Spider in the Web

By H.D. Grogan

What do you do once you've changed the world?

Centuries of history changed when Calyx healed the web of life, and now she and her friends must learn to survive in an unfamiliar world. Confronted first by hostile Ankena warriors, a new and untested magic narrowly saves their lives—but this may be their only refuge in a land now ruled by a dangerous priesthood with powers of its own. As they struggle to get their bearings in this perilous new world, new dangers threaten to tear them apart and bring down their precarious safe haven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.D. Grogan
• Release date: Mar 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310715785

H.D. Grogan

H.D. Grogan was born in California, grew up in New York, and finally settled in rural western Massachusetts after several other stops along the way. She is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a minor in Russian studies. Well, she doesn’t generally hold it, exactly, but she’s pretty sure she knows where it is.

Book preview

Chapter 1

What do we do now? Calyx sighed. Good question.

The mage took a deep breath and pushed herself to her feet. A sea of tall grass stretched away on all sides of them, toward trees in the north and mountains in the south, with not a hint of the stone circle that had been there moments before.

And if I'm right, not a hint of anything else we knew, either, she thought, shaking her head. Even the karala...

Softening her gaze, she called the shimmering web of life into view, still startled by the brilliant colors now glinting from every strand. Its primary color was still golden, and its energy still pulsed with the gentle rhythm the Nerenii called the Heartbeat of Sirana, but within it ran the elemental energies once used by the Afterii. Adding complexity to complexity, their colors shifted and merged, their constant motion too fast for her eye to follow.

I really did that, she silently marveled. The web and its elements are united now, like they always should have been. Like they were, before they were pulled apart.

That thought sobered her. In healing the karala, she had changed history. From within the circle of statues, she had felt that healing reaching back—centuries back—to the original wound that had set Afterii against Nerenii and forged the Erasten Empire from their strife. An empire that now had never been. She felt a sudden chill. What has grown in its place?

Shaking herself, Calyx let the karala fade from her sight and turned back to her companions. Blacksnake looked back at her with the warm eyes of a lover, strands of copper in his black hair gleaming in the sunlight. Beside him, Cedar looked made of the landscape itself, her long, twisted braid the same gold as the grass, her eyes small slivers of sky. The Nerenii priestess was speaking quietly to Harn, who shook his head at something she said, his face set as stone as he stared out at the waving plains.

Calyx's heart twisted at this new hardness in her brother. He had survived Raven's worst tortures, but while his body had been healed, the ordeal had clearly left other scars. The big man had met her eyes only fleetingly since Raven's death, and refused to do so now; she supposed she couldn't blame him. Raven tortured him to get to me, after all, she thought, throat tight. And I couldn't make it stop. She blinked back tears, willing her brother to turn, but Cedar caught her gaze instead.

At least the plains didn't become a city around us, the priestess said with a wan smile. Sima still seems wild and empty.

Not empty, Harn corrected, his voice hard as he continued staring out across the plain. Riders are coming.

Following his gaze in alarm, Calyx squinted at the small band of horsemen that had appeared on the western horizon. The details were lost to distance, so she brought the karala back into view, smiling despite her apprehension as the vision came easily once more. She let the focus of her perception flow out along the web toward the west, and felt Blacksnake do the same. Catching her breath as she saw the riders more closely, she gasped, They're Ankena.

Harn shook his head. We're nowhere near Anke, he protested gruffly. And there haven't been Ankena in these parts since…

Since the Empire built the wall, Calyx finished for him. And now that the Empire never existed, the wall was never built, and the Ankena were never contained.

Then the Ankena were known in your time as well? Cedar asked, looking back and forth between Calyx and Harn. Their numbers had dwindled dramatically by the time the Nerenii were banished from the world. I had not thought they could last much longer, unless they settled their nomadic ways.

Well, they never did that, Calyx replied, but they did slowly retreat to Sima, or the land that eventually became Sima—the land we're on right now. They resisted its inclusion as a province when the Erasten Empire was founded, but they were pushed back into the north, and the Empire built a wall to keep them there. Their numbers did decline, but they never fully disappeared, and they never softened toward Erasten.

