by D. E. Morris
“We're being quiet,” the winged boy promised from the floor, playing little wooden soldiers with Lochlainn.
Badru nodded but said nothing, his dark eyes sliding to where Lochlainn sat. “And you, little princeling? How do you feel today?”
“I feel fine.” He lifted his head to the old man, a hint of a smile on his face. “I'm an Elemental now.”
The quiet, near bashful statement brought a grin to Badru's lips. “Yes, you are. Welcome to the family, little brother. I believe you may be the youngest one yet to inherit your position. It is important that you keep this new title a secret for now, though, yes?” Lochlainn glanced at Lucien, his eyes widening slightly. “It is all right for us to know, but the world is a dangerous place for you and I, and the rest of our kind right now. In order to keep yourself safe, you must not tell anyone that is not considered family about anything that took place here.”
Lochlainn swallowed and gave a meek, “Okay,” before Lucien reached over and pinched him.
“How are things in Cieria?” Jaryn asked, watching the boys out of the corner of his eyes as they pretended to go back to playing but were quietly arguing over something instead.
Badru shook his head. “There is little to tell, unfortunately. Lilia and Mairead have successfully infiltrated Rhiamon's village, and Connor and I are staying with new friends and allies in the adjacent town. We are gathering as many Keepers as possible. That we have Killian's name to toss about helps.”
Jaryn gave a quiet chuckle, then turned to the boys. “If you two are going to keep fighting, I'm going to kick you both out of here. What is so important?”
“Nothing,” Lucien impressed through gritted teeth. “We were just talking about the friends we were playing with yesterday and the stories we told each other.”
“You can go play with them now if you like. I'm sure this is no fun for you and I think she's pretty well out of it at the moment.”
“No.” Lochlainn clutched the toy soldier he'd been holding to his chest. “I want to stay here.”
“Okay, lad, relax. You can stay, but no more fighting.”
Badru looked past Jaryn to where Ashlynn slept, watching the even cadence of her breathing. “Keep a close eye on her over the next few days, and do not be surprised if she sleeps like this for a while longer, even through your journey home. Her body needs to acclimate to all the changes it is going through.”
Jaryn narrowed one eye. “Awhile longer, as in days? Weeks?”
“Just be watchful and patient,” was Badru's answer. “I must be going. When I see you again, it will be in Siness.” He had every intention of saying goodbye to the others as well, but each minute that passed was a minute that made him feel more anxious about being so far away. The plan had been to come and do what needed to be done, then return to Cieria, not to spend the night, but after everything that had happened, he couldn't have just left. Now it was definitely time to go. “Have the others fill you in,” he told Jaryn as he walked back out onto the high balcony. With a wave goodbye, fyre sprang up from under his sandals and consumed him.
For a split second, all of the air was taken from his body, every sense turned off as he moved through time and space with impossible speed. He inhaled in Braemar and exhaled in the sun dappled forest of Cieria just a few feet from the town where Connor was certainly waiting for him. Gerwyn's shop was close by, if he remembered correctly. All he had to do was slip in through the back, slide down into the tunnel and make his way through the underground passageways to Kyo's house, and all would be well. There had been no cry of alarm to signal anyone seeing his fyre, giving Badru the assurance he needed to move out of the forest and begin his secret journey to Kyo's
Almost as soon as he climbed up the ladder that took him up to the door to Kyo's kitchen and sitting room, the wooden panel above lifted. Connor's expectant face peered down with a lantern in hand. When he saw Badru on the ladder, his features darkened and his jaw jutted forward, even as he extended a hand to help pull the older man up. “Where have you been?” Connor demanded. “You came rushing in here last night saying that you had to go take care of something and that you'd be back in a few hours, and then you don't show up again all night. Do you have any idea how stressed out I have been?”
