forefinger in the middle of Menedrion's forehead. ‘Remember all this. Remember it as you would remember the battlefield earth, firm and solid, under your feet, supporting you faithfully as you swung your sword. Remember it as you would remember the weight of your lance, the movement of your horse. Remember. You are master of yourself. You cannot be moved if you do not wish it. Sleep with the sword that you've used before beside you; the one you can rely on. It will remind you of your power. Sleep brings you no threat. Dream in peace.'
Menedrion made no movement as Antyr removed his hand, but all hostility had gone from his face.
Antyr turned to the Duke and fixed him with the same, black-eyed gaze. ‘You understood these things well already, sire, although you did not realize it,’ he said. ‘Now you understand them more. Sleep brings you no threat. Dream in peace.'
The room became very still and Antyr moved softly through the silence like drifting smoke.
He looked at Estaan. ‘You are not of this land,’ he said. ‘You are tortured, but you have strange deep strengths from another place. Dream in peace.'
Finally he came to Ciarll Feranc. He looked up into the Commander's enigmatic face for a long time.
'And even deeper strengths yet,’ he said, finally, very softly. He bowed slowly. ‘Dream in peace.'
Feranc bowed in reply.
Antyr turned back to the Duke. ‘If Pandra is willing, he should accompany the Lord Menedrion, to watch over his dreams, sire. His Companion is a kindred spirit to the Lord. Very fierce.'
Ibris glanced at the old Dream Finder, who nodded hesitantly.
'Menedrion, take Pandra as part of your entourage,’ Ibris said. He gave Pandra an appraising look and added, ‘But he's no sapling. See that he's looked after properly. Comfortable wagon, comfortable quarters. You understand? And
Menedrion looked warily at the old Dream Finder and then nodded. ‘I'm sure he'll be better company than that Bethlarii bigot with his damned preaching and his endless prayers,’ he said. ‘But who's going to pay for him? Aaken's already been complaining about the cost of this envoy and…'
Ibris scowled. ‘We'll discuss that later, Irfan,’ he said sharply.
Menedrion grunted suspiciously and then stood up. ‘Well, if there's nothing else to be decided for me,’ he said, somewhat caustically. ‘May I get back to my duties? There's still a lot to do if we're to leave tomorrow.'
When he had left, Ibris stared at the door for a moment and then turned to Antyr. ‘For a man who minutes ago didn't know what to do, you seem peculiarly confident all of a sudden,’ he said.
Antyr shrugged. ‘You're my Duke and Commander. Your order left me no choice. So I spoke the truth as I felt and as I spoke I realized that what I felt was the truth.'
Ibris made to reply, but Antyr continued. ‘Besides,’ he said. ‘The … attackers … failed to reach you when you weren't even aware of them. Now that you are aware, your strength and control are magnified many times. Add to that the fact they've fled before Tarrian and me, twice already, my feeling is that they'll not be too anxious to return too quickly.'
'But if they do, what of my son?’ Ibris asked.
'I've no unequivocal answer for you, sire,’ Antyr replied. ‘But we're indeed protected in many strange ways. Someone, somehow, protected Lord Menedrion in his moment of need. Probably a close relative who might not even have known what he was doing. Someone accidentally sucked in by the disturbance in the Dream Ways. He, or she, probably thinks it was just a nightmare. But now your son has accepted his own fear and vulnerability, he too will be stronger by far. And should there be any assault on him, Pandra and Kany will waken him on the instant.'
'But…’ the Duke said, catching a doubt in Antyr's tone.
Antyr pulled a wry face. ‘But who they are. What they want. Why they want it…’ He shrugged. ‘All the questions that clouded my sight before, must still be answered sooner or later, because they will return eventually. There was a malevolence there that won't rest until it's…’ He paused as a grim image came to him suddenly. He voiced it hesitantly. ‘…until it's walked with relish through endless fields of our dead, calf-deep in blood and flesh.’ His eyes narrowed, then closed. Faintly, at the edge of his mind, the word formed. ‘Vengeance,’ he said softly. ‘A dark and ancient malice is seeking vengeance.'
A deep stillness filled the room again. No one moved, no one spoke until a lamp spluttered noisily, and broke the spell.
