Part 33 (2/2)

The shapes.h.i.+fter turned on the prince, who flung his dagger at it. The pretty little weapon bounced harmlessly off the creature and clattered on the floor. Gavril brandished his Circle. ”By my faith, I order you back!” The shapes.h.i.+fter s.h.i.+mmered and suddenly took man-form again. It laughed, a horrible guttural sound that could never have been made by a mortal throat, then s.h.i.+fted back into its true form. It flapped its wings and snapped at Gavril, unfazed by his religious talisman.

Gavril's face had turned white. His hand trembled as it held the Circle even higher. ”This is a holy object.

It must drive you back!” The shapes.h.i.+fter lunged again, snapping its poisonous jaws right in Gavril's face. He dropped his Circle and cringed back, flinging up his hands to ward off the creature. ”No! No!” he screamed in terror. Dain was the closest to the prince. Without thinking, he whirled around and grabbed a handful of salt from the seasoning bowl on the table, then stooped and picked up Truthseeker. The embroidered cloth fell away from the carved blade as Dain swung it up and around.

The shapes.h.i.+fter seized the prince in its talons and reared back its snakelike head to strike. Running to them, Dain flung his handful of salt at the monster and shouted, ”By salt and holy steel do I banish you from this world!” The salt stung the hide of the shapes.h.i.+fter, which shrieked in agony and began to flail like something crazed. One of its wing tips nearly knocked Dain off his feet. Ducking, he regained his balance, but the shapes.h.i.+fter's talons were tearing long gashes in Gavril's legs. The prince screamed.

Gripping Truthseeker with both hands, Dain lifted the heavy sword. In that instant, he felt its power come to life, channeling up his wrists and arms all the way to his heart. He heard himself say words that he did not understand, yet they made the very air thunder. His bard crystal pendant sang a note so piercing and pure that Dain's ears rang. He swung with all his might.

Bursting into flames as it whistled through the air, the G.o.d-steel blade sliced through the shapes.h.i.+fter's thin neck and set it afire. In seconds, the creature's entire body was ablaze. It screamed and shrieked, writhing in its death throes, then exploded into ashes that rained down upon Dain. In the sudden silence, the air reeked of smoke and Nonkind stench. Truthseeker's blade flashed fire a moment longer, its power shaking Dain's teeth. He could feel his whole body glowing and his hair standing on end. Then the flames went out, the light in the sword dimmed, its power faded away, and it became once more just a weapon of surpa.s.sing beauty.

Dain stood there, feeling weightless and light-headed. He could hear a roaring sound, muted and far away. He saw individual faces that he recognized in flickers of clarity. Thum, his freckles standing out boldly in his white face. Sir Bosquecel kneeling over Lord Odfrey, who was holding his head and trying to sit up. Sir Polquin, also on his knees, his lips moving but no sound coming forth. And Gavril, lying on the floor near Dain, torn and b.l.o.o.d.y. The prince was crying with pain and the aftermath of his fear, but he was alive. Dain drew a deep breath, feeling neither relief nor regret, feeling nothing at all. He had saved the life of his enemy; that was all he knew. Suddenly Truthseeker was too heavy to hold. He struggled with it, knowing he must not insult the blade by dropping it on the floor.

A hand gripped Dain's wrist, then gently took the hilt from his b.l.o.o.d.y grasp. He realized dimly that his wound must have opened. He could feel blood running down his arm inside his sleeve.

The hand belonged to Sir Terent. His ruddy face entered the diminis.h.i.+ng circle of Dain's vision and knotted itself with concern. ”Dain,” he said. ”Release the sword.”

Dain thought he had, but when he looked down, his fingers were still gripped, knuckle-white, around the gold-wire hilt. Frowning, he forced his fingers to loosen.

Sir Terent reverently took the sword away and handed it to someone that Dain could not see. The absence of Truthseeker's weight was a relief. Now Dain had nothing left to anchor him. He felt himself floating farther and farther away. ”Dain,” Sir Terent said. ”Dain, lad!” But the mists closed around Dain, and he was gone.

When he next opened his eyes, the sun was s.h.i.+ning through a narrow window straight onto his face.

Squinting, Dain tried to lift his head, but it weighed too much.

The pungent smell of herbs wafted beneath his nostrils, making him sneeze. Sulein bent over him, smiling through his dark, frizzy beard. ”Ah, he is with us again. This is good.” Dain glanced around, but he did not recognize the small, whitewashed room. Its shuttered windows were open to admit the fragrant summer air. He lay in a tall bed with heavy posts. Sulein retreated, and Lord Odfrey appeared at Dain's bedside.

The chevard looked solemn and troubled. A bruise marred his brow, but otherwise he looked hale. He seated himself gently on the side of the bed and stared down at Dain.

”How are you, lad?” he asked. His voice was gruff, and he cleared it loudly.

