Dying of the Light

'In truth,' Vikary replied. 'I think we are safe enough here, for a while. Unless– I am not sure how they found you in Challenge, and that gives me a fear. If they track us to Kryne Lamiya and comb the city with Braith hounds, our danger will be severe. We have no null-scent now.' He looked at Dirk. 'How did they know where you had fled? Do you have any ideas?'

'No,' said Dirk. 'No one knew. Certainly no one followed. Maybe they just guessed. It was the most logical choice, after all. Living was more comfortable in Challenge than in any of the other cities. Easier. You know.'

'Yes, I know. I do not accept your theory, however. Remember, t'Larien, Garse and I considered this problem too, when you left us shamed and deserted at the death-square. Challenge was the most obvious choice, and therefore the least logical, we felt. It seemed more likely that you would go to Musquel and live off what fish you could take, or that Gwen would forage for you both in the wilds she knew so well. Garse even suggested that you might simply have hidden the aircar and remained in some other section of Larteyn itself, so you could laugh at us while we searched the planet for you.'

Dirk fidgeted. 'Yes. Well, I suppose our choice was stupid.'

'No, t'Larien, I did not say that. The only stupid choice, I think, would have been to flee to the City in the Starless Pool, where the Braiths were known to be thick. Challenge was a subtle choice, whether you intended it to be that or not. It seemed such a wrong choice that it was actually a right one. Do you understand? I cannot see how the Braiths discovered you by any process of deduction.'

'Maybe,' Dirk said. He thought a bit. 'I remember the first we knew of it was when Bretan spoke to us. He– Well, he wasn't testing a theory, either. He knew we were there, somewhere.'

'Yet you have no idea how?'

'No. No idea.'

'We shall have to live with the fear that they can find us here, then. Otherwise, unless the Braiths can repeat their miracle, we are secure.

'Understand, though, that our position is not without difficulties. We have shelter and unlimited water, but no food to speak of. Our ultimate exit-we must go to the spaceport and leave Worlorn as soon as possible, I have concluded-our ultimate exit is going to be very difficult. The Braiths will anticipate us. We have my laser pistol, and two hunting lasers that I found in the aircar. Plus the vehicle itself, armed and well armored, probably belonging to Roseph high-Braith Kelcek-'

'One of the derelicts in the airlot is still marginally functional,' Dirk interjected.

'Then we have two aircars, should we need them,' Vikary said. 'Against us, at least eight of the Braith hunters still live, and probably nine. I am not sure how seriously I wounded Lorimaar Arkellor. It is possible that I killed him, though I am inclined to doubt it. The Braiths can probably put eight aircars in the sky at once, if they choose to, although it is more traditional to fly together, teyn-and-teyn. Every car will be armored. They have supplies, power, food. They outnumber us. Possibly, since I am an outbond duel-breaker, they will prevail upon Kirak Redsteel Cavis and the two hunters from the Shanagate Holding to join them in running me down. Finally, there is Garse Janacek.'

'Garse?'

'I hope-I pray-that he will cut the glowstones from his arm and return to High Kavalaan. He will be shamed, alone, wearing dead iron. No easy fate, t'Larien. I have disgraced him, and Ironjade. I am sorry for his pain, yet this is how I hope it will be. For there is another possibility, you see.'

'Another…?'

'He may hunt for us. He cannot leave Worlorn until a ship comes. That will be some time. I do not know what he will do.'

'Surely he won't join the Braiths. They're his enemies, and you are his teyn, and Gwen his cro-betheyn. He might want to kill me, I don't doubt it, but-'

'Garse is more a Kavalar than me, t'Larien. He always has been. And now more than ever, since I am no Kavalar at all after the thing I have done. The old customs require a man's teyn, no less than any other, to bring death to a duel-breaker. It is a custom that only the very strong can follow. The bond of iron-and-fire is too close for most, so they are left alone to mourn. Yet Garse Janacek is a very strong man, stronger than myself in so many ways. I do not know. I do not know.'

'And if he does come after us?'

Vikary spoke calmly. 'I will not raise a weapon against Garse. He is my teyn, whether I am his or no, and I have hurt him badly enough already, failed him, shamed him. He has worn a painful scar through most of his adult life because of me. Once, when we were both younger, an older man took offense at one of his jokes and issued challenge. The mode was single-shot and we fought teyned, and in my less-than-infinite wisdom I convinced Garse that our honor would be served if we fired into the air. We did, to our regret. The others decided to teach Garse a lesson about humor. To my shame, I was left untouched while he was disfigured for my folly.

'Yet he never reproached me. The first time I was with him after the duel, when he was still recovering from his wounds, he said to me, 'You were right, Jaantony, they did aim for empty air. A pity that they missed.' ' Vikary laughed, but Dirk looked at him and saw that his eyes were full of tears, his mouth set grimly. He did not cry, though; as if by some immense effort of will, he kept the tears from falling.

Abruptly Jaan turned and walked back inside, leaving Dirk alone on the balcony with the wind and the white twilight city and the music of Lamiya-Bailis. Off in the far distance the straining white hands rose, holding back the encroaching wilderness. Dirk studied them, thoughtful, reflecting on Vikary's words.

Minutes later the Kavalar returned, dry-eyed and blank-faced. 'I am sorry,' he began.

'No need to-'

'We must get to the crux, t'Larien. Whether Garse hunts us or not, we face formidable odds. We have weapons, should we have to fight, but no one to use them. Gwen is a good marksman, and fearless enough, but she is injured and unsteady. And you– can I trust you? I put it to you bluntly. I trusted you once, and you betrayed me.'

'How can I answer that question?' Dirk said. 'You don't have to believe any promise I give you. But the Braiths want to kill me too, remember? And Gwen as well. Or do you think I'd betray her as easily as I…' He stopped in horror of his own words.

'… as easily as you did me,' Vikary finished for him with a hard smile. 'You are blunt enough. No, t'Larien, I do not think you would betray Gwen. Yet I did not think you would desert us either when we had named you keth and you had taken the name. We would not have dueled except for you.'

Dirk nodded. 'I know that. Maybe I made a mistake. I don't know. I would have died, though, if I'd kept faith with you.'

'Died a keth of Ironjade, with honor.'

Dirk smiled. 'Gwen appealed to me more than death. That much I expect you to understand.'

'I do. She is still between us, ultimately. Face that, and know it for a truth. Sooner or later she will choose.'

'She did choose, Jaan, when she left with me. You should face that.' Dirk said it quickly, stubbornly; he wondered how much he believed it.

'She did not remove the jade-and-silver,' Vikary answered. He gestured impatiently. 'This is no matter. I will trust you, for now.'

'Good. What do you want me to do?'

'Someone must fly to Larteyn.'

Dirk frowned. 'Why are you always trying to talk me into suicide, Jaan?'

'I did not say that you must make the flight, t'Larien,' Vikary said. 'I will do that myself. It will be dangerous, yes, but it must be done.'

'Why?'

'The Kimdissi.'

'Ruark?' Dirk had almost forgotten about his erstwhile host and co-conspirator.

Vikary nodded. 'He has been a friend to Gwen since our days on Avalon. Though he has never liked me, nor I him, I cannot abandon him entirely. The Braiths…'

'I understand. But how will you get to him?'