Then again, she did not appear to be a lady who often apologized for anything.
Dark eyes settled on Rayne, and the uncertainty was ended. She herself was the intended destination, not the heirs. Rayne didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified.
“My son tells me you are an Earth Goddess,” the lady said as she rode abreast of Rayne.
“So I have been told,” Rayne said. “I’m not sure…”
“Never doubt your power,” the woman said harshly. “Never deny who and what you are. Certainly never question what you have been sent to this earth to do.”
Rayne had no idea what she’d seen sent to this earth to do. To love Lyr was her initial reaction, but at the moment she did not trust her heart or her mind. “I can only believe that what I am meant to do will be made clear to me in due time.”
That response made Isadora smile. “Wise words for one so young.” The friendly smile did not last long enough to suit Rayne. “Keelia tells me that you will be required to accompany my son into Level Thirteen in order to put the crystal dagger to rights.”
Rayne twitched, startled by the news. “I don’t know why I would be necessary for such a task.”
“Neither do I, but as you said, the true path will be made clear when the time is right.” Her expression hardened. “I spent some time in Level Thirteen, and you should be warned that it is not a pleasant place. Many died there, many suffered there, and it is believed that it was in Level Thirteen that the Isen Demon was born. The thing which wished to destroy us all was born of damned souls who could not find their way to the light. Souls addicted to Panwyr and half starved and lost in darkness.”
“Panwyr?” Rayne repeated.
“A very addictive and nasty drug. I’m glad to hear that it is unknown to you.” She glanced back at the brothers, who were at this moment studying the palace much as Rayne did, in absolute amazement. “Their father tried to ruin me with that drug, many years ago. He forced it into my body and then threw me into a hole in the ground, where he expected me to suffer horribly and then die. He might’ve succeeded, if not for the diligence and care of loved ones who fought for me.”
“If I may say so, m’lady, I would suggest that your strength of will certainly played a part in that victory.”
“You do not know me well enough to be aware of my will, or lack of it.”
“No, m’lady, but I know your son well enough, and I can see much of you in him.”
“Lyr is somewhat like me,” she said, “but he is more like his father. Heaven help us all,” she added with a touch of humor.
“Perhaps, m’lady, but I suspect a man such as he cannot be born of a weak woman.”
At this, Isadora smiled. “It doesn’t seem right for a Goddess to call me ‘m’lady.’ Isadora will do just fine.”
Though it was difficult to tell, Rayne suspected the invitation was an approval of sorts. “I would be happy to do so.”
Isadora’s expression as they neared the palace was less than happy. “I swore I would never set foot in this palace again. I almost died here.” She shook off her melancholy. “I also met my husband here. Lucan courted me very well in this palace. I suppose I should attempt to remember the good times and forget the rest. It will likely be weeks before my husband and sisters arrive, since they do not have the advantage, or disadvantage, of Keelia’s flight.”
Rayne suspected it was easier said than done to dismiss such bad memories. “Did your husband court you diligently?”
“Very much so.”
“He…he fought for you?”
“That he did,” Isadora said warmly.
“Then you are a fortunate woman indeed,” Rayne said. She looked to Lyr, who marched beside Merin with his attentions ahead, and then she glanced back at Devlyn, who bestowed upon her a wink and a grin. She supposed she would have to stop thinking of him as Devlyn and begin viewing him as Emperor Jahn, even though he looked and acted very little like the ruler of an entire country.
Isadora looked back, too, and she caught the tail end of the wink. “There are those who will welcome the twins because the blood of emperors flows through their veins, but there are others who will remember Sebestyen and not be so welcoming of his sons.”
“Will any question that they are his blood?” She did not want to see the brothers pulled into yet another kind of war.
Isadora’s laughter was harsh. “There will be no questioning their heritage. The boys both look like him in some way. The younger is his spitting image, and the emperor…but for the color of his hair, the new emperor could be Sebestyen made over if he does not receive the correct guidance.”
