Windhaven

"News of Tya's arrest has spread all over Windhaven, even to Artellia and the Embers. Many of the land-bound have begun muttering their distrust of flyers. Even the Landsmen." He flushed. "The Landsman of the Broken Ring summoned me as soon as she heard, and demanded to know if I had ever lied or twisted a message. I was forced to swear my loyalty to her. Even as she questioned me, it was obvious she doubted my word. And she threatened me! She threatened me with imprisonment, as if she could, as if she had the right—" He broke off, and seemed physically to swallow his anger.

"I am a one-wing, of course," he resumed. "All of us are suspect now, but it is worst for the one-wings.

S'wena of Deeth was set upon by thugs and beaten after speaking in Tya's defense in a tavern argument.

Others have been called names, shunned, even spat upon in Eastern towns. Jem, who is as traditional as can be, was hit with a rock yesterday on Thrane. And Katinn's house on Lomarron was fired while he was away."

"I had no idea it was so bad," said Maris.

"Yes," said Arrilan. "And growing worse. The fever burns hottest of all here on Thayos. Val thinks the mob will come for you soon, so we were sent to bring you to safety."

Evan had returned and was preparing the tea. "Maybe you should go," he said to Maris, concern in his voice. "I hate to think of you in danger. In time, this will blow over, and you can return, or I could come to you."

Maris shook her head. "I don't think I'm in any danger. Perhaps, if I paraded up and down the streets of Port Thayos, crying out my concern for Tya… but here in the woods I'm a harmless old ex-flyer, who has done nothing to rouse anyone's anger."

"Mobs aren't reasonable," Arrilan said. "You don't understand — you must come with us, for your safety."

"How kind of Val, to be so concerned with my safety," Maris said, staring at Arrilan. "And how unusual.

At a time like this, Val must have a lot on his mind. I really can't imagine him taking the time and effort to devise an elaborate scheme to rescue poor old Maris, who hardly needs rescuing. If Val truly sent you to rescue me, it must be because he's thought of some way I can be of use to him."

Arrilan was plainly startled. "He — you're mistaken. He's very much concerned for your safety. He—"

"And what else is he concerned with? You might as well tell me what you really want with me."

Arrilan smiled ruefully. "Val said you'd see through the story," he said. He sounded admiring. "I would have told you anyway, once we had you safely away from here. Val has called a flyers' Council."

Maris nodded. "Where?"

"On South Arren. It's close, but removed from the immediate hostilities, and Val has friends there. It will take a month or more for the flyers to assemble, but we have time. The Landsman is afraid, and he'll be too cautious to move until he sees what comes of the Council."

"What does Val intend?"

"What else? He will ask for a sanction against Thayos, to be in effect until Tya is freed. No flyer will land here, or on any other island that trades with Thayos. This rock will be isolated from the world. The Landsman will give in or be destroyed."

"If Val has his way. The one-wings are still a minority, and Tya is no innocent victim," Maris pointed out.

"Tya is a flyer," Arrilan said, gratefully taking the mug of tea Evan handed him. "Val is counting on flyer loyalty. One-wing or no, she is a flyer, and we can't abandon her."

"I wonder," said Maris.

"Oh, there will be a fight, of course. We suspect Corm and some others may try to use this incident to discredit all one-wings and close the academies." He smiled over the rim of his mug. "You haven't helped, you know. Val said you picked the worst possible time to fall."

"I wasn't given any choice," Maris said. "But you still haven't said why you came for me."

"Val wants you to preside."

"What?"

"It's traditional to have a retired flyer conduct the Council, you know that. Val thinks that you would be the best choice. You're widely known and widely respected, among one-wings and flyer-born both, and we'd have no trouble getting you accepted. Any other one-wing will be rejected. And we need someone we can count on, not some crusty old relic who wants everything like it used to be. Val thinks it can make a big difference."

"It can," said Maris, remembering the pivotal role that Jamis the Senior had played in the Council that Corm had called. "But Val will have to find someone else. I'm through with flying and with flyers'

Councils. I want to be left in peace."

"There can be no peace until we have won."