No, it was the things outside that circle of trees that made her glad of the warm glow of the flames. The warm earthly glow of the flames. There were noises out there, sounds like she'd never heard before. The mares moved over to the fireside of their own volition, and were not really interested in the handfuls of grain Tarma offered them. They stood, one on either side of her, in defensive posture, ears twitching nervously.
It sounded like things were gathering just on the other side of the trees. There was a murmuring that was very like something speaking, except that no human throat ever made burbling and trilling sounds quite like those Tarma heard. There were soft little whoops, and watery chuckles. Every now and then, a chorus of whistlers exchanged responses. And as if that weren't enough --
Through the branches Tarma could see amorphous patches of glow, patches that moved about. As the moon rose above the trees, she unsheathed her sword and dagger, and held them across her lap.
'Child -- '
Tarma screeched and jumped nearly out of her skin.
She was on her feet without even thinking about rising, and whipped around to face --
Her instructor, who had come with the first moonlight.
'You -- you -- sadist!' she gasped, trying to get her heart down out of her throat. 'You nearly frightened me to death!'
'There is nothing for you to fear. What is outside the trees is curious, no more.'
'And I'm the Queen of Valdemar.'
'I tell you truly. This is a place where no evil can bear to tread; look about you -- and look to your she'enedra.'
Tarma looked again, and saw that the mares had settled, their heads down, nosing out the last of the grain she'd given them. She saw that the area of the pavement was glowing -- that what she'd mistaken for a soft silver reflection of the moonlight was in fact coming from within the paving material. Nor was that all -- the radiance was brighter where Kethry sat oblivious within her circle, and blended from the silver of the pavement into a pale blue that surrounded her like an aura. And the trees themselves were glowing -- something she hadn't noticed, being intent on the lights on the other side -- a healthy, verdant green. All three colors she knew from Kethry's chance- made comments were associated with life-magic, positive magic.
And now the strange sounds from outside their enclosure no longer seemed so sinister, but rather like the giggling and murmuring of a crowd of curious small children.
Tarma relaxed, and shrugged. 'Well, I still don't exactly like this place...'
'But you can see it is not holding a threat, half'
'Hai.' she placed the point of her blade on the pavement and cocked her head at him. 'Well, I haven't much to do, and since you're here...'
'You are sadly in need of practice,' he mocked.
* * *
'Shesti!' she scoffed back, bringing her sword up into guard position, 'I'm not that badly off!'
By day the circle of trees no longer seemed quite so sinister, especially after Tarma's instructor had worked her into sweat-dripping exhaustion. When dawn came -- and he left -- she was ready to drop where she stood and sleep on the hard pavement itself.
But the mares needed more than browse and grain, they needed water. There was no water here save what they'd brought with them. And Tarma dared not truly sleep while Kethry remained enwrapped in spell-casting.
So when the first hint of the sun reddened the sky, she took Hellsbane with her and cautiously poked her nose out of the sheltered area, looking for a hint of water.
There was nothing stirring outside the circle of trees; the eerie landscape remained quiet. But when Tarma looked at the dirt at the foot of the trees she saw tracks, many tracks, and few of them were even remotely identifiable.
'Kulath etaven,' she said softly to her mare,
Hellsbane raised her head and sniffed; then took two or three paces to the right. Tarma placed one hand on the mare's shoulder; Hellsbane snorted, rubbed her nose briefly against Tarma's arm, then proceeded forward with
