Twice Blessed

by Taryn Noelle Kloeden

  Terayan willed his own silent voice into Amblin's waiting mind. I have always seen it. I want to ensure their deaths do not go to waste, though. We need to choose our next step carefully.

  Shall we end this chatter then? Allow us to plan for this deviation from our designs?

  Terayan clasped his hands together. “I must say, gentlemen. You make a compelling argument. Perhaps I was quick to the sword. My own anger at the insolence of the Peninsulars clouded my judgment. Thank you for being so accommodating and taking this meeting at such short notice. Your words will not be forgotten.”

  The other Councilors responded with their own flowery pleasantries.

  All five men exited together before taking their separate ways to their living quarters.

  Terayan strode into his own apartment and barred the door with a wave of his gloved hand. He removed his circlet, tossing it on the divan in his receiving salon. His head felt suddenly heavy.

  At first Terayan thought it was just the irritation caused by the Councilors’ cowardice, but the weakness built, spreading to his limbs. He collapsed beside his crown, holding his head. He released the enchantment over his eyes to conserve his magical energy. Something was happening.

  A voice boomed in his head. The seer has escaped you.

  Yes, but I can retrieve her. Her dreams are still blocked—

  The pain spiked down his spine, bending Terayan over.

  See that they remain so. If Rayna Myana is able to access her twice-blessed abilities again, they will lead her to the Other. We cannot risk what knowledge the Other may have. If she has seen the Ascension, she might warn Rayna how to stop it.

  She won’t, my master. I swear to you.

  The pain released and Terayan wiped the trickle of blood from his mouth.

  A knock sounded from the door. “Tallis. It’s us.” Ezra’s high voice needled Terayan’s sore head.

  He came to his feet, unlocking the door.

  As the twins entered, Terayan collapsed again.

  The Laevuls helped him to a sofa.

  “Tallis, what’s wrong?” Ezra wiped her silky handkerchief across his forehead.

  Amblin poured a chalice of wine but Terayan waved them both away.

  “Sometimes the messages are intense.” He steadied his breathing and nodded for Amblin to give him the wine.

  “What did he say?” Amblin asked.

  Terayan gulped a large swallow. “We must keep Rayna’s dreams blocked. He grows concerned over what will happen if she learns of the other seer—the one we have been unable to find or cloak ourselves from.”

  “The Soulousian seer?” Ezra scoffed. “Whoever she is, she’s unknown, untrained. She can’t possibly pose a threat to our plans.”

  “That’s what we thought of Rayna when she escaped Rhael. No, I’m done with underestimating these women.”

  Amblin nodded. “Then what do you propose?”

  “We do whatever we can to keep Rayna under our influence, but with the Alvornian Priestess helping her, she might attempt to break free of our hold on her mind. We need to ensure that if she does, she cannot learn of the Soulousian seer, and what she knows. We must destroy the Soulousian before Rayna has the chance to find her.”

  “How can we destroy someone we cannot find?” said Ezra. “I have tried every divination tactic I know, but to no avail.”

  “It seems to me we have two problems.” Amblin paced the room in tight circles. “The other Councilors stand in the way of our needed military preparations, and the Soulousian seer is a loose-end we cannot afford. What if there were a way to deal with both of our issues at once?”

  “You know of such a way?” Terayan sat up straighter.

  “There’s a spell. It’s never been possible before, but given the recent changes to the veil and the power balance, perhaps it’s worth another go.” He looked to his sister.

  “You think to summon the Barghest Und?” she asked.

  “It requires the sacrifice of three enemy souls.” Amblin grinned. “A convenient number.”

  The Barghest Und.

  If it could be done, such a beast would be just what they needed. It could hunt down the last seer by tracing her divine blood, no further information needed.

  “Very well,” said Terayan. “Now to business. We’ve an assassination to plan.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Rayna related what she knew of Kado to Marielana, Pheros, Seperun, and Roxen.

  The four leaders watched her intently.

  When Rayna finished, she leaned farther into her chair.

