Torchlight flared suddenly by the hut, and long shadows sprang out across the uneven ground.

Indigo pressed herself back against the rock wall, while Grimya, belly low to the ground, streaked like a shadow across the mine track to disappear into the darkness on the far side. Voices and the m.u.f.fled stamp of hooves cut the quiet; then came the metallic groan of the gates opening, and moments later three mounted men carrying flamboys emerged from the mines.

She recognized Quinas immediately. He was in the lead, his companions following with a deferential air, and in the torchlight his face was clearly visible. One of the salamanders shrilled on a high, excited note, and Indigo stepped out onto the path.

"Quinas!" Her voice sent echoes shouting among the rocks, and the hors.e.m.e.n started, dragging their mounts to a halt. Quinas looked for the source of the call; and his face froze.

"You-"

Indigo smiled ferally. "We have a score to settle, Overseer Quinas. And I mean to have satisfaction here and now!"

One of Quinas's companions hissed, "What in the name of Charchad are those things?" but Quinas held up a hand, demanding silence. His horse stamped uneasily, fearing the salamanders; hejerked the reins viciously to quiet it and said: "Well, saia Indigo. What manner of conjuring trick is this?"

"No trick, you monster. Simply servants of the G.o.ddess Ranaya, whose name you and your kind have blasphemed!" She paced backward, orchestrating her movements as she and Jasker had carefully prearranged. One step, two, three: she halted.

"What's the matter, Quinas? Are you afraid of my friends? Afraid they might burn your squirming black soul if you come too close?" The salamanders, on cue, rose on their hind legs, hissing, and Indigo held her arms high. "That's no more than I would expect from a craven coward of the Charchad!"

Quinas's mutated eyes glittered redly. "You heretical b.i.t.c.h's whelp!" He spurred his horse forward, forcing the animal when it proved reluctant. "I should have dealt with you in Vesinum-"

"Risk your reptile's skin against a woman with a knife?" Indigo taunted. "Not you! You prefer to show your manly strength with helpless children, don't you, Quinas? You prefer to kick and revile poor creatures like the miner's little wife-they make fitter odds for a crawling gutter worm like you!"

One of the other men said explosively, "Quinas, let me-" but the overseer again gestured him to silence. "Hold your peace, Reccho," he said, and he was smiling coldly. "This b.i.t.c.h seems determined to pick her quarrel with me alone, and it would be churlish not to oblige a lady." He had the horse under control now and began to walk it steadily, calmly, toward Indigo. "If she's bent on suicide, that's her privilege; when I've finished with her, you can have what's left, if you're interested."

Grimya. Indigo projected a silent thought. Are you ready?

Ready! came the swift reply. The girl took another two steps back and said aloud, "Fine words, Quinas. But you haven't the spine to put them into practice!"

The salamanders hissed again, threateningly, and their flaming tongues darted. Quinas sneered.

"Your little friends don't impress me, b.i.t.c.h. And they'll desert you soon enough when you suffer the punishment of Charchad for your blasphemy!"

As he spoke he drove his heels hard into his horse's flanks and the animal sprang forward, neighing a shocked protest. Indigo had been ready for his attempt at surprise, and she darted backward, the salamanders rearing and shrilling, as Quinas spurred his horse after her.

"Jasker!" Her voice rang out harshly. "Now!"

A wave of tremendous heat buffeted her backward as white fire struck like lightning out of nowhere, crackling across the track in Quinas's path. His horse shrieked, slewing, and realizing the danger, the overseer wrenched its head around, yelling to his friends to get clear.

Grimya! Indigo flung all the power she could muster into the telepathic shout, and instantly there came an answering howl out of the darkness, the cry of a hunting wolf, Quinas's horse started to buck, trapped between terror of fire and terror of predators, and suddenly the overseer's two companions came blundering into the canyon, their mounts out of control as Grimya snapped and snarled at their heels. The horses collided, one man fell, and Indigo heard shouting from the mine gates as the sentries ran to investigate.

The salamanders were nearly hysterical now, shrilling and spitting fire, and she turned to yell back into the darkness, "Jasker! Just Quinas-just Quinas!"

Fire erupted from the rock face, twin walls of roaring flame that trapped the three hors.e.m.e.n in a searing cage of heat. One of the sentries howled in pain as he ran up against the fire wall and reeled back-and suddenly the salamanders launched themselves from Indigo's arms and speared into the air.

