tales of the latter kingdom 08 - moon dance

by Christine Pope

  Magic.

  I did not know how to use it. But Reynar did.

  Our clasped hands were surrounded by a ball of shimmering light, like the godfire some sailors reported seeing dancing on the open waves. It awoke shimmering reflections in Lord Elwyn’s shocked eyes, even as he stumbled backward a pace, clearly uncertain as to what he should do next. Still holding hands, Reynar and I stood. And then he nodded.

  Together, we hurled the ball of light at the earl. It hit him and spread out along his arms and down his legs, appearing to cover him in garments of flaring incandescence, even as his limbs jerked in a macabre imitation of some kind of pagan dance. And then the light was gone, and he had fallen to the floor, eyes staring and blank. As I watched, his face began to alter, lines forming at the corners of his eyes, dragging cruel furrows from nose to mouth, while at the same time his hair turned almost as pale as Reynar’s own. All those stolen years, returned to him tenfold in but an instant, once his own magic had died with him.

  For the longest moment, Reynar and I stood there in silence, staring down at what we had done.

  I hated to ask, but knew I must. We had to face what had just happened. A question began to form in my mind. Did we —

  “Yes,” Reynar said aloud, stopping me before I could give mental voice to the words. “We killed him. It was the only way. He would never have let you go.”

  “How — ?” I had to stop there, for I had begun to tremble all over, and my voice shook. My mind did not want to grasp the enormity of what we had just done.

  At once Reynar’s arms were around me, and he kissed the top of my head as he held me close. “You had the power within you all along, Iselda. You just did not know it was there.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” The words sounded far more accusing than I had intended them to, but I did not seem to have a very good grasp on my emotions in that moment.

  “Come here, dearest.” He led me over to one of the chairs and sat me down, then stood in front of me so he blocked my view of Lord Elwyn’s body, slumped on the floor. “I would have told you, at the proper time. Indeed, at first I was not even sure. While it is true that all mage-born can sense one another, my facility for doing so is not as strong as — as my late master’s. And what I sensed from you was very different from the power I had always felt within Lord Elwyn. I had to be certain, and it was not until I guessed at his plans that I realized why he desired you so badly for his son.”

  “His son that he murdered,” I said bitterly, for the guilt of that death would weigh on me for years to come. “He said it was because Mayson was a disappointment to him, but now I rather wonder if the main motive for that murder was to arrange things so he could claim me for his own.”

  “Most likely,” Reynar agreed. “And I am sorry that I could not be here to reassure you, but I could not risk being caught by his lordship.”

  “I understand.” And I did. I would never wish to live through another night like the one I had just spent, but better that than to have Reynar come rushing in without a clear plan and risk capture. A sudden thought struck me, and I slanted a glance up at him through my eyelashes. “So where is the real priest?”

  “Sleeping it off in Daleskeld Forest,” Reynar replied with a grin. “Poor man, he could not resist the temptation of a flask of brandy that a stranger offered him. He will wake up with a headache in a few hours, but should suffer no other ill effects than that.”

  “I am glad,” I said. “But how did you know at all what Lord Elwyn intended?”

  “I knew that he planned to marry you to Mayson, and I began making my plans then. But after I heard what had happened to him, I realized my master had no intention of allowing you to return to your aunt. This gift of disguise is a valuable one, for I was able to come and go here in the castle without him even realizing I was about.”

  “But….” I shook my head as I attempted to put together the pieces of the story. “Lord Elwyn claimed that he could sense anyone who was mage-born. So how did you escape his notice?”

  “I can hide that about myself as well, when I take on one of my disguises.” A flash of a grin, and he extended his hands to me. I took them and let him pull me upright. “Something I discovered purely by accident, once upon a time. It seemed a useful gift, but I may have neglected to inform my master that I had such a skill.”

  “Well, I am very glad you did.”

  “As am I.” And he drew me toward him, and kissed me swiftly, and said, “But we should go. His lordship informed the household staff that he was not to be disturbed, but his spells will begin to dissipate, now that he is gone.”

  “Where will we go?” I asked, for indeed, in that moment I could not begin to guess what lay ahead of us. I still could barely grasp the realization that I possessed strange powers, powers which had lain dormant within me for all these years.

  “First, to your aunt and uncle. They deserve some sort of explanation. After that…?” His shoulders lifted, and although he still smiled, I thought I detected a hint of worry in his eyes. “I suppose that depends on you.”

  “North Eredor,” I said at once, and an eyebrow went up. I went on quickly, for his expression remained dubious, “Is it not the most logical choice? You can practice magic openly there, and my sister and her husband dwell there as well, in the capital of Tarenmar, and will most certainly give us a warm welcome. We would be part of a family.”

  “A family,” Reynar repeated in musing tones. “I think I should like that.”

  “Then we must go,” I said. “Only….” I paused and gazed at him, at the fall of bright silver hair. He was so very conspicuous.

  “My love, you should remember that my appearance is no impediment.” And as he spoke, the pale hair was replaced by sooty black, and the silver eyes became dark blue. Lord Elwyn stared back at me, and I gave a little gasp.

