Priestess of the White

a lot of weight. They would bring their weapons, small transportable bowers and enough food to get them to the Plains of Gold, but no more. Auraya had spoken to Juran and received assurances that food would be provided for the Siyee once they’d joined the army.

Auraya examined her clothing closely and used magic to remove as many stains as she could. She combed out the knots in her hair, which she’d gained while flying yesterday. The Siyee definitely have the right idea keeping their hair short, she mused. I wonder what I’d look like with short hair...

She braided her hair into a long tail then moved into the main room of her bower. A Siyee woman had brought her a small basket of food the night before. Auraya drank some water then began to eat.

This may be my last night here for many months. After the war, Juran will want me to come back to Jarime. The thought brought a pang of sadness. She did not want to leave. But she also felt a stirring of curiosity. What will my next challenge be, I wonder? Another alliance to negotiate? Will I return to Borra to appeal to the Elai king again?

It would take more than words to persuade King Ais to consider an alliance. She had seen much suspicion and hate of landwalkers in the Elai’s minds. Dealing with the raiders might help gain the sea people’s trust. If not, it would at least remove the main reason the Elai hated landwalkers. In a few generations their hatred might diminish to the point where they wouldn’t consider contact with the outside world to be so dangerous. She had told Juran as much and he had agreed.

If her next task was not the Elai, then what? She considered the possible consequences of the war. Sennon was backing the Pentadrians. If the gods still wanted Sennon to ally peacefully with the rest of Northern Ithania, there would be work to do there after the war, not least encouraging forgiveness from the White’s allies. By uniting with the enemy, Sennon would cause the deaths of many Northern Ithanians. Many would want to see Sennon punished, but that would only cause ongoing resentment and more hatred.

She frowned. Persuading the Sennons to sign an alliance would be best handled by Juran. She and the other White would probably work at convincing Circlians to accept it, but that wouldn’t keep her completely occupied.

There’s always the Dreamweavers.

Her stomach sank at the thought. For months she had barely thought about her ideas for improving Circlian healing knowledge in order to prevent people being lured into becoming Dreamweavers.

It’s not as if my intention is to harm Dreamweavers, she told herself. I only want to save the souls of those who have not yet become Dreamweavers.

“Auraya of the White. May I come in?”

She looked up at the door eagerly, grateful for the distraction.

“Yes, Speaker Sirri. Come in.”

The hanging over the door moved aside and the Siyee woman stepped in. Sirri was dressed in clothing that Auraya had never seen Siyee wear before. A hard leather vest and apron, crisscrossed with straps, covered her chest and thighs. One of the new dart-throwing contraptions was bound to her chest, and a bow and a quiver of arrows were strapped to her back. At her hip she wore a pouch and two knives.

“Don’t you look prepared for a fight,” Auraya exclaimed.

Sirri smiled. “That’s good. My people need to think their leader is prepared to fight beside them.”

“You certainly are,” Auraya said. “I’d flee if I were a Pentadrian.”

Sirri’s smile became grim. “More likely you’d laugh. In truth, I think we’re going to learn a lot from this war.”

Auraya felt her grin fade. “I won’t pretend there isn’t going to be a cost,” she said. “I do hope that it will not be a high one. I promise I will try to ensure it isn’t.”

The Speaker acknowledged Auraya’s promise with a nod. “We know what we face. Are you ready?”

Auraya nodded. “Are your people already assembled?”

“All loaded up and ready to fly. They just need a speech or two.”

Putting her empty mug down, Auraya stood and glanced around the room one last time, then picked up the small pack she had brought with her to Si and followed Sirri outside. She could hear the gathered Siyee long before she saw them. The chatter of so many voices combined was like the sound of water cascading over rocks. As she and Sirri approached the outcrop above the crowd, whistles filled the air. Auraya smiled down at the largest crowd of Siyee she had seen so far.

The tribes ranged in size from a few dozen families to over a thousand individuals. Of the thousands of Siyee, more than half formed this army. Not all were warriors, though. For every two Siyee dressed as fighters she could see one that was not. Each tribe was bringing their own healers and domestic helpers, who would also carry portable bowers and as much spare food as possible.

Sirri’s appearance was the cue for the other Speakers to come forward and form a line. Auraya took her place - a few steps from the end of this line - and watched as Sirri stepped onto Speakers’ Rock and spread her arms wide.

“People of the mountains. Tribes of the Siyee. Look at yourselves!” Sirri grinned. “What a fierce sight we make!”

The Siyee shouted and whistled in reply. Sirri nodded, then raised her arms higher.

“Today we are leaving our homes and flying to war. We do so in order to keep a promise. What was that promise? It was a promise to help a friend. Our allies among the landwalkers need our help. They need us, the Siyee, to help them defend themselves against invaders.

“We know what that is like.” Sirri’s expression was hard now. “We know the pain of losing land and lives to invaders. No longer will that pain be ours, for our new allies are also keeping their promises. Last night Auraya of the White gave me the welcome news that the King of Toren has ordered his people out of our lands.”

The whistling that followed this announcement was deafening. The noise continued on and on. Sirri turned and beckoned to Auraya. As Auraya moved to join the Speaker, the crowd slowly quietened.

“People of Si, I thank you,” she said. “By giving your support and strength to my people you help us defend against a terrible enemy. For many years we have heard rumors about these barbaric peoples of the southern continent, but they were too distant to be of concern. We heard that they enslave men and women, and that these followers of the Pentadrian cult force strange and perverse rites on their people. We know that they worship war for the sake of violence itself.

“Now these Pentadrians wish to spread their vile ways. They wish to destroy my people and enslave all of Ithania.”

She paused. The crowd was silent now and she sensed the beginnings of fear.

“They will fail!” she declared. “For men and women who worship war for the sake of violence are not true warriors, as we are. Men and women who invade another land are not driven by a passion to defend their homes, as we are. Most importantly, men and women who follow heathen cults do not have the protection of true gods...” she paused, then spoke each word quietly but firmly “... as we do.”

She put her hands together to form the symbol of the circle. “As one of the White I am your link to the gods. I will be your translator and interpreter. I am proud to be the link between such a people and the gods. I am proud to accompany such an army as this.”

:And I am proud to have created such a people.

The faces below Auraya changed as one. Eyes widened, mouths opened. She felt their awe, like a gust of wind, at the same time as she sensed the presence at her side. The crowd, as one, dropped to the ground as she turned to face the glowing presence of the goddess. Huan lifted a hand, indicating that Auraya should remain standing.

:Rise, good people of Si, Huan said.

Slowly the Siyee climbed to their feet. They gazed at the goddess in awe.

:It pleases me to see you gathered here today. You have grown strong and plentiful. You are ready to take your place among the peoples of Northern Ithania. You have chosen your allies well. You have a loyal friend as well as an ally in Auraya. She loves you more than duty requires. All the White will protect you as best they can. But it will be your resilience as a people that will ensure you survive in the future, not Auraya or I. Be strong, but also be wise, people of Si. Know your strengths and your weaknesses, and endure.