Firewalk (36 page)

There were too many thoughts between Randon and Kayli to allow for lovemaking that night, but late in the night, still helplessly awake, Kayli slid her hand across the covers, where it met Randon’s hand moving to reach for hers. They lay silent in the darkness, not looking at each other, only their hands joined together in the night, and Kayli thought that in many ways that said it all—that they both lay in darkness, fumbling for each other’s hand. But as long as they both were still reaching, she thought with something like satisfaction, they would find a way to touch, no matter how far apart they lay.

Chapter Thirteen

By the Bright Ones, I still can’t imagine how your menfolk manage these things,” Randon said irritably. “Show me one more time, will you?”

Kayli chuckled and, for the third morning in a row, showed Randon how to lace the supple hide jaffs over his trousers.

“But why trouble yourself?” she asked practically. “There are no sharp grasses here to cut your legs, and the weather is too hot to wear leather if you need not.”

“Well, you told me your father would likely want a hunt,” Randon said, swearing as he picked at a hopeless tangle of lacing. “And where will the High Lord of Bregond want to hunt? In Bregond, of course. So I’ll be riding through Bregondish high grass. So unless I want my legs cut to ribbons, I’ve got to wear these things. And unless I want to look as inept as a lad at his first bedding, I’ve got to learn how to put the damned things on properly
before
the High Lord sees me. So I need practice.”

“Your dagger would draw more easily,” Kayli said solemnly, “if you did not lace the jaffs over it.” She fought down a giggle as Randon realized his mistake, swore bitterly, and began unlacing the jaffs again.

“Somehow I think I’d embarrass myself less if I simply told your father I was too incompetent to ride and shoot,” Randon muttered grimly. “Never mind, the damned thing’s staying on, and that’s a victory of sorts. Well, at least I’ve had time to learn to ride that mare properly.”

Kayli had to admit that Randon’s mastery of Bregondish horsemanship had been swift. He now rode as if Carada was an extension of himself, as easy in the Bregondish saddle as Seba, who rode as if she had grown out of a horse’s back. He learned quickly, too, to shoot the bow Kayli had given him, although she suspected that he still preferred the Agrondish crossbow and was using her gift only to please her. In the same vein, Kayli flew the hawk Randon had given her but could not share his enthusiasm for falconry. No matter; she enjoyed simply riding again, and her spirit lightened with every hour.

Kayli had seen little of Agrond’s countryside in her helter-skelter flight through the rain to Tarkesh, and now she wondered at its lush beauty. The recent rains and the warm summer sun had brought forth plants in such variety that she wondered how Ynea had ever hoped to catalog even a small portion of them. Flowers bloomed in such a profusion of scent and color that Kayli understood why the people of Agrond dressed in such gay shades; when the earth itself sent forth such colorful exuberance, how could the people help but follow suit?

In the days since they left Tarkesh, the farms had thinned out and gradually disappeared as the caravan approached the border. Kayli wondered at this, for the land was good and apparently did not flood so severely as the farms farther to the east. Randon assured her that it was not fear of Bregond that kept farmers from settling here.

“For one thing, Sarkondish raiders become more of a problem close to the border,” he told her. “And for another, it’s a long trip to take crops and livestock to market. As long as there’s still good land closer to the cities and towns, there’s no reason to settle the wilds. Besides, these lands aren’t held by any of the lords. That means no protection for the farmers.”

Kayli wondered at folk who would rather live under the hand of a lord, depending on his protection and surrendering a part of their crops in return, than claim the best land in Agrond and live free. Bregondish were not much given to fanning; the land was simply too poor. But Kayli believed that any of her people would gladly take the good land all the more gladly for their independence.

As they had left the more heavily settled part of Agrond, game, too, was present in gratifying variety, although Kayli and Randon quickly learned that if they wished to hunt, they must range ahead of the noisy caravan. Seba often joined these hunts after Kayli spied her gazing wistfully after them, and although Seba had no bow of her own and refused the use of Kayli’s, her proficiency with a sling was amazing. The child could fire with deadly accuracy from a full gallop, bringing down anything smaller than a large deer or boar.