  “Oh, dear,” I said, my voice trembling somewhat. “It is so very convincing. Too convincing, I think.”

  “Well, my love, rest assured that I will get rid of it as soon as it is safe to do so.”

  I could not argue with that, and so we exited the chamber and closed and locked the door behind us. Dreadful as he had been, I could not help but be relieved that someone would discover Lord Elwyn’s body soon enough, for I did not like the thought of leaving him lying there all alone like that.

  But soon I had no room in my thoughts for such concerns, as we went to my suite, and informed a rather astonished Tarly that I would be returning to my aunt and uncle’s home after all, and that all my things needed to be packed as quickly as possible. I could not tell what shocked her more — our precipitous departure, or the way Lord Elwyn had accompanied me, and indeed announced his intention to ride with us, rather than sending some of his men along to safeguard our journey home.

  At any rate, she worked with dispatch, and within the quarter-hour we were taking my satchels downstairs. There we came across the footman who had guided me to my meeting with Lord Elwyn. The manservant seemed rather surprised that his master would be carrying my bags, but of course he had no reason to think the man standing there in the foyer was anyone except the earl.

  So the footman was sent to fetch us some horses, and not so very long afterward we were riding away, with Bellender Rise growing smaller and smaller behind us. Even then, I could not be entirely relieved, for I knew Reynar would have to maintain his disguise until we reached my uncle’s estate and Tarly had departed for the servants’ quarters. He had said it was difficult to hold the illusion for more than a few hours, and the journey would require almost three.

  I sent him an inquiring look, as if to ask that very question, and he gave the faintest of nods. So it seemed he could manage, even if it would put a strain on him.

  We rode in silence; I could sense Reynar did not want to waste energy in talking, and I was far too anxious to spend my time in idle conversation. At last, though, the marker indicating the border to my uncle’s property appeared next to the roadside, and a few
minutes after that, I spied the great grey pile of the castle itself rising from the golden fields which surrounded it.

  And soon enough we were riding up to the front steps, and the footmen rushed out to assist us. I could see the surprise in their faces, for my aunt and uncle were supposed to have set out the next morning to attend my wedding, and yet here I was, and with the father of the man everyone thought I was to marry.

  I said that his lordship and I would go to the small salon, and if my aunt and uncle could meet us there?

  “Of course, my lady,” said Jax the footman, who hurried off to fetch them. My word was certainly not law around here, but the servants knew better than to make an earl wait.

  “And Tarly,” I went on, “you may go ahead and rest. I’ll have someone else attend to these bags.” In actuality, I hoped that Reynar and I would be on our way soon enough, and so it was best to leave my belongings here in the foyer, so we might gather them up on our way out.

  Although I could see speculation in her eyes, she bobbed a curtsey and said, “Of course, my lady,” before heading off to the wing of the castle where she shared a room with several of the other maids.

  “This way,” I told Reynar, and led him to the small salon. I had always liked that room, with its tall windows that overlooked the courtyard, and the hearth of rosy-hued marble. Something about it made me feel safe, and I definitely needed that reassurance now.

  Just a few minutes later, my aunt and uncle entered the room. Upon catching sight of me, Aunt Lyselle exclaimed, “Oh, my poor child!” and rushed over, clasping me to her breast.

  At the same time, Uncle Danly, much more restrained, said, “Lord Elwyn, we are deeply grieved by your loss. We appreciate your generosity in bringing Iselda home, but — ”

  “As to that,” Reynar cut in, “I fear we by necessity had to perpetuate something of a subterfuge.”

  And his assumed guise of Lord Elwyn faded away, leaving the Reynar I knew in his place, with his bright hair and fierce eyes, and a simple dark doublet to replace the sumptuous one the “earl” had been wearing.

  My uncle let out a shocked oath, and Aunt Lyselle abruptly let go of me so she might bring an astonished hand to her mouth.

  “It is all right, Aunt Lyselle,” I said quickly. “This is Reynar, who has kept me safe from the earl. And yes, he is a mage, but it seems I might be one, too, and — ”

  “Wait,” Uncle Danly interrupted. That interruption revealed something of his current state of shock, for in general he was all politeness. “What on earth are you talking about, Iselda?”

  “It’s rather a long story,” Reynar said. “So perhaps it would be better if we all sat down.”

  We did sit, and Reynar and I took turns explaining what had happened, and describing Lord Elwyn’s perfidy. My aunt and uncle were alternately shocked and saddened, their eyes growing ever wider as we recounted the tale.

  “And so,” I said, once we were done…or mostly, at any rate, “it is our intention to ride to North Eredor, and seek out Annora and Tobyn. We shall not be so alone in the world then, and we know we will not have to live in hiding, either.”

  “Ride off together?” my aunt said, looking quite chagrined. “When you are not married? My dear, that sort of thing simply isn’t done.”

  I did not bother to remind her that my sister had done that very same thing. True, she and Tobyn had been married soon after, but still….

  “I would not wish to bring shame to your niece,” Reynar said. “At the same time, it is far wiser for us to leave immediately, for as soon as Lord Elwyn’s body is discovered, there are those who will want to question Iselda. We cannot afford to waste much time.”

