Part 18 (1/2)

Mirda shook her head. ”I fear not, sister. In the end, the splinter will work its magic. All the goodness in his heart, all the loyalty and kindness, will be replaced by shadow. There is nothing that can be done for him. Except for one thing.”

Grace staggered back. ”What are you talking about?”

”Take this.” Mirda pressed a small vial into her hand. ”It is a tincture of barrow root. A single drop brings an end, swift and painless. Keep watch on your friend, and before it is too late, you must give it to him.”

Grace stared, cold horror spilling into her chest. ”I can't,” she said, choking. ”I won't.”

Mirda closed Grace's fingers around the vial. ”You must, sister, if you love him as you say you do. He would never want to become what the splinter will make of him.”

It was too much. Grace couldn't breathe. She staggered toward the door. ”I have to go.”

”So you do, sister,” Mirda said, nodding. ”I will be there to see you off when you ride from the castle.”

Grace hardly heard her. Her head swam, and she was shaking. She wanted to throw the vial down, only somehow her hand wouldn't let go of it. A single drop brings an end, swift and painless. . . . A single drop brings an end, swift and painless. . . .

She pushed through the door and ran down the hall, past the suits of armor. They seemed to stare at her, like specters forged of cruel metal. Her nightgown tangled around her feet, tripping her, and she started to fall.

Strong arms gripped her, holding her upright.

”My lady, what is wrong?” spoke a deep, familiar voice.

She blinked and saw Durge's craggy face in the gloom. The knight wore riding gear and a mail s.h.i.+rt. Panic seized her. How long had he been out here in the hall? Had he heard what she and Mirda had been talking about? She gripped the vial so hard she thought it must shatter, but it didn't.

”Durge,” she managed to croak. ”What are you doing here?”

”Looking for you, my lady. And I'm lucky to have found you, as I was just pa.s.sing by the door to this hall when I saw you come running this way.”

Grace tried not to breathe too obvious a sigh of relief. He hadn't entered the hall until after she had left the antechamber. That meant there was no way he could have heard her conversation with Mirda.

”I came to your chamber at dawn,” Durge went on. ”However, I found only Tira playing a game with a serving maid, so I came in search of you. Your army gathers even now in the lower bailey. We are to ride forth in an hour.” His mustaches descended in a frown as he took in her tangled nightgown. ”I must say, my lady, this is hardly proper riding attire. You will freeze to death before we travel a league.”

”Sorry,” she said. ”I'll change.”

And despite her fear, she found herself laughing. Whatever the iron splinter would make of him, right now he was still Durge-good, dear, gloomy Durge. As long as she had the Embarran by her side, she was going to enjoy every moment of it. She threw her arms around his stooped shoulders, much to his obvious surprise.

”Thank you, Durge.”

He hesitated, then wrapped his strong arms around her. ”Whatever for, my lady?”

”For being you.”

He let out a rumbling breath. ”Well, I can't say I give being me very much thought or effort. But all the same, you're welcome, my lady.”

An hour later, Grace glanced out the window of her chamber to see the sun cresting the castle's battlements. In the last few minutes Durge had checked on her twice and Sir Tarus once, and the servants had already taken her things. Everyone would be waiting for her in the lower bailey.

”I have to go now, Tira,” she said.

The girl sat in front of the fire, playing with one of her half-burnt dolls. Grace knelt beside her, though the action was made awkward by the scabbard belted at her side. Fellring's hilt jabbed her in the kidney, and she grimaced as she readjusted the sword. How did Beltan wear one of these blasted things all the time?

”Tira, do you understand what I'm saying?”

It was always so hard to know if she was getting through. Tira still hadn't spoken a word since they left the Black Tower. Grace smoothed back the girl's tangled red hair and touched her chin, so that she stopped her playing and looked up.

”I'm going to be going on a journey, to a place very far away from here, and I'm afraid you can't come. It's not that I don't want you to.” Grace drew in a breath, shocked at how difficult this was. ”I'm going to miss you so much. But where I'm going is too . . .that is, it's not a place for children. It's all right, though-you'll have Aryn and Lirith and Sareth here to take care of you, so you'll be safe. And I'll come back to you soon. I promise.”

Tira smiled-though the expression did not touch the scarred side of her face-then bent back over her doll. Grace sighed, hoping it had been enough. She caught the girl in a tight hug, rocking her, kissing her head. At last, fearing she would weep, she rose quickly and left the room.

Waiting outside was a slender man with a pointed blond beard and a silver-gray cloak.

”Aldeth,” she gasped, clutching a hand to her chest. ”You startled me.”

The Spider smiled, revealing rotten teeth. ”I may have been discarded by Queen Inara like a soiled handkerchief, but it seems I've still got the touch.”

Grace frowned at him. ”Durge sent you, didn't he?”

”Tarus, actually. Durge was too busy having an apoplectic seizure. Something about how if we don't leave immediately, the army won't get a league from the castle before it's time to set up camp. I didn't catch the rest. He was too busy swelling up and turning red. Do you think Embarrans can burst?”

”We'd better not find out,” Grace said, wincing. ”I'm ready now. I just had to say good-bye to someone.”

The Spider let out a snort. ”You should do what I do, my lady, and avoid getting to like other people. That way it's never hard to say good-bye.”

Somehow those were the saddest words Grace had ever heard. Maybe because they reminded her of herself not long ago.

”Oh, Aldeth,” she said and touched his cheek.

When they reached the castle's lower bailey, they found it empty save for a scattering of sheep and peasants. For an absurd moment Grace wondered if she had missed the departure of her own army. But no, there were Durge and Tarus, both walking swiftly toward her.

”Your force awaits you below the castle, my lady,” Durge said. Aldeth was right. His cheeks and neck were red as holly berries.

”I prefer to think of the army as being all of ours, Durge,” she said with a wry smile.

He glowered and grew a touch redder.

Tarus took her arm and steered her toward the castle gate. ”If you don't mind my saying, my queen, I'd lay off the jests. At least until we're well on the road.”

”Understood,” Grace said with a nod.

They pa.s.sed by the remains of the ruined guard tower-the rebuilding had only barely begun-and through the castle gate. As they reached the other side, Grace's heart skipped in her chest. Perhaps Aldeth was right; perhaps growing to love people was not worth the pain of saying good-bye.

Except it was, no matter how much it hurt. Lirith and Aryn rushed up to her, catching her in a fierce embrace.

Sisters, she spoke in her mind. she spoke in her mind.

Hush, Grace, came Aryn's voice over the threads of the Weirding. came Aryn's voice over the threads of the Weirding. You don't have to speak. We just came here to let you know how proud of you we are. You don't have to speak. We just came here to let you know how proud of you we are.

You are brave, sister, Lirith spoke, her voice as true and warm as sunlight. Lirith spoke, her voice as true and warm as sunlight. Braver than any of us. We will think of you every moment while you're away, and we will speak prayers to Sia for your safety. Braver than any of us. We will think of you every moment while you're away, and we will speak prayers to Sia for your safety.

And we'll speak to you, too, Aryn said. Aryn said. I know I'll always be able to find you now, no matter where you go. The Weirding will guide me to you. I know I'll always be able to find you now, no matter where you go. The Weirding will guide me to you.