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Luckily those nauseous spots gave forth a wan purulent light in warning. They were being edged by that
putrid growth away from a direct route. At last, they came to a place where they could not pass; the
thorn hedge formed once more a bar-rier. Here the thorns themselves were diseased, cov-ered with
lumps like the pustules of incurable illness. Kadiya watched some break open and scatter minute flecks of
greenish matter which soared and caught, to eat into whatever the breeze drove them toward.
She drew the sword. Though she well knew that what she would do would weaken her, she had no
choice. The eyes had not closed since she had stood in theTemple of the Timeless Flower. Indeed, they
appeared brighter, oddly more aware because of those sparking motes along the lids.
Kadiya hardened her will. Even as it had proved a key to the door wall, now the top orb sent forth a
dagger of light which was joined by beams from the other two. That tongue of brilliance slashed at the
corrupted vegetation before them as Kadiya swung it back and forth, her arm moving as if she were using
the weapon against an armed enemy.
An answering burst of fire among the thorns spread as she advanced. The other three fell into a single
line behind her. She could hear faintly a chant and then felt a touch on her shoulder. Salin had moved up
beside her and from the wisewoman came a flow of strength in answer to her own need. That increased,
once and then again. Jagun and Smail must have linked in turn.
The stink of death was half overborne by the odor of burning brush. Kadiya strove to push faster. This
was betraying their presence and any roving Skritek would be drawn to investigate.
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She stumbled once; half burned roots thrusting forth from the ground could catch the unwary. Still she
used the sword, though her arm was growing heavy. She could not keep her original quick pace. The
drain was continuous in spite of what the others gave to help.
Kadiya staggered again, caught herself. She could see that the beam of light she was wielding had
shortened. Now it flickered once or twice. She bit her lower lip and pushed doggedly on. Her world had
narrowed to that light, to the dark of the thorn wall immediately before her.
"Farseer!"
Not a vocal call, but a mind send, powerful enough to pierce her concentration.
"We have passed beyond the plague."
"We are not clear of the thorn " she said aloud, too wary of using the least bit of inner strength in mind
speech.
"This is for us, Farseer. Let us clear the way."
Jagun's offer might have been a spell. Her arm fell to her side, and, though she gritted teeth and
struggled, she could no longer hold the sword up-right. The glow of light touched the ground, flicked in a
rhythm like the beat of a heart, was gone. Nor could she flog her will into raising it again.
Salin moved in beside her, pulling Kadiya's left arm across her bent shoulders, seemingly support-ing
them both with her staff. With the sword light gone Kadiya moved through a darkness close to blindness.
She felt rather than saw the other two Oddlings push past.
What could they use to clear the road? she won-dered dimly. She heard a crackling ahead, but not that
of fire. Then Salin was urging her on, taking only three or four steps at a time. They did have a path,
though it was very narrow and thorns reached out now and then to grate across that silk-sleek ar-mor of
the Vanished Ones, scraping but finding no opening to score the flesh beneath.
"On," Salin's mind voice came only dimly.
"They use the passage knives, Noble One. It will not be far now there is water smell ahead.''
Kadiya wavered on only with the wisewoman's aid. She became dimly aware that the brush was no
longer so tightly woven. She looked up. The eye holes of the helm limited her vision but she thought she
caught a glimpse of stars in the early night sky where the clouds had parted. She doubted that she could
keep on her feet much longer.
Dimly Kadiya was amazed at the strength of the wisewoman who not only was keeping her standing
now but leading her forward as well.
Then she was no longer on her feet at all, but lying, to look up at a star through a frame of clouds. The
weight of those dark clouds closed down upon her. Her last act was to grip the sword lest she lose the
one weapon she believed hers alone to the en-croaching dark.
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There was the sound of voices but Kadiya could not understand any words. As she opened her eyes she
was struck by the full rays of the sun. Bracing herself on one elbow the girl looked about her.
The three Oddlings were together. Before Salin was her scrying bowl; on either side knelt the two males,
all intent on what they were viewing. Salin's fingers moved in a pattern. There came an excla-mation from
Jagun and his hand dropped to the spear lying beside him.
Kadiya need not look at the vision the wisewoman had summoned. She felt the fear exuding from the
three like the swamp mist. With effort she pulled to her knees.
They were on a hillock which gave root to some bushes, but none of these sprouted thorns. The girl
could smell that rottenness which clung to the deep-est swamp, but sensed none of the plague threat.
"What comes?" Kadiya found her voice. Moving brought back some of the feeling of drained weakness.
She had startled the three. Jagun's head jerked as he looked to her.
"Evil, Farseer." He was on his feet swiftly to come to her. His hands on her shoulders drew her up with a
strength which seemed too great even for his wiry body. "Look you."
Kadiya found she could waver forward by his help to drop to her knees in the same spot where he had
been crouching a moment earlier. She leaned for-ward to see the picture in the bowl.
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