going to have to learn not to think in human terms.”
“I’m sorry that you find my humanity so distressing.”
“Oh! R’shiel, I didn’t mean it like that! You have so much to learn, that’s all. But that will come with time. It’s just that...”
“What?”
“The problem is
“So what am I?” R’shiel asked.
“Lorandranek’s heir.”
“And this means...?” R’shiel prompted, leaning forward a little. Being Lorandranek’s heir might be a title of great importance to the Harshini, but it meant absolutely nothing to her.
“At best? That we are cousins!”
“And at worst?” Getting information out of the Harshini woman was like picking straw off a blanket.
“At worst, R’shiel, it means you are the demon child.”
chapter 54
They gathered around a cheerful fire on the shore of the river later that evening. Aber and Gazil had prepared quite a feast from the boat’s stores, and everyone had eaten their fill. The Fardohnyans had gone to a great deal of trouble to produce a special meal for the Harshini woman that contained no meat. For most of them it was the first substantial meal they had consumed in days. The demons were scattered around them, even more numerous than before. The other dragon had dissolved into a clutter of little demons not long after Brak and Tarja had spoken with Lord Dranymire. They avoided the humans gathered around the fire, although Lord Dranymire had sidled up to Shananara once she had finished eating and ingratiated his way into her lap, seemingly without her noticing. She stroked his wrinkled gray head absently, with the familiarity of long association.
R’shiel tried not to notice the demons and watched Tarja, wondering about him. The welcome discovery that he had escaped the noose waiting for him at the vineyard had done much to help ease the anguish of the last few days. Tarja glanced up and smiled at her distractedly.
The startling news that she was a Harshini Princess had been met with mixed reactions. The Fardohnyans had applauded the tidings and announced confidently that they had suspected as much, all along. Ghari had looked at her with wide eyes and said nothing. Tarja and Brak had seemed neither surprised nor pleased by the news. R’shiel desperately wanted to ask Tarja what he thought. However, there were more important issues to be resolved first.
“Had I known R’shiel had it in her to destroy the priest’s staff, we would have risked going after her ourselves,” Shananara said. The Harshini had not taken the news about R’shiel’s destruction of the staff very well at all. R’shiel wondered why it caused such a fuss. Given a chance to live the last day again, she would not have acted any differently.
“It’s done now,” Drendik said philosophically. “There’s naught to be done but make the best of things.”
Shananara nodded and turned her attention to Tarja. “I owe you thanks for what you did. All of you. R’shiel is very important to us.”
“Not just to you,” Tarja replied.
Shananara studied him in the firelight. “What will you do now?”
“If the Kariens invade, and it’s likely they will as soon as they hear of Pieter’s death, then the Defenders must be on the northern border. I have to get back to Testra to warn them.”
“Why Testra?” R’shiel asked.
“The Defenders have been mobilized. By the time I get back to Testra, they should be there.”
“Isn’t it time to let this go, Tarja?” Brak asked with a shake of his head.
“It’s my fault,” Tarja shrugged. “I’m responsible for the Envoy’s death. It’s up to me to ensure that the Defenders are warned.”
“Assuming they listen to you. As you just pointed out, they have been mobilized to hunt you down. The chances are they’ll kill you before you get close enough to warn them of anything.”
“I still have to try,” Tarja insisted stubbornly.
“We will take you,” Drendik offered, glancing at his brothers, who nodded in agreement.
“I thought you were heading home?”
Drendik shrugged. “This is more fun.”
“I think you’re crazy. But thank you.” He turned his attention back to Brak and Shananara. “The Defenders will move in stages. There simply aren’t enough boats on the river to move them all at once. Jenga will be in the advance party. The First Sister will probably follow in the second wave. There will be three companies, four at the most, in the advance party. If the rebels create a diversion, and I get to Jenga before the First Sister arrives, I might have a chance of convincing him.” Tarja glanced at Ghari. “Are you with me?”
The young man nodded. “Unless you’re planning to take on the entire Defender Corps single handed, I suppose I must be. But it will take some talking to convince many of our number that you haven’t betrayed them. With Padric dead, there is nobody they trust left to lead them. Many of the rebels will simply give up and go home.”
“Then we have to get to our people before they do,” Tarja said. “And find a way to convince them that we speak the truth.”
“I’ll go with you,” R’shiel heard herself say, unsure what had made her volunteer.
Shananara objected immediately. “R’shiel, don’t be a fool! You are wanted by the Defenders and marked by Xaphista. The only place you will be truly safe is at Sanctuary. Besides, you are a Princess of the Blood. You can’t go gallivanting around Medalon like a homeless orphan.”
“If Tarja fails and the Kariens invade Medalon, I won’t be safe anywhere,” she said, her decision becoming clearer in her mind as she spoke. “Neither will you. I don’t care who you think I am, Shananara. I was a homeless orphan yesterday, and despite what you tell me about who I might be, I still feel like a homeless orphan. Tarja has saved my life so many times I’m beginning to lose count. If I can help convince the rebels that he speaks the truth, then I will.”
“If that does not convince you she is Lorandranek’s get, nothing will,” Dranymire rumbled from Shananara’s lap. “Recklessness was ever a trait of his.”
Brak glanced at the demon, before looking at R’shiel. “Do you understand what you are saying, R’shiel? What you are refusing?”
“I’m refusing to turn my back on a friend.”
“We cannot help you if you go with them,” Shananara reminded her. “And I dread to think of Korandellen’s reaction when he hears that I have let you go.”
“He should be delighted that I won’t be around to muddy the clear line of succession.” Why should she care what the Harshini King thought, cousin or not? “Besides, I have no interest in being your demon child. I don’t believe in your gods, and I don’t want to be a Harshini. I just want things back the way they were!”
“You want to return to the Sisterhood?” Shananara asked dubiously. “Knowing what you are? R’shiel, they would kill you if they even suspected the truth.”
“And what are you offering me? What is the demon child supposed to do? Or am I just some awkward accident that you haven’t figured out how to deal with?”
“I will not lie to you, R’shiel. It is not an easy path that lies ahead for you. There is a task the demon child must perform. But the decision will be yours.”
R’shiel was completely fed up with being the instrument of other people’s expectations. Joyhinia had stolen her from her family to raise her to be what she wanted. Now these people, who shouldn’t even exist, had a “task” for her. Rebellion flared inside her like brandy thrown onto an open flame.
“No!” she said flatly.
“R’shiel, maybe you should think this over,” Tarja suggested.
“Since when have you been on their side?”
“I’m not on their side. I just don’t think you should be so hasty, that’s all.”
