The Shining Ones

‘Aren’t you being just a little blasé about all this?’ Talen asked his brother.

‘Did you want me to go into hysterics?’

‘You saw him, then?’

‘Obviously.’

‘Where were you? I couldn’t see you around any place.’

‘Lord Vanion and I were right over there,’ Khalad replied, pointing toward the far side of the trail. ‘We were told to just keep quiet and watch. We saw you all come riding up the hill. Why did you jump off the cliff like that?’

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’

Sparhawk was not really paying very much attention to the others. He stood holding the golden box in his hands. He could feel the Bhelliom inside and, as always, it was neither friendly nor hostile.

Flute was watching him closely. ‘Aren’t you going to open the box, Anakha?’

‘Why? I don’t need Bhelliom just now, do I?’

‘Don’t you want to see it again?’

‘I know what it looks like.’

‘Isn’t it calling to you?’

‘Yes, but I’m not listening. It always seems to complicate things when I let it out, so let’s not do that until I really need it.’ He turned the box over in his hands, closely examining it. Kurik’s work had been meticulous, though the box was unadorned. It was just that – a box. The fact that it was made of gold was largely irrelevant. ‘How do I open this? – when I need to, I mean? There isn’t any keyhole.’

‘Just touch the lid with one of the rings.’ She was watching him very closely.

‘Which one?’

‘Use your own. It knows you better than Ehlana’s does. Are you sure you don’t feel some sort of … ?’

‘Some sort of what?’

‘Aren’t your hands aching to touch it?’

‘It’s not unbearable.’

‘Now I see why all the others in my family are so afraid of you. You aren’t anything at all like other humans.’

‘Everybody’s different in some ways, I suppose. What do we do now?’

‘We can go back to the ship.’

‘Can you get in touch with the sailors?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why don’t you ask them to sail across the gulf and pick us up somewhere on this side? That way we won’t have to ride all the way back to Jorsan again, and we’ll be able to avoid any chance meetings with Rebal’s enthusiasts. Some of them might be sober enough by now to recognize the fact that we’re not Edomishmen.’

‘You’re in a strange humor, Sparhawk.’

‘I’m a little discontented with you at the moment, to be honest about it.’

‘What did I do?’

‘Why don’t we just drop it?’

‘Don’t you love me any more?’ Her lower lip began to tremble.

‘Of course I do, but that doesn’t alter the fact that I’m put out with you just now. People we love do irritate us from time to time, you know.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said in a contrite little voice.

‘I’ll get over it. Are we finished here? Can we mount up and start back?’

‘In just a moment,’ she said, seeming suddenly to remember something. Her eyes narrowed and began to glint dangerously. ‘You!’ she said, leveling a finger at Talen. ‘Come here!’

Talen sighed and did as he was told.

‘What did you think you were doing?’ she demanded.

‘Well – I was afraid you’d fall.’

‘I wasn’t the one who was going to fall, you clot! Don’t you ever do anything like that again!’

Talen could have agreed with her. That would have been the simplest way, and it would have avoided an extended scolding. He did not, however. ‘No, Flute. I’m afraid it’s not going to be that way. I’ll jump in every time I think you’re in danger.’ He grimaced. ‘It’s not really my idea. I want to be sure you understand that I haven’t completely lost my mind. It’s just that I can’t help myself. When I see you do something like that, I’m moving before I even think. If you’re really serious about trying to keep me alive, don’t do things like that when I’m around, because I’ll try to stop you every single time – regardless of how stupid it is.’

‘Why?’ she asked him intently.

‘I guess it’s because I love you.’ He shrugged.

She squealed with delight and swarmed up into his arms. ‘He’s such a nice boy!’ she exclaimed, covering his face with kisses.

They had gone no more than a mile when Kalten reined in sharply, filling the air with sulphurous curses.

‘Kalten!’ Vanion snapped. There are ladies present!’

‘Take a look behind us, my Lord,’ the blond Pandion said.

It was the cloud, inky black, ominous, and creeping along the ground like viscous slime.

Vanion swore and reached for his sword.

‘That won’t do any good, my Lord,’ Sparhawk told him. He reached inside his tunic and took out the gleaming box. ‘This might, though.’ He rapped the band of his ring against the box-lid.

Nothing happened.