by D. E. Morris
“I'm sorry,” Cailin interrupted, lifting her hands, “but can we not do this now? I know my friendship with the both of you allows me some liberties and that I may be crossing some very bold and deep lines right now, but can we just not? I love you both, but you just argue when the pressure gets too high. While I will concede there have been many times that it has led to favorable outcomes, I don't see that happening in this instance. Can we have tea sent up...maybe something a little stronger...and just hash this out like calm, reasonable adults for once? You two act like children sometimes and it makes me want to-” She stopped talking, realizing both Jaryn and Ashlynn were looking at her with rapt attention, wondering exactly what their arguing made her want to do. Clearing her throat, she glanced at Killian to see him hiding a smirk behind a rub of his nose. “Anyway,” she continued, wiping invisible dust from the spot on the table before her, “how about that tea, then?”
As she was speaking, the door opened and Kenayde entered, followed by by Gianara. Hearing the last of what had been said, Kenayde doubled back to give the orders to a servant with Jaryn shouting an order for beer as well. Once she had returned to the room, she closed the door. “Vala is all patched up and resting. I gave her a heavy sedative so if we are lucky, she will likely sleep well until morning. I want to let her be for a while before I have anyone clean her up, but I would be surprised if she woke up at all, even for that.”
“Good,” Ashlynn breathed. “Thank you, Nadie.”
Kenayde turned expectant eyes to Cailin and Killian. “Has the elf been caught?”
“Not yet, Princess,” Killian told her with reluctance. “We have men searching. In fact, if it is all right with Your Majesties, I would like to join in the hunt.”
Kenayde winced. “Please do not call it a hunt.”
“Go,” Jaryn said with a nod. “Report back to us as soon as you know anything.”
“Killian.” He paused at Ashlynn's call. “No one outside of this room can know that we have gone.”
“You have my word.”
As he left, Kenayde wore her confusion openly. “Are you going somewhere?”
Jaryn held up a finger and turned to Gianara. “When we first met, how many times did your flunkies hit me?”
Alarmed by the question, Ashlynn's brows lowered, but Gianara only tilted her head in thought. “In total or in the first few minutes?”
“Right off the bat.”
“Twice, then it was Cailin they went for.”
Ashlynn reeled. “What?” Cailin only nodded in a matter-of-fact manner. “I really did not need to know that.”
“But we needed to know it was her,” Jaryn reminded. “Kenayde and Cai have tells, mannerisms that give them away, so do Killian and so do you. I wasn't looking for them before but believe me, I am now.”
“I am so confused,” Kenayde muttered.
Attention back on Gianara, Jaryn's expression darkened. “Where the bloody hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried you made us just disappearing like that?”
The dark-skinned woman looked at him like he was crazy. “I was not about to stay here when all of your people were spewing blood.”
“So you just took off without telling anyone you were leaving or where you were going?” Jaryn shook his head in exasperation. “You can't do that anymore, Gia. You're part of our family now, dysfunctional as it is. There's too much going on for us to lose tabs on you like that. We care about you enough that we'd like to know whether you're dead or alive, you know.”
Gianara waved a dismissive hand and turned away from the group. "It is not my fault that you care about me more than I care about you."
Uncertain how to respond, Jaryn only glared at her and let the subject drop. Kenayde seized the opportunity to call attention back to her earlier question about where her sister was going. This only added to Jaryn's irritation, making him stalk across the room to glare out the window with his arms crossed. “Apparently we're going to the Isle of Contest tonight.”
Surprised, Kenayde sucked in a quick breath. “Tonight?”
Ashlynn nodded, tentative, wondering how Kenayde would react. “I want to get it done and over with before anything worse happens. Who knows how long my recovery time will be, and the faster Lochlainn can get used to his new abilities, the better.” Much to her surprise, Kenayde gave a slow, thoughtful nod.
“That does make sense. It is all just so sudden. Only, Papa is not even here and Badru is still away.”
“I know.”
“Whatever you need of me, Lynnie, I will do it.”
