Perilous Dreams by Andre Norton

Author:Andre Norton [Norton, Andre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DAW Books
Published: 1976-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

IV

The storm battered and worried at the craig keep throughout the night. Tam-sin slept only in snatches, awakening at intervals to hear the drums of fury without. Twice as she did so, lying tense and shivering, Kilwar’s hands sought her and she found comfort in his nearness and touch.

She tried to search the memories of Tam-sin and discover what powers that other whose form she now wore had. Once she had been a dreamer, then a Voice of Olava in a different world wherein she had fronted the anger of the High Queen; now she was a Tide-Singer, one who “sang” the fish into the nets, could “see” from a distance any ship of the Sea Kings. In each life she had talents which were not those of the common sort.

A Tide-Singer might follow a ship with her mind, if she were linked with any on board it. But she could not pick out such a ship unless those ties existed. And she herself must be given time to absorb from the Tam-sin personality what she could now put to use.

“Lord,” she whispered, “what think you lies at the heart of this matter?”

“Any guess could equal mine,” he returned in a murmur no louder than that she had used. “But I am uneasy that the cargo seal was the one I know.”

He fell silent then and she lay as quiet, with her head upon his shoulder, knowing that, even as she, he sniffed danger for them ahead.

But they spoke no more and when the first gray light appeared around the edge of the shutter he had pulled across their outer window, he slipped from the bed, arousing her in an instant.

“Lord, let me go also when you hunt this derelict.”

“You know I cannot. By the Law of these folk I am constrained not to take any female into what might be battle.”

That lay within the Tam-sin memory, too. Yet to have him vanish now was more than she thought she could bear. To be alone…

As Tam-sin arose to face him she read in his face that he could or would not go against the customs of the Sea People.

“You know,” she said, her lips feeling stiff even as she shaped those words, “that if aught happens to you and I am not near, then this dream will never be broke.”

Kilwar nodded. “I know. But there lies no other answer. I must, being who I am, follow this course. You are a Singer, you can link with me.”

“Well enough, but I will have no power to aid, even if my thoughts ride with yours and I learn that dire fate befalls you.”

She turned away, not wishing him to read what might be written on her face. There was no appeal from his decision, from the customs of the Sea Kings. Kilwar would ride the waves when the storm had blown itself out. And she would be left alone… here.

Yet later she was able to master herself and stand outwardly unmoved to

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