Winds Of Fury

completely unconscious communication. Now when there is danger in any direction, Heralds with ForeSight who are in a position to alert those who can do something about it have a vision or dream. That's how everyone knows when a Herald dies. And it's one way for the vrondi to know where Heralds are.:

'We have done such things, but only for ssshort periodsss of time,' Hydona offered. 'Becaussse we did not know how to make it an unconssscious ability.'

:The Companions are the key,: Vanyel told her. :because they are already linked. I couldn't have managed otherwise.:

'Hmm.' Treyvan nodded thoughtfully.

:I never meant anything but the Web to have to last as long as it has,: Vanyel continued :The vrondi-spell has eroded near to nothing, and constant attacks on it from Hardorn are taking their toll. I'm going to have to take it down in a controlled manner before someone breaks it and harms the vrondi in the process. Whether or not it goes back up again will depend on your choices later.:

It was a good thing they were well-fed and well-rested, or Elspeth would have asked for a recess to think all this through. This was not precisely what Elspeth had expected to hear - but it was logical enough. Harm to the vrondi might mean that they would flee Valdemar altogether, and that would cause more problems than taking down the spell would.

'If you remove the warn-off, then mages will be able to enter Valdemar,' Darkwind pointed out, as a light breeze stirred his hair. The breeze was from Vree stooping on Treyvan's head and crest-feathers, then angling up to perch in a tree and preen. 'Many mages, in fact, through Valdemar's unfortified borders.'

:Precisely.:Vanyel was clearly pleased :Now I plan to do several things, besides removing the spell. First, I will need to build a Gate to send you home. This will deplete me seriously for a time, and I do not know how long that-will be. I will have to concentrate all my attention on this Border, and I will not be able to even offer such paltry distractions as I did against your Falconsbane - along with the Shin'a'in - to make him think that another Adept was courting him for an alliance.:

Darkwind raised an eyebrow at Elspeth. She nodded; she had already known about the Shin'a'in Kal'enedral being involved. Vanyel's help was probably why the ruse had been so effective; Falconsbane would have seen the traces of real magic at work and if the suspicion that the Shin'a'in were running a trick on him had even occurred to him, he would have dismissed it immediately, since the Shin'a'in didn't use magic.

'What about Ancar?' she asked. 'He'll know when that spell comes down.'

:Ancar, yes. And others. You will have to warn your people through Gwena and Rolan that the barrier is coming down. I will do this just before I send you home. That way they will be prepared for magical incursions - although I do not think that Ancar will be able to react immediately. He is disposed toward grandiose plans, and those take time to prepare.:

'Hmm.' Elspeth replied, after a moment of thought. 'Even if he's watching for it to break, he likely won't have anyone strong there to do anything. He doesn't trust his powerful mages out of his sight.'

:Once the barrier is down and you are home, there is nothing else I can do,: Vanyel said :Now, about the new Heartstone in the Palace at Haven....:Firesong looked up alertly, interest immediately captured :I anchored the power in the stone I used to center the Web. You will find it in the old Palace in one of the old mage workrooms, and it is on the middle of a table that seems rooted to the floor. It is not yet activated, and I left it that way, keyed only to Firesong.:

Fortunately for Skif's mental comfort, as they left the clearing, Stefen became gradually less ephemeral and more solid, until at last he seemed almost normal - so long as you ignored the fact that you could see right through him. He seemed a cheerful young man, although his hair couldn't quite seem to make up its mind whether it wanted to be blond or red.

:Here we are - :Stefen announced proudly :I thought you'd like this place. It's very romantic.:

Romantic? Hardly an adequate description for a place where trees overhung a mossy cup of a valley, where delicate flowers bloomed at precisely the right spots, and where a tiny waterfall trickled musically down the back wall of the valley, to fill a perfect, rock-rimmed basin just big enough for two if they cared for a little waterplay. In a candlemark or two the sun would be above the trees, warming this valley and the tiny pool.

Skif had the suspicion that Stefen had a hand in somehow creating this idyllic little hideaway, and was waiting for a reaction.

'This is...this is lovely,' he said, finally. 'I haven't seen anything prettier even in k'Sheyna Vale.'

Stefen looked pleased as Nyara nodded agreement :I've been training the trees and the plants,: he said diffidently :Not in the way of a Hawkbrother or anything, but - I'm glad you like it. Van likes it, but he's rather biased on my behalf.:

'If you don't mind my asking,' Skif said hesitantly, 'Why have you two - you know, stuck around all this