Rebel Fay

Chapter Fifteen

Leesil sat quietly with Magiere's head upon his leg. He expected rain to come, but the sky never broke open, so he saw no need to disturb Magiere and move to better cover.

Past what he guessed was noon beneath the dark clouds, Osha approached Brot'an. The young elf's gaze drifted to Wy

"It is time," Brot'an called to Leesil.

At the sound of his voice, Magiere's eyes opened. She hadn't slept either and only rested.

Leesil's leg had gone numb beneath her head. He struggled to his feet, pulling Magiere up as his leg tingled with returning feeling. When Brot'an went to gather the others, Leesil left Magiere with Wy

"I won't be long," he said. "Unless you're fool enough to try to stop me."

"Then I will go as well," Sgaile answered. "Or you will not go at all."

Leesil was too weary to argue. He had no idea how soon another chance might come to see his mother. So he turned toward the passage through the woods with Sgaile close on his heels.

They emerged in the clearing, and Nein'a was outside her tree waiting. Leesil glanced back at Sgaile.

"Go," the man said with a sigh. "I will wait here."

Leesil had thought long on his mother while Magiere rested in his lap. Eight years in this glade, seeming so easy to leave and yet not, would drive anyone to odd ways. If he'd been thinking more clearly at their earlier meeting, he might have realized this. Stepping close before her and looking up into her calm yet disquieted face, he couldn't think of much to say besides the obvious.

"I can't free you by staying here. I'm going back to Crijheaiche to find a way to make your people listen." He lowered his voice. "Then you are leaving with me and Magiere."

She reached out and gripped his wrist. The action held no affection, and he almost pulled away.

"Forget me and leave this forest," she whispered, and then her tone grew soft, more like the lyrical voice he remembered from youth. "Please… my son."

All of Leesil's resentment melted in his mother's sudden warmth.

"You may trust Sgailsheilleache's guardianship," she whispered. "But in all other things, trust only Brot'an'duive."

He jerked free of her grasp. "I will be back… and you should trust only me."

"Leshil," Sgaile called, sounding strained. "Come."

Leesil turned away from his mother.

By midafternoon, Wy

The few times she took her eyes from the others around her, the forest shifted in unsettling ways. With the sun hidden behind thick clouds,all the world was caught within a lingering dusk. Her spirits low, she struggled to keep up-but not only because she was exhausted and worried.

She felt cut off and alone.

Leesil and Magiere were silent except for brief glances and touches they exchanged. Wy

Chap ranged in and out of their procession, sometimes coming back to Wy

Wy

Sgaile's demeanor worried her most. He had changed since witnessing Magiere's savage side. Wy

He also appeared determined to rush them back to Crijheaiche as quickly as possible.

Somewhere behind Wy

Wy

She quick-stepped up behind Osha, trying to think of something to ask.Something useful-or not.Anything to break the silence for just one breath. She tugged on his cloak as she stumbled over the hem of her own.

Osha glanced over his shoulder with a frown.

"What is… Greimasg'ah?" she asked quietly. "A grasp-something? I heard the others use it to refer to Brot'an, and once for Urhkar.Some title or rank?"

Timid Osha looked ahead at Sgaile yet again. But Sgaile pressed on behind Brot'an's lead and did not appear to hear.

"Oh for goodness' sake, Osha!" Wy

Sgaile glanced back once.

"Shadow-grip… gripper… keeper…" Osha said with difficulty, as the word seemed troublesome for his limited Belaskian. "Masters beyond our caste ways, beyond what our teachers know and teach us. Many say Greimas-g'ah grip shadows, pull them in to… to hide them. No one see them until they want. It is great honor if Greimasg'ah accepts you for… to teach you. I am not lucky for this."

When Wy

"There were… once five," Osha added. "Now are four… when we lose Leshil's great-mother."

For an instant, Wy

Osha nodded and went silent. Wy

"Halt for rest," Brot'an called.

Wy

A shadow crossed Wy

Sgaile stood close enough that she could have counted the white hairs of his feathery eyebrows. His handsome face was lined with tension.

"All thathappened this last day and night," he said quietly in Elvish, "was because you did not heed my words. You remain under my protection, but disobey again and I will do whatever is necessary to assure your safety… no matter that you will dislike my methods. Do you understand?"

Wy

If his kind had not imprisoned Nein'a, Leesil would never have needed to come here in the first place. She and Chap would not have had to break Most Aged Father's attempt at coercion. But Sgaile's tone was so serious.

"Yes," she answered stiffly.

He headed back to his resting place, and Wy

"What was that?" he asked.

"Nothing," she answered."Just… nothing."

Leesil grabbed her hand and pulled her along toward where Magiere crouched. "You stay near us. And let's see if we can't tie up that cloak."

Wy

Forestscents intoxicated Chap, and still he returned often to look in on Magiere and Leesil and Wy

The dogs fell behind to sniff, and even to hunt. More than once, one of them chased down the silver yearling who had wandered off. Some ran ahead, but in the end, they always ended up back near the Anmaglahk and Chap's companions.