Day by day she laboured on.
Then she herself fell sick, a fever coming upon her swiftly, leaving her legs weak and her mind hazy. Despite her powers she could not heal herself, nor tend to the sick who waited in vain outside the closed gates. Tamis was no help, for when Derae called out to her the old woman seemed not to hear.
For eleven days Derae lay sick and exhausted, floating between strange dreams and confused awakenings. Once she awoke to see, with her spirit eyes, a man beside her bed.
He had part lifted her and was spooning a broth into her mouth. Then she slept again.
Finally she awoke and felt the sunlight coming through the open window. With no sense of the passing of time, she knew only that she was tired but no longer sick. Her bedroom door opened and a man entered. Tall and grey-bearded, dressed in a runic of faded red, he carried a dish of water to her bedside and helped her to drink.
‘You are feeling better, priestess?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Thank you. I know your voice, don’t I? But I don’t remember . . .’
‘My name is Leucion. I came here a long time ago and you advised me to go to Tyre. I took that advice. There I found love and a good wife, and we reared fine sons and two daughters.’
Derae lay back and spirit-gazed upon the man, remembering the look in his eyes as he had tried to rape her. ‘I remember. Why did you come back?’
‘My wife died, priestess, and my eldest son now sits at the head of the table. But I never forgot you. I wanted … I wanted to see you again. To apologize. But when I came here you were ill, and there was no help. So I stayed.’
‘How long have I been in bed?’
‘Twelve days,’ said Leucion. ‘At first I thought you would die, but I managed to get you to eat. I fed the old woman too, but I do not think she even knows I am here.’
‘Eleven days? How is it that my bedclothes are so clean?’
‘I changed them for you, and washed the others. When you are well again I shall leave.’
Derae took the man’s hand. ‘I thank you for your help, and I am glad you came back. I am glad also that your life has been happy. And if you are seeking forgiveness -I gave that a long time ago, Leucion.’
‘There are many people waiting for you. What shall I tell them?’
‘Tell them I shall be with them tomorrow.’ Derae pushed back the covers and stood; her legs were unsteady, but she could feel her strength returning. Leucion brought her clothes and offered to help her dress. ‘It is all right,
Leucion, I may be blind, but I can dress myself.’ She chose a simple white gown and walked to the gardens, where Tamis was sitting by the fountain.
‘Please don’t hate me!’ whimpered the old woman.
Derae cuddled her, stroking her hair. ‘You look tired, Tamis. Why don’t you rest?’
‘It’s all wrong. All of it. I haven’t served the Light at all. It’s my fault, Derae.’ The younger woman took Tamis by the arm and led her to her own quarters. Tamis sank on to the bed and fell asleep instantly.
‘Is she still taunting you?’ whispered Derae, sitting beside the old priestess. ‘Let us see.’ She soared and looked around but there was no one close, and no sign or feel of the hooded woman. What then, Derae wondered, was the source of Tamis’ despair? With the priestess asleep, she decided to find out. Never before had she entered Tamis’ mind unbidden, but it was useless now to try to elicit information. Her decision made, Derae’s spirit flowed into Tamis, becoming one with the sleeping woman. She saw many years flow by, felt Tamis’ hopes, dreams, despairs; saw a child of unique talent become a woman of power and influence; watched her grow, observed – and shared – her lovers and her bereavements. Finally she saw the first vision Tamis had seen of the birth of the Dark God – and watched in horror as Tamis orchestrated the death of the Persian girl who was to bear the babe.