“What? Don’t I get a kiss too?” Caroc’s smirk was a parody. She kissed his cheek.
“There I’m all better now.” He said.
She patted his arm. He bowed his head sighing. “So how are we?” Ariana asked Jarod.
“We took some losses but with the pass blocked we have some time to recover. At least we got the women and children out.” Jarod said.
“I’d better get to work.” She said.
Cava and Ariana took care of the most severely wounded. Ariana tried to ignore the smell of battle and the gory wounds and just concentrate on helping Cava with her energy. Well into the night she helped, listening to pained whimpering, looking into dazed faces. They’d barely dented Rhysin’s forces, but their own were depleted. At least they were safe for now.
The Donnray were taking care of the horses. Ariana glanced over but couldn’t muster the energy to help. There were a few badly wounded horses needing to be put to death. She felt each rider’s anguish ripple along the flame. Ariana was still connected to the sages to help in the healing. Everything was overlaid with a nimbus of flame. It helped her focus. It was easier to heal using the flames. There was a warm trickle down her arm. One of the healers had bound her wound but it was bleeding again.
She had to get away for a few minutes. She disconnected from the flames around her. Exhaustion hit, she reeled. She began aimlessly walking. She stopped when she realized where she was going. The plateau spread out below her. Torches flickering as healers prepared for tomorrow. Vague thoughts of going down to help came to her. But the air was clear and fresh here. She didn’t feel everybody’s pain here. She couldn’t go back just yet.
She reached Heulwen just as the night turned toward day. Above the valley the full moon bathed the gate in silver. It was beautiful but Ariana didn’t care. She was numb. She just sat cross-legged staring at the Gate. Her arm throbbed. She’d taken a life today. It was self-defense. He was the enemy. But right now none of that mattered.
She wished she’d never seen the Heartstone. She longed for her comfortable existence back home in New York. She’d been content ignorant of who and what she was. Why had she ever been born? Why show her a glimpse of happiness and then snatch it away? It was a cruel trick.
Despair filled her. Rhysin’s forces would eventually starve them out. If only she could open this goddamned gate. Then they’d have a chance. The Gate shimmered mockingly in the moonlight through her tears. She was alone, no need to be strong. She let them flow.
Chapter Eighteen
Jarod found her there, curled asleep in the warm sand. Gently he knelt down and stroked the hair out of her face. She woke up blinking. Her face was sticky with tears, sand and blood. Her arm didn’t hurt. The Heartstone must’ve healed it while she slept. She looked up at the sky. It was near dawn; the sky was gray with the promise of a new day.
Jarod didn’t say anything. He just sat down and opened his arms. She threw herself into them. The tears started again. She couldn’t stop. He settled the blanket he’d brought around her shoulders and waited.
“How did you find me?” She said. He laughed.
“Stupid question," she admitted with a wan smile. "How long have you known I come up here?”
“Since the second time.” he said.
“Thank you for letting me here alone.” Her eyes filled with easy tears. “I’m sorry. I should be stronger.” She said.
“It was your first battle.” Gently he wiped her cheeks with the blanket and kissed away her tears. She leaned against him for a moment then looked up at his face.
“What are we going to do? He’s got so many men.” Her voice wavered.
“We will prevail. You have to believe. But you need to rest and stay strong and sure.”
“What if something happened to you?” “Nothing will happen to me.” His arms tightened. “We’re together and safe for now. Don’t worry.”
“But.” she said.
“I love you.” He kissed her.
“I love you too.” She kissed him back.
She settled into his arms, lazily looking at the sky. The full moon was slowly setting as the first rays of the sun pierced the atmosphere. The air was so clear she could even see stars still twinkling in the indigo sky. She looked at the gate. She had it. She pulled away from Jarod. He looked at her questioningly. There wasn’t much time. She rose, brushing herself off.
“Stand behind that rock. Don’t come out, no matter what happens.” She said.
“Why? What are you going to do?” he said.
“Please. Trust me.” She said.
