Heddas Sword.jpg

by Hedda's Sword (lit)

  Those eyes twinkled as he grinned. "Hmph. Last time it was green. Gwen must be bored." He bowed. "My name is Benilo. You must be Cianan's lady, Van Marete?"

  "Maleta and this is Ana." She gestured blindly.

  "Oh my," Ana said again.

  He looked around the room. "Mistress Ana, I have you to thank for this room? You have done well."

  Ana turned a peculiar shade of pink and squeaked something that might have been thanks.

  Benilo turned to Jovan, and those breathtaking eyes melted. "Oh, lad, what have they done to you?" He strode over to kneel by the bed. Closing his eyes, he placed a glowing hand on Jovan's forehead. Benilo remained that way for several minutes. Maleta saw him grimace and shudder. When he opened his eyes, his complexion was a bit green. "Dracken rue ! " he gasped. "In all my years, I have never seen such a people as this."

  "Can you help him?" Maleta asked.

  "Aye, lady, I can." Benilo turned to take her hand and Ana's. Warmth and reassurance flooded her with his touch, and she found herself believing him wholeheartedly. "What I need are your memories of Jovan, from his birth to the day afore the attack. Just try to remember the first time you saw him as a baby. I want you to concentrate on the love you feel for him. You shall not feel a thing, I promise, and I shall not cause a single memory to be lost or dimmed. I also swear I shall not touch a single memory not of Jovan. Now, close your eyes and think of a baby crying... "

  Maleta scowled up at her father. She'd wanted a sister, and this screeching infant looked like a little piglet wrapped in a blanket. But then her father placed him in her chubby little four-year-old arms, and Jovan had stopped crying and looked at her – sort of. She loved him fiercely from that moment on. Even when he followed her everywhere, when he entered her room without knocking, when he tried to do everything she did. When a guard asked two-year-old Jovan what he wanted to be when he grew up, he stared up at his sister with adoring blue eyes and piped, "Marete." She'd played blocks with him, played hide and seek with him, taught him to lace his boots. She loved how his tongue stuck out the side of his mouth and he scowled when he focused really hard. She'd read to him at night, listened to him read to her. He'd practice his music while she sewed or embroidered. She loved his laughter.

  Her eyes snapped open, and she wiped away the tears. Ana was in no better shape. Benilo smiled. "And I promise you, he loves the two of you just as much. What I want to do is lock up the past six years of Jovan's life. He shall know Kunigonde was attacked and your parents are dead. He shall know he was a prisoner of Sunniva and that you rescued him. The specifics shall come out gradually, as he gets stronger, when he is ready, as he begins to question and reach out for more. He shall awaken as you found him, a twelve-year-old boy, but he shall grow into his body. I want to give him your memories to reinforce his, the buffer of safety and home and love."

  "Sweet Hedda, can't you just wipe Sunniva from his mind forever?"

  Benilo nodded. "I could, but is that what you really want? If I did that, he would remain a child in a man's body forever. In order for Jovan to grow and mature, he must handle the bad with the good. But not until he is ready. He is not the child you remember. Deep within is a man with your father's strength. He shall be able to handle the truth of his own reality. As you did."

  Maleta bit her lip. She wanted so badly to undo what had been done. If she couldn't undo it, at least erase the memories of the monsters.

  Benilo took her hands in his. "You fought your monsters, he needs to fight his."

  She nodded reluctantly.

  He knelt aside Jovan's bed again and placed a hand on either side of Jovan's head. For a moment Maleta thought she heard a ghostly echo – "We love you. Come back to us." Benilo rose and stepped back. "Come up here and call him. I shall be right here by the table, but he should wake to you, not me."

  Maleta knelt aside Jovan, Ana perched on the edge of the mattress just aside her. "Jovan? Jovan, it's Marete. You're home safe now. We're free. It's all right, we're home safe. Please, Jovan? Come on. Open your eyes." She reached for Ana's hand, placed both their hands over his. "Ana's here. We're safe at home, the bad men are gone. It's all right to open your eyes now. I love you. Come back to me."

  Jovan took a deep breath, stirred, and opened his eyes. "Marete?"

  "Aye." Tears spilled down Maleta's face as she brushed a hand over his hair. "Welcome back." She saw him glance at Ana and then around the room afore meeting her gaze again.

