Sentinelspire

'Erael'len is sacred to the Oak Father, a relic of the forest and the life in root, branch, and leaf. Yet I have sat here for days in the bowels of the earth, surrounded by ancient stone, cut off from the life of the wood.'

Talieth turned and paced the length of the room while she thought. 'You're saying that you need… greenery in hopes of tapping the relic's power? I'm afraid that's not possible, Lewan. Here, in my domain, my wards can protect you. Out in the gardens a hundred prying eyes could see you-and the Old Man has ways of seeing things without spies. The grounds around the Tower of the Sun are the wildest area of the fortress, but taking you there… that is well within his domain. I might as well blow trumpets and present you and the relic to the Old Man as a gift.'

'That isn't what I meant, Lady. I don't need to be outside this room. I need to be outside the fortress altogether. In the wild.'

Talieth still had her back to him, but she looked over her shoulder, a sly look in her eye. 'Is this some plot to escape, Lewan?'

'Lady, you told me that you would shower me with gifts and show me on my way. I am here because I choose to be. Or am I now a prisoner? Have you reconsidered your offer?'

She turned to face him then, and gave him the last thing he'd ever expected from her: a gracious bow. 'Forgive me, Lewan. You are right. Other than my own people here, most of my dealings are with nobles and the wealthy who desire my services. Every gesture and tone with them holds hidden meanings. Perhaps I have been a plotter for so long that I now cannot help but see plots where there are none. I meant no insult. You are, of course, still our honored guest. And yes, my offer stands.'

Lewan was so stunned by her apology that for several moments he could do nothing but stare.

'Do close your mouth, Lewan,' said Talieth, a smile taking the sting out of her words. 'Standing there with it hanging open makes you look stupid.'

Lewan snapped his jaw shut and forced his attention back to the matter at hand. 'I must ask you something, my lady.'

'What is it?'

'You said that here, in your private study, I am free from… prying eyes,' said Lewan. 'Why do you bring me here every day? Why not keep me in my room? I could just as easily study Erael'len there.'

'Two reasons,' said Talieth. 'First, with Ulaan in the tower, your room offers too many… distractions. Secondly, the tower is not warded against those 'other ways of seeing without spies' that I spoke of.'

'Then why keep me there?'

'Because if the Old Man should have reason to spy on you there,' she said, 'and I can't imagine why he would, he would simply see my latest acquisition to our blades. The Old Man is many things, Lewan, but he is the Old Man, and he has precious little interest in watching how you and Ulaan spend your nights. He has not called for a woman of his own since my mother died.'

Lewan blushed. 'Th-that is part of what I want to speak to you about, lady.'

'Ulaan? What of her?'

'Lady, I believe Erael'len will continue to sleep while locked away in this stone fortress. Master Berun had a word for it he learned from his master. Shuret. It means… 'in civilization,' cut off from the wild, from growing things. Allow me to go outside, into the wild-even if only on the nearby mountainside. I believe Erael'len might give up its secrets more freely in the wild. And… and I-'

'Yes? What?'

'What I… have done with Ulaan.'

'I've told you that is no concern. She is yours to do with as-'

'No!' said Lewan, more hear in his voice than he'd intended. Talieth's eyes narrowed dangerously and he softened his tone. 'I mean that what I have done… I fear that I have become… impure in the eyes of the Oak Father. Perhaps this is why Erael'len does not speak to me. If I could return to the wild, if I could undergo a rite of purification-'

An exasperated sigh escaped Talieth. 'You Oak Children and your obsession with purity. Does your god really deny you the pleasures of the flesh? Of women? I thought Silvanus was the god of wild and growing things. You do know where baby wolves and deer come from, don't you, Lewan?'

'To control one's desires is not to deny them,' said Lewan, then he added a belated, 'Lady. My body is… was sworn to the Oak Father and his daughters.'

'If the girl is polluting your body and soul, I will have her removed,' said Talieth. 'Given that we need his favor, I would not want to offend your god.'

Lewan thought he detected more than a little insincerity-or was it disdain? — in her tone, but she looked entirely serious. 'No!' said Lewan. 'But… but Ulaan concerns this also.' 'Indeed?' said Talieth. 'How so?'

'If I help you, if I can figure out how to use Erael'len to stop your father, I want you to honor your offer. Give me enough supplies to survive and see me on my way.'

'We have covered this ground already, Lewan.'

'But I want something else.'

'Ah,' said Talieth, a knowing look on her face. 'Do tell.'

'Ulaan comes with me. If… if she wishes it.'

Talieth cradled one arm in another and tapped her lips with one finger. 'You are a puzzle, Lewan. First you plead help in purifying yourself, and with the next breath you ask for the little corrupting influence as a gift.'

'Don't call her that.'

'didn't, Lewan. You did. Dress her in leaves and put flowers in her hair all you like. Ulaan is still no dryad.'

Lewan flinched. After a moment's thought, he said, 'That's my concern, not yours.'

Talieth turned and paced the room again, causing the candle flames to flicker in her wake. She stopped on the opposite side of the table from Lewan and placed her hands to either side of Erael'len. 'I agree to your terms,' she said. 'You may leave the Fortress with the relic and go 'into the wild,' as you say, to try to discern its secrets and perform whatever rites suit you. If you succeed, I will shower you with gifts, and you and the girl can go wherever you like. All this you will have… with one condition.'

Lewan tried to swallow, but his mouth had gone dry. Despite the innocent girl smile on Talieth's face, she had that predator's gaze in her eyes again. 'What condition?' he said.

'You must not go into the wild alone. These are dangerous lands, Lewan, and I will need to send someone with wards I shall prepare that-I hope-will hide you from the Old Man.'

'Someone?' said Lewan. 'Who will go with me?' 'Who better to guard you in the wild than the wildest of my blades?' said Talieth. 'Sauk will go with you.'

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sauk found them waiting just inside the main gate. Carvings decorated the arch beyond them. One side was all fair maidens with hair flowing down their backs, their arms reaching out to handsome men on the opposite side, their braids and beards carved in the style of the ancient Imaskari. The two sides' outstretched arms seemed both to reach out to the other and to bid welcome to those entering the gate.

Talieth wore that dress of hers that seemed half silk and half copper mesh. Sauk was warrior enough to know it was all for show; that pretty metal lace would never turn a blade. Talieth didn't need such things. The boy wore clothes suited for traveling.

Taaki padded along just behind Sauk. After several ministrations from the Fortress’s healers and a long rest, her mood and energy were back to normal, though the cavity where her eye had once been was now no more than a puckered scar of pinched flesh and fur.

As Sauk and Taaki emerged from the late morning shadow cast by the statue of a four-headed hound, Talieth saw him. She spoke something to Lewan and approached Sauk, stopping him well away from the boy.

'You have it?' she said.

With one finger Sauk pulled at the fine silver round his neck, and the medallion emerged from the loose sackcloth shirt he wore. The medallion was only slightly larger than a coin, plain and unadorned save for the image