“My apologies,” Badru replied as he finished his ascent into the house. No one else was there but the younger man. “My task took much longer to attend to than I had originally anticipated. I assure you that I would not have left in the first place had I not a good enough reason to do so.” He gave Connor an assessing gaze. “Has something happened in my absence?”
“No,” Connor grumbled, “but it could have. Where did you go, anyway?”
Sitting down at the table, Badru poured himself a cup of water from a pitcher before him. “I went to Braemar. Ashlynn went forth with her purge last night. Lochlainn is now the new Earth Elemental.”
“Wow.” The news was enough to silence the younger man for a moment and make him pull out a seat of his own. “Are they both okay?”
“Lochlainn is perfectly fine. Time will tell how Ashlynn is. She survived the night, and that is promising.”
Connor ran a hand through his hair. “Well,” he said after a minute or two of thoughtful silence, “my news isn't as big as that, but I managed to follow in your footsteps and memorize the tunnels since I couldn't sleep while you were gone. Also, Kyo, Gerwyn, and Eira have alerted pretty much all of the local Keepers to call them back into active duty and the web is being spread even wider as we speak.”
Badru grinned. “That is no small report, Connor, but good news indeed. Well done.” He hesitated, then asked, “You have said nothing to our new friends of what I am, have you, of what many of us are?”
Connor flinched back as though insulted. “Of course not. Killian told me to keep my mouth shut on that before we left so I listened, though I don't totally understand why. They're Keepers, too. How can they fully do their job if they don't know what they're working with?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Anyway, I wonder how long the girls will stay with Rhiamon. I'm ready to get back north.”
“As am I,” the older man confessed, “but our task is to stay here until they are safely out of the clutches of the potential enemy, however long that may take.”
Despite Lilia's eagerness to leave and her unease at being within Cynefin, her reluctance to abandon Mairead kept her there for almost a week longer. She did her best to keep to herself and to simply be observant as Badru had suggested, but the things she was seeing in her friend were disturbing. Each day that passed had Mairead settling into the daily life with more ease than she was expecting. Mairead almost acted as though she was more comfortable in her own skin among these strangers than she was among people she'd known for years at Altaine. She kept her gloves on in every situation that permitted, hiding her hands when her gloves needed to be cleaned or taken off for some reason. She had yet to return to her veil as she often did at home, but chose to keep it wound loosely around her neck. Here, she laughed easier and smiled more often. Lilia saw her being playful with Esther and some of the other girls. She even saw her singing and dancing a couple of times, and she was not blind to the way Derog watched Mairead whenever he was nearby and in her company, though Mairead seemed oblivious herself. It was as though she was an entirely new woman.
She was seeing another side of Rhiamon as well, one that was less threatening, which made her dislike her all the more. All of her people looked up to her, and she cared for each and every one of them. Lilia noticed that she knew every member of her village by name, whether young or old, male or female. Whenever she spoke with them she had a personal detail about their life after which to inquire. She was gentle with the children and a firm and patient leader for all of the adults. She mourned over the losses of others as though they were her own and celebrated in their victories. It was easy to see why they loved her as they did, but knowing what Lilia knew, it was also terrifying. Adoration was a fierce power, one that co
uld motivate people to follow someone blindly, even to commit genocide.
I'm worried about you, Lilia commented one night as she and Mairead lay in bed together, their fingers interlocked. You're like a completely different person here than you are at home.
Nothing has changed, Mairead assured her. I want to do my best to make them feel that I am at peace here and that I belong...that I want to stay.
Do you want to stay? You seem so happy. I haven't seen you like this in a long time.
Mairead hesitated. I am happy, in a sense. These people accept me for what I look like. No one flinches upon seeing me or turns the other way, but I have not forgotten why I am here.
Sometimes I wonder about that.
There was enough moonlight coming in through the window to illuminate the frown that crept onto Mairead's face. Lilia.
I'm sorry, but I do. Rhiamon loves you, you have Esther now who thinks the sun rises and sets with you, not to mention Derog.
What about him?