And now this is their land again, Cedar mused, and we are likely trespassing. Should we perhaps conceal ourselves while we get our bearings?

Too late, Harn replied grimly. They've seen us. Better if we don't try to hide now.

Calyx nodded her agreement; the riders had picked up speed, and were heading directly toward them. Keeping her gaze on the approaching horsemen, she said, No Empire, no Afterii and Nerenii; this isn't the same world anymore. We don't know what else has changed, or how they may see us.

But trespassing seems a fair guess, Blacksnake said, his attention still on the karala. These Ankena are drawing weapons as they approach.

Cedar nodded thoughtfully, her demeanor still calm. Are they likely to attack immediately, or will they offer us a chance to speak? Will they understand Telesh?

Calyx gave a slow shake of her head. I don't have any idea, she admitted. It's likely they'll speak Telesh; it's been the dominant language since before the founding of the Empire, and hopefully that hasn't changed. I counted six of them, carrying swords and short bows; we should be ready for violence, though I hope they'll let us talk first.

"And with all three of us free to access the karala, we should be able to repel an attack, Blacksnake added. That should give us some time to speak, at least."

Right, Harn said sourly. I guess I'll just look around for a sharp stick or something. His voice dropped to a low grumble. World hasn't changed so much after all.

Calyx turned her head sharply toward her brother. Harn, you aren't—

Forget it. The big man's jaw clenched as he avoided her eyes. I just… Forget it. Look, they're getting closer—you should figure out what you're going to say.

Calyx blew out a short sigh of frustration and turned back to Blacksnake. Hopefully the fact that we're unarmed will encourage them to hold their attack—but then what? Harn's right, we have to figure out what we're going to say about who we are and how we got here. I think the truth is going to be a little too complicated.

Still, I doubt that a lie would serve us as well, Cedar said. Brushing her dark blonde braid back over her shoulder, the priestess straightened her spine. Allow me to be the first to speak with them, she suggested. I believe my training will serve us well here.

Agreed, Blacksnake said, while Calyx nodded her assent as well. Cally and I will be ready, should they react poorly.

Calyx took a deep breath, her eyes flicking in a sidelong glance at Harn. Her brother remained withdrawn, his expression hard as he looked past her at the approaching riders. Following his gaze, she saw that three of the Ankena had nocked arrows to their short bows while the other three had drawn sharp, curved swords. The group consisted of four men and two women, their dusky skin richly tattooed in deep blue ink. All were dressed in elaborately stitched deerskin shirts above simpler leggings of the same material. Their horses were sturdy animals with shaggy coats, their otherwise simple trappings showing the same beautiful stitching as their riders' clothing.

Swallowing nervously, Calyx watched the Ankena draw to a halt in a rough half-circle in front of them. She had the shining web of the karala firmly in view, and had already traced the half-dozen strands that led to the riders, in case she needed them. She could feel through her link with him that Blacksnake had done the same, and by wordless agreement they divided the targets between them. Beside her, Cedar stepped forward a pace, spreading her hands in welcome and smiling warmly; the expression was not returned.

Instead, a man near the center of the group, his dark hair cropped very close to his scalp, looked stonily down at the Nerenii priestess as the archers in his company took aim, their bows at full draw. A strongly inked image of a striking eagle stood out clearly on his wrist as he gestured with his curved blade. You are not Ankena, he pronounced, in clear but accented Telesh. Therefore you are trespassing. Explain yourselves, or we will cut you down.

We mean no disrespect to the Ankena people, and desire only a peaceful dialogue, Cedar began, her voice pleasantly relaxed. I offer you the blessings of Sirana, in hopes that—

She broke off with a shocked cry as one of the archers loosed his arrow, the missile striking her in the chest and bearing her to the ground. Reeling, Calyx struggled to keep the karala in view as Blacksnake rushed to Cedar's side. The other two archers were firing as well, their fingertips already slipping from their arrows as she reached out through the strands, too late to render them unconscious.

