The Pearl of the Soul of the World - By Meredith Ann Pierce Page 0,69
go. Now that all this water is back in the world, the mighty underland streams of Aiderlan will once more begin to flow, and someone with a small store of sorcery"—here he scoffed modestly—"should be on hand to help things along. I'd beg you to come and lend your aid, if I'd the least hope of your saying yes."
His wistfulness almost made her smile, though her heart was very sore—but a commotion parted the ranks of Syllva's bowwomen suddenly. The Isterners stepped hastily aside to allow a tight knot of little waist-high people through. None of them were any taller than Talb.
"Sorcery indeed!" the foremost snorted, her red hair falling in four thick braids, one before, one behind each ear. "We can put all in Aiderlan to rights with machines alone, brother. You can keep your sorcery."
Maruha stood indignantly before the little mage. She was garbed all in padded leather, a round shield slung behind one shoulder and a shortsword at her belt. Aeriel spotted Collum and Brandl behind her, and others in battledress—but many in the group wore only the grey tatters of slaves. Marks upon the necks and wrists of some showed where collars and shackles had chafed, though those had now been struck away. They looked thin but flushed with triumph, still dizzy with disbelief. So these were the ones Oriencor had taken, Aeriel guessed, now rescued by their kith. Talb started back from Maruha in surprise.
"Well, sister," he exclaimed. "I vow! It has been a world's age since last we met."
"Longer, since you traipsed off to Lonwury to study your nitpated sorcery. Never had any use for honest machinery, did you? Except apparatus for distilling your infernal drams."
She humphed in disgust. Collum and Brandl exchanged a glance which, Aeriel noted wryly, held more than a little sympathy for Talb. Maruha caught the look and glowered.
"Now your nephew has gotten like notions of running off overland to become a bard! I haven't been able to keep his fingers off that little harp since we left the City of Crystalglass."
"Nephew?" cried Talb, starting forward to embrace the younger duarough. "Young one, well met! I thought you had a family look about you. Would you be a singer of tales, a bard? Best go with the Lady Syllva then and learn her craft."
What more they said, Aeriel did not catch, for Irrylath, kneeling still, had reached and taken her hands. His words were low, for her alone.
"Aeriel," he whispered. "What is this, all these others holding out to you crowns and inviting you to go with them? You mean to come with me, of course."
She met his eyes. They were full of misgiving. Heavily, she shook her head. "I cannot"
His gaze grew baffled. "But the war is over," he cried. "The Witch is dead."
"And the pearl of the world's soul broken," she answered. "Ravenna's sorcery scattered to the winds.
It was all that stood between us and the winding down of the world. That is the true war," she whispered, struggling. "Our victory at Winterock has only won a respite. We must use it wisely. Someone must regather the lost soul of the world."
Irrylath's grip on her hands tightened, his words, his look suddenly desperate. "But not you. Not you, Aeriel! You have already done far more than enough. Let another undertake the task."
"What other?" she asked. "There is none. Ravenna chose me."
The pearlstuff in her blood stirred uneasily. Stand firm, it murmured. You must not waver. Did you rescue the world only to abandon it now?
"I must return to the City of Crystalglass," Aeriel whispered. "I must learn to read the Ancient script…"
The pearl's vision loomed before her. Overwhelmed by the task's immensity, she made to turn away.
Almost roughly, the prince pulled her back to him.
"I will go with you," he started, and for a moment his eyes burned with hope.
"You cannot!" she cried. "Don't you see? You have sworn to obey the equustel's charge, to be king in Avaric…"
He stared at her, his face stricken, his breath grown short.
"Stay," Irrylath implored her. "Only stay with me, Aeriel. I will make you queen in Avaric."
Lifting her gaze, she looked past him to Sabr, dismounted now, near enough to overhear. She stood watching the two of them with astonishment and barely guarded joy.
Aeriel told Irrylath, "Avaric already has a queen."
He whirled to see to whom she looked, then turned back with a cry. " You are my wife. I married you