I closed my eyes in relief and pulled her close with my wing. ''No, dearling, they are not so bad as all that. They will heal of their own in time."

She let out her breath in a great sigh, and her fear was gone as swiftly as it had come. I thought for a moment and was surprised at the conclusion I came to.

"Lanen Kaelar!"

"Still here," she said aloud, smiling gently now, wiping the tears from her face, reaching out to touch me.

''You feared that the Weh sleep would take me from you.''

"Yes."

I had no words, no response, but unbidden my mind rang with the first notes of the song we had made between us, and I opened my mind to my beloved. She joined me, just for a little while, and in the Language of Truth we sang again our joy. Soon, though, Shikrar bespoke me. He had gone to tell the Council of the killing of the

Rakshasa, as I had asked, but it had not helped matters. They wished to ask me particulars of the battle, and if I knew which of the creatures I had fought. I left Lanen safe in my chambers.

I was greatly relieved when Akhor bespoke me and said all was well with them. He asked that I keep Rella company until the Council could come to some decision. My father was in the Great Hall now, telling them news they would not wish to hear. For my part I was intrigued the the Gedri who sat before the fire I had made, and I understood Akhor's wishing to speak with them. The Boundary was safe between us—I stood a little back in hiding and listened on all levels for any trespass by others of her race—but I longed to hold converse with her. Yet I was bound even as Akhor was bound; I could not speak first. She had gathered the wood in silence, and when I had lit it for her she only looked at me. She would have to—

"Dragon? Are you still here?"

"I am, Lady Rella. I stand Guardian, and Lord Akhor has given you into my keeping."

She moved so that she could at least partially face me. "How kind. Am I your prisoner?"

"Forgive me, lady, I am not so fluent in your language as Akhor. I do not know that word. What does it mean?"

"Will you hold me here against my will?"

I was shocked. ''Lady, what do you think of us? My Lord Akhor thought you would be in danger if you returned to your own people, so he has asked me to watch over you here. We await only the word of the Council to bring you where the Lady Lanen waits now."

"So I am free to go."

''Wherever you wish, though we cannot cross the Boundary to protect you."

"Why not? Akhor did. Three times."

"All three were to save the life of—of Lady Lanen."

"I see," said the Gedri. "And I am not as worthy of protection as she is."

"It is a different case, Lady Rella. Lady Lanen is—"

"Oh, spare me the 'Lady'! Just use our names, Dragon. And I don't see why her case should be different." She put her hand to her face. ''I have two black eyes thanks to that girl— though I did ask for one." She made a noise which I guessed was a kind of laugh.

"And thanks to Lady Lanen, I have a living mate and a son, where all was death before," I answered a little sternly.

"What?" She stood and came up to the Boundary. "Do you tell me that she saved your wife and child?''

In as few words as possible, I told her our half of the tale. She told me the rest, then fell silent for some time. "Wretched child," she said, shaking her head. "Idiot. Burn your arms off for—oh, dear Lady." She put her hands before her mouth for a moment, then looked up at me.

"Dragon, did you see her before Akhor brought her here? Did you see her wounds?"

I bowed my head. ''I did not. I never thought she might be in such pain, she made never a sound, all her heart was in the saving of my child—''

"I am—my work has taken me many places, and I have seen death in forms more terrible than most have to know, but in all my life I was never so sickened by anything as by the sight of her burns. Her arms were naught but shreds of muscle stretched over—oh, I can't." She turned away for an instant, then looked straight at me. "If your Akor had taken a single moment longer to get her to the Healer, she would have died in agony. You owe her two lives, Dragon, you know that."

I bowed to her. "I know it full well. And my name is Kédra, Lady Rella."

"I told you, it's just Rella."

"No, lady," I replied. "By your actions this night you have preserved the life of the Lady Lanen, and that for no hope of gain that I can see, simply of your kindness. 'Lady' is among my people a term of respect, and for that kindness I am afraid that you shall always be Lady Rella to me." She smiled at me then, a crooked grin that suited her well. "Oh, well. I suppose I'll just have to put up with it."

I finally stopped running about a quarter mile from the place. I was heading south from some instinct of finding safety on the ship, but my true fear was that there was no safety anywhere.

Call me coward, but what is the point of bravery in the face of certain deaths Perhaps Berys could stand up to an angry Dragon, but I couldn't. When I realised it did not pursue me, I began to walk cautiously back along the dark, rough path to the cabins.

I met Caderan running in my direction. He slowed when he saw me. He was badly out of breath. ''The Raksha—held off the Dragon—long enough for me to get away. But the cabin is gone—and so is the girl."

My hands were around his throat without my thinking of it "And what good are you to me now, sorcerer?" I asked, finding satisfaction in the feel of his throat beneath my fingers as I tightened my grip. "Now I must live with this pain forever, and in the matter of the Dragons all dissembling is useless. I never thought to live this long when that beast came through the wall. Now that the Dragons will kill me on sight, what good are you to me?"

I shook him once more and pushed him away. He fell to the ground.

"I am your only hope, Marik," he said, coughing as he lay in the dust. "How else will you survive if it comes to an attack? Remember, Merchant, only I can provide a shield against dragonfire."

The worst of it was that he was right. I would have to suffer him a little longer, at least until tomorrow, the last night of the Harvest. Then I could—no.

Tonight.

It would be the last thing they'd expect, to do so bold a thing after so great a defeat. And who in his right mind would leave a Harvest early?

Only one who intended to be long gone by the time the Dragons noticed anything was amiss. I hauled Caderan to his feet and drew him swiftly after me. We slowed when we drew near the smoking remains of the guards' cabin, but as the beast was nowhere in evidence, we slipped into my own cabin unobserved.

I closed tight the door and threw wood on the fire. ''Now, demon caller, you will learn for me if this night is a good time to go into the dragonlands."

He looked surprised, but only for a moment. "I have ascertained it already, my lord. You asked me to consult them when first you purposed to go there. I learned at that time that tonight and tomorrow night are equally auspicious."

"You never said anything about tonight before," I growled at him.

"It did not seem important. I knew you planned to wait until the last night." He must have seen my displeasure and doubt, for he went on, ''My lord, the creatures hold some kind of assembly among themselves for these two nights. They are well distracted. There is still a Guardian, but its thoughts will be far from you."

It was then that my vague thoughts became a plan of action. I mastered my anger and spoke softly. ''Very well. Good master Caderan, I pray you send for my guards. Let word be spread that the Harvest is over, for fear the Dragons will attack again. Send out to the farthest reaches where the Harvesters have gone and tell them they must return, for we leave at dawn. Let the Master of the ship be notified that as soon as may be, we shall decamp and take all on board."