Acting purely on impulse, Calyx reached into the strands she held and drew up the element of air from within them, turning their rainbow colors to a vibrant yellow. Still unsure of her control over this untried magic, she reached out anyway...and stopped the arrows mid-flight.

Visibly shaken, Harn reached out to grasp the arrow that hovered inches from his throat, and the second missile fell harmlessly to the ground beside Blacksnake as Calyx released it. The first archer already had another arrow on the string, and two other Ankena had started forward, swords raised, when the eagle-tattooed leader barked a sharp order in his own tongue. As his people stopped short and lowered their weapons, he stared at her in disbelief; Calyx glared back at him.

Without turning her head, she called out to Blacksnake. How is she?

Better, Cedar coughed in response. Much better than I could have been.

Much better for everyone, Calyx said icily, her eyes still on the Ankena leader. Addressing him directly now, she added, "Perhaps you would care to explain yourselves now?"

One of the Ankena women made a sharp, angry sound. Black hair fell in a long braid down her back, and three small triangles of blue ink adorned each cheekbone; she held her sword low like the others, but the point remained aimed at Calyx.

You are still trespassing, she said hotly. We have no need to explain—

Peace, Kenara, the leader interrupted. "She is right to ask why we fired while they replied to our challenge—though why she would need to ask, I do not know. He cast a glance across all four of them, then returned his gaze to Calyx. Before I answer you, tell me how it is that mages travel with one of the Hand?"

The Ankena punctuated his question with a gesture toward Cedar, and Calyx furrowed her brow in confusion. The Hand? she asked. What is the Hand?

The dark-haired man narrowed his eyes as several of his people muttered in outrage. Turning to him with a curt gesture of her blade, the woman named Kenara spoke over the others. There is no one who does not know the Hand of Sirana, she said. We should be rid of these deceivers at once, Taranec, and be on our way.

As Calyx drew breath to reply, Cedar stepped forward beside her. The Hand of Sirana? The priestess's voice was uncharacteristically sharp. You think I… But that can't be. The Hand has been gone for centuries.

The Ankena, falling silent at her words, exchanged guarded glances. Their leader, Taranec, shook his head in disbelief. The Hand of Sirana holds sway over all the southlands, he said slowly. Only the Ankena remain free of their power. Thus we fired on you when you greeted us in the name of their deity—but finding you in the company of mages gave us pause. How is it you do not know these things? And if you are not of the Hand, why do you call on the demon Sirana?

Calyx bristled at this, but Cedar merely shook her head. Sirana is no demon, she said, and in our…where we come from, the ways of the Hand have been unknown for many hundreds of years. Whatever they have done in Her name, She is still the Goddess of Life, and I am Her priestess.

And in your land, Sirana is not the enemy of mages such as these? It was one of the other Ankena men who asked this, with a gesture of his bow toward Blacksnake and Calyx.

Blacksnake smiled. Cedar herself is both mage and priestess, he said, to which the Ankena reacted with redoubled surprise. Sirana has no quarrel with magic.

Then you are truly not of the Hand, Taranec replied slowly. But where is it you come from, that you have remained unaware of their dominion?

Calyx hesitated. That isn't so easy to answer, she began, thinking frantically as skeptical hostility grew on the faces of the Ankena. What can I say? We changed the world, trying to save it, and now we don't know what it's like? And in our world, these lands were part of an empire, there was no Hand, and the Ankena… Ok, better not mention that part. Still, I have to say something. She took a deep breath. We—

We came here from the Isles, Harn interrupted. Still holding the arrow that had nearly killed him, he used it to gesture behind him toward the coast. There's a cluster of islands to the southeast, some distance from the mainland. We came from there.

Taranec looked thoughtfully back at him. We know those islands, he said, nodding slightly. We have heard they are also ruled by the Hand.

Not the one we were on, Harn said. He shrugged. Look, you've already accepted that we're not part of the Hand, and you know we're not from your lands. I'm telling you, we were on one of those islands before we came here.

