Free [Lanen Kaelar 03] - Redeeming the Lost by Elizabeth Kerner Page A

can see that which is hidden from me, while it
lies yet between my talons?” Her eyes glittered and her wings rattled with her
anger. I was glad to see that Rinshir had yet some sense left, for he finally
tried to move away from her. He did not get far, as she did not loosen her grip
on his throat.
    “Do not think to challenge me, Rinshir,” she
hissed, keeping her body between Rinshir and Varien. “There is a very old and
very simple reason why we of the Kantrishakrim respect our elders. I am twice
your size, and by all the Winds that ever blew, I will fight you if you do not
heed me.” Without apparent effort she overbalanced him and bore him to the
ground, her talons still around his throat and her face a blink away from him. “And
know this, fool,” she snarled in his ear. “If ever you bring even the least
harm to Lord Akhor, to Varien, by my name I swear I will have it out of your
hide.”
    I had never seen Idai so angry, and in that
moment I was sincerely grateful that I had followed my own deepest instincts
and had kept on her good side ever since she was the merest youngling. To speak
truly I do not know what would have happened had not Varien walked up to put
his hand on her forearm.
    “Idai, my friend, it is enough,” he said
gently. “Let him go. We are unharmed, all is well. Let him go.”
     
     
Idai
    Varien s voice shook me out of my
self-indulgent anger. I stood back and let go of Rinshir. I don’t think I have
ever seen him move so quickry. I turned to Shikrar, who stood beside me, and
winked. Just as well he should never know how near I had come to murdering
Rinshir for even thinking of putting Akhor in danger.
    “A moment, if you please,” said a voice from
near the ground. The Gedri woman, who had very sensibly moved away while I
     
    was instructing Rinshir, had returned, and now
she laid her hand on my forearm as Varien had. “I have you to thank for my
life,” she said simply. “I am deeply in your debt.”
    Varien stepped forward and stood beside her. “As
am I, Idai. As ever. Again.”
    I hissed my amusement. “It was worth it to see
Rinshir’s Attitude change. From fury to absolute terror in a single moment.
Most satisfying.” I glanced down at the Gedri woman, then to Varien as I said, “And
now, if ybu please, Maran of Besskin, you will tell us what it is about you
that so reeks of our life-enemies.”
    “I’ve been using the Farseer to keep up with
Lanen,” she said simply. “Whenever I use it the stink wears off on me. I must
be overdue to make my devotions to the Lady. I never meant to set everyone off.
Seems you folk are a lot more sensitive to it than we are.” She scrubbed at her
face with both hands. ‘The damned things barely worth the bother of keeping,
when all’s done,” she said wearily, “but as long as I have it, Berys can’t
bloody well make another one. That’s the only reason I didn’t smash it twenty
years ago—though I’d never have found you in time if I had.” She paused for a
moment. “Do you have the first idea where Lanen is?”
    “No,” said Varien cautiously, “though one of
our number has gone to seek her in Verfaren.”
    “Thank the Goddess,” she said, and unfamiliar
as I was with Gedri faces, even I could recognise the relief in her voice. “It’s
Jamie, isn’t it?’ It wasn’t a question.
    “Yes,” said Rella, speaking quietly as she
appeared behind Maran. “Well-met, my friend,” she said, nodding to the
newcomer. “Jamie’s gone after her.”
    “Blessed Mother Shia, we might have a chance
yet,” Maran replied, but before she could say more I heard Kedra’s voice
calling out to us all. At least he sounded pleased.
Shikrar
    Kedra and Will returned at just that moment
and provided a much-needed distraction. The sounds at the edge of hearing were
growing noticeably louder. I could nearly make out words. And it seemed to be
coming from somewhere near at hand.
    While he was still high up and a little way
distant,