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if she had been but a kotta blossom floating there.
19
Yatlan was very old, the silence laid by time had curtained it for so long.
Now lamps blazed in windows of those buildings fronting on the pool, the way
to the garden. There were scuttling noises of passage here and there. The
Hassitti, near hysterical with joy, were searching out all which they could
offer for the comfort of these who had at long last returned.
Around Kadiya the glory of the night garden closed and eased her, mind and
body. One hand still rested on the flask which was now empty. She had served
the wishes of those behind the far wall  there were no longer any statues
silent on the stairs without. Men and women of another blood busied themselves
in the buildings which had once sheltered them. She was not sure what they
searched for  armor such as Lamaril wore, yes, and perhaps weapons far more
potent even than the sword which was hers.
In what could be a small breathing time of peace she drew to her all the
quiet healing of the garden, watching with sleep-heavy eyes those flying
lights weave their patterns from flower to leaf to flower.
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The swamp had always fascinated her for all its murk and dangers. That place
beyond the wall had been all beauty without any perils. This Kadiya sighed.
Even now when she had tried to let down all her defenses, put aside all her
impatience, still she felt alien. Where did she by rights belong? She had
arrogantly claimed the swamp when she had left the Citadel. No, the court was
not for her. Anigel would reign correctly and proudly from a throne which was
meant for a Queen. Haramis, in her northern mountains, would live for her
learning, ea¬ger to grasp always more and more of that which would strengthen
her inner Powers. When this peril was passed  if Kadiya did survive its
passing  what then? Resolutely she pushed away that question.
Kadiya had tried a short time ago to once more communicate with Haramis, via
Salin's scrying bowl, but there had been no response. Was her sister now
aroused to danger also and on the move from her eyrie to route out traces of
the Dark?
She lifted her head a little. Her hair was tightly braided except for the
crown where the locks were still short from her shearing. Her skin was
scratched, her body thin  though at least she had had the chance to bathe
with what small luxuries the Hassitti could provide. It had been most
necessary to refuse the jewels, the remains of fine robes, they pressed on her
to wear. Once more she went in the mail which had been given her in the Place
of the Flower.
A slight sound behind alerted her  one of the Hassitti come to ask again, as
they had for hours, what she wished?
' 'A place for dreaming  ''
Though it came by mind touch, that speech was not from any Hassitti. Kadiya
looked back and would have arisen but Lamaril would not have it so. He waved
her back to drop down beside her, his mail scraping the stone.
"Does it," she asked a question which had been with her most of this day,
"give you anger, sadness, to see Yatlan as it now is?"
When he did not answer she was abashed. Per¬haps in her usual impetuous way
she had invaded where she should never have stepped. In this dusk light she
could not clearly see his face. This might well have been a place which he
remembered with joy and pleasure.
"You see deep," his message came at last. "These walls contain that which is
like a dream wherein one returns to childhood, seeking all that which was
warmth and goodness then. It is a shadow of some¬thing which was  But it is
not well to allow shad¬ows to curtain what now exists. I knew the Yatlan that
was. This is a different Yatlan and one I must learn again ... if we are given
the time."
"The mountains..." She dropped hand to sword hilt.
"The mountains await us," he agreed. "Salin has spoken with others of her
kind. The dreamer of the Hassitti has had some things to tell us. Yes, the
Dark is returning to loose the old evil. And evil it was."
"What must we do then?" She could understand
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a battle with men, with Skritek, such as they had faced during the invasion.
Was this a time when she must summon Anigel and Haramis, and somehow have them
reweld the talisman into one mighty weapon?
"They sleep. Five wait for the one who returns from Varm to awaken them
fully. They are the lords of the Dark whom we could not slay at the ending.
Thus we bound them  sealed them with such forces as we believed could never
be broken."
"Until Orogastus troubled and meddled. But if you could not put an end to
them once, how can we hope to do so now?" Kadiya asked.
"In slumber they are powerless. We must stop that messenger before he awakens
them. But, King's Daughter of another day, your part is already played  ''
A small heat flared up within Kadiya. Was she now to be dismissed, like a
child who had run some small errand but must not trouble her elders when they
were about their more important business?
"This is indeed another day." She tried to tamp down her quickness of temper,
to impress upon him without any show of what she felt. "Some tens of days ago
I gave Oath to serve the mires  both peo¬ples and land. Those of my race do
not usually know the swamp ways. But from a child this waterlogged land has
drawn me. When I called the Nyssomu, the Uisgu also came battle
ready something they had never done for any of my blood, even Krain my father.
"What touches this land, what threatens this land is a matter for me, since
this is my time. In this very
garden was a weapon fitted to my hand." She had drawn the sword, held it out.
The eyes were fully open, though they shot forth no vengeful fire. Rather it
was as if they were truly using sight, studying her, even Lamaril. "As long as
this is mine, Lord Guardian, then what happens in any mire bat¬tle is of my
concern." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]