“The new emperor is a good man.” Rayne was quick to defend her friend. “He would not do any of the things you have told me his father did.”
Isadora sighed tiredly. “I hope you’re right, Rayne. I dearly do hope you’re right.”
THREE DAYS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL, A SMALL ARMY OF sorts descended into Level Thirteen. Lyr, with the crystal dagger; Rayne, though Lyr was not yet certain why she was required; Sian, with his wizard’s light; Keelia, with her knowledge of what was necessary to bury the demon once and for all.
Ariana and Isadora waited near the hatch in the floor as the others were lowered down by ropes in the hands of two strong sentinels, with Joryn’s assistance. Lyr had never seen his mother so pale, but she refused to wait in a less harsh place in the palace until this deed was done. Sian refused to allow Ariana to visit the dark space beneath the palace again, and for once she listened to her husband.
Emperor Jahn, who’d been crowned that very morning, had insisted on being present for this endeavor, but he’d been left above with the women, as he was not necessary for what needed to be done here today.
Orbs of purple wizard’s light glowed from Sian’s palms, lighting the musty prison. Everyone was on edge, affected by the darkness and history of this place.
Everyone but Rayne, who stepped bravely forward. Sian had to walk directly behind her to make sure she didn’t wander into darkness. Keelia followed Sian, and Lyr guarded the rear of the party.
“All is not entirely malevolent here,” Rayne said. “What happened in this place was indeed terrible, but the stones are merely stones, and the dirt is merely dirt.” She took a deep breath as she led them away from the open hatch high above. “Do you see the path which calls us forward? I see it, and it is quite lovely. There is peace here, peace lost in the darkness.” Soon only Sian’s magical light lit Level Thirteen, as Rayne led them down a narrowing path. Naturally formed stone walls curved on either side, and Rayne trailed one hand along the stone wall as if it were a comfort to her.
Earth Goddess, Lyr reminded himself. This was her domain, as much as her gardens or the swamp water she’d controlled with her breath.
He did not know her at all, and she did not know him. That was a truth he had ignored until now. What awaited her in future days, this Earth Goddess who was unafraid when wizards and seers trembled?
The path widened, and Lyr heard Keelia and Sian breathe easier once more. Soon the widening path opened onto a grotto, where an underground spring provided a gentle rush of water and fungus grew wild.
Rayne turned her head and smiled. “Here. The path ends here.”
Keelia walked around Sian, who increased his wizard’s light to illuminate the large space. “Yes,” she said. “The dagger must be placed beneath. Beneath what?” Her brow furrowed slightly.
The Anwyn Queen did not see precisely what was needed, but Rayne did. She pointed at the stream of water and then turned her head to look directly at Lyr. For a moment he thought he saw pain in her eyes, but then the pain was gone. “Are you ready?” she asked.
He nodded and moved past the others to stand beside Rayne.
Rayne faced the water and exhaled gently, forcing a rush of breath across the surface of the water much as she had in the swamp. The water responded, parting a little bit at first and then separating, peeling away from the bottom to reveal s
mooth, hard rock. What appeared to be the same type of crystal which had once formed the dagger shot through the rock and sparkled in Sian’s light.
Rayne blindly took Lyr’s hand, but she did not look at him. All of her attention was on the rock which had once been beneath the water. She squeezed his hand tightly and took a deep breath, and at her silent command the rock began to split much as the water had.
Keelia gasped as the very walls of the grotto shook. Sian uttered what Lyr recognized as a curse word in the ancient tongue of wizards. Rayne did not respond to the shaking at all. She focused all of her attention on the rock, as it formed a chasm that grew deeper and deeper, and a little bit wider.
The opening of the rock and the vibration stopped, and Rayne glanced over her shoulder to Keelia. “Enough?”
Keelia shook her head. “Not quite.”
