The Last of the Wilds

she was a White?

Once again he felt the excitement of a sudden insight. The gods knew that more Wilds were likely to arise over time. Powerful sorcerers tended to become priests and priestesses. Did this enable them to ensure Wilds never reached their potential? Had they chosen Auraya simply to control her? Were the other White potential Wilds, too?

:I am what? she asked.

His thoughts were racing. The other White hadn’t manifested any unique powers. Only Auraya had. Now she had shown herself to be capable of rebellion. Worse still, she had rebelled in order to protect another Wild. The gods must be torn between the consequences of getting rid of her and the risks of letting her live. And she was aware of none of this.

Which might be the only thing that saved her.

He had two choices: leave her ignorant and gamble that the gods would not harm her so long as she was unaware of her true nature, or try to persuade her to flee with him. She was too distrustful of him and bound to the gods and the White. She would not believe him if he told her his suspicions - at least not straight away. Even if she did and left with him, he would be taking her away from the life she loved into a life of danger.

:Mirar? she asked. What were you saying?

:That you are a braver person than I, he said. Thank you for sparing my life. I hope I can repay you one day.

:Don’t thank me yet, Mirar, she told him.

:No? Are the other White coming to catch me?

She did not answer.

:All I can promise you is that if you are found your death will be quick. And permanent.

She broke the link. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was surrounded by mist turned white by the faint light of the coming dawn. He shivered, but not from the cold.

Her last words were a warning. She could not help him. The other White were coming. He must get away, and quickly. The mist would hide him from any Siyee that might be searching for him. Standing up, he stretched and started through the trees.

* * *

Sunlight glittered off the waves, setting Reivan’s eyes smarting. The night had been long and uncomfortable but the day wasn’t going to be any better, if the growing heat of the sun was any indication.

I’m grumpy, Reivan thought. It’s lack of sleep and being stuck in a small boat for most of a day. That would make anyone grumpy.

Whenever she thought of Imi she forgot discomfort and weariness. The princess hadn’t returned the previous afternoon so they had remained in the boat all night. Imenja sat in the prow, silent and watchful. Now she turned to Reivan.

“What would you advise, Reivan?” Imenja murmured. “Should we go to shore and search for her, or return to the ship?”

Reivan considered. “We promised to take her home. We also agreed to stay out of Si. That doesn’t mean we can’t row in close to shore to look for her. So long as we don’t set foot on dry land they can’t accuse us of invading.”

Imenja chuckled. “No. I doubt the Siyee will see it that way. They will...” She frowned and looked up. “Ah.”

Reivan followed the Voice’s gaze. Farther east, three tiny specks moved in the sky toward the seaward horizon.

“They have seen the ship.”

Reivan looked back. The ship was not visible.

“How?”

“They are higher up than we.”

“Of course.” Reivan shook her head. I am tired, she thought. I should have realized the Siyee would have a better view.

“No matter. They are...” Imenja’s eyes narrowed, then she smiled. “They are hoping to distract us so we don’t notice an Elai girl swimming toward her home.”

“Imi.”

“Yes.”

“Has Imi left us? Did they convince her that we are the enemy, and that she should go on alone?”

Imenja shook her head. “Those Siyee do not know she was with us.”

“Perhaps she told them she was going east so she could swim this way without drawing their attention to us.”

“We can only wait and see. If she does not appear in the next few hours, we will know she has gone on alone.”

They waited in silence. The distant Siyee returned to shore without noticing the small boat.

“I hear her” Imenja said suddenly.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Reivan searched the water around them. Every splash caught her attention. Suddenly a head appeared above the edge of the boat. The girl grinned, though she was breathing heavily.

“Sorry,” she panted. “I couldn’t... get away... They insisted... I stay... eat... rest.”

“I understand,” Imenja said, smiling. She rose and offered Imi a hand. The girl took it and yelped in surprise as the Voice lifted her out of the water and into the boat.

“You’re strong!” she exclaimed.

“When I need to be,” Imenja agreed. She ordered the rowers to take them back to the ship, then sat down again. “They told you the way to Borra?” she asked Imi.

“Yes.” Imi grimaced. “They don’t like Pentadrians much. They warned me to keep away from you.”

Imenja nodded. “That is the unfortunate consequence of fighting against them in a foolish war,” she said with feeling.

Reivan looked at Imenja, surprised the Voice would express such an opinion in the presence of others. Then she remembered that they were speaking in Elai; the rowers could not understand them.

“I wanted to tell them they were wrong about you,” Imi said. “But I didn’t.”

Imenja patted her hand. “They will find out, in time.”

“I hope so.” Imi yawned widely.

“You’re tired,” Imenja said. “Lie down and sleep. I’ll wake you when we get to the ship.”

Imi nodded and stretched out on a seat. Taking a blanket, Reivan dipped it in the sea and then draped it over the girl to protect her from the sun. She looked up and found Imenja nodding approvingly. They exchanged a look of mutual relief, then fell into a weary silence.

* * *

As Mairae entered Juran’s room she mused that the scene that greeted her was becoming a familiar one. Juran was pacing and Dyara was sitting on the edge of her seat, her back straight and her forehead creased with a frown. As Rian followed Mairae to the chairs, Juran stopped pacing, looked at them both, then sighed.

“I have called you here to report on the situation in Si,” he said. “The gods decided that, since she was closest, Auraya should find and execute Mirar.”

Mairae drew in a breath in surprise, which drew Juran’s attention.

“She was closest,” Juran repeated. “None of us could have got there quickly enough.”

Poor Auraya, Mairae thought. Wasn’t it bad enough that her former lover turned out to be an enemy of the gods? “So you’re about to tell us she’s feeling bad about it and we should give her our sympathies?” she asked dryly.

Juran winced. “No.”

Mairae blinked in surprise. “She isn’t? She’s made of stronger stuff than I thought. I suppose if she was angry enough she—”

“She didn’t kill Mirar,” Juran interrupted. “She let him go.”

“Oh.” Mairae looked at Dyara. The woman’s lips had thinned in disapproval. Rian was staring at Juran with