Ashlynn pulled her sister into an embrace. “Thank you, Kenayde. We shouldn't be gone for more than a night at most. If I have my way, I'll have Cavalon fly us back here even tonight after all is said and done, but we'll see.”
“We'll see,” Jaryn echoed fiercely.
“Help Killian and Cai keep our absence a secret. That is all we need.”
Gianara ran her eyes over Ashlynn as though accessing her mettle. “Good luck.”
“Thank you.”
“I will keep your prisoners until you return. If you want, I can even dispose of them for you.”
“No.” Jaryn turned around, thrusting a finger in Gianara's direction. “They stay alive for now.”
She shrugged as though it didn't matter to her one way or another. With no indication as to where she was going or that she was even leaving, she took a step backward toward the door and yanked it open. With only a small wave to announce her departure, Gianara left them without another word.
Kenayde gave a curious tilt of her head to her brother-in-law. “Why did you ask Gianara those questions?”
“Elas can explain,” Ashlynn answered. “He'll also tell you why some of us touch the corner of our eye when we walk into a room now.”
“Okay.” She glanced around the room, a slow understanding coming upon her that she was being dismissed. “I think I will go check on Allorah since everything else appears to be taken care of.” She took Ashlynn's hands in her own and squeezed them. “I will be praying for you – for all of you, of course, but for you especially. Tasarin has never let our family down before and I cannot tell you how much better I feel knowing he will be there with you tonight.” She hugged Ashlynn as tightly as she could. “I love you, and I will see you soon.”
“Yes, you will.” The sisters parted and Ashlynn smiled at her. “I love you, too.”
A knock made Kenayde turn for the door, pulling it open for the servant to bring in a tray of tea and alcohol as ordered. Kenayde cast one more smile over her shoulder, one that was strained only to those who knew her well enough to see the worry beneath her bravery, before both she and the servant disappeared. The room that had only moments ago been so full now only entertained three, and Jaryn was quick to pour himself something strong.
“I've spoken to Niam,” Cailin told the couple, subtly watching Jaryn drink. “I didn't give him any unnecessary details, only told him that there was a shifter among us after making sure he was really himself. He's going to make us all thin, simple rings to wear. I thought most of us already wear enough jewelry as it is, something like that would go unnoticed by anyone trying to mimic one of us. If they're not careful enough to pick up on physical quirks as Jaryn pointed out, they certainly won't be looking for fashion accessories.”
Ashlynn nodded, pouring herself some of her tea. “That was a brilliant idea, Cai.”
“I told him to make enough for all the Elementals, the spouses, the three boys, himself, Connor, Killian, and me.” Cailin watched the stream of the dark liquid filling the teacup, her brow wrinkling. “I wasn't sure about your ladies.”
“Mairead and Lilia for certain, yes. Vala...” She trailed off, stirring a cube of sugar into her tea in thought. “Have him make one for her as well and I will decide when to give it to her. Perhaps this incident with the arrow will mature her and she'll be a bit more trustworthy. As it stands now, she is still not one I speak all that freely around.”
“I will do that.” The furrow between Cailin's brow had deepened. “I'm sorry, may I smell your tea?”
Ashlynn blinked, the cup raised halfway to her lips. “Excuse me?”
Before she had permission, Cailin took the cup from Ashlynn's hands and inhaled deeply. Despite Ashlynn's protests and Jaryn's demands to know what she was doing, all the color drained from Cailin's face and she took a step back from Ashlynn, the cup still clutched carefully in her hands. “Oh, Ashlynn,” she breathed. “Where did you get this? How long have you been drinking it?”
“What do you mean?” Ashlynn asked. “It's a special blend one of my ladies introduced me to two or three years ago. I've been drinking it almost daily since. It's supposed to help calm me, though it seems to work better on Kenayde than it does on me.”
“Kenayde has been drinking it, too?”
