Priestess of the White

He felt hope. If he could hear someone, perhaps he was close enough to the surface that they could dig him out. His throat was dry and full of dust, and he could not make a noise.

Patience. There can be no fast way out of this.

But he must also hurry. He had to decide how to use his remaining strength carefully...

“Danjin. Wake up.”

A hand grasped his arm. Rescue!

“Danjin!”

He woke with a start and took in his room, the blankets wound tightly around his body - but not his feet - and his wife staring down at him.

“What?”

Silava straightened and placed her hands on her hips.

“There is an army outside.”

An army? He untangled himself from the blankets and followed her to one of the windows. This side of his house faced one of the main streets of the city. He looked down and stared in surprise at the lines of troops marching past.

It was strangely thrilling to see them. Hanian soldiers were always visible in the city, from the clean roads of the noble families to the low streets of the rougher parts, but never this many at once. The steady tread of their sandals sounded so confident and organized.

“They’re not wasting time,” he muttered to himself.

“For what?”

“At the meeting last night, Juran announced that the Pentadrian army has entered Sennon and declared their intention to rid the world of Circlians,” he explained. “It’s been so long since Hania faced a military threat. A few nobles expressed their doubt that our army was up to it. This will convince them.”

She looked down at the troops. “Where are they going?”

He considered. “Probably to the Temple to seek the gods’ blessing.”

“All of them at once?”

“Between them and the priests they’ll put on such a show that our young men will flock to join the army and be part of the great adventure. So will the forces of other lands, though they have no choice. They’re bound by the terms of their alliances with the White.”

She considered him speculatively. “So you’re allowed to tell me all this now?”

“Yes. It’s public knowledge, as of last night.”

“You didn’t tell me when you got home.”

“You were asleep.”

“News of this importance is worthy of being woken up for.”

“One is reluctant to interrupt another’s sleep when so deprived of it oneself.”

She gave him a withering look.

He spread his hands. “Would it have made any difference if you had learned of this five hours earlier?”

Her nose wrinkled. “Yes. I probably wouldn’t have slept at all.” She sighed. “So I guess you will be accompanying Auraya on this great adventure?”

He looked down at the soldiers marching past below. “Probably, though I am no military expert or soldier. I’ll probably end up doing much the same sort of duties as I do now - which was something my father insisted on mentioning numerous times last night.”

She chuckled. “I’m sure he did. Did you tell him you know they’re all spying for the White?”

“No. I changed my mind. He was so insufferably smug. Auraya and I find it much more amusing to let him think I don’t know.”

Silava’s eyebrows rose. “She’s back?”

He shook his head, then tapped his temple with one finger. “She wanted to see the reactions of the other nobles and ambassadors. They’re much more outspoken when they believe they’re not in the presence of a White.”

She paused. “Is she in your head now?”

“No.” He took her hand, recalling other occasions when the mention of Auraya seeing through his eyes had disturbed her. “It’s not like that. She doesn’t take over my mind. I’m still me. All she can do is hear what I hear and see what I see.”

Silava drew her hand away. “I understand that. Or at least I think I do. But I can’t help not liking it. How do I know whether she’s watching me or not?”

He chuckled. “She’s discreet.”

“That makes her sound like your mistress.”

“Are you jealous?”

She moved away, avoiding his gaze. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

He smiled and followed her. “I think you are. My wife is actually jealous of Auraya of the White.”

“I... she gets more time with you than I do.”

He nodded. “It’s true. She gets all that dry information about customs and politics and law that I know you love so much. Is that what you miss? Shall I tell you all about the laws laid down by the King of Genria fifty years ago? Or the many traditions and rituals for the serving of teho in Sennon high society?”

“There’s a lot more of that in you than anything else,” she retorted.

He caught her hand and turned her to face him. “That may be true, but everything else there is to have, I give to you. My friendship, my respect, my children, even my body - though you probably see nothing of worth in this sad, neglected form.”

Her lips thinned, but he could tell from the way the lines around her eyes deepened that she was pleased and amused by his words.

“If I didn’t suspect you were hoping I’d convince you otherwise, I’d be a bigger fool than you,” she said.

He grinned. “Can’t you at least pretend to be a fool for me?”

She pulled away and strode toward the door. “I don’t have the time, and my husband no doubt has more dry information to hurry off to gather and deliver to his mistress.”

He sighed loudly. “How can I face the world believing such things about myself?”

Reaching the door, she glanced back and smiled. “I’m sure you’ll manage.”

If Auraya hadn’t known that there were many times more Siyee than those now waiting in the Open, she might have thought the entire race had come out to see her off. Most had gathered together into a large crowd standing under the outcrop from which the Speakers had addressed them during the two Gatherings. Others filled the branches of the enormous trees on either side. Still more glided above, and their constant movement cast distracting shadows on the ground.

As she emerged from the trees, faces turned toward her and a shrill whistling began. This was their way of cheering. She smiled at them all, could not have stopped if she had wanted to.

“Your people are so friendly,” she told Sirri. “I wish I could stay a little longer.”

The Speaker chuckled. “Be careful, Auraya. While we would like to keep you for ourselves, we know how important you are to Northern Ithania, and to our own future. If you like it too much here, we may have to stop being so nice to you.”

“It would take a lot to change my opinion of you and your people,” Auraya replied.

Sirri paused to regard Auraya thoughtfully. “We have won you over, haven’t we?”

“I’ve never been so happy as I have been here.”

“You’re the only landwalker I have found myself constantly forgetting is a landwalker.” Sirri frowned. “Does that make sense?”

Auraya laughed. “Yes, it does. I keep forgetting I am a landwalker, too.”

They reached the first of the Speakers, who were standing in a line along the edge of the outcrop. Auraya spoke to each, thanking them for their hospitality if she had visited their tribe, and promising to visit their home in the future if she hadn’t. The Speaker at the end of the line was the leader of the Sand tribe, Tyrli. The somber old man and the few members of his tribe who had travelled to the Open for the Gathering would be guiding her to the