The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure - By Storm Constantine Page 0,196

had been too brief. But perhaps a day would come when she could return.

For some reason, Galdra singled Lileem out as they walked to the docks. She sensed he had something to say, something he didn’t want the others to hear. While they engaged in small talk, he wouldn’t reveal what was on his mind, so Lileem fell silent, hoping that Galdra would find the silence too uncomfortable and open up. After a minute or so, he drew in his breath. ‘Last night, I dreamed of my son,’ he said.

‘Your son?’ Lileem frowned. She hadn’t seen a harling of Galdra and Tyr’s in Freyhella.

Galdra sighed. ‘I do not yet have a son.’

‘Oh…’

‘He gave me a warning… if it was that… or maybe just a message.’

‘What did he say?’

‘That I could not escape my destiny. That it would find me. He said that in the wake of grief I would travel to Immanion. I would find in that place a love that would consume me, change my life. He said he would come to me soon after and that a har like no other would help him find me. He spoke a name.’

‘A name.’ Lileem hardly dared ask. ‘What was it?’

Galdra stared at her for a few seconds. ‘Yours,’ he said.

‘Galdra…’ Lileem stopped walking. ‘I don’t understand what you…’

‘I love Tyr,’ Galdra said. ‘He is my life. Without him, I am nothing. There can be no other love.’

‘It was just a dream,’ Lileem said, knowing how unconvincing that sounded. ‘It couldn’t have been my name.’

‘Like I said, a warning.’ Galdra shrugged. ‘Do you have no idea what it might mean?’

‘No,’ Lileem said. ‘I really don’t. I can never go to Immanion. There is no…’ She drew in her breath. ‘There is no recognition between us, Galdra. We will never be together. It isn’t me. It can’t be.’

‘I know that,’ he said. ‘That’s not what I meant. But you are part of it.’

‘I know nothing of what you speak. I wish you no ill. You must know that.’

He nodded. ‘Yes. But I had to tell you. Remember it.’

She put a hand on his arm. ‘I will, but please…’ She shook her head. ‘I think it was just a dream.’

Galdra only smiled at her rather sadly. He said nothing more.

The Roselane hara began to embark while Lileem and her companions bid farewell to Galdra. A few Freyhellans would travel with them, and once the river was no longer negotiable, the passengers would leave the boat, which would then return to Freygard. Galdra had given them currency and generous supplies.

Just before Lileem and her party were about to board the boat, a har on horseback rode up to Galdra and pulled his mount to a halt. ‘Tiahaar, I have a message.’

Galdra paused in the act of embracing Ulaume in farewell, but didn’t let him go. ‘What is it?’

‘There is a har in the high meadows who summons the Megalithicans. He has horses and says that they must not ride the river. They must go with him.’

Galdra released Ulaume. ‘Who is this har?’

‘I know not. He would not give a name. He said the har Lileem would know to follow him.’

Lileem glanced at Flick. Could it be Pellaz? ‘I’ll go and see,’ she said. ‘I’ll go at once.’

‘Wait!’ Tel-an-Kaa snapped. ‘You can’t be serious, Lee. It could be Gelaming.’

‘It isn’t,’ Lileem said. ‘He knows my name.’

‘That is no basis for…’

‘I’m going,’ Lileem said.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Mima said.

‘No!’ Without asking for permission, Lileem jumped up onto the back of a horse tethered nearby and called to the messenger. ‘Take me to him.’

‘Lileem!’ Tel-an-Kaa cried and tried to grab hold of the horse’s reins to prevent her leaving, but Lileem was too quick for her. She did not look back, but she heard Flick say, ‘Let him go. He knows what he’s doing.’

And Mima’s voice: ‘I wish I did! We must follow them.’

But whatever Flick said to that, Lileem did not hear.

The Freyhellan led the way out of town up into the forested hills behind it. Lileem could hear the muffled tocking of bells worn by sheep or cattle. Her guide led her to a sheer sloping meadow. Tall pines around it were mere black shadows in the fog.

‘He is here somewhere,’ said the Freyhellan.

Lileem called, ‘Hello! It is I, Lileem!’

After a few moments, a figure emerged from the fog. He did not move, but the mist around him simply drew apart like a veil. Behind him were a number of spectral white horses. They stood