Jason stepped away from Galloran, who produced another torivorian sword. “The fourth sword will travel with me to Trensicourt, borne by Ferrin, son of Baldor.”
Mutters rippled through the crowd, not all of them approving. Rachel glanced at the displacer, his expression a study in surprise and disbelief. He walked over to Galloran and knelt before him. “This is too kingly a gift.”
“The blade comes with a price,” Galloran said. “You must wield it in defense of our cause. If you do so, you will more than earn it.”
Ferrin bowed his head. “I’m deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
“More honor awaits if you see this through,” Galloran rasped softly.
Io handed Ferrin the sword. The displacer belted it on.
Considering Ferrin, Rachel decided that Galloran was wise to entrust him with the torivorian weapon. She knew Ferrin viewed the fine swords with an almost religious awe. Any gesture that might help cement his loyalty would give them a better chance for success.
Galloran raised his voice again. “Nedwin left weeks ago to prepare the way for us at Trensicourt. Nia did likewise for Jason and his party. The day wanes. The hour for farewells is almost past. Let us make ready to depart. Know that with every remaining moment of my life, with every opportunity I can seize and every resource I can borrow, I will devote myself to bringing down the emperor!”
This earned a final rousing cheer from the assemblage. Rachel found herself clapping and yelling along with the others. At the same time, she felt a little distant. Soon this moment would be a memory, as would the protective walls of Mianamon. Before long she would be separated from her two best friends in Lyrian, perhaps never to see them again. No more cheering. No more rest. No more jokes. Just a parade of unpredictable difficulties and dangers.
Corinne took her hand. Rachel looked up at her. Are you in my mind?
We’ll see each other again.
Do you really think so?
At times like this, it’s the only thing we can let ourselves believe.
A cynical part of Rachel wondered how much Corinne could possibly understand about times like this.
When I stood outside that tree in the swamp , Corinne conveyed gently, all I clung to for years was a hope that my father would return for me. Long after I might have stopped believing, he finally came. And here I am.
Rachel hugged her. Be safe. Watch out for Jason.
I’ll protect him with my life.
Rachel looked up, startled by how earnestly Corinne had conveyed the sentiment.
I’ll do my best to stay alive too , Corinne assured her.
“Bye, Corinne.”
“Safe travels.”
Everyone was checking gear and shouldering packs. They were really leaving! Rachel hurried over to Jasher and hugged him. “Be safe.”
“You too.”
She turned to the half giant, Aram, who would remain small and unremarkable until sundown swelled him into a tall, heavily muscled warrior. “Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t fret about me,” Aram said. “I’ll do my best to watch out for the others.”
Drake was walking away, following a treeperson draped in heavy vines. Rachel jogged to him and placed a hand on his elbow. The seedman stopped, turning somewhat, not fully facing her. The profile view of his face emphasized his flat features. “I suppose there was no escaping you.”
“What? You wanted to just wander off without a word?”
“It can be easier that way.”
“Don’t be silly. You come back. You survive. I want to see you after this. I want you to show me your private valley in the mountains.”
“It wouldn’t be private anymore.” A small grin bent his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck, the place where his amar had failed to grow correctly after his last rebirth. “But I suppose I could live with that. Stay close to Galloran. He’ll keep you from harm.”
Rachel threw her arms around him. They had not been parted since Drake had guided her away from the torivor for weeks in the wilderness. “Take
Mutters rippled through the crowd, not all of them approving. Rachel glanced at the displacer, his expression a study in surprise and disbelief. He walked over to Galloran and knelt before him. “This is too kingly a gift.”
“The blade comes with a price,” Galloran said. “You must wield it in defense of our cause. If you do so, you will more than earn it.”
Ferrin bowed his head. “I’m deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
“More honor awaits if you see this through,” Galloran rasped softly.
Io handed Ferrin the sword. The displacer belted it on.
Considering Ferrin, Rachel decided that Galloran was wise to entrust him with the torivorian weapon. She knew Ferrin viewed the fine swords with an almost religious awe. Any gesture that might help cement his loyalty would give them a better chance for success.
Galloran raised his voice again. “Nedwin left weeks ago to prepare the way for us at Trensicourt. Nia did likewise for Jason and his party. The day wanes. The hour for farewells is almost past. Let us make ready to depart. Know that with every remaining moment of my life, with every opportunity I can seize and every resource I can borrow, I will devote myself to bringing down the emperor!”
This earned a final rousing cheer from the assemblage. Rachel found herself clapping and yelling along with the others. At the same time, she felt a little distant. Soon this moment would be a memory, as would the protective walls of Mianamon. Before long she would be separated from her two best friends in Lyrian, perhaps never to see them again. No more cheering. No more rest. No more jokes. Just a parade of unpredictable difficulties and dangers.
Corinne took her hand. Rachel looked up at her. Are you in my mind?
We’ll see each other again.
Do you really think so?
At times like this, it’s the only thing we can let ourselves believe.
A cynical part of Rachel wondered how much Corinne could possibly understand about times like this.
When I stood outside that tree in the swamp , Corinne conveyed gently, all I clung to for years was a hope that my father would return for me. Long after I might have stopped believing, he finally came. And here I am.
Rachel hugged her. Be safe. Watch out for Jason.
I’ll protect him with my life.
Rachel looked up, startled by how earnestly Corinne had conveyed the sentiment.
I’ll do my best to stay alive too , Corinne assured her.
“Bye, Corinne.”
“Safe travels.”
Everyone was checking gear and shouldering packs. They were really leaving! Rachel hurried over to Jasher and hugged him. “Be safe.”
“You too.”
She turned to the half giant, Aram, who would remain small and unremarkable until sundown swelled him into a tall, heavily muscled warrior. “Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t fret about me,” Aram said. “I’ll do my best to watch out for the others.”
Drake was walking away, following a treeperson draped in heavy vines. Rachel jogged to him and placed a hand on his elbow. The seedman stopped, turning somewhat, not fully facing her. The profile view of his face emphasized his flat features. “I suppose there was no escaping you.”
“What? You wanted to just wander off without a word?”
“It can be easier that way.”
“Don’t be silly. You come back. You survive. I want to see you after this. I want you to show me your private valley in the mountains.”
“It wouldn’t be private anymore.” A small grin bent his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck, the place where his amar had failed to grow correctly after his last rebirth. “But I suppose I could live with that. Stay close to Galloran. He’ll keep you from harm.”
Rachel threw her arms around him. They had not been parted since Drake had guided her away from the torivor for weeks in the wilderness. “Take
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