perceptions, and knew Sioned had not the strength to continue much longer. With the skills possessed only by a Lady or Lord of Goddess Keep, Andrade quickly gathered strands of light; sorting, separating. It was as if she unraveled a fine silk veil made of a thousand colors, each painted in silver and Fire, then rewove them into the unique pattern that was Sioned. Yet the girl fought her off, her strength still formidable as she struggled to keep the link between herself and the faradhi at Castle Crag. It took almost everything Andrade could call up to bend Sioned to her will.
All at once the steward’s face turned, and even over the distance between them Andrade saw someone else looking out of his eyes. Hopeless, desperate, the man cried out in a voice not his own: “My Lady—forgive me!”
She cringed back from that terrible plea and tried to find the pattern of colors that would identify the Sunrunner. But the steward’s body arched in a spine-cracking spasm and he slid to the floor even as Roelstra’s ghostly fingers let go of the unseen traitor. Skeins of light tightened around Andrade, then shattered into fragmented colors behind her eyes. She moaned, pressing her aching skull between her hands. A mist of whirling hues concealed Roelstra’s image. Then all was gone.
“Why did you stop me?” Sioned’s voice rang out in furious accusation. Then she swayed, the emerald’s fire dying at last as she sank to the floor in a graceless heap.
As Rohan ran to gather her in his arms, Andrade heard someone calling her own name in frantic tones. “Andrade! Andri, look at me, please!”
Eyes aching, she turned to her sister, aware that despite Milar’s lack of training she had felt the backlash of Sioned’s power. She clung to her twin’s arm. “Mila—get me out of here. I mustn’t show weakness!”
“Urival!” Milar cried out.
Somehow she stayed upright and in control of herself as she left the Hall at Urival’s side. Once beyond the doors, however, she sagged against him. Without ceremony he lifted her in his arms and carried her upstairs to her chambers. She was marginally aware of being propped in bed amid soft pillows.
After a long time she opened her eyes. Urival sat beside her, waiting, and when she frowned at him, he said, “How much have I taught her? Enough, obviously. I knew you’d be wondering.”
“How much does she know?” Andrade winced as she sat up.
“Not everything. Yet. I assume you’re not speaking of her faradhi skills.”
She grunted and sank down again. “You taught her too much.” When he only shrugged in reply, she accused. “You always favored her—helped her, taught her, looked after her—”
“And you have not?”
“I should never have sent you to her. You should not have been the one to make her a woman.”
“Perhaps the same thing could be said of your coming to me the night I became a man. She knows you’re using her, just as I knew you’d use me. I was willing to play along, but I don’t think Sioned will be as biddable. You heard her tonight.”
“She’ll lose sight of her rings, become Rohan’s princess first and a Sunrunner second. That’s not what I wanted, Urival!”
“We always knew there was a risk. But to be fair, I don’t think either of us ever suspected her strength.”
“You taught her too much,” she grumbled again. “You care too much about her.”
“And you care too much about power!” Urival rose and went to pour wine. More calmly, he went on, “She’s recovering, as is Tobin. I’ve got Camigwen with her and Sioned, and Ostvel soothing Chay and Rohan. Milar ordered the steward’s corpse decently taken care of.”
She sat up again, finding it more agreeable this time as she sipped from the winecup he handed her. “How long have you known it was me that night?”
“The Goddess’ spell can reveal as well as conceal,” he answered with a small shrug. “What do you plan to do about Sioned?”
“Give her a seventh ring, of course. A pity the coffer isn’t here, but I’m sure my sister will part with something of her own to mark the occasion.”
“Sioned already received her seventh ring tonight—and somewhat in advance of demonstrating her skills,” he reminded her.
“Damn Rohan.” She finished the wine.
“It’s not just the ring that’s wrapped around her finger. It’s his vassals. I was watching their faces.”
“What you mean is they’re frightened of her power lest it be turned against them. Damn them all!” She threw the