I turned to him, my anger now become determination. ' i shall keep to the timing we arranged, that I may come straight from that place and onto the ship by morning. Go now. I would be alone."

He left, and I heard him shouting for my guards. Good.

A vision of the gems rose before my eyes, bright and enticing. By night's end the creatures would pay for robbing me of my only hope of pain's ending. I shuddered again as the vision of that silver beast pulling down the wall rose in my memory. By the powers, I would have mastery over it yet.

I ran my fingers over the ring on my hand, its circles warm now with my heat, and I felt a slow smile spread over my face.

Let it come.

As I sat recovering in Akor's chambers I heard a curious voice. "May I bespeak you, Lady Lanen? Kédra speaks."

"Of course," I replied, bemused. For an instant I feared for Mirazhe, but his mindvoice was calm, even pleased.

"I stand Guardian and so may not come to you, hut I have not yet given you my own thanks for saving my dear one and our youngling.''

"Is Mirazhe well?" I asked.

I could hear the smile in his voice, even in truespeech. ''She and the babe are wondrous well. They send you their greetings."

I grinned. ''Surely the little—uh, the littling is a bit young to speak yet!"

"I see now why Akor is so drawn to your people," said Kédra in a curious tone. "There is great pleasure in teaching. When we are first born, Lady, we have little control over our bodies, but our minds are well awake. My littling cannot send thoughts, not in words, but his mother can see the pictures he makes and get a sense of his feelings. She sent him a picture of you this morning, and he remembered with pleasure."

He remembered.

Newborn, and he remembered me.

I would never have forgotten that face, those eyes gazing into mine, but I never dreamed that he would remember.

"Oh, Kédra, what a gift you have given me," I whispered. "I had no idea. We don't start remembering until we're three or four years old, and then only in patches.'' I hugged the thought to me. It was a kind of immortality, to be remembered by a creature who would live so far into the future I could not imagine it. "Has he a name yet?"

''His use name is Hjerrok,'' said Kédra proudly.

I almost laughed aloud. Why couldn't they come up with something a human could actually pronounce for a change? I tried it a few times out loud and replied in truespeech, "Well, the best I can do with that is Sherok. Bless Sherok and his mother, and you Kédra, for all you have given me. Your friendship and your kind regard are gifts beyond measure.''

"They are yours and your family's for all time, Lanen Maran's daughter. You have saved the two lives I value most in the world, and though I can never repay such a gift I will do what I may.''

''Akor has told me that Rella is with you. Your greatest gift to me now is to guard her well,'' I replied. ''Akor has been speaking with your father, and he comes now to tell me how the Council is drifting. I must go.''

"Then fare you well, Lady Lanen. I am at your service as long as I live.''

''Farewell, Kédra. The blessing of the Lady on you and your family.''

Akor entered his chambers slowly, his soulgem dull even in the bright firelight. I wished yet again that he had an expression I could read—but no, he had told me, with them it was the stance and the way they held their wings, what had Akor called it—oh, yes. Try to read his Attitude. "What news then, dear heart? Has the Council come to a decision?"

"Not yet, but they approach it." I heard the weary note in his voice, like a sigh. "It does not bode well for us, dear one. That was the last word Shikrar gave me. He has been most eloquent in our defence, but the tide of the debate goes badly against him."

I was almost afraid to ask, but my choices were rapidly disappearing. "And what exactly can the Council do to us?"

His voice was right at the edge, I could hear his control slipping. The glorious rescuer, the tender beloved who had left not an hour since was gone, and in his place stood a defeated soul. That frightened me as much as his words. ''They might find against us both, or against either one of us. They might demand that we part, that we be exiled, that I give up the kingship, that you be kept here forever apart from your own Kindred, or—"

He did not finish, but I did not need to hear him speak the words. If the Council was against us, I must of necessity ask Akor to decide between me and his people, the one thing I had sworn to myself not to do. I felt my heart plummet into my boots. This last defeat, from so unexpected a quarter, was the one too many. My legs gave way and I fell to my knees.

"Are we lost, then, after all we have done?" I asked, my voice deep with despair and barely above a whisper. ''Will they call for our deaths, Akor?"

"I do not know, dear one. It is possible. Shikrar thinks not."

"Have you no voice at this Council? Can't you argue with them?"

"I have. I did so last night, while you lay wounded."

The events of the past days swept over me, tumbling images of death and life and love. Was it only last night that I lay dying, burned beyond belief, for doing a good turn? I lived only because of Akor's lawbreaking. Akor, beloved. I bowed my head. Why should I expect good from those who saw only the broken laws, not the healing, not the charity to another soul?

What good could we hope for, who had so disregarded all in the name of love?

My fists were clenched, my teeth ground against themselves, and I discovered to my amazement that in the last extreme my despair had turned swiftly to something else.

Anger.

"Well, I haven't had my chance," I said in a normal speaking voice. It sounded like shouting.

"I am still trying to understand that not an hour ago you saved me from my father, who promised me to demons before I was born and was trying to make good his vow with my life. I was in his power because I had nearly died saving the lives of Kédra's wife and son, and these people are debating about what to do with me." I faced Akor. "I would address the Council."

"You cannot, Lanen, they would—"

I did my best to yell in the Language of Truth. I didn't want anyone to miss it. "I have a request to make of the Kindred, the Kantrishakrim, the People who chose Order, that justice may be served. It is Lanen Maransdatter of the Gedrishakrim who speaks.''

There was no answer.

"In the name of the Winds and the Lady, I demand that I be allowed to attend the Council and speak in my own defence. It is only just.''

Silence.

"ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!"

Silence.

"Akor, you have saved my life once this night. Will you try your arm again?"

I was still shocked at the intensity of her truespeech, and more amazed yet that there had been no answer. "Yes, of course," I replied without thinking.

"Then come on, you may have some defending to do."

And with that, Lanen strode out of my chambers. When I hurried to join her, she only looked up at me and asked, "Which way is the Great Hall?"

I gestured towards it with my chin. "It is near for me, dear-ling, but some distance for you."

She started walking as quickly as she could. "Kédra, it's Lanen,'' she called out as she strode through the night. ''Akor will not stop me, but as Guardian you should know that I'm on my way to the Council. I mean and will do no harm to any, I swear on my soul to the Lady. But if your duty lies in stopping me, I will understand, and I forgive you. But you will have to kill me to do it.''