Part 28 (1/2)

”Oh, you saw it, lad. Not everyone can.”

”Have you ever seen it?”

”Twice.”

Frowning, Taliesin considered all that Cormach had told him. ”If the Westerlands are lost,” he said at last, ”it is up to us to hold back the darkness.”

Cormach's eyes narrowed. ”Why do you say that?”

”It must be us. We are the only ones that know; we are the only ones that can do anything.”

The Chief Druid pondered this and for a long moment sat gazing at the boy before him; fair-haired, with that high, s.h.i.+ning brow; eyes like forest pools, now blue, now deep green; long, slender limbs and torso. He would be a tall man, taller than most. Cormach gazed at him and asked, ”Who are you, Taliesin?”

The question was not unkindly put, but the boy started, his expression full of anguish. Cormach saw the youngster's distress and thought, Hafgan is right. This Taliesin is different, and one forgets he is but a boy after all. Still, how much does he know? What powers does he possess?

”I am Taliesin ap Elphin,” he replied and then admitted, ”But sometimes I think I will remember something else-thai I have only to think very hard and I will remember everything. But I never do.”

”Nor will you, lad. Not yet, at least.”

”Last night I remembered part of it-but it makes no sense to me this morning.”

”One day it will, Taliesin, if you keep watching and listening.”

”But tell me, Master, what can be done about the darkness? We must do something.”

”Each must do what he can, Taliesin. That is all that ever can be done by men. Yet, if all men did only that, it would be enough. Yes, and more than enough.”

Taliesin frowned again. ”If? Do you, mean some will not resist?”

”No, lad, they will not. Some men, it is true, have no light in them and give themselves to the darkness when it comes. It makes our task that much more difficult.”

”Then we must be all the stronger,” replied Taliesin bravely.

The Chief Druid cupped the boy's chin with his hand. ”Look on me and remember, Taliesin. Remember me to the one who is to come.” Cormach dropped his hand and slumped back exhausted.

”I will remember, Master,” Taliesin promised. ”I never will forget you.”

The old man smiled briefly, then leaned on the staff and raised himself with an effort. ”Good. Now, let us see how Blaise is doing with that fish.”

They left the clearing together, Taliesin leading the dun pony. Hafgan was sitting on his stump outside the gates; he rose and came to them as they emerged from the wood.

Cormach sent Taliesin on ahead so he could speak to Hafgan alone. ”I had another reason for coming. I wanted to tell you before word came from elsewhere.”

Hafgan nodded.

”The choice was easily made,” Corrnach continued. ”It required no hazelnut or oak water. You will be Chief Druid.”

Hafgan stopped walking and turned to his master. ”You honor me too highly.”

”I honor you not at all,” Cormach said. ”It is your right. No one else could take my place.”

Hafgan's mouth worked, but the words stuck in his throat. He turned his face toward the cliffs and the silver rirn of sea s.h.i.+mmering at the horizon.

”Do not be sorry about this,” Cormach told him. ”I am old and tired. It is time for a younger man to be Chief of the Brotherhood. I am fortunate enough to choose my own successor and can die without qualm.”

”I will go back with you” Hafgan began.

”It is not necessary.”

”Please, allow me to serve you.”

The old druid shook his head gently. ”Your place is here with the boy. Stay. You will see me again before Samhain.” He drew a breath deep into his lungs. ”Ahh, the air off the sea makes a man hungry.”

Hafgan took his arm and they started through the caer. ”We will eat and you can rest.”

”Rest?” said Cormach. ”Soon I will have my rest. I would rather talk to you, Hafgan, if you would oblige an old man by listening.”

CHAPTER SIX.

Charis did not know whether avallach was in Kellios or whether he was away on yet another campaign of his endless war against Nestor and Seithenin. She was prepared to accept either situation: to confront her father at once, or to wait patiently until he returned. She was not, however, prepared for the spectacle that greeted her.

Since meeting with Throm she had been nervous and ill-at-ease. Not because he forecast the destruction of the world- that was too fantastic to comprehend-but because she feared that she would not be allowed to see her home again. This, as the miles stretched on and on, had become an obsession for her, and she hoped with each pa.s.sing moment that she would not come too late.

But as the carriage rolled down the lowering hills to the dish-shaped harbor, Charis glimpsed the Isle of Apples floating serenely above its orchards across the bay. She sighed, feeling both pleasure and a little disappointment in the familiar sight. Nothing has changed, she mused. It is all exactly as it was the day I left.

This thought, comforting in its way, also produced a flat pang of disappointment. Something ought ought to have changed; I have been away seven years! she thought and realized that she had vaguely expected her home to have changed as much as she had in that time. to have changed; I have been away seven years! she thought and realized that she had vaguely expected her home to have changed as much as she had in that time.

All the way up the long avenue from the harbor to the palace, Charis imagined her seven-year exile to have been in vain. She would walk into the great hall and Avallach would be standing there still: arms folded across his chest, eyes hard, chin outthrust like a. a. granite cliff, his scowl dark and fierce, hiding the thunder about to break. And she would hear his voice, echoing across the polished floor, bridging the distance between them. It would be as if she had only stepped from the room a moment ago. Nothing would have changed. granite cliff, his scowl dark and fierce, hiding the thunder about to break. And she would hear his voice, echoing across the polished floor, bridging the distance between them. It would be as if she had only stepped from the room a moment ago. Nothing would have changed.

Even that might have been preferable to the scene which met her eyes as she made her way through a dim, filthy corridor toward the great cedar doors whose l.u.s.ter had been allowed to dull beneath a gray patina of dust. The palace was all but deserted. Upon her arrival she had been greeted by a young seneschal who was not at all certain who she was, then conducted without ceremony to the great hall. ”Go find An-nubi,” she ordered as the seneschal stood looking on in a dilemma of confusion and indecision. ”Tell him Charis has returned.”

The youth stumbled over himself in his eflfort to escape. Charis picked up the present she had brought for her father and turned back to the door, her haed trembling on the braided cord. She pulled; the huge panel opened without a sound and she entered the darkened hall. Even though it was bright daylight outside, the hall was steeped in twilight.

At first she thought the seneschal had led her astray and that Avallach was not there. She was just turning away when she heard a voice. ”Who is it?” The voice was a raw, rasping whisper.

She turned and walked slowly to the center of the enormous room. ”Father?”

From the dais at one end of the room came a dry cough. Charis stopped and looked toward the dais. There at the foot of the throne sat Avallach, leaning back against the footrest, legs splayed out before him. His eyes glittered back at her from the shadows.

”Eh?” he said. The utterance brought a fit of coughing that doubled him over.

”Father, it is me, Charis,” she said, coming closer.

The king raised his head and peered at her, then climbed slowly to his his feet and came toward her, walking in a strange, halting gait. She saw that he was leaning on a crutch. ”Have you brought my medicine?” he called as he came, his voice grating over the words. feet and came toward her, walking in a strange, halting gait. She saw that he was leaning on a crutch. ”Have you brought my medicine?” he called as he came, his voice grating over the words.

”It is Charis,” Charis,” she said again. ”Your daughter... I have come home.” She stared at the ruin of her father in horror. she said again. ”Your daughter... I have come home.” She stared at the ruin of her father in horror.