Part 16 (2/2)

The half-giant rubbed his chin, thinking about it. 'She knows more'n she tells,' he said slowly. 'Sadness is the main thing in her right now, real deep. Makes it hard to see the other stuff behind it. I can't figure out mages as well as regular people. She doesn't plan any harm from my reckoning, though she don't like you at all.' He nodded at Far Gaze. 'These others, she's no issue with.'

'Will you watch her for me, Gorb? Don't let her leave the tower without my knowledge, under any circ.u.mstance.'

'I'll try,' said the half-giant. 'I fight good. But mages can be tricky.'

VISITORS.

1.

Impaired by tears in her eyes, Aziel nearly went head-first down the steps.

On the lower floor the drake was by the window. She ran to it and crouched by its head. 'Take me home, quickly,' she whispered into its ear. 'These are enemies. They're going to kill me, or ... use me somehow. Why did you bring me here, you horrid thing? They sent you to get me, didn't they?'

The drake's big emerald eyes peered into hers as though he wished she'd shoosh and let him sleep. Which was preposterous. 'Come on, take me home!' she said, slapping its rump as hard as she dared. The drake groaned and heaved up some spit on the floor with a horrible noise. 'What's wrong? You're sick. Serves you right!'

'Aziel!' cried a voice. 'Aziel, come quickly!'

She started and looked around. Stranger's footsteps sounded coming down the stairs, but the voice had come from much closer. 'Aziel! I heard you! Come here!'

There in a triangular shard of the broken window was Ghost, the large hollow-eyed face being jostled on all sides by the others. She picked up the gla.s.s and brought it near the drake so that from across the room Stranger would think she spoke to the creature instead. 'How did you find me here?' she whispered.

'Very difficult! We've been going to every window and mirror we can find. So many windows! We're so happy you're here. Are you hurt?' Ghost sounded more frightened than she'd ever heard it.

'My legs are sore from riding this terrible monster. It stole me from my room!'

'We know. We told Arch about it. But Aziel. Is did they your chast.i.ty, is it-'

'Never you mind that! Go and tell Arch where I am.'

'We'll tell him, but where is this place?'

'I don't know.' She described as best she could remember their flight path to the tower. 'There were some woods not too far. In the shape of a shoe, from high up. Then fields, lots of fields for miles and miles. Tell Arch that they have me! Quickly! Tell him to rescue me before they do something horrible. It's so awful, everyone sleeps in the same room! They have a half-giant here and he smells bad. Those things eat people!'

'Who are you speaking to, Aziel?' said Stranger, walking over.

Ghost whimpered in fright. 'I'll tell him!' it said, then vanished.

'No one,' said Aziel, smiling nervously up at Stranger. 'Just the drake. I think he's ill.'

Obligingly the drake retched again, heaving violently and spilling great strings of clear spit onto the floor. 'Help him!' Aziel ordered.

Stranger laughed. 'Evidently I rank low even among the captives,' she said. 'I will obey, O Aziel.' She crouched beside the beast and gently stroked its head. 'What's wrong, little dragon? Have you eaten something you shouldn't have? Is there flame in there that needs to come out? Stick your head out the window, if you have to. Don't set any fires in here.'

The walls creaked as though the tower were in agreement. But the drake breathed no fire. With a horrible choking sound a glut of liquid poured through its open jaws across the floor.

Something shone brightly in the midst of its spew. It was a necklace, gleaming and s.h.i.+mmering. Aziel and Stranger both gasped.

Stranger crouched down beside it. 'Vyin's,' she whispered reverently. She reached for it, then drew her hand back with some effort. 'Don't touch it, girl,' she told Aziel sternly. 'I mean it. You don't know what it is or what it will do. But one of the dragon-youth touched it. Very recently. That means whatever it is, it's dangerous.' Stranger looked at the drake in wonder. 'Where have you been, little dragon? What have you seen and heard?'

Case the drake groaned and lay back down by the window to sleep with a guilty look at the mess he'd made. Stranger ran upstairs to get the others.

Aziel stared at the necklace, amazed at how its gleaming prettiness s.h.i.+fted when she closed one eye, then the other. She took a step to the right and found it took on a new set of hues, colours she hadn't ever seen before mixed in with sparkling golds, reds and blues. Two steps the other way and it changed again, seeming to draw the room's light about it, making it swirl like a hoop of gems in motion.

She went closer to it, crouched down unmindful of the drake's stinking mess, and reached out just as the others came to the bottom of the steps.

'Don't touch!' Loup cried.

'Aziel, leave it!' yelled Stranger.

Barbarians! She would not take orders from them. She slipped the necklace over her head to demonstrate the point. There was a flash of white fire like a lightning strike. Where its metal touched her skin was a coldness so intense it only hurt for an instant before cutting off all feeling. She gasped and fell to the floor as the necklace fused to her, embedded in her as securely as the drake wore his scales.

2.

The others ran to Aziel's body but could not get close enough to touch. A wall of heat had come up about her so strong it was a wonder she herself was not engulfed in flame. She appeared unhurt; her chest rose and fell, her face like someone peacefully sleeping.

'She'll survive,' said Stranger, 'though I doubt she will be unchanged.'

They sat as close as they could and watched her. The heat about Aziel gradually subsided.

'What can you tell of that charm?' said Far Gaze.

'Very little. I can tell it is a great work, but so can you. Vyin crafted it, I think. His is the only touch I see upon it.'

'What's it do?' said Loup. 'I can't make sense of those patterns.'

'Nor I,' said Stranger. 'Nor I suppose could any human. But Vyin's having made it should be a relief to you.'

They lingered around Aziel's sleeping body until the heat had eased off enough to crouch beside her. Very carefully, Loup reached a gnarled old hand down and tried to lift the charm from Aziel's neck, but it was not to be moved. 'It's picked its wearer,' he muttered. 'Won't get it off, not easy anyway.'

'I'm not so sure it was meant for her,' said Stranger, looking at Eric.

'Then let it choose again,' said Far Gaze. He went and returned with a hunting knife.

'Don't cut her,' Stranger warned.

'Not more than I need to,' he said, lip curling. 'We can't have blood spill from our Friend and Lord's daughter, can we? Not after all he's done for us. Relax. Loup and I both know arts of healing. I promise not to enjoy myself too much.' He delicately brought the knife's tip to the necklace. The second it touched Aziel's skin the knife was flung across the room and Far Gaze was sent sprawling backward, clutching his chest. Blood gushed from his nose. 'One learns,' he muttered when his breath returned.

<script>