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At first she couldn't hear much of anything. A small flock of finches chose that moment to alight on the branches of the spruce tree just beside the house, and for several moments their chattering drowned out everything else.
Then they moved on, and Jy
"Yes, I do," U'Selle answered. She began to cough and for several moments said nothing more. "It seems he's living on the plain now," she went on at last, her voice sounding strained. "So its not surprising that he should be concerned about the plague. But I gather that he and E'Menua are at odds. I'm not sure what that means."
"And these Mettai he mentioned; do you know where they came from?"
"I don't know the name of their village, if that's what you mean. But he said they came from the same village as the witch."
Jy
"This could all have been a lie," S'Doryn said. "He might have intended to kill you rather than help you."
"Why would a Weaver from the Forelands-" She broke off, taken by another coughing fit. "Why would he want to kill me?" she continued eventually. "I'm practically dead already. And as Fal'Borna septs and villages go, Lowna isn't important to anyone other than us."
"So you believe him," S'Doryn said.
"Yes," U'Selle told him, "I suppose I do. I came to you to gauge your reaction. If you don't want me to pass this spell on to you, then I won't, nor will I take it to any of the others. But if you believe we should trust this man, then I want to spread the spell as quickly as possible. The plague is still out there. Just because it's spread westward doesn't mean it can't come back this way."
For several moments neither of them spoke, until finally S'Doryn broke the silence.
"You've put me in a difficult position, A'Laq."
"Yes, I have. Would you have preferred that I go to one of the others?" "You know I wouldn't. Since Jy
"I understand. But this can save lives, S'Doryn. This can protect all of us from the plague."
"If it's true."
"Yes. For whatever it's worth," the a'laq said, after another brief silence, "I feel well today. Or at least as well as I ever do. The spell hasn't affected me at all."
"Maybe it doesn't work, then. Maybe the Mettai and this Forelander are hoping to make us overconfident. If we no longer fear the plague, we might grow complacent, careless. They could kill us that way."
U'Selle offered no reply, and finally S'Doryn said, "You don't believe that, either."
"No," the a'laq said. "I don't."
"Very well, then. What is it you'd have to do?"
"I just need to touch your magic with my own."
"Jy
Jy
"What are you doing?" N'Tevva demanded, though she already seemed to know, judging from the angry expression on her face.
Jy
But this was the first time either N'Tevva or S'Doryn had been so angry with her. And yet, her thoughts were focused elsewhere.
I just need to touch your magic with my own.
"Jy
Vettala had stopped just behind N'Tevva and was gaping at Jy
Jy
"Jy
"You can't do it!" Jy
"Yes. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been. But you can't let that magic touch you!" She felt tears on her cheeks and she swiped at them angrily.
"Jy
She felt her cheeks color. A shadow darkened the common room, and glancing back, Jy
"Come with me, Jy
"No!" Jy
"Why shouldn't he let me pass the spell to him?" U'Selle asked in a voice that silenced them all. The a'laq didn't appear angry, but she looked deadly serious. "If you were listening, you understand that this spell could save lives. It could keep the plague from spreading to our people. Surely, you of all people would want that. You know what this spell does, Jy
"It's Mettai magic!" she said.
Suddenly she was bawling as she hadn't in years. She cried so hard she could hardly draw breath and couldn't see for her tears. She felt hands on her-S'Doryn's hands-and she jerked away, not wanting to be held or even touched.
"Jy
"No! You can't do this! You know what the Mettai did to us! You know that they hate us, that they want us dead!"
"We know what one Mettai did, Jy
"What about the Mettai who are with the army?" Jy
"These Mettai aren't with the army. And they didn't make the plague. In fact, they killed the woman who did."
"That's what the Forelander says. How do you know it's true?" Through her tears, she saw the a'laq smile sadly.
"I don't," U'Selle said. "I wish I could tell you that I know beyond doubt these men can be trusted, but I'd be lying. At some point, Jy
Jy
"I don't want the magic to touch me," she finally said, knowing as she did that it made little sense. She was too young to have come into her power, which was why she had survived the plague when it destroyed Tivston. This spell must have been intended for grown-ups, not for children. Still, she wanted them all to understand that she didn't approve of this.
For a moment she feared that U'Selle would laugh at her, that all of them would. But the a'laq regarded her solemnly.
"That seems fair," she said. "But I will pass the spell on to N'Tevva and S'Doryn. Is that all right?"