The maid returned and began serving lunch. She brought them a loaf of dark bread and a saucer of butter. Then she laid out a salad so colorful, Tyla was entranced. She asked Thalandar what the ingredients were and for a few moments, lost herself in the wonders of Temerian abundance.
She’d never lacked for food in Adishian, but often it hadn’t been fresh. She took a bite and savored the blend of salty and sweet against her tongue. The greens were crisp, the bits of fruit juicy, and the bread warm.
She shot a look at Jarrett and noticed he was eating with obvious pleasure. He met her gaze and smiled. The ease of their camaraderie ambushed her again. She couldn’t imagine sharing a meal with Kendrick in this manner.
She looked away. “Tell me about my mother, please,” she asked her grandfather.
Tash chuckled. “Ah, there are so many stories. That one was a firebrand.”
“That she was,” said Thalandar.
“She gave me more trouble than all three of my boys combined. If any of them were going to come in with a scraped knee or a bump on the head, it was her.”
Tyla smiled.
As they ate, Tash regaled her with stories of her mother’s childhood, frequently interspersed with stories from Thalandar. She soaked them up, storing them away. When dessert was served, Tyla found her eyes brimming with tears. What a gift! She felt that she almost knew her.
Tash leaned back, lifting his teacup to his lips. He took a sip, then replaced it on the table. His expression sobered. “She loved your father dearly,” he said. It was the first mention of Talar since the meal began. Tyla lowered her fork.
“And he loved her?”
“He couldn’t live without her. It wasn’t a union I was happy about, to be sure, but I can’t deny they adored each other.”
“Were you against their marriage?”
Tash and Thalandar exchanged a look. “More than you can know. I feared for her. Your father was a hunted man. No father wants that for his daughter. And yet…”
“And yet?”
“There was no way to keep them apart.” He studied her a moment in silence, then pushed his chair back and rose. “Come with me. There’s something I need to show you.”
Tyla glanced at Thalandar. The Stravad shrugged.
She and Jarrett rose, following Tash from the room. He led them to the back of the house, past a sitting room and the kitchen. They entered a narrow hallway with two doors. He chose the door on the left.
It opened into a simple room with a bed and a dresser. A deep-backed chair occupied a choice spot in front of the windows, which looked out over the garden as well. Curtains in midnight blue framed the windows, but had been drawn back and secured with a tie, allowing light to flood the room. At the foot of the bed was a worn chest, its leather cracked, the clasp holding it shut missing a lock.
Tash motioned them inside. “Please have a seat.”
Tyla slid past her grandfather and Jarrett, moving to the chair. She sat on the edge of it and watched as Jarrett positioned himself by the dresser. His height and the smallness of the room seemed at odds with each other.
Tash angled around the bed, taking a seat on the edge. He clasped his hands in his lap and studied her. After a moment, he smiled. “Your uncle Tav and I used to communicate psychically. Often we went days without speaking aloud. It annoyed our mother and bewildered our friends. I miss him terribly sometimes.”
Tyla leaned forward and covered his hands with her own. “Why did you leave Zelan?”
Tash sighed. “It was empty without your grandmother. I couldn’t stand the loneliness. When Thalandar invited me here, it just felt right. Honestly, I don’t regret it at all, but I still miss my brother.”
“I miss mine too,” she offered.
Tash turned his hand over and clasped hers, squeezing it. Then he seemed to remember what he’d wanted to show them. His expression grew serious. “You know the legend of your grandfather, right?”
She knew he wasn’t talking about himself. “Eldon?”
“Yes. You know why he was so revered.”
“My version may be a bit different than yours, but I know of him.”
“He was a great man, a great leader, and very powerful.” He gave her a searching look. “I suspect you know something of that no doubt.”
She hadn’t wanted to talk much about her power, but she knew the Stravad all sensed it. It only made sense that her grandfather would as well. “I know.”
“It drove him mad, they say. And your own father, he was tortured by it.”