  "I'm home? Sunniva?"

  Maleta took a deep breath. How would be react? "Sunniva's dead, Jovan. We're free."

  "Good. She was... " he seemed at a loss for words "... very bad." He frowned at her. "You cut your hair."

  She laughed through her tears, not expecting that comment. "The abbey, remember?"

  "But Mama and Papa said nothing about... " His voice trailed off, and he swallowed hard. "They're dead, too, aren't they?"

  "Aye, Von Jovan, they are," Ana replied. "Sunniva killed them, and a lot of others."

  "But we brought you home," Maleta said. "You've been... asleep for a long time."

  "There was someone at the palace." Jovan looked alarmed. "She was a friend. I need to know she's safe."

  Benilo moved to the door and placed a hand against it. Maleta knew he'd sent Cianan for Hajnal – not that she'd be far. She squeezed Jovan's hand. "You've been unwell, and we called for a healer. There may be some things you have a hard time remembering, but we'll help you."

  The door flew open, and there stood Hajnal and Cianan. The dark-haired girl was garbed once again as a Shamaru woman, and she rushed over to the bed. "You're all right!" she said.

  Jovan flushed. "So are you. I'm... glad."

  "We're all safe. Maleta and Tzigana got them all out."

  Maleta turned to Benilo, impulsively jumping up to give him a big hug. "I can never thank you enough for what you've done. You brought my brother back to me."

  "You brought your brother back. I but cleared a path."

  Cianan cleared his throat. "You can let go of her now, my lord."

  Benilo's eyes twinkled as he released Maleta. "That I shall take as my cue to leave. My work here is done. Until we meet again." He turned and strode through the door. A flash of light told Maleta he never made it out into the hall.

  Cianan caught her to him. "It worked. You have your family back." He pulled her in a thorough kiss that left her hot and breathless.

  "Eew." Jovan's voice broke them apart. "If you're going to be kissing my sister like that, warrior, I think as head of this family I need to know your intentions."

  "You can't be serious!" Maleta laughed.

  "If he intends to keep on kissing you, his intentions had better be strictly honorable. I insist he ask for your hand properly."

  Cianan smiled at her. "Well, since he insists." He got down on one knee. "Elingrena, light of my heart, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

  It was all she could do to nod. She trusted her heart to give him her answer.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Maleta stared at the huge bronze-bound gate and placed a hand against the wood. "We didn't just guard the pass. We were an embassy to the rest of the world. Traders, storytellers, adventurers, scholars – they used to come through here all the time, and we'd welcome them."

  "And so it shall be once again," Cianan assured her. "Release the lock, elingrena. Tell the gate it is all right to open to the world once again. A very special visitor arrives."

  Maleta placed her bare hand against the lock. It warmed against her skin, and fell open. The chains fell down into the snow. She bent down to pick them up and attach them to the two large draft mares harnessed and waiting. She took the reins of one and clucked to her while Cianan grabbed hold of the other. The horses leaned into their collars, and slowly, with a groan, the gates swung open. Standing on Mrow's and Ain's shoulders, Jana and Ana's granddaughter Tessa applied grease to the neglected hinges. An old man on a chestnut horse approached from the moun
tains.

  Maleta halted her mare, warming her hands under the coarse black mane as she eyed the newcomer with interest. "Who's that?"

  Cianan grinned. "Auger Xavier, Queen Moira of Riverhead's seer. Come, I shall introduce you." He strode through the gateway toward a greybeard on a shaggy chestnut gelding. Maleta followed in his wake.

  "You made good time," Cianan called.

  Xavier hopped out of the saddle and onto the ground with the spryness of a much younger man. He patted the horse's red neck. "Queen Dara told me to make haste, and Queen Moira told me to look things over and make my report back to her. When two queens snap their fingers, an old man learns to hustle. Asides, Manu here is used to urgent missions requiring speed."

  "Xavier, this is Maleta. Maleta, Auger Xavier of Riverhead."

  Xavier eyed Cianan and Maleta. "I can see the bond betwixt you two. Good thing the Lady made me Her honorary priest, as well. I take it I was called to perform a wedding?"

  Cianan smiled. "You are the perfect choice."

