warning beat at him from his memory, goading him to greater effort. Talsy's danger was grave. If he was too late, she would die, and he would have failed a Wish, breaking a trust sacred to Mujar. Allowing someone under his protection to die was as bad as killing.
Desperate thoughts flooded his anxious mind. He should have told her that her Wish was fulfilled after he got her out of Horran. He should have done it after he saved her from the Kuran. Her Wish had been fulfilled long ago, yet he had not spoken the ritual words that released him from its onus. If he had, he could have broken clan bond before leaving her. At least he should have warned her that he would not be there. His decision to go ahead to Rashkar had been the right one, for the boy Arrin was free. Had he not arrived when he had, the Prince would have died, taking with him the chance for the bargain he had made with the King. Still, he would have found a way, but the opportunity had been a good one. If Talsy died, however, he would suffer the consequences of failing a Wish. It would haunt him for the rest of his life.
The gale that howled around him tossed him like chaff, and his tiny wings beat the cold air with a desperation born of dread. Spying a dot in the sea ahead, he veered towards it. The ship wallowed in the foaming waves, her sails shredded by his wind, listing as mighty swells swept over her, threatening to capsize her. He swooped down to land with a flutter on the deck. Before he could invoke the change, the faint warning of Dolana told him that Talsy was not on board. He took wing again, soaring above the rolling ship, where sailors clung to ropes and railings as they fought the raging sea. Again he commanded Ashmar to sweep him onwards, leaving the ship behind.
Talsy gasped as the wind slashed her with driven spray and great foaming waves washed over her, sucking her under as she struggled to keep her head in the air. She kept her eyes closed, for the salt stung them, and there was nothing to see but black heaving waves and the cold glimmer of stars. A howling wind whipped the ocean into a fury, making it almost impossible to breathe anything but water in one form or another.
The moments when she was underwater were calm and peaceful compared to the turmoil above, and she was tempted to give up and sink into the quiet depths. Why did she continue to struggle? Chanter had left her, the ship was gone and no hope of rescue remained. Perhaps it was the fear of death, not knowing what lay in store for her when she let herself sink. Soon there would be no more choice. The sea would claim its own.
Her father's bearded face appeared in her mind, shaking sadly, mouthing the words he had spoken before. Never trust a Mujar, he will only let you down. The woman in the forest appeared, and shrieked that Chanter would break her heart and leave her alone in the wilderness to die. He had done both, and the pain of her shattered trust almost outweighed the terror of her approaching death. She coughed as a wave leapt into her mouth, bringing her back from her memories. Her numb legs flailed, barely responding to the commands of her brain, and the water closed more frequently over her face, weakening her further.
Talsy tensed at a splash beside her, then strong, warm arms enfolded and lifted her. Two Powers swirled as they were invoked, Ashmar and Shissar. The wind died and the ocean calmed as if smoothed by a giant hand to the flatness of a millpond. Warmth flooded into her from the sleek form pressed against her, and he kicked at the sea, holding her up.
'Hold onto me, Talsy.'
She tried to open her burning eyes. 'Chanter?'
'I'm here. Hold on.'
Tears of weakness and relief filled her eyes as she tried to comply, but no strength remained in her limbs, and she shook her head. He grunted and invoked Shissar again. Something cold and solid pressed against her feet. She sobbed with terror and clung to his neck. Chanter held her, hushing her mewling cries as the cold solidity beneath her rose. Her legs buckled, and he knelt beside her as they were raised from the cold sea. A gentle rain fell; big, warm drops that rinsed off the brine while the Mujar rubbed the saltiness from her eyes. The sweet water ran into her mouth, and she licked it from her lips. Chanter's power swirled around them, and the downpour increased. He cupped his hand to catch the rain, and trickled it into her mouth. She sucked at it, washing the sea's harsh taste away.
Too befuddled to care how he did it, she clung to him as the rain washed her and the solid something held her above the dreaded sea. All she knew was that her throat's rawness and the burning of her injured nose and salty eyes were gone. Slumped against him, she soaked up his warmth and comfort, too tired to care about anything else. He wiped the matted hair from her face, and the rain stopped as she opened her eyes to look up at him. In the darkness, he was little more than a shadow beside her, moonlight gleaming on his hair and skin.
'You left me,' she accused.
'Yes.'
'Why?'
'Regret, Talsy.'
'Why?' she demanded.
'I thought you were safe. I went ahead to rescue the boy.'
She thumped his chest. 'Damn you!'
Talsy burst into tears, releasing the terror of her ordeal in the flood, hating and loving his strong silent presence and his arms around her. The weeping sapped the last of her strength, and, as it drained her terror and despair, her eyes closed and an exhausted sleep swept over her.
Chapter Eleven
When Talsy woke, Chanter held her pillowed against his shoulder. Warm sunlight flooded from a bright blue sky where fluffy white clouds wandered. The sea stretched away all around, as calm as a sheet of gently undulating glass. Talsy sat up, freeing herself from the Mujar's embrace, and studied the huge piece of ice on which they sat. It bobbed in the swells, ripples fanning out from its edges.
Talsy turned accusing eyes upon her saviour. 'I could have died.'
'Yes.' His face was expressionless.
'Don't give me that silent Mujar crap,' she snapped. 'Talk to me.'
Chanter made a graceful gesture. 'Regret.'
'What the hell does that mean?'
'I have caused you pain. Wish.'
'I don't want a damned Wish!' She scowled at him. 'I want an apology!'
He regarded her with puzzled eyes, a smile curving his sensual lips, then bowed his head. 'I'm sorry, my little clan. I made a mistake. It almost cost your life, and I apologise. Punish me if you wish, take out your anger, I won't be offended.'
Talsy stared at him, and he flashed her a fire-blue glance with a grin. The memory of the terror she had endured washed away the temptation to join in his gaiety, however. She thumped him as hard as she could, a puny blow on his shoulder that made her slip and almost sprawl on the ice, but for the support of his hands that flashed out to hold her. Talsy slapped and punched him, hating his alien humbleness and disarming allure, as well as the immense power he commanded. Hated him for being Mujar.
'You damned Mujar!' she wept. 'I was all alone, scared out of my wits! You left me to die! Why did you come back? Why bother to calm the seas and stop the wind, just to rescue a worthless Lowman?'
Chanter's brows rose at her use of the Mujar name for her people. He let her pummel him while he held her to prevent her slipping. She soon exhausted the little strength she had and slumped against him, allowing him to hold her and stroke her hair.
'So now you hate Mujar too?' he enquired.
'No,' she groaned. 'I love you.' Flinging her arms around his neck, she clung to him and sobbed into his chest.
Clearly bewildered by her strange, tumultuous Lowman emotions, Chanter patted her back. 'I didn't leave you to die. I thought you were safe. When I heard the warning, I came as fast as I could. That's what caused the wind.'
'I thought you had left me. I was frightened!' she wailed. 'Everyone has warned me that you'll abandon me one day!'
'I won't,' he assured her. 'As long as we have clan bond, I will fulfil my side of the bargain.'