Please, Mairead, you cannot possibly be that oblivious. I noticed you didn't wear Niam's pin today.
I forgot to put it on. Besides, he gave it to me to remind me to be brave. It is not a token or a promise. We are not engaged or even courting. We barely even know one another.
He loves you. Marriages have gone through with less and succeeded. Lilia sighed. We've been here too long. I want to go back to Connor and Badru. I know we haven't heard of any more killings recently, but I cannot help but wonder how things are out in the real world. This one feels so artificial.
There have been more slaughters. Mairead's voice was so quiet in Lilia's head that it was barely an echo. Since we have been here there have been a total of five different incidents in Siness alone. You were not told because they feel you cannot be trusted.
Lilia squeezed Mairead's hand in anger. That is absolutely ridiculous! Of course they can't trust me, but you know better. That's it. I'm done. I don't want to stay any longer.
Instead of fighting or agreeing as Lilia had hoped, Mairead gave a gentle lift of her brows. Perhaps you shouldn't.
What?
I will be able to better do what I need to do here without having to worry about you.
Lilia jerked her hand away and Mairead gasped, whispering, “Lilia, that is not what I meant.”
“I know exactly what you meant.” She tossed their thin blanket back and swung her feet over the side of the bed, a light forming around her even before her feet touched the cold floor. Other girls in the room still awake in their beds rustled at the disturbance, their attention pulled by the sudden appearance of the odd illumination. With no care as to who was watching her, Lilia shifted right before their eyes, the light growing so bright that no one could look at it. In the afterglow of the quickly dissipating brilliance, all could see the small bird that stood where Lilia had before it zipped out the closest window.
It was an odd hour, a time where it was time for some to be asleep but still early enough that half the village was still awake enough to be roaming about. In this form it was much easier for Lilia to explore. She'd done so on more than one occasion since coming back this second time, but she had not been bluffing in her conversation with Mairead. When she said she was done, she had meant it. If Mairead wanted to stay and felt secure enough in her standing here that she thought she would be fine on her own, then so be it. Lilia would just go back to the others without her. Of course they couldn't leave Cieria without her, but there was no way she was staying here a moment longer.
She fluttered through the village, sticking to the treeline, and waited for a perfect opportunity to cut across the open main thoroughfares so she could fly back down the mountain. In her haste and her anger, she flew right past Rhiamon's apartment and nearly missed the sight of a man entering, only glancing back when she heard a deep laugh that was unfamiliar to her. She doubled back to see little more than a robed figure closing the door behind himself. What made him so interesting was that his robe was black, not the varied shades of brown or green the other men of the village wore. Anger momentarily forgotten, Lilia dropped down to a low branch outside Rhiamon's apartment. There, she could see inside without being seen herself to try to glimpse at the man's face and possibly hear what they were saying.
The man pulled the hood of his robe down to reveal salt and pepper hair that was thick and well kept. He smoothed out his beard and mustache and Rhiamon watched him, an amused smile on her face. “Would you like a comb?” she teased, taming a bit of hair on the side of his head that stood up.
“Do I need one?” he asked with a playful quirk of his brow.
“Not anymore.” Rhiamon dropped her hands, resting them flat against his upper chest. She was nearly as tall as he and stood almost nose to nose with the stranger, though he hardly seemed to mind if his smirk was any indication. “You smell like flowers and citrus.”
“That could be because of these.” He stepped away from her to reach for an oversized bag that had been placed by the door. From within he carefully pulled a bouquet of cream and periwinkle flowers. “Orange blossoms and geraniums,” he told her, his low, quiet voice almost a purr as he handed her the flowers.
Rhiamon took the gift, tenderness softening features Lilia often thought of as hardened, especially when dealing with her personally. “You remembered.”
“Do you think I would forget your favorite flowers if I was coming to see you?”