He went behind the rock. She positioned herself in front of Heulwen. Sending up a plea to the heavens she closed her eyes. The fire of the rising sun drew her but she turned away to snare the silvery energy of the moon. She held the moonlight like a skein of thread. Quickly she turned to the fading stars twisting in the starlight to form a thicker strand. Blue and silver light spun around her. Then she turned to the sun, binding the bright rays with gossamer threads of moon and stars. Now with three different fires in her hands she added the pure flame of the Heartstone. She held the skeins of light together until they merged into a web of golden fire.
Dimly she sensed the flickering of the sages and Horse Clans coming to investigate. Effortlessly she drew them into the strands. The fire entered her. She rejoiced in its ferocity. She looked down at her golden hands as the flames poured through her body reaching for the Stone. As they reached it she exploded in sensation. Intoxicating rage filled her along with the power. She could do anything. The pressure inside her built unbearably. She writhed under the hot caress. For an instant she saw her mother’s face in front of the flames behind her eyes.
Ariana blinked. The flames were superimposed on the scene before her. She had to hurry or she’d be lost in the passionate fire. She strove to remember how Vaeryn had sent the flames earlier. She threw her hands out toward Heulwen. The concussion knocked her down. An intense beam of rainbow flames shot toward the Gate. It hit Heulwen like a laser. Seams of fire shot down the gate making the carvings warp.
It grew white hot as if the sun was held within the incandescent walls of the gate. Ariana hooded her eyes from the glare. The gate blew up. The redstone walls shook and quivered around them. Everyone screamed. Ariana threw her hands over her head. Jarod launched himself over her shielding her from falling debris. Roaring the golden slab crashed to the valley floor. The sands erupted in a geyser all around them. Ariana and Jarod clung to each other. The front of the canyon melted into a shallow basin dominated by a set of fused stone steps.
Smoke hissed up from the cooling steps. Her ears were still ringing from the crashing valley walls. The dawn was streaking pink and amber across the sky. They scrambled to their feet. Ariana turned to the open gate. Jarod held her hand tightly. She looked at him and smiled.
“I love you.” She said.
“I’m coming with you.” He said.
“No.” Gently she kissed him, putting her whole heart into it. He held her for a moment then let her go. She looked back at the entrance to the valley the Horse Clans stood silently watching. Slowly Vaeryn came forward. His face was pale. The rest of the clans stood silent waiting for him to speak. He cleared his throat, his voice ringing loudly in the silent valley.
“You have opened Heulwen, the sacred gate, go swift and sure on your journey with our blessings.” He stopped speaking; “I still can’t believe it.” He said softly for her ears alone.
“Neither can I,” she admitted with a weary smile.
“May the fires of Lyw protect you.” Vaeryn continued loudly.
“She’ll need more than that surely.” An amused voice rang out. Gravel trickled down from a trail on the right side of the valley. Everyone looked up at the sound. A slight dark man picked his way delicately down the almost invisible trial. Lyon groaned. Negligently he dragged Maeve behind him by the hair. Once they reached the sand he stopped and bowed.
“Please don’t let me interr
upt.” Rhysin said fastidiously wiping the red dust off black velvet. He looked at the assembled clans and chuckled. A small twist of the wrist and Maeve was on her knees before him. Her eyes were glassy with terror. Lyon stepped forward. Flat black eyes stopped him.
“I don’t think so.” Rhysin said. “This pretty plaything is mine.” A black dagger flashed into his small white hands. “So back away everyone.”
Lyon gestured, the Horse Clans moved back. The sages stood at the front hands clasped ready to shield the clans in case Rhysin attacked. He had neatly moved his prey away from the clan’s protection. Ariana could sense his smug satisfaction. Jarod stepped in front of her. His face was pale. This was the man who’d held Jarod’s soul hostage. At first glance he seemed foppish, small boned with a feral grace. But he was deadly like a tiny viper killing with one bite. He felt Ariana’s eyes and preened looking at her with devouring eyes.
“So my pretty horse boy,” He said to Lyon, “I’ll give you your woman if you give me what I want.” He turned his gaze to Ariana.
“Charmed to finally meet you my dear,” his gaze bored into her like a black dagger.
“How did you come here?” Lyon asked in a strangled voice.
