again. 'He would. He would, the bastard.
'That was what he meant.'
A third laugh, shortest of all. 'The boy urges me there is a logic in this. He has had his revenge. He confuses me. He urges me—we are best suited to this fight. It is his revenge on me. Or mine on him.
'No, my lord!' Hesiyyn cried, and rode his horse across Chei's path.
'I will race you for it,' Chei said, and cracked the rein ends down on the roan and drove with his heels. The red horse went, as Hesiyyn fought the bay about and into a run. 'Let
The gate took them. One—and the other. Hesiyyn did not slow at all.
Vanye shut his eyes, and rested so, a long, long moment, till he heard Morgaine ride up beside him, until living warmth brushed against him. He looked then, at the vacant gate that loomed above them, with blue sky shimmering again where dark had showed for an instant.
'It is safe now,' she said, and reached and rested her hand on his arm.
'It was Chei and Qhiverin,' he said then. He was trembling, as if the gate-cold had gotten to his bones. 'Skarrin—is their enemy. And Hesiyyn's. But Chei is overmatched. Both of them—are overmatched.'
'Skarrin has had only one body,' Morgaine said.
He looked toward her then.
'Chei was right,' Morgaine said, 'altogether right. They are peculiarly apt for that fight. And Skarrin is their enemy.' Her fingers tightened. 'We have given them such as we could. It is all the charity we have. Nhi Vanye —'
There were tears in her voice finally. He was glad of that. Her burden was absolute, and older; and that she still could weep—gave him hope for himself, in such a time, after so many journeys.
He took her hand in his and held it till the horses moved apart, fingertip parting from fingertip. Siptah was bound for the gate. Arrhan followed, of her own accord.
Gray horse and white. Dark rider and light. There was no knowing where they were bound, except they went together.
