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"You are the Lady Aradia's guest," Lenardo replied. "I would not attempt to
Read you unless she requested it."
"Yes," murmured Lilith, "I am Aradia's guest. What are you to her, Lenardo?"
"We have ... an agreement," he replied. "If you understood the Reader's Code,
you would not fear my betrayal"
"Lilith," said Aradia, "I hope before we leave here to show you that an Adept
and a Reader can work together for a common good. But for now . . . Lenardo,
will yon please Read Drakonius' stronghold again and tell me whether he is
ready to move out?"
"Yes, my lady."
He bowed and left the room, half hearing Lilith's question to Aradia, "Are
you his lady?" Deliberately, he did not Read them, and so did not hear the
answer.
Drakonius, Lenardo found, was not yet ready to move. In his stronghold
Lenardo could locate only one other Adept, a young woman twenty at most, he
judged. As he had learned that Adepts, like Readers, did not come into their
full powers until midlife, this could not be one of Drakonius' powerful
allies. An apprentice, perhaps he could have overlooked her on the other
Readings. It was only too easy for a Reader to miss an Adept amid the clutter
of other thoughts. Avoiding Galen, he Read room by room through the entire
stronghold.
When he reported his findings to Aradia, she asked, "Was Drakonius making
preparations to feed and shelter an army?"
"No in fact, even using the beach as part of the camp, he doesn't have room
for as many men as you have already gathered."
"Then he plans to meet them elsewhere," said Aradia. "If only I could have a
Reader there in his ranks, to inform you if anything happened . . ." She
sighed. "Have you Read my father today?"
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"This afternoon. No change. I will check again before I sleep."
"Thank you, Lenardo." She reached for his hand, and he forced himself not to
withdraw as a Reader normally would. He was getting used to the way the
savages touched each other constantly, meaning nothing by it.
But Aradia's hand was warm on his, and he felt a pleasant tension between
them. The wrong time, he thought, and then was surprised at the thought no
time was the right time for a Master Reader. Something in Aradia's eyes held
him, a puzzled longing ... He mentally shook himself. Fm flattering myself. I
can't Read her, and so I imagine she desires . . . No. Aradia had made no
overt advances since the day of the infamous bath. Now she was simply grateful
for his help. As if to confirm his interpretation, she merely squeezed his
hand, saying, "You won't regret helping me, Lenardo. I promise  you won't
regret it."
In the morning, Lenardo found things much the same with Drakonius. The camp
was designed to move at a moment's notice; he could detect no sign that notice
had been given. He decided to Read Nerius before he went down to breakfast.
In the room above his, the woman Yula was sleeping soundly in the comfortable
armchair. But Nerius
Lenardo ran down the staircase to the great hall. Reading for Aradia, he
finally found her inspecting a new contingent of troops at the lower end of
the back field.
He was breathless by the time he reached her side. "Aradia my lady it's
Nerius. He's sleeping." At her puzzled look, he added, "He's just sleeping."
Her eyes widened. "Karl, take over here! Where's Wulfston?"
"At breakfast," said Lenardo as they ran back toward the castle. The back
door was propped open now, the path between field and castle already well
worn.
"Wulfston, come with us, please," called Aradia as they hurried through the
great hall and up the stairs. The young Adept left his place without question
and followed them to Nerius' room.
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Aradia was first in and went directly to the bedside. Lenardo heard her gasp
"Oh," halfway between a laugh and a sob. Nerius was curled up on his side, in
a perfectly normal sleeping position, snoring softly.
Aradia extended a trembling hand toward his face, then stopped, turning to
Lenardo and Wulfston. "Whatever happens," she said softly, "whether he sees,
whether he knows us ... it makes no difference hi my gratitude to both of
you." Then she reached up to Lenardo's shoulders. He almost ducked away as her
hands touched his neck, but then he realized what she was doing as she found
the chain of the wolf s-head pendant and pulled the amulet out to hang on his
breast, as Wulfston wore his. "Now, if Father can see you, he will know at
once that you belong here."
Lenardo stepped back then, letting Aradia and Wulfston stand before Nerius as
Aradia reached out to touch her father's forehead, just between the eyes. He
turned away from the touch, onto his back, stretching and frowning as he came
awake.
His eyes opened the same violet color as Aradia's but they were blank. Only
for an instant, though. He winced, as if the morning light were painful, and
when he reopened them he focused on his daughter. "Aradia," he whispered.
"Oh, Father!" she cried, hugging him. "You can see me! You know me!"
"Yes, child, but " As she let go of him he tried to sit up and fell back
weakly on the pillow. "What has happened?" he asked plaintively. "I can't
remember. I was blind, and then "
"It doesn't matter!" Aradia said quickly. "You've been very ill, but you're
well now. You've had a long, hard healing, Father. You must rest."
"My dear child," he murmured with a smile, then looked at Wulfston. "My boy .
. . but you're not a boy any more, Wulfston. You're a full bearded man.
Aradia, how long ?" Lenardo could Read his fear, even though his thoughts
remained shielded.
"You're alive, my lord," said Wulfston, his voice choked with tears.
"That's all that matters," Aradia reassured him. "You'll remember, and what
you don't we'll tell you, Father. Don't waste your strength now. You must eat
and sleep some more. Yula. Yula!"
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Lenardo stepped aside as the nurse woke with a start, wide-eyed with
astonishment to see Nerius awake. "It's a secret, Yula," said Aradia. "I don't
want anyone bothering Father until he gets his strength back."
"Yes, m'lady."
"Now run downstairs and bring up some soup. Hurry!" "Oh, my lord! I can't
believe it!" Then she glanced at Aradia, muttered, "Yes, m'lady, I'll be right
up," and scurried out as Aradia called after her, 'Tell no one!"
"Daughter . . ." Nerius tugged at Aradia's hand. "What has happened?"
"We'll tell you everything, my lord," Wulfston answered for her. "You'll be
up in a day or two." Tears rolled down his cheeks, unnoticed.
But Nerius noticed, looking from Wulfston to Aradia. "I remember this," he
said. "No one could heal my blindness  not I, not you and Lilith working
together. And I remember pain, and gaps in time. How did you heal me,
daughter?"
"I found someone . . . someone sent to us, Father. No Adept could heal you
alone . .. but with Lenardo's help "
Lenardo stepped forward. Nerius' eyes widened. "You!" he gasped. "How dare
you wear my sign?"
Aradia said, "Father, this is Lenardo. He "
"I know this traitor! You would steal my daughter's powers!" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]