her." He rose. "I’ll not listen to your talk. She knows of ye and if ye refuse to join her, your Jewel will be given to another." "She doesn’t have the power to take it." "Ye will see." Disa sighed. He was a good man, but so wrong. She could tell him tales of the Queen that she’d heard in Pala and of how the Brotherhood worked with the Queen, but he would not hear. The eyes of love had blinded him. Liara came to Disa’s side. "Have ye made your peace with the minstrel?" Disa shrugged. "There is none so blind as a man tied with the cords of love. He wanted me to leave ye and go to the Queen. His will is completely hers. What if he tries to take me by force?"

"He wouldn’t succeed, for none of us will allow that to happen." "What if the Queen tries to control my Jewel?" Stilenta joined them. "Rest your fears. Unless ye swear to her, I cannot see how she can touch your Jewel." Disa prayed Stilenta was right. She accepted a bowl of stew from the Blue Holder. After tasting, she smiled. "‘Tis passable but I will take back the cook’s duty." "With my blessing," Stilenta said. "I’m better with medicinal brews and poultices." "Me as well," Liara said. "I’ve treated men and now beasts. How glad I am none of us was injured by the dire wolves." "The ponies. Were any killed?" Disa asked. "One, and Andalor’s pack horse." *** By the end of the tenday, they reached the pass over Stone Mountain. Dark clouds filled the sky and made the sun appear as a pale circle. Brader chose to camp inside the pass where tumbled rocks shielded them from the worst of the wind. Disa rubbed her arms and stamped her feet. She huddled near the small fire. Brader strode to the end of the pass. When he returned, he took the mug of kaf she handed him. "There’s a problem," he said. "The trail down the mountain has been obliterated by rock slides." Andalor smiled. "So we must retrace our steps." "How bad?" Liara asked. "Hard to tell. Most of the trees are gone so there’ll be little wood for fires." "And the caves?" Liara asked. "Appear to be untouched." Andalor opened a skin of tragon and added some to his mug before passing it to Stilenta. "Have ye been this way before?" Liara shook her head. "The details are from a map." "Do ye have a copy?" "In my head." "And mine." Brader prodded the ponies until they lay on their sides and formed another barrier against

the wind. "When morning comes, we will decide if we can make the trip down." He looked at Andalor. "I’m not sure your horse will survive." "I won’t abandon him. He’s served me well." Valmir looked up. "Mayhaps we should divide the supplies; in case one of the beasts is lost, we will still have food and firewood." "And medicinals," Stilenta reached for that pack and began to distribute the packets. Disa was dismayed to see how their store of dried foods had dwindled. The absence of game had forced them to use more than they had planned. "The chakla’s mine." Brader laughed. Andalor rolled his eyes. "Someday, I’ll write a song about the tavernmaid who scorned the offerings of the tavern for chakla, sweet chakla." "I can’t wait to hear it." She wished this moment would last. For a short time, Andalor had become one with them. Then his expression changed and he again became the man who’d tried to force her to leave her friends and join the Queen. *** Dark clouds again covered the sky. Disa stared down the steep rubble-strewn slope. There was room for but one pony to move through the narrow way that had once been a wide opening. She glanced upward and saw huge boulders on the slopes near the peak of Stone Mountain. "What happened?" she asked. "Rockslides," Liara said. "Caused by melting snow followed by freezing rain. Makes the rocks shift." "Will we be safe?" Disa asked. Brader cupped her shoulder with his hand. Amazing, she thought. She felt the warmth through the many layers of clothes she wore. ‘Twas as warm as flesh to flesh. "Ye must move with care. Liara will go first. If the caves are there and useable, she’ll wave her kerchief. Then Valmir will follow. There is another pass but it’s kils from here and close to where I think the dire wolves are laired." Disa shuddered. She had no wish to face those beasts again. Liara led the pony through the opening and started down the rock-strewn slope. Disa tried to memorize her friend’s route. Right around the ebon boulder. Then left to go between the pair of jagged rocks. After what seemed like forever, Liara waved a red kerchief. "Valmir," Brader said. The Desert Rider followed the path Liara had taken. Disa’s heart pounded. She would be next. Did she have the courage to follow when she knew the destination was a cave?

When she received Brader’s nod, she tugged on the pony’s reins. A dislodged stone rolled ahead of her and gathered speed. She nearly froze but the pony tapped her back with his nose. Finally, she reached the ledge where Liara stood. Her panic must have shown. Liara smiled. "Well done. ‘Tis a double cave. We’ll camp in the right and the mounts will be in the left. Valmir has started a fire. Ye might want to start a kaf and ryn porridge." Disa took two pans from her pony’s pack and filled them with snow. She strode into the cave where a fire provided the only light. After placing the pans on the stones jutting over the flames, she returned to the ledge. "Will we all fit?" she asked. "We’ll be cozy but we’ll need the warmth." Liara pointed to the sky. "Those clouds promise snow or freezing rain." Though Disa would prefer to spread her blanket on the ledge to sleep beneath the open sky, she knew that would be a foolish move. As she stared at the slope, a chill mixture of rain and snow began. Disa clenched her hands. Would Brader and Andalor be all right? She shivered. "Go in by the fire," Liara said. "‘Tis not the cold." She wrapped her arms across her chest. Mayhaps this day would see her return the life to Andalor. Stilenta arrived. "‘Tis a bit slick. Andalor’s horse has balked. Brader will bring him." Disa stared toward the peak. A bolt of lightning struck the rocks above the pass and sent a boulder toward the figures on the slope. Then Andalor’s horse rolled past, followed by one of the ponies. "Brader," Disa cried. Liara grasped her arm. "They will be fine. Brader has experience with rock slides." The thunderous noise of the falling debris stilled. Disa saw Brader supporting Andalor. The two men reached the ledge. "Something’s not right," Brader said. "This isn’t the kind of storm that draws lightning." Andalor sank to his knees. "I owe ye a life." Brader shook his head. "Of what use would a life be to an armsman? We do not hold to that code. Keep your life and give it elsewhere." Disa turned and yelled. A bolt of lightning struck the mountain. This time, a great wave of rocks and snow rolled down the slope. She shoved Brader into the cave. He grabbed Andalor’s arm. The noise obliterated their voices. When Disa turned, she saw the cave opening was blocked. She pushed against the barrier with her hands, but the mass was solid. "We will die," she cried. "I can’t breathe." Tears streamed down her face. Brader put his arms around her. "Ye will be all right. We will get out in the morning."

"I know it’s foolish to fear closed spaces but when I was a child, Fancher used to lock me in a chest as a punishment." Brader stroked her cheek. "‘Tis all right to have fears. I nearly drowned and I still fear water that’s deeper than my chest." "For me, ‘tis being alone," Stilenta said. "Crowds for me," Valmir said. "And sea storms." "For me, ‘tis the mages." Andalor opened his lute case. "Since they took my brother, I have chills when I see one. I fear they will know…" Stilenta raised the Blue and focused it on the mass of snow, rock and ice. Slowly, a hole appeared and cold air touched Disa’s face. She looked at her friend. "My thanks." Liara stood at the entrance to the second cave. "Come, there is ryn porridge with fruit and kaf. We must eat and then sleep. Tomorrow will be soon enough to dig ourselves out." Though Disa wished for chakla, she accepted a mug of kaf. As she sipped, she wondered how long it would be before they could replenish their supplies. How much had been lost on the horse and pony? After eating, she curled into her blankets and fell into a light sleep. *** "Reena, ‘tis Andalor. I travel with the Blue…" "Nay," Disa screamed. "Ye will not betray us." She hit his hand. A dark object fell on the cave floor and she crushed it with her foot. Andalor screamed and collapsed.

CHAPTER 23 From the Queen’s Diary I do not know how she has evaded the mages and the Guards. Someone has betrayed me. Gregor, he who wants to be my Chosen, has sworn neither my sister nor our Chosen would escape. But they have. Until she is dead, my power is blunted for I cannot draw on my Chosen’s strength to aid my use of the Black. Gregor tries to say I have no Chosen, but the bonds are there. I know they are.

A burst of pain slashed Reena’s head. She screamed and pressed her hands against her ears. Miniature streaks of lightning flashed before her eyes. She fell to her knees. "Andalor, what have thee done?"

For how long she rocked, she didn’t know, but gradually the pain eased. Tears ran down her cheeks. She staggered to the body on the floor near the door. The man in the mage’s robes bore Andalor’s face. "Chosen!" A moment later, she knew the man was not Andalor, but one who looked enough like him to be a brother. Gregor strode into the room. "Your spy has failed. The con-crystal has shattered and destroyed one of my most talented mages." "What has happened to Andalor?" She averted her gaze from the dead mage. "With luck, he fared the same as his brother." She straightened. "What do ye mean?" "I have lost a valuable tool because ye selected the wrong man as your Chosen. I should have been the one. With my power added to yours, we would have been invincible. Once the minstrel is dead, I will claim my place at your side." She sucked in a breath. "He has not died. The bonds are strong." "But for how long?" He grasped her shoulders. "Ye must repudiate your vows." "I cannot." The mage smiled and the smile brought a chill that slid along her spine. He released his hold. "Do not touch me again." She swallowed. Even if Andalor was dead, she would never name this man as Chosen. "My Queen, ‘twould be best if ye and I were a pair. The Black was created by the mages for this purpose. I do not understand how the minstrel has survived thrice." She touched the Jewel. "What do ye mean?" "Ye cannot believe the fanged apes and the dire wolves acted on their own. But he will not escape this time, for he and his companions are trapped in a cave with no way out." She raised the Jewel. He does not know about the Blue Holder and that will remain my secret. "He lives and continues to do so. Ye will not attempt to harm him again. He is mine. The Black is mine. The rule is mine." She glared. "Now, tell me how ye knew where to send the beasts." He toed the body of the dead mage. "How else? This one was mind-locked to the com-crystal. All the minstrel said and heard, this one reported to me. So, ye see I know all ye do. The location of the crystal was ever in his mind. Now, tell me what news the minstrel gave ye before the crystal shattered." She shook her head. "The message was garbled by the destruction of the crystal." She forced her eyes away from the dark gaze that compelled her to answer. "When I decipher the meaning, I will tell ye." "See that ye do." She whirled. "I am Queen. Ye do not command me. Set plans in motion for us to leave Pala."

He smiled. "Just ye and me. I would gladly do that." "Along with the Holders, the mages of greatest power and ten decans of Guards." "And our destination?" "Ye will learn that when I am ready to tell ye." He bowed and left the room. Reena’s body shook. Alone, she thought. Always and forever. She raised the Jewel and smiled. As long as she held the Black, she was not alone. Laughter spilled from her lips. And over Pala, lightning erupted.

CHAPTER 24 From The Songs of Earda Yellow pale and Yellow bright Sun by day and moons by night Bring to Earda warmth and light.

Andalor groaned. The excruciating ache in his head had faded to a dull ache. Reena. Had she been blasted the way he had? He eased into a sitting position and gazed at the disapproving faces around him. He met Disa’s glare. "Disa, what have ye done?" "Kept ye from more acts of betrayal," she said. He sucked in a breath. "Ye are the one who has betrayed the Queen. Reena is the rightful ruler, for she holds the Black. If ye would but join her, life on Earda would change." "Aye," Disa said. "More deaths, droughts and disease. More famine and floods. Do ye not recall the deserted farms we saw? Did ye not listen to the fears and problems of the people in the market?" "Ye do not know her. She has great caring for the land and the people. She is much like Liara in nature." Stilenta shook her head. "Mayhaps she was all ye imagined, but when a Holder takes a Jewel, she is bonded to it with ties tighter than those with her Chosen. The Black absorbs all that is good and changes it to evil." He snorted. "I do not believe a Jewel could change her. I heard her speak of the things she would do." "But has she done any of them?" A frown wrinkled his brow. What had Reena done since she’d become Queen? She hadn’t changed life

for the people. The mages were still in Pala. "Give her time." "Aye," Stilenta said. "Time for the Brotherhood to make her theirs. It’s been three Holders since one of the black robes has been the Queen’s Chosen. Your life is in danger." Could what she said be true? Twice his life had been threatened, but he had survived. Did the mages seek his life? No matter, he would live. Reena would dismiss the Brotherhood when they’d outlived their use. He had to believe in her. He was her Chosen. "What should we do with him?" Brader asked. "Among the Desert Riders, what he has done would mean death," Valmir said. "Then ye must take my life," Disa said. Liara held up her hands. "‘Tis not death but life for him. Though I don’t know why, he must come with us. We will have need of him before the battle is done." Andalor turned his back to them and sought sleep. Did Liara mean to keep him in their midst? Didn’t she fear for her life? He clamped his lips together. Her life wasn’t in danger from him. He could kill in open battle but not by stealth or treachery. His thoughts circled his dilemma. Liara was so much like Reena when he’d met her. Would that he had remained in Pala. Then he wouldn’t have to make a choice between the woman he loved and the one who held his admiration. His dreams filled with memories of the short days when he’d been Reena’s companion. Then they changed and he saw the differences he’d seen in her since she’d become Queen. The new Reena filled him with dread, but he was her Chosen and bound to her until death. *** Sunlight streamed through the hole Stilenta had burned in the rubble that sealed the cave. Andalor groaned. His head ached. "Here." Liara handed him a mug. He sipped, then drained the bitter liquid. Before long the pain disappeared. Valmir and Brader worked at the blocked entrance. Andalor joined them. Their silence troubled him but there was naught he could do. They’d chosen different sides in the coming duel between the Jewels. He hadn’t picked the Black. Its ties to the Brotherhood worried him. Yet, when Reena had named him as her Chosen, his choice had been made. By the time they had a passage cleared, the sun was well beyond mid-day. Andalor stretched to relieve the kinks in his shoulder muscles. "We’ll begin our trek tomorrow," Brader said. Though Andalor wanted to rush, soon dusk would arrive and add shadows to the treacherous slope. He stared at the pass and the mountain crest then frowned. The face of the slope above the pass looked as

though it had been sliced by a giant knife. Could the avalanche been other than an act of nature? For a moment, he thought about his brother, the one taken by the mages. He recalled the winter morning when his brother had turned rain into snow. "We’re low on supplies," Disa said. Valmir pointed to the dense green valley below. "Mayhaps we’ll find good hunting there." "And villages where food can be bought," Brader said. "What will we use for coins?" Liara asked. "We spent most of ours in Quato." She reached for a mug of kaf. "I have a goodly supply of coins," Disa said. "So does Andalor." "And if I don’t choose to spend them?" Andalor blinked as a knife appeared in Valmir’s hand. "Then we might just take them." The Desert Rider returned the knife to its sheath. "There is no value in fighting," Stilenta said. "We still have to reach the foot of this mountain and that will take all working together." Andalor smiled. At the foot of the mountain, surely there would be a village. While villages weren’t the sites of Guardposts, someone would know where the nearest one could be found. When he reached one, he would find a way to send a message to Reena. *** Three days passed before they reached the foot of Stone Mountain. Since there were but four ponies, only Valmir or Brader rode to scout ahead. For five full days, they followed a winding stream through a forest filled with game and a variety of plants gleaned by the women for additions to their meals. Near dusk on the sixth day, Andalor heard rustling in the brush. He whirled as a massive swine with dagger-like tusks burst from the undergrowth. Andalor drew his sword and wondered what use it would be against the beast. When the swine charged, Andalor slashed with his sword and jumped aside. A line of blood appeared on the beast’s side, but the force of the charge caused Andalor to lose his grip on his weapon. The beast wheeled and pawed the ground. Andalor grabbed an overhanging branch. He swung his body and barely missed being gored by the swine’s lethal tusks. An arrow thudded into the beast’s side. Valmir threw his spear. The entire point and part of the shaft penetrated the thick hide. Andalor jumped to the ground. "We feast tonight." "Do ye now?"

