The masked witches

They might have turned to run, too, except that the onrushing insects closed the distance before they could shake off their astonishment. Buzzing, the flies and other creatures bit, stung, clung, and crawled. As he flailed at them, Vandar was nearly unma

Sliding and almost falling in the snow, he turned and blundered back down the hillside. It was all he or any of the berserkers could do against such an attack.

His eyes were all but closed to keep the insects out. But despite that handicap, and the swirling haze of the swarms on every side, he glimpsed flickering forms appearing and disappearing in the pale winter sunlight. And as the buzzing waxed and waned, it sometimes articulated words. He couldn t understand them, but he felt the weight of anger they carried.

He prayed the attack would stop once he and his comrades blundered off the slope. It didn t. He supposed the insects couldn t keep it up forever, but there was no way to guess just how long they d persist or how far they d give chase.

Torches! he cried, half choking on the creatures that instantly flew into his mouth. Only the Forest Queen knew how long it would take to gather wood and set it aflame with the swarms tormenting them, but if they could

This is winter! Cera cried from somewhere overhead. She and Jet had been scouting from on high and had evidently observed their comrades distress. The Keeper commands you to go back to sleep!

The sunlight shone brighter, and the insects dispersed. Had he been a weakling, Vandar might have wept with relief at their departure. Instead, he spat their bitter taste out of his mouth, scooped up snow, and rubbed it on the burning, itching bumps where he d been stung. Meanwhile, with a final beat of his wings, Jet settled on the ground.

I m sorry I didn t get here sooner, Cera said, fumbling with the harness that secured her to the griffon s saddle.

We flew down as soon as we noticed, the griffon rasped. Vandar had heard enough of Jet s inhuman speech to start to pick up emotion, and he wondered if the familiar had found the warriors plight humorous. But no, surely not. The griffon was their totem, after all.

If everyone will gather close, Cera said, swinging herself off Jet s back, I ll ask Amaunator to ease your hurts.

She recited a prayer and swung her gilded mace in an arc above her head. The pain of Vandar s tiny wounds diminished, and other men sighed as they experienced the same relief. The lumps on their faces shrank.

Is that better? Cera asked.

Vandar nodded. Much, he replied. Other berserkers grumbled the same and thanked her.

Then explain what happened, the plump little priestess said.

My guess, Vandar said, is that we trespassed on territory that is protected by some spirit or fey.

Because it s allied with the durthans?

Not necessarily. Not this far out from the fortress. I think it s likely the hill before us is a fey mound.

Other men muttered, and spat and sketched signs in the air to ward off bad luck.

We scarcely have fey in Chessenta, Cera said, at least outside the Sky Riders, but I take it you re talking about a burial mound? Sacred earth?

Yes, Vandar said. They re generally marked, too, with rings of strangely colored mushrooms or stones laid out in patterns. But with all that buried under the snow He shook his head in disgust. In large measure, it was disgust at himself.

A road led straight up the lakeshore from Immilmar almost to the Fortress of the Half-Demon. But if he and his brothers took it, everybody and his na

But that meant traversing country Vandar didn t know particularly well, certainly not well enough to have learned the location of every fey mound and other potential hazard. Still, it was hard to shake the feeling that he d led his friends badly and they d suffered as a result.

What s wrong with you all? asked Jet.

You look like frightened kittens. This isn t tricky. If it s not safe to go over the hill, go around it.

Vandar forced a smile. That does sound like the answer, doesn t it? All right, brothers. It looks like the going might be easier on the right. Let s try that way.

They did, with Cera and Jet opting to hike along with them, and for a few paces, things were all right. Even after the healing prayer, Vandar s stings and bites still throbbed and itched a little, but it was a trivial discomfort.

Then, however, a space above his left eye started throbbing, too, and his joints ached. Queasiness churned his guts. Wondering if he was coming down with a winter fever, he heard retching behind him. He turned to see a fellow berserker doubled over, puking.

The other lodge brothers looked sick, too: pale, sweaty, and unsteady on their feet. Only Cera and Jet looked well, presumably because they hadn t set foot on the mound.

Her eyes narrowing, the sunlady peered at her comrades. It can t be the venom, she murmured. The healing neutralized that. It has to be a curse.

A curse? a warrior echoed, an edge of shrillness in his voice.

Yes, Cera said, but don t worry. The Keeper has granted me the power to lift curses before. Everybody, gather in again.

When they did, she recited another prayer. In fact, she recited it thrice. Each time, the sun shone brighter, and its warmth soaked into Vandar s body and made the aches and nausea fade. But only for a heartbeat or two, after which the malaise returned as strong as ever. He looked around and could tell that it was the same for everyone.

Cera could tell, too. Brushing a blonde curl out of her eye, she said, Let me meditate for a while. Then I ll try again.

We need a real hathran, a warrior said.

So we backtrack to Mulptan, said the fellow next to him. Or better yet, Urling.

No, Vandar said. If we do that, news of our whereabouts could reach the Halruaans or the Shou. Besides, our allies are expecting us to join forces with them.

But even berserkers can t fight sick, said the man who wanted to go to Urling. Or at least, we won t fight and win.

Here s what we ll do, rasped Jet, shaking out his wings with a snap. Give Cera another chance to break the curse. If she can t, I ll fly to the top of the mound and make the fey or whatever it is release you. Or I ll kill it and see if that helps.

No, Vandar said.

Jet s red eyes glared. Don t you think I can do it? he said.

I think you might, Vandar said, but only if you can find the fey. They re good at hiding, and at the moment, you don t have Aoth Fezim s eyes to look through.

You have a point, Cera said, resting her hand on Jet s neck as though to calm him. But do you have an alternative?

I hope so, Vandar said. We Rashemi know the fey and spirits. We know how to make peace with them after we ve given offense. So if you haven t broken the curse by moonrise, I m the one who ll go to the top of the mound.

Not by yourself, said Jet.

Yes, and unarmed, Vandar replied. We don t want to give the creature any reason to suspect that I might be trying to draw it out to attack it.

You realize, Cera said, frowning, that for all we know, the entity protecting the mound has thrown in with our enemies. Or it could be dark fey, and so full of spite that nothing can placate it.

Vandar shrugged. I still think my way is best, he said.

Jet snorted and turned away, seemingly abandoning the humans to their folly.

The griffon s doubts actually mirrored Vandar s own, and he prayed that Cera would be able to break the curse. But he was the master of the lodge, and if she couldn t, it was his responsibility to set things right.