Uyne didn't speak to me again. I went back to my room the next morning, she didn't stop me, and we said not a word to each other for weeks. She was too proud, and I was too cold.

Angry, unfeeling though I was, I would not break my promise to Olorun. On the morning of Samhain day, months after Uyne and I stopped speaking, I found myself starting the half-day ride with other spectators of torment. A few were of the highest class, come to see their sons and daughters lose their lives or gain their honor. Two of the Twelve Kings came, their faces grim. Dressed in my priestesses's attire, I was awarded as high a place as any of the nobles, especially as we left for the most sacred of our cities.

Padmir Olau had been the greatest of our leaders. The legends say that he was a son of Mithros, and I am inclined to believe them. The stories describe him as tall, even for a Reilnai, with dark skin and a presence that shone like the sun. He lead us from the Southern Lands to this northern country, and under his command, the Reiln took all the land between the ocean and the Great Eastern Swamps, the Inland Sea and the northern mountains. We settled ourselves into life here as if we had lived nowhere else. We owed it all to Padmir Olau.

But the fight was not won. Our greatest enemies, the Ysandir, refused to give up their stronghold in the Southern Desert. They would take our children as a blood tithe, they would kidnap our maidens for lust, and we would not stand for it. So, though he had lived longer than the normal span for a man and had not the strength he once had, Padmir led our armies into one last battle against them. It was a long and bloody fight, full of valor and horror, but we triumphed, and we banished the Ysandir from our lands forever. But they were near gods; we could not destroy them. So, the strongest of our mages locked them in their dark city in the south, and some of our people went to the desert to guard them, to ensure that they would not escape, until the Chosen One came to destroy them forever.

Padmir returned to his home, here in the north of the Capital, to live out his last days. To carry on the defense of our land, he began to train young men and women in his skills and code of living. But he was not safe. One of the Ysandir had avoided capture, and he had journeyed to the Olau lands to kill Padmir. The fool thought that if he killed our leader, we would slowly die away, and he could free his kin. Like a coward, he stuck into Padmir's sleeping quarters at night. He stabbed our beloved lord through his belly, but even as he died, Padmir's last thoughts were for his people: as he fell, he yelled with his last breath, "The Reiln will live, and all will submit to their glory or join me in the Peaceful Realms!" His dying cry alerted his companions to the intruder's presence, and young Alycia of Traidond, a swordswoman and a mage, trapped the intruder and cursed him into eternal imprisonment. They placed him in the only secluded spot they could find, a deep tunnel under the armory. Alycia became the greatest of Padmir's companions, who became known as Knyhts.

Since that night, when even the skies wept, would-be Knyhts must prove their strength against the Ysandir, as Alycia did. They descend into the tunnel, fight the deathless monster there, and return with the weapon that will be theirs as a Knyht. If they fail (some do), then, well, he has enough blood to last him for a few more years.

The Knyht hopefuls would be meditating and praying right now, as they had been for the last week. The ordeals would begin this afternoon and continue into the night if necessary. I hoped they wouldn't. The atmosphere of Olau may be comforting during the day, but at night, it frightens me. There is a darkness among the ripe orchards, a sinuous evil that shrouds the stars. But I would not be alone, at least. Uyne had joined me, and though she refused to speak to me, her presence was comforting– to a degree.

I heard a horse come up behind me. Turning my head, I caught sight of green eyes, brown hair, and a merry grin. "Hello, Kaela," Jerin said.

"Jerin." I smiled toothlessly, the best I could do. A bit of movement at the other side of the train caught my eye, and I turned just in time to see Uyne pointedly turn away to ride with an older noble.

Jerin, too, saw the gesture, and if he guessed at the drama beneath it, he didn't show it. His smile remained plastered to his face, and he asked, "Are you well?"

I nodded, and asked how his studies went.

"They go." He shrugged. "It will be years yet before I will be a mage, but I'm learning. But, in truth, Kaela, I want to know how you are." His eyes carefully studied my face. "I spoke to Olorun last week, and she says that you are not yourself, and that Uyne agrees with her. And, Kaela, beloved, you look tired. Are you sure you're well?"

