to tell him it was not his fault, but…” She looked up at Auraya and frowned, suddenly wondering whether Auraya, too, felt the burden of guilt. When Auraya met her eyes Sirri looked away. “I’ve come to tell you that the volunteer Speakers are waiting in the gathering place,” Sirri said.
Auraya frowned. “Am I late?”
“No. They are early. Anxious to get it over with, I suspect.”
“Then let’s oblige them.”
Sirri led Auraya to the edge of the forest then leapt into the air. Auraya followed and they glided down to the Flat, where the two speakers, Iriz and Tyzi, waited. Several hunters wearing harnesses waited nearby. Sirri had decided they should accompany them in case the Speakers were separated from Auraya, and the Pentadrian birds attacked.
Iriz and Tyzi radiated both fear and determination as they exchanged greetings with Auraya.
“Which Pentadrian group will we meet first?” Iriz asked.
“Which do you think we should approach?” Auraya asked in reply.
“Whichever is closest,” Tyzi answered. “The sooner we tell them to leave, the better.”
“The one travelling northeast then.”
“The north group is closer to a tribe,” Iriz pointed out. “If the Pentadrians decide to attack, we might not be able to send a warning in time.”
“The north group won’t know what the other group is doing,” Tyzi said. Then she looked at Auraya doubtfully. “Or will they?”
“They have a way of communicating with each other as Circlian priests and priestesses do,” Auraya said.
Tyzi frowned. “Then we should meet the north group.”
“By the time we get there, the Pentadrians travelling east will be close to a tribe, too,” Iriz said.
“Scouts are watching the enemy,” Sirri said. “All Siyee know to avoid them, and have made preparations to leave their home if they have to. No tribe is going to sit and wait around to be attacked.”
Iriz and Tyzi nodded in agreement. “The closest tribe then,” Iriz said.
“We should reach them by this afternoon,” Tyzi added.
Auraya looked at Sirri. “And return tomorrow, if all goes well.”
The Speaker smiled grimly. “Let us delay no longer.”
She moved to the lower edge of the Flat, where a short drop divided the rocky slope. As Sirri leapt off the edge, the other Speakers and hunters propelled themselves after her. Auraya drew magic and sent herself up to join them.
As she drew level with Sirri, she felt another presence at her side.
:You’re back.
:I am, Chaia said.
:Do you know what these Pentadrians are up to?
:Yes.
:Are you going to tell me?
:No.
:Why not?
:It is up to you to find and deal with them.
:So you won’t even tell me where they are.
:There is no need. You will find them easily enough.
:What’s the point in talking to you if you won’t tell me anything useful?
:Does there have to be a price? Isn’t my company enough?
She sighed.
:Of course there doesn’t have to be a price. I just wish I knew how dangerous these Pentadrians are. I would not like these Siyee to be hurt or killed.
:Then you should be taking every precaution. Chaia’s tone was no longer playful. Do not be complacent just because I am present now and then. I cannot be everywhere at once, or with you all the time. If I could, and if the world was full of highly Gifted mortals willing to do my will, we would not have needed to make you what you are. He paused. Have you taken every precaution?
:I have, she answered. At least, I hope so.
As he moved away, she felt a twinge of anxiety. Once more she started to consider all the possible outcomes of this meeting with the Pentadrians.
Dedicated Servant Renva grasped the hand of Servant Vengel and held tightly as he hauled her up over the top of the ridge. He steadied her as she struggled to stand. The ground was a mess of grooves and sharp protruding stones and there was no flat surface to stand on.
When she had caught her balance, she looked around. The ridge was high enough to give her a view of the terrain ahead. She groaned as she saw exposed ridges and shadowed ravines extending toward the mountains ahead.
This is a nightmare! she thought. Surely only winged creatures can live here. It’s as if the land is doing its best to repel us.
She wished she could oblige it, but she had her orders to follow. The Siyee were primitive folk, she had been told. Simple people with simple ways were easy to impress. Whether she could persuade them to worship the Five Gods depended on how impressed they were with