Magic's Promise

Fell from torment into agony; strength gone, control gone, sight, sound, all senses. There was only the pain -

And then there was nothing.

Eight

'You look like hell,' said a rough voice just above I his head.

What an amazing coincidence, Savil, Vanyel thought without opening his eyes. I feel like hell.

'I seem,' his aunt continued dryly, 'to spend an inordinate amount of time at your bedside. And don't try to pretend you're not awake.'

'I wouldn't think of it,' he whispered, cracking his right eye open. Savil was lounging in the chair she'd pulled up next to his bed, feet on his bed. 'Mother will have a cat,' he observed, prying his left eye open as well. 'You know how she feels about boots on the bedcovers.'

'Your mother isn't here at the moment. How are you feeling?'

He took a quick inventory. ”Other than some assorted joint-aches, about the same as when I got back to Haven. Which is to say, as you pointed out, like hell. What's been going on? How long was I out this time?''

'Your outside matches your inside, we're not in a war with Lineas quite yet, and three days.' She quirked one corner of her mouth as he groaned, and continued. 'I took the liberty of deep-scanning you while you were wit-wandering, and I got in touch with a couple of merchant-contacts in Highjorune. Useful birds, pigeons. Particularly when one can tell their little heads exactly where you want them to go. You want your briefing in sequence, or by specifics?'

He had been inching into a sitting position while she was talking. She poured a goblet of cider from a pitcher next to her, and handed it to him when he was secure.

'In sequence,' he said, after a sip to help moisten his throat. 'And you'd better start with how Father is taking the new houseguest.'

'Your father doesn't know about him, thank the gods.' The other corner of her mouth twitched up to make a real smile. 'Your old aunt is no fool, ke'chara; he was due to make his Harvest-tide inspection round of the freeholders the same morning you Gated back and fell on your nose. I simply installed Tashir in the guest room next to yours and didn't bother to tell anyone until after Withen was gone.' She hesitated a moment before continuing. 'I have to tell you, having that boy around is unnerving. He acts like a ghost, whisking out of sight when he sees me coming; he's given me chills more than once. He's too like our lost one... Well. He is not well-wrapped, even I can tell that, and I'm no Mind-Healer.'

Vanyel nodded thoughtfully. 'I've got too many questions, and nowhere near enough answers. So Tashir is here, and Father doesn't know about it. A not insignificant blessing. Keep going.'

'Yfandes and the new Companion got back about noon. By nightfall I'd gotten a pigeon or two back with news. Lores is going back to Haven to protest your actions to Randale, and he's carrying a demand from what's left of Deveran's Council that Tashir be turned over to them. Vedric finally stuck his nose in; he showed up the next day. He seems to be on the side of the Lineans, but he wants Tashir turned over to the Mavelans for trial and sentencing.' She paused for breath. 'That's the bad news. The good news is that since that fathead Lores - yes, dear, I know him, he's a fathead and always has been one - isn't a Herald-Mage, he can't Gate back to Haven. It's going to take him a good long while to get there, especially since the Companions are in on our little conspiracy. ''

'The - how?'

'Jenna is going to be an invalid all the way home. If he makes the same time he'd make on a spavined horse, he'll be lucky.'

He coughed on a swallow of cider. Savil patted his back, a gleam of amusement in her eye. 'I got that from 'Fandes through Kellan. Jenna is not happy with her Chosen, and intends to make him pay for it. So, Lores is going to be delayed. So far as I know, nobody knows where you and the lad are; Lores assumed you'd gone to Haven. That's more good news. So you're safe for a bit, maybe long enough to find out what really happened.'

“Even when people do find out where we are,'' Vanyel pointed out, 'I can't be countermanded by anyone other than Randale. Randi is going to stall, I know him. He knows that if there weren't something damned odd going on, I'd have Gated to Haven with Tashir. So - what about our guest?''

'Well, I told you, he's been acting like a ghost. He's been hovering over you whenever there wasn't someone in here, but he seems to know when someone is coming, and slips back into his