  They sat around a table in the Seperun’s quarters. The closed door kept all but those present from hearing her information.

  Rayna had told only Channon and Mina of Kado's other form. It was best to keep the information quiet, until they decided what it meant.

  “And Kellan is sure of what he saw?” Roxen asked. He took her hand beneath the table. Rayna had not realized she'd been shaking until he steadied her.

  She nodded. “He is. When I asked Kado, he was certain, too.”

  “There is only one way to know” Seperun offered. “We must remove the Monil. I understand the Sylrian healer, Violette, can do it?”

  “She believes it likely the unlocking rune she has previously used will work in this case,” said Pheros. “But I think it best we wait to test that theory until we have a better understanding of who Kado Aronak is.”

  “You don’t trust him?” Rayna asked. She did not particularly trust Kado herself, but she wanted to know Pheros’s reasoning.

  “No. I think it more likely than not Kado is an agent for the Council, sent to spy on us Peninsulars.”

  “If that were the case,” said Seperun, “would he not have been positioned more closely to the Sylrians to ensure he would infiltrate us?”

  Pheros shrugged. “His escape may have appeared coincidental, but perhaps he was waiting for the right moment to make it appear convincing.”

  Rayna had not considered that option. She had been more caught up with his resemblance—and apparent family connection—to Nero.

  Seperun pursed his lips. “And what of his origins? He claims to be Nero Geddeont’s son. I’m inclined to believe him, given the resemblance. How is this possible?”

  “I don’t see how it is,” Rayna said. “Nero had no mate. He loved my aunt, and when Silver rejected him, he never loved again.”

  Pheros cleared his throat. “Love is not required to produce a child.”

  Rayna flushed. “I know what’s required, but Fenearens mate for life. If he fathered a child…” She did not bother finishing her thought.

  “Forgive me, Miss Myana.” Thoughtful lines creased Seperun’s forehead. “But when you say Fenearens mate for life, do you not mean customarily? Are there not some who behave outside of these cultural guidelines?”

  To Rayna’s relief, Roxen answered. Though, from the shade of scarlet creeping up his neck, she suspected it was not much easier for him to discuss the matter. Non-Fenearens seemed to have no problem conversing about matters of love, but to her, they were private.

  “There are many who choose more short-term arrangements,” Roxen said. “But Kado Aronak said Quella Jana was his mother. I find it difficult to believe she would have behaved in such a fashion. From what I recall, she was very reserved.”

  “You knew her?” Rayna hadn't considered Roxen might know more about the situation, since he was nine winters her senior.

  “Aye, not well, but I remember her. She was one of my mother’s ehreln—an apprentice healer,” he added for the others’ benefit. “I recall my mother being quite fond of her. Quella was kind, gentle, and a competent healer.”

  “But what happened to her? I don’t remember her at all.” Rayna wracked her mind, but could not recognize the name.

  Roxen furrowed his brow. “She moved to another densite quite suddenly. My mother said she went to live with family.”

  “If that’s true, how did she end up in the Kyrean Republ
ic?” Pheros asked.

  Seperun sighed. “My people raided Fenearen densites, especially those close to our borders, with alarming regularity. If she moved to the Northern or Northeastern site, it is quite possible she was captured in a raid, before being sold into the slave trade.”

  Rayna knew all about Maenoren raids. The explanation fit. But one piece was still missing.

  How and when had Quella become pregnant? Was it possible she'd loved Nero and he had forsaken her? Or, had Quella chosen to be with Nero outside the bonds of commitment? But if she had, would not her pregnancy have changed that decision?

  Pheros leaned forward in his chair. “You say from what you knew of Quella, she would not have willingly disregarded your customs. Is it possible that Nero deceived her, or worse?”

  The suggestion hung heavily in the air.

  Roxen spoke. “If we were discussing any other Fenearen, I would say no. We are taught from a young age that there is nothing more important than consent. But, I learned far too late not to underestimate Nero’s capacity for cruelty.”