I was silent until he prompted me, "Kaela?" Then, my voice was ice as I cried, "What, are they in cohorts against me now? Is that what they speak of in the markets, that poor Kaela is not herself? I tell you now, Jerin, and you heard it from me, not some loose-tongued palace gossip, that if Kaela is not well, it is because she is not the person she was formerly believed to be!" Completely aware of how nonsensical my argument was, I trotted ahead of him. Unconsciously, I turned around, and noticed that Uyne's leaf-green eyes were locked on me. Chilled, I turned away, and rode alone and thoughtless for the rest of the trip.

---

Once again, I found myself alone with my sword. That had happened very often lately. Many times I was suddenly left to contemplate my bloody fate with no company but silence. Though recently, I had found that silence was not such an awful companion as many believe.

I was still thinking when the door opened. My head spun towards the direction of the sound, and, I noted with dulled surprise, an angry Uyne stood there. Without a word she strode to the second, vacant bed in the room, dumping her bags on it. Still turned away, she informed me, every syllable filled with rage, "Some idiot decided that since we're both priestesses, it would be just fine to stick us in the same room for several days."

I nodded. "Would you like help unpacking?" I asked mildly.

"No, thank you, Kaela. You just concentrate on your keeping your walls up. Or maybe

you don't need to concentrate to shut me out anymore?"

"If you'll recall, Uyne," I replied, my voice rational, "it was you who stopped speaking to me."

"I wouldn't have stopped speaking to you if you hadn't become as cold as a gods-cursed statue!" She whirled to face me, her eyes burning. Her eyes always seemed to burn in my presence any more. "Do you even feel anymore? Do you care that your best friend since childhood might die today? You've made Jerin worry, you've made Olorun worry, and you've made me worry. All because you're suddenly as icy as a pond in winter. Why? What happened that could make you so different, Kaela?" Her voice cracked with emotion. "Do you love us anymore?"

Before, this would have moved me to tears, constant reassurances that of course I loved them, they were dearest to my heart. But now, I felt...silence. And I knew that I could not lie.

I didn't even bother to turn away. I met her gaze steadily as I said, "No." Her already moist eyes filled with tears. Her anger stumbled. This was not what she was expecting. She opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment, a gong sounded, reverberating off the walls and pounding our ears. "The Ordeals are beginning." I turned, took my sword, and left the room, leaving Uyne standing shocked in my wake. It would not be the last time.

---

There were six Ordeals that day. Olorun was third. The first two were uneventful, both the young men emerging weak and frightened, but alive. Olorun, too, did well. A few minutes after she descended into the trap door, she returned, her shirt soaked with sweat, carrying an enormous blackened sword. As she climbed out of the darkness, she stumbled into Rayenth's waiting arms. Apparently unable to contain himself, he covered her face with kisses as she clutched at his shoulders. Though a few of the older nobles looked on with disapproval, most of the witnesses smiled or sighed wistfully at the display. As I looked away from them, I saw that Jerin had fixed his eyes on me. He turned away slowly, his face a question as clear as if he had spoken it out loud. Uyne kept her eyes on the ground. Occasionally she wiped her hand across her eyes, as though she were impatient with the tears she shed.

Two more ordeals passed. The final hopeful came forward just as the sun set, and descended fearfully. We waited in silence for a few minutes; after a quarter of an hour, people began to whisper in worried murmurs.

"He did not look well." Suddenly Jerin was at my shoulder, quietly speaking for my ears alone. "He was coated in sweat, his eyes were wild, and his face looked sickly." He made the sign against evil. "Mithros protect us, but the beast in that hole will feast tonight."

I looked at him through the corners of my eyes. "And we will do nothing." It was not a question.

A shrug. "That's the way, Kaela."

