Had my heart followed my hand, that would have been a different matter. Undoubtedly I would have resented meddling. As it was, no action of hers disturbed me.
On the fifth day after his arrival, Kerovan did not stay so late in the hills, but came back in mid-afternoon. I had been in the fields, for another pair of hands was needed. One of the children had run a thorn into her foot, so I brought her back to wash and bind it with healing herbs we had found.
Her tears soothed, her hurt tended, she went running back to her mother, leaving me to put away our small supply of medicants. While I was so busied, my lord came to me.
“My fair one, will you give into my hand that gift I sent you? There is perhaps the chance that it can serve you even better than it has, for I have some of the old learning and have added to it since I sent you this. There are things of power which, rightfully used, are better than any weapons known to our kind. If we indeed have such a one, we can count on an easier journey to Norsdale.”
My hand went to what I wore. In no way did I wish to yield to his request. Still, I had no excuse. I did not understand myself, why I shrank from letting it go out of my hands. Most reluctantly I loosed lacings and drew it forth. Still I held it cupped for a long moment while his hand was held forth to take it. He smiled at me as one who would encourage a timid child.
At length, with an inner sigh, I gave it to him. He took a step into the light of the slit window, held it at eye level as if he were fronting the tiny gryphon in some silent communication.
It was at that moment that I heard from without the traveler’s greeting, “Good fortune to his house.”
I did not have to see the speaker. I knew at once and was past Kerovan into the open.
“Lord Amber!” I did not understand the emotion awakened in me at the sound of his voice. It was as if all the uneasiness of the past few days was gone, that safety stood here on hoofed feet, gazing at me with golden eyes.
“You have come!” I put forth my hand, eager to clasp his. But that reserve which was always a part of him kept me from completing that gesture.
“Who comes, my fair one?” Kerovan’s voice broke through the wonderful feeling of release, of security. I had to find other words.
“Lord Amber, have you heard? My lord has come – hearing of our troubles he has come.”
I retreated a little, chilled by a loss I could not define. The Old One followed. I did not look to my lord, only still into those golden eyes.
“My Lord, this is my promised lord, Kerovan, who is heir to Ulmsdale.”
His face was secret, close, as I had seen it other times.
“Lord Kerovan?” He repeated it as if he asked a question, And then he added with the force of one bringing down a sword in a swift, lashing stroke, “I think not!”
Kerovan’s hand came up, the globe clasped tight in his fingers. From that shot a piercing ray of light, striking full into Lord Amber’s eyes. He flung up one hand as he staggered back. On the wrist of that hand I saw an answering glow, as if a blue mist spread to raise a curtain about him.
I screamed and struck at Kerovan, striving to snatch the crystal from him. But he beat me off, and in his face I read that which changed my uneasiness to fear.
Kerovan caught me in a strong hold and dragged me toward the door. Lord Amber, one hand to his eyes, was on his hands and knees, his head moving as if he strove to find us by sound alone, as if he were blind!
I beat at Kerovan, twisting in his hold. “No! Loose me!”
Lord Amber lurched toward us. I saw Kerovan raise his boot, stamp, and grind one of those groping hands against the floor. But with his other arm Lord Amber caught Kerovan about the knees and bore him down by the weight of his body.
“Joisan, run!” he cried.
I was free of Kerovan, but tun I would not. Not while Lord Amber took the vicious blows Kerovan was dealing.
“No!” my belt knife, Toross’ legacy, was in my hands. I crouched above the struggling men, caught Kerovan’s hair, and jerked his head back, putting the edge of that blade to his throat. “Lie you very still, my lord,” I ordered. He must have read my purpose in my face, for he obeyed.
Not taking my eyes from him, I said then, “Lord Amber, I hold knife-edge to his throat. Loose him.”
He believed me and edged away.
“You say,” I continued, “this is not Kerovan. Why?
He was rising to his feet one hand still to his eyes. “Kerovan is dead, my Lady.” His voice sounded very weary. “Dead in an ambush laid by this Rogear above his father’s keep. This Rogear has knowledge of the Old Ones – from the Dark side.”
My breath hissed between my teeth. So much was made plain to me now. “Dead? And this one dared to wear my lord’s name to deceive me?”
Rogear spoke up then. ‘Tell her your name – “
Lord Amber answered him. “As you know, we give not our names to mankind.”
“Mankind? And what are – “
“Lord Kerovan!” I was so startled by that voice from the door I jerked away from my guard post “What do you – ?” One of his armsmen stood there.
I spoke quickly. “Lord Kerovan does nothing! As for this one – take him and ride!”
There was a second man behind him, with the bolt on his crossbow, which was aimed not at me but at Lord Amber. And in his face a horrible eagerness, as if he would joy in loosing death.
“Shall we take her, Lord?” asked the first man.
Lord Amber was moving toward nun, his hands empty. And the man held ready steel.
Rogear had rolled away from me. “Let the wench go. She is of no importance now.”
“And him, Lord?”
“No! Touch him not, on your peril!”
I had thought he would order Lord Amber’s death, if one Of the Old Ones can be so killed.
“We ride,” he added. “I have what I came for.” He was putting the gryphon into the inner pocket of his tabard.
That roused me to action. “No. Not that!” I sprang at him. “Give me the gryphon!”
He aimed a blow at my head with his other hand, and I did not dodge in tune. A burst of pain drove me into darkness.
When I awoke I lay on my bed-place, and the dusk was deep. But I saw that Lord Amber was beside me, and my hand lay in his. There was a bandage bound about his head, covering his eyes. “Lord – “
He turned his head instantly to me. “Joisan!”
“He took the gryphon!” For I had brought out of the dark that memory, strong enough to urge me into action.
Lord Amber drew me gently to him, and I wept as I had not in all those days of danger and sorrow that lay behind me. Between my sobs I asked, “It was the truth you spoke? He was not Kerovan?”
“It was the truth. It is as I said. Kerovan died in Ulmsdale. Rogear, who is betrothed to Kerovan’s sister, arranged the ambush.”
“And I never saw my lord,” I said then in sad wonder. “But his gift, that one shall not have it!” Anger brought me strength. “By the Nine Words of Min, he shall not! It is a wondrous thing and his hands besmirch it! He used it as a weapon, Lord-he used it to burn your eyes. It was what rested on your wrist that defeated him. If you had only used it sooner as a shield!” I put my fingers to his wrist a little above that armlet. “Lord,” I continued, “they say those of your people are mighty in healcraft. If you cannot aid yourself, can we not take you to them? It is in my service that this grievous hurt was done you, I owe this as a blood-debt – “
But he denied that with force and quickly. “No! There is no debt between us. Had we met elsewhere he would have sought to kill me.”
“I have something of healcraft,” I said then, “and Nalda.” But in my heart I knew how limited we were, and that gave birth to fear. “Perhaps the sight will return. Oh, my Lord, I do not know why he sought me here – I have no longer lands nor fortune – save what he took with him. Know you of the gryphon? It was sent to me by Kerovan. Was it then such a great treasure of his House that this Rogear would risk much to get it into his hands?”