For a moment they became streaking green fireb.a.l.l.s, blindingly incandescent-then their bodies reformed, and with shrieks of triumph they dived down on the trapped men.

Inhuman screams ripped the air apart as the salamanders struck, the sounds of men and horses in agony. Indigo whirled around, and in the dark of the canyon behind her saw a human outline etched in sparks, arms raised, head flung back, fire crackling from his outstretched hands.

"No, Jasker!" she yelled, her lungs straining. "I want him alive!"

A wild surge of denial slammed into her mind, and she rushed forward, sprinting toward the shining form of the sorcerer. "No, Jasker, no! Call them off! Grimya, help me!"

A dark, sleek shape appeared above her, scrabbling on the steep slope, and she heard Grimya's answering bark. They reached Jasker together and hurled themselves at him, careless of the sparks andthe flames. He went down, roaring furiously, and Indigo screamed: "Save Quinas! In the name of Ranaya, save Quinas!"

For a moment Jasker lay where they had pinned him, his expression registering stunned shock.

Then, as though someone had struck him full in the face, intelligence returned to his eyes.

"Ranaya-" He threw Indigo off, scrambling to his feet, and uttered a shrill whistle. Answering cries came from within the wall of flame, and the sorcerer ran, stumbling, toward the mayhem. Indigo saw him approach the fire wall and plunge through it; moments later he reappeared unscathed, with a shapeless burden over his shoulders. His gaze met Indigo's and she saw hatred, venom-then he flung Quinas's scorched body down onto the rock and turned back to the fire again. He raised his arms, cried one word-and a river of lava came spilling over the cliff above the burning men, pouring down into the canyon with a t.i.tanic, rumbling roar. Chunks of flaming magma spun high into the air, the molten rock heaved like a great sea wave-and suddenly the flames were gone, and the men and horses were gone, and all that remained was a twenty-foot-high wall of solid pumice that glowed a dull, sullen crimson.

Indigo staggered back against the canyon wall, groping for some support that would stop her legs from giving way beneath her. Grimya ran to her side and she hugged the she-wolf's head against her thigh. Her heart was thundering under her ribs and she felt that there wasn't enough air left in the world to breathe. At last she managed to suck in a great, gulping breath-and saw Jasker walking slowly back toward her.

"Those men..." Her voice sawed in her throat; she coughed, trying to clear the constriction.

"They-"

"They're dead enough now." Jasker's voice was devoid of emotion. "And the mine guards won't get past that wall, even if they're not too frightened to try."

Something flickered at the top of the rapidly solidifying barrier, and one of the salamanders appeared. It seemed to squeeze itself out of the rock, like a rabbit emerging from a hole, and for a moment it perched motionless, watching them. Then, fastidiously, it nibbled at something caught between two of its claws, raised its head, and its flickering tongue licked at its own muzzle. It cheeped once, a conciliatory sound, then winked out of existence.

Indigo felt sick. "My quarrel was not with them...."

"They were Charchad. And the salamanders must have their reward."

"But the horses..."

Jasker's eyes met hers, and her voice trailed off as she saw his look.

"You have your captive, Indigo," he said quietly. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I-" But it was true; she had made her choice and the responsibility was hers. "Yes," she whispered.

Jasker prodded the p.r.o.ne form of Quinas with one foot. "Best look at him, then," he said distantly.

Now that it was over, Indigo could hardly bring herself to examine her prisoner. Swallowing nausea, she crouched down beside him and turned him over. His hands, face, and clothing were scorched and the ends of his hair singed; otherwise he seemed unharmed.

"He's unconscious, but he'll live," Jasker said.

"Yes." She rose. "We succeeded... somehow it seems hard to believe."

Jasker stared down at the senseless captive, then shook his head. "It was just the first step.

We've a long way to go yet." He glanced at the canyon winding into the dark ahead of them. "There's no point in wasting more time. We'll get him back to the caves; then we'll see what he can tell us." A grim smile made his face more haggard than ever in the gloom. "That will be a real beginning."

Near the entrance to Jasker's cave they were met by three more elementals, tiny blue fireb.a.l.l.s that danced agitatedly in the air above the sorcerer's head.

