Rian felt a force envelop him, pressing upon the protection around him. He fought it, but it grew ever stronger. Auraya was not surprised to see that the sorcerer was standing with one hand extended and curved into a claw, just as he had during the fight with the priests.
Abruptly, the crushing force eased.
Though Rian reacted quickly, a great wave of force rushed out from him. Trees shattered. The ruined house flew apart. Dust and rocks filled the air, obscuring all. Rian threw out a gentler magic, pushing the dust to the ground.
The sorcerer was gone. Casting about, Rian saw a huge black beast loping away, carrying a man. He sent a bolt of lightning toward it, but the energy skittered around the fleeing sorcerer and sank into the ground.
“Gods strike him,” Rian hissed as the man and beast disappeared into the trees. He sent a mental call to his Bearer. The mount was not far away.
Auraya felt a chill run down her spine. Deadly to Rian? But surely nothing could harm him.
Then his thoughts faded from Auraya’s senses. She opened her eyes. Dyara met her gaze.
“That was enlightening,” the woman said dryly. “We have not encountered an enemy this powerful for a long time.” Her eyes narrowed. “You look puzzled.”
“I am,” Auraya replied. “Is Rian in any danger?”
“No.”
“Then why did Juran warn him to watch for a surprise attack? Surely he cannot be killed.”
Dyara crossed her arms. “Only if he makes a foolish mistake - and he won’t. I taught him well.”
“So we’re not invulnerable. Or immortal.”
Dyara smiled. “Not exactly. Most would say we’re close enough to it. We do have limitations. One is access to magic. Remember what I taught you: when we draw in magic we use up some of what is around us. If we use a lot it becomes harder to draw in as the magic around us thins and we have to reach farther from our position to get to it. Magic will flow back into the place we have weakened, but it happens slowly. To gain a fresh, strong source we must move to a new position.
“It is rare for us to use that much magic,” Dyara continued. “But the most likely situation to cause us to is battle with another sorcerer - an exceptionally powerful sorcerer. The depletion of an area may cause you to weaken at an inopportune moment.” She paused and Auraya nodded to show she understood.
“Your own ability to learn and use Gifts is your other limitation. The gods can only enhance our Gifts. Each of us is as strong as the gods can make us. That is why we are not equal in strength. Why Mairae is the weakest and Juran is the strongest.”
“Is it possible for a sorcerer to be stronger than us?”
“Yes, though sorcerers of such strength are rare indeed. This is the first one I’ve learned of in nearly a hundred years.” She smiled grimly. “You have joined us during interesting times, Auraya. Lack of training is another limitation, but one I’m sure you’ll overcome quickly considering the rate at which you’re learning. Don’t worry. We would never send you out to deal with a sorcerer of such strength until your training was complete.”
Auraya smiled. “I’m not worried. And I had wondered how we could be invulnerable when the gods aren’t.”
Dyara frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Many gods died in the War of the Gods. If gods can die, then so can we.”
“I suppose that is true.”
Hearing the beat of hooves on the ground, they both turned to see Juran and Mairae riding toward them. As the reyer came to a halt Auraya realized that neither wore reins. She remembered what Dyara had told her: that Bearers were directed by mental commands.
Juran looked down at Auraya.
“I have a question for you, Auraya. Mairae tells me you’ve finished looking over the Somreyan alliance proposal. Would you make any changes to the terms?”
“A few, though I suspect even more changes need to be made. As I was reading I found that I didn’t know as much about Dreamweavers as I thought. I know how they’d treat woundrot, but not how they fit into Somreyan society. I began to wish I had an expert to call upon, and a possible solution came to me. Perhaps what we need is an adviser on Dreamweaver matters.”
Juran turned to regard Mairae. “You tried this, did you not?”
Mairae nodded. “I could not find anyone with the appropriate knowledge.”
Auraya felt her heartbeat quicken a little, but did not pause. “Did you try a Dreamweaver?”
“No. I did not expect them to cooperate.”
Juran’s eyebrows had risen, but his expression was not disapproving. “You believe they might, Auraya?”
“Yes, if they felt our purpose was not contrary to their well-being. The alliance isn’t, as far as I can see.” She smiled crookedly and touched her forehead. “And we have our own safeguards against the possibility that their purpose is contrary to ours.”
“Which they will be quite aware of.” Juran reached forward and rubbed his Bearer between the ears, around the stub of one horn. “I would be surprised if any agreed to it, but I can see the advantages we will gain if one did.”
Mairae smiled. “The Somreyan Dreamweaver elder would not so easily defy one of her own.”
“No,” Juran agreed.
“We would be admitting they have power and influence,” Dyara warned.
Mairae shrugged. “No more power than they actually have. No more than we have already acknowledged in the terms of the alliance.”
“We will signal to our people that we approve of them,” Dyara persisted.
“Not approve. Tolerate. We can’t pretend they don’t have power in Somrey.”
Dyara opened her mouth, then closed it again and shook her head.
Juran looked at Auraya. “If you can find a Dreamweaver willing to do this, then I will send you and Mairae to Somrey together.”
“But Auraya has barely begun her training,” Dyara protested. “This is too much to expect of her so soon.”
“The only alternative I see is to abandon negotiations.” Juran looked at Auraya and shrugged. “If you fail, people will assume it was through inexperience rather than a fault in our strategy.”
“That’s hardly fair on Auraya,” Dyara pointed out.
Auraya shook her head. “I don’t mind.”
Juran looked thoughtful. “If Mairae were to behave as if she didn’t expect to gain any ground, but has taken you there to educate you in other systems of government... Let them underestimate you.” His attention returned to her. “Yes. Do it. See if you can find us an adviser.”
“Do you have anyone in mind?” Mairae asked.
Auraya paused. “Yes. The Dreamweaver I knew as a child. He is living in the city temporarily.”
Juran frowned. “An old friend. That could be unpleasant for you, if he proves troublesome.”
“I know. However, I’d rather work with someone I know well, than not.”
He nodded slowly. “Very well. But be careful, Auraya, that you do not compromise yourself for the sake of friendship. It is far too easy to do.” His tone was regretful.
“I will be careful,” she assured him.
Juran patted his Bearer’s neck and it pawed the ground. Auraya resisted the urge to back away. They were
