Look for bodies.

Shikrar, watching three men trying to shift a large lump of wall, rose with a sigh and went to help.

We had all been willing to do our part, but Shikrar did most of the work. Vil and Aral were gone, with Will as witness, to make their peace with their former comrades and Magister Rikard. The rest of us took a little time to rest and speak together. Jamie came over to join Varien, Lanen, and me, and Lanen stepped forward into Jamie's waiting arms.

"Jamie," I whispered in his ear as we held each other tight.

"Lanen, my girl," rasped Jamie, stretching up to kiss my cheek. "Don't you ever do that again!"

I laughed, as he knew I would, my arms about him. "I swear, I'll avoid demon-masters in future!"

"Just you do that, fool child," he said, moving back a little and feigning a cuff at my head. He kept hold of one of my hands, though. "I thought I'd taught you better than that."

"I was fighting magic, after all," I said in mock self-defence. "But it's true. I owe you my fife again." My hand gripped his and found an answering pressure the equal of mine. "Goddess, Jamie," I said, shivering, "I was sure we were dead—"

"Now, my girl, no need to go over it," he said. "It's done. You're safe." We embraced once more, and I whispered, "Thank you, my father," before I let him go.

Varien came to my side and without warning went down on one knee before Jamie and bowed his head. I ignored Bella's unladylike snort.

"I am more deep in your debt than ever I might repay," he said solemnly. "I was too far distant last night to help my beloved when her need was greatest. If ever I or mine may serve you, only let ' your desire be known and it will be done."

"I thought you owed me one anyway, for letting you marry Lanen," said Jamie, grinning.

Varien rose and returned the grin. 'Then the score stands at two."

"I'm glad that's settled. Now if you two are finished posturing, there is still work to be done," said Rella pointedly.

Jamie had been watching the workers and shook his head. "No need, my girl." He nodded at Shikrar. "He's better than ten horses and two score men," he said quietly. "I just wish to the Goddess they had something worth looking for."

"They won't find all the bodies, you know," muttered Chalmik as Vil, Aral, and Will rejoined us. 'That fire wasn't natural. It burned hotter than real fire, that's what set the stones ablaze. And the demon—I saw it pick some of them up and—and—" He stopped and turned away.

"And what, boy?' said Jamie sharply. "Say it!"

Stung, Chalmik whipped around and shouted, "It ate them!" far too loudly. "It ate them, right? It didn't even kill them first, they were all screaming until it bit—"

And Chalmik ran around a corner. The sound of a person being violently sick is unmistakable. My own belly heaved in sympathy. Take it easy, little ones, I thought to my babes. All is well.

Vilkas began to draw in his power, but Jamie put a hand on his arm. "No, lad, leave him be," he said. "He needs to get it out of his system. He'll be the better for it." Jamie glanced at Rella, who nodded.

"I remember what it was like, seeing violent death for the first time," she murmured. "Vomiting is the least of it. The nightmares that will come, if they haven't already—those are the worst."

I shuddered. Perhaps I hadn't been so badly off, there in my silent cell.

Chalmik returned. He looked rather greener than I prefer to see people, but he seemed to be a little better.

It's a shame, really, that Salera chose that moment to land more or less directly in front of him.

He cried out and stumbled backwards, but as no one else seemed to be bothering to panic he gathered his scattered dignity about him and stood firm. Amazed, but firm.

Will was at her side in a moment, grinning. "Welcome back, lass. I've missed you."

"And I you, Father," she said.

There was a thump from Chalmik's direction, which we all charitably ignored.

"Though I have spent my time well," she added. I noted with some pleasure that her speech was improving, though she still spoke slowly and carefully as her mouth grew accustomed to the shape of speech. "My people and I have made ourselves known to the Kantri and to the Dhrenagan, the Restored." Salera's eyes were gleaming, blue as a summer sky. "We live in a time of wonders! We are sso many, Hwill, and all so different! I never dreamed of this bounty ere we Awakened." Her wings were fluttering in her excitement. "So many minds, so many souls to see the world and learn from one another."

"Have they taken to your people, then?" asked Will, anxiously.

She lowered her head and touched his forehead with hers, just for an instant, to reassure him, for all the world as if she were a huge, bright copper cat. "Do not fear for us, my father. We all are the same Kindred. My people and I, the Aiala, the Awakened, together with the Dhrenagan and the Kantri—we are facets of the same soulgem. The Kantri"—and here she sighed—"the Kantri cannot help themselves, as yet. We appear to be younglings in their eyes, and in truth we are new-come to our true lives, but we are not nearly so young as they think. Still, all is new, all is changed. They will surely learn to see us in time."

Varien stepped forward. Instantly Salera bowed, the sinuous bow of the dragon-kind. He reached out to touch her jaw, a greeting, a brief caress. "Littling, I beg you, have patience with us," he said gendy. "For thousands of winters we have sat round fires in our chambers, telling over the old tales to pass the long nights.

For five thousand winters, Salera, we have told the Tale of the Demonlord and tried to find some way to communicate with the Lesser Kindred. In all our dreams of restoring the Lost, we never imagined that you were growing into a different people! Name of the Winds, it is yet less than a se'ennight since you and your people changed, and not even a full day since the Lost have been restored!" He grinned. "The Kantri come to Kolmar, the Lost restored—it is a winter's tale come to life, a wonder as great as your own Awakening. Bear with us, I pray you."

"We do not bear with you, Lord," replied Salera. "We rejoice in you. The wider world is yet so new to us, and we have much to learn." Her eyes twinkled. "We all have much to learn. The Kantri do not know this land, and there we may assist them. The Dhre-nagan remember it, but not as it is. Much has changed over the long ages. They will have to learn again, an old song transformed, or a new one with echoes of the old. It will be difficult at first, but surely we will sing together in time."

"Bloody hellsfire," muttered a voice from near the ground. Chalmik hadn't bothered to stand up again, which I suspect was just as well. "What is this?"

Salera stretched her long neck around Will to gaze at Chalmik s seated figure. "I am not a what, Master Gedri, I am a who. I hight Salera, of the Aiala. What are you called?"

"Mik," he replied, staring wide-eyed. "How—you're—talking!"

"It is the way of a reasoning creature to use speech, is it not?" she asked.

"But—but I always thought—I've seen you in the forest, I thought you were . .. just.. ." He ground to a halt under her un- blinking gaze.

"Beasts," finished Salera. Mik nodded. "We were, but the Wind of Change has blown upon us all. I believe you are the first Gedri I have met who was not present at our Awakening." Suddenly she glanced back at Will. "Father—there are words for a first meeting among Gedri, I can feel the shape of them in my mind, but I do not know what I must say."

Will could hardly keep from laughing and Varien was no  better. Men! I replied calmly, 'Tou have a choice, Salera. You can say 'well-met,' or 'good day/ or you can give your use-name."