Rayne squeezed Lyr’s hand hard, and once again the rock cracked and split. How could such force be created by one so delicate and small? Rayne was small, but she was not without power. The sounds of the rock coming apart were deafening, as if the earth itself groaned and protested. Perhaps it did. Rayne continued to work at the rock until Keelia said softly:
“There.”
Rayne released Lyr’s hand reluctantly, her fingers trailing over his palm, and then she nodded at him. Now it was his turn. He took the blackened crystal dagger from the sack he always carried, as he could not bear to have the weapon against his skin. He peeled away the purple fabric in which he had found it wrapped so long ago, and held the weapon over the chasm Rayne had opened.
He hesitated. “Will the dagger break when it hits the rock below?”
“No,” both Keelia and Rayne answered. They sounded very sure, and he had no choice but to trust these two extraordinary women.
Lyr held the dagger over the opening for a moment, and then he released it. He let the dagger drop into the chasm. He heard it fall, scraping against rock, pinging as crystal met stone, and then, finally falling silent.
That was it, or so he thought. Rayne stepped forward, removed the blue stone she had worn around her neck for so long, and dropped it in after the dagger, chain and all. The gem also hit against the stone, but the sound it made was lighter, as if it sang a song as it fell. The chain gave the occasional soft cling, until it was too far down for them to hear.
Rayne glanced up at him. “For keeping,” she said softly.
That done, she closed the rock as easily as she had opened it. Again, the walls of the grotto shook. Small stones loosened from the walls and fell, some splashing into the water, others pinging sharply against the rock floor. Keelia began to back toward their exit.
“We need to go. Now.”
“Not yet,” Rayne said calmly. She saw the rock she’d opened firmly sealed, and then she allowed the water to rush over the dagger’s burial place. She no longer moved the earth, but the damage had been done and larger rocks began to fall.
This time Keelia screamed. “Run!”
Lyr scooped Rayne up, his arm easily encircling her waist, and followed a fleeing Keelia and Sian. As they reached the exit, a large boulder came loose and fell directly behind him. He jumped into the hallway, Rayne in his arms, and hit the ground as the boulder all but sealed the grotto.
And then the shaking stopped. A few small pebbles continued to fall, but the danger was past.
Lyr sat up. It was finally done. Ciro was dead, the demon was buried deep in the earth, and at last count, most of Ciro’s Own had been accounted for. The prophesy had been fulfilled, and Rayne was safe. In the dim purple light he caught her eye and held it.
“Can we get out of this place?” Sian suggested sharply when Lyr and Rayne did not immediately rise from the ground.
Lyr jumped up and offered Rayne a steadying hand as she stood. Everyone was anxious to leave this place and what was left of the Isen Demon behind, once and for all.
He heard his mother’s relieved words first when Keelia appeared beneath the hatch. The others spoke also, in relief and congratulations. Ropes were lowered, and one at a time those who had ventured into Level Thirteen were pulled up into the light. The women first, then Sian, then Lyr.
When Lyr reached the top, Emperor Jahn peered into the darkness. “My father placed his enemies in this pit?”
“Yes.” Isadora’s voice shook as she answered.
The new ruler studied the hole in the ground for a moment and then lifted stern eyes to the sentinels who had done their duty in lowering and raising those who were forced to venture into Level Thirteen. “Fill it,” he said simply.
“Pardon me, m’lord?” the elder of the two sentinels said.
“Fill. It.”
“With what?” the sentinel asked, adding a belated, “M’lord.”
“Rock, dirt, wood. I don’t care what you use, but fill it.”
“It will take years,” Sian said wearily.
“I care not how long it takes,” Jahn said tersely. “I want it done. I command it to be done.” He tried a smile which was somewhat miserable. “My first command.”
In a voice that continued to tremble, Isadora said, “You might make a decent emperor after all.”
Jahn did manage a true smile then. “Only time will tell, m’lady.”
Lyr could not wait to leave this palace. His mother had already said she would wait for her husband and the rest of their party to return before traveling back to Tryfyn, but Lyr was anxious to be on his way. Rayne would come with him, of course. He stepped around Keelia and Joryn, intent on speaking to Rayne about when they might leave, but the emperor cut into his path and offered his arm to her before Lyr could do so.