Tyla shifted uncomfortably, but Tash merely tightened his hold.
“The Stravad here believe the source of that power comes from Lodegems, the rocks that can be found deep within the earth here. Do you know what I’m talking about?”
“It’s called pycantra in Nevaisser,” said Jarrett.
Tash acknowledged his statement with a nod. “Pycantra, then. You know of it?”
“Yes.”
Tash leaned closer to her, lowering his voice. “Eldon found a way to focus his power. He used a Lodegem as a conduit. It had its own power and when combined with Eldon’s natural ability, it made him the Immortal Warrior.”
“The Karhartadon emerald?” asked Jarrett.
Tash leaned back, releasing Tyla. “The same. My father found it and used it to defeat Gava, then he passed it on to me. With it, I became…”
“Haldane,” Jarrett interrupted again.
Tash gave him a broad smile. “My sons certainly didn’t skimp on your education, did they?”
Jarrett bowed his head. “They taught me to revere your legend, my lord.”
Tash waved his hand dismissively. “I’m nobody’s lord, least of all yours, but I am honored. It’s nice to know one’s children think highly of them.” He turned back to Tyla. “Anyway, I was a second-rate holder to the man who came after me.” His eyes grew distant in memory. “In your father’s hands, the emerald was an awesome weapon. He could control it like I never hoped to.”
Leaning over, he unhooked the latch on the chest and opened the lid. Tyla caught a glimpse of fabric and paper inside, but resting in the middle of it was a leather pouch. Tash curled his fingers around the pouch and drew it out, shutting the chest again.
He settled the pouch in his lap and began working the draw strings. He forced the mouth open, then turned the pouch upside down. The emerald dropped into his hand, radiating a blinding green light from each of its facets.
Tyla caught her breath.
Tash hefted it with a laugh. “Just as I imagined. I haven’t removed it in all these years.”
Tyla glanced at Jarrett. He was leaning forward, staring at it with rapt attention. She shifted her gaze to her grandfather and found him staring into the depth of it, its green light bathing his features and reflecting in his eyes.
He met her gaze. “When your father was dying, he asked me to take it again. He gave it back to me.” He curled his fingers around it. “But I knew it was a temporary custody. Someday I knew it would pass back into the hands that unearthed it so long ago. Someday I knew it would find its way back to Eldon’s line.” He held it out to her. “It rightfully belongs to you.”
Tyla reached for it. The moment her fingers touched it, it flared so brilliantly they all had to squint to look at it. She felt it thrum with power, the energy radiating up through her fingers into her arms and centering in her chest. She gasped at the probe of it, but a moment later, it dimmed and grew cool to the touch.
Tash’s expression was bemused. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. A riot of thoughts were fighting for supremacy in her mind. One, however, pushed its way to the forefront.
“Did you say it acts as a conduit for one’s power?”
Tash chuckled. “You Eldralin amaze me,” he said. “The first time I touched that thing, it nearly fried me, but you all dandle it like it was nothing more than pretty glass.”
Tyla didn’t quite know how to respond. If he had worried about how it would re
act to her, why had he given it to her?
He seemed to guess her train of thoughts. “I can feel your power, Tyla. The moment we met, I sensed it, like I did with your father. I knew the emerald would accept you. It always accepts those with power an equal to its own.” He scratched at his head. “Yes, it acts as a conduit. It channels your power to a focused point.”
Tyla stared into its glittering surface. Maybe that was the answer to fighting Rarick. Maybe with the emerald she might be able to attack him.
The second the thought formed, she knew Jarrett had shared it. Her head jerked up and she met his gaze. He’d edged away from the dresser, his expression alarmed. She immediately schooled her features. Of course she had no intention of taking on Rarick, she reassured him. That would be suicide.
CHAPTER 24
“My goodness, Stravad do love to party,” laughed Tyla, twirling a circle around Muzik. The huge man chuckled at her. She took his hand and drew him onto the dancing floor. Lovely Stravad couples smiled at them, amused by the massive size disparity, but for a large man, Muzik could move well.