The Ankena shook his head. Perhaps, but the Hand would not have left you alone as their power grew. How could you have remained ignorant of their very existence?

When Harn hesitated, Kenara snorted dismissively. "They could not have, Uncle, for there is no place outside the Hand's dominion other than Anke. They are lying as well as trespassing, and deserve no more of our mercy."

There is still much I would like to hear from them, Kenara, Taranec said. "If nothing else, I do believe that they are not of the Hand. And wherever they come from, their magic could make them powerful allies. Looking at Calyx, he added, I believe that you, at least, spoke the truth when you said it was not easy to say where you have come from. I hope to hear the rest of that truth one day."

Calyx nodded up at him. I hope to find a way to explain it properly, she said, though to be fair, Harn isn't lying when he says we came here from the Isles. It's just…a little more complicated than that.

More than a little, I suspect, Taranec said. For now, I offer you the hospitality of our camp, he added, his voice taking on the formal tones of ritual. Ignoring the murmurs of surprise that arose from his people, he gestured toward the northwest. It will take the rest of the day to reach it on foot, but it appears you have no mounts of your own.

As Calyx nodded in response to the implied question in the Ankena's voice, Harn leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Cally, you can't seriously want to go with them? They shot at us, and most of them still look like they want us dead; we won't wake up in the morning if we spend the night in their camp."

His sister shook her head. I'm sure they wouldn't do that after formally offering us hospitality, she murmured. We have to find out more about this world, Harn, especially the Hand. If they're willing to talk to us, I think we have to take the chance. And don't forget, she added with a reassuring smile, you've got three mages with you.

Yeah, he replied, his voice going flat as he stepped back from her side. You'll keep me safe.

Calyx stared at him, stunned back into silence, but then her eyes were drawn away as Kenara gestured with her sword again.

Uncle, I believe we should continue our patrol, she said, tossing her head indignantly. This could all be a deception to allow other intruders to pass into Anke while our attention is on these four.

Taranec frowned, but nodded as he replied. Well enough. Take the others and finish riding the plain. I will take our guests back to camp; report to me when you return.

The Ankena woman nodded curtly and, after a last distrustful look at Calyx and her companions, wheeled her mount toward the south. Gesturing to the other riders, who followed more sedately, she urged her horse to a sudden gallop and raced away through the tall grass. After a moment's pause to gaze after her, Taranec turned back to Calyx with a shake of his head.

I hope they find no one else on the plain, he said somberly, for both our sakes. By offering you hospitality, I have not only placed you under my protection, I have also taken some degree of responsibility for you. If Kenara is right and you are deceiving us, it would be damaging to my leadership as well as dangerous for you.

At their answering nods, the Ankena turned his horse in a tight circle. Calling back over his shoulder, he said, Speak out if you need to rest, but I will set a brisk pace to reach the camp before nightfall. The shadows are already lengthening behind us.

Calyx fell into step beside Blacksnake, meeting his gaze with a worried smile as they started to follow Taranec across the plain. Maybe Harn was right, she muttered, and the world hasn't changed too much after all. This is all feeling uncomfortably familiar.

Is this really what things have been like for you, these past days? Cedar asked, stepping up on her other side.

Not really, Calyx replied with a tentative grin. This went fairly well by comparison. Of course, I'm not the one they shot. Are you well?

The other woman smiled wanly back at her. It was something of a shock, she said, but I think the greater shock was hearing that the Hand has returned.

The Hand, Calyx echoed. Between you and the Ankena, I'm getting the impression I won't like them; I guess I need to hear more about who they were, and are.

"I'd like to hear how you stopped the other two arrows, Blacksnake interjected, slipping an arm around her waist as they walked. It was hard enough for me to use the normal Nerenii healing methods, with the karala as different as it is—but it seemed as though you were actually using the new structure. How did you know what to do?"

Better save your breath for walking, Harn said bluntly, interrupting as his long strides brought him alongside the three mages. His expression was hard and his eyes evasive as he continued past them. We'll have time for talk when we get there. Unless we don't, in which case it will hardly matter. Shaking his head, he stalked off ahead of them through the waving sea of sunburned grass.