The deep, unfamiliar voice made Andalor turn. A group of men surrounded Valmir and him. He noticed the others being herded toward the dead swine by men dressed in antel skin clothes. "There’s enough food for all," he said. "So there is, but I like to know about my dinner companions." A tall bearded man with long brown hair spoke. "Who are ye and what are ye doing in my forest?" His deep blue eyes demanded an answer. Andalor bowed. "Andalor, minstrel and Chosen of the Queen. The others are traitors to her cause." The man nodded. Two men stepped forward. Before Andalor could react, his hands were bound behind his back. "What goes here?" he asked. The man faced the rest of the group. "Welcome to my forest. Will ye share yon beast? I’m Nalor, once a member of a wealthy and influential family until our home came to the notice of the mages. I’ve no use for those who serve the Queen and her dark mages. Because of them, my home is in ruins, my wife and son are dead, my wealth is gone, and the rest of my family passed to the next plane. Who might ye be?"

CHAPTER 25 From The Lore of the Jewels In the early days when the Jewels first came to Earda, there was no queen. The Holders traveled through the land to the places where there was need. They listened to the woes of the people and settled disputes. Though each Jewel had a different sphere, she who held the White guided the Jewels and ministered judgment to the people.

Liara studied their captor. His words were bitter and she wasn’t sure he would listen to her explanation. "I’m Liara and I must go to the Screaming Hills." "And ye must make this journey in secret for ‘tis the only reason ye chose to cross Stone Mountain and to cross the Great Desert." Nalor’s eyes held a hint of humor. "Do ye think one Holder will make your journey safe?" He stepped closer. "What do ye seek in the Hills?" "My heritage. Something my mother sought but could not touch because she once held the Black." He laughed. "Then ye are my niece. My oldest brother was Chosen of two Queens. He suffered greatly when your mother vanished." He grasped her arm. "So ye would be Queen?" She shook her head. "Not Queen. I seek to destroy the Black. Mayhaps the White will be lost as well." "‘Twould be best, I think. I have no use for queens and those who hold Jewels that have been corrupted." "Not the Blue," Stilenta said. "Ere long, the Black and the Brotherhood will feel the touch of the White

and thus the other Jewels will be cleansed." Nalor moved closer and stared into the Blue Holder’s eyes. "I see." Abruptly, he turned to Disa. "What Jewel do ye hold?" "The Yellow. I’m Disa and hardly one fit for this high company. Once I was a tavernmaid who had no desire to serve abovestairs." His soft laughter brought a smile to Liara’s lips. She knew they had passed some test. Then she saw the way his gaze lingered on Stilenta and knew part of the reason. "I don’t know if ye have a chance to win your battle," he said. "When ye leave, I will come with ye." He reached for the reins of one of the ponies. "Come to our camp. We’ll feast on the food ye have provided and add some of ours." "And Andalor?" Disa asked. "What will ye do with him?" Nalor shrugged. "We have no taste for the Queen’s minions. He’ll make a good target." "Ye can’t," Disa said. "I owe him a life and ‘tis mine ye must take." Liara moved to Disa’s side. "There are other reasons to spare his life. Though he may be the Queen’s Chosen, he has a role to play in the confrontation." "So be it," Nalor said. "I will cede his life to ye, but he will be well guarded." He looked at Brader and Valmir. "Your names?" After the pair introduced themselves, Nalor strode away. Liara saw men had already begun to butcher the swine. Four men escorted Andalor. One hefted the minstrel’s sword. Disa walked with Liara. "I thank ye for your help. I’ve no desire to become a target. Do ye mean what ye say about Andalor?" "I don’t know more than he must be with us." Disa sighed. "I would be free of this bond with him. There is another I’d like to make." "The time will come." "I pray ye are right." They entered a clearing where a number of crude stone huts with thatched roofs stood. A group of children burst from one of the huts and dashed around the strangers. Through the trees, Liara caught sight of a burned shell of a manor house. Nalor nodded. "‘Twas the home of my ancestors. Once it was destroyed, the Brotherhood lost interest in the area." His blue eyes flashed with anger. "And these people?" Liara asked. "Some were tenants and servants. Others lived in the village or were local farmers. The Great Desert

edges closer. Soon even these trees will be eaten by sand. ‘Tis one reason I join ye. To give my people a chance to regain their lives." Valmir nodded. "‘Tis why I sought the Blue Holder. Not only does the desert grow, but it ails." "So I have heard." Nalor turned to Liara. "Milady, my sword is yours." "Just Liara. Your company will be welcome." Stilenta sat on a tree stump. A group of children surrounded her. She opened the pack of medicinals. Liara waved. "Let me see if I can help." "‘Twould be most welcome," Nalor said. "There’s been no Healer here since the mages burned our Healer’s House." Before long, not only children but adults clustered around Liara and Stilenta. Some of the ills they could treat, but others needed a Healer, and for a few only the Red Holder could bring a cure. Liara knelt beside an aged man. He reached for her hand. "Ye be the one." "What?" "I succored your mother when she came from the Great Desert. Hid her from the Guards. Tended her raw feet and sang ye to sleep. When she was healed, I took her to Quato and saw her aboard a ship for Thanis." "My thanks," Liara said. He smiled. "Once there was a thriving village on the banks of yon river. Those of the manor cared for the land and the people. May those times come again before I leave this plane." *** That night, they feasted on roast swine. Andalor was released from his bonds but two men shadowed him. After dinner, he played his lute and entertained. Liara sat with her friends and listened. Nalor hunched beside her. "We relieved the minstrel of his coins and your hill ponies will not take to desert travel. I’ll send men to purchase balalas and other things we’ll need." "Let Valmir go with them," Liara said. "I’m sure he knows what we’ll need." Disa pulled a pouch from beneath her shirt. "Add these coins to what ye have." Nalor motioned to Valmir. "I’ll introduce ye to the men who will go with ye. A half tenday from now, the rest of us will meet ye outside the desert town near the formations of white rock." Valmir nodded. "Anything I need to know?" "Beware the Guards though they seldom give a Desert Rider trouble. The reputation of your people deters them."

Valmir grinned. "We’ve a reputation for always winning our fights." Brader rose. "Liara, are ye sure Andalor must go on the desert journey? Could we not free him and let him go his own way?" "Aye, we could," Liara said. "But if he leaves, Disa will follow him and that would mean disaster." "And if he finds a way to warn the Queen of our route?" She wanted to shout at Brader but held her tongue. "We must give him the chance to do just that. She needs to know where we go." "I think ye are foolish," Brader said. "She’s right," Stilenta said. Nalor nodded. "I’ll arrange for him to slip away when we’re camped near the town. Then he’ll be recaptured." "‘Tis good," Liara said.

CHAPTER 26 Sayings of the People Fear can be a spur or fear can be a grave. ‘Tis ye who must choose to act or to bury yourself.

Disa watched Andalor slip away from the camp near the market town. He’d left his lute behind and she didn’t feel compelled to follow. Another dark-clad figure slipped after him. She touched her Jewel. Nalor had promised no harm would come to the minstrel, but there were always mishaps and accidents. Should she go or stay? She heard a sound and turned. Brader came to sit at her side. His presence quieted the anxiety enough to allow her to settle into her blankets. In the morning, they would cross the river, once wide and deep but now a mere trickle down the center of a trench. Did Andalor understand the Black Jewel was responsible for the river’s state? No matter who held that gem, the result was despair for the people and destruction for the land. According to Liara’s book, the Black had ruled for nearly ten decans and each year conditions grew worse. She drifted to sleep and woke to the pre-dawn light. A glance toward the place where the men slept showed Andalor had returned. Her hand brushed the Yellow. She felt safe for now. Mayhaps he didn’t know that if he left, she would be drawn after him. If that happened, she might fall into the Queen’s hands and be forced to serve the Black. Then the fight for Earda would be lost.

Begone, dark thoughts. She rose and joined the others at the fire, sipped chakla and ate flatcakes of ryn flour. Once she finished, she donned her pack and followed the others down into the gully carved by the once mighty river. Ere long, they emerged from the trench into a brown landscape. White rocks jutted from the barren earth that had once been a grassy plain. Just beyond a rock formation that resembled a woman weeping, Valmir waited. Laughter spilled from her throat when she saw the creatures called balalas. Great shaggy beasts with fur in shades of brown, long sinuous necks and great round eyes. One by one, Valmir tapped the beasts behind the knees. They knelt. Disa mounted one with a coat the color of cream. "Pull back on the reins and she’ll rise," Valmir said. "Does she have a name?" He shrugged. "Desert Riders name none but those females that are kept for breeding." "Only females are used as beasts of burden?" she asked. "‘Tis but one male born for fifty females. The males are kept to insure the lines. Most riding and pack balalas can’t breed." He left her and assisted the others. Once everyone was mounted, they bid Nalor’s men farewell. Disa pulled on the reins. The balala rose. She swallowed. ‘Twas much higher than the back of a horse or a pony. She prayed she would keep her seat. Surprisingly, she soon adjusted to the swaying movements. They traveled until the sun reached mid-day, then Valmir called a halt. Disa frowned. "Why do we stop? There are still hours of daylight." "The sun will heat the sands and suck the fluids from your body," he said. "‘Tis the way of desert dwellers to rest by day and travel by night." Brader nodded. "Ye are the leader here." They erected tents of smooth white cloth. Disa joined Liara and Stilenta. They both slept, but she couldn’t. She felt hot and confined. Finally, she left the tent. Valmir sat beside a small fire. "How do ye stand the heat?" she asked. "‘Tis hard, dressed as we are. I would have bought desert robes in the market but the only ones there were clan marked." "What do ye mean?" "Six are the clans of the Desert Riders. One for each Jewel. The line of descent is through the mother. I don’t know if my mother is willing to acquire so many children and we do not have time for the rites." He handed her a cup, "This will refresh ye. ‘Tis mintos." Disa sipped the fragrant beverage. Though hot, in some manner, the drink made her feel cool.

One by one, the others joined them. As soon as the sun set, they dismantled the tents; by the time First Moon rose, they were ready to ride. *** The rocking gait of the balala lulled Disa to sleep. She woke and found herself sliding toward the ground. With a shake of her head, she sipped from her waterskin. Silver sand glittered in the light of the moons and stretched in a flat plain in all directions. How did Valmir know they were headed toward the Screaming Hills and not moving in circles? One night slid into the next. She lost track of how many they’d spent on the desert. Once they had stopped to refill their large waterskins at a well where a few scraggly palma trees provided a bit of shade. Since then, there’d been no change in the scenery. In the distance, she saw trees. She blinked. Were there tents as well? Imagination, she decided. Several times at sunrise, she’d seen shimmering pools of water just out of reach. Valmir waved for a halt. "‘Tis my clan’s watering place. Let me ride ahead and see if they will share a tent with us." A short time later, he returned along with a man who had the same silver hair and sharp-edged features. The man held up his hands and touched them to his forehead. "Well come, travelers. Dener, Desert Rider and father of this young one. My wife bids ye to stay this day in the tents of the women of the Blue Clan. Tonight when the sun dwindles, we will feast and hear your tale." As they entered the camp, Disa marveled at the size of the tents. Children darted about. Some carried water and others tended the blue and white silk-sheep and the balalas. The faces of the men and women were as darkly tanned as Valmir’s. They wore loose robes of creamy white banded at the hems and sleeves with stripes of blue. The men’s robes flowed free while the women’s were bound at the waist by intricately woven sashes. Several young men led the balalas away. An older woman embraced Valmir. "My son, your friends are truly welcome." She smiled. "Ye were sent for one and have come with three. Which woman is the Lady of the Blue?" Stilenta bowed. "I am Stilenta. Valmir has told me of your plight. Though I would help ye, the time is not yet. The Blue’s power must be saved for an important battle. Thus, Disa, Lady of the Yellow and Liara who will be Lady of the White beg your patience." The older woman bowed so low her head nearly touched the ground. "Ye do us honor. Now, come, sip some mintos and rest. Valmir, take the men to your father’s tent and tell him the time we have awaited is at hand." "Yes, Mother." Inside the tent, Disa accepted the cup a young woman handed her. Valmir’s mother opened a chest and removed three creamy white robes. She presented them with belts braided from the six jewel colors. "For ye. Since the robes are sashed yet unbanded, should ye encounter another clan, ye will be welcome."