Kayli had feared that it would rain, as it had when she first journeyed to Tarkesh, but the weather remained bright and warm, perfect for riding. She let her braids down to stream behind her in the wind and she raced Randon whenever the guards would let them out of sight long enough for a good run. Each evening when they camped, Kayli would help Seba and the maids rub down and comb the horses, and in the morning she would rise before dawn with Seba and run through the dewy grass hunting rabbits. Her morning nausea had vanished as suddenly as it had come, and she thought wistfully that perhaps she had never been so happy. Even in the Order her days had been filled with tasks and studies; surely she’d never had so much time and freedom to ride and enjoy herself. And ahead of her lay the even greater joy of seeing her family again.

Even as Kayli enjoyed each day, however, Randon grew more worried.

“It’s easy for you,” he said one evening as they sat staring into the fire. “He’s your father. But to me he’s the ruler of a country that’s been our enemy for generations. It’s so damned important that I make a good impression.”

“At least,” Kayli said amusedly, “you do not have to marry him. And you have Lord Kereg, Lady Tarkas, and Lord Disian to advise you.”

To Randon and Kayli’s dismay, the advisers had solved the dilemma over whether to remain in Tarkesh to oversee Terralt’s rulership or journey to the border to advise Randon by splitting the council. Lord Kereg, Lady Tarkas, and Lord Disian, whose areas of knowledge were most applicable to establishing trade with Bregond, would accompany Randon; the others would remain to assist Terralt. Kayli was glad that at least Lord Vyr, Minister of the Army, had not chosen to accompany them; her father might well have seen that as a veiled threat. Thankfully the ministers did not enjoy the rough travel and kept to themselves in their own comfortable wagons, not troubling Randon or herself overmuch except for the endless questions over dinner—and could Kayli please tell them how to say
this
phrase, or
that
one, just one more time?

More worrisome, however, was evidence of past Sarkondish raids. Occasionally the caravan passed ruined and burned-out houses, and once an entire burned village, although Randon assured Kayli that the ruins must be at least half a century old. Still, even though it was nearly sunset and clouds were gathering ominously overhead, Kayli insisted that they continue out of the area of the ruins before camping. It was the worst ill fortune to sleep where the dead had never received the proper rituals, for such spirits often lingered, bringing terrible dreams.

It seemed, too, that the village was the ill omen that Kayli thought it, for they had only just stopped to camp when the first drops of rain fell and thunder grumbled through the clouds. By the time the tents were pitched, everyone was drenched, and Kayli eagerly retired to her tent to change into dry clothes. So much for the beautiful summer weather.

“Well, here’s the wood,” Randon said, bringing in an armload of branches and dumping them into the small pit at the middle of the tent. “It’s pretty wet, I’m afraid.”

He glanced at Kayli thoughtfully.

“Why don’t you just light it?” he suggested.

Kayli hesitated. She could not explain to Randon her reluctance to use her magic. How could he understand her fear of lighting one branch when she’d walked through a blazing fire-pit? At last she picked up two of the branches, but for safety’s sake, she moved to the opening of the tent.

She focused intently on the first piece of wood. For a moment her magic refused to answer to her summons; then the power surged out of her with lightning force, sending a sharp spear of pleasure through Kayli that nearly toppled her. The branch blazed up in a wave of white-hot light, and startled, Kayli cried out, dropping it; she heard Randon cry out also, somewhere behind her. She stepped back hurriedly, lest her loose trousers catch fire, but when she looked down, she was amazed to see that the branch had shivered completely to ash, instantly consumed by the fire she had conjured.

For a moment Kayli fumbled for some excuse to make to Randon, but that was foolish; he’d seen clearly enough what had happened. Instead she focused more tightly on the second piece of wood, calmed herself as best she could, and tried again. This time, with careful self-discipline she was able to kindle the wood without unleashing such power as she had before. Oh, but she would have to speak to Brisi, to ask the High Priestess what had gone awry within her, and what could be done to remedy it!

To Kayli’s surprise, when she walked back into the tent and thrust the burning branch into the stack of wood in the firepit, she did not see Randon immediately. Glancing around the tent, she finally located him in a corner, huddled on the floor, clasping his head as if it would burst.

