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we d lose, or couldn t discover enough about the enemy to see the danger. Either
way, he must have known there was a risk of failure.
Reivan shook her head. At least I m not the only person mystified by the gods.
Even the Voices don t know everything about them.
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THE LAST OF THE WILDS
Mirar stood before the wall of falling water. He reached out and touched the
sheet of liquid. The smooth, rippling surface broke around his fingers and cold
droplets ran down his bare arms, chilling him.
Get it done quickly, Leiard suggested.
Closing his eyes, Mirar leaned forward and plunged his head into the water.
The water was bone-chilling cold. He scrubbed at his scalp and beard, moving
quickly to combat the chill and hasten the rinsing. A step backward and he was
back in the air again, water trickling down his bare chest as he straightened.
Running his hands through his hair, he was pleased to find none of the stickiness
of the dye was left. He didn t relish the thought of ducking into the cold water
again. The prospect of it had discouraged him from reapplying the color for
several days.
 Don t forget your eyebrows, Emerahl had said.  If people see pale eyebrows
and dark hair, they ll know you ve been using dye. He smiled at the memory as
he carefully washed the remaining dye away with water cupped in his hands. She
hadn t said anything about dying the hair on his chest, or anywhere else, but who
would see it anyway? Nobody, while Leiard had any say in it.
A piece of cloth was ail he had to dry himself with. He started back into the
cave, rubbing at his skin to warm it.
 Wilar?
He stopped and turned back to the fall. The voice was familiar. A Siyee was
silhouetted in the entrance.
 Reel?
 It is Tyve.
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The brother, Mirar thought. They sound so alike.  Give me a moment, he called.
He hurried into the cave, quickly finished dressing, then returned to the fall with
his bag of cures. A young Siyee male was waiting at the gap between the edge of
the fall and the rock wall. He grinned as Mirar appeared.
 Have we come at a bad time?
 No, Mirar assured him.  Your company is always welcome.
The Siyee hid a smile. Their language had come back to Mirar quickly, but he
did not always understand the words or phrases they used. He suspected he used
an old-fashioned way of speaking that they found amusing, and that the puzzling
phrases and words they used were recent inventions of the last century or so.
He d met the pair some weeks ago, giving them the explanation he and Emerahl
had come up with: he had agreed to meet her here and she had communicated the
way to the cave via dream links, but when he arrived she had already left.
They understood what a Dreamweaver was. He was pleased to learn that the
Siyee still remembered Mirar through stories in which he was a benevolent
healer and wise man. To his amusement, they assumed all Dreamweavers were
male and magically powerful.
He and Tyve walked out from behind the fall and down to the edge of the pool,
where another young Siyee was waiting.
 Greetings, Wilar. I brought you some food, Reet said, holding up a small bag.
 Thank you, Mirar replied. He lifted his bag.  Have you come for more cures?
 Yes. Sizzi says your remedy worked. She wants some more. Speaker Veece s
joints are paining him now that it s getting colder. Do you have anything that
would help?
Mirar smiled.  He didn t tell you to ask, did he? You re asking for his sake.
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THE LAST OF THE WILDS
Reet grinned.  He s too proud to ask for help, but not so proud he doesn t
complain about it all the time.
Sitting down on a rock, Mirar opened his bag and considered the contents.  I ll
have to make something up. I have the wound powder and pain ease here. He
drew out a carved wooden jar and a small bag of pellets.  The pain ease is in the
bag. Use no more than four a day, and never more than two at once.
Reet took the bag and jar and stowed them in a pouch strapped to his chest.
Mirar picked up the bag of food. It was surprisingly heavy, and he heard the faint
sound of liquid sloshing inside.
 Is there& ah! He drew out a skin of Teepi.
 A gift from Sizzi, Tyve explained.
Mirar regarded the two Siyee.  Are you in a hurry to return?
They shook their heads and grinned. Unplugging the skin, Mirar took a sip of the
liqueur. A tart, nutty flavor filled his mouth. He swallowed, savoring the warmth
that filled his stomach and began to spread to his limbs. He handed the skin to
Tyve.
 Any news? he asked.
Tyve drank and handed the skin to Reet.  Priests have reached the Open.
They re going to teach the Siyee who want to become priests and priestesses.
Mirar sighed. The Siyee had been free from all but Huan s influence for
centuries, and the goddess hadn t meddled in their lives much since she had
finished creating them. Once the Siyee had priests and priestesses they would be
encouraged to worship all five gods, some of which were more inclined to mess
about with people s lives.
 You don t look pleased to hear it, Reet observed.
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Mirar looked at the young man, then shook his head.  No.
 Why not?
 I& I don t like the thought of the Siyee being ruled by the gods, and their
landwalker servants.
Tyve frowned.  You mink that is what will happen?
 Maybe.
 Is this a bad thing? Reet asked, shrugging.  The gods can protect us.
 You were safer when you were apart from the rest of the world.
 The world invaded us, Reet reminded him.
 Ah, you re right. The Toren settlers did, in their fashion. I guess you could not
have remained separate or safe forever.
 You do not worship the gods? Tyve asked.
Mirar took the skin from Reet and put it aside. He shook his head.  No.
Dreamweavers do not serve gods. They help people. The gods& don t like that.
 Why not?
 They like to be worshipped, to control all mortals. They don t like that
Dreamweavers don t worship or obey them. When we help others, they think we
reduce their influence on those we help.
Tyve frowned.  Do they punish you for it?
Memories of crushing stone and a crippled body crept close. Mirar pushed them
away.  They ordered Juran of the White to kill our leader. At their urging,
Circlians turned against Dreamweavers. Many were killed. Though this does not
happen now, those few of my people who brave the life of a Dreamweaver are
scorned and persecuted by Circlians everywhere.
The two Siyee regarded Mirar in dismay.  The Circlians are our allies, Tyve
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THE LAST OF THE WILDS [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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