I fixed my eyes on the stairs, a hardening resolve in my chest. This was not fair. The boy was not a born warrior– that failing should not be a death sentence. "Sometimes, the way is not right."

I walked towards the stairs. "Kaela!" Jerin shouted. Uyne looked up, and shock came over her features. I knew what she was thinking: You don't have the training, you can barely stay alive in a practice round, you will ruin his chances, you will shame his family, you don't love your friends and yet you are willing to risk your life for a stranger?

I met her eyes. "He does not deserve death." And with that, I flew down the stairs, into darkness, before anyone could stop me.

---

When I was halfway down they stopped screaming at me. Good, that would get rid of distraction. Darkness and cold choked me, filling my lungs instead of air. As my body grew weaker, I laughed. "Your tricks will not work with me, my enemy." Padmir died by your hands. Your existence is unjustified. You would best prepare to meet your infidel god of death.

I stumbled. Light. There was no light. I could not see. My sword. Shine, my jewel. Light my way.

It did, and it gave me strength. The light warmed my heart and banished the darkness. You are mine, it said, and you are doing right. Reassured, I faced my enemy.

He was tall, his skin pale from centuries out of the sun. His hair was black and tangled, his face gaunt and his wrists slits of bone. His eyes– yellow-green and evil, wanting me to die– glowed ominously in the soft purple light. He held the unconscious boy against his chest, and laughed.

"You are not one of them," he hissed. "You know nothing." His lips cracked in some sort of smile. "Oh, I will eat well tonight."

"You will die tonight," I said, and drew my sword. He dropped the boy and took a sword from the walls. Ancient, it was– it had survived hundreds of years, and would survive hundreds more. Centuries of evil power had filled it and made it strong. But my sword was Goddess-blest, and I had the light on my side.

"Come, little shining one. Come, feed me. Between you and the boy, I will be strong, I will break free, and your people will fall into Chaos. The pain you will be responsible for!"

Since I felt nothing, his taunts didn't disturb me. I smirked at him and lunged. He stepped aside and aimed for my neck. I blocked it just in time and backed away.

"A little shiny one with spunk!" He laughed. "Come again! Make me work– it will make your soul taste sweeter." He attacked, and I parried before I realized that it was a feint. His blade cut into my thigh, and I jumped away, cursing.

"Give up, little one. You're playing with the big children now. You don't have a chance."

I could feel his magic twining around my head, looking for a way in. My walls were useful against this thing: he could not affect me. He was too busy trying to mess with my mind to pay close attention to a little thing like a sword flashing towards his side. I felt flesh give, and he howled in pain. As he screamed, I plunged my sword into his stomach and thrust it up to his heart. And he laughed as he died. He stopped breathing, and his heart no longer beat, but his voice still surrounded me. His rotten magic was still here.

What was left of him laughed again. "Oh, you did nothing here, little shiny. I am still here. A Gods-blest sword will not destroy me. The spells around me keep me here– even though I am dead. My spirit will never leave, and the Reiln will forever feel my anger!"

I turned towards the boy, still unconscious. I was not strong, but he was small, and I could take him. On a whim, I grabbed the creature's sword, and took it, the boy, and my blade to the steps.

"You know, little shining one, you will join me here someday! Those walls in your brain won't hold forever! Someone will break you, and you will fail, and I will wait for you here– always here– wait for you to trade your walls for these!"

I ignored him, and climbed the stairs.

---

I heaved the boy and the swords onto the old armory floor and pulled myself up after them, only to have someone take my arms and pull me out. Uyne. Jerin took me round the waist and lifted me clear of the stairs. The boy was rushed away by his family. The swords remained on the ground.

Jerin looked at me and sighed. "You, Kaela, just cannot stay clear of disastrous situations." His eyes rolled heavenward, and his hand shook as he brushed my hair from my face. The clammy look of his skin told me that I had frightened him, though his voice was nonchalant. "Gods help us when you get loose from that temple. Come on now, to bed with you." He stooped and lifted me up, and I couldn't help crying out when he brushed my thigh.