“You never have before.” Holding the bouquet at her side, Rhiamon touched the side of the man's face and leaned in for a kiss that started out innocent, but soon made Lilia uncomfortable enough to look away. She only peeked back inside when she heard Rhiamon say, “I have missed you.”
“I have been away too long. Forgive me.”
“Always.” She smiled at him, practically girlish as she flirted with her lashes. “I have wine and food. Help yourself while I put these in water.”
He was comfortable as he moved about her apartment, removing his robe completely to reveal a simple pair of trousers and a shirt beneath. Though he looked old enough to be Rhiamon's father, he appeared quite fit and in good health. Even as he filled a plate with food for himself from a tray that had been set up by the fire, he kept stealing glances at Rhiamon. He poured her a glass of wine and set it by her chair before settling himself into a seat beside hers and heaving a long sigh as though he'd been on his feet all day. She walked past him, trailing her fingers over his shoulders and the back of his neck as she passed, then seated herself down with her wine in hand.
“Shall I let you eat before I start asking for news?”
He chuckled around a wedge of avocado. “How cruel of a man do you take me for?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” she asked, her tone sly.
Finishing what was in his mouth, he stared at the fire. “Where to start? In the past four days there have been sixteen Gaelic families caught and disposed of in all six nations combined for a total of one hundred and two individuals.” Lilia felt like she wanted to scream and be sick all at once. “The last number I was given for full blooded dragons was thirty-five, but there was a small hunting group going after a rumored darkness dragon drake and his mate, so that number may change.”
Rhiamon studied the side of his face as though looking for something. “You have always had a particular...reservation...when it comes to the darkness dragons and you have never told me why.”
His smile was fleeting and nostalgic. “The reason matters little. In the end, they all must die.” She looked as though she wanted to press for more but he reached over and ran the back of his hand down her bare arm in an effort to distract. “The Sinessian high court attempted to assassinate eighteen vigilantes, Emerion being one of them.” Rhiamon's brows elevated, though she looked more pleased than shocked. “Six of them were hanged before a riot broke out, all of them human. Everything else went off without a hitch.”
“And Akane?”
“I have not spoken to her in person for
some time, but I believe she is doing just fine.” He gave Rhiamon a nod of assurance. “Absolutely everything is going according to plan, as I told you it would. With any luck, she will soon find the pages that have already been collected and are foolishly being kept inside that tower they call a castle. By this time next year, we will have a child in our care with ties to the Sinessian crown, the little prince of theirs will be dead, and no other heirs will have been produced or survived.”
Grinning, Rhiamon lifted her wine. “I will drink to that.”
The man touched his goblet to hers with a quiet laugh and took a sip, but barely had time to swallow before he remembered something important. “Do not rest too easily. I saw the Fire Elemental down below just this morning. If he is here, it is likely that he is not alone and there are others sniffing about. Keep your wits about you.”
“I am not as clueless as you think I am, tucked away in my mountains,” she teased. “Contrary to what you may think, I have things well under control and am taking care of them at this very moment.”
“Oh, really?”
She tilted her head. “You sound as though you doubt me. Have you not yet learned how dangerous it is to doubt a woman, Merrik?”
Lilia nearly fell off her branch. In all the years she'd known Ashlynn and Jaryn, she had heard that name so many times that she had lost count, but never once had she seen the man's face. How was she to know that this was him? What was he doing here with Rhiamon, and what did she mean that she was taking care of things? Without another thought on the matter, she jumped into the air and flew straight for the House of Maidens, no longer caring about staying hidden. If Badru and Connor were in trouble, if Mairead was in danger by being here as well, they had to know.
She shot in through the window through which she'd left and landed on Mairead's chest, never having tried communicating through telepathy in her shifted form but praying it would work. Merrik is here!
What?
Mairead's voice was so loud in her small head that it knocked Lilia's little feathered body over on its side. Careful, Mairead scooped her up and rolled over on her side. She pulled the blanket up over her head, then cradled Lilia gently in her grip before speaking softly once more. What do you mean?