Pilgrim by Sara Douglas

at him. What he‘d said was, firstly, as formally bonding as any marriage vow—a stronger

bonding, in fact, given who and what he was—and secondly…secondly…didn‘t it mean that he

put her before Tencendor?

No. No! It could not be! He had already vowed that he would let nothing stand in his way

in order to save the land. That was his father in him all over again. No, no, she could not, would

not, believe him…she dare not!

―No,‖ she whispered, and pulled her hand from his. ―I do not accept your service.‖

There was an audible gasp in the chamber, probably from either StarDrifter or

WingRidge, for Drago‘s face had gone stark white and he was so obviously shocked he was

incapable of speech.

Faraday stared at him, wondering what she had done.

One part of her screamed to take his hand back before it was too late, another part

screamed at her that she should turn and run, run before it was too late, run before she admitted

to herself that she was so deeply in love with him she would murder herself all over again if it

meant he could live…

―As you wish,‖ Drago whispered in a frightful, rasping tone, and turned on his heel and

walked towards the boat.

As he moved away, StarDrifter and WingRidge stared at Faraday with such utter

incomprehension on their faces, such tightly controlled anger, she thought she would have to turn and run. Then…

…then the little girl, forgotten, slipped her hand into Faraday‘s cold one, and buried her

head in Faraday‘s skirts. Faraday closed her eyes and shuddered, and from somewhere deep

inside her drew the strength to carry on and walk towards the boat as if she had but brushed away

a piece of inconsequential fluff.

49

Sigholt’s Gift

―You see,‖ StarDrifter said hurriedly, trying to think of something to say to cover the dreadful awkwardness in the chamber. ―I have discovered the secret of the waterways. They are

connected to the craft, they link them, and thus they serve the crafts‘ will. Thus, as long as the

travellers‘ wish corresponds to the crafts‘ overall intention, the waterways will do exactly what

you will.‖

―That‘s very interesting,‖ Drago said, and at the sound of Drago‘s voice StarDrifter shut

up.

―Why would the waterways send us three boats?‖ Faraday asked, looking at a distant

point over StarDrifter‘s shoulder, and trying to sound normal. Curse Drago for putting her in this

predicament!

There had been a boat moored to the side of the waterway when they‘d arrived, but

during the conversation on the landing two more boats, linked by ropes, had drifted out of the

tunnel entrance.

StarDrifter turned, stared, and faced the group again. ―Obviously there has been some

kind of—‖

―Silence!‖ WingRidge barked, his entire body tensing, and he laid one hand on the hilt of

the knife he carried.

Everyone stilled.

There was a distant sound…rather like soft rain. A scuffling, but regular, and very

persistent.

―Something is coming down the stairwell,‖ SpikeFeather said, who was closest to the

stairs.

WingRidge looked at Drago. ―Would Caelum have—‖

―No. Whatever this is has not been instigated by Caelum,‖ Drago said. But our parents?

he wondered. Axis would have little reason to hold his hand.

The regular scuffling resolved itself into the padding of many paws.

―It is the Alaunt,‖ Faraday said, and without reason all the childhood tales she‘d heard of

the hounds—mythical man-hunters, ferocious devourers, child abductors—came rushing back,

and she clutched Katie tight to her. The child caught some of her fear, and whimpered.

One of the Alaunt appeared at the curve of the stairs. Sicarius. He paused, looking

carefully between the members of the company, and then he sunk as low as he could, whined,

and crawled down the final flight of steps on his belly.

Behind him, successive Alaunt did the same.

Sicarius reached the floor, paused, then wriggled his way towards Drago, his tail wagging

gently behind him. His golden eyes remained steady and unblinking on Drago.

Drago returned his stare with equally unblinking eyes, and Faraday frowned as she

looked at him. His eyes were deeper, far more powerful than she‘d ever seen them.

Compelling.

He is discovering more of his true nature every day, she thought, just as I did when I

travelled south to the Island of Mist and Memory. Drago had spent much of their journey from

Gorkenfort in deep introspection, exploring, growing, learning to trust his instinct and to

recognise the ancient power of Noah as it coursed through his veins. The speed at which Drago

learned and grew was almost frightening, and Faraday repressed a shiver, already regretting her dismissal of his vow. Not so much that she‘d refused it, but that she‘d done so in such cruel

manner.

