‘What are you talking about?’
‘Without the sword Sigarni was crushed, defeated and slain.’
‘But you said she was here!’
‘As she is. I tried to help her, Caracis, but she died. I crossed the Lines rinding another Sigarni, in another world. She died. Time and time again I travelled the Gates. Always she died. I gave up for a long while, then I returned to my quest and found another Sigarni who was fated to die young. She defeated her first enemy, and then the second, Earl Jastey. She did it with the help of Caracis. You remember that, do you not?’ Oracle looked away. ‘And Caracis, once again, stole her sword. But this time she asked me to return it to her. That had never happened before. I did not know what to do. And now – suddenly – she is here. A victorious Queen carrying this sword.’
‘I did not want to part with it,’ whispered the man who had been Caracis.
‘You had such talents, Caracis,’ said Taliesen softly. ‘How was it that you became such a wretch?”
‘I wanted to be a king, a hero. I wanted songs sung about me, and legends written. Is that so shameful? Tell me, did she rule well?’
‘She won the final battle, and held the clans together for forty years. She is a true legend and will remain so.”
Oracle grinned. ‘Forty years, you say? And she won.” Hauling himself to his feet, the old man fetched a jug of honey mead and two goblets. ‘Will you join me?’
‘I think I will.’
‘Forty years,’ said Oracle again. ‘I could not have done it. Forty years!’
‘Tell me of the boy Gaelen.’
Oracle dragged his mind back to the present. ‘Gaelen? He’s a good lad, bright and quick. He has courage. I like him. He will be good for Caswallon.’
‘How does Caswallon fare?’
‘As always, he walks his own path. He has been good to me … like a son. And he eases my shame and helps me forget. ..’
‘Have you told him of your past?’ inquired Taliesen, leaning forward and staring hard at Oracle.
‘No, I kept my promises. I’ve told no one of the worlds beyond. Do you doubt me?’
‘I do not. You are a wilful man and proud, but no oneever accused you of oath-breaking.’
‘Then why ask?’
‘Because men change. They grow weak. Senile.’
‘I am not senile yet,’ snapped Oracle.
‘Indeed you are not.’
‘What will happen to the Queen?’
Taliesen shrugged. ‘She will die, as all die. She is old and tired; her day is gone. A sorcerer long ago sent a demon to kill her. He made a mistake and cast his spell too close to a Gateway. The beast is almost upon her.’
‘Can we not save her?’
‘We are talking of destiny, man!’ snapped Taliesen. ‘The beast must find her.’ His stern expression relaxed. ‘Even should the demon fail, she will die soon. Her heart is old and worn out.’
‘At least she achieved something with her life. She saved her people. I’ve destroyed mine.’
‘I cannot make it easier, for you speak the truth. But it is done now.’
‘Is there truly no hope?’ Circle pleaded.
The druid sighed and stood, gathering his long staff. ‘There is always hope, no matter how slender or unrealistic. Do not think that you are the only one to feel regret. The Farlain are my people, in a way you could never comprehend. When they are destroyed my life goes with them. And all the works of my life. You! You are just a man who made a mistake. I must bear the cost. Hope? I’ll tell you what hope there is. Imagine a man standing in Atta Forest at the birth of autumn. Imagine all the leaves are ready to fall. That man must reach out and catch one leaf, one special leaf. But he doesn’t know which tree it is on. That is the hope for the Farlain. You think the idiot Cambil will catch the leaf?’
‘Caswallon might,’ said Oracle.
‘Caswallon is not Hunt Lord,’ said Taliesen softly. ‘And if he were … the clans are sundered, and widely spread. They will not turn back an enemy as strong as the Aenir.’