  “No need for that at all,” Uncle Danly put in. “I can have a man here to marry you within the hour. If that is what you both wish, of course.”

  For a moment, neither Reynar nor I said anything. Our eyes met, and I could not help but see the yearning in his expression. I recognized it, because I felt that same need within my own heart. We would be sealed together forever, and I would have it no other way.

  “Oh, yes,” we both said at once, and Reynar chuckled.

  “Yes,” I said firmly. “That is what we both wish.”

  So my uncle sent for the priest, who came to us in the same small salon and married us there. Perhaps it was not the wedding of my dreams, as I stood next to Reynar with my torn sleeve, he in his garments of plain linen, with no flowers or guests other than my aunt and uncle, but truly none of that mattered so very much, not when I would have Reynar as my husband. Where my cousins and Janessa were during all this, I did not know, but by some stratagem they were kept away.

  Afterward, my aunt wept and embraced me, and said she did not know what she would do, now that both her nieces were to live so far from her. I promised I would write if I could, while Uncle Danly shook hands with Reynar, at the same time pressing a small pouch into my husband’s hands. I guessed the pouch contained some funds to help us on our way, for Reynar shot me a rather amused glance but said nothing in protest. Truly, we would need the assistance, for while I had the gems Tobyn had sent me, it might be difficult to sell them on our travels.

  And then horses were brought for us, and my satchels as well, and not so very long after that we were riding north and west, on the road that would take us to Farendon, and from there to the pass in the Opal Mountains which would at last bring us down into North Eredor. Such a journey could take weeks, although I thought we should be able to travel swiftly, since we had set forth at such an auspicious time of year.

  We could not ride so very far that first day, as we had left Mirfeld Hall quite late in the afternoon. But the road brought us down into the village known as Fenwall, where we found a good inn, a place to share a quite excellent dinner of chicken pie, washed down with the local wine. By necessity, Reynar had altered his appearance as soon as we drew close to the town, and wore the same dark hair and eyes and tanned skin that he had used in the very first disguise he had shown me.

  When we were alone in our room, however, he let the spell fall away, and it was my Reynar who stood there, so striking and handsome that I went to him at once and put my arms around him, and kissed him again and again, tasting the sweet wine on his lips, and tasting something far sweeter when he drew me over to the bed and lay there with me, and made me his wife in truth, rather than just in name.

  Some might say that was where our adventure ended…but I knew it was just beginning.

  EPILOGUE

  Spring has come again, as it always does. Here in the north, that spring might arrive a little later than what I was used to back in my homeland of Purth, but I do not mind. The northland has its own beauty, with its high, snow-capped mountains and forests of dark fir, and the first pale wildflowers to show their faces with the arrival of the sun.

  Annora implied that she and Tobyn were prospering, but I did not realize how prosperous they truly were until Reynar and I arrived in Tarenmar at the end of a weary journey of some six weeks, and saw their grand house of stone, which is located in a fashionable district not so very far from the Mark’s palace. And more than that — because the Markess is a mage of some renown herself, Tobyn and my sister are often invited to palace functions, and enjoy a far higher place in society than I might have imagined.

  They welcomed us, and gave us a place to live until Reynar and I could acquire our own house. This was not as difficult as it might have been, for as soon as Kadar, the Mark, learned that several new mages had arrived in his land, he gave us a most noble welcome, and provided a home just down the street from where my sister and her husband lived.

  I hoped I would belong here…but I what I did not realize was how truly deep that belonging would run. It is a strange thing, to feel so safe, so surrounded by love. My aunt and uncle did their best, but it was not the same as being with one’s true family, of not having to hide who you truly are…even if you did not know what that was until very recently.

  This is something
Reynar and I have come to understand, that the pull we felt toward one another was the old blood speaking within, crying out for its match. There are so few of us now that the chances of a mage-born encountering another who could be their partner in life are very small, and I feel doubly blessed that we ever managed to find each other.

  And now the spring has come, and new life is stirring within me. I think of those I left behind, and mourn that I will never see them again. But I do hear from Aunt Lyselle, who writes to the Mark, knowing that he will give her letters to me. So I know that Janessa and Gwyllim were married at Midwinter, and Adalynn and Coryn are also expecting their first child, and Lord Elwyn’s death was never explained, and neither was the strange alteration in his appearance. Even so, the estate and the title went to a distant cousin after all the investigations were complete, and the questions and the hubbub eventually died down, just as they always do.

  It is a new life here, one which fills me with hope. For perhaps if the Mark and his consort continue their work, the world will begin to understand that magic is not something to be feared, but encouraged and nurtured. There will always be those who seek to abuse it, as Lord Elwyn did, but that is no excuse to turn away from its use, from the many wonders it can bring to mankind.

  And perhaps my children will one day live in a world where they do not have to hide who they are, but who can flourish in the light.

  I hope this dream will come true, for all my others have.

  * * *

  The End

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Dear Readers,

  This is the last of the Tales of the Latter Kingdoms novels. I hope you’ve enjoyed the time you’ve spent in this world, and the stories of the characters who inhabit it. As much as I’ve loved writing every one of these tales, after eight books, I decided it was time to move on to other stories and other genres.