Tyla caught Kendrick’s frown from the periphery of the dance floor. He was even more confused by the constant dinners and dances and cocktail parties at the Stravad Leader’s house. In his stiff black uniform and erect posture, he stood out even more than the giant Human escorting her around in a twirl.
When Muzik spun her to the far end of the floor, she caught sight of Jarrett and her grandfather in earnest conversation. They were seated at a table by the quartet, which played a rousing waltz. Jarrett was also dressed in his uniform, but he had the jacket unbuttoned.
“That’s a pretty bauble, Your Majesty,” Muzik commented, nodding at the emerald where it dangled from a chain around her neck. “Buy it in the market?”
Tyla frowned at him. Hadn’t he ever heard of the Karhartadon emerald? Deciding it was easier than explaining, Tyla nodded.
They finished the dance, but when Muzik would have led her back to Kendrick’s side, she angled him toward her grandfather and Jarrett. The two men broke off their conversation and rose to their feet at her approach. She kissed her grandfather on the cheek as Muzik retrieved a chair for her. As she sat down, he took up a position at Jarrett’s shoulder, staring out over the dance floor.
“You look like you’re having a good time,” said Tash through Jarrett.
She met Jarrett’s appreciative gaze and felt her cheeks heat. His eyes made a path down her dress and back again. She looked away. “I am.”
“You look lovely,” Tash commented. “The emerald sets off your eyes.”
She touched it with her fingertips and felt an answering thrum. “Thank you, Grandfather.” She hooked her arm through his and gave him a hug. “I have a request for you.”
“Of course,” he said.
“Take me to see my parents’ graves.”
Tash reared back.
She was surprised by his reaction. “Is that a problem?” she questioned.
Tash sighed and shifted in his chair. “It’s very hard for me to go there, Tyla,” he answered. “I almost can’t stand it.” He curled his hand around her chin. “I know why you want to go, but I can get someone else to take you. Thalandar or Farad?”
She took his hand in hers and kissed the back of it. “It’s all right, Grandfather. I understand. I’ll get someone else to take me.”
He exhaled. “It’s just…” His voice trailed away.
“She was your daughter. I do understand.”
“No, that’s not it entirely. It’s your father too. I may not have approved of their marriage, but he meant a lot to me. He saved my life.”
Tyla forgot the dance around her. This was the second time someone had told her about her father, about him saving someone’s life. Her fingers lifted and curled around the emerald. “Can you tell me about it?”
“That is a long tale,” Tash said. “Maybe it’s better left for another time.” When she looked disappointed, Tash laughed and stroked her cheek. “I promise, I’ll tell you, but it’s too loud in here and you should be dancing.” He nodded at Jarrett. “Don’t sit here talking to an old man. Take this beauty waltzing.”
Jarrett and Tyla locked eyes. She felt a thrill pass through her and she wanted nothing more than to be swept up into Jarrett’s arms, but he broke her stare, his gaze lifting to a spot behind her.
“Tyla?” came Kendrick’s voice. She felt his hand curve around the top of her chair. “Would you like to dance?”
Jarrett turned away. Tyla felt her heart drop, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze again. With a sigh, she rose to her feet and faced the Nazarien. “Of course,” she said, accepting his hand. It was her own fault. She’d been pushing Jarrett away for so long, she wasn’t surprised he finally accepted it.
Kendrick led her to the other side of the dance floor – as far away from her grandfather and Jarrett as he could get, but once there, he simply stood, staring at her. Tyla gave him a puzzled look.
“Aren’t we going to dance?” she asked, motioning around them.
Kendrick shifted uncomfortably. “Nazarien don’t really dance.”
“It’s easy. Just put one hand here.” She grabbed his hand and put it on her waist. “And the other here.” She clasped it within her own. “Then we count.” She counted off the dance for him, then led him around a few steps.
