Youth. So much of what they learned from Elli came back to that.
'We think of the family relationship in terms of parents raising children until they're old enough to care for themselves,' Dorland went on. 'But at the same time, the parents have jobs and other interests outside the family. Raising the children is handled rather casually. To the Tal Tahir, nothing is as important as caring for the young.' He looked up at Paul. 'In fact, the closest thing to a Tal Tahir religion is the worship of the young.'
'They . . . worship the young?'
Dorland nodded. 'They don't have external gods like humans do. Our fear of the unknown is basic to us, and we created deities to give us answers and make us feel safe in our confusing environment. But the Tal Tahir don't need that kind of security. They know their security lies in their young. Everything their race will be depends on the youth. That's why the kra'ith is so sacred to them. It is where the young are reared and worshipped.'
'Did the heretics really have a Godstone?' Wayne Lightfoot asked. 'There's talk that—'
'Never mind the talk,' Jonny Ironfist said sternly. He and Wayne were crouched behind the partial remains of a curved dome wall. Jonny had just come from the temple, where he had received his orders from Elder Jacowicz. Confusing orders, but Jonny was prepared to carry them out. Jonny was nervous and—yes, he had to admit—afraid. Not of the heretics who waited in the strange building by the river or of the crowd that had gathered behind them, but of the Holy City. The city seemed to engulf him, and the pulse of its life beat with the pulse ofJonny's blood. 'Some people thought they saw the Godstone. They spread the word and
caused much confusion. Elder Jacowicz says we have to calm them before they get out of control.'
'Calm them? How?'
'Select half of the brothers and go out to talk to the people. Try to get them to return to Fairhope. Under no circumstances are you to let them get closer to the heretic stronghold.' Jonny could hear the muttering of the crowd behind him. It seemed to be getting louder. 'Tell them that when this is over. High Elder Brill will call a special service at the temple and explain everything.'
Wayne nodded and moved away to make his
selection.
Jonny turned his mind back to the problem at hand. The building in which the heretics had taken cover was on the riverbank. The vegetation and rubble were heavy along each side of the building. He would have to lead his brothers straight in, and he knew there would be casualties.
It would be much easier if they could simply use a powder bomb, but Elder Jacowicz had warned him against that. The heretic named Dorland Avery had to be brought back alive, and Elder Jacowicz had asked that he be captured as quietly as possible. The others were not to be harmed unless absolutely necessary.
Jonny didn't know why Elder Jacowicz had
changed his mind so abruptly. Earlier, Elder Jacowicz had ordered that Jonny use all necessary force to capture the heretics. Any survivors were to be brought directly to the God Wall.
But that had changed. Jonny didn't question Elder Jacowicz's judgment. Lord Tern would keep Jonny and his brothers from harm during the 186 William Greenleaf
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attack. And if Lord Tern decided to let some of them join him beyond the Far Peaks, then he would welcome them into his arms with gratitude and they would live forever in glory with him.
Jonny turned to his squadron commanders and began issuing his instructions.
*Kra'ith. (Group/touch)*
Paul felt acceptance emanating from Elli. Then, tentatively:
*Dorland kra'ith (?)*
Dorland's face tensed. 'She keeps asking about my kra'ith—'
A memory of Diana and Shari came to Paul,
shadowed by the dark concept of death. He knew they were not images from his own mind, but from Dorland's. The
