Mindbond Read Free

laughed at me. This time he was in no fit fettle to laugh or argue. He spoke only four words, and his voice was choked.
    â€œI am not Sakeema.”
    â€œYou, who died in torment for my sake, not Sakeema?”
    â€œIt was you—who brought me back, Dan.”
    He could barely speak. Shamed, I kept silence.
    â€œThere is no—power of healing in me. I wish I were—who you say I am—for your sake.”
    I had sensed for a certainty that he was. No one could have loved me as he had, showed me the mercy he had shown me, given self as he had given for me, without being more than man, more than king. But if he did not know it himself—and it was the custom of the Seal Kindred to humble their kings—perhaps he felt as helpless as I did.
    Helpless, sinking down to death.
    I felt as if I were drowning, but too weak to struggle, too weary to feel much pain. A heartsick longing for life was in me, but not much pain. Sinking, sinking down into the black water, swept along by its flow … flow turned to flight, black water turned to night sky. I seemed to drift in it without effort, looking down at my own bandaged body with an odd leave-taking tenderness, looking down on Kor where he held me in the glow of dying embers, his tears falling onto me.… I did not want to leave Kor. Above all things, I wanted to stay with him. But a tug like the current of a strong stream pulled at me—I strove against it, and still it carried me away, no matter how hard I struggled. I cried out to Kor, but he could not hear me, and soon I could no longer see him … then all was black, as if I were dreamlessly sleeping.
    And then someone was roughly shaking me.
    Indignant, I muttered reproach and opened my eyes, blinking in bright daylight. But my indignation left me when I saw Kor, his head drooping over my shoulder as he held me, asleep or swooning, exhausted, the marks of tears on his face. And by my side knelt Tassida, scowling down on me.
    â€œWhat ails you two?” she barked with that proud lift of her chin that I loved. “Kor!” She gave him a shove to rouse him.
    He raised his head as if it were almost too heavy for him to bear. Then I sat up to face him, stretching my arms, feeling as well as I ever had in my life. He stared, his mouth opened wordlessly, and joy lighted his eyes like sunrise over mountaintops. I hugged him.
    â€œKor, you rascal, you did it!”
    â€œDid what?” demanded Tass.
    â€œHe brought me back from Mahela’s grasp! I was nearly dead—”
    â€œDan,” Kor interrupted, “I did nothing.” He had hold of me by one shoulder, as if I might somehow float away from him.
    â€œYou must have! Without knowing, as you held me. I was as good as gone—”
    â€œPerhaps we only thought that.” He was smiling, but he looked abashed. “Perhaps we’re a pair of jackasses, Dan.”
    â€œYou certainly look it,” Tass snapped, and she turned away, stabbing kindling into the embers at the heart of our firepit.
    â€œHow could we say for a certainty that you were dying? Perhaps you were just about to take a turn for the better.”
    â€œYou know as well as I—”
    â€œHe was bright-eyed enough when I woke him,” Tass put in, busy with the fire.
    I lost patience, lunged up and started ripping at my bindings. “What are you doing?” Kor exclaimed.
    The bandages were stiff with old blood. “Get these filthy rags off me,” I raged. In my haste I could not manage the accursed knots tied behind my back. Kor got up and complied, to humor me. And as the swaddlings fell away, I turned to face him.
    â€œNow,” I challenged him, “say you have done nothing.”
    He gaped, turning so pale I thought he would faint. For my wound was gone as if it had never been.
    â€œNo,” he whispered, swaying where he stood. I went to him to steady him, but once by his side I could not help but embrace him