  “But, our laws are clear.” Rayna sought to calm herself as much as the others. “Such villainy—it’s punishable by death. Had Nero lied to Quella about his intentions or…” She looked away, not wanting the tears in her eyes to fall.

  Rayna did not know Quella, but her heart ached for Kado’s mother nonetheless.

  “He would have been executed,” Rayna said. “It wouldn’t have mattered that he was the Beta. Quella’s pregnancy provided no shortage of proof.”

  Roxen exhaled. “You were young during those days. But things were different when your grandfather was Alpha. He loved Nero like a son. That’s why Eron wanted Silver to take him as mate.”

  “How could he have?” Rayna had little memory of her grandfather. He had died when she was about six winters old. The only feature she recalled was Eron's scent when he tossed Rayna on his shoulders. It was smoky, like pine trees and still-glowing embers.

  On the night of his funeral pyre, Silver had stared straight into the fire.

  After a while her aunt had looked down at Rayna and said, “I know you won’t remember him well keiri, but your grandfather loved you very much. You reminded him of Aquillo. He’d always wanted a son.” She’d laughed but, looking back now, Rayna understood the laugh was one of regret, not joy.

  Roxen shook his head. “I was young myself, but, Eron only saw the best in Nero. Like Aquillo, Nero was his champion. And Nero was able to hide his darkness from the Alpha, as he did from the rest of us for a long time.”

  “But even so,” Rayna pressed, “had Eron been presented with evidence against Nero, wouldn't he have done what was right?”

  “I don’t know,” Roxen said quietly.

  “I doubt we ever will,” Pheros said. “But we agree, it is possible that Nero fathered a child with Quella—a child that would be born in the Kyrean Republic, and eventually, find his way into our brig.”

  “A child that takes white wolf form,” Marielana spoke for the first time.

  Rayna had almost forgotten she was there. “

  “So we’ve been told,” Pheros added in a mumble.

  “You doubt it?” Roxen asked.

  “I do not doubt what Kellan Kemar saw. But Terayan could have used his magic to deceive Kellan,” Pheros explained. “Terayan is no doubt aware of the mythology surrounding the white wolf. It would create the perfect cover for a spy.”

  A spy.

  Kellan suspected Channon was not what he appeared. Pheros suspected Kado of much the same.

  Rayna silently resolved she would not share what Kellan had told her about Channon. If they already did not trust Kado, they might believe the worst in Channon, too. Their distrust would hurt him, and she could not abide that. Besides, there was no point in worrying them with Terayan’s deception.

  Though, as much as she hated herself for it, a tiny voice in the back of her head reminded her of Channon's decision to kill an unarmed man, and of his apparent joy in violence. Was she being honest with herself when she said there was no reason to believe Kellan's warnings?

  No matter how much she wanted to extinguish the flame of doubt, it smoldered on beneath her mind's surface.

  “I agree it’s best to remove the Monil when we reach Fenear,” suggested Seperun. “We can speak to the Alphena, who might know more about Kado’s origins, and continue from there.”

  They all agreed.

  Rayna was relieved Kado’s potential identity was no longer her sole concern. She had enough to contend with without the addition of unraveling the mystery of the white wolf on her own.

  “We shall arrive shortly,” Marielana said. “Once we do, you and I need to prepare for your purification rite immediately, Rayna.”

  Rayna nodded, the pulsing in her temples as uncomfortable as ever. “The sooner I’m rid of Terayan’s influence, the better.”

  It was morning by the time Fenear’s shores were in sight. With the ocean breeze, the air above deck was chilly. Rayna leaned into Channon.

  He pulled his arm around her.

  She'd barely had any time to talk to Channon about all that had happened—including their kiss, or Kellan's warning. It was all so overwhelming. Rayna took a deep breath, focusing on the traces of forest air.

  She would be home soon. Marielana would cleanse her of Terayan's influence. Then maybe life would make sense again.

  “When we land,” said Channon, “the Alphena might be displeased with us.”

  “Displeased?” Rayna sighed. “I disobeyed her direct orders. She’s going to be livid.”