  Maleta motioned Jana over. "Jana, this is Xavier. Could you take his horse to the stable?"

  Jana grinned. "Aye, lady."

  Xavier watched her lead Manu away. "She has the sight."

  "She follows Orthia," Cianan stated. "Orthia's high priestess has selected her to be her replacement, but she needs training and supervision."

  Xavier nodded thoughtfully. "So she's a land-speaker too? I sense a story or two there. Tell me what's going on here first, though. We got word the border was open and safe for travel – bad weather notwithstanding. Hengist and Moira were... curious. I was sent as their representative."

  Maleta bowed. "Ambassador."

  Cianan motioned. "Come, Xavier. Bring your pack and I shall show you where you can rest and get cleaned up. I can bring you afore Von Jovan at the midday meal. We shall dine together. Official business can wait until then, I trust?"

  "Easily." He turned to Maleta. "Tell me, lass, what they're like? This new king and queen?"

  "Informal. Direct. Von Berend is Sunniva's cousin, but is a just and fair man. Tzigana is native Shamaru – they're wanderers, gypsies. Their societal structure is extended families, not necessarily bound by blood. They make a good pairing."

  "As they go, so goes the land?" He nodded. "Noble idea, when it works."

  "It shall work," Cianan affirmed. "Now let's get you out of this cold. We have business to attend to while you rest."

  Maleta grimaced. Ford and those of his men who truly followed Sunniva would be tried and convicted today. The gallows had already been built. Time to close that final chapter. Cianan saw Xavier to his guest quarters while Maleta went to see Jovan. She found him in the music room, his favorite refuge. "Good morning, Jovan."

  His gaze was troubled. "I watched them building the gallows. Do I have to go?"

  "As the leaders of our people, of Kunigonde, we need to stand together at the sentencing," she said. "You don't have to bear witness to the executions if you don't want to. I can do that."

  "How?" he asked her. "How can you bear the blood on your hands?"

  "By telling myself that every evildoer destroyed makes it that much safer for everyone else to live free," she said. "That's what guardians of the Light do, Jovan. What Papa did. What I do. What Cianan does."

  "You love him, don't you?"

  "Aye, I do. He gave me back our future." She took his hands in hers. "I'm tired of looking over my shoulder. I want to finish this. I want to hear the laughter of children again. I want our gates to stand open in welcome. I want to learn of the outside world, and for them to learn of us."

  They stood together, hands clasped, on Maleta's balcony. Maleta eyed their men with pride. Redressed in the Kunigonde stag and led by their new captain, Gayle, they brought out the half-dozen prisoners who'd refused the offer of clemency. Cianan kept one hand on Maleta's waist and the other on Jovan's shoulder. Raven lurked in the background, garbed as Hedda's Own, in ice and darkness. Polkara and Dagonet stood with them. Maleta wondered if Jovan was strong enough to do this, but his voice rang out sure across the courtyard.

  "Lieutenant Ford, you were Captain Tian's second, entrusted with the safety of this keep and the lives of her people and our family. We gave you everything, and you repaid us with betrayal and slaughter. Queen Sunniva is no more. You were given orders to stand down, signed by Shamar's new king, Von Berend. Yet you refused and fought to prevent our rightful return. You further led these men into this treachery, and when defeated you still refused to lay down your arms. What have you to say for yourself?"

  "I refuse to go back from commander to second," Ford snarled. He glared at Gayle, clad in Captain Tian's uniform. "I'll never follow a woman."

  "You followed Sunniva," Maleta called.

  "I followed a queen," he retorted. "A queen who made me rich and powerful. I'll join her in death."

  "Would any of the rest of you care to recant your earlier statements?"

  They stood silent.

  Jovan sighed. "So be it. You stand accused of high treason. I hereby convict you of it. The sentence is death by hanging, to be carried out immediately." He stood, his face grim, as the prisoners were prodded to the gallows. When it was all over, he turned to Maleta. "May we never have to do that again."

  Maleta wrapped her arms around him. "Nay. Things will be different now."

  "They already are." Jovan took a deep breath. "Leave them until nightfall, then use the wood from the gallows for their pyre." He looked at Cianan. "I'd meet this seer priest."

