Free Destiny by Sharon Green

be disliked to have that kind of freedom," Dinno said with a faint smile as he clapped Reesh on the shoulder. "You just have to understand that you can't please everyone in the world, so you might as well do what's right and in that way please yourself. Lorand tells us that you've captured that group of invaders, but you don't consider it an accomplishment. Do you really think that the next group of invaders will be too strong for you to handle?"
    "It's not the ones who do the killin' who worry us, but the ones who direct them," Vallant said with a shrug. "We have reason to believe that they may be a lot stronger than we are, which means they'll be stronger than everyone else as well. Is Korge healed enough to be moved? Your groups and the villagers will have to leave this area, just in case we can't stop the next invaders."
    "Korge is a good deal better, now that Lorand has worked on him," Dinno said with a wry smile. "I've never seen a healer as good, but I do feel rather foolish. Lorand asked why I hadn't used my Blending to increase my strength in healing, and the only answer possible was that I just didn't think of it."
    "None of us is used to thinking about our Blendings in that way," Reesh said, obviously trying to reassure Dinno. "Assembly protocol denied us the right to Blend except under certain very strict circumstances. That made us used to acting alone rather than with the others, so your reaction is completely understandable."
    "But still not very smart," Dinno said, his smile taking the sting out of his words. "If I don't change my own way of thinking, I can't very well stand here and criticize anyone else. I assume you want us all to start leaving at first light?"
    "No, actually, I think it would be best to get as many people goin' now as we can," Vallant said, answering the question that had been put specifically to him. "The roads will be clogged as it is, and havin' everyone tryin' to run away at the last minute won't help to keep them safe."
    "Then we ought to start with the people who are up and around," Reesh said with a thoughtful frown. "After that we can start to wake people and let them pull themselves together before we send them on their way."
    "Try not to let any of them stop until you reach the city," Tamma said, her tone more gentle and concerned than usual. "If we have to retreat as we fight, we don't want to have to worry about running over any innocents."
    "Just telling everyone that more invaders are coming ought to keep them going," Dinno said with a sigh and a nod. "It's a good thing we aren't all that far from Liandia, but it's also a bad thing. If the entire population of the city has to run, I have no idea where they'll all go."
    "When you get to the city, try to put together a few more High Blendin's," Vallant said softly. "We'll do the best we can out here, but you'll need some protectin' in case our best isn't enough."
    Both Dinno and Reesh stared at Vallant for a moment before nodding, and then the two Gracelians turned and walked away. Neither one said anything about wishing them good luck, but Jovvi knew that that was because of how frightened the men were. Intellectually they knew that their champions could well lose the fight, but emotionally they weren't able to even consider the possibility.
    "And now we have to start sending people on their way," Jovvi said with a sigh, mostly to break the uncomfortable silence. "But it occurs to me that we ought to try to get the Gracelian High Blendings their own link groups. Some of those who had no interest in being part of a true Blending might be willing to act as part of a link group."
    "I don't believe we missed thinkin' of that," Vallant said with a groan that more than one of their Blendingmates echoed. "And I was foolish enough to think that we'd be able to get some sleep soon."
    "Vallant, we have to get some sleep soon," Rion pointed out almost immediately. "There are things that have to be done before the next invaders get here,