He rotated with her awkwardly, his carriage stiff, his legs ram-rod straight. After a few steps, he landed on the heel of the man behind him. Stumbling into Tyla, he apologized to the Stravad, while Tyla tried to resist her impulse to laugh.
He turned back to her with a miserable expression.
“Or we could just sway,” she said, taking his hand and placing his other one on her waist again.
“I think swaying is better.”
They moved back and forth for a while like that, while the rest of the Stravad paraded past in a kaleidoscope of color. Kendrick looked so uncomfortable, she wondered why he was trying so hard.
“Is that the Karhartadon emerald?” he finally said.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Should you have it on display?”
“In Temeron? I think it’s safe.”
Kendrick shook his head. “It’s a dangerous talisman.”
Tyla wanted to change the subject. “Why did you ask me to dance if you don’t know how?”
He stopped moving. “It’s the first chance I’ve had to talk with you. I know you’ve been busy with your grandfather, but I think there are a few things we need to discuss.”
Tyla felt her heart drop. It wasn’t that she was surprised, she just hadn’t expected him to broach it so soon.
“We’ve been in Temeron a few days now,” he continued, “and I’m mindful of the significance of that.”
“Kendrick…”
“I found out a few things about Temerian law.”
That stopped her. “Temerian law?” She wasn’t sure how that applied.
He tugged at the collar of his jacket, then placed his hand on her waist again. He’d forgotten about swaying even. “I was thinking about our pledge to Tarnow, and so I decided to ask the Stravad Leader about marriage practices.”
She started to pull back, but he held her tighter. “Kendrick…”
He continued as if he hadn’t heard her protest. “In Temeron, two people can pledge their devotion to one another in a private ceremony – just the two people and no one else.”
She frowned at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at a spot somewhere over her shoulder. If nothing else, that told her a lot about his true feelings.
“Once the two people have made this pledge, they’ve only to…to…” He paused and his eyes briefly flickered over her face.
“To what?” she said, although she guessed where he was headed. Truthfully, she found his discomfort somewhat amusing.
“To consummate their union.”
“To do what?” she pressed, fighting to hide her smile.
&n
bsp; “To…to attempt…procreation,” he finally forced out.
“To attempt procreation?” she repeated.
His eyes flickered over her face again. “Yes. Once that’s completed, they’re officially and legally married.”
“Once that’s completed?” She shook her head at his choice of words. Oh, Kendrick, she thought with a sigh. What had Tarnow gotten both of them into? “This doesn’t seem to be very appealing to you.”
“No, of course not. I mean, of course it is. It’s just Nazarien don’t express themselves very well.”
“I know more about what Nazarien don’t do, than I’ve ever known about what they do.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Of course not.” When he continued to look baffled, she touched him in the center of his chest. “Listen, Kendrick. I appreciate you finding out about Temerian marriage practices…”
“I’m prepared to keep my pledge to Lord Tarnow.”
That stopped her. She thought about the pledge and about Tarnow. Promises should last only as long as the person who enforces them does. Earon’s words were entangled in everything now. How she’d loved Tarnow, but did she owe him this much?
“I need more time,” she said.
Kendrick looked stricken, but a moment later, he ducked his head. “As you wish,” he answered.
Anger would have been easier to handle, but his quiet acquiescence was somehow worse. It made clear his own feelings regarding this marriage.
She looked around at the dancing Stravad and realized another song had started during their conversation. Suddenly she didn’t feel like dancing anymore. The frivolity of the room seemed out of context with the seriousness of the moment. And as always she was reminded of Temerian abundance. There was no way she couldn’t contrast that against her life in Adishian.
“I’m tired,” she said. “Please tell my grandfather I said goodnight.”
Kendrick gave her a concerned look. “Do you want me to accompany you?”
“No,” she said, holding up a hand to forestall him. “I’m fine by myself. Besides, Kian’s waiting.”
With that, she turned on her heel and started for the doors of the ballroom, but she could feel Kendrick’s eyes on her as she went.
The World of Samar Box Set 3 Page 39