Jasker paused, listening to something that only he could hear, then said to Indigo, "The girl Chrysiva's condition has worsened. I set these creatures to watch her while we were away, and they tell me she is mortally sick." He sighed. "It's no more than I expected."Indigo looked venomously at Quinas, whom Jasker had carried unceremoniously up the mountain flank like a sack of flour. "I'll go on ahead," she said. "I may be able to do something for her."

"Very well." Though the look in Jasker's eyes told her that he doubted it. "At least give her some water. She'll have a feverish thirst on her by now."

Indigo nodded and began to run up the slope.

They had left Chrysiva asleep in the main cave. As Indigo entered, the girl stirred and tried to sit up; and Indigo blanched as she saw her face in the candlelight.

Chrysiva was close to death. The raddled flesh of her face seemed to have sunken and shrunk onto her skull, giving her a desiccated, corpselike look, and her eyes were wide and staring, pinpoint pupils entirely surrounded now by the bloodshot whites. Great patches of her skin had flaked, exposing raw redness beneath, and her hair was falling, giving a grotesquely piebald look to her scalp.

"Chrysiva... ?" Indigo struggled to keep the horror she felt from her voice, but knew the attempt was a failure.

"W... wa..." The girl coughed; pink-tinged spittle ran down her chin. "May I-have some w-water... ?"

"Of course." Indigo ran to where Jasker kept his waterskins and filled a cup. Grimya, who had followed her, stood a few paces away watching with worried eyes. As Chrysiva drank, the she-wolf said: Her tongue has turned black. Is there nothing the man can do for her?

Indigo started to reply, but stopped as a heavy tread in the pa.s.sage beyond the cave announced Jasker's arrival. The sorcerer dumped his burden on the cave floor and said, "He's stirring. I'd best make sure he's well secured before I look at the girl."

Quinas was indeed beginning to regain consciousness. His limbs moved feebly, then he groaned and uttered a m.u.f.fled curse. Seeing him for the first time, Chrysiva's watering eyes widened and she tried to sit up, feebly pushing the cup away.

"It's all right; be calm, now," Gently Indigo held her back and looked over her shoulder at Jasker.

"Truss him, quickly. The tighter the better!"

The overseer was still too weak and confused to protest as Jasker dragged his arms behind him and bound wrists and ankles with a rough cord. Then, hauling him up by his collar, the sorcerer dumped him hard against the wall.

"Nnn..." An ugly, gargling sound came from Chrysiva's throat and she clamped one hand over Indigo's forearm, nails digging painfully. "Him... he is-he is-"

"Hush! Don't look at him, Chrysiva, don't let him upset you." Indigo swung the girl around to face her and looked into her eyes, her own expression hard. "He will die, Chrysiva. We will avenge your husband for you!"

A bark of cynical laughter cut across her words and she looked up to see that Quinas, fully conscious now, was staring coolly at her from the far side of the cave.

"Such sisterly concern," the overseer said dryly. "Truly, I am touched." He smiled. "If you want to 'avenge' the brat's husband, saia, you might as well say a prayer or two for her while you're about it. She looks as if she needs all the help she can get."

Chrysiva burst into tears and Indigo whirled on Jasker. "Get him out of the cave, Jasker!" she snapped. "Get him out of my sight before I cut his throat!"

Quinas said, "Ah, saia, your compa.s.sion knows no-" and the words cut off with an oath as Jasker's fist hit him full on the jaw.

"I have just the place for this piece of offal," Jasker said.

"Then take him. Quickly, before I forget my own intentions."

Chrysiva watched as Quinas-prudently silent now-was dragged away down the dark tunnel.

Grimya, anxious to see that nothing went amiss, accompanied Jasker, and Indigo poured more water into the cup.

"Drink," she said, holding it out. "And then you must rest, Chrysiva."

"No..." The girl blinked as though coming out of a trance, saw that the tunnel mouth was now empty, and turned to look at Indigo. "No," she repeated, and there was unexpected strength in her voice."I don't want to rest; at least, not in that way.... Saia Indigo, you've been so good and so kind to me, I-I want to give you something in return. It's little enough repayment, but..." One hand fumbled at the folds of her robe but her movements were uncoordinated. "I can't find it... please. Here. Pinned to my bodice..."