"Ye do us honor," Liara said. "Your gift will protect us from the heat of the sun and the cold of the moons." Disa and Stilenta added their thanks. They finished the mintos and were shown to sleeping pads. Soon the women of the clan entered and lay down. For the first time, Disa found sleeping during the day easy. *** The sound of laughter and the aroma of spices woke Disa. She stretched and reached for the desert robe. As she pulled it over her head, a young woman with dark brown hair stared at the Jewel. "Ye are a Lady of the Jewels," she said. "I am." "What is it like to have one?" Disa finished dressing. "‘Tis hard to explain but with the Jewel, I feel whole." "I’ve dreamed of being one of the Ladies. The others laugh and make fun of me." "Is Valmir your brother?" "Nay. I am of no clan. ‘Tis why my sash is white. My kin fell to some disease and I alone lived. I was abandoned on the sands with them. I was too young to know what clan is mine. My kin’s robes were all stripped and no one could tell where I belonged. I am little more than a serving girl who dares to dream." Disa touched the girl’s hand. "I was a tavernmaid and my uncle by marriage was not a kind man. He would have forced me to work abovestairs so I ran away. Do not give up hope." The girl’s eyes widened. "No one here would treat me that way, but I will never have my own tent. Without lines of heritage, no man will want me. ‘Tis… I want to belong and so I dream of the impossible." "Nothing is impossible." Disa smiled. "What is your name?" "Mara." Brader appeared in the tent opening. "Disa, I feared ye would sleep until time to leave. Valmir told his mother about your love of chakla. They have made a dish from banta, scallions, and a vegetable I don’t know. ‘Tis flavored with chakla leaves." "I’m on my way." She turned to Mara. "Keep your dreams." She joined the others beneath a canopy that shaded them from the late afternoon sun. A young woman brought her a plate of food. Disa bit into a rolled flatbread filled with the spicy banta Brader had described. Beneath the piquant flavor, she tasted chakla. "‘Tis wonderful. I would have the recipe. I fear I will eat so much the balala will not hold me." A group of young men began to dance, using spears like the one Valmir carried. They pantomimed a

hunt. Several men strummed larger versions of Andalor’s lute. Valmir’s father and mother sat with them. "So ye travel to the Screaming Hills," the older man said. "We were there a lunar ago and the Hills were silent." Liara frowned. "Mayhaps they wait. They will scream again." "Beware, for the waterholes along the way have been fouled by sand and poisoned. Winds whip across the desert, stirring great clouds of sand." "And the ruins of the Palace of the Seven Jewels?" Valmir asked. "‘Tis still a place of refuge and the pools remain pure." "And have mages been seen?" Nalor asked. "Have they ventured among the clans?" "The dark ones avoid the clans for they find no one to follow them here." "When the Queen is secure in her rule, she will rid the land of the Brotherhood," Andalor said. The older man nodded. "When she who holds the White destroys the Black, the land will thrive again. The mages who created the evil gem will be driven out. That is what our seers say." Disa saw anger creep into Andalor’s eyes. She grasped his arm. "Keep your thoughts secret. I have no desire to give my life for ye this day."

CHAPTER 27 From The Queen’s Diary She failed and I have won. My sister reached the place where the White awaits. She could not touch the gem for she had been tainted by the Black during the brief time she served as Queen. They say she lives. I called the mages from her trail. I heard what happened to those who followed her into the cavern. They no longer see or hear. If that is her fate, so be it. How long can such a one survive the desert sun? They say she fled across the sands with her infant daughter. How can she be a threat to me? Now I go to the man she stole from me.

Reena prowled her bedroom with the fluid movements of a lyrcat. She grasped the Black. A tenday and more had passed since the com-crystal had been shattered. She smiled. This morning, a Guard had brought a message from Andalor. Would that he had come himself, but the Guard had said when he went to meet the minstrel to help him escape his captors, the men had vanished. Now she knew where her cousin was headed, and soon, an army would leave for the Screaming Hills. Tendrils of ice flowed and enticed her to enter rapport with the Jewel. She pulled her hand away. The Black sought to control her but she would not be tricked. Why did her attempts to merge with the Jewel

end with her strength sapped, instead of energized? As she left her suite, she thought of the women who awaited her arrival in the throne room. Their complaints about the coming journey stirred her anger. She struggled to assume a veneer of calmness. Guards fell into step around her. She smiled at young Timir. He’d brought Andalor’s message and as a reward had been made part of her personal hand. She entered the throne room and mounted the dais. The Holders stood at the foot of the steps. "Are ye ready to leave tomorrow?" she asked. "So your cousin has her Jewel," Waika said. "Pity your mother was so weak." Reena wished she could seize the Red but that would weaken her power base. One untried Holder was enough. "Speak not of my mother for ye did not know her or what she did. What is past cannot be changed." "Why must we leave Pala? Let her come to us." Waika crossed her arms in a defiant manner. "And ye would have her come in full power rather than destroy her while she is weak," Reena said. "Ye are a fool." "Why all this talk of destroying her?" Gila asked. "Should ye not ask her to work with us? Still, I don’t understand how there can be a White Jewel when the Black has always ruled." Phila snorted. "Decans ago, White was held by the Queen. Then the Brotherhood created the Black. During a battle between the Jewels, the White Holder was sorely wounded. She hid the Jewel and no one has seen it since that day. So where do we go?" "Ye will learn tomorrow," Reena said. "This time there will be no doubt about which Jewel is supreme." Lippa cackled. "Do not be so sure." She signaled her servant. "Come, I must prepare my carriage." "We ride," Reena said. "Foolish girl," Lippa said. "Do ye expect two ancient women to ride?" Reena clenched the Black. "Ye can be replaced." "Not as easily as ye think. Though age brings weakened bodies, it also brings cunning minds. I wielded my Jewel before ye were born and know more than ye about these gems." Waika’s cackle reached Reena’s ears. "Mayhaps we will hold when ye are gone." Reena straightened her spine and held her anger close. "If we do not work together, we will lose." "See that ye remember that, my Queen." The door closed behind the elderly woman. Reena glared at the Orange and Violet Holders. "Are ye opposed to riding?"

Phila smiled. "I have no problems with the thought of being ahorse after my confinement here. As ye know, I have complete control of all living beasts." "As long as the horse is gentle, I can ride," Gila said. "Be ready to leave at dawn." Phila saluted. "Will the hags be ready that early?" "The Guards will see they are." Reena watched the pair depart. A plan that had been swirling, fragmented, in her mind, crystallized. Once the White was destroyed, she would shatter the other Jewels. She would be sole ruler of Earda. *** At dawn, the Guards assembled in the square before the palace. Reena walked among the orderly rows and then checked the wagons of supplies. Along the route to the Screaming Hills, food and shelter would be provided by the people of the farms, villages and towns. The wagons carried provisions for the camp on the plains near the Hills. The latest reports claimed the area was desolate. Gregor stood with a cluster of mages. Their steeds were great black beasts with blood red horns. Six mages and Gregor was the seventh. Did he plan to seize the Holders during the battle and somehow control their Jewels? She would not permit that, as he would learn. She looked for the Red and Green Holder’s carriages. Her hands formed fists for they had not arrived. She spotted the Captains of the double five decans and strode toward them. "The Screaming Hills," one said. "Let’s hope we find a horde of rebels to slaughter. There’s nothing like a battle to stir men." "‘Tis not a good place for a battle. The Hills form a half circle around the plain. If the rebels have archers stationed on the palisades, we will be the ones facing defeat. Who was the fool who chose that place?" Reena stepped into view. "Ye dare call your Queen a fool? I name ye a traitor. Take him to the stockade and inform your Commandant a new five decan Captain is needed." Gregor grasped her shoulder. "My Queen, are ye sure this is wise?" The pressure eased and he gently stroked. "I will have no captains who will not obey orders. Where are the Red and Green Holders?" "Haven’t they arrived?" "Send Guards to escort them here. Though I’ve given them permission to ride in comfort, I did not give them leave to dawdle." He bowed. "I hear and obey, My Queen. What punishment should the Guards mete to those who rioted in the market yesterday?" "Keep the leaders in the stockade. When we return, they will learn what fate awaits traitors."

"And the captain?" Reena smiled. "Have him brought to the market square. He will make a perfect example of what happens to those who rebel against the Queen." "As ye wish." He slid his hand down her arm. "Ye are a better pupil than your mother, but there are things other than the use of power and the control of your Jewel that I would show ye." Something in his gaze and his voice made her wish to reconsider her decision to have him on the journey. She couldn’t order him to remain in Pala. To do so would let him know she feared him and he would use that knowledge for his own ends. "I will meet ye in the market square." Reena strode to her horse and mounted. She nodded to the Orange and Violet Holders. Then she signaled the Commandant. "Company to your horses!" the man shouted. Reena’s personal Guards rode at her side with the rest of the company following. The lead honor Guard bore the banner that announced her presence with the troop. People lined the walkways leading to the market square. She heard their whispered comments. "She is much like her mother in appearance." "Nay, she is more beautiful." Reena smiled. Perhaps she had her people’s hearts. In the center of the square, she halted. "Bring the prisoner." The Guard captain, stripped of his officer’s tunic, was marched through the ranks. His hands were bound behind his back. "Behold the traitor." Gregor’s deep voice rang out. "Watch his punishment carefully and see what comes to those who defy our Queen." He released the man and walked to his horse. Silence and foreboding hovered in the air. Reena raised the Black and focused her anger through the gem. Black rays touched the prisoner. His body jerked and convulsed. He fell to the ground to writhe in a grotesque dance. Reena lowered the Jewel. Her arms trembled. The Jewel cried for a communion that she denied. Gregor rode to her side. "Ye did not kill him." She met his gaze. "He is broken. There is no need for death." She kneed her mount and raised her hand to signal the troop to move.

CHAPTER 28 From The Armsmen’s Guide A good head armsman knows his men’s capabilities and lets he who has experience in an unfamiliar situation take the lead.

Though his body told him ‘twas still day, something woke Brader. He moved to the tent opening. An ominous darkness filled the sky. The balalas squealed. The sound shot through his head with the force of a sword thrust. "Valmir," he called. The Desert Rider leapt to his feel. "Sandstorm. Nalor, Andalor, take down the tent. I’ll circle the balalas. We must take shelter behind them and use the tents as a cover. Sand driven by the wind can scour flesh from bones." Brader woke the women. When he told them what they must do, he saw panic in Disa’s eyes. He wanted to stay at her side, but he had to help Valmir with the balalas and the supplies. "Ye will be fine." He touched Disa’s cheek. "I will not let harm come to ye." She nodded. "I will not panic. The cloud came closer. Bits of sand stung his face. "To your balalas!" Valmir shouted. "We have no time to worry about the rest of the supplies!" Brader knelt beside his balala and grabbed the edge of the tent from Valmir. "Are we all here?" "Aye," Valmir said. The roar of the wind cut off all sound. Weight pressed on Brader. The air grew heated. He thought of Disa’s fear and wished he held her in his arms. Did she know what lay between them? He would have pledged his life to her but for the one she owed Andalor. He turned his thoughts from what might have been and concentrated on the present. How long would the storm last? He hadn’t asked nor had Valmir said. How would they know when they could emerge from the covering? The balala stirred. Brader grasped the beast’s rough coat. Like a cork pulled from a wine keg, the balala rose and pulled Brader from the sand. He gulped deep breaths of air. Moments later, in the same manner, Nalor emerged. "Ho, Brader, where are the others?" "Buried as we were. Check near the balalas." Brader went to Disa’s cream-colored mount and began to dig. When he pulled the tent panel away from her, he lifted her into his arms. Her body trembled and her

amber eyes were unfocused. "Disa, ‘tis Brader. Ye are alive." A shuddering breath escaped. "Brader. I would…" She shook her head. "I cannot…" "‘Tis all right. The time for us will come. Let’s join the others." They crossed the sand to Valmir. "What should we do now?" Brader asked. "We dig for the supplies." *** They spent the rest of the day digging for the buried items and uncovered most of the essentials. The sun heated the sands until they were forced to retreat to the tents. Brader sat with his empty sheath across his knees. This was the last of the things he’d brought from the High Sanctuary and though now useless, since his sword lay buried beneath the sands, he didn’t want to discard it. Mayhaps another storm would uncover the blade. He tied the scabbard to his pack. "What do we do about the missing balalas?" he asked Valmir. "We will not find them," Valmir said. "We’ll divide the supplies. We’re lucky the riding beasts didn’t take flight as well. We are but a half tenday from the ruins I told ye about. We can replenish our water there." "And food?" "We might find some small game, but we’ll have to do with what we have. If we’re careful, there should be enough to last until we reach the Hills." Brader felt uneasy. His skills were those of an armsman. He understood weapons and how to post guards around a caravan or a merchant’s house. He knew nothing about survival on the desert. "And if the water of this place is tainted?" "Never has that happened. ‘Tis said the Ladies of the Jewels lived there and their magic remains." Valmir leaned against one of the large waterskins. "I went into the Hills once. In places, they are tall like the walls of a city. They rise from the sands, but there are places where ye can make your way easily. They are full of life. I ventured along a path beside a stream and hunted until the screams drove me away." "So they really scream." "Aye, and the sound fills your head and throbs in your blood." *** First Moon had risen. Brader helped Valmir distribute the supplies among the remaining balalas. Nalor and Andalor emerged from the tent. "Come and help," Brader called. Andalor headed toward the fire. "Why should I speed the journey? The longer we take, the better for my Queen." "And the worse for us," Brader said. "What will happen to your Queen if ye should die?"

Andalor changed direction. Brader wasn’t sure what the expression on the minstrel’s face meant. Was the Queen in some kind of danger if Andalor died? Brader hoped so. By the rise of Second Moon, they were headed across the sands. Moonlight glinted on the pale ground. The never-ending scenery cast a spell. Not long after daybreak, they stopped, erected the tents and ate a stew of dried fruit thickened with ryn flour. Sometimes Brader felt as though he moved through a dream. Each day brought the same scenery and the same routine. Ride, eat, sleep, eat, and ride. *** Brader jerked awake and saw Andalor at the tent opening. "Where are ye going?" "To relieve myself," Andalor said. "I’ll go with ye." Andalor laughed. "I need no help." "That’s not why I’ll follow ye. Ye will not foul our water or harm the remaining balalas." "Ye cannot stay at my side forever. My duty is to the Queen." "And mine to Liara." "Just remember, Reena holds the ruling Jewel. Liara is naught but a rover with no home, no Jewel, and no army to back her." "No army will be needed." Brader’s hands formed fists and he held back the urge to attack the minstrel. That would not do and might delay them, the way he had delayed them when he attacked Valmir. "What about the songs ye sing in praise of the White Jewel?" Brader asked. "I’ve even sung the one that starts ‘White is the color of the true Queen’s Jewel." "A myth, and though myths are often based on truth, this one belongs to a fantasy created by those who want to seize the power for themselves." "Liara has no need for power. If what ye say is true, why are ye with us and trying to keep us from our journey’s end? If ye believe we are on a fool’s trek into the unknown, ye shouldn’t fear what we may find." Andalor shook his head. "I fear a different thing. Though her hair is ebon, Liara is a near twin to Reena. She could slip into Reena’s shoes and who but a Chosen would know the difference?" Brader whirled the minstrel to face him. "Liara would never touch the Black. ‘Twould sicken her to feel the evil. She seeks to restore balance in the land." Andalor pulled away and stalked to the tent. When Brader returned, the minstrel lay with his eyes closed.