'And you, Antyr?’ Ibris said, clearing his throat. ‘What of you? Who will protect your nights?'
'Tarrian and Grayle, and my own wits and awareness,’ Antyr replied. ‘And I shall have my sword and daggers sharpened, and carry them with me from now on in case I'm drawn away unawares.'
'But still, questions, questions,’ Ibris said.
'Yes, sire,’ Antyr agreed. ‘But all we can do now is wait for the night and sleep. We've done all that can be done here. Now, with respect, I think that you have more pressing problems with the Sened and the Bethlarii envoy.'
Ibris stood up. ‘Indeed,’ he said. ‘A timely reminder.’ He glanced at a timepiece on the wall. ‘And I'll have to hurry. The Sened will be less than pleased if I drag them into an evening sitting.'
Taking Antyr by the arm, he moved towards the door. Feranc fell in beside them. ‘You must keep me informed of anything untoward that occurs in this strange business,’ he said. ‘I've arranged for you to have access to me at all times, for that purpose-I know it's not a privilege you'll abuse. Likewise I must know where you are at all times. And go nowhere without Estaan. Do you understand? There are other, more prosaic forces than dream demons and Bethlarii who have little love for me, and to be of value to me is sometimes to attract unpleasant attention.'
'Yes, sire,’ Antyr replied, opening the door to let the Duke and Feranc through. As he passed by, Feranc looked at him briefly, and gave a small, satisfied nod.
'You've made an impression on the Commander,’ Estaan said, when Antyr had closed the door.
'I've made an impression on myself,’ Antyr replied ruefully as he sat down again. ‘Ye gods, my legs are shaking. What possessed me to speak to the Duke and Menedrion like that? And now I'm involved in palace politics.'
Tarrian and Grayle moved over to him and Tarrian sat down and leaned against him. He did not speak, but his satisfaction and approval filled Antyr's mind. He reached down and held both the wolves tight.
As he did so, he looked up at Pandra, standing silent by the wall. Remorse struck him at the sight of the frail old man.
'I'm sorry,’ he said. ‘If I've done you a bad service, perhaps I can still remedy it. I'm sure someone else can be found to guard Menedrion if you think it'll be too much.'
The remark galvanized Pandra. ‘No, no,’ he protested. ‘This is splendid. I've spent my whole life pottering about through my craft always feeling that something, somewhere, was missing. Always half wondering whether I wasn't in fact just a charlatan myself. Now I'm walking by the side of a Master. The Threshold itself beckons. No, you did me no disservice.'
Antyr's remorse did not recede. ‘They killed Nyriall, you know,’ he said. ‘Killed him.'
'Killed him here,’ Pandra said. ‘But not there. There he was alive. Moving from world to world…'
'Because they were hunting him,’ Antyr exclaimed.
Pandra, however, was not to be deterred. ‘But he escaped,’ he declared. ‘Besides, he went there by accident. I may not be a Master, but if I'm drawn there inadvertently, at least I'll know what's happening. And I too shall be carrying my sword and daggers in future.'
Antyr sighed and sat up. ‘Kany, what do you think of your Finder's enthusiasm?’ he asked.
'Oh, nice of you to ask,’ came the instant, and peevish, reply. ‘Do feel free any time to volunteer us to wander about the Threshold tackling sinister Master Dream Finders and cracked Mynedarion dragging thunderstorms and legions of shadows in their wake. It's just what we need to while away the tedious hours of our retirement.'
Antyr opened his mouth to reply, but Kany continued, gathering momentum.
'And what do you mean by calling me a kindred spirit to that uncultured lout Menedrion?’ he went on. ‘That's very respectful of you.'
'He'll get used to the idea,’ Pandra intervened reassuringly.
'You're only guarding Menedrion,’ Antyr said by way of mitigation.
'Make your mind up,’ the rabbit snapped. ‘Are you glad or sorry you talked us into this job?'
Antyr made to reply again, but no wisdom came to guide him and he wilted before Kany's displeasure.
'Take no notice,’ Pandra said. ‘You'd no choice but to do what you did, and I'm well pleased at the prospect.