Chapter 2

Cedar stretched gingerly, trying to relieve some of the tension in her back. They had been walking for over four hours, by her reckoning, and their shadows now stretched long behind them. They had turned to parallel the forest when they reached the edge of the trees, picking their way along the verge behind the slowly plodding horse of the Ankena leading them. She supposed the camp itself would be deeper among the trees, away from the prying eyes of anyone foolish enough to encroach across the plain.

Though she had initially rejected Harn's suggestion that they hold their discussion until they reached the camp, it hadn't been long before she realized just how right he had been. After a morning spent riding hard on Raven's trail, not to mention her recent encounter with an Ankena arrow, she found she needed all of her energy for walking. And that, she thought, with a sideways glance at Calyx, is nothing compared with what they've come through today.

She was still stunned by what she had seen Calyx accomplish in the circle of stones, and found herself unexpectedly in awe of the slender, dark-haired woman. When they had first met, not very long ago, she herself had taught the ex-Afteri how to call up the vision of the karala at will, and helped her to understand the things she had intuitively begun to do with it. It was simply incredible that this same woman, though herself damaged in body and spirit, could have achieved such an immensely transformative healing of the karala itself.

What she did was astonishing enough, she mused, interrupting her own train of thought. But that she was willing to sacrifice everything to do it, even all expectation of survival... That has to have changed her, too.

As if feeling the weight of her thoughts, Calyx turned to catch her gaze as they plodded on through the tall, dry grass. The mage's blue eyes were warm despite her obvious fatigue, and she smiled encouragingly. Can't be long now, she said. By which I mean, it won't be long before I curl up somewhere and call it home, camp or no. She stifled a yawn. I could sleep for a week.

Cedar nodded. All three of you must be exhausted, she said, but I don't know how you, especially, manage to stay upright. I know the artifact healed you, but you've been through so much today; it has to have taken a toll.

It still is, Calyx murmured in reply. Her smile faded as her gaze shifted forward again, landing on Harn's hunched shoulders.

Cedar hesitated in the silence. I'm sorry, she said softly. If I had noticed Raven's departure sooner, or ridden faster after him, I could have saved you. Not only from what he did to you, but from what you had to do to get free.

The other woman shook her head. You did save us, she said. If you hadn't arrived when you did, Ranna would have just… I couldn't have gone through that again, she finished, her voice haunted. Blacksnake drew Calyx toward him as they walked, and Cedar smiled to herself as she felt the bond between them.

They went through a lot to build that closeness, she thought, but—

The priestess let her thoughts fall silent as Harn slowed nearly to a halt. Ahead of him, the Ankena had slowed as well, and began to guide his horse into the trees, pausing only to cast a glance back at the four ragged foot-travelers behind him. We will be approaching the camp shortly, Taranec told them, speaking for the first time in hours. Stay close to me; there will be sentries watching the perimeter, and they will not know you are protected.

Cedar straightened her spine and nodded crisply back at him, drawing in additional energy from the karala to increase her alertness. Even with Taranec speaking for them, it could be a delicate thing, approaching the camp of a people known for their hostility to outsiders. She saw her companions shake the fatigue from their limbs also, and noted that Harn's shoulders tensed even further as he peered warily into the woods. As they followed the Ankena into the trees along a narrow game trail, she saw Calyx take in her brother's increased anxiety as well.

Harn, the slender mage said, reaching out to touch the big man's arm. When he didn't turn, she stepped up beside him, peering into his face with a tentative smile. How are you holding up? she asked. Be good to finally stop walking, won't it? Maybe even get something to eat?

Nodding vaguely, Harn gave a brief half-shrug. Sure, he replied tightly, his eyes roaming the woods around them rather than returning her worried gaze. Yeah, I'm fine, he added when she remained looking up at him, pushing through overhanging leaves to stay beside him on the narrow trail.

