Blind Trust

Karse, Elspeth decided, was not such a bad place, after all. After Solaris came to power, the underlying current of fear that Alberich and Eldan had described seemed to have disappeared. Entire families were coming out to line the streets and watch the strangers pass. Smiling children were lifted on shoulders to get a better view of these odd, pale northerners. Then again, Elspeth thought, they had been told that we were demons. All they can see are humans riding on white horses. Well, the dyheli can be passed off as deer. At least Nyara's face is covered. That last had been the self-conscious cat-girl's own idea. Apparently, Southern Karsites dressed differently than the rest of Karse, and wore robes and veils as everyday dress, rather than breeches and tunics, and Nyara had decided to take advantage of that style as they traveled.

After traveling to Sunhaven and explaining their purpose to Solaris, the group was continuing south with a guide, an old mage named Gregor.

"See," he said, "Soon we will reach the southern lowlands, and beyond them the desert. And though your journey leads to death, the lady Solaris has beseeched me to guide you to journey's end. We will be at the Tomb of Twelve in four days."

"Tomb of the Twelve?" asked Elspeth, "How did it get that name?"

Gregor did not smile at the question. "Several hundred years ago, one man, a graverobber who had learned to location of the Tomb, escaped from whatever monster resides in that accursed place. He said that within the tomb are twelve statues of glass, eight men and four women. All appeared to be a person in combat, both with weapons and unarmed."

"Did he also say what the monster was?"

"He claimed that the sand itself rose from the ground as a sandstorm which shredded his companions. His own arm had been ripped to pieces, and the priests who questioned him could detect no lie in his words. What makes you think you will find aid for our war?"

Elspeth glanced at the others. They all knew how Karse felt about mind-magic. Should they explain Need? She decided to take a gamble that things had changed under Solaris.

"What do you know of the mind-gifts?" she asked.

Gregor grinned at this. "Enough to know it is not the evil that the priests claimed." His face grew somber now. "You have heard of the cleansing fires, yes? Those were children with the ability to perform magic of the mind but resisted the priests' control." Elspeth nodded somberly. Years ago, Eldan had returned from Karse claiming that those in the priesthood had mind-gifts. Gregor tapped his temple. "I myself can hear the thoughts of others. Even outside the city, I can still hear thoughts. It is a relief to travel with you; your minds are quiet. Even yours, Lady Sword."

They all turned to stare at him. "Did you expect Solaris to send a narrow-minded by-the-book unTalented hard-headed doddering old fool as your guide? Nay, she is far too wise for that! Now, what does this have to do with our journey?"

Need's mind-voice was amused. 'Young man, you impress me, and it takes a lot to do that after being around for several thousand years. I suppose it's up to me to explain, unless someone else can pick their jaw up from the floor soon.'

---------------------------------------------------

The Karsites who lived at the edge of the desert were not what the little troupe was expecting. As it turned out, they were only considered Karsite due to geography and not ideology. They were hospitable, even though Elspeth took offense at the segregation between men and women. They were provided with food and shelter for two days travel south, before they split, as the nomads were headed west.

Need had been amused that the men had started chanting the prayers for the dead upon learning the Valdemarans' quest.

It was that night that the group fought.

-----------------------------------------------------

Firesong was troubled. Need had been remarkably quiet as to how a shinobi could remain alive for thousands of years. All she would say was that it was not blood-magic, but Firesong had his doubts, which he immediately confirmed with Gregor, since the others seemed content to simply listen to Need. How would a human retain his youth for so long without blood-magic? Unless he was not human…in which case…

"YOU ARE DEMON-RUNNERS!!!" Gregor turned on the group in shock, his hands suddenly blazing with power.

'I tell you now,' Need said calmly, 'that we are going to ask a shinobi for aid. Why would you think I would bring you a demon?' At this point, the group split into three: Elspeth and Darkwind stepped to the side, Gregor and Firesong put up a shield, and the two groups face the third, Nyara holding Need with Skif prepared to fight. The dyheli trotted away as to not be mixed in the middle of the rapidly escalating conflict, while Gwena went to stand behind Elspeth.

Gregor was angry. "Solaris will not be pleased! She removed the rank of black-robe and personally burned the robes in front of the main temple! We will break the alliance if Valdemar attempts to harness demons for war!"

"Stop!" cried Elspeth. "Need says that we are not going to a demon. For all we know, the shinobi knew ways to extend life. Why do you assume that Need is lying?"

"What normal being could live for thousands of years? Need already said that this shinobi is flesh-and-blood, not sealed in a hunk of tin! How do you extend a life unless you take the life from another living thing? If not by blood-magic, then it's impossible! And according to Need, all the shinobis used internal power – their own life force! No life stealing! Which means that it won't be a live human in that tomb! The tomb is supposedly made of sand mixed with blood! It's a demon in there!" Aya began sending off sparks in response to her bondmate's agitation. Vree mantled on Darkwind's shoulder.

'The dyheli have faith in me. You humans might try to have the same. After all, it is impossible to lie in mindspeech.'

Elspeth looked troubled. "You might not be able to lie, but you aren't necessarily telling the truth," she pointed out.

"You idiots can go die. I'm not continuing," snarled Firesong.

Gregor nodded in agreement. "I had assumed you were simply being cautious with information. I will turn back and report this to Solaris."

They all turned to look at Nyara and Skif. "She's going. And I'm going with her," said Skif.

"Darkwind?" asked Elspeth.

"I go where you go ke'a'char," he said softly. "I agree with Firesong, though. Need hasn't given us an explanation, nor is she forthcoming. Even if it's not a demon, if not blood-magic, then a demon is somehow involved."

'In that, you are correct, Darkwind.' Need's mindvoice sounded tired. 'But it is not my place to tell you the story. Partly because I don't know the entire tale, but mostly because some things are better kept secret, even to those with good intentions. And in times like these, the fewer who know anything at all, the better.'