'That we know of,' snapped Starblade.
Iceshadow gave Starblade a look of disapproval, and Darkwind knew he'd scored at least one point. Iceshadow hated to be interrupted. 'Very well. If you insist on that phrasing. That we know of. Frankly, I see no harm in letting her stay where she is until she's healthy, and considering her request for safe passage then.' Rainlance nodded. Starblade frowned angrily, then pounced. 'Under strict watch. Darkwind may be a gullible boy being led by a pair of come-hither eyes and a sweet voice, but I'm not so sure this Other may not be playing a deeper game. I say she stays under strict watch, with careful observers.
'You can't get more careful than hertasi,' Iceshadow remarked to the ceiling of his ekele. 'And if she's leading Darkwind around by his urges, that ploy won't work on hertasi. Even stubborn, pigheaded old-ahmages will admit to that.' It was Iceshadow's turn to receive a glare, but the Elder ignored it, winking broadly at Darkwind when Starblade turned away in disgust.
'I think the hertasi will do as watchers,' Rainlance said smoothly, soothingly, as he sought to heal the split in the Council. 'They are certainly quite competent. But I do agree she should be kept as far from the Vale itself as possible. And if she causes any trouble-'
'If she even looks like she's causing any trouble,' Starblade growled.
Rainlance raised his voice a little, and annoyance crept into it.
'-she'll have to be dealt with.'
'She'll find herself bound and staked, and you can tell her so!' Starblade shouted.
'Are you quite finished?' Rainlance shouted back, his temper frayed to the snapping point. 'I'd like to get on with this if I may!' Starblade sank back into his seat with an inarticulate mumble, confining himself to angry glares at anyone who happened to glance at him.
Rainlance closed his eyes for a moment and visibly forced himself to calm down. Darkwind had no sympathy to spare for him; he'd been on the receiving end of his father's tempers too often to feel sorry for anyone else.
Really, Darkwind,' Rainlance continued, opening his eyes, his voice oozing reason and conciliation. 'You must see this in the perspective of the Vale and Clan as a whole. We really can't take her into the Vale.
We can't take the chance, however slim, that she might be some kind of infiltrator.'
'I'm not asking for her to be brought into the Vale,' Darkwind replied, echoing Rainlance's tone as much as he was able. 'I'm just asking that she be allowed nearer. Right now she's in jeopardy; she's hurt, and she can't run the way the hertasi can. I doubt she'd be able to get away if something comes the border, especially if it's something that's come hunting especially for her.. She can't run, she can't hide, and Mage-Gifted or not, she probably can't protect herself from any kind of trained mage.' Iceshadow shook his head regretfully; Darkwind got the feeling that if this hadn't been so serious an issue, he was so annoyed with Starblade right now that he would have been glad to agree with Darkwind just for a chance to spite his father. 'No. It's just not possible. And I'm sure she realizes that, even if you don't. After all, look at what she is and what we are-we're enemies. Or at least, she's been on the enemy side.
And yet she came to us, supposedly for help. She admitted she was going to use us as a kind of stalking horse. No, she stays where she is, and that's the end of it.'
'Well,' said Starblade, his voice penetrating the silence that followed Iceshadow's speech like a set of sharp talons, his eyes narrowed, and a tight little smile on his lips. 'Since you seem so worried about her, since you brought her into our boundaries in the first place-and since she is in your territory-I think it's only fair that you be the one to undertake her protection. Even if it means you have to fall back on magery.' He looked around at the other Elders. 'Isn't that fair?'
'I don't know-' Rainlance began.
'I'd say it is,' Iceshadow said firmly. 'I've never been happy that when Songwind left us, his magic did as well, Darkwind. I understand your feelings, but I've never been happy about it. You could be quite a mage if you'd give it another try.' Rainlance shrugged. Starblade cast his son a look of triumph. 'It seems there's a consensus,' he said smugly.
Darkwind managed not to jump up and hit him, scream at the top of his lungs, or do anything else equally stupid and adolescent. In fact, his reaction, so completely under control, seemed to disappoint his father.
He thought quickly, and realized that, unwittingly, his father had not only left him an out, he'd given the scout a chance to do something he'd been campaigning for all along. He'd have to phrase this very carefully.
'Very well, Elders,' he replied, nodding to each of them in turn. 'I overruled. Nyara may stay, under the eyes of the hertasi. I will undertake to keep the Changechild protected-using all the resources at my disposal Is that your will?' Rainlance nodded. 'That's fine,' Iceshadow said. Starblade looked suspicious, but finally gave his consent.
'Done,' said Rainlance. 'You have the Council's permission, as stated.'
'Good,' Darkwind said. 'Then if that is the consensus, I will have the other scouts keep an eye out for her and