Look, you don't have to stay on watch, she pointed out. We have a guide.

She drew back slightly as he finally turned toward her, his expression inexplicably irate. And you expect me to just— He interrupted himself with an indrawn breath, shaking his head and turning away from Calyx to face forward again. I just want to be ready, he said, his voice steadier.

His sister stared back at him. What would you even— She paled as he shot her a hard look, his jaw tightening even further. Harn, I'm sorry, she stammered. She reached her hand back out toward his arm, but he brushed it aside. I only meant…

I know what you meant, he said roughly. Dropping his head briefly, he raised his eyes toward the silent Ankena ahead of them and let out a long exhale. I can't talk right now, Cally. Please, just…give me some room to walk. He kept his gaze locked forward as she nodded mutely and let his longer strides carry him ahead of her.

Her thoughts troubled, Cedar realized Blacksnake had fallen in step beside her as she watched the tense exchange between the two siblings. Giving him a sidelong glance, she shook her head slightly and dropped her eyes. It was bad, wasn't it? she asked, pitching her voice low.

It was, he replied soberly, his voice equally muted. About the worst I've seen.

Her gaze sharpened at this, and she turned her head to look at him directly. That's bad, she said, searching his face. Are you—

She broke off as Calyx stopped short in front of her, looking sharply from one side of the trail to the other. At first Cedar saw nothing, then caught swift movement through the trees, closing in on both sides. Calling up the strands of the karala in her vision, she found two Ankena sentries flanking them, while a third remained at a distance, silently observing their progress down the shaft of an arrow.

Taranec held up a hand as he reined his horse to a halt. Calling out to the left, he spoke several sentences in his own language, its staccato rhythms unfamiliar and harsh. When the reply came, Cedar saw his shoulders relax, and he laughed before concluding the exchange with a wave and a scattering of phrases that included the woman's name, Kenara. Shaking his head, he turned in the saddle to address them in Telesh as the sentries faded back into the trees.

Welcome to our autumn camp, he said simply, his expression friendly but guarded. I have announced you as my guests, but you will have to meet with the Visnanta before you can be permitted to travel freely. At their uncomprehending looks, he added, She is our spirit seer, one of our leaders. She will be able to tell if you can be trusted among our people.

Harn's face darkened at this, his voice as taut as his shoulders. And if she says we can't?

Taranec looked mildly back at him. Then you will still be my guests for the evening, and in the morning you will be escorted from our lands, not to return. You need not fear; it would be a great dishonor for us to harm you without provocation after extending our hospitality, even if the Visnanta disapproved of you.

Harn hesitated, then gave a curt nod in reply. When the others also nodded their assent, the Ankena turned back around and continued forward into the camp. Cedar trailed behind the others, looking around curiously. The trees had screened their approach with surprising effectiveness, and it was only after several more paces that she began to catch glimpses of dwellings. As they made their way between them to pass farther into the camp itself, she could see that they were arranged in a roughly circular pattern around a central clearing.

The structures were made of thick tanned skins, tightly sewn together and supported by conical frames that narrowed to a smoke hole at the top. She could see the ends of long poles extending through the tops of the dwellings, and the slightly lopsided cones they created varied widely in size. The entrances were simple slits in one side, with laces that could be tied closed if the weather demanded it. Some of the tents were plain and unadorned, but many sported colored designs ranging from repetitive geometric motifs to more elaborate representations of animals and birds.

As they progressed through the camp, Cedar saw children stop their games to peer at them in shy excitement while adult Ankena looked up from their tasks warily. When they approached the large cooking fire at the center of the clearing, she savored the aromas of roasting fowl and bread baking among the coals. She tried to ignore the sudden pinch of hunger as Taranec called out to the trio of women tending the fire, then continued on through the camp with the newcomers in tow.

Rather than bringing them to one of the central tents, as Cedar had expected, the Ankena led them to a dwelling on the outskirts, set some distance apart from the others. Its decoration was surprisingly simple, only a vine-like design traced around the bottom edge in deep green pigment. As they drew closer, however, she could see that the vine was made up of interconnected whorls and spirals that could just as easily represent wind, water, or the strands of the karala itself.

