woman, that she retained a measure of her power. How much or how little he could not say, but there was power in her eyes. And Aislinn, Homanan and Solindish, was completely unprotected. Vulnerable to her mother.
Before a Cheysuli, the Ihlini lose much of their power. But not all! There are still tricks they can perform. Electra may only know such tricks as Tynstar taught her, being no Ihlini herself, but I cannot say she is as helpless as we thought—
Donal looked sharply at Aislinn. He saw how pale she was, how she continued clenching the golden girdle with allits rich cold stones. Her hands were shaking, and yet her voice was quite steady, quite calm.
As if she has made a discovery, and is strengthened because of it.
“Is that why you wanted me?” Aislinn did not move. “For the Ihlini?” She ignored Electra’s abortive attempt at speech. “And are you so
certain
your perverted magic has worked on me?”
Donal stared at Aislinn. So did Electra. The silence was unbroken in the hall.
Garnets rattled as Aislinn clutched the girdle. “I have listened to Donal just now. I have listened to you as well, hearing you mouth all the things you have told me these past two years. And—I know you better than ever before:
I know you.
”
“Aislinn—” Electra began.
“
Listen to me
!” Aislinn’s shout reverberated. “I will hear no more lies about my father—
no more lies.
Oh, aye…I know what you sought to do—I know why you sought to
do
it! Make the daughter into a weapon against the father.” Aislinn’s voice shook. “He told me—he
told
me: once he truly loved you. But you gave yourself to Tynstar. You wasted yourself on an Ihlini sorcerer! And now you think to twist me in spirit as Tynstar has twisted my father in body?” Hysterically, she laughed, and the sound filled up the hall. “I
do
know Donal—and he is
not
what you say he is!”
Electra’s lips were pale. She stood very still on the marble dais. “He is a
shapechanger.
What I have told you is true.”
Aislinn shook her head violently. “What you have told me are
lies
! Did you think I would not know? Did you truly believe I would listen to that vile filth you spewed when I have known him longer than I have
you
?” Again, Aislinn laughed. “You do not live up to your reputation,
mother!
I am amazed at how easily I saw through your plans.”
Electra’s face was bone-white. Suddenly, even through the magnificence of her beauty, she was old.
But still she summoned a smile. “Then I will tell you the truth in one thing, Aislinn—
heed me well
, I do not lie. What is mine is also Tynstar’s, and I have
made you mine.
” One hand stabbed upward to cut off Aislinn’s angry words. “Wait you, girl, and you will see. Do not seek to denigrate my power when you have hardly known it.” This time, it wasElectra who laughed. “Run along, then, and pack your things. Perhaps it
is
time I sent you home to the cripple who sired a useless daughter when all he wanted was a son.”
“Aislinn, do not.” Donal’s quiet tone overrode the beginnings of Aislinn’s outcry. “Let it be. You know what she is.” He touched the girl’s arm. He felt her body tremble. “Go. Pack your things. And look forward to seeing your
jehan
, who truly loves you.”
White-faced, with tears staining the fairness of her cheeks, Aislinn turned and ran from her mother’s hall.
When he could better master himself, Donal turned back to face Electra. “I am grateful to you.” He said it very quietly. “You have let the girl see for herself precisely what you are, and I need never say another word. You have made my work easier, Electra. I thank you for it.”
“Do you?” The overwhelming beauty was back and all the odd fragility was banished. Electra was once more herself. “Then I am heartened. It will make it so much sweeter when my plans are quite fulfilled.”
Donal shook his head. “You have power, lady—that I willingly admit—and no doubt Tynstar
Before a Cheysuli, the Ihlini lose much of their power. But not all! There are still tricks they can perform. Electra may only know such tricks as Tynstar taught her, being no Ihlini herself, but I cannot say she is as helpless as we thought—
Donal looked sharply at Aislinn. He saw how pale she was, how she continued clenching the golden girdle with allits rich cold stones. Her hands were shaking, and yet her voice was quite steady, quite calm.
As if she has made a discovery, and is strengthened because of it.
“Is that why you wanted me?” Aislinn did not move. “For the Ihlini?” She ignored Electra’s abortive attempt at speech. “And are you so
certain
your perverted magic has worked on me?”
Donal stared at Aislinn. So did Electra. The silence was unbroken in the hall.
Garnets rattled as Aislinn clutched the girdle. “I have listened to Donal just now. I have listened to you as well, hearing you mouth all the things you have told me these past two years. And—I know you better than ever before:
I know you.
”
“Aislinn—” Electra began.
“
Listen to me
!” Aislinn’s shout reverberated. “I will hear no more lies about my father—
no more lies.
Oh, aye…I know what you sought to do—I know why you sought to
do
it! Make the daughter into a weapon against the father.” Aislinn’s voice shook. “He told me—he
told
me: once he truly loved you. But you gave yourself to Tynstar. You wasted yourself on an Ihlini sorcerer! And now you think to twist me in spirit as Tynstar has twisted my father in body?” Hysterically, she laughed, and the sound filled up the hall. “I
do
know Donal—and he is
not
what you say he is!”
Electra’s lips were pale. She stood very still on the marble dais. “He is a
shapechanger.
What I have told you is true.”
Aislinn shook her head violently. “What you have told me are
lies
! Did you think I would not know? Did you truly believe I would listen to that vile filth you spewed when I have known him longer than I have
you
?” Again, Aislinn laughed. “You do not live up to your reputation,
mother!
I am amazed at how easily I saw through your plans.”
Electra’s face was bone-white. Suddenly, even through the magnificence of her beauty, she was old.
But still she summoned a smile. “Then I will tell you the truth in one thing, Aislinn—
heed me well
, I do not lie. What is mine is also Tynstar’s, and I have
made you mine.
” One hand stabbed upward to cut off Aislinn’s angry words. “Wait you, girl, and you will see. Do not seek to denigrate my power when you have hardly known it.” This time, it wasElectra who laughed. “Run along, then, and pack your things. Perhaps it
is
time I sent you home to the cripple who sired a useless daughter when all he wanted was a son.”
“Aislinn, do not.” Donal’s quiet tone overrode the beginnings of Aislinn’s outcry. “Let it be. You know what she is.” He touched the girl’s arm. He felt her body tremble. “Go. Pack your things. And look forward to seeing your
jehan
, who truly loves you.”
White-faced, with tears staining the fairness of her cheeks, Aislinn turned and ran from her mother’s hall.
When he could better master himself, Donal turned back to face Electra. “I am grateful to you.” He said it very quietly. “You have let the girl see for herself precisely what you are, and I need never say another word. You have made my work easier, Electra. I thank you for it.”
“Do you?” The overwhelming beauty was back and all the odd fragility was banished. Electra was once more herself. “Then I am heartened. It will make it so much sweeter when my plans are quite fulfilled.”
Donal shook his head. “You have power, lady—that I willingly admit—and no doubt Tynstar
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