*** That night, Brader noticed some dark and jagged forms against the sky. How far, he wondered. ‘Twas hard to judge distance with the flatness of the land. Two nights later, they reached the ruins. He saw there had once been seven towers connected with walkways. He saw spots of greenery that meant water. Then he saw the three circular pools, one set above the other, with waterfalls joining them. As they passed through an arch that remained, though the walls had fallen, he saw a glyph denoting the Yellow Jewel. Disa rode beside him. "This must have been a rainbow palace. Look at the shattered stones. They are the color of the Jewels." "The pools reflect the sun and the moons," Liara said. "What a lovely place. And look, there’s a patch of plump briarberries." Valmir nodded. "And with luck, we’ll find some wild bantas and a coney or two." "Should I test ye as I was tested?" Valmir asked. Brader shook his head. "I’ll bathe, but no tests until the quest ends." While the others sported in the pools, Brader explored the tower of the Yellow. What had it been like when people instead of ghosts walked the halls? He found a set of stairs that wound around the outside of the tower wall. At the top of the stairs, he entered a room. A shattered window had allowed sand to drift into the room. He knelt on a stone chest and stared toward the Hills that rose in the distance. When he rose, the stone shifted. He pushed it aside and looked inside. A portrait of two girls; one of them looked just like Liara, except the painting was ancient, for the robes the girls wore were reminiscent of sketches he’d seen in ancient books. The other girl was as fair as Liara was dark. Their eyes were crystal blue. Beneath the portrait, he found a sword. The leather scabbard crumbled when he lifted it from the chest. The blade and hilt were formed from bands of silver and gilt. Mine, he thought. ‘Twould replace the one buried beneath the sands. He saluted an imaginary opponent and made a series of passes. Then bearing the sword and the portrait, he returned to the courtyard. Liara sat beside a fire and tasted something she stirred. Several bantas and a coney roasted on a spit. "Where have ye been?" she asked. "In yon tower." Her eyes widened. "Ye have a sword unlike any I’ve ever seen." He nodded. "Fits my hand as though ‘twas forged for me… And there was this." He held up the portrait. Andalor strode from the pool. He stared at the picture. "How came ye by a painting of Reena and Liara?" Brader shook his head. "Look closer, ‘Tis not your Queen and Liara but an ancient portrait of two who

are long dead." Valmir and Stilenta waved from the entrance to the courtyard. "Come and see the mosaic map we found. ‘Tis a marvel," Valmir said. "If it’s accurate, another five days will see us to the Screaming Hills." Stilenta tugged Liara’s hand. "Let Brader go. I don’t want our dinner to burn." When Brader reached the area near the pool, he crouched and studied the map. He saw the port of Quato and the isle of the High Sanctuary. Ships seemed to move on the sea. The road from Pala was clearly marked. He blinked. For a moment, he thought he saw movement on the Pala road not too distant from the other side of the Hills. How could that be? He sank back and looked at his friends. "Ye are right. ‘Tis a marvel." He rose. "Where’s Disa." "Gathering briarberries," Stilenta said. "Let me help her." Brader headed toward the pools.

CHAPTER 29 From The Songs of Earda Ho hum, diddley dum, Diddley, diddley dum. Once there was a lyrcat As sleek as he could be. He spotted a glittering flitter High in a willah tree. Oh, Mistress Flitter Come to me. We will fall in love And become a family.

Andalor moved into the courtyard and reached for Stilenta’s pack. He slipped out several packets of medicinals he knew could either cure or cause illness. He dropped them in the pockets of the desert robe. Not for his travel companions, but for the balalas. Five days to the Screaming Hills. When he’d studied the mosaic map, he’d seen movement on the Pala road. He’d returned several times and seen that the small dot had changed. He had to give Reena a chance to find and destroy the White before Liara held the fabled Jewel. "Andalor."

He turned. How much had Disa seen? "What do ye want? Have they sent ye to watch me? I’m impressed that they trust ye since ye owe me a life." "Just as ye owe Brader and Liara one, but they won’t accept those bonds." She sat on a stone that had once been part of a low wall. "I owe ye a life, but I will not give ye one at the risk of theirs. They are my friends, as ye could have been if ye could but see the truth." "And the truth is what they tell ye? Ye will not give Reena a chance to prove she is different from those who came before ye?" "Have ye forgotten all ye have seen and heard? Lunars have passed since she became Queen and what has she done?" "She cannot act because she fears Liara and the trouble she will cause." She shook her head. "Ye do not hold a Jewel. Would that ye could, for ye would see how the Jewel and a Holder interact. She is tainted by the Black." He grasped her arm. "Ye judge where ye do not know." She pulled free. "Believe me when I say holding a Jewel changes the Holder. I now see things with greater clarity." "Then why is it different for Reena?" "Have ye ever looked at things through a piece of dark glass and seen how shadowy and distorted your view?" "The Jewel is not glass." Andalor hurled a piece of stone against the broken wall. "I will not hold ye to the life." "‘Tis not your decision. There is a tie that only I can break." "Then believe me when I say Reena wants for Earda only peace and plenty. She listened to my songs and stories and vowed she would change the land." "Ye are the most stubborn man I’ve ever met." Disa leapt to her feet and strode away. "Do not harm my friends. Ye saw what happened to the dire wolves." Andalor’s shoulders slumped. He had failed his beloved again. If she had the Yellow Jewel on her side, he would not have to fear that she would lose in the struggle. If the Black was destroyed, Reena would die. She had told him that. What was the fate of a Chosen then? He spent the rest of the day exploring the ruins. In the tower of the Orange Holder, he found two whimsical statues, one a lyrcat and the other a flitter. Reena had laughed when he’d sung his song about the strange courtship. He placed the pair in his knapsack and stored his lute in a sheltered niche. ‘Twas all he had of his father’s work and the lute had served him well. When this was done, he would return and bring Reena. Together, they would banish the ghosts of the ruin’s past. ***

At dusk, he joined the others. To his dismay, the balalas seemed unaffected by the medicinals he’d fed them. So be it, he thought. In the distance, he could see the Hills, but by the end of the night’s journey they seemed no closer. He crawled into the tent with the other men and slept. Rough hands jerked him upright. Nalor dragged him from the tent. All but two of the balalas lay on the ground. "Are ye responsible?" "Mayhaps I am, but even if ‘twere a natural event, ye would blame me," Andalor said. "I should have let my men kill ye. When this ends if ye still live, your life is mine to claim." "Do ye want to see Disa dead? She would step into the path of any weapon ye would use." "I’ll find a way to sever that bond." Nalor’s fist shot out and clipped Andalor’s jaw. Andalor got to his feet. "We’ll see who’s standing at the end."

CHAPTER 30 From The Lore of the Jewels And when the Black Jewel had coalesced from molten bits of all the gemstones found on Earda, she lifted it from the cooling bath. The bond formed hard and fast, absorbing her anger, hatred, jealousy and self-righteousness. She hid the gem beneath her robe and returned to the Palace of the Seven Jewels. When her sister laid the White Jewel aside to give birth to a daughter, the Black Holder acted.

The water in Liara’s small waterskin sloshed in rhythm to her steps. Enough water remained in the large skin on the last of the balalas to provide another day’s supply. Just as Second Moon had risen, another desert beast had collapsed. In the fall, the fullest of the large waterskins had ruptured. Three days to the Hills, but that had been when they’d ridden. Now they walked. As she put one foot after another, she wondered if her choice of the desert route had been best. Then she thought of the dangers they would have faced on the most direct road. Pala and the possibility of an encounter with the Guards would have exposed the Jewels Stilenta and Disa bore. They would have been taken to the Queen and there would be no chance of survival. Was there one now? Valmir took her arm. "Ye are tired." "No more than the others." "If I could find a large colti, ‘twould be a help."

"Some animal?" "Colti is a desert plant with a large tap root and bladders with sap that gives energy. ‘Tis cold and sweet." "Sounds wonderful. Will our water last?" "It must, for there will be no more until we reach the Hills." "Must we stop at sunrise? It seems the Hills are more distant than before. If we keep on walking during the day, we will reach there sooner." He shook his head. "The sun is too strong. Besides the heat, there is the glare. Men have been blinded by the afternoon sun." He stroked her hand. "A Desert Rider learns patience with his mother’s milk. Ye are being forged, as I was during my manhood trials, and will be stronger in the end." Liara met his gaze and felt the pull. But she was not yet a Holder and to speak prematurely would mar the bond. When she had her Jewel and had passed the final test, she would say what was in her heart. Valmir knelt in the sand. He pulled his knife and cut around a pale green fuzzy plant. "‘Tis small but the bladders are full. Tonight we will all have a treat." "Even Andalor?" Nalor asked. Valmir rose. "Though I hate his actions and his beliefs, I do not hate the man." "Bosh," Nalor said. "A man’s beliefs mark who he is." Liara reached for the older man’s arm. "Andalor does not understand that by harming us, he harms his Queen’s chances to rule. Until I bond with the White, there can be no victory or defeat. If I should fail to reach the Screaming Hills, the White will wait until another is born." "That may be too late for the land," Nalor said. Would it, she wondered. Mayhaps he was right, for the people and the land had been ravaged for nearly ten decans. *** By sunrise, they made camp. Valmir insisted they fill their waterskins and use the remaining water to prepare a meal for the night and for the morning. The high-pitched squeal of the remaining balala woke Liara. She emerged from beneath the canopy they’d erected from half of one of the tents. "What’s wrong?" "We’ve lost our last balala," Brader said. "Where are Andalor, Disa and Nalor?" "Gone," Valmir said. "When I woke, I found Andalor gone. Disa had either followed him or is his captive. Nalor set off after them."

Valmir turned to Stilenta. "Could ye use your Jewel to help us?" "I will if our need becomes desperate but if the Queen searches for the missing Jewels, she could discover me. I don’t want to alert her." "Nor do I," Liara said. "Why did Disa follow him?" Brader reached for the kaf. "I tried to keep her but she knocked me down. I hit my head and didn’t wake until Nalor roused me. ‘Tis this life she feels she must give him. Valmir gave Nalor the rest of the colti bladders." "Then we must go," Liara said. Though the sun headed for the horizon, heat from the sand beneath her boots burned through the soles. She stumbled. Valmir steadied her. "How much longer?" she asked. "One day. Maybe two." One foot after another. Liara saw the tracks made by the ones they chased. She saw a heap on the sand. A trick? Then she saw Disa. Brader lifted the Yellow Holder. She clutched two colti bladders. Valmir divided the contents between the five of them. "‘Twill help for awhile." "Andalor’s gone," Disa said. "What am I to do?" "Nalor will find him," Stilenta said. The sun rose but they continued. Liara felt the ground beneath her feet change. "Liara." Liara looked around and saw no one. "Liara. Come, for there is water."

CHAPTER 31 From The Queen’s Diary She has arrived in Pala. At least that is what I have heard, but I have not seen her, not can the Guards and mages find her. Does she wait for the birth of my daughter in hopes she can steal my Jewel? Gregor says the mages will protect me but I have my own plans to lure her into my presence. When she learns her Chosen has fathered my daughter, she will come and I will be

waiting.

Reena wheeled her mount and rode through the lines of mounted Guards. Her lips curled when she saw how far behind the troops and the supply wagons the carriages of the Red and Green Holder lagged. More than a tenday for a journey that should have taken five days at the most. Without the constant complaints and frequent rest stops demanded by Waika and Lippa, the journey would have been long over. She would be in the Screaming Hills waiting for her rival to appear. If only she didn’t need those two for the coming battle. She dare not let her fears show. The other Holders and Gregor would be prepared to act on her slightest doubt about the outcome. What if the Orange Holder’s low-voiced comments were true? Was control of all six Holders necessary to defeat the White? Her cousin had two on her side. Would that matter? She spotted the curve of the Screaming Hills and spurred her horse into a gallop. The grassy plain stretched toward the horizon. No trees or bushes broke the vast expanse of brown grass. Though ‘twas spring, no trace of green showed. With a wave of her hand, she signaled the Commandant and he rode to join her. "Set the camp between the horns of the Hills but at a distance from the cliffs." "Very good, my Queen." He raised his baton and the decan captains approached and listened to his instructions. Before the sun set, tents stood in orderly rows. The aromas of wood and food covered the scent of desolation that rose from the plains. Reena rolled her eyes when she saw the elaborate silk pavilions, one red and one green, erected for the Holders of those gems. She entered her black tent and sat at the small camp table to study a map of the Screaming Hills. The cliffs on this side of the Hills rose in what appeared to be a sheer palisade of stone. The map showed that caves riddled the area. A noise startled her and she grasped the Black. Gregor stood before the table. "My Queen, we must plan our strategy. My mages will be ready to assist the Holders during the battle. And my dear, I would gladly pledge my power to ye." She tore her gaze from his dark hypnotic eyes. "‘Tis not your place." He laughed. "Do ye think the minstrel will come, or that he has remained true? ‘Tis your mother and aunt once again." Reena steeled herself to cut off his taunting words. "I will not listen to this. Do ye wish to feel what ‘tis like to be controlled by the Black?" He stepped back. "I only want what’s best for your rule. Now, speaking of control, have ye located the renegade Yellow Holder?" And the Blue, she thought. She hadn’t informed the mage that the Blue Holder had been found and rode with her cousin. "What good will knowing where she is do me? Unless she swears to me, I cannot use her."

He arched a brow. "But, ye can learn how close your sister is to the White." "She is not my sister." His smile chilled her. "I’d forgotten ye refuse to acknowledge the relationship." "See that ye remember. Since I cannot touch the White and I cannot destroy it until my cousin holds, when she comes does not matter. I am prepared." "About the other Holders," Gregor said. "Will they freely cede their Jewels to your control?" "I have no doubts and they have no choice. They are sworn." "Even the Orange? Phila is ambitious. She believes she can hold what ye do." And ye are not as greedy for power as she is, Reena thought. "I’m aware of her desires but as ye know, I can control her." He moved closer to the table and touched her hands with his long fingers. He stroked slowly and sensuously. "I only wish to serve my dearest Queen. If ye would join with me, ye would have great pleasure and we would never be defeated." His low and mesmerizing voice drew her to him. She felt her body respond with an urgency to yield to his demands. Then Andalor’s face flashed in her thoughts. "Ye are not my Chosen. As long as he lives, there can be no other." "Mayhaps he does not live." She rose. "What have ye planned? What do ye know? If ye harm him…" "Why worry about me harming him? He travels with your enemies. Do ye think they will let him live?" She strode to the tent opening. "He is alive. He sent a message with a Guard. My cousin crossed the Great Desert to reach the Hills. He went with them." "Much can happen on the desert. There are sandstorms and fouled waterholes. There are Desert Riders who are ever suspicious of those they do not know." She closed her eyes and thought of Andalor. The face that flashed into her thoughts was gaunt, with skin burned by the sun. "He lives. I have seen him." "And he has changed." The mage laughed. "If your aunt’s Chosen could be fooled by a face like his beloved’s, do ye think the minstrel can resist your sister? How do ye know he doesn’t share her bed?" "Get out of my sight. Do not name the usurper as my sister again. I will not heed ye and if ye don’t cease your trouble-making, ye will feel the power of the Black." She stood at the tent opening and watched until Gregor entered the one he shared with the other mages. I should have rid myself of the Brotherhood before I left Pala. ‘Tis too late—but soon, very soon—

She sent for her horse. The sun had set and First Moon had risen. She rode across the plain toward the cliffs. The thoughts Gregor had planted took root. What if Andalor had succumbed to the spell of her sister? Nay, the woman was but a cousin. A sister would be harder to destroy. As she rode along the palisade, she noticed several trails. In the morning, she’d send Guards to explore them. She pressed her hands against the rock face. The Hills screamed and the scream followed her to her tent.

