pour out his poisons upon the waters of the cauldron. But you say he lives?' Wiggulf took a few steps toward them with the aid of his walking stick.
'He and the Sumifan Schreefa follow us, Riverking,' said Og. 'Rotapan, um, seems to believe this stone is his.' He held up the staff, its serpent's head still covered with the rag. Even so, Wiggulf drew back instinctively at the sight of the poisoner's rod.
'Where did you get that?' he asked roughly.
'We retrieved it from the waters as we ran from Rotapan,B said Cheyne quickly. 'The stone in the serpent's eye truly belongs to Og, and was stolen from him many years ago.'
'Then our stone was also yours to begin with… for the four were all from the hand of the same workman, cut to fit one to the other. Just like the old stories, which say our kingdoms used to be joined.' Wiggulf considered the thought, a frown crossing his wizened face. 'We must hurry to the lodge.'
The others made to follow him but, Frijan hung back, still uncertain. Wiggulf could bear it no longer. 'Please come to me, Frijan. I have missed you…' he said quietly, holding out his thin arms to his daughter.
As Frijan embraced her father, Cheyne turned and looked behind him into the forest, remembering his last words to [avin, an unbearable feeling of sadness overwhelming him. He jerked his head back suddenly. No. / will not look back, he thought, setting his jaw.
Claria studied his bitter expression closely, but said nothing, her thoughts interrupted as Og drew closer, a look of terror on his face.
'Did you hear him? He said Womba escaped with him. That means she's on her way here. We have to leave as soon as we can and go on toward the mountains,' he whispered to them both.
'Why? There are enemies still on our trail, we're all tired, we need more suitable clothing, I need a chance to think, and before we try for the Sarrazan forest, we have to get some provisions,' said Cheyne. 'Unless, of course, you can sing all those things out of the air for us right now, Og.' He winked. 'But maybe that's not a good idea-we might see Womba even sooner…'
Og did appreciate Cheyne's attempt at humor.
But Wiggulf and Frijan heard Claria laugh and moved to join them.
'What about this one? Did he attack you?' said Wiggulf, pointing to Yob, who had been lying all this time almost hidden upon the forest floor. The color had completely drained from the big ore's face, and he was still trembling violently.
'No, Father. I found him half-drowned by the sea. He was to help with your ransom. I cut him with a razorclam to make him cooperate. He'll die soon, I think. We can leave him here; it's far enough away from the lodge. The corbies will take him inside a day or two,' Frijan replied.
Wiggulf met his daughter's eyes, a look of surprise and disappointment clouding his face. 'My child, the terrible burden of my absence has made you hard. No, Frijan, we cannot let him die. There is no need. He deserves life as much as any of us.'
The old selkie bent over the ore and examined the cut. 'Ah, time is short. The wound is already sour. Once the cut of the razorclam was not even serious, but now, since Rotapan's been dumping his poison potions as sacrifices to that imaginary water worm in the sea, the smallest nick is deadly. Well, best get on with it. Give me the stone, girl.'
Frijan's silver eyes went wide with disbelief. 'You would use the stone on one such as this? One of the enemy, who held you captive in that pit? Father, how could you? At your best, your strongest, using the stone for the life song always made you ill. It will kill you in this weakened condition.'
'So you never were going to make Yob well? You were just using him until you got what you wanted?' said Og.
'You know this ore?' she said incredulously.
'Well, he has done me several favors, I suppose you could say. It's kind of a complicated relationship,' said Og.
'Stay out of this, little man. To me he is but an ore, so I am his enemy. Don't make me yours, too,' she snapped.
Og threw up his hands and withdrew behind Cheyne.
'Well, somebody either help him or kill him,' said Claria. 'I can't bear seeing him suffer.'
Wiggulf beckoned to his daughter again. 'I said give me the stone. I am still your father, and your king. Obey, Frijan.'
Out of old habit, Frijan submitted, tearing the water sapphire from her ear and handing it to him. 'I cannot watch this! You come back, after all these years, after all my waiting and hoping, and now you will go, this time forever, inside the same tide. For the sake of a filthy greenskin!'
She bounded away into the forest, leaving Wiggulf holding the dark stone to his heart, his eyes following her sadly.
'I love you, Frijan,' he whispered, knowing she did not hear him. 'And you have kept my kingdom well. But I am still king, and this creature has not come to my kingdom of his own accord. His blood is on our hands. And it is true, his kind would not help us in the same situation. I have spent the last ten years in my enemy's prison; now that I am free, I will share none of his ways. The life song must be sung.'
He closed his gentle eyes and began to hum. The water sapphire twinkled and glittered in response, its colors changing slowly from deepest purple to pale blue and back again. Wiggulf s strength seemed to wax and wane along with the colors.
'Is there nothing we can do to help him?' said Claria softly.
'Not that 1 know of. The stones are Og's. I know nothing of their powers,' Cheyne said helplessly. Og began to pace and mutter behind them.
'Wiggulf will die that way. Too much random power. It'll stop his heart. He can't make the tone true enough, can't direct it outside himself without-' Og stopped, noticing suddenly that Cheyne was staring at him.
'Without what, Og?'
Og creased his forehead with a grimace and held up the cloth-covered staff. 'Without the ajada. But I haven't sung the life song in a long, long time. If I tried it, using both stones, and I missed the notes, it could kill me, too, and Yob would still die. And Wiggulf could never manage both stones. That's a very powerful song,' he said miserably. 'Far more powerful than the one I sang for Yob and his company at the oasis. You do remember what happened there when I couldn't release a note.'
Cheyne nodded and turned back around to see Wiggulf shake violently as he lost his breath. Yob lay stretched on the forest floor, his face blanched and slack, his eyes closed and still. But Wiggulf raised his silvery head and continued the song, spending himself without thought.
Or effect. Finally Og could bear it no longer. He parted the way between Cheyne and Claria, and laid his hand upon the old selkie's head. Wiggulf opened his eyes and saw that Yob was no better.
'Let me try, Wiggulf. I have the sister stone. Perhaps it will help, perhaps not. Results may be variable, of course.' Og chuckled lamely, uncovering the staff. Instantly the ajada began to gleam redly in the bronze serpent's head.
Wiggulf drew back again from the fanged effigy.
'No, I cannot. He lies upon my land; he is my responsibility. And put away the poisoner's wand, I beg you,' panted Wiggulf, his face as pale as the ore's.
'Like your stone, the ajada itself is not evil, Wiggulf. The user determines the use of its power. Command me to your service,' said Og. 'As king, you can do that. Please, there is no time. And your daughter should have her father back. Let me try-I think…'
He took a deep breath and looked at Cheyne, knowing his speech had yet to convince the selkie. Cheyne nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Og's.
'… I know I can do it,' Og finished strongly.
'Please, Father. Let him,' a voice said quietly. Frijan stepped back out of the forest, returning to his side.
'Yob's stopped breathing,' said Claria, watching the ore's chest.
'I will let you try on one condition,' wheezed Wiggulf. 'I vowed that the poisoner's staff would never rule in my lands. Break the staff and take the stone from that serpent's head. Then you may make your attempt.'
'Agreed,' said Og instantly.