“Never underestimate the power of a woman.” Rhysin looked down affectionately at Maeve. She grew even paler.
Lyon fell to his knees. “No.”
“I did it to save the clans.” Maeve looked imploringly at Lyon. “All he wanted was the outlander; she’s not one of us.” She looked at Ariana with hatred.
“I loved you.” Lyon said. His eyes filled with despair. “You have betrayed us all.” Lyon turned his back. The rest of the clan followed. With a wild cry Maeve surged forward arms outstretched to her husband. The dagger sliced her throat. Blood jetted out over the golden sands. Ariana gasped. Lyon’s back stiffened but he kept his back turned. Rhysin looked at the corpse; contemptuously he kicked it aside.
“I’m tired of playing.”
Rhysin’s dark eyes flickered as he glanced at Jarod. Ariana caught a glimpse of rage in their depths. He’d never lost before and Jarod’s survival irked him. Ariana filed that away at the back of her mind hoping she could use it as ammunition. She edged toward the Gate.
“You can’t leave the party now. Our conversation hasn’t even begun yet. We need to get to know each other.” Smirking he gestured obscenely at her. Ariana quivered. Jarod’s sword was in motion and he leapt at Rhysin snarling. Rhysin smiled lifting a long nailed finger. Jarod’s face turned purple as the breath was squeezed from his lungs.
Ariana could see the disruption in the flame where Rhysin’s magic held Jarod. She broke the tendril with a thought. Jarod sat up taking deep breaths to recover. Never taking her eyes off Rhysin she sent Jarod a flash of healing. Rhysin’s dark eyes held an indulgent expression.
“I’ll still kill him you know. But first I’ll take you in front of him.”
“I’ll kill you. You scrawny bastard,” Jarod said. He surged back to his feet.
“Temper, temper,” Rhysin mocked. He turned back to her. “Now if you would. Give me the stone. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Fuck off.” Ariana said.
She glanced at Jarod. He was ready to react. She threw a handful of sand into Rhysin’s’ face. He fell back rubbing his eyes. In the moment of distraction his shields fell. The sages sent a blast of fire against him pushing him back for a second. Jarod seized his chance, leaping forward knocking Rhysin to the ground. Ariana sprinted for the Gate. Rhysin flung Jarod aside, sending a beam of crimson fire to stop her. She leapt over it and rolled through the gate.
She got to her feet taking the steps two at a time. Her dagger was drawn. She knew he was chasing her. Inside Heulwen it was quiet except for the pulsing heartbeat of the mountain. The coppery walls threaded with gold glittered around her as she raced up the steps. Slabs of redstone still steaming from the explosion blocked some of the treads. She scrambled over them panting. She wanted to rush but didn’t dare risk stumbling and falling.
She reached the first landing. The stone walls fell away and walls of flame surrounded her. The smooth black floor steamed under her and radiated through the soles of her boots. She touched the Heartstone’s cool core and the heat became warm comfort. For a moment she touched the heart of the flame and felt it flicker in her veins. The flames fed her fury and filled her with recklessness. She wanted to go back and blast Rhysin to a cinder. She hoped Rhysin would come and face her now, while the fire ran through her veins.
As if she’d conjured him he appeared on the stairway. In an eye blink he transformed into a black and crimson firedrake slithering toward her with sinuous grace. She reached out to do battle. Her perspective changed and she shifted. Her fingers lengthened into talons, gold scales covered her. She leapt at Rhysin with a hiss of rage. She thirsted for his blood. Snaking forward she lunged for his neck, her jaws snapped on nothing. He was crafty and experienced but the energy of Heulwen filled her. Blood lust filled the golden firedrake she’d become and the world filled with snapping jaws and searing flames.
Jarod panted into the landing, distracting the black lizard. He turned to attack, an opening. Ariana scored a deep gash in the black's scaly hide. Rhysin screamed with pain. Sweeping Jarod behind her she raked Rhysin’s side. He snapped at her but missed. She broke his hold with a sinuous twist, free. She sped away, claws digging into the rough rocks as she scrabbled over them. She reached the next landing, passing under a golden archway, human again.