  * * * *

  Cianan stood in the snow at the northern gate with Kikeona, waiting for the elven Gate to open for his family. The air shimmered with a silvery line, and three riders on white horses slipped through. His gaze settled on Lord Elio's face as the old elf leaped from the saddle and strode forward to grab him in a fierce embrace. Cianan hugged him back. His eyes burned. "Father, I am glad you are here."

  "I hear thou hast been busy, my son." Elio reached into a pocket, and slipped something small and metal into Cianan's hand. "For thee. I hath been saving these for the appropriate moment."

  Cianan opened his hand to the glitter of two exquisitely crafted gold rings, with "Forever" etched on the insides. His throat tightened. "These were my parents'."

  "Thy mother wished thee to have them for thy own bride," Elio said.

  "Are you going to leave us standing in the snow," Loren teased, "or do we get to meet this paragon of virtue who broke a thousand maidens' hearts?"

  Cianan laughed. "Come on, afore she wears a path in the floor." Maleta paced from the kitchen to the great hall entry, he felt her anxiety as she doubtless badgered Ana and Jovan near to death. He led the way to the courtyard, when Dagonet directed men to take the horses. Cianan placed a hand on Kikeona's neck, distracting her from staring at Dara's stallion, Gloreriell. "Perhaps you'd like to show him the way?" he prompted.

  "Oh, of course." Kikeona turned to her sister. "Come, I can show you where we can rest."

  Hani`ena gave Cianan a look that said she was not fooled for an instant, but she and Elio's mare Milisena went along with the charade.

  Maleta met them at the door. Jovan and Ana had vanished. Dara broke the ice by giving Maleta a quick hug. "I'm so glad to finally have a sister!"

  Maleta looked at Cianan. He held out his hand to her. "Come, elingrena. I want you to meet my father. Father, this is Maleta."

  * * * *

  Maleta faced the old elf with trepidation. This was a truly ancient being, full of knowledge and power.

  He eyed her, and she felt him weigh and measure her worth. "So, child of man, thou art the one who dragged my son off on this quest, and stole his heart." He smiled and inclined his head. "I welcome thee to our family."

  "You always have to start out with that child of man rhetoric," Dara complained. "It puts people off." She turned to Maleta. "He scared me spitless when I first met him, and I wasn't the one marrying his son."

  "Nay, thou wert the one marry
ing my king," Elio reproved.

  King? Then the other one must be... Maleta paled and dropped to a deep, awkward curtsy. "Y-your Majesty."

  "Great goddess, Maleta, stand up." Dara dragged her to her feet. "We left our crowns at home, and he doesn't like to wear his in the first place."

  Loren's leaf-green eyes twinkled at Maleta. "I am happy to meet my brother's vertenya bride. We surely must be starting a new tradition, here."

  "About bloody time too," Dara retorted. "You were way overdue."

  A knock sounded on the doorway, and a shy-faced Jovan peeked in. "Is this a private party?"

  Cianan grinned and shook his head, motioning him to join them. "Nay, little brother. It is a family gathering, of which you are most certainly a part. We were about to get you."

  Jovan came in, bearing a tray of hot spiced wine for everyone. Maleta saw Cianan take a deep breath, brace himself and then smile. "Jovan, this is my father Elio, my brother Loren and his wife Dara. Everyone, this is Maleta's brother Jovan."

  Jovan stared at Dara. Cianan grinned and grabbed the tray afore the man dropped it. Loren sighed. Dara rolled her eyes at the both of them as Maleta began pouring the wine. "What's going on?" Maleta whispered as she handed Dara the first cup.

  "It's some weird dragon curse that turns men into complete fools around me. I have no control over it. Ignore them."

  "A toast," Jovan said. "To the upcoming marriage of my sister Marete to Cianan, odd though that feels to say."

  "What's an elvish wedding like?" Maleta asked Dara.

  "Well, ours was a bit unusual because we blended both cultures."

  "First the couple present a token of their childhoods, to be burned on the Lady's altar as a gesture that they are ready to leave their childhoods behind them," Loren replied, "and then they offer a token of their adult vocations."

  "I like that idea," Maleta decided.

  Cianan smiled. "Jovan stands with you, and my father with me. Xavier asks who gives you to be my wife, and Jovan answers, 'I do, as her brother.'"