[Lanen Kaelar 03] - Redeeming the Lost by Elizabeth Kerner Page A

will die, and in the place of that weakling I will stand
revealed to them at last, in my true self. I will offer the choice to my
College, to join me or to die. I expect most of the fools will choose death,
but I may perhaps gain a few willing souls from among the students. There are
many who desire more power than has been given them by the Lady.
    And if all else fails, they will make splendid
demon fodder.
     
     

III. The Wind of Shaping
     
     
Varien
    I woke to the sound of Idai’s voice in
truespeech. “Come, Akhor, it is not like you to miss a meal,” she said, her
voice light in my thoughts. I sat up, disoriented, rubbed my face, and opened
my eyes to find myself little the wiser. It was late afternoon. The sun was
falling behind the western hills, and a chill wind was beginning to swirl
around us, as if it were not certain which direction to come from. Wrapped in a
cloak I had not been wearing, asleep beside Shikrar and Maran in the middle of
a field—but where—oh.
    “Idai, where are the Kantri? Where are the
Lost? How do they fare?”
    “Peace, my friend,” she said quietly. “All is
well.” I rose and walked with her, a little away from the others, leaving them
to sleep. “All of our people have followed Kedra to that farmers field, to eat
and drink and rest. The Lost—ah, it is long and long since they were trapped.
Imagine if you went into the Weh sleep and woke five kells later! There is a
great deal for them to learn. We must not expect it to happen overnight.” She
sighed. “Oh, my friend. Think of all the Kantri who have worked towards this
day—three full generations, birth unto ending—so many who dreamed of a joyous
release for those trapped souls. I am such a fool. In all my hopes, I never
imagined that the restoration of the Lost would be so heart-searing.” She
closed her eyes for a moment. “Akhor, the last thing that most of them recall
is throwing themselves at a treacherous Gedri who had killed their mates, their
parents, their children; I do not know if there is enough time or reason in the
world to overcome their hatred.”
    “If time and reason are not enough, we shall
have to see what compassion may do,” I said resolutely. For all my exhaustion,
I felt now braver and brighter than I had for days. “Come, Idai, throw off this
gloom! I too longed for a day of glory for the Lost—but I will forego that
pleasure for the wonder of their restoration, however painful.”
    “Ah, yes. You remind me. Treshak has said that
they now wish to be known as the Restored, Dhrenagan in the Old Speech, not the
Lost any longer. We have taken to referring to them so.” She sighed once more,
then drew herself up, into the Attitude of Resolve. “You have the right of it,
as ever, Akhor. We will surely be able to help them. Damaged they are,
certainly, and confused, but time is our great ally. Time will heal the heart’s
wounds and show the restored mind the way of reason.”
    I could not help it, I laughed aloud. “So it
will, Iderrisai, therefore be not afeared of giving them time to come to
realise that they are free! That must be a shock nearly as great as finding
themselves imprisoned.” I smiled, though I somehow felt a traitor to Lanen at
doing so. “Idai, think of it. The Lost are restored to us. At last they are
free, after all this dreadful march of years! Bless every Wind that ever blew!
Whether they are yet able to rejoice surely is of less moment than their
return.” I let out a deep sigh. “And I will at last be able to sleep
peacefully, without the memory of those flickering soulgems to haunt my dreams.
However it has come about, whatever the consequences, this is a wonder.” I
dropped into truespeech. “Even for those who chose the swift fire of death, my
friend. We have done them the greatest service of all. At last, after so many
kells of torment, they may rest.”
    “You have the right of it,” she said, dropping
down again from the formal Attitude. “Name of the