CHAPTER 32 From the Songs of Earda Life stretches long. Life holds no joy. Nights are endless. Each day an eternity. The sun is dim. The moons fade. A Chosen with no Holder Lives death in life.

Andalor staggered on. Disa’s voice rang in his thoughts. "Don’t do this. Don’t do this." The Hills screamed the words until he was sure he would never hear again. He had to find Reena. He had to make sure she was safe from the Brotherhood. And he had to beg mercy for those who had been his traveling companions. They were not evil, only misguided. Foot after foot, he trudged. His skin felt as though it had been scalded. He crawled across sand and rocks. And all the while, the voices in the winds grew in intensity until he added his screams to those of the Hills. He stumbled and tumbled forward. Icy water engulfed him. His skin absorbed the moisture. He opened his mouth and allowed the fluid to slide between his lips. He woke and found himself laying half in and half out of a narrow streambed. How long had he slept? Was Nalor near? Though his body cried for rest, he dragged himself from the water. Rivulets poured from the desert robe and from his pack. He pulled off the robe and wrung the cloth. Then he opened his pack, ate the remaining trail rations and washed them down with gulps of water. He took the figurines of the lyrcat and the flutter and tucked them in the pockets of his breeches. Then he donned the damp robe. As he strode into the Hills, he pulled berries from bushes and ate them. The sun set and he continued by the light of the moons. The sound of the Hills vibrated through his body and he ran to escape the cries of Earda’s death. He tumbled over the edge of the cliff and slid down the slope. Bushes broke his fall.

Silence, blessed silence. He lay on the ground and stared at the moons. He touched the stone statues in his pockets. Undamaged. Reena will like them. He struggled to his feet and though his body ached, he lumbered toward the black tents and the fires that burned on the plain. "Who have we here?" Andalor straightened. A pair of Guards grasped his arms. "Andalor, minstrel and Chosen of the Queen." One of the men laughed. "The mage is her Chosen." The other Guard shook his head. "Timir, remember me." He glared at the first Guard. "I know him," Timir said. "Met him near the Great Desert. He gave me a message for the Queen. Earned me my place in her special hand." "Then we’d better take him to her." "First he needs to be cleaned up. We wouldn’t want her to think we set upon him. Her temper grows stronger with each day. I’ve no wish to face punishment." Reena—a temper? She was sweet and kind. She’d never be cruel. And yet—He pushed away thoughts of the times she’d shown her anger when they’d spoken through the now-shattered crystal. The men ushered him into the bath tent. The heated water stung his scrapes and cuts and relieved some of the soreness of his muscles and bones. While his wounds were treated, Timir returned with food and drink. He ate little but drank two mugs of tragon. More of his pain vanished. "I need to see the Queen. I have information she will need." "First dress and I’ll escort ye," Timir said. The mage Andalor had encountered in the palace strode into the tent. "Ah, minstrel, I did not expect to see ye. I fear I have some bad news for ye. When ye permitted the destruction of the com-crystal, your brother, one of my most talented mages, died. Now ye must take his place." Andalor straightened. "To be a mage is not my calling and Reena will never release me." "Do ye think a Chosen cannot be a mage? And as to her wishes, do not be so sure she will not welcome ye as a mage. Now, tell me why ye have come." Andalor closed his eyes. To look into the mage’s eyes was to court disaster. In their depths, he saw evil. "I have news for Reena." "Mayhaps ye should tell me. I am her most trusted advisor. Ye would not want to upset her at this crucial time." The coldness of the man’s voice made Andalor’s skin prickle. "‘Tis words of love and encouragement I bring to her."

Gregor laughed. "I think not." He waved the Guards away. "Have ye any idea what power the Brotherhood wields? Ye have a family. Ye have friends. Would ye see them destroyed?" Andalor pressed his lips together. He recalled Nalor’s tale of the loss of his family. He thought of Reena’s refusal to bar the Brotherhood from the palace. Gregor refilled Andalor’s cup. "Should ye join the Brotherhood, your position as the Queen’s Chosen would give ye a high place in our ranks and ye could aid our cause." "Just what might that be?" "Until ye are sworn into our ranks, I cannot tell ye." Andalor fought to keep his voice even. "Surely ye will give me time to consider your offer?" The young Guard, Timir, entered the tent. "The Queen wants the minstrel at once." "By whose order did ye inform her of this man’s presence?" "I knew she would want to see him." He gestured to Andalor. "Come." "Think carefully," Gregor said. Andalor followed the Guard to a large black tent. He entered and bowed low. "My love." "Andalor." She held out her hands. He gathered her close. "I have missed thee." "‘Tis been too long since I have seen thee." He pulled the small figurines from his pockets. "I found these and thought of the day I sang their song for thee." She took the whimsical statues and placed them on the table. "‘Twas a lovely day and we will have more in the future. I must know about my cousin." "She nears the Screaming Hills. I did all in my power to slow her but I failed." "Ye did not fail, for she must reach the Hills and she must bond with the Jewel so I may destroy her. How soon will she be in the Hills?" He shook his head. "Today, tomorrow. I don’t know." "And the Yellow and the Blue Holders, will they come to me?" "They are loyal to her. Nothing I said would change that. Though Disa owes me a life, she refused to come to thee." "Then thee should have taken her captive. Thee are my Chosen and thee must put me before all others. Why have thee failed me?" He felt her body tense. When he looked into her eyes, they were no longer the crystalline blue he

remembered. Her hair had darkened as well. "I haven’t failed thee. Thee have my heart and my soul." "Traitor." She stepped from his embrace and raised the Black Jewel. "I have done all thee asked and thee have done nothing thee said thee would. The land and the people still suffer. The Brotherhood still rules." "Thee are wrong. I am Queen and I rule. Show me these women’s faces so I can control their Jewels." "Do not ask that of me. They are my friends." "Thee are my Chosen. There should be no other for thee." Andalor’s body jerked. He fell to his knees. Exquisite pain racked him and he descended into a black void. *** "Reena, what have thee done? What have thee become?" The cry flowed from Andalor. He opened his eyes. A single light showed he lay on a cot in a small tent. With a groan, he sat up. His body ached worse than after his tumble from the cliffs. He staggered to the tent opening. A single Guard sat at a small fire with his back to the tent. With one blow, Andalor knocked the Guard unconscious and dragged him into the tent. He looked on Timir’s face. "Sorry," Andalor whispered. "There is something I must do." With the Guard’s sword in his hand, he crept away from the camp.

CHAPTER 33 From The Armsmen’s Guide Sometimes ye must make a decision based on instincts, though knowledge points in a different direction. Brader soaked in the cold water near the waterfall and thought of how good it felt to be cool and wet. Liara, Stilenta and Valmir frolicked nearby. Nalor had left the camp to forage for game. Disa braided vines into some kind of net. Brader paddled to her. She looked up and smiled. "Ye seem to have lost your fear of water." "‘Tis not above my head and ‘tis a welcome change from sand. When I must travel by sea again, I won’t look forward to the journey. The way from Thanis to Quato was not one of my finest times."

"But ye survived." "Aye, I did." Liara swam over and waved for Stilenta to join them. "We must discuss our strategy for the confrontation with the Black and the other Holders. ‘Tis been much on my mind." "Could we eat first?" Disa asked. "I can think better with a full belly. Hunger makes me think of disaster. Let me set my fish traps." Stilenta laughed. "She speaks for me as well." She rose from the pool and lifted her robe from the bush where she’d placed it to dry. "I’ll go scavenging in the woods." "I’ll go with ye," Liara said. Valmir followed them. Brader lifted one of the nets Disa had woven. "Where did ye learn to make these?" "When I was a child, my mum and I traveled with my da. He was a peddler. He taught me many things that have proved useful on this trek." She headed to the pool above the waterfall. Brader gathered deadfall for the fire. "I never knew my father. He died before I was born. My mother didn’t speak of him. The head armsman of the keep was the closest to a father for me." "What was your mother like?" Disa rose from the side of the pool. "Sad, lonely and isolated. She chose the High Sanctuary as a refuge from the Queen. She loved Liara and me and taught us about Earda and how the land had been before the Black Jewel arose." "I envy your friendship with Liara. For me, there were no brothers or sisters, not even cousins. On this journey, I have found what I never had. Good friends." "Even Andalor?" She nodded. "He isn’t evil, just misguided. I believe as Liara does that he will stand with us in the end. Come, let’s take this wood and build a fire. Then we can return and check the traps." Once the fire burned in the circle Brader had arranged, he and Disa returned to the upper pool. In each of the fish traps, she found two large rock fish. She wrapped the fish in leaves from a water plant and placed them on the rocks that jutted over the flames. Nalor arrived with an antel on his shoulders. He quickly butchered and spitted the meat. When Valmir, Stilenta and Liara returned, they added to the bounty. A pair of fat coneys was added to the meat roasting on the spit. Liara tucked plump tubers in the coals. Stilenta’s skirt was filled with briarberries and redda fruit. She put mintos leaves with the berries. "There was no chakla," she said. Disa laughed. "When this is done, I’ll gorge on chakla in every dish and drink I know."

After they ate and wrapped the remains for the next day’s meals, Liara called a council. "At sunrise, I’ll leave ye and seek the White. ‘Tis near. I feel the pull." Stilenta nodded. "As do I." "We are but six and they are many," Nalor said. "I’m sure the Queen has gathered an army and a corps of mages. How can we defeat a large number?" "‘Twill be a battle of minds rather than of weapons," Stilenta said. "Ye must be wary. Some of the men and beasts ye face will be shadow creatures, but if ye engage them, the wounds they make are real." "So how do we defeat them?" Brader asked. "Name them as shadows," Stilenta said. "What about our Jewels?" Disa asked. "Can’t we protect the group?" "We can but protection is not enough," Liara said. "I must challenge the Black." "Can Stilenta and I combine our Jewels and neutralize the Green?" Disa asked. Stilenta nodded. "‘Tis possible. And I can blunt the Violet and ye the Orange." "That leaves the Red," Liara said. "She will be torn between helping one of the others." "If she is the same Holder as when my mother lived, she is an ancient crone," Stilenta said. "The struggle may be too much for her to withstand." "If she is old, she will be canny," Disa said. "The elderly often cling to their possessions… So tomorrow, do we join ye in the search for the White?" Liara shook her head. "Disa and Nalor will go west. Brader and Stilenta, east. Seek a place where ye can see the plains and where there is a path down the cliffs. Valmir will remain with me." Brader frowned. "Why must I go with Stilenta?" "Because of what remains unsaid between ye and Disa and what must remain that way until the battle ends." He nodded. "Then it will be as ye say." After the others slept, Brader stayed by the fire and thought about what lay ahead. Could he handle shadow creatures rather than men of flesh and blood? He vowed to do his best. He looked up and saw Disa beside the waterfall. He went to her. "Ye could not sleep either." "I fear what will happen." "The White will prevail and ye will help Liara." He put his arms around her and drew her closer. "When this is done, mayhaps ye will say the words."

"Aye, I will say them after I give Andalor his life." *** When he woke, Disa was no longer at his side. He leapt to his feet. "Liara, where is she?" His foster sister turned. "She and Nalor have the most distance to cover so they have gone." She held out her hand. "May the sun shine on your days and the moons light your nights." Why did she speak the words of the final leave-taking? He would not complete the rite but give another blessing. "May ye find what ye seek and use it for the land and the people." He knelt beside the pool where they had bathed and splashed water on his face. After eating fish and the rest of the berries, he belted on his sword and picked up the leaf-wrapped meat. Stilenta rose. "Come, we must find our place before dusk." They strode into the forest. "If we survive the coming battle, what will ye do?" he asked. "Travel through the land and set things aright. And ye?" "Rebuild the Palace of the Seven Jewels, visit Valmir’s people, go home. Though I said the words of parting to my mother, I fear her spirit will linger until she hears we have rid Earda of the Black." She touched his hand. "What if Disa will not go with ye?" He sucked in a breath. "I do not know."

CHAPTER 34 The Sayings of the People Fear is easily handled when not alone, but fear becomes a spur for fools when there is a crowd.

Disa was glad she and Nalor had left before Brader woke. The need to be with him made her yearn to return. But she couldn’t speak until her obligations to Liara and the minstrel were done. Thoughts and fears about the coming confrontation moved like whirlwinds through her mind. What if Liara was defeated? Disa hoped if that came to pass, she would die with her friends. To survive would be worse than her life with Fancher after her aunt left this plane. Several times, Nalor helped her cross the rocky terrain. The Hills screamed and in the cries, she heard protests and anger about the way the land had suffered beneath the rule of the Black Jewel. Nalor paused and pried a sticky substance from a burl tree. He put it in a bit of cloth torn from his desert

robe. Four more times, he paused and repeated his actions. "What are ye doing?" Disa asked. "‘Tis the makings of fire arrows. I’ve Liara’s bow." "Aha." She should have known he had a plan. "Will they help?" "A dozen well placed fires on the sun-browned grass of the plain should spread chaos among the Queen’s army. ‘Twill create a diversion we might need." *** By dusk, they found a sheltered place overlooking the plain. Disa could make out a path that though rugged would allow them to leave the cliffs. Nalor began to make the fire arrows. She joined his efforts. When they finished, she stared at the rows of dark tents and the gaudy pair that must belong to two of the Holders. She sighed. Andalor was there and the bond between them throbbed. The desire to seek him grew. She turned to Nalor. "Do not let me leave." "If he is in danger, there is naught ye can do." The pull stopped so abruptly, she jerked. What had happened? Was he dead? Nalor touched her shoulder. "We must eat and then rest. There are some berries and meat and a nearby spring." *** A cry, different from the sound of the Hills, woke Disa. She saw Nalor struggling with a man. "Who?" she called. "The traitor," Nalor said as he threw the man to the ground. Disa frowned down at him. "Why are ye here and not with your Chosen, ready to destroy your friends?" "I seek Liara. She was right. The Black is evil. Reena is not what she was when we first met." "How so?" Disa asked. "Her eyes—her hair—her nature grows as inky as her Jewel. She used the Black on me. ‘Twas only luck I am here. The Brotherhood will be in control of her if she wins. Liara must be told that Gregor and six of the master mages plan to take a hand in the struggle. She must act before they add their power to that of the Queen and her Holders." Disa saw anguish in his eyes. "Free him." Nalor scowled. "Dare we take the risk?" "My life is his. I believe the spell she cast is broken."

