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Back Priestess of the White
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. TRUDI CANAVAN
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. PART ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. PART TWO
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. PART THREE
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. EPILOGUE
  58. GLOSSARY
  59. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  60. About the Author
  61. Other Books by Trudi Canavan
  62. About the Publisher

There were reluctant nods from the gathered Siyee. Tryss bit his lip. We can fight, he thought at them. You keep thinking that you have to fight like landwalkers. We have to fight like Siyee—from the air. With my hunting harness. With Drilli’s blowpipe.

“Perhaps we will learn how to fight before then.”

This had come from Sreil. Tryss felt his heart lift. Had Sreil remembered Tryss’s harness?

“If landwalkers come here, they can teach us,” Sreil added. Tryss’s heart sank.

“But then we will have to admit we can’t fight,” Vissi warned.

“I think we must be honest with these White,” Sirri said. “After all, they are closer to the gods than any mortal, and the gods can see our minds. They will know if we are dishonest.”

The tribe was silent. Then Tryss’s father spoke.

“Then they will know that we cannot fight with sword or spear. They would not have asked this of us, if they felt we had no value to them in war.”

The meaning behind his father’s words struck Tryss like a physical blow. He felt a rush of cold, and shivered. Slowly he lifted his head to stare up at the stars.

Have you seen my mind? he asked. Have you seen my ideas? Is this what you mean to have happen—for me to give my people a way to fight?

He held his breath. What if the gods answer? he suddenly thought. That would be…wonderful and terrifying.

But no answer came. Tryss felt a moment’s disappointment. Had they heard, but were ignoring him? Did this mean he shouldn’t continue with his inventions? Or were they just not paying attention?

I could go mad thinking like this, he decided. They didn’t say “yes.” They didn’t say “no.” I’ll take that as meaning they weren’t listening, or don’t care, and do what I want.

All he wanted was to perfect his harness and see the Siyee using it to hunt. If his inventions led to the end of his people’s troubles…well, that would be even better. He’d be famous. Respected.

Tomorrow, he decided, I’m going to finish making my changes. After that I’ll test it. When I’m sure it’s working perfectly, I’ll present it to the Speakers.

8

Jarime was a city with many rivers. They carved the city into districts, some more affluent than others, and were utilized by watercraft carrying people and goods. Water was drawn from them for use, then channelled away to the sea through underground tunnels.