She had been right to refuse it…hadn‘t she?

Faraday closed her eyes briefly, and drove into a deep, dark place the nagging thought

that she‘d done the wrong thing, and that it might, just might, be safe to allow herself to love

him, and to accept his love.

Drago squatted down before Sicarius and laid the palm of his right hand on the hound‘s

skull.

―Do you present me your service?‖ he asked.

As one the entire pack of Alaunt leapt to their feet and burst into cry, the sound of their

clamour resounding about the rounded chamber.

For an instant, Drago caught Faraday‘s eyes. They are not afraid of me…why are you?

She turned her head away.

Just as Faraday thought they were over their quota of shocks for the day, there was a

further scuffling on the stairs, and around the corner and down the final flight scuttled the

feathered lizard, grinning cheerfully. Faraday‘s mouth dropped open. It was at least twice the

size it had last been.

To save anyone the embarrassment of finding something to say, the two new boats

bumped gently against the side of the waterway and the hounds and lizard happily scrambled in.

―A lizard?‖ StarDrifter said slowly. ―I think, Drago, that you must tell me what you and

Faraday have been up to.‖

―No time.‖ Drago stepped into the front boat. ―We have a detour to take before we can

approach Fernbrake Lake. SpikeFeather. Here, come sit with me. You did well to find

Sanctuary,‖ Drago looked up and forced a smile, ―before StarDrifter found a new source of

enchantment to magic it up out of thin air.‖

―Detour?‖ StarDrifter said. He sat down. ―What detour?‖

―Sigholt,‖ Drago said, and held out his hand to Faraday to help her in. After a brief

hesitation, she took it, then let go as she turned to lift the girl in.

―There is something there I must collect,‖ Drago finished, and settled himself into the

boat.

Just as StarDrifter began to ask what Drago needed to collect, Drago‘s mood altered so

sharply those watching could see the change sweep over his face.

―The Demons are well on their way to Fernbrake,‖ he said. ―They are more powerful than

before, and travel with the speed of wind. Once at Fernbrake they will do their best to close

Sanctuary forever.‖

―Then why waste time detouring to Sigholt?‖ StarDrifter cried, half-rising. ―We need to

get to—‖

―Patience, StarDrifter,‖ Drago said. ―Sigholt can aid us. Well?‖

―Well… what?‖ StarDrifter said.

―If you have discovered the secrets of waterway traffic, grandfather, then I suggest you

demonstrate your knowledge to get us to Sigholt.‖

StarDrifter laid a hand on the smooth wood of the boat.

―Drago needs to go to Sigholt,‖ he said.

The boat glided forward.

―Although the Stars alone know why,‖ StarDrifter murmured, ―when the peoples of

Tencendor need Sanctuary more than Drago needs his trinkets.‖

Drago chose not to respond to that.

The boat, SpikeFeather observed, took them on the normal route to the Lake of Life,

although previously SpikeFeather had always had to use his muscles to travel the distance. Now

the boats slid silently and swiftly through the tunnels of the UnderWorld. The two that contained

the dogs and the feathered lizard, which spent the journey jumping enthusiastically from boat to

boat (and once splashing into the waterway from where Drago had to rescue it), followed

obediently behind the one that StarDrifter commanded.

―These waterways connect the craft under the Sacred Lakes?‖ Drago asked WingRidge.

―Yes.‖

―And extend yet further,‖ SpikeFeather said. ―Over the years, I have travelled through

waterways that stretch under the entire breadth and length of Tencendor and the Ferryman, Orr,

told me that they also extend for leagues under the surrounding oceans.‖

―And every last one of them forming patterns,‖ Drago mused, his eyes fixed on some

distant spot.

SpikeFeather hesitated. ―I suppose so. Why?‖

Now Drago hesitated. His eyes refocused on SpikeFeather. ―Is it much further to the Lake

of Life?‖

SpikeFeather swallowed his resentment that Drago chose to ignore his question. ―At this

rate? No. An hour, perhaps.‖

―Good,‖ Drago said, and leaned back against the side of the boat and said no more.