"No spell," Andalor said. "I am her Chosen. The bond is there but I loved a caring woman, not a power-mad queen. The Black must be destroyed." "So be it," Disa said. Nalor snorted. "Just like that. I know ye be his friend and he can claim your life. Time and time again, he has betrayed us. How can this moment be different?" Though using the Jewel bore the risk of discovery, ‘twas the only way to convince Nalor. She cupped the Jewel. Light from the Sister Moons filled the center and spilled from the facets to touch Andalor. "He speaks true. The Jewel would blast him for a falsehood." "Even with the life?" Nalor asked. "Even then. The Jewels are above vows and bonds." Nalor released the minstrel. "Then so be it, but if harm comes from this—" "If harm comes, my life is yours," Andalor said. "Where is Liara?" He grasped Disa’s hand. "How can she expect to win against so many with so few?" "The Jewels will determine the victors." "But Reena has four. Liara but two." "‘Twill be enough." He shook his head. "I must find her, for there is a need. I cannot explain." "She’s gone for her Jewel. Mayhaps ye won’t find her." "I must try, for I am needed." Nalor nodded. "Go north, minstrel. ‘Tis to the north she headed." Andalor bowed. "Fare ye well, Disa. Do not seek to give me a life during the battle. Ye must stand with Liara."

CHAPTER 35 From The Lore of the Jewels To hold the White is to be one with all the Jewels of Earda, to enhance and reflect their powers for the good of the land and the people. The Holder of the White must be prepared to aid each gem in its work.

When the Black became, it absorbed the dark emotions of the one who first held that Jewel. The evil of its creators, the Brotherhood, had permeated the making. These men were once the sons of the Jewel Holders, rich in powers but barred from holding any of the Jewels. She who embraces the White must fight the mages as well as the Holder of the Black.

Liara strode beside Valmir. She used his spear to aid in walking over the rocky ground. The sun rose higher. She stumbled. Valmir caught and held her close. "My thanks." She closed her eyes and listened to the screams. Which way now? ‘Twas like their path led through a maze. She cried out in frustration, for the screams muddied her thoughts. "What’s wrong? How can I help?" His touch brought an infusion of strength and deadened the voices. "I must find the voice of the Jewel beneath the screams." She cocked her head and stepped out of his embrace. She followed a pulsing beat that matched the rhythm of her heart. She barely noticed the ground beneath her feet. The screams grew louder and shriller. The beat accelerated until it sounded through her like the heart of a terrified child. Valmir screamed. He pressed his hands to his head. Though she wanted to stop and comfort him, she couldn’t. She had to reach the Jewel before the beat stopped. "I must go this way." When Valmir didn’t answer, she turned. He lay on the ground, his body curled into a ball. He who would be her Chosen might die, but if she stopped, Earda would be lost. The choice made her heart ache, but she had to leave him. She walked toward a deep cleft in the rock. The beat became a staccato, until every part of her pulsed. Darkness enfolded her. She continued forward and saw a glow that brightened until she was blinded by its brilliance. She lifted the jewel from its niche. Colors radiated from the heart of the gem. She stood entranced until the cries of the land and the despair of the people intruded. The White hung from a chain of six braided metal strands. She put the chain over her head. What now, she wondered. There is but the cold stone of the cave for a bed. There is no one to guide her through the ritual of bonding. But the daily drills Tana had forced her to perform showed her the way. She pressed the White to her chest and then to her forehead. Swirling. Whirling. She hurtled into the dazzling, blinding, illuminating light. Earda—mountains, hills, plains, desert, ocean shores. Seas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Grassland, forest and all manner of growing things. Rain, snow, ice. Bright sun. Pale Sister Moons. Stars forming patterns in the night sky. Control. She sucked in a deep breath. Return to the cave.

The screams of the Hills became the ocean’s roar, the sound of the wind, the rasp of sand, the noises of the beasts of the land, the cries and laughter of myriad peoples. All the sounds of Earda blended into a single sustained note. She inhaled the fragrance of flowers, the pungent aromas of medicinals and spices, the earthy aromas of living things. The scents, both pleasant and unpleasant, permeated her senses. Beneath her, she felt cold stone, heated sand and warm earth. The velvet touch of grass, the whisper of a baby’s breath, the touch of a lover’s lips. She touched all of Earda and felt it touch her back. Sensations ceased. Her immersion was complete. She gazed into the light of the Jewel and watched it separate into an array of colors. Red, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange repeated to infinity. She brushed the Jewels of Earda and heard them sing. Once more, she whirled into the dazzling white and found herself in the cave. For a time, she paused to gather strength and purpose. When she felt replete, she rose and went outside. The Hills were silent for the cries lived in her. Both moons rode high in the sky. Soon dawn would arrive and she would face her cousin and the Black. Confidence filled her. "Liara." Andalor. Why is he here? Where is Valmir? "Do not think to challenge me." "I have come to serve ye." "And Valmir?" "With me. He cannot hear or see." Liara strode toward the sound of the minstrel’s voice. He cradled Valmir’s head on his lap. Liara knelt and called on the power of the Jewel. Valmir opened his eyes. "Liara. The screams are gone." She nodded. "Ye have the White." He eased into a sitting position. "I was deafened by the sounds and blinded by the light." His eyes narrowed. "Minstrel, why are ye here?" "To help Liara. Reena has changed." Valmir glanced at Liara. "Do ye believe him?" "Aye. He has done part of what he was meant to do. We must go, for we need to be on the palisades by dawn."

Andalor helped Valmir stand. "What will happen to Reena?" "I don’t know." His shoulders slumped. "Do what ye must. I would rather see her dead than as she is now."

CHAPTER 36 From The Queen’s Diary I can sense her presence in the palace but no matter how hard the Guards search, they do not find her. My labor pains have begun. The mages have surrounded the room but no man other than my Chosen—her Chosen—can be in the room. He must be here to name the child. The Healer has arrived and I must remove the Black.

Reena leaned forward and studied the faces of the Holders. Phila appeared confident. The Red and Green Holders had hidden their faces beneath cowls yet they still looked like the hags she had named them. Gila’s violet eyes were as round as a hooter’s. Behind the Holders, Gregor and six mages stood. For a moment, she yearned for Andalor. His place was at her side, not as a prisoner. Her anger rose. He was a traitor and when the battle ended, he would suffer a traitor’s fate. She stiffened. The Jewel throbbed. She raised her hand. "The White is alive and bonded to its Holder." "How do ye know?" Gila asked. "Foolish child. The very air crackles with energy," Waika said. Reena smiled. "Fear not. Today, ye will stand with the victorious." "Count not before ‘tis over," Lippa said. "Leave your doubts in your tent," Reena said. "She is but being practical," Phila said. "Ye must face every possibility and explore all options." Reena fought the urge to destroy the Orange Holder. "Gregor, what say the mages?" "Ye will have the victory, my Queen. Are ye not your mother’s daughter? She who wrested the Black from its Holder?" She laughed. He did not know that secret either. "I am." "Your half…your cousin has little chance to master the White. I say ye summon her and those who stand at her side."

"Not yet. When she comes and cries a challenge, it will be soon enough to show her she has not the skill to control the Yellow and the Blue. Fetch the minstrel so he can show me their faces." She turned to her honor Guards. "Ye and ye." A short time later, they returned with one of their fellow Guards. "The minstrel is gone. This one was in his place." Reena’s eyes narrowed. "Timir, what have ye to say?" "The last time I checked him, he was unconscious. Then he attacked me and dragged me into the tent." "Is this how ye repay me? I made ye one of my personal Guards. How long has he been gone?" He shrugged. "Both moons were still in the sky the last time I checked him." She toyed with her Jewel. ‘Twas not the time to waste her power. "Bind him and return him to where ye found him. I’ll deal with this traitor later." Gregor smiled. "‘Tis good ye do not waste strength, for the time to move is upon us. See, the sky lightens." She laughed. "May the dawn hasten." The Commandant returned and saluted. "The prisoner is secured. Should I dispatch a hand to search for the minstrel?" Reena shook her head. "‘Tis too late to stop him, and though he seeks to betray me, he is my Chosen. There is no way he can harm me." "But he will tell your cousin what ye plan." "He has no knowledge of what I mean to do." She reached for the horse’s reins. One of the Guards helped her mount. "My cousin knows I’m here. I’m sure the White is as aware as the Black." "The Jewels are your domain, my Queen," Gregor said. "The mages and I can but lend ye support and use our powers to enhance your creations." Reena stared at the faces in the row of mages. Her eyes widened. She knew one of them and he wasn’t a mage. Who was he? The memory eluded her and there was no time to question him. As the sun rose over the horizon, she turned her mount toward the cliffs. See what ye face, cousin, she thought. Ten decans of Earda’s best fighters. Seven mages. Four Holders and the Black. The sight of her company should strike fear in her cousin’s paltry band. The Black throbbed. Her unbound hair swirled in the breeze. Wild laughter spilled from her lips. My cousin has four, five if the minstrel has reached her. For a moment, she faltered. Andalor’s face flashed in her thoughts. His copper-tinted eyes shone with sadness and his face showed disapproval. She stiffened. How dare he question my actions? I am the Queen.

She raised her Jewel. "The Queen rides." "The Queen rides to victory." The Guards roared the words.

CHAPTER 37 Sayings of the People If ye must fight, make sure the quarrel has meaning for more than yourself. To fight for the rights of others takes more courage than a fight for selfish reasons.

Disa stood at the edge of the rock ledge where she and Nalor had spent the night. The Hills no longer screamed. Did that mean Liara had the White? "The Queen rides." "The Queen rides to victory." The cries reverberated through the rocks. Disa clutched the Yellow. Where was Liara? Nalor fired the first of the fire arrows. The brand could barely be seen in the light from the rising sun. Disa used her Jewel to enhance the flames. Twelve times, she touched the arrows with the power of the Yellow. Tents blazed. The grass caught fire and burned away from the palisades. Horses screamed and milled wildly. Disa watched the orderly lines of the Queen’s Guards change into a chaotic melee. Her hand faltered. Were people being hurt by her actions? When she’d used the Jewel against the dire wolves, she’d been protecting her friends. Was that her reason now? Her arm steadied. Today, she fought not only for her friends but also her land and her people. The Yellow throbbed. "Come. Come to me." Her grip on the Jewel tightened. "I will not ally myself with one who destroys. Liara and the White have my allegiance and power." "Come. ‘Tis all right. ‘Tis Liara. Join me on the plain and we will end the Black’s thrall on the land." Below her, she saw a way down to the plain. A hand grasped her arm, "Where are ye going?" "Liara calls." "Are ye sure ‘tis her?"

She nodded. "The Black called first and I refused. When Liara called, I was answered." "Then I will lead the way. Your protection was given into my hands. ‘Tis good we fight on the plains. ‘Tis better for those who use sword, spear and knife." He climbed down and reached for her. "How fares Stilenta?" "She comes, too." "There is a bond between us." Disa nodded. "I know. She will fare well. She has strengths I do not have and her skill with the Jewel is great." "Do ye think Liara has her full power?" "Of that I’ve no doubt." She touched his hand, and for an instant let him feel Liara’s power. "Aye, I see what ye mean." He grinned and moved to the next ledge. "To the plains, Milady Holder." He raised his voice to a bellow. "Beware, for we come!"

CHAPTER 38 From The Lore of the Jewels Take a strand of the White and weave a strand from each of the other Jewels through it. Form a net with the light of the Jewels. Use the net to circle the land. If there is a missing color, take two strands of one of the others and weave a cord to catch the missing gem. Then ride the light into the missing gem’s core to cleanse any distortion found there. Liara pointed to a narrow ledge below the one where she, Valmir and Andalor stood. "There is the way." "Are ye sure?" Valmir asked. "We must go down. Disa and Stilenta have nearly reached the plain." Andalor jumped down and helped her. Though she sensed Valmir’s need to be the one, she knew to touch him would bring a lapse in her concentration. When she had healed his eyes and ears, they had come close to merger. Not yet, not yet. A short time later, they reached the plain. Disa and Stilenta walked to her side. The four men stood two on either side with their weapons ready. Before them stood the Queen, her Black Jewel glimmering about her pale throat. About her clustered a double hand of Guards and seven mages.

"Cousin, we are here in answer to your challenge," Liara said. "Did I challenge?" Reena asked. "Do ye think ye can win? Though your tricks wrought havoc among the Guards, full twenty men have remained. The Brotherhood supports me. Earda is mine and belongs to the one who holds the Black." "As to that, we will see," Liara said. "The mages have power but it is of the dark. They created the Black so they could control the land and the Holders. As ye see, there are three who will not bow to their rule." "Ye are wrong. I control the Black and the mages." Disa stepped closer to Liara. "There is one among the mages I have seen before." She kept her voice low. "Where?" Stilenta asked. "In Fancher’s tavern. He is the reason I fled. He wasn’t a mage but one labeled a traitor. Guards and mages came for him and questioned me. Mayhaps he is here to help us." "We cannot depend on other than ourselves." Liara raised the Jewel and caught the rays of the sun. The sky above the plain brightened. Reena raised the Black and the light dimmed. "Child’s play." "Disa, now," Stilenta said. "The Green." Liara concentrated on holding the light steady. She saw strands of Blue and Yellow emerge from the Jewels Stilenta and Disa held. The rays coiled and twisted into a rope of brilliant green. A startled cry arose in the ranks of women who stood behind Reena. A mage stepped toward the woman in green but his interception came too late. The Green Holder collapsed. Reena laughed. "Do ye think one small victory will stop me? She was old and indulged her fleshly appetites too frequently. Ye have done what I would have done after my victory. Mayhaps ye and I are more alike than ye think, sister." Sister? How? For a moment Liara’s concentration faltered. "We are hardly sisters. Since our mothers were twins, we are cousins." "Aye, cousins from our mothers, but our father was the same man. Just as ye have lured my Chosen to your side, so my mother enticed your mother’s beloved." "But ye are wrong about Andalor. He is no more than a friend and traveling companion." Liara sucked in a breath. Sister, she thought. She is my sister and now we stand opposed. How can I harm one who shares my blood? She had to put the personal aside. The land and the people would lose all if she wavered. Reena stepped closer. "Ye are a fool if ye did not corrupt him. Ye are no true daughter of our mothers. Ye cannot imagine all they did."

