“Your own ability to learn and use Gifts is your other limitation. The gods can only enhance our Gifts. Each of us is as strong as the gods can make us. That is why we are not equal in strength. Why Mairae is the weakest and Juran is the strongest.”

“Is it possible for a sorcerer to be stronger than us?”

“Yes, though sorcerers of such strength are rare indeed. This is the first one I’ve learned of in nearly a hundred years.” She smiled grimly. “You have joined us during interesting times, Auraya. Lack of training is another limitation, but one I’m sure you’ll overcome quickly considering the rate at which you’re learning. Don’t worry. We would never send you out to deal with a sorcerer of such strength until your training was complete.”

Auraya smiled. “I’m not worried. And I had wondered how we could be invulnerable when the gods aren’t.”

Dyara frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Many gods died in the War of the Gods. If gods can die, then so can we.”

“I suppose that is true.”

Hearing the beat of hooves on the ground, they both turned to see Juran and Mairae riding toward them. As the reyer came to a halt Auraya realized that neither wore reins. She remembered what Dyara had told her: that Bearers were directed by mental commands.

Juran looked down at Auraya.

“I have a question for you, Auraya. Mairae tells me you’ve finished looking over the Somreyan alliance proposal. Would you make any changes to the terms?”

“A few, though I suspect even more changes need to be made. As I was reading I found that I didn’t know as much about Dreamweavers as I thought. I know how they’d treat woundrot, but not how they fit into Somreyan society. I began to wish I had an expert to call upon, and a possible solution came to me. Perhaps what we need is an adviser on Dreamweaver matters.”

Juran turned to regard Mairae. “You tried this, did you not?”

Mairae nodded. “I could not find anyone with the appropriate knowledge.”

Auraya felt her heartbeat quicken a little, but did not pause. “Did you try a Dreamweaver?”

“No. I did not expect them to cooperate.”

Juran’s eyebrows had risen, but his expression was not disapproving. “You believe they might, Auraya?”

“Yes, if they felt our purpose was not contrary to their well-being. The alliance isn’t, as far as I can see.” She smiled crookedly and touched her forehead. “And we have our own safeguards against the possibility that their purpose is contrary to ours.”

“Which they will be quite aware of.” Juran reached forward and rubbed his Bearer between the ears, around the stub of one horn. “I would be surprised if any agreed to it, but I can see the advantages we will gain if one did.”