Wrede, Patricia C - [Lyra 02] by Daughter of Witches

Author:Daughter of Witches [Witches, Daughter of]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-08-28T15:13:40+00:00

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

Mist and Arelnath sat on the ground near the fire. Arelnath had made a bed of leaves to insulate Jaren from the cold ground of the little wood, and as soon as the fire caught, she turned to adjust the pile so that Jaren could have the full benefit of the warmth without danger of the leaves catching fire. She had also, Ranira noted, wrapped Jaren’s injured leg in one of the heavy brown pilgrim’s robes. Beside Ranira, Mist carefully fed small branches into the slowly growing blaze.

“Now, if we only had something to eat,” Ranira said as she stretched her hands toward the warmth.

“There are other things to think of first,” Arelnath said shortly, turning back toward the fire. She moved to one side, so that her body did not keep the heat from reaching Jaren, and looked up. “I am ready, Mist.”

“Then we had best begin at once,” Mist said. She dropped the last of the branches onto the fire and glanced at Ranira, but did not speak again. Arelnath nodded and extended a hand toward the healer.

Almost reluctantly, Mist grasped the proffered hand in one of her own. Her free hand rose and folded itself about the white stone on her breast, then clenched until the knuckles whitened. Mist bowed her head and began the low, murmuring chant that had accompanied all of her spell-casting.

This time, Ranira tried to listen more closely. Though the language was unfamiliar, she thought she could sense a searching note in the rise and fall of Mist’s voice.

The enchantress’s head bent lower, as if she strained to carry some heavy burden. Arelnath sat straight, but her eyes were unfocused and the lines of strain in her face seemed to deepen even as Ranira watched. The murmuring went on and on, but now the sound seemed to intensify, as if it could cover the distance to the island by sheer force. Ranira was tempted to cover her ears, but some streak of pride kept her hands at her sides.

Abruptly, the chanting stopped. Mist’s hands released Arelnath and the stone, only to bury themselves in her own thick black hair. Arelnath sighed and massaged her temples as she looked at Mist. “So, we have exhausted our strength for nothing,” the Cilhar woman said.

“You did not succeed?” Ranira asked.

“No,” Arelnath said.

“Why?” Ranira asked when no more explanation was forthcoming. “Can’t you try again?”

Mist sighed and raised her head. “The priests of Chaldon have raised a barrier about the Empire of Chaldreth that I could not break, even with Arelnath’s help. I cannot try again until we have rested and our strength is restored. I doubt I will have the time for that.”

“Why?” Ranira asked again. “There are still three days before the Night of Two Moons. Isn’t that enough time?”

“The Temple of Chaldon is preparing to deal with us,” Mist replied. “They must suspect that I, at least, am from the Island of the Moon, or they would not have raised the barrier. If they had been better prepared, we would have died in the river last night.

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