Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar

in fear of your life.' Treyon paused as a thought struck him. 'Maybe Vanyel and I had more in common than I thought.'

The boy is quick, Van thought as Treyon continued. 'But I didn't see any way out of it. I mean, I don't know anything other than banditing. Sure, I could go to a city, but what would I do there but end up stealing to eat again. So I thought banditing was what I was gonna do forever, till Ke'noran came along.'

'Ke'noran?'

'Yeah, she's a wicked Woman if'n I ever saw one. Knows lots 'bout magic, too. She took over the group by killing Trold, who'd been the leader. She appeared one night, said she was leading us now, I mean, I was still with them then. Trold got up and started walking toward her, talking 'bout how no woman was taking over his band. She just looked at him, and he started bleedin' everywhere, his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. He ran into the woods, 'n we never saw him again. She's led ever since, and now most of the men actually respect her. Not just because she could kill anyone who opposed her, but she actually made life a bit better for us. We even ate pretty regularly after she took over.

'Did she make you leave?'

'Yeah, but she didn't kick me out or nothing. When she first saw me, it was like she was looking into my head. She always gave me the creeps. Well, one night I had a dream, and in it I was tied to this big rock, and

Ke'noran was standing over me with this sharpened stick with strange marks carved on it. She was leaning over me and saying something, bringing the stick closer to my head, and then I woke up. I don't know how to explain it, but I knew that if I stayed there any longer, what I saw was gonna happen to me. So that night I headed for the border, hoping to get to a town or city somewhere. Just as I got out of the mountains, they caught up with me. I ran for the woods, and here I am.' Treyon said, omitting the part about the trees.

:Did you catch all that, dear?: Vanyel asked.

:Yes, Van. Sounds like a textbook blood-magic sacrifice to me, just as Treyon's dream sounds like ForeSight. But what's puzzling is why she would take him so soon. I mean, Treyon has the potential for two, maybe three Gifts, but he hasn't even been trained in them yet. What could she want with this boy, when an ordinary peasant would power the blood-magic just as well?: Yfandes replied.

:There must be a reason. Perhaps she's found a way to tap into the magical energy of another's mind and use that as her own, as well as the life forces. It would be a powerful augmentation,: Vanyel thought worriedly.

:Hmm, that's very possible. But what you said about augmentation gives me an idea. What if she's found a way to take untrained Gifts into herself, and use them as if they were her own?:

:Which could only be accomplished by the sacrifice of the victim, ensuring the magic is released for her to absorb at the moment of death. Yfandes, I think you've got it.: Vanyel was careful to keep his face calm as the conversation continued.

:Well, I guess we'll know soon enough. We didn't get all of the bandits. One of the group that was chasing me managed to get away, and I'm sure is warning his leader by now.:

:Why didn't you tell me this before?: Vanyel asked, a hint of anger coloring his thoughts.

:Vanyel, dear, we've had bandits crawling around the borders of these woods for so long, another group just didn't seem very important However, once this came to light. . .: 'Fandes trailed off.

:Of course, 'Fandes, I'm sorry. Well, that means she'll probably be on her way here. Good. To be perfectly honest, fighting the same bandits all the time gets rather boring.:

:It sounds as though you miss the old days.:

Vanyel thought for a few seconds before answering. : I don't know, sometimes it just doesn't feel like we do enough for Valdemar here. I mean, I don't regret my choice, but after the Battle of the Ice Wall, there hasn't been much of anything from the North, even in the past few years.:

Yfandes sent an image of herself snorting in amusement. .7 don't think I would try anything, even years after word of what happened got back.:

:Anyway, if we're right, and this Ke'noran can do what we think, then she's a threat that must be dealt with.:

:Vanyel, a mage-battle could destroy a large part of the forest. While bandits may be boring, they also don't have the power to level acres of trees. It could get out of hand if you're not careful.:

:True, very true. Well, we'll just have to contain her as much as possible. Most likely she's more educated about the 'legends' of the forest, and will be more loath to come in here.: Vanyel replied.

:We'll see. You had better warn Treyon about this. He's not going to like it.:

:No doubt. By the way, beloved, I'm sorry for referring to you as a horse in front of him, but it seems easier than trying to explain what we really are.:

Yfandes smiled in his head. .-Understood and accepted. He's waiting, I think.:

The Mindspoken conversation had only taken a few seconds, so Treyon hadn't even guessed at what was going on. Van looked at him again, smiled, then began speaking calmly.

'Treyon, Ke'noran is going to come after you here. Apparently one of the bandits got away and has most

likely warned her by now. If she Gates in, she could be on the edge of the forest already—'

'No, no, she'll kill me! Please, you've got to hide me, help me get away from her!' Treyon was frantic with fear, looking around as if they were already surrounded by her men.

Realizing he had said too much too fast, Vanyel tried a different approach. 'Treyon, I'm going to help you. She's not going to take you back, I promise.'

But now fear had taken hold of Treyon completely, and he stared at Vanyel wildly. 'You, you're just one man. She's got a dozen with her. She's skinned them alive for failing her, or burned them to ashes. I've seen it happen. What can one man do against that?'

'And a horse, don't forget.'

The statement was so ridiculous that it broke through Treyon's fear and made him look at Vanyel as if he wasn't sure which one of them was crazier. Vanyel broke the silence.

'She won't take you, Treyon, I swear it.'

The words hung in the air, Vanyel's silver eyes meeting Treyon's brown ones, with the promise between them. Finally, he slowly sank to the ground and nodded. 'I believe you. I don't even know why, but I do.'

'All right. You should know why she wants you so badly. First, you have potential for Gifts in you—'

'Me?' Treyon's incredulous snort interrupted Vanyel, who nodded.

'Everyone has it, buried deep inside their minds, but not everyone has the ability to bring the power to the surface and use it. Your powers, as I said before, lie in the area called Gifts, which are more or less mind-powers, contacting people with your thoughts, bringing objects to you just by thinking about them moving, and so on. Ke'noran wants those untapped abilities, we—I think, to use for herself. And that's why we have to stop her.'

'Because if she does that to me, she could do it to others?'

:When this is done, this boy's Haven-bound,: Yfandes thought.

Nodding to both statements, Vanyel said, 'Exactly. I think the safest thing to do will be to keep you here while I go find Ke'noran—' He trailed off, seeing Treyon shake his head.

'I don't want to be left alone if she's anywhere nearby.'

'Treyon, I can protect you much better if you're in the middle of the forest—'

'What if she does this Gate thing into the forest and grabs me while you're someplace else, huh?'

Vanyel started to reply, then stopped, aware that he couldn't answer the question in a way that would satisfy the boy. Or himself, now that Treyon had exposed the flaw in his plan. As long as he had Gift potential, she could eventually find him. And a mage would have ways around the forest's defenses.

:Most probably starting by burning the place to a cinder,: Yfandes Mindsent.

Sighing in defeat, Vanyel turned his attention back to the conversation. 'All right, you're coming with me. But you must do exactly what I say. Yfandes and I should be able to shield you magically, but if she has those brigands or constructs looking for you, it's vital that you stay hidden, exactly where I place you,