Taranec stopped beside the conical dwelling and smoothly dismounted to stand between them and the entrance. Inclining his head politely, he said, I will announce you to the Visnanta, and ask if she will see you now. Please remain where you are.

As he crouched to slip through the half-open tent flap, Calyx turned and caught Cedar's eye. Leaning close to whisper in her ear, the dark-haired woman asked, He called her a 'spirit seer.' What do you think that meant?

"I think that in some way, she can use the karala, the priestess replied in the same hushed tones. And if she can read something in the strands that gives her insight into a person's character... Cedar broke off with a small shake of her head. Perhaps she will accept the full account of how we came to be here, if she can see we are trustworthy."

Calyx looked thoughtful at this, but before she could respond, Taranec reappeared from inside the tent. You may enter, he said formally. As Harn stepped forward and reached to draw the door flap aside, the Ankena added, I should not need to tell you that the Visnanta is a holy woman, and deserves great respect. He softened his words with a smile as Harn looked back at him, affronted. I only say this because she may not be what you expect.

Her curiosity fully aroused now, Cedar followed the others through the low opening of the conical dwelling. The interior was surprisingly spacious, though lit only sparingly by a pair of bowl-like oil lamps and the remaining daylight trickling in through the smoke hole above. As her eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light, she carefully felt her way to a soft fur spread on the floor, seating herself between Blacksnake and Harn. Looking up, she found herself directly across from an astonishingly young woman, who looked back at her with warm brown eyes.

You are welcome in Anke, and in our camp, said the Ankena woman, who could not have been more than eighteen years old. I am the Visnanta of this clan.

After a glance at her companions, Cedar smiled back at her. Thank you for seeing us, she began, but we are not exactly sure what that means. Can you tell us what it is to be the Visnanta?

The young woman nodded. I see the spirit, she said. That is literally what it means: 'spirit seer.' All things are connected in the Great Web, which is the spirit of the world; I can see this spirit, and the spirit of each thing alive within it. I use this gift in the service of my people, and in service of the Great Web itself. She paused, and a note of amusement crept into her voice. I suspect you thought I would be older.

I'm sorry, but yes, Cedar replied, smiling again. How long have you been the spirit seer for your people?

I was trained since childhood by the old Visnanta, who passed six years ago. I have been Visnanta since then, and hope to be so until I am as old a woman as she was. She smiled with remarkable self-assurance. You are here because although Taranec has the authority to extend hospitality to outsiders, it is I who will make the final decision about whether you can stay. And so I am most interested to learn more about you, and why he saw fit to bring you here.

We are very thankful to both of you for your willingness to listen to us, Cedar replied. We don't know your ways, and didn't realize we were trespassing.

The Visnanta cocked her head, looking back at her with a slightly unfocused gaze. You were shot, she said, her voice distant. The wound has healed well, but there are always traces, after.

Cedar raised a hand unconsciously, her fingers coming to rest where the arrow had struck, a few inches below her right collarbone. Blacksnake's healing may have removed all traces of the wound, but it couldn't erase the painful memory of the missile's impact, or the choking horror of blood filling her lungs. Violence always does leave its mark, she murmured.

Even when there were no physical traces to begin with, the Visnanta replied cryptically, and Cedar saw that she had turned her unfocused gaze toward Harn, who stared back at her with thin-lipped hostility. There have been physical wounds here as well, but the most grievous was something else entirely.

The Visnanta peered in a similar fashion at Blacksnake and Calyx, her expression growing more and more perplexed. Her gaze came back into focus after a pause, and she looked across at each of them in turn, her brown eyes troubled.

You have all endured great suffering in the very recent past, she said, much of it inflicted directly upon your spirit's core in a way I cannot comprehend. But there is something else that is different about each of your spirits, something beyond the lingering damage that has yet to heal. It is as if you are only newly connected to the Great Web, though you, she added, turning her intense gaze back on Calyx, have an even more unusual relation to it than that.

