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."And even if it strands us here, Derian thought, but the thought came with an odd cheerfulness, for he knew thateven if he never saw them again, his friends and family would be safe.For now.Only for now.If we fail here, howlong before the invaders open another of the New World gates? I hope Elise thinks to have some warning sent.At leastthe Liglimom would believe.I think my people would, too.He shook himself from these thoughts, knowing he had enough trouble without borrowing more.He forcedhimself to concentrate as Wort reported on their stores of weapons.It boiled down to what Derian had expected.Theyhad hand weapons, but supplies of arrows were growing thin.Some bows would need to be retired for lack ofappropriate-sized shafts.When Wort finished, Skea nodded his thanks."My report has pretty much already been covered.We've done our best, and we might have held but forcircumstances no one but Truth might have foreseen."Skea didn't look at Isende as he said this, nor did anyone else, but the marked way they avoided reminding herthat Tiniel's actions had given the battle to the invaders was almost as painful as a direct reminder would have been.Derian saw how her fingers dug into her skin through the loose fabric of her trousers, as if physical pain mightsomehow balance the agony of her heart.To his surprise, he saw Firekeeper reach out and grasp the other woman's hand tightly in her own, stroking it asshe might have the fur on Blind Seer's shoulders.Pack animals, he thought.They know there is no shame in offering comfort.I wish humans were so wise.Plik broke in again, and turning to give the new speaker his attention, Derian saw that Truth now sat on the groundalongside the maimalodalum."Truth asks me to apologize for her inability to predict what Tiniel would do.She says that she knew that hisactions were key, but she could not see past what she calls, 'swirling' to see exactly what he would do.From this, Igather that perhaps there was less certainty on Tiniel's part than we might imagine.Some force might have beenapplied to him about which we do not know."Skea nodded."Does Truth have any other advice for us?""She says that we should not do other than raise or lower the shield.Any futures where we attempt to penetrate itfrom this side to send in a small force, for example end in tragedy.Other than that, she says there are a fewunpredictable elements that, until they resolve, create too much conflict for her to give good advice." No one argued with this pronouncement, even though Derian was certain that he was not the only one who longedto be told what precise course of action would lead to them pulling a victory out of what seemed like at best adelayed defeat.They had all lived beside Truth long enough to know the risks the jaguar took in offering even thismuch counsel.We risk our lives, Derian thought, but she risks not only her life, but her sanity as well.He was about to ask Skea what tactical suggestions the general might have to offer when he felt a rhythmicrumbling.He looked around, thinking Eshinarvash might be galloping up with some message, then realized that thesound was not a sound at all, but a sensation felt in his bones and sinews, that vibrated in his very marrow.The others were looking about now, too, glancing from side to side.He felt a mist or drizzle touch his skin, sawWort bend over his notes to protect the writing.Then came a screeching roar, as might arise from the throat of someenormous bird of prey or from that of a hurricane suddenly gifted with thought.Derian had risen to his feet, although he had no memory of doing so, and had both arms wrapped around one ofthe twisted tree trunks, but although there was a sound as of great wind, there was no wind.Instead, out in the ocean,there were now monsters.They were sea foam and ice storm, waves crashing and sheeting rainfall.They were something like horses andsomething like cliffs, something like lizards and something like fish.Derian's head hurt as he tried to make the shapes his eyes saw into something his mind could understand; then heripped his gaze away.That was when he saw Grateful Peace staggering up the slope to join them.Peace was soaked to the skin, his long robes clinging to his limbs as he walked.He leaned hard on Edlin's arm,and the expression in his pale eyes was haunted and haggard.Citrine walked on his other side, carrying both her andEdlin's gear.She studied Peace's face, and evidently what she saw there did not reassure her, for Derian saw the tearsthat splashed her cheeks."The fleet will not land," Grateful Peace said, sinking onto the bench Skea vacated for him."Arisen once more arethe sea monsters of which legend speaks.They will not attack the fleet they have their reasons and I will not attemptto argue them away from them but I have managed to make them understand that if they wish to maintain thefreedom they lost when the Old World sorcerers bound them to protect these islands, then they must throw in their lotwith us.""In return for what?" Skea asked."Continued freedom," Grateful Peace said."They are very unlike us but they are enough alike to understandtaking away of something they value."Firekeeper's husky voice spoke for the first time."And you give?" she asked."What?""Nothing but an explanation," Grateful Peace said, offering her a shadow of a smile."These had more to lose thandid the Dragon and less to earn by taking.""They fight only to maintain a freedom they already had?" Skea said, disbelief evident in his voice.Edlin frowned at him."Can't you understand that? I say! Is that any different from what the rest of us are doing? Imean, they may look a fright, but that doesn't make them any less human, don't you know."Citrine punched Edlin, but Skea was nodding."Sometimes I forget," he said, "that shape matters very little.In the end, all that lives values similar things, andwe will risk losing them to keep them.However, even without the fleet to fear, I do not see how those of us whoremain can hope to defeat those who hold the gateway hill.Once the shield is down and surely the invaders will finda way to bring it down they can bring through reinforcements until there is not a one of us left standing."Firekeeper surged to her feet in one lithe movement, hauling the Meddler up with her.He looked distinctlydiscomfited, as if he had some idea what Firekeeper was about to say."But if I bring more to fight for us," she said."Is this enough?""Who? From where?" Skea said."They is called the Bound," Firekeeper said."Yarimaimalom, but very fierce.Also, I think not risking querinalo, for Virim would have made sure those whoserve him not get this sickness.I go through gate on little island Meddler can open it for me.Peace, will the seamonsters let us go there?""I think they will," Grateful Peace said."They have no desire to harm anyone, but they intend to make the waterssufficiently rough that passage over them would be fatal.I believe I could explain why you need safe passage.""Then I go," Firekeeper said, "and the Meddler with.Peace, you need come with?""I can make my request from here," Grateful Peace said."They thunder within my head, even now
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