This simple revelation looked to devastate Cailin; her face contorted and her shoulders slumped. As she set the teacup down, it was clear that she was having trouble swallowing. “Cailin?” Jaryn asked, watching her carefully. He stepped close to his wife, both of them knowing Cailin was not a person to react emotionally to a given situation unless there was call for it. “Do I need to call for the healer?”
“No,” she said softly, giving her head a gentle shake. “No, Ashlynn and Kenayde are fine. There's nothing wrong with the tea itself.” She placed her hand on her forehead, sorrowful. “The blend you're drinking, that you have been drinking for the past two or three years, is one that is carefully made for women so that, when ingested daily, it prevents pregnancy.”
Ashlynn flinched back as though she'd been slapped and shook her head. “What? No, that can't be right. It truly does relax me, and Kenayde has said-”
“It does relax you, yes,” Cailin agreed.” She kept her head down, unable to meet the faces of either Ashlynn or Jaryn. “That is not its main purpose, however, and it would explain why neither of you has been able to conceive.”
“I don't understand.” Ashlynn pulled her hands away from the table as though the entire thing was bad for her. “Why would anyone do that?” Jaryn slid his arm around her waist and she looked up at him. “Why would someone do that to us?”
“You know why,” he said gently, placing a tender kiss on her brow. “It seems the circle of those we can trust shrinks every day. Which girl was it?”
“She isn't with me any longer. She was only here a few months before she was married and moved away.”
“I'm so sorry,” Cailin offered. “It makes me sick to my stomach knowing how much both of you have been wanting to have a baby.”
Ashlynn pushed the tray away, swallowing the bile rising in her throat. “I'll tell Kenayde after I've recovered. If it isn't hurting her, let her continue drinking it while I heal so that I may talk to her in my own time. This will break her heart, though I hope the addition of Allorah to her household will help soften the blow.” She lifted her face, pained, to her husband. “I'm sorry.”
“It isn't your fault,” he assured, touching her cheek. “We've both been led astray by lies.” Turning to Cailin, he said, “Thank you, Cai. I'm sure that wasn't easy to tell us but I'm glad you did. How did you even know?”
The smile she gave him was more of a grimace, as though someone had stuck a knife in her side. “Can we just leave it as good fortune?” The couple kept their eyes on her, expectant, making her squirm and give a small groan. Heat rushed to her face and once more, it was impossible for her to maintain eye contact. “I have been drinking the tea myself for quite some time, unaware that you and Kenayde were also drinking it or I would have said something.”
“You-” Jaryn's brows shot up in a mixture of shock and amusement. All too quickly, the implications of what it meant sank in. “Oh. Well, then.”
Ashlynn narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, her chin lifting. “Papa told me you and he were on the outs. You and Killian have been on much friendlier terms of late and have been spending much more time together than you have with anyone else. Honestly, I think it is a good match and I can't say that I haven't been praying for-”
“It isn't Killian,” Cailin told her in a quiet, sure tone.
Jaryn picked up one of the empty teacups and filled it with beer before placing it on the table before Ashlynn. Ignoring the teacup, the corners of Ashlynn's lips curled in a smile of certainty. “Well it isn't my father.” When Cailin only stared back at her without any expression, Ashlynn's smile dropped. “It isn't my father,” she repeated.
“Ashlynn...”
“It's my father?” She turned away from her friend, fingers curling around her head as though she could claw the knowledge of what she had just pieced together from her brain.
“Don't overreact.”
“Ooh, bad choice of words,” Jaryn muttered, stepping out of the way as Ashlynn whipped back around.
“How do you want me to react. Cailin? This is not okay! How long has this been going on? You know what, never mind. I don't want to know. He told me that you had stepped back from each other for a while.”
“Because I told him that I couldn't marry him.”
“But you can sleep with him?” Ashlynn's eyes were wide. “Not in my home. That's not how this works. You should know better. Both of you should.” She glared at her friend. “I don't have time for this right now. We have to leave for the Isle of Contest. Find the elf and make sure he is bound in such a way that escape is impossible no matter the lengths to which you must go to see it done. Do I make myself clear?”
