Page 83 of Valdemar

“With extra energy at my disposal, I can certainly keep a shield on two people and their Companions and fight,” he continued. “It was easy enough to do so on myself and Darshay when Young Squire called us for that monstrous bear two weeks ago.” I wish we’d had that at our disposal long ago. Would have saved me and Father a few bruises and gashes!

“There, that will leave Starbird free to stick as many arrows into things as she can.” Koto nodded wisely. “And of course, her Healing Gift will be mightily useful when the fighting gets hot.”

Starbird’s lips twitched a little. “It’s also true that if an enemy gets close enough, I can do more than just stick arrows in them,” she said a bit grimly. “Healers among my people are trained to use their Gift to take people apart as well as put them back together. Not all of them do, because not all of them are comfortable with the idea of dealing harm as well as healing—but I do. Joints,” she added thoughtfully, “do not like bending backward. And there are these soft little disks in spines that can cause immense mischief if they rupture.”

Koto blinked at her owlishly. “I do believe I like you very much, Starbird!” he declared. “You are sufficiently bloody-minded even for me! It’s a good thing I’m not younger! I’d snatch you away from all these young stallions! I was quite the handsome devil at your age, and very much a risk-taker! I would need a Healer of my very own!”

Starbird smiled slightly. “You are quite the handsome devil now, Koto,” she replied. The old man preened.

“Well, well, I’m far too old for you now, young lady.” He sighed dramatically. “A tragedy for both of us!”

Then he sobered. “Well, well. I can tell you what I would like. The thing about Adepts, you see, is that they only think big, and often miss small magics and even things non-magicians can do—like you snapping knees, Starbird—in favor of very large magic. Now, while the Companions can certainly boost their Heralds, I’d like all of you to get together as a group and start making strategies based around the small—and Mind-magic!—especially boosted Mind-magic. Because that’s something she won’t be looking for, and won’t guard against. Oh! And station one of those unpartnered Companions at the Gate at all times! You’ve said they’re sensitive to magic; they can warn us if the Gate is opening.”

:Darshay, will the unpartnered Companions help us in a fight?:he asked, as Koto was finishing that sentence.

:Absolutely. The unpartnered Companions won’t be able toboost people as much, but they will make a difference. And, of course, we are prepared to fight. I am reminding Ardatha of this so he tells your father. And we will have unpartnered Companions at the Gate as forward-guards.:

Well, that was good news in a sea of grimness.

The three of them threw many ideas around the room before Koto needed to go make the initial preparations for breaking that curse. Some were good. Some seemed good at first, but there were problems that appeared on closer examination. Like, for instance, seeing if Lythe could summon a few giant boars to the battlefield.

“Imagine what would happen if they slipped her control,” Koto said, regretfully. “The best that would happen would be that they would run away. The worst that they would attack us.”

And of course there was the unspoken question: what if Koto’s curse-breaking didn’t work? Lythe would only be useful at night.

Finally Koto called a halt to the discussion. He rose. “Time for these old bones to get to work.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand that dismissed the extra protections against scrying that he had put up. Restil and Starbird rose too.

He opened the door with a gesture—because he could, obviously. Restil couldn’t help but smile. The Old Men never changed. They did like to remind people of the fact that although they all looked ready to die at any moment, they were almost Adepts themselves.

And Koto proved that he was anything but infirm by quickly outdistancing them as they all left his quarters.

:We’ve called all our Heralds together for the mass meeting,:Darshay said. :Well, all but the King. But your mother is coming, and she’s probably better, since she doesn’t get bogged down in trying to blame herself for things. We’re all going to meet at that pavement at the Grove where the temple will be. The Queen is arranging for luncheon to be brought.:

:Mother thinks of everything,:he replied gratefully, as his stomach growled.

:What she doesn’t think of, Dendalin does.:

Starbird must have been talking to Radiant at the same time, because she turned to smile at him, and despite how grave the situation was, his heart turned over a little.

“Radiant says everyone is heading for the Grove already.”

“Well, we’d better—” he began.

:Radiant and I are waiting for you at the door into the garden.:

“—go join our ‘transportation,’” he said smoothly.

:Transportation? Is that what we are?:Darshay said in mock indignation.

:Among so many, many other things, yes. You carry me, not the other way around.:

:Hmph. Keep talking like that and I might arrange to swap bodies with you so you can see what it’s like!:

He chuckled softly as he pushed open the garden door to see Radiant and Darshay standing in just the right light to make them look fabulous.

:Of course we do.:

He put both hands on Darshay’s bare back and powered himself up into place. A glance to his right showed that Starbird had done the same. “Let’s go see what mayhem we can plan,” he said, feeling a bit more confident than he had before talking to Koto.

“Oh,” Starbird said, with a sort of vindictive tone that made him wonder if she was now aching to avenge the wrong done to her uncle by his former apprentice, “I am very much looking forward to this mayhem-planning. Cloudfall has had things all her own way for too long. It is past time that she got used to disappointment.”