Uyne was at my side in an instant. Her voice cut through the pain to reprimand me. "Holy Mother, Kaela, what did you do?" I looked down. The shallow cut had become a rancid, sickly green abscess. "Jerin, get her to her bed. I'll find a healer." She shook her head. "I never know what to do with you, Kaela! Sometimes you make me– ugh!" She walked away in disgust.

The crowd parted to let Jerin and me through. I was too tired to care that everyone was staring. I just stared back. When we reached the castle, Jerin said, quietly, "She really was worried about you, you know. The way you just took off like that. We all were." He sighed, again, and started up the stairs to the guest rooms.

"Third corridor on the left," I murmured, letting my head roll back onto his chest.

"I do wonder, Kaela," Jerin began, "I do wonder what made you change so. I wonder what happened to the little mouse that I wanted to marry."

"She's left. The mouse has left the house." I giggled. Oh, I was being completely inane.

"Then I wonder what corner of your mind she's hiding in. This door?" I looked up briefly and nodded. He opened the door and kicked the packs off my cot, laying me down. "Rest here. I'll stay until Uyne brings the healer." He paused thoughtfully. "She's a good woman, your Uyne. She truly cares about you, Kaela. She was frantic when you plunged down those steps."

"I couldn't tell." I sat up carefully.

"That's because you are oblivious to everything these days. If you weren't, you would have noticed how worried your friends are." He turned my face to his, gently. "What has happened, Kaela? Olorun knows, I see it in her face. But she swears that she would not betray your trust. Do you not trust me?"

I rolled away from his touch, which once would have made my heart beat as hard as a smith's hammer. "I cannot trust anymore."

"Why? It has to do with Dier's Run, doesn't it? It was the next morning that Olorun came to me weeping, crying that you didn't love her anymore. You told Uyne that you didn't love any of us. What have we done?"

"You?" I laughed shortly, without mirth. "You are Reilnai. You are one of the people that I am destined to protect, even though you aid the Queen of Chaos that seeks to destroy us. Isn't that strange? I hate all of you, and yet I need to love you enough to fight and kill and die for you. So I feel nothing. It's easier that way. I don't hate myself anymore. I'm resigned. I don't even mind killing." I shifted. "I killed that monster down there. I did. And it did no good– he's still there. If I were still your little mouse, Jerin, I would not have been able to do it. And even if I did, I would sob because I had killed him and it had done no good. It really is much easier this way."

I looked into his eyes and saw his sadness. "Kaela– what have you done?"

"I have submitted to my fate. The Goddess spoke to me, Jerin. On Beltane. It's ironic, because I was going to find you and tell you that I loved you that night. But I couldn't go to the fires, I had to guard the temple."

"I know; I looked for you there. I asked Uyne what happened to you."

"That night," I continued, ignoring him, "the Goddess came to me." Of course he didn't bother to hide his shock. "I am not lying, Jerin. And no, before you ask, I wasn't smoking poppy brick. She told me that Chaos is fighting the gods' rule and that she needs me to lead the Reiln against her agents here in the Mortal Realms. She told me that she would come for me, and that I would have to lead our people."

He didn't say anything, but, unlike when I confessed to Olorun, I didn't care. "I'm not lying."

"I know you aren't, Kaela." He sighed, letting his head fall into his hands. "You're going to need help."

"Yes."

"You have Olorun already, that'll help you with the Knyhts, and as a priestess, the Kings may trust your word, but you'll need a voice with the mages."

"I suppose I will."

"Then, mistress," he said, bowing in his chair, "count my voice as yours."

I looked at him curiously. "You won't fight me? You'll help me?"

"Only an idiot would ignore the signs, Kaela, and though I may be a blockhead–" he grinned– "I am no idiot. The Sorrows run, the stars glow, and you, of all people, kill a monster that has plagued us for generations. Obviously the world is being turned on its head."

He glanced at the door, frowning. "Now, where is that healer? And Olorun should have run up here by now, her new beau in tow, to slap you around a bit. I should go find them." He stood and walked to the door.

