[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
still depleted from her session that morning with Jaric, Taen mustered her
remaining resources into a flare of raw power. She strove, yet failed to snap
the dream-
link. Harried across distance by the malevolent entities of Shadowfane, Taen
tried to quench her powers within the circle of her own awareness; surely no
evil could challenge her within the security of her cabin on
Moonless.
But the assumption proved false. The demons retained their hold. As Taen
dissolved ties with her brother, enemies reversed the polarity of the link
with a stinging lash of force; and for the space of a heartbeat, the
Dreamweaver became Shadowfane's puppet. Through her consciousness, the enemy
assimilated all, brigantine, crew, and captain. Taen experienced a savage
flash of annoyance as the demons recognized
Corley; his machinations had cost them a victory at Cliffhaven, as well as the
lives of eight Thienz on Tierl
Enneth. Yet Shadowfane's minions did not pause to strike. Instead, voraciously
hating, they discovered one they despised more, one they hunted because in
Page 106
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
time his talents might mature to threaten their designs: Ivain
Firelord's heir sailed on board a brigantine whose destination was the Isle of
the Vaere.
Taen screamed aloud. Unable to endure any threat to Jaric, she convulsed and
ripped into the depths of her being. Life-force itself became tinder for her
rage, and the conflagration raised a white flash of power.
The result tore through the demons' hold, and she woke disoriented in
darkness.
Panting in the dampness of her own sweat, blinded and choking on tears, Taen
took several seconds to recognize her surroundings.
Moonless reeled in the throes of a squall. Waves thudded against the
brigantine's sides, shivering timbers and keel, and wind shrilled through
tackle and rigging with the savagery of a witch shrieking curses. Ragged with
exhaustion, and tormented with self-reproach for the dangers brought on by her
lapse of discipline, Taen pushed herself upright. That moment the companionway
door banged open.
Deison Corley burst across the threshold. A lantern swung from his fist and
his bronzed hair dripped rain.
"Kor's grace, what's happened?"
"Demons." Taen fought to steady herself. "The compact at Shadowfane has taken
over my brother. His powers are theirs, and through him I was lured into
contact. Kor's Accursed attacked me across the link."
Corley swore; shadows spun crazily across the cabin as he raised the lantern
to a hook set in the deck beams overhead. "List the damage. Quickly."
Taen drew a shaking breath. "The enemy knows
Moonless is bound for the Isle of the Vaere."
"Destinations can be changed," snapped the captain. "What else?"
"Jaric," Taen began. As Corley surged forward in alarm, she backed her voice
with a Dreamweaver's compulsion. "No! Things aren't that desperate! The demons
have no knowledge of Jaric, except what they could sort from my brother's
memories." Taen qualified with an image drawn from the past, and Corley shared
the immediate impression of a frightened, diffident boy, flattened at
swordpoint against a thorny tangle of brush; so had Jaric appeared to Emien
upon the shores of
Elrinfaer at the moment the Keys were won. Taen's meaning was poignantly
clear; without the support of a Dreamweaver's mastery on that day, Ivain
Firelord's heir could never have completed the
Stormwarden's bidding.
"Jaric's changed a great deal since then," Corley conceded. "But you know
that's stinking little protection. Won't count a dog's damn against the might
of Shadowfane. The boy must be warned."
He snatched down his lantern and moved to go; and Taen's perception caught the
concern which filled the captain's mind. When Corley had entered the chart
room to plot his course, Jaric had learned
Moonless would sail for the Isle of the Vaere. A brief but stormy
confrontation had resulted;
reflexively, Taen reached out for Jaric's thoughts, her intent to measure the
impact of the captain's insensitive rejoinders! The quality of the silence
which met her all but stopped her heart.
"Wait!" Frantic with worry, Taen Dreamweaver leapt from her bunk. "Corley,
wait, I'm coming with you."
She bolted through the companionway. Rain slashed her face, backed by a
howling wind. Hard on
Corley's heels, the girl struggled to climb the wet and heaving ladder. Even
as she gained the quarterdeck, a shout from the officer on watch hailed the
captain.
"Boy's gone overboard."
"Quartermaster, hard alee!" Corley bellowed. He thrust the lantern into the
Page 107
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
startled grasp of a sailor, then bolted for the rail. His brawny hands
snatched up the line which secured
Callinde.
"Boatswain!
Stand by to man the tackles!"
With a stupendous heave of muscles, Corley dragged the towrope in hand over
hand. Coils flaked across the deck, and presently
Callinde
's dark shape loomed through the squall. Gold against the white of the waves,
a head broke the surface of the sea. Jaric shook the hair from his face and
clung like a limpet to
Callinde's prow. Even as the Kielmark's captain sought to drag him back, Taen
arrived, slight and soaked like an otter beside Corley's great bulk. She saw
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]