“Randon?” Kayli asked worriedly, falling to her knees beside him. “Are you unwell?” The fire was catching, and there was a little more light; to her alarm, Randon’s pupils were contracted to mere pinpricks, and a thin trickle of blood ran from his nose.

“Bright Ones,” Randon mumbled. “I don’t—”

“Where is your potion?” Kayli asked when he said nothing more.

“Left it at home,” Randon grunted. “Endra said I wouldn’t need it.”

“Well, did she not teach you how to deal with this?” Kayli asked him.

“Trying—I’m trying,” Randon snapped. “It doesn’t work.”

“What did she tell you?”

“She said—” Randon took a deep breath, as if trying to gather his thoughts. “Said to picture the pain as a light at the top of my head, force it down through my body and out the soles of my feet. But every time I try, it won’t go into the ground. It just goes back up.”

Kayli shook her head helplessly. She had never heard anything of the sort, but of course she had never had to deal with a problem such as Randon’s. If only Stevann had come with them! But in view of the spring floods, would-be assassins, and riots, Randon had reluctantly decided that his trusted mage was more urgently needed at the castle.

Not knowing what else to do, Kayli took a cloth outside, let the rain wet it thoroughly, and brought it back in, kneeling to wipe the blood from Randon’s upper lip. The moment she touched him, however, a snapping sensation ran up her arm, and Randon rocked backward, crying out in pain. Kayli reached for him instinctively, only to draw her hand back in confusion.

Stunned, she rubbed her hand, which still tingled slightly. Of course! Endra had not seen the obvious, but then, neither had Kayli.

Randon had Awakened Kayli; she knew that he had at least a trace of the fire magic. Those were the energies Randon turned inward upon himself.
And the ephemeral elemental magics, air and fire, were not grounded.

“Randon, listen to me,” she said, steadying her voice and speaking slowly. “What Endra told you was wrong. Do as I tell you and all will be well. Put out your hand—no, do not touch me. Yes, like that.” Kayli extended her own hand until her fingertips were mere hairbreadths from Randon’s. “Think of how you strike a spark from flint and steel, how that spark leaps to the tinder. Take the light in your head and send it to your hand, and see it jump, like a spark to the tinder, to my hand. Strike it free, as you would that spark.”

For a long moment nothing happened, and Kayli wondered whether she had been wrong, whether Randon could not focus his concentration sufficiently. Then a small flash of light seemed to leap from his hand to hers with a shock of pleasure that made her gasp. Randon fell back again, but this time his gasp was one of relief, not pain.

Kayli wanted to go to him, but she forced herself to stay where she was. Untrained, Randon was vulnerable to her magic, and her touch while he was completely unguarded only charged him with more energies he could not control. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply as Brisi had taught her, banking down the Flame inside her so that it burned quietly deep within her, ready at her command but controlled. When she was certain of her mastery, she opened her eyes again and gingerly laid her hand on Randon’s shoulder. When nothing happened, she allowed herself her own sigh of relief before she retrieved the wet rag and wiped his face gently with it.

“Are you all right now?” she asked gently. “Please forgive me. I think your pain was my fault this time.“

“I don’t see how it could be,” Randon said, forcing a chuckle although his face was still white and drawn. “I’ve been having those headaches for years, well before you came. But whatever you did to stop it, you certainly have my most heartfelt thanks. Even Stevann’s potion never worked that quickly.” He took a few deep breaths, then glanced at Kayli.

“Can you tell me what that was you did?” he asked eagerly. “I’d like to remember the trick of it for next time.”

“Your headaches,” Kayli said slowly. “Did they begin after your first sexual experience?”

Randon’s eyebrows raised, but he nodded

“In our Orders,” Kayli told him, “we take a tea to calm our bodily energies until we have progressed far enough in our studies to control our magic, for magical and sexual energies are closely entwined. Then when we are Awakened, we have mastery over that magic. In your case, however, you were never trained, but I believe that at some time you were Awakened, your latent magical ability made active. As you had no way of controlling such energies, they turned inward, causing you pain.”