The walls had cooled to gold they glinted with the carved shapes of serpents and fiery dragons. The slippery floor angling through the mountain slowed her down. She could almost feel Rhysin breathing on her neck. She heard footsteps. Fear for Jarod filled her but she blocked it. Her heart pounding in her ears and her boots pounding on the floor was all she knew.
The hallway ended and the bright light that had flooded the corridor dimmed. She could see the door leading outside. She could almost see the cold light of the stars. The gate opened onto a twilight space. She was in the middle of a shallow crater filled with grit and ice. It was cold after the heat of the Heulwen and she shivered. Now what? The wind whipped through her hair and her eyes watered. How long had she been running? It had been barely dawn when she ran through the gate, now it was twilight, the in between time when the day merged into the night- when the last glancing rays of the sun share the sky with the cold glitter of the stars.
Summoned by her thought the first star glimmered in the distance. Soon the sky was full of the diamond brilliance of stars. She watched them as she walked and their cool indifference calmed her. Watching the stars she thought she saw them move. After a few minutes she was sure.
The wind picked up and the ice particles flew. She blinked; it looked like the starlight was weaving patterns with the wind. Swirls of silver and blue coalesced into a lacy bridge composed of starlight, wind and ice. It bowed up from the edge of the crater like a slender bent reed. The ice created beautiful filigree patterns that merged with the cold starlight. Exquisite and fragile, it looked like a mirage dreamed from her hopes.
Even if Rhysin was right behind her she had to take it slow. Where the span met the crater she peered over the edge and looked down. There was nothing there. Her head spun, her stomach clenched. She dropped to her knees and scooted back from the edge. She took a few deep breaths to calm down. She couldn’t do it. The ice was slippery; she’d fall forever. She’d sit here, turning to ice. Rhysin would find her and laugh while he shredded her soul. She crouched there shivering. Tears froze on her cheeks.
There were footsteps behind her. She stiffened and turned her head. Her mother was beside her russet hair streaming behind her from a wind Ariana couldn’t feel. Her eyes glittered with tears. But her face was still patient and kind as it had always been in life. Ariana filled with regret that she couldn’t ease her mother’s pain. “I’m sorry Mom, but I can’t do it.”
Julia gestured at the bridge silently.
“No,
I can’t.” Ariana said.
“Follow me.” Julia turned away and disappeared.
Trembling Ariana stepped onto the bridge. It glittered under her feet like glass. She tried not to think of how fragile it seemed. Stepping out onto the narrow arching span it bowed beneath her weight. She almost bolted. Panic held her still. Her heart thundered and her palms were wet with sweat. She was dizzy; she was going to fall. Desperately she searched for an anchor.
A hooded figure waited her mother. Trying not to think about how narrow the bridge was she took a deep breath, putting one foot in front of the other. The ice was slick. She reflexively used the Heartstone to meld the ice to her soles as she walked. Inching along she kept her eyes focused on the wraith leading her forward. Gradually she relaxed; the span was wider than it looked, just wide enough for her to walk on. If she stumbled she’d fall forever through the indigo void yawning below.
Her panic eased. She began appreciating the beauty of the bridge she walked on. Every step she took crunched into a latticework of stars and ice. The wind threw ice crystals into her eyes. Sometimes the wind obscured her mother’s ghostly form. She tried to get a closer look at the figures flitting in the corner of her eyes.
Crystalline beasts curveted around her. Indigo eyes and starlit hides gleamed as they noticed the intruder. She stared fascinated. The creatures drew closer, lightning flash horns and icy talons, silver flapping wings horses legs ending in eagle claws, muzzles tapered to a curving beak. In the swirling silver wind she could almost identify them. Their deadly beauty called her. She reached out.
Suddenly her mother was before her. Urgently she gestured for Ariana to follow. Ariana looked down. She was halfway over the edge. The animals had almost lured her to her doom. She shivered and stepped back. She turned to follow the bridge. The gusts grew in intensity. They were trying to push her off the narrow span. Using the Stone she calmed the air around her creating a buffer zone and keeping her eyes on her guide.
The Heartstone Page 23