"I know I have never been brushed by the Black and thus, I am different from those who crave the power they believe that a Jewel brings." "So ye will die before ye live." "So be it," Liara said. "Do not think ties of blood will change the outcome. ‘Tis not ye and me but the Jewels who will determine." Reena rotated the Black to send dark rays across the plain. "Do ye have so little control of the White? The Black doesn’t control me. The power is mine." Beams from the White sliced through the dark rays. "I am the Jewel and the Jewel is me," Liara said. "Then let the battle begin," Reena said. "Guards, destroy her men at arms."

CHAPTER 39 From The Armsmen’s Guide Assess your men’s strengths and weaknesses, and if ye must, pair unknown with known.

Brader raised his sword. Sunlight glinted on the bi-colored blade. "Andalor, to me. Nalor with Valmir. We are but four against twenty, so make each stroke count. The Guards fight in a stylized pattern, so once ye know how they will move, ‘twill go better. They fight by twos." The shift was quickly made. Brader watched the double line of Guards separate and move from their place behind the mages. Would the black robes intervene or would their attention remain on the battle of the Jewels? His concentration on the advancing men was blocked by the question. He glanced at Andalor. "Why have ye changed sides?" "The Black has changed Reena into one I do not know. Evil resides in her heart, and even love cannot unseat the darkness." "Don’t fail us." Andalor laughed. "I won’t. If what ye say about their style of fighting is true, they are less dangerous than the fanged apes." The Guards attempted to circle Brader and Andalor. "Back to back," Brader said. "No overhand swings. We don’t want to defeat ourselves." Dark clouds covered the sun. The earth shook and the winds rose. "‘Tis the Black," Brader said.

He engaged a pair of Guards. With a knife in one hand and his sword in the other, he attacked. Metal clanged against metal. Using his sword to fend off one man, he lunged with his knife and plunged the blade into his opponent’s gut. He felt pain in his arm and saw the fallen Guard had sliced his left arm. He whirled on the second Guard and sent the man’s sword flying. The Guard turned and ran, but another pair instantly replaced him. Thrust and parry. Small wounds on his chest and his arms. He glanced at Andalor. The minstrel fought two Guards and had them both on the defensive. More Guards appeared and Brader leapt toward them. He leaned back to keep from being skewered. Where had these Guards come from? Had the Queen hidden resources? Then the answer struck him as a sword sliced a line down his chest. Shadow men. "Begone," he cried. "Ye be but shadows and can’t harm me." He moved to Andalor’s side. "Not men. Shadows." "How can that be?" Andalor glanced at Brader. The minstrel’s opponent slashed Andalor’s thigh. He fell. When the Guard poised to stab Andalor’s chest, Brader knocked the blade aside. "Begone, I say." He knelt beside Andalor and bound the bleeding wound. "Help the others," Andalor said. "Protect the White." "Will ye be all right?" Andalor’s expression mirrored his pain. "I’ve more lives than a lyrcat." Brader rose and swallowed. Across the plain moved a mass of fanged apes, dire wolves and creatures he couldn’t name.

CHAPTER 40 From The Queen’s Diary The Jewel is mine. She is dead but she lives within the Black. Every time I use the gem, I hear her screams. Mayhaps I am the one who died and she lives. Where is our Chosen? He saw the child, welcomed her and vanished. Even Gregor cannot find him.

Reena watched as her Guards fell before the swords of the usurper’s men. Ruthlessly, she seized power from the Red to create shadow men. When they vanished, she screamed in anger and pulled the Orange into her control. Beasts arose and thundered across the plain. Let them deal with claws and poisoned fangs. In the periphery of her vision, she saw one of the mages step toward the Red Holder. Before he reached Waika, she collapsed. Then a mage crumpled bonelessly to the ground, blood staining the ground about

him. What was happening? A second and then a third mage fell. The mage whose face had seemed like one from her dreams swept off his hood. His silver blond hair gave her an instant recognition. "Father, why do ye seek to hinder me?" He swiftly removed another mage, a long knife visible in one hand. Gregor raised his hand and a ball of fire struck the man, but not before he completed another thrust. Then he crumpled. Reena screamed. She pulled power from the Red, the Orange and the Violet. She called the wind; she conjured giants and created all manner of beasts. Andalor fell. She laughed. "Traitor, thee have paid. So will all who oppose my power." The winds died. The sun shone once more. The shadow men and beasts vanished. Reena raised the Black, "Ye may have destroyed my creatures, ye may have defeated my army, but ye will not prevail." "‘Twas not of my doing," her sister said. "Ye do not understand how to use the Jewel. Ye must flow with the power and not control." "Ye are wrong. ‘Tis control or be controlled. The Queen—Was she your mother or mine? She gave me that lesson. The Black will absorb all ye are." "And the White will reflect. Already the Green and Red Holders have put their Jewels aside. Disa, Stilenta, to me." Reena screamed in frustration. Colored streams of lightning flashed overhead. The power from the Violet and Orange Holders diminished. "Ye cannot have them." "I can’t breathe," Gila cried. "My head. My head. Ye tear my head," Phila screamed. "Let me be." "Your Jewels are mine," Reena shouted. "Earda is mine. Mine!"

CHAPTER 41 From The Songs of Earda White is the color of the true Queen’s Jewel To Earda it brings new light. Black is the color of the false Queen’s gem And naught but death is seen.

Andalor grasped the hilt of his sword and struggled to his feet. His wound burned the way the ones caused during the attack of the fanged apes had burned. He planted the sword’s point in the earth to brace himself. He stared at the strange creatures that flowed across the plain. Shadow beasts, he thought, but they looked so real. Had the fanged apes and the dire wolves been created in a like manner? Had Reena sought to break the bond between them by his death? Reena wheeled and hurled a fireball at one of the mages. Why would she destroy one of her allies? Now of all the mages, only one remained standing. She held her hand in invitation to draw the mage to her side. She cannot join with him. The thought made Andalor shudder. He pulled his knife from his belt and prayed for the strength to see the deed to the end. Blood soaked the bandage where Brader had bound his wound. His vision faded. He sucked in a breath and hurled the knife toward his beloved. As soon as the knife left his hand, he wished he’d chosen another course. "Reena! Beware!" he shouted. "Do thee think to hurt me, little man?" She laughed. "Thee will dance to my tune." His body jerked and his limbs moved in a grotesque dance. The knife flew end over end and on the course he’d chosen. Reena stepped aside. The knife plunged into the mage’s chest. Reena laughed. "Thee may have helped me more than thee know." Andalor collapsed. "Liara, destroy the Black, even if ye must destroy her."

CHAPTER 42 From The Lore of the Jewels When the Jewels have been touched even slightly by the Black, they bear a taint and must be cleansed lest their power be corrupted. Ye must plunge with the light and scour their hearts. When this is done, ye must be ready to face the Black.

Liara looked at the fallen minstrel. "So be it, my friend. If I can find another way, I will." She held the White high and called Disa and Stilenta to join her. Though she could create illusions to battle those her half-sister had formed, that wasted power. She had to cleanse the Jewels. "‘Tis time." She felt the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the moons. Into the heart of the Yellow, she rode the light from her Jewel. A muddy color throbbed. She used the rays from the White to shatter the murk and return the core of the Yellow to pure color. Now the Blue, where streaks of black pooled. She excised the dark spots until all were gone.

Where next? Violet, Green, Orange, Red. The Green and Red Holders were dead, but they had long been touched by the Black. "Violet," Stilenta said. The instant the ray touched the Violet, the Holder fainted. The cleansing took but a moment. When she touched the Orange, the Holder fought. "Ye will not take my Jewel." "I do not want your Jewel, only to cleanse the evil from its heart." "Ye cannot do that, for when she loses the Black, I will take it." "Impossible." Liara plunged with a blaze of light into the heart of the Orange. "Then let us make a bargain. Let me be as I am and I will not bother ye." "‘Tis not to be." Liara scoured not only the inroads of the Black, but the vivid streaks of the Holder’s craving for power. The Green held less of the ebon touch than Liara had expected, but the darkness of greed prevailed. The White held steady as she cleansed the heart of the gem. Now the Red. The excision of the traces of evil in the gem took what seemed like hours. When the Red was cleansed, Liara felt exhausted. Then she felt Valmir’s hands on her shoulders and the touch of the Yellow and the Blue. Every trace of exhaustion vanished. "What now?" Disa asked. "I must carry the White into the heart of the Black. Stand with me, sisters in power." "Must ye go alone?" "‘Tis one reason the White was created. To keep the Holders from falling into the elation of control." "Then go," Stilenta said. "We will keep watch." Liara left the shield she had created and strode toward her sister-cousin. She gathered the power of the White and plunged into the ebony depths. "Ye will not win," Reena said. "Come," Liara said. "Ye were once different. Ye once loved." "Never." "Not even Andalor?" "He betrayed me." Reena held up the Black. "This Jewel brings the only communion I need. With it, I am never alone. With its power, all I touch is mine." She sent tendrils of ebon rays toward the White.

Liara waited until the dark beams were reflected by the radiance streaming from the White. Then choosing one bright ray as a spear, she plunged into the heart of the Black Jewel. She saw Reena’s lonely childhood. She experienced a mother’s rejection and a father’s grief and guilt. She listened to the old Queen’s envy of Reena’s youth and beauty. She saw the truth and it sickened her. She nearly lost the spear of bright light when the truth blasted her. She watched as two women, mother and daughter, grappled for power and each possessed the Black for a time. Then the Black possessed them. She saw the history of the dark gem unfold from the day of its creation. Was it possible to destroy the Jewel and leave her sister alive? Fingers of darkness clawed at the steady white beam of light that poured from the heart of Liara’s Jewel. Slowly, the White expanded until with a final surge, the Black exploded into ashes. Like a doll with no stuffing, Reena collapsed. Liara staggered away. Then she fell to the ground.

CHAPTER 43 From the Armsmen’s Guide After a battle, seeing to the care of the wounded, whether they be friend or foe, becomes the proper course.

Brader groaned. Memories of the battle slipped into his thoughts. He eased his battered body erect. The stench carried on the wind made his stomach roil. Was he the only survivor of a battle unlike any he’d been prepared to fight? He looked for his companions and saw no one. After retrieving his sword and putting it in the scabbard, he made his way among the fallen and searched for familiar faces, for the living among the dead. He found Liara and knelt beside her. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm but she didn’t respond to his voice or touch. He carried her to a place where a ledge jutting from the palisades provided shade from the rays of the afternoon sun. As he returned to his search, he wondered if ‘twas the day of the battle or another. The Queen lay face down with one hand outstretched. She moaned. What should he do? She’d been the cause of the battle. Or had she? Andalor said she’d once been kind and caring. Liara had blamed the Black Jewel, not the Holder. He rolled her to her back. She wore a chain around her neck, but if there’d been a Jewel, there was none now. He carried her to the place where he’d left Liara. He frowned. The resemblance between the two was uncanny, but now Reena’s pale hair bore traces of copper and Liara’s was as light as her gem.

Three more times, he carried living women to the sheltered spot. Stilenta and two he didn’t know. "Disa!" he cried. "Where are ye?" Anguish poured from his lips and his shoulders shook. He thought of her promise to speak the words that would bind them. The Black had been destroyed. Would he be alone forever? Then he saw a glint of sunlight bouncing upward. He strode toward the glow. "Disa." He carried her to the sheltered place. What now? He was no Healer, and though he knew a bit about the care of battle injuries, the Holders bore no wounds. "Hello!" He rose, waved. "Valmir, over here." Valmir limped into view. He slumped on the ground with his back to the cliff. He cradled his arm. "What happens now?" Brader shrugged. "I don’t know." He moved to Valmir’s side. "Your arm?" "Broken." "Other wounds?" "A few, but none serious." "At least I can take care of your arm." Brader ripped his desert robe and fashioned a sling. "About the Holders. They live, but I don’t know how to help them." Valmir stroked Liara’s arm. "We’ll need food, water and a fire." Brader rose. "I can climb the cliffs and find some wood. There’s so much death. I fear disease will follow. But until they wake, I don’t see how we can move them." Valmir nodded. "Not all the deaths were caused by natural means. I saw creatures from my nightmares. Let me scout their camp. Not all the tents burned. Mayhaps there will be things we can use." Brader waved as Valmir headed across the plains. He climbed one of the paths to the top of the cliffs and tossed armloads of deadfall to the plain. When he reached the ground, he built a fire circle. As the sun moved toward evening, he heard Valmir call. "Come and help me. I’ve spoils aplenty and there’s more to be had." He dragged a dark panel of cloth. "Blankets, food, tragon and wine. I spied several horses in some kind of enclosure." "We’ll go for them tomorrow." Brader grabbed an edge of the cloth. "Ah, I see you brought some stakes. For your arm?" "Aye." "Hello!"

"Nalor, where are ye?" "Up here." Brader looked toward the palisades. The older man climbed down. "What happened? How did ye get up there?" "When I woke, I didn’t see anyone moving so I went hunting. Got an antel and several fat bantas." "And your wounds?" "No longer bleed. They’ll wait ‘til I clean my kills." He stopped at a distance from the shelter. "Keep a watch on the Holders. Once I splint Valmir’s arm, we’ll return to forage in the Guards’ camp." "Don’t ye fear any of them lurk there?" Valmir shook his head. "I saw no one when I made the first trip. If any survived, they’ve either fled or are too injured to fight." A short time later, Brader and Valmir dragged up another tent panel filled with food and cooking supplies. Brader also rolled a barrel of water. He heated water in a pan and dropped in chakla leaves. Nalor frowned. "Where is the minstrel?" "I didn’t see his body. Later, we’ll search again." The aroma of the spitted meat and the chakla made Brader realize how hungry he was. He poured a mug and sipped. Disa moaned. Brader knelt beside her. "I knew this would rouse ye." Nalor touched his shoulder. "How will your lady react when she learns about her friend’s death?" "I don’t know… Your fire arrows turned the battle." "Mayhaps, but Disa did something with her Jewel to speed them on their way. ‘Tis a puzzle how the gems work." "Agreed, but we’ll never have to worry about having one." He reached for a banta leg. How would Disa react if Andalor’s body were never found? He didn’t know and he refused to speculate.