Indigo touched the garment-she could feel the irregular fluttering of Chrysiva's faltering heart beneath the fabric-and found something hard and metallic. A brooch. At the girl's urging she unpinned it and put it into the palm of Chrysiva's hand.

"Please, saia. I want you to have it. It was a gift to me, from"-tears blinded her eyes-"from my husband. I know it's but a poor thing, yet it-it has meant very much to me. Please. I know you will keep it safe."

Indigo's own vision blurred as she stared down at the brooch. It was, as Chrysiva said, a poor thing; a little bird crudely fashioned from pewter, the wings uneven and badly engraved, the pin askew. It must, she thought, have been made by some craftsman's unskilled apprentice, and was doubtless the only kind of adornment that an impoverished miner could afford for his wife. But to Chrysiva, it meant more than all the diamonds and emeralds in the depths of the earth.

She said hoa.r.s.ely, "I can't take it, Chrysiva. It's yours, and it must remain yours. And I want no payment-"

"Please." The girl thrust the brooch into Indigo's hand and fiercely pressed her fingers into a fist around it. "I... will have no need of it soon, saia. And I want-want to ask-"

"What? Only ask-I'll grant you anything, if I can."

"I... " Chrysiva's lip trembled, her diseased face took on a tight, private look. Then she shut her eyes and whispered: "Send me to Ranaya's breast, saia Indigo. Let me join my husband on Her plains of fire. I know I must go there soon, and I don't want to suffer anymore." She drew breath and her eyes opened again, hurt and desperate. "Please, Indigo-kill me, and let me have peace!"

Appalled, Indigo drew back. She didn't know how to reply, what to say-then she heard Jasker and Grimya returning, and got hastily to her feet.

Indigo? Grimya sensed her distress immediately and ran toward her. What is the matter?

"Chrysiva-she-" Indigo's voice broke and she shook her head, clutching the pewter brooch more tightly in her hand. The sorcerer touched her shoulder gently; she flinched, then looked at him in desperation. "Jasker, can't something be done for her?"

The answer was in his eyes. And she thought of what Chrysiva would suffer before she finally died, the lingering, agonizing horror of her final end....

"She has asked me to kill her," she whispered.

"Ah, sweet Ranaya..." Jasker turned away, his face haggard. "Child-" He moved to Chrysiva's side, crouched before her. "Child, is this what you truly ask?"

Chrysiva nodded. "You are a priest; you understand such things. I beg you, grant me the wine and the fire, as only a priest can do. Give me Ranaya's blessing and let me go to Her."

Jasker rose and paced slowly back to where Indigo and Grimya stood. He looked old suddenly, worn and tired.

"I can't do it." He spoke so softly that she could barely hear him. "It would be a mercy to her and Ranaya would give Her blessing gladly, but... Indigo, I can't do it. My own wife, when she..." He stopped, drew a deep breath. "Those memories are too strong and too terrible. I would flinch, I would pull back at the last moment. The Mother help me, I would fail her!"

Indigo was staring at Chrysiva. In her hand the little pewter brooch was warm, and it seemed to symbolize something that her mind could not quite grasp and hold to. And she thought of Fenran.

Pain and misery and a long, tortured road into darkness... She could understand Jasker's emotion, for she shared it. To take the life of such a one as Chrysiva, in cold blood- But it would not be in cold blood. It would be, as Jasker said, a mercy. Could she in all conscience place her own fine feelings above the desperate need of a woman in the deepest and most hopeless distress? She closed her eyes, and seemed to see Fenran's face before her closed lids; Fenran smiling and laughing and holding out his arms to her. What would you do, my love? she asked silently.

Would you have the courage to grant such a wish, or would you fait? And she believed she knewthe answer.

She turned away from Chrysiva and said very quietly, "I have a crossbow.... '

"Indigo." Jasker laid a hand on her arm. "My cowardice must not be allowed to compel you."

"No." Her fingers closed over his, trying to give rea.s.surance. "It isn't like that, Jasker. Truly, it isn't like that." A little unsteadily she walked to where the girl lay, and knelt down.

"Chrysiva?"

Hope flickered in the bloodshot eyes. "Yes, saia?"

"I will keep your brooch safe, I swear it. It will be as precious to me as... as it was to you."

Steeling herself, she bent to kiss the girl's forehead gently. "Speed you well, Chrysiva."