Priestess of the White

Epilogue

Auraya walked the battlefield. Around her were twisted bodies. The pale, staring eyes of the dead filled her with horror. She was afraid to look into them, yet she could not stop herself. Blue lips opened and rasping voices pleaded for life. She tore her gaze away only to be caught by another corpse ranting at her. Accusing.

“It’s your fault I’m dead.”

She hurried away, but the sea of corpses was endless. They lay thick on the ground. She had to step over them. They tried to grab her ankles.

“We had to fight! We had to!” she protested. “You know that!”

Ahead she could see a light. Suddenly she was standing before it. A table and two stools had been set in a gap between the bodies. On the table was a game of counters—a game already begun. The set was beautifully made of black and white veinstone.

The corpses had fallen silent. She stepped over the last of them and looked down at the board. The two sides were caught in stalemate. No wonder they had abandoned the game.

A figure stepped out of the shadows. She felt a stab of pain as she recognized him.

Leiard.

He looked at her searchingly, then down at the board.

“What an interesting dream you’re having. Why did you feel the need for me to join you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you here.”

“You called me.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

She glared at him. “Why did you answer then? I thought you preferred whores.”

He blinked in surprise. “So you know about that?”

“Yes.”

He looked thoughtful. “Probably just as well. You won’t be tempted to look for me.”

She felt a stab of hurt. “Oh, there’s no chance of that now.”

“You might find this hard to believe, but I didn’t want to hurt you. My people were in danger. Leiard’s weak and humble nature was meant to protect us, not lead us into danger.” He looked down at the board. “There are five white pieces and five black left. Which side do you want to take?”

She looked at the board. “White, of course.”

“Then you have won.”

One of the pieces had changed. It had been engraved with a gold circle, representing a priest, which made it a stronger piece than it had been.

“What happened? That’s not how it was before.”

Leiard smiled. “No?”

“Why did it change?”

“I don’t know. This is your dream, Auraya of the White, and I want no part of it. Goodbye.”

She looked up.

He had vanished.