CHAPTER 44 Sayings of the People

If the one ye owe a life passes from this plane before ye return the life, ye will carry the debt through your future lives until what ye owe is paid.

Disa opened her eyes. "Brader? The battle?" "Is over and the Black is no more." He raised her to a sitting position. "Drink. ‘Tis what brought ye awake." The sweet taste of chakla brought a sigh of pleasure. "‘Twas perfect and what more could I want to drink?" "Kaf, brew, wine," he said. Though his eyes pleaded for her to say the words, she couldn’t. "The others. Who still lives?" "Liara, Stilenta, Nalor, Valmir, the Violet and Orange Holders and the… I suppose she’s no longer Queen." Disa choked and coughed. "She lives? How strange. Mayhaps she wasn’t completely bonded to the Black." She touched her Jewel. "What of the Jewels belonging to the dead?" He shook his head. "I never thought of them and I could not touch them." "I forgot," she said. "Holding a Jewel is new to ye. My mother made sure I knew the rules." "Now, what about Andalor?" "I didn’t find him during my search. He was sorely wounded by one of the shadow Guards. I fear he is dead." She shook her head. "He isn’t. I would know if he had passed from this plane." "Ho, Disa," Nalor said. He handed her a piece of roast banta. "‘Twill build your strength." "Thanks." Once she finished the chakla and banta, she rose. "Let me tend my sisters." "What can ye do that I haven’t?" Brader asked. "Place their Jewels in their hands. ‘Twas what helped me." She paused beside Reena and studied the young woman. "She is much like Liara in appearance." Then she shook her head. "What has happened to Liara’s hair?" Brader shrugged. "‘Twas like that when I found her. If I had not seen the desert robe, I would have mistaken her for the Queen." She turned to the one who had held the Black. "She is alive, but I don’t know what to do for her since

her Jewel is gone." Valmir looked up. "Perhaps ‘twould be best if she never wakes." "Why?" Her eyes widened. "If she lives, there must be a purpose. Ye will not harm her?" "Nay, but how will she feel about the things she has done?" Stilenta moaned the instant Disa put her Jewel in her hand. Nalor lifted the Blue Holder onto his lap. "How fare ye?" he asked. "Tired, but I live. My exhaustion is a small price to pay for what we have wrought." She looked at him. "Has your heart healed from its wounds?" "‘Tis whole and waiting." "Then I would have thee as my Chosen, for thee bring me hope and strength." "And I will hold thee in my heart for all my days." Disa glanced at Brader’s stony expression. She wished she were free, but she had a debt to discharge. She thrust a torch into the fire. "I must search for Andalor." "I’ll come with ye," Brader said. "So will we." Stilenta accepted Nalor’s assistance to stand. "Ye should eat and rest," Disa said. "Who will watch our sisters?" "I won’t leave Liara," Valmir said. The torches illuminated their way toward the battle scene. Disa spotted a body at a distance from the others. She hurried over. "‘Tis Andalor." "Is he…?" Brader began. "He lives, but barely." She knelt beside the minstrel. Though she held the Yellow and not the Red, mayhaps she could use the Jewel to infuse him with some of her strength. She caught the light of First Moon in the heart of the Yellow. With one hand, she clasped Andalor’s arm. "As ye gave me a life after the fanged apes attacked, so I give one to ye. ‘Tis not your time to die." She thought of him as she had first seen him. Beneath her touch, he stirred. She felt hands on her shoulders and knew Brader was there. "Let my strength be yours," he said. "My thanks." She felt warmth and comfort flow from him to her and into the Jewel. This is why a Holder takes a Chosen, she thought. She poured energy into Andalor until she swayed. Brader caught her and held her close. "Enough. Do not drain yourself. Nalor and I will carry him to camp and there we will cleanse his wounds."

"He will live as I have returned his life." She smiled. "And thee and I will walk together as Holder and Chosen." "I will bide with thee until my days end." The rightness of the moment filled her. She had given Andalor his life and had been released from her debt.

CHAPTER 45 From The Queen’s Diary The Black steals my thoughts and devours my memories. Less and less I know who I am. More and more, I become the essence of those who have held before me. The Brotherhood conspires to rid Earda of the White Jewel, but one who has held the Black cannot touch the White. Now there are two daughters who must face the test. Alas, alas, poor Earda. I did not know.

Reena felt a cup touch her lips. The hands were as gentle as those of her nursemaid’s. She raised her hands to her chest. Nay, she was no child. She must be at the manor house waiting for her summons to the palace. Yet that did not seem right either. "Andalor, where are thee?" "He is nearby and sorely wounded." The woman’s voice was unfamiliar. "Wounded. How can that be? He’s on his way to Pala so I can name him as my Chosen." She shuddered as memories returned. "The Black was destroyed, yet I live. Are ye sure the Black is gone?" "I watched it turn to ashes and blow away on the wind." Reena laughed. "Then I am free to be myself." She opened her eyes. "Is it night?" "‘Tis morning." "I cannot see." "Mayhaps the effects of the Black’s destruction linger." Hands helped her to her feet and led her to a place where she felt heat radiating from a fire. "The minstrel is here." Reena knelt and touched his face. "Why is he so hot?" "‘Tis a fever from his wounds. Fetch water and cloths."

"I cannot." Tears streamed down her face. Fingers grasped her arm. "‘Twill be fine. I have what she needs." The voice held the same caring as her childhood nurse’s had." "Why are ye so kind? ‘Tis all, all my fault." "Is there more tragon?" This woman’s voice reminded her of sunshine. "If we clean the wound the way he did mine, we can rid his body of the poisons." "Ye are Disa," Reena said. "Take care of him." She moved back. "Stay," the first woman said. "Ye are my sister by birth. I am Liara." "How can ye stand to have me near?" "What ye became was a false image created by the Black. During the cleansing, I saw your true self. And since ye are his Chosen, your presence will help him live." "Do ye think so?" Arms pulled her into an embrace. "I know it so, for I have felt my Chosen’s touch bring healing to me," Disa said. Reena settled beside Andalor. Let him live. Even if he hates me for what I became and what I did, let him live. Though he will leave me and I will be alone again, I don’t want his death. "My Queen." Gila, Reena thought. "Don’t call me that. I have no Jewel." She patted the girl’s hand. "I’m glad ye survived." "Phila lives as well, but her mind is empty of all thought. Oh, how I wish to rid myself of this Jewel!" Reena gripped the girl’s arm. "Don’t say that. To be a Holder is an honor, especially now that the Black is gone. The land has been beneath its shadow too long. If I had a Jewel, I’d travel over all of Earda and right the wrongs that have been done. I’d search for the dens of the Brotherhood and cleanse them."

CHAPTER 46 From The Lore of the Jewels When the Jewels work in harmony with the White, the land knows peace, for the Holders are chosen to serve the people, not themselves.

Liara slumped on the ground and wrapped her arms around her knees. The treatment of Andalor’s wounds had exhausted her, for he had been touched by the Black. If she’d had the Red, ‘twould have been less of a challenge. She stared at the assortment of injured Guards who had come seeking treatment for their wounds. All but one would recover quickly and be on their way to spread the news of the Black’s defeat and the rule of the White. And the Brotherhood—but that was a problem for another day. She moved to the side of the Guard who’d been burned because he’d been a prisoner in one of the tents. His skin was blistered and some of the areas had festered. If we had the Red and some one to hold the gem—She sighed. "Ye can’t have all ye wish for," she muttered. "I wish my Jewel was gone," the Violet Holder said. The girl’s whining voice grated. "Ye wish for the loss of what ye should be proud to bear," Liara said. "‘Tis time ye started doing your share." "I help with the cooking." "‘Tis little enough. Sit with this Guard. Use your Jewel to bring him comfort." "How can I do that?" Liara shook her head. "Has no one shown ye how to use your Jewel?" "That mage—the evil one—he tried. Every time he touched me, I fainted. He said I would never learn." Stilenta crouched on the other side of the Guard. "I will show ye. Hold the Violet in one hand so the light of the sun fills the center. Place your other hand on his chest and visualize cooling breezes to soothe his pain." Liara rose and wavered. Valmir caught her. Strength flowed from his touch. "Rest now," he said. "There is little more ye can do." "But Timir needs healing." "He has Stilenta and Gila. Come drink kaf and rest." "Chosen." The word slipped out but she knew she spoke true. "Thee honor me and I will dwell in thy tent for all my days." He embraced her and carried her to the blankets. She fell asleep in his arms. *** Bright sunlight woke Liara. Valmir reached for her hand. "Thee are finally awake."

"How long did I sleep?" "Just a night." She stared at his arm. The splint was gone. "Thy arm?" "Is healed," he said. "And Timir thrives under Gila’s care. Nalor and Brader are making travois to carry the wounded to a meadow behind the horn of the Hills. They’ve rounded up a dozen horses." Liara stretched. "Will thee go with them?" "I thought we both could go," he said. "There is something I must do before I leave this place." Stilenta looked up. "Take Valmir with ye. We will see to the wounded." She handed Liara several silk scarves. "Two for the Jewels and two for your faces. The morning winds carry the stench of death. ‘Tis good we plan to move our camp." Valmir held Liara’s arm as they strode across the plain. When they reached the dead Holders, she forced herself to remove their Jewels. Beyond the Holders, she saw the dark mages. Four men with shaven heads and one with hair the color hers was now. Reena had named him as her father. Liara dropped to her knees and touched his face. "I thank ye for what ye did. Both your daughters live because of ye." Valmir helped her to her feet. "Thee have my sorrow. ‘Tis hard to find a father and lose him before thee knew him." She looked at the face of the sixth mage, the one with Andalor’s knife buried in his chest. He’d been a handsome man, but even in death she felt a sense of his evil. When she and Valmir returned to the camp, only Reena, Andalor and the Orange Holder remained. "How fares Andalor?" Liara asked. "He’s stronger," Reena said. Nalor and Brader returned with the horses. First they put Andalor on a travois. As they lifted the Orange Holder, she gasped a breath and was still. Liara touched the young woman’s throat and felt no heartbeat. "She is dead." She reached for the Jewel. As she was about to wrap the gem, the center glowed and throbbed. She looked at Reena. "Come, ‘tis yours." Tears flowed down Reena’s cheeks. "Why?" "Ye are called." "But I am unworthy." "The Jewel has chosen. When we reach the meadow, ye can bond to it and it to ye. This plain of death and desolation is not right for a bonding." She put her arm around her half-sister’s waist. "Come, let us

leave."

CHAPTER 47 From The Songs of Earda Away from the plains of desolation To right the wrongs The Black had wrought. There was no Queen Just Sister Holders Working in harmony.

Black night. Aching cold. Exquisite pain. Andalor tried to move but his limbs felt like stone. Even his eyelids weighed too much to lift. "Reena." Anguish rippled through him. He lived and she was dead. "Reena." "I am here." "Then I am dead." She stroked his arm. "Thee live, beloved, as do I." A groan escaped, yet joy filled his heart. "And Liara?" "The White and Liara are alive. The Black is dust and though I belonged to it, I survived." Her laughter brought to Andalor’s mind the Reena of the manor house. "I even hold a Jewel." He opened his eyes. "Thee have a Jewel?" "The Orange called and I answered. I can hardly believe my fortune." "Before the Black touched thee, thee were kind and caring." "Thank thee." She looked away and he thought he saw the sparkle of tears in her eyes. "Andalor is awake," she called. "Well come," Liara said. "For near a ten day, ye have wandered in fevered dreams." He met her gaze. "To the doors of death I wandered, and yet I found them barred." "For that, I am glad. Ye are part of our company. Now rest." ***

During the days that followed, each of Andalor’s travel companions spent time with him. Even Nalor extended the hand of friendship. Disa had returned his life and Reena had healed him. One by one, the remaining Guards, except for Timir, left the camp. Though the young Guard’s burns healed without scars, Andalor felt responsible for Timir’s injuries. Three nights after Andalor woke, a fire started by lightning blazed on the plain and erased all signs of the battle. Already, green grass stretched to the horizon. Finally the day arrived when the Holders gave him leave to quit his bed. Nalor and Brader helped him to his feet. His legs felt as though his bones had no substance. He took one step and then two. Valmir presented him with a cane. That night, they held a celebration. When they finished eating, Liara leaned forward. "We must make plans to leave. Earda has need of us." "Which route should we take?" Brader asked. "The desert," Disa said. "There is one in the tents of Valmir’s clan who I’m sure will be called by one of the Jewels." Valmir frowned. "Who?" "Mara," Disa said. "That one is no clan member, but an orphan my mother took into her tent. She is clanless." "Ye are the only one of us who has a family," Disa said. "Who better than one without a clan to hold a Jewel?" "If she is called, she will find us," Liara said. "Shouldn’t we head to Pala?" Nalor asked. "Who knows what chaos has erupted?" "I’d like to visit the Palace of the Seven Jewels and see it restored," Brader said. "But I don’t look forward to another desert trek." "I must go to the desert," Stilenta said. "For I promised I would return." "If thee go, I will follow," Nalor said. Stilenta smiled. "As to water, my Jewel will cleanse the ruined waterholes and Gila can call winds to cool us." Andalor reached for Reena’s hand and found she had left the circle. "I vote for the desert as well, for my lute is there." He used his cane and walked to the place where Reena sat. "Have thee no opinion?" She shook her head. "I must go where they decide, for there is much they can teach me." A multi-colored flitter landed on one of the meadow flowers. "Look at that," Andalor said. "All the

colors of the Jewels glow in its wings." Reena’s shoulders shook. He lifted her chin. "‘Tis lovely, but hardly enough to cause tears." "I cannot see. My sight was burned during the battle." "Thee have my eyes. Thee have my heart and my voice. We’ll visit all the places I’ve been and some I’ve never seen." "And if Liara has other plans?" "I am thy Chosen. Where thee go, I will follow." He brushed her lips with his. "A minstrel has no home but where he gives his heart." "And if we must face the Brotherhood?" "I’ll be with thee." He held her close. "‘Tis the desert road we’ll take. I must find my lute, for I have many songs to sing and a wondrous story to tell."

Starlight Writer Publications

SWP Publishers and Purveyors of Fine Romantic Fiction

Gothic Regency Historical Time Travel Contemporary Fantasy Romantic Comedy Mystery Intrigue Adventure

Suspense Futuristic Science Fiction Paranormal Young Adult Charitable Anthologies Non-Fiction

RFI West, Inc. http://rfiwest.com