She wished she could oblige it, but she had her orders to follow. The Siyee were primitive folk, she had been told. Simple people with simple ways were easy to impress. Whether she could persuade them to worship the Five Gods depended on how impressed they were with the Circlians and their false gods.
It would be much easier if they came to her. She had glimpsed them in the distance from time to time. Often she had the feeling they were watching her and her companions, yet they never came within hailing distance.
Turning away from the view, she began making her way along the ridge top.
“Dedicated Servant Renva,” Vengel called.
She turned to see him staring into the distance. He glanced at her, then pointed. Looking in the direction he indicated, she searched the sky, but saw nothing.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Siyee,” Vengel replied. “Flying low. Between the trees and us.”
She looked lower, but it took some time before she saw them. Flying shapes too large to be birds glided among the tree tops, too far away for her to make out details. There were more than ten of them and they were coming directly toward her.
“I see them.” She considered her position. Whether the Siyee were coming to talk or fight, she ought to be with her people. Since the others wouldn’t make it to the ridge in time, that meant returning to the narrow ravine below.
She walked back to Vengel’s side and leaned over the edge.
“Go back down,” she called to the Servant climbing the rope. The man frowned and started to descend. She looked at Vengel. “Stay here and see if you can get their attention, but be ready in case they attack.”
Vengel nodded. His face was grim, but he said nothing as she started to descend. He had enough Skill in magic to protect himself from arrows.
Once she had reached the floor of the ravine, Renva gathered the others together.
“There is a group of Siyee heading our way,” she told them. “They may be coming to meet us; they may not be aware of us at all. We should be prepared for an attack, just in case.”
The unskilled carriers and less Skilled Servants moved to the center of the group. All were silent as they waited. Vengel gave a shout and all looked up to search the sky.
Winged shapes flashed behind the tops of the trees.
Renva caught glimpses of eyes staring down at her suspiciously. They circled overhead, their confidence not a little intimidating. She saw a larger figure - wingless and white - and her throat went dry.
The pause that followed was short, but felt like an eternity.
Renva swallowed.
“People of the Sky. Siyee. We do not wish to harm anyone. Come down so we may speak to you.”
The forest echoed with the flying people’s whistles. Strange words were mixed with the piercing calls. They were talking, she guessed. She did not expect them to understand her, but hoped, they’d hear peaceful intent in her voice. The White sorceress probably did understand. It was said they could read minds.
“I am Dedicated Servant Renva and these are my companions. We have come a long way in the hopes of becoming your friends,” she told them. “We have...”
Leaves stirred as three of the Siyee dove through the tree tops. They landed on branches high above and stared down at Renva and her people. She heard a voice behind her.
“If your intentions are peaceful, why did you not learn the local language before you came?”
Renva spun around. The White sorceress stood on a lower branch of a tree, not far away.
“There was no one to teach us,” Renva replied. “Or we would have.”
The White sorceress looked upward and spoke a string of strange words. One of the Siyee above replied. The White sorceress smiled faintly, then met Renva’s eyes again.
“I am here as protector and translator only. Speaker Sirri, leader of the Siyee, wishes to know why you have entered Si uninvited.”
Renva looked up at the Siyee who had spoken.
The White sorceress translated.
The Siyee leader spoke.
“Speaker Sirri says: ‘If you wish to make peace, leave us be. Leave and do not return,‘ ” the White sorceress said.
“Will you not give us a chance to mend the rift between our people?” Renva asked.
Another of the Siyee responded.
“The rift is too wide. How can you expect us to forgive those who invaded our allies’ lands and murdered so many of our fathers and sons, mothers and daughters?”
“Must we then remain enemies always?”
“Friendship must be earned,” the Siyee leader replied. “Trust is not gained when an enemy enters a house uninvited.”
“How may we win your trust? How can we even learn your language if we can’t... Will you come to Avven instead?”
The Siyee exchanged glances.
“Perhaps one day, if we were sure we would be safe.”
“I swear, on the Five Gods, it will be so,” Renva said earnestly.
At that the Siyee looked uneasy. The older man spoke. The White sorceress looked surprised, and paused before translating.
“Speaker Iriz says: ‘If you attempt to persuade any Siyee to worship your gods you will fail. Huan created us and we will never turn from her.’ ”
Renva bowed her head. “Friendship was our reason for coming here. To prove our trustworthiness, we will leave as you bid us. I hope, in the future, another chance will come to make peace between us.”
The White sorceress translated, then the Siyee voiced their approval. They leapt from their perches and swooped out of the trees. The White sorceress lingered a moment, watching Renva as though measuring her up.
“Scouts will watch you,” she warned. “We will know if you do not leave.”
She floated upward, gaining speed so quickly that the leafy canopy of the tree vibrated at her passing. Renva shook her head in awe. It was incredible that someone could be so skilled in magic that they could defy the pull of the earth.