Curious to see how the seer was examining them, Cedar brought the karala into view, its still-unfamiliar rainbow colors brightening the interior of the Ankena dwelling. She looked first at the Visnanta, and saw that the young woman's presence within the web was unusually bright, the energy around her clean and clear. Turning her attention to the karala itself, the priestess could see nothing out of the ordinary passing through the strands; curious, she began to trace the strand between herself and the Visnanta. It brightened slightly with her attention, drawing the Ankena's eyes swiftly back toward her.

Though startled, Cedar smiled in the face of the Visnanta's penetrating gaze. Still holding the karala in her sight, she watched for any change in the web as the young woman scrutinized her kima, the bright core of strands at the center of her body. But just as before, the karala remained unaltered, and she realized that the Visnanta's attention was directed as much inward, toward her own kima, as outward into the strands. Holding herself very still, Cedar could feel the faint ripples in the energy that sustained her, and peered closely at the interplay among the shimmering strands of light. With a small gasp of recognition, she realized what the seer was doing.

"You're reading the energy flow in and around my kima to learn something about its structure, and thus about me, she said excitedly. What is it that you look for, to determine if someone can be trusted?"

So you are Visnanta also, the young woman mused, shaking her head in disbelief. Taranec told me only that you have shown yourselves to be mages, but we know so little about southland magic; the Hand hunts their mages down, and we have had almost no direct contact with any.

Do none of them seek refuge among the Ankena? Blacksnake asked. I would think your people would welcome them as comrades against a common enemy; Taranec seemed to imply that we would be so welcomed.

Taranec is unusually open to contact with outsiders, the Visnanta replied. You are fortunate that it was he who found you; most other scouting bands would have simply killed you on sight. So no, the fugitive mages of the south do not come here seeking refuge. Or if they have, they have not been skilled enough to make their power known against our scouts, and so would have made but feeble allies. Her youthful voice took on a bitter edge. "And the truth remains that although we have been vigilant enough to maintain our freedom from the Hand, we are not so strong that we could stand against them if they came in force. It is an unpleasant fact that many of my people are not willing to admit, but we dare not antagonize them by sheltering their enemies.

But you, the young woman continued, casting a glance across the four of them, you did stop our attack, and demonstrated healing powers as well. And now it seems as though you do so in a way very similar to my own skill. I am most curious to talk with you further about your methods and training—but first I must complete my examination of you. As I do so, I will ask that you tell me how you came to be here.

Cedar remained silent as Calyx slowly nodded. The priestess kept her gaze on the karala, watching the Visnanta as the former Afteri started to relate their story.

I'd like to be able to start at the beginning, Calyx said, but I think you'll understand very soon why I think I should start at the end. When we first arrived on the plain where Taranec found us, there was a large circle of stone statues there, and these were not Ankena lands. The circle was what we called an artifact, a storehouse of magical energy, and this particular artifact was connected very strongly with what you call the Great Web. At the time we arrived, the Web was badly damaged, its energy splintered and twisted in places. There had been a magical war long in the past, and not only were its effects still present, they had grown worse through the ages. And that war was threatening to break out once again.

As Calyx spoke, Cedar watched the Visnanta pay close attention to the energy flows around Calyx's kima. She was impressed by the control the Ankena exhibited, as well as her ability to listen to what must have been a surprising story at best, while still maintaining her focus on the karala.

The wars—both the old war and the newly resumed war—were between two groups of mages, each using a different aspect of the Great Web, Calyx continued. One, the Nerenii, used only the structure of the Web itself, manipulating the way energy flowed along its strands. The other, the Afterii, drew out the elemental energies within the strands, and used those—but they didn't even know about the Web anymore, and thought the elements were separate. It was causing great strain, and they couldn't even see it. I was originally trained in that type of magic, and came to learn the other type as well; because of this, I was able to use the energy in the stone circle and direct it towards healing the Great Web itself.

The Visnanta blinked at this, giving a small shake of her head as her gaze