these Dargonesti supposedly start moving?”
“Five, six days ago,” Vixa estimated. “They’re all on foot, though. It will take them a while to march-or swim-here.”
“All infantry, you say? No cavalry?”
“Horses don’t fare too well forty fathoms down.” Samcadaris merely nodded at Gundabyr’s sarcastic comment. The grim look on his face didn’t alter.
“It may not mean much to you now,” the Silvanesti said, “but I agree with you that Silvanost should be warned. I don’t think we can afford not to believe you. However, the general has lost what little faith he had in you. I fear you may be consigned to the dungeon shortly.”
“But I am of the House of Kith-Kanan!” Vixa exploded.
“If that were true, we would treat you accordingly. But there seems to be no way you can prove what you say.”
Gundabyr smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. “I know what’ll show ’em, Princess!” he said. He tugged her elbow, drawing her down to him. The dwarf whispered in her ear. Vixa smiled.
“I agree,” she said. “Captain Samcadaris, if you will conduct me down to the river, I will be able to demonstrate the truth of my tale.”
“The river? Do you think I can be fooled into allowing you to escape?”
Gundabyr threw up his hands, but Vixa said patiently, “I give you my word, I won’t attempt escape. Take me to the river, and I can prove myself. Gundabyr will remain with you as hostage. If I fail, you can always toss us back in here, and I won’t ask for another chance.”
Samcadaris hesitated a moment longer, but the calm of her demeanor decided him. He conducted them out of their tower room. It was several hours after the midday meal, and the fortress bailey was bustling with activity. The path down to the river was quiet. Through the trees, Vixa could see barges on the water, flying the banners of Silvanost. Troops rowed back and forth, searching for signs of an attack. Part of her almost wished the Dargonesti would hurry and get here, proving that she and Gundabyr weren’t lying. Or spies. Or crazy.
They walked out on the stone pier. Vixa kicked off her borrowed boots and pulled her robe over her head.
“What are you doing?” asked Samcadaris, mystified.
“I have to be in the water,” she said. “Just be patient.”
Clad only in her cotton shift, Vixa stepped off the dock. The water was neck-deep here. She closed her eyes and began the now-familiar process of visualizing her dolphin shape. The sleek black-and-white body filled her mind. She ignored everything except that one idea.
Nothing happened. Gundabyr cleared his throat.
“Well,” he said, “get to it.”
She glared up at him. “I’m trying!” Vixa closed her eyes again. Once more she concentrated. She remembered the sensation of hurtling through the water. She thought of the ease and grace her muscular form gave her, of the loops and circles she’d swum around Naxos during her first transformation. She remembered the exhilaration of leaping from wave to wave.
“Captain Samcadaris, what is the meaning of this?”
General Axarandes was striding across the dock. Samcadaris snapped to rigid attention and saluted.
“Sir! Lady Vixa said she had a way of proving the truth of her report, if I would bring her to the river-”
“Lady,” the general interrupted, “please come out of the water.”
“No,” she said, glaring up at him. “Not yet!”
“What’s wrong?” Gundabyr asked her.
She shook her head, at a loss to explain her failure. “I don’t know. I-wait a minute!” Vixa’s expression brightened. “Naxos said I had to be in the sea! Captain, take me to the sea! I can prove-”
The general’s voice was firm. “Lady, come out of the water. Now.”
Still protesting, Vixa did as he ordered. When she demanded again to be taken to the sea, Axarandes held up a hand for quiet.
“We have learned one thing here at least,” he said softly. Vixa’s confusion at his words turned to outrage as she saw that every elf wore the same expression-pity! They thought she was a lunatic, and they felt sorry for her!
“I’m not mad!” she shouted. “If you’ll just take me to the ocean-”
“There are learned elves in Silvanost who can help you, lady,” Axarandes said kindly. “Magic can be a great boon to a wandering mind.”
“My mind is not wandering! I tell you I can prove what I say!”
When the general signaled for two elves to take hold of her, Vixa’s patience ended. Planting her feet, she delivered a hard blow to the chest of the nearer warrior, sending him stumbling back. The second she seized by his tunic and flung into the river.
Axarandes sighed. “Take them,” he said wearily.
Gundabyr let out a yell of dwarven anger and lashed out with his fists. Two Silvanesti went sprawling, but the rest overcame him by sheer numbers and pinioned his arms and legs. Vixa evaded a rush by two more elves and grabbed for the hilt of the elderly Axarandes’s fine sword. Unfortunately, the old general was quicker and stronger than he looked. Her wrist was seized in an iron grip. He broke her hold on the hilt and reversed her arm. Gasping with pain, she spun involuntarily until he had her arm tight against her back.
“Do be calm, lady. I’ve no wish to hurt you,” he said. Vixa struggled, but she couldn’t escape his armlock.
“All right. This is getting us nowhere,” she said, relaxing.
Vixa and Gundabyr were surrounded by a phalanx of chagrined Silvanesti soldiers, all rubbing their jaws or nursing bruised knuckles. “Take them to the dungeon,” Axarandes ordered. “Separate them.”
Samcadaris had stood quietly by during this altercation, his face torn. Now, however, pity had replaced confusion. The girl’s mind was obviously unstable. Axarandes turned to him.
“Captain, call in the patrols. This farce has gone on long enough.”
His words horrified Vixa. “General, you must believe me! The Dargonesti are coming! You must be prepared!”
They marched back to Thonbec in disgrace. Along the way, Gundabyr muttered, “Well, that went fine, didn’t it? Now they’re certain we’re nuts-or at least you are. I’m just the idiot who believes you!”
“Oh, shut up,” she said crossly.
The rest of the journey was completed in angry silence. The Silvanesti locked them in separate cells in the fortress dungeon. The rooms were clean and dry, though far smaller than their previous tower chamber. The clanging of the bolt shooting home sounded like a death knell to Vixa.
The Qualinesti princess slumped against the wall and let her head rest heavily on her hands.
When she awoke, Vixa had no idea how much time had passed. The only light in her cell came from the small wicket in the oak door. She put her face next to the strips of black iron that barred the wicket and peered down the passage. Torches sputtered in wall sconces, but the low-ceilinged passage was empty. She called Gundabyr’s name several times. There was no response.
It was all so frustrating! She was certain she could transform if only these fools would take her to the ocean! That
But was that the problem? For all she knew, her ability was temporary. Naxos had said “forever”-but the shapeshifter could have lied. That thought stung almost as much as her failure.
Disgusted, Vixa let her head fall against the doorjamb. Immediately, she felt strange vibrations echoing through the cold stone. She pulled back in surprise, and the sensation went away. Vixa pressed an ear to the wall beside the cell door. The stones were vibrating. Was the entire garrison marching on the battlements? Perhaps a mighty storm lashed the fortress. In moments a sound broke the silence of the dungeon-the sound of running feet, growing louder.
Vixa pressed her face against the iron straps over the wicket. “Hello!” she called. “Who’s there? Let me out!”
Samcadaris rounded the far corner and raced toward her cell. She saw that he was dirty and spattered with