“Earth Goddess, I am told,” he said, respect in his voice.
“So they say, m’lord.”
The emperor and Rayne led the way, and all others followed.
“I believe it would be most excellent to have an Earth Goddess at my command.”
Lyr waited for Rayne to tell this man who was supposedly her friend that she would never be at his command, but she did not respond at all. She did not look back at him either, though certainly she knew that he wished to speak with her about their travel plans.
“Celebration tonight!” the emperor shouted as he, with Rayne on his arm, sprinted up the stairs. “We have much reason to rejoice!”
Lyr hung back, moving slowly as the others did. He had never chased after a woman before, and he did not intend to start now.
The emperor and Rayne disappeared from view fairly quickly. Ariana and Sian, arm in arm, were not far behind them. Keelia and Joryn increased their step, anxious to be well away from today’s chore. The sentinels stayed behind to contemplate the task of filling in Level Thirteen.
Lyr found himself plodding up the steps beside his mother.
“I did not believe I would ever be able to say that there’s hope in this world for one of Sebestyen Beckyt’s sons, but I’m beginning to think that boy might make a more than worthy leader.”
“It’s a bit soon to pass that judgment, isn’t it?” Lyr asked, only a bit sour.
“He is very young,” she said thoughtfully.
“He’s older than I am,” Lyr grumbled.
Lyr’s mother took his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was for moral support or for physically necessary assistance. There were lots of stairs between Level Twelve and ground level, Ten, and there would be more after that before they reached their quarters. “You’ve been horribly spoiled,” she said without heat or emotion.
“Thank you, Mother,” he responded with more than a little sarcasm.
“It’s true. You’ve been gifted in so many ways, and everything you’ve ever wanted has always been given to you.”
“I’ve earned my position.”
“You were born to your position.” She shrugged slightly. “You earned the worthiness and respect of that position. And still, nothing has been particularly difficult for you. Your talent for swords and your gift for time have always come easily. Yes, you work, but you do
not toil. You do not sweat. Do you know the difference?”
“No.”
“You have never had to work particularly hard for what you want. You ask, you reach, and it is yours.” A smile tugged at her lips. “You might have to sweat for what you want this time.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
His mother sighed. “I am not blind, Lyr. The girl you’ve been avoiding for days? This woman you tell me is an Earth Goddess?”
By this time, all the others were out of sight. “I thought you wanted me to marry a Tryfynian princess.”
“I do. I did,” she amended. “All mothers want their children to be happy, above all else. I worry about you, Lyr, because you don’t often seem truly happy.”
“There was little happiness in what I was called to do.”
“But you’ve done what you were called to do. You succeeded wonderfully. Now what?”
Now what? Good question. “I don’t know.”
“I do. Sweep the girl off her feet. Woo her. Court her. Get down on your knees and beg her to be yours.”
Lyr twitched. “I do not get down on my knees for anyone.”
“Brat,” his mother said under her breath.
It was not the first time in his life that his mother had accused him of being spoiled, so he did not take the allegation to heart. “In truth I do not trust my own judgment at this time. Look at what happened to Segyn. He was in league with a demon, and I did not see the darkness in him. He killed two Circle Warriors, he almost killed me, he almost killed Rayne. And I never saw it coming.”
“None of us did. He fooled many.” No one could sigh quite like Isadora Hern. “Segyn betrayed you and that’s terrible, but for heaven’s sake, Lyr, let it go.”
“Let it go?”
“Yes!” Her step slowed. He realized she was tiring so his step slowed, too. “If you want sympathy for all that has happened to you, wait for your Aunt Sophie to arrive. She’ll coddle you if you wish it. She’ll give you a hug and a pat on the cheek and she’ll tell you what a horrible episode you’ve endured. And when that’s done, nothing will have changed.”
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