Sister of the Dead

"But you told us Vordana was destroyed."

"His urn was destroyed, and I watched him dissipate, yes."

Magiere still crouched, glaring at the boy, but when she spoke, it wasn't to him. "Welstiel… It's been Welstiel all this time."

"We don't know that for certain," Leesil corrected. "All we know is that he was here long ago, and he had family. Or someone or something else using the same family name."

"Tomas, is there a man here?" Wy

The boy leaned toward her, small face filled with urgency. "Don't go in that forest, Warm Wy

Wy

"What dead things?" Leesil asked.

Tomas shook his head, and Wy

"I don't think he can tell us much more," she said. "We should let him go."

"Let him go?" Magiere rose up to her full height. "We don't let his kind go."

Wy

"Haven't you gotten over this nonsense?" Magiere answered. "He's dead and was made to rise up and prey upon the living. He's not an i

Leesil crouched down before the hearth. Wy

"You're going have to leave this place and hunt deeper in the forests. That's all there is for you now. We hunt your kind. If we hear you've touched anything but an animal, we'll be back for you. Understand?"

Tomas took in Leesil's words. Brown eyes wide, he nodded.

Leesil tossed his head toward the kitchen's far door. "Go."

Chap's snarl rose sharply. Leesil scooted back to put his hand on the dog's muzzle.

Tomas looked up at Wy

Beneath her relief, Wy

Magiere turned in a slow circle, examining the kitchen. "Welstiel. All this time, all this way, just to come back to him."

"We're still not sure," Leesil said. "We only know he was involved somehow."

Wy

Magiere's gaze ceased roaming to turn upon Wy

As they headed back outside, Wy

They should have done more. There should have been a way to take the boy from this place. Though he would never grow up, he deserved something more than what had been left to him in the wake of his lost life. Some day, Magiere- and Chap-would have to see the individual in place of the natural enemy their instincts drove them to hunt.

They emerged in the courtyard, stepping out through the stockade's missing gate, and Wy

Still harnessed to the wagon, Imp had dropped to the ground, legs folded under her. Port's eyelids sagged, his head hanging, and his massive legs trembled. Wy

Wy

"I do not feel tired," she said. "Leesil?"

He looked around, as well. "No, I'm fine."

Chap began to growl again.

"Over there," Magiere said.

Both Wy

Chane woke the moment the sun set.

They'd been forced by dawn to pitch their tent and hide for the day in this soggy forest, but Welstiel had told him they would reach Apudalsat shortly after dusk. Wy

"Welstiel, get up. We need to go."

His companion rose, rubbing his face. "Give me a moment."

Chane strapped on his sword, wishing he'd had time to make another wolf familiar, or whatever large animal he could find in this dismal province. "While you're taking your moment, you can explain what we're facing. This sword, and my conjury… is that going to be enough?"

Welstiel's silence was more than frustrating. Chane couldn't help Wy

"Do you know what a necromancer is?" Welstiel asked.

"I've heard of conjurors who specialize in spirits of the dead. " Chane paused. "Is that what Magiere seeks?"

"His name is Ubad, and he's much more than you suppose. He served my father… and helped create Magiere."

Once again, there was more to this than Welstiel let on, and he was giving up what he had to only at the last possible moment. Magiere had been "created"? Chane harbored doubts concerning any undead fathering a child. The involvement of a conjuror-a necromancer-told him little, but it hinted that there was considerably more to the dhampir's origin that Welstiel kept to himself.

"When he finds Magiere," Welstiel continued, "he will be most anxious after all these years. I'm uncertain of specifics, but I suspect it took Ubad a lifetime's preparation for her birth. He will try to persuade her to follow him for his own purpose. When she refuses, he will not let her-or anyone in her company-leave this land alive."

Chane glared out into the dark. They should have been pla

"I hope you have more toys than a brass disk and a ring!"

He grabbed Welstiel's pack and threw it at him. He was almost certain the ring helped Welstiel to hide his presence from mantic and divinatory magics-or u

"You do not know Magiere as I do," he said. "Her powers will be strong when she faces Ubad. She is resourceful, and her experience grows. And my 'toys' are more useful than you imagine. We will assist from the shadows."

Chane cared nothing for Magiere. He cared only for Wy

"I'll saddle the horses," he said, "while you finish your moment."

Leesil's topaz amulet glowed brightly.

Vordana's appearance was no surprise. In the back of Leesil's mind, it had always seemed the undead sorcerer had gone down too easily. Now that they knew what this creature was capable of, Leesil's only worry was how to take its head. How could he fight something he couldn't get close to?

Vordana smiled, little more than a lipless stretch of his mouth to expose grayed receding gums around clenched teeth. He raised one hand, and Magiere stepped out in front of Leesil.