"Wait, Jerin," I said. He stopped and turned back to me. "You don't hate me? You aren't scared of me?"

He laughed. "Of course I'm scared of you, Kaela. I just choose not to show it. And, my dear little disease-spreading rodent, I could never hate you." He bowed with a flourish and left. I was dreaming of evil presences and Chaos on the loose in an instant.

---

I woke late that night when my leg stopped throbbing. It was cold– the shutter had been left open. For a few seconds I debated whether I would rather sleep and freeze to death or risk my thigh aching again. I chose the pain.

I stumbled across the floor, half-asleep, until I tripped over something sprawled on the ground. I cried out as I fell to the floor, and whatever was on the ground gave a snort and groaned a curse. Immediately someone whispered, "What was that?"

"Shh. You'll wake her."

"But what if someone came in?"

"Fine, light the damn candle, Uyne, just don't blame me when she wakes."

A soft glow filled the room, and Uyne, still her in priestess uniform, cried, "Kaela!" and made her way to my side. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"I was cold," I mumbled.

"I knew I was forgetting something," Olorun muttered, moving to shut the offending window.

"What happened to you?" Uyne asked, helping me stand. "Oh! Rayenth, you boulder! Wake up!"

"Would you pipe down?" Jerin moaned from a corner. "Some of us are tired."

"Quiet, magic boy!" the shape I'd tripped over growled.

"Stop it, both of you!" Olorun told them both. "It's far too early to be fighting. We should be asleep, especially you, Kaela." She turned to me with a reproving glare. "Rayenth, you chose the most inconvenient place to sprawl those limbs of yours!"

"I wouldn't've had to if you'd let me sleep with you."

"You love birds can just leave it for the morning. Wait until the sun's up, at least. Have some courtesy for the rest of us. Or just go to a nice, secluded clearing on the ride back tomorrow. As long as you let me sleep!"

"Jerin!"

"What is everyone doing here?" I asked, more than a little confused.

"The healer said someone should be here in case you woke," Uyne said. "Jerin volunteered–"

"But I thought he would fall asleep." Olorun added. "So I said I'd stay with him–"

"And I didn't want to leave Olorun," Rayenth said, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "And Uyne said that it's her room anyway, so–"

"So we all stayed," Jerin finished. "The healer came a few hours ago. He said he's never seen anything like your leg. He says that you should be careful about walking on it for a few days."

"He said that whatever cut you contaminated all the flesh around the wound. He had to bleed you and cut the pus out," Olorun said.

"Thank you, Olorun, for that far too graphic description," Uyne snapped, tucking the blankets around my shoulders. Though her voice was brisk, her hands were gentle, and she smoothed my hair before turning.

"And on that happy thought," Jerin said, "let us go back to sleep. We can discuss wounds and swords in the morning, and we're all tired. Uyne, will you need the light to get back to your cot?"

"No, blow it out, Jerin. I'll be fine." She checked the blankets once more, then whispered, "If you need anything, call. We'll be here." She kissed my forehead, and I could feel the heat in her cheeks. "I'm glad you're alive, Kaela. And if you're still cold in the morning, we'll think of a way to thaw you out. Just don't leave us again."

She went back to her bed, and soon Rayenth was snoring again. Though my body ached with exhaustion, I lay awake a bit yet. And in the dark and cold, I found some bit of solace in the fact that out of all of the Reiln, there were four who were loyal and loving, and that they would never leave me.

---

Author's Note: My, it's been a while! Hello, and thank you for reading.

Well, my dears, summer has come around. I have a job, but I don't have twenty zillion things to do, as usual (though I do have nightmares that I'm forgetting to do something...), and I have time to write for the first time in, goodness, literally years. So, to old readers, I'm very sorry, and to new readers, welcome!

I do have several other stories in the works, but this and my other "published" story will have priority. So I hope you enjoy the start of the action. Thank you again, and sorry for the inexcusable wait!