But Derlian knew nothing of this as he gazed At the shy woman before him in wonder and awe. Her piercing eyes held him silent, amazed, For never before had he seen any who the law That seemed to prevail in Summerfire, of subservience, Could disregard, who looked without defiance, And yet something similar to that. He was mazed In her boldness, and the beauty yet raw
On her face after long months of her journey. He spoke at last, slowly, forcing the words. "My name is Derlian. My lady, what tourney Have you come to, like the singing of birds?" He had seen the stained leathers, the slung sword. "And what grace would you have of the Lord Of Summerfire?" At that, he thought he saw yearning In her eyes, and hatred- but that was absurd.
Alferia lowered her eyes, and said slowly, "I have come north seeking the city of Summerfire." She followed the words with others so lowly Spoken that Derlian leaned in to discern her desire. "It shames me to admit it, but vengeance and pain Have driven me north, and not south again Will I go until I can face them." Her beauty, holy With defiance and determination, blazed like fire.
Or so Derlian thought, as he extended a hand. "My lady, shelter all have of me who ask. Do enemies pursue you? Or sometimes the land Will hunt travelers, if it thinks that its task Of defense is bound up with the travelers' death." Alferia as in wonder or fear caught her breath, But shook her head, and said, "I would only command, If I could, since I am thirsty, a drink from your flask."
"Of course." Derlian unslung the flask at his side, And gave it to her, watching in admiration as she downed The water, without a flinch at the taste of hide That had long since the pure taste of water drowned. He watched as she lowered it and wiped her mouth. If such visions of loveliness live in the south, He thought, why in the north must I abide? But his melancholy fled at the delightful sound
Of Alferia's voice as she loosed a soft sigh. "Nothing so welcome, my lord, as water and light In the face of someone who has an honest eye. It is long since I have looked upon such a sight." And she shuddered, and her face was again Burning, though this time with memory of pain. Derlian said softly, "Here, you shall have by You many who have suffered such travail in flight,
"Though it is long since any came up the river. I assume that you came that way, up Auda-water?" Alferia nodded slowly, but it seemed a shiver Coursed through her frame. Imagining slaughter And things of the wild magic that she might have seen, Derlian changed the subject to things more green, And spoke of things that would not make her quiver. He learned that she was, in truth, a southern daughter
Of wonder and rumor, and had heard in her day That the Lords of Summerfire alone had the power To hold the wild things of the wild magic at bay, And had fled here hoping, as said, "for an hour, Or a day, or a month, of such peaceful respite." Derlian wondered that she had thought he would fight Having such a lovely visitor for a while come to stay. But of course, could she know what visions to flower
She had set in his heart and soul? Derlian thought not, And did his best to conceal his heart as he replied, "I will not make you think more of things best forgot, And for as long as you like you are welcome to bide Behind the heights of Summerfire's wall. I am afraid that I cannot claim credit for it all, The safety and the peace and beauty in that spot. But I see you are afoot- perhaps, do you ride?"
He held up a hand, and his karkadann came, Horned but not a unicorn, with a beast's mind. Alferia started, and he saw some hidden flame Rise up in her, but to its cause he was blind. She looked at him, and shook her head. "Such animals we do not have," she said. Derlian nodded. Her voice set all his frame Tingling with a force he had not been able to find
In the women of Summerfire he had known from birth. Truly, he thought, as he led the karkadann home, With Alferia walking beside him like a thing not of earth, I have lost much by not being permitted to roam. There are lands where no one a riding beast knows- There are southern lands where such beauty grows, Which produce such a woman of deed and of worth. And Derlian watched her, whose hair shone like foam
In the seas of his dreams, borne by the waves to shore And left there to die, though more foam ever came And so the dying flowers were piled up once more, Until all the shore shone with subtle silver flame. Such grace she had, such bravery, so subtly bright, Enflaming her eyes and flashing forth with light That was there for anyone who gazed into her core. And Derlian wondered if she felt anything like the same,
Gazing at him, at his face surely strange to her. He wondered if she felt, as he did, the same stirring in heart, Or anything at all, much less a profound stir. He wondered if she was betrothed, or else set apart. From such a bond he could not expect her to sunder. But he could not help looking at her with awe and with wonder, More worthy of such emotions than the richest darkfur, More living, more wild, more a work of strange art.
Alferia was indeed thinking of him in some way, Though not in the way that he wished she would think, And still less as her mother wished would hold sway. She had not expected him to give her a drink, Had expected more of what her mother called pride, Had not thought that he would carry a flask made of hide. She was already fighting, like an owl awake by day, Not into brightness or bedazzlement to sink.
He was like nothing she had ever seen before, Walking without a shadow of the ever-constant fear That haunted her home by the Auda River's shore, The terror lest something of wild magic be near. The magewinds blew around him with scent of flowers, Frisking with the promise of unexercised powers, And strength, and calmness, and otherworldly lore. Alferia had expected to find what her mother said was here,
And instead she found a man not much older Than she was, who did not look harsh and stone-cool. No sadistic passions set his green eyes a-smolder, And though he flashed forth hard fire like a jewel, He did not look as though he loved torture as fun. He did not look, in fact, as if he could have won If her mother had decided to be a little bit bolder, And challenge him. Mariera looked more cruel.
Alferia did not know what to make of him, and doubt Lay gnawing at her heart as they slowly ambled Over rolling hills and past bushes where the magic let out Its creative passions, past small creatures who scrambled As though to make sure they were not in the way. She stared blankly at the wild magic out to play, And then told herself to drain the subtle poisons out From her heart with the certainties brambled
That Mariera had given her. It was possible, after all, That he knew she was coming, and was using His magic and his gifts to build a protective wall Behind which he could hide, all the while abusing That for which he seemed to be asking, her trust. Once again, Alferia burned with her vengeance-lust, And she restrained herself, since she wanted to fall Upon him, his pride and his body and blood bruising.
"Behold Summerfire," said Derlian, and she jerked To a stop as she realized he had halted. For a moment, his brilliant eyes in surprise worked Upon her face, and Alferia faulted The curiosity she saw in them. Then he turned away, And from him a light like starlight in the day Sprang up. Derlian sighed. "I fear I have shirked My duty, and my wounds shall be salted
"Deservingly by my people. My lady, if you would-" But Alferia never found out what he would have said. Suddenly shrill screams rang out, and she could Hear rattles like those in the throat of someone dead. She drew her sword, and spun around to fight. But there was only Derlian, shining with light, Though his face was pale. He whispered, "I should Not have stayed away so long. It will flow red
"And silver before long here. My lady, go!" He shoved her hard towards the gleaming palisade, And Alferia opened her mouth to let him know That she had faced battle before, and was not afraid. But Derlian, with the magewinds whirling about him, Shouted, "My lady, throw not your life away on a whim! This is a creature that will melt your soul like snow, And make it as if you had never been made!"
Alferia backed a step, but her hand was steady Upon her sword, certain as she was that Derlian To claim all the glory of battle was ready, And that her death would not really cause him pain. "If you think that a woman cannot fight," she muttered, But was interrupted as something a shriek uttered That made her darkest nightmares seem heady As long summer sunshine in which she had lain.
She stared with wide eyes as something up came Over a tiny ridge that lay just to the west. It seemed but an Elwen-shaped mass of flame, And she shuddered, sudden fear in her breast Like nothing she had felt in all her life's days. She hesitated, then backed up a short ways, And heard Derlian call out a single sharp name. Then down came destruction at his behest.
Or, if you like, on to the fourth canto.
Or, if you want, back to the second canto.
