Priestess of the White

have learned. It will help him see the bigger picture.

:I will. How is your work in Si going?

:It’s a fascinating place. I can’t wait to tell you all about it. These people have such gentle natures. I was expecting some kind of internal conflict - like the ancient grudges between the Dunwayan clans - but there’s only a mild sort of competition between tribes that they channel into aerial contests. They look for matches between young men and women of different tribes, and marry quite young, which encourages adolescents to mature quickly. Have you heard from Leiard at all?

Danjin blinked in surprise at the sudden change of subject.

:No. Not once since you left.

:Could you... could you visit him? Just to let him know I haven’t completely forgotten about him.

:I’ll do it tomorrow.

:Thank you. And how is... Ah, here’s Speaker Sirri. I will talk to you again soon.

The sense of her presence faded, then suddenly returned.

:And give Mischief an extra scratch for me.

:I will.

Then she was gone. Danjin moved to the chair, crouched and scratched the veez’s head.

“There, that’s from your mistress.”

Mischief closed his eyes, his pointy face a picture of bliss.

Danjin sighed. If only I was so easily soothed, he thought. Auraya knows of the Pentadrian army, but that doesn’t make it any less frightening. I just have to hope that the White are doing all they can to prevent a war - or at least to win if it is unavoidable.

“Sorry, Mischief,” he said to the veez. “I must leave you. I need to tell Juran what I know.”

He gave Mischief one last scratch, then rose and hurried from the room.

After Speaker Sirri left, Auraya slowly walked around the bower the Siyee had made her. It was a marvellous creation, so simple yet so beautiful. They had made hers twice the size of a normal bower, measuring it against the landwalker named Gremmer who had delivered the offer of an alliance to them.

It was dome-shaped, made of long, flexible supports, with one end buried in the ground and the other secured against the trunk of an immense tree. A thin membrane stretched between the supports. Auraya could not guess if it was of animal or plant origin. During the day, light filtered through, filling the room with a warm glow. Membranes had also been stretched between the outer frame and a pole sunk into the ground near the trunk of the tree, dividing the house into three rooms. She ran her fingers lightly over the walls and their flexible supports, then turned to regard the simple furniture.

Chairs made of wooden frames with woven material slung between filled the main room. A single slab of rock lay in the center of the floor with a depression in the center for cooking in. Most Siyee families had a member with enough magical ability to learn the Gift of heating stone. The bed in the second room was a length of material slung between a sturdy support wedged into the floor and a loop around the trunk at the center of the room. The blankets on the bed were woven from the fine down of a small domestic animal and were deliciously soft. They beckoned to her. It was late. Tomorrow would bring a new challenge: speaking to the Siyee at their Gathering.

Stripping off her white circ she changed into a simple tunic she had brought for sleeping in. Since leaving Jarime she hadn’t bothered trying to dress her hair in the typically elaborate Hanian fashion, since all her hard work was soon blown undone when she was flying. Instead she plaited it into a single tail, which she now undid.

She managed to get into her sling bed without too much trouble. After arranging the cushions and blankets comfortably, she relaxed and let her thoughts wander. Time passed and sleep would not come. Danjin’s news had only added to her disquiet over the communication she’d had with Juran earlier that day. Every day it seemed more likely that Northern Ithania was facing the threat of war with the Pentadrians. And Juran had brought Mirae back from Somrey for fear she was vulnerable to an attack by one of the black sorcerers.

And here I am, trying to convince the Siyee to ally with us. If they do and war comes, they will have to join us in the fight. They are not a strong or robust people. How can I ask them to fight when it is likely some of them will die as a consequence?

She sighed and shifted a little. It would be unfair to the Siyee to keep the possibility of war from them until after they made their decision. Telling them of it might dissuade them from an alliance with the White, however. She would have to make them see that turning down the alliance and avoiding involvement in a war would not save them from the Pentadrians. If the Toren settlers could present a threat to them, so could invaders.

The Siyee might decide to take that risk. After all, the Pentadrians might not invade Northern Ithania. However, she couldn’t gamble that war wouldn’t come and that she didn’t need to warn the Siyee. Even learning that she had kept the possibility of war from them would anger them.

It almost seems as if the Pentadrians have spread the idea they’re planning a war in order to dissuade anyone from allying with the White, she thought. Then she shook her head. That is too devious to be true. The Pentadrians haven’t even visited Si. They’ve shown no signs of wanting the Siyee, who worship Huan, as allies.

She shifted again, her sling bed rocking with the movement.

I will have to tell the Siyee of the threat of war eventually, she thought. If I choose the right time, perhaps I can still convince them the alliance is beneficial to them. After all, with the gods on our side we can’t lose.

Holding onto that thought, she finally surrendered to the call of sleep.

:Auraya.

The voice was a whisper in her mind.

:Auraya.

This time it was stronger. She struggled awake and blinked at the darkened room. It was empty, and when she searched for minds, she found none close by. Had it been a mental call?

No, it had the feel of a dream about it, she decided. I think I dreamed that someone called me. She closed her eyes. Time stretched out, and she forgot about the dream.

:Auraya.

She felt herself rising toward consciousness, like floating up to the surface of water. Her awareness of the caller’s mind faded. She opened her eyes, but did not bother searching for the speaker. He was limited to the dream.

He? She felt her heart skip a beat. Who else would be calling for her in a dream but Leiard?

Abruptly, Auraya was wide awake, her heart racing. Should I answer? If I did would we be dream-linking? Dream-linking is a crime.

So is using a Dreamweaver’s services, she thought. A ridiculous law. I want to know what dream-linking is. What better way than to join one?

But if I engage in a dream link, I will be breaking a law. And so will he.

It’s not as if I’m a helpless victim. I could make him stop at any time.

Or could I?

She lay awake for some time. Part of her longed to speak to Leiard, but another hesitated to. Even if she wanted to, she was too awake now. She doubted she would fall asleep again easily.

Some time later she heard her name called and knew simultaneously that she had managed to fall asleep, and that she had to talk to Leiard.

:Leiard? she ventured.

A sense of personality grew stronger, flowing around her like thick, sweet smoke. It was Leiard and yet it was not. It was the man she had glimpsed on her last night in Jarime. The warm, passionate man hidden beneath the dignified Dreamweaver exterior.

:I cannot be anything but myself in this state, he told her.

:Nor can I, I am guessing, she replied.