Cailin gave a curt nod, her eyes once more on the table, chastised. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We will deal with everything else when we are home. You are dismissed.”
She glanced at Jaryn who only gave her a quick sympathetic smile before stepping out of her way. The small movement alone let Cailin know that she would find no help from him, either. She simply nodded once more and made her way across the room to the closed door. Once there, however, she paused and looked back. “My prayers will be with all of you tonight.” She didn't wait for a response, but pulled the door open and took her leave.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jaryn asked when he was finally alone with his wife.
“No.” She picked up her teacup and drank until it was empty, then turned to him with question. “Am I overreacting?” He held up two fingers spaced an inch apart, making her cringe. “My father...” she groaned.
Jaryn chuckled quietly and rubbed her forearms. “I noticed how swiftly your reaction changed once you figured out it was him. Had it been Killian, well sure, have a go at it, Cai.”
“That's not what I meant,” Ashlynn argued, laughing despite herself. “It isn't okay no matter who it is. I am not so naive to think there aren't more than a few in our employ who enjoy relations with others outside of wedlock, but I tend to hold those in my familiar circle to higher standards than others.”
“I think we all tend to do that, love. It's when you start to judge, that's when it becomes a problem. That's not your job in this case. When we get back, when you're well, you need to make it right with her.”
“I will.” Ashlynn took a slow breath. “I still can't believe we had all those years wasted.”
Jaryn hooked a finger under her chin and lifted her face. “Not wasted. I'm glad we only have Lochlainn to worry about right now. After all of this is settled, we'll make a dozen babies – make up for lost time.”
She smirked but her humor was short-lived as she looked deep into his eyes. “I hate that every time we have even a slightly tender moment like this, I'm reminded that I am not the only one you've had them with anymore.” Jaryn looked down, his hand slowly dropping, though Ashlynn was quick to take it with both of hers. “I'm sorry to even say it but I need you to know that it is still in the back of my mind, that I am still struggling even when it seems like I'm not.”
His nod was heavy. “Can you ever forgive me?”
Placing her hand against his cheek, she tried to see past the haunt
ed look in his eyes. “Can you ever forgive yourself?” He had no answer for her. Instead, he placed his hand over hers and leaned more into her touch. “I love you,” she promised. “Nothing could ever change that, certainly not this. We'll get through this, just as we've gotten through everything that has come before this and we will come out stronger together on the other side, but I need you tonight. I need you to be there for Lochlainn, to not be bitter that any of this is happening or to fight it. He needs you. Can we put this, the tea, today, all of it aside just for tonight and focus on what has to be done?”
“I can do whatever you need me to do,” he vowed.
Rising up on her toes, she kissed his lips. “Then let's fly down to Braemar and find our son, and let's get this night done and over with.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Though the sun had set only a couple of hours ago, beneath the thick canopy of leaves in the capital of Braemar, it felt like the middle of the night. When the wind blew was it possible to find the stars high above. Moonlight was plentiful; rays of light shone in fragmented beams through the branches and spilled onto walkways that had been built around the thick tree trunks that made up the forest where the Volarim lived. Each home was constructed high above the ground and with preservation in mind, much like the elves had once lived on Mirasean. The difference between the two races, however, was that the Volarim lived as one big community, one home flowing into the next with little space between them for privacy to separate dwelling from dwelling. It was not uncommon for multiple families to live in one home, and for doors and windows to be wide open at all hours when the weather was warm enough. Theirs was more of a commune than a kingdom, with Nuala and Cavalon's domicile right in the center and almost as open as the rest of the spaces. It was respect that kept others from walking in and out, and little else.
It came as no great surprise when Jaryn and Ashlynn arrived with Rowan, Cavalon's surly attitude reminded Ashlynn of the days when they had met, when it seemed like everything was a personal affront to him. He barely greeted them before muttering something about going to find Nuala and leaving the three of them alone with Misuzu, which suited Ashlynn just fine. She embraced her friend carefully so as not to squish the infant in her arm, then stole Nagisa to cuddle her close.