go pfft, I don't want little Nyara to see it happen. She had enough troubles in her life and she shouldn't lose an old friend and teacher in that unexpected a fashion. Besides, if I'm going to go, I want to do it while I'm trying to accomplish something. How could I miss a chance at getting my hand in on what you're trying to do—It's complicated, it's dangerous, it's challenging, it's irresistible.:
'If you say so,' he said aloud, but strapped the sword on anyway, for she required his presence to be able to see and hear clearly. Without a bearer, it took incredible effort for her to perceive anything, and at that it was only dimly. He didn't often carry a blade, and she felt very odd, slung across his back in Tayledras fashion. 'An'desha will probably be happy to see you, but you're going to have to explain yourself to the rest. They don't know anything about you.'
And the gods only know what the Shin'a'in are going to make of her. Yes, Kethry had carried her, and Kerowyn after that, but still—she was yet another creature of magic inside the heart of the Plains. How much more were they going to be willing to allow?
:I can't wait,: Need replied, with a bit less irony than he expected. :There's something rather amusing about the reactions people get the first time I talk to them.:
Amusing? Oh, gods. Firesong buried his irritation at this particular complication in an already complicated situation; after all, Need was right about her abilities. She did know much older magics than anyone here, and that included An'desha. That might be crucial at this point, for there could be something ancient and long-forgotten that would give them all the clues they needed to solve this situation. She was a powerful mage in her own right—something near to an Adept, or she never could have made the magics that bound her human soul to an iron blade. He, An'desha, and Sejanes were the only true mages here; having Need with them gave them a fourth.
And if she is right, and the mage-storms overwhelm her along with the rest of us, she won't have to worry about how she unravels. If she dissolves into flame and melted steel, we here among all these dangerous machines of power will have far more to worry about than her.
On the other hand, dealing with Need's irascible personality was not going to be easy. He rubbed his temples, feeling another headache coming on.
She Mindspeaks; perhaps I can get Tarrn interested in her. When he is not translating for us, wouldn't she be fascinating for a historian?
He could only hope that was the case, because he had the feeling that Need was not going to give him a choice about becoming her bearer. In this all-male enclave, he was probably the closest she was going to come to an acceptable bearer, for by now, even the female Companions they had ridden here on had begun the long journey back to Valdemar.
'Well, we might as well get this over now,' he said aloud, as Tarrn watched him with interest. 'I assume, sir, that you have made the acquaintance of my metal friend, here?'
:I have, and I hope she will continue to impart her tales of the past to me here, when our work permits,: Tarrn replied gravely, which made Firesong feel a little more cheerful about the situation. At least he wouldn't be burdened with Need's presence and personality all the time.
'Well, most of my other colleagues here don't even know she exists, so we'd better introduce her to them before she startles one of them into dropping something critical by mindspeaking to him without warning.' Need remained silent after that little sally, which either meant that she agreed with him, or that she was insulted and was plotting revenge.
:An excellent plan,: Tarrn replied. :Carry on.:
He gathered them all together by the simple expedient of going into the central chamber, clearing his throat, and announcing, 'Excuse me, friends, but something rather—unexpected—has come up that you really ought to know about.'
That certainly brought everyone who understood Valdemaran boiling out, and the few Shin'a'in who didn't know the language followed the rest out of sheer curiosity.
Silverfox was the first to arrive, and stared at him as if he'd grown a tail. 'Firesong,' the kestra'chern began incredulously, 'what are you doing with a sword?'
He removed Need from her sheath, just in case the leather and silk hampered her ability to Mindspeak at all, and held her out in front of him, balanced on his palms, as the others arrived. 'Well. that's what I wanted to tell you all about,' he said, flushing a little. 'It seems we didn't get two additions to our little group here, we got three. I'd like you all to meet Need, those of you who haven't already encountered her.'
'Need!' An'desha had only just emerged from the sleeping chamber, but there was no doubt that he was glad to see the mage-blade. 'What is she doing here? This is wonderful!'
Firesong's expression must have been a bit sour, for An'desha took one look at his face and laughed. 'Oh, it's that way, is it? You're the chosen bearer?' He looked down fondly at the blade. 'Firesong is much too certain of his own expertise, dear lady; I trust you can teach him that there are other people here who are just as expert in their crafts as he. I warn you though, he looks much better this way than in a dress.'