  “It’s not just you. Roxen and I were supposed to bring you home, not embroil you in more danger. Pike and Gar, they’re Trues—not under her direct command. But Rox and I—”

  “Anything you two did,” Mina said as she came to Channon’s other side, “you did to protect us. As far as I’m concerned, you followed orders. Besides, Silver’s Rayna's aunt.”

  “And she’ll be overjoyed that we came back alive,” Rayna said. “But it’s not that simple. Even if Silver herself forgives us, what we did could make her seem weak to the pack. And the last problem we need right now is instability in our leadership.”

  Mina shook her head. “Fenearen politics are still far beyond me.”

  “You’re not alone in that.” General Pheros said as he exited the captain’s quarters. “Come, many of the Sylrians are still weak and might need help exiting the ship once we land.”

  Normally the small natural harbor south of Rayna’s densite was a dangerous place to make port—only Maenoren raiders desperate to capture slaves had been known to attempt it. But with the Alvornians aboard, it could not have been simpler.

  Marielana stood at the ship’s helm, guiding it in with gentle waves of her delicate hands. Rayna watched, transfixed, as she helped Violette onto the deck.

  “Rayna, dear, you haven’t answered my question.”

  “Violette, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear…”

  “Of course you didn’t. Why listen to the old woman who once saved your life.”

  “Sorry. Please, ask again.”

  Violette smirked. Her hunger and injuries had not robbed her sharp wit. “Why haven’t I been permitted to remove the other prisoner’s Monil yet? And why is he being treated like a criminal?”

  “It’s—complicated,” Rayna deflected. “You need to focus on your own recovery for now.”

  Violette snorted. “You’re as difficult as that Alvornian soldier. He’s handsome, but I don’t like his attitude.”

  “Alvornian soldier? You mean General Pheros?” Rayna could not help but laugh. She had always been intimidated by the stern, violet-eyed man.

  “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

  Rayna followed the others to the bridge leading off the ship. She eyed the shore.

  Silver was not there—Rayna supposed she had no way of knowing they would be arriving.

  Shame settled over Rayna as she realized she was relieved to no
t see her aunt waiting. She missed Silver, but she also feared what her aunt might say about Rayna's actions.

  But as her boots touched Fenearen sand, Rayna's anxieties slipped away.

  Against all odds, she was home.

  Better than that, over a dozen Sylrians were saved, and Kellan among them. Lonian was gone, but he was looking down on them from Wolnor’s forest—happy to see his nephew safe.

  Rayna glanced behind her.

  Channon helped Kellan off the ship.

  The Sylrian shrugged him off, walking unsteadily on his own down the plank.

  Channon was trying to be kind, but he had no way of knowing that Kellan distrusted him. Channon deserved to know what was said about him.

  Rayna resolved to tell him as soon as they were alone together. She had to be certain she broached the subject in the right way, lest she create more tension where she sought to dissolve it. If she were being honest, there was something selfish in her desire to tell Channon. She could not silence the whisper of doubt in her mind, but if Channon denied it, perhaps that would end her uncertainty.

  Gar and Pike hurried to the shore. They sprinted past Rayna.

  We’ll find the Alphena! Gar howled.

  Pheros and Marielana exited the ship last, with Kado walking between them.

  Kado kept his head down, avoiding eye contact.

  Rayna pitied him, but still did not trust him. She fell in step with Mina as they both watched Katrine closely.

  Katrine kept glancing at Kado as they made their way up the sand dunes to the forest.

  The Alvornian healing magic had them all moving with much more ease, but Rayna’s shoulder was still sore.

  Katrine had to be feeling even worse.

  When they reached a patch of forest shadowed by sprawling sycamores, Gar and Pike returned with a wolf-formed Silver. A pale red she-wolf Rayna recognized as the healer Jaline came running as well.

  Silver shifted as her gaze fell upon Rayna. “Thank the Goddess!” Silver enveloped her in an embrace.

  Rayna buried her head into her aunt’s shoulder, feeling foolish for dreading their reunion. “Silver, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”