Dain considered the question. ”Hungry.” Amus.e.m.e.nt lit the chevard's dark eyes. His smiled warmed his face and took the sternness away. Turning his head, he asked Sulein to convey a message to the kitchen, then he swung his gaze back to Dain.

”What,” he asked mildly, ”shall I do with you?” Memory was returning to Dain fast. He frowned, feeling his worries return. ”The trial,” he said. ”Will it finish today?”

”The trial is over,” Lord Odfrey said. ”No fault was found in you.”

Dain grinned with relief. ”No fault?”

”None. You saved Prince Gavril's life in front of us all, or don't you remember?”

Dain frowned, the memories bobbing and turning in his mind. ”Has his wound been salted and cleansed in the proper way?”

”Aye. And after all Gavril has done against you, I marvel that you care.” Dain's frown deepened to a scowl. Lord Odfrey mistook his concern. He cared nothing for the prince. But if darkness should possess Gavril through tainted wounds, everyone in the hold would be at risk.

”How the shapes.h.i.+fter got in past our safeguards, the priest still has not explained to my satisfaction,”

Lord Odfrey said. ”These are troubled times we face, now that Nether no longer stands against them with us. Had you not been there, Dain, many would have surely died, the prince among them.” Dain looked away, and could not feel entirely glad. ”Gavril is not wholly bad-hearted,” Lord Odfrey said softly as though reading Dain's mind. ”Just spoiled and ill-taught by ambitious men. He was mistaken in his belief that you meant him harm.” Dain sat bolt upright. ”I never attacked him!” he said furiously. ”There was no mistake about-” ”Dain,” Lord Odfrey said, gripping his hand. ”Hush. The matter is closed. You are cleared of all accusation.”

”But he-he-”

”It is over,” Lord Odfrey said in a tone that permitted no further discussion.

”Be glad.”

Dain sighed and nodded, knowing he must do as Lord Odfrey advised. Perhaps Gavril had learned a lesson from this experience. Perhaps now he would be more tolerant of beliefs that were not his own.

Perhaps he might even see some good use in having an eld around.

”Was he much hurt?” Dain asked. ”His leg will pain him for a while, but he will mend,” Lord Odfrey said. ”By the king's birthday, he'll be well enough to do his part in his knighting ceremonies.”

The king's tournament. Dain nodded, feeling fresh disappointment wash through him. He would see none of the festivities at Savroix, but at least he was alive and not to be punished. He could accept that as enough. ”Lord,” he said, gazing up at Lord Odfrey, ”there is something I would ask you.”

”Yes?”

”It's about Thum.”

”Yes?”

”You have no squire,” Dain said, frowning as he sought the best way to phrase his request, ”and Thum would be good in the job.”

”Would he?” Lord Odfrey said. His voice was neutral. His dark eyes held no expression at all.

This was not promising. Dain frowned and tried to think of a way to persuade him. ”Thum is smart, lord, and loyal. He never loses things. He works hard. He would make you a worthy squire.”

”Thank you for your advice, even if it is unasked for,” Lord Odfrey said. ”I have already placed him in that post.”

Dain's gaze flashed up, and he smiled, although to his surprise his spirits suddenly felt lower than before.

So Thum would be the one foster permitted to go to Savroix later this summer. Well, he deserved the trip. He was a hard worker and a good friend. But somewhere beneath Dain's gladness lay an empty feeling that he could not drive away.

”Now enough about Thum,” Lord Odfrey said. ”The knights ended your trial, but there are other matters between you and me that are not settled.” Dain swallowed hard, expecting lecture and punishment. ”Yes, lord?” Lord Odfrey stared at him, and with a sudden frown stood up and began to pace back and forth.

”d.a.m.ne,” he muttered. ”I came here prepared to reprimand you for leaving the hold without permission, for not governing your d.a.m.nable temper as you should, for causing me more worry than a man should have to endure. Never do that to me again.”

Dain stared at him in surprise. ”No, lord,” he said after a moment. ”I won't.” ”You must learn discipline.

An order is an order. If you like or dislike it, that does not matter. If your commander cannot count on you to obey him in all areas, then he cannot depend on you in battle either.” Dain hung his head. ”Am I to be flogged?”

”Thod knows you deserve it,” Lord Odfrey said grimly, then paused next to Dain and ruffled his hair with a gentle hand. ”But, no. I think you've been through enough.”

Relief filled Dain, and a great weight came off his shoulders. He glanced up and saw Lord Odfrey smiling at him. Dain smiled back, glad that they were friends again.

”Impossible brat,” Lord Odfrey said with feeling. ”How did you learn to swing a sword like that? How did you make it flash fire hot enough to destroy a Nonkind?”

”But it will always do so against them,” Dain said in surprise. ”Truthseeker is-” ”It is not made ofmagicked metal!” Lord Odfrey said too quickly, as though he perhaps feared that it really was. ”I do not own a weapon that is forbidden by Writ.”

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