“Ambrosia, no! She’s no witch,” Cobaaron barked. “Noelya, I apologize. She is not a warrior or would never disrespect me like this.”
“We’ll see about that,” Ambrosia hissed. She flicked her hand and a burst of sparks exploded around Noelya, but didn’t singe her.
“And this is probably why my partner was so keen that I stay away. I don’t see everything, and sometimes, too late to take warning.” Noelya sighed, and her hair slowly changed to a gleaming white. “I’m not a witch. I’m an elf from Opalace, the queen. Magic doesn’t work on me.” Noelya smiled, patiently.
“Prove it,” Ambrosia demanded.
“Noelya, please forgive her,” Cobaaron said again, but Noelya brushed his comment away as if it were quite all right.
Noelya looked at a rock that lay on the ground; it floated and spun as it rose to eye level. Shards splintered before vanishing as sparks, and the rock started to glow. Then it slowed its twirling, and cooled until it was clear as glass. Noelya formed a diamond the size of a fist. “Take it, Cobaaron. You can use the gem at the end of your staff when you’re king. This will glow when traitors speak against you. You will hear what they say, so you’ll never be betrayed.”
The stone floated over to Cobaaron. He took it gratefully, and bowed as he expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Noelya.”
“I could do that,” Ambrosia snapped.
“Not without a wand and not in my presence. Young Ambrosia, as mother to the earth, I know all there is to know about you. Lay aside your burdens, what breaks your spirit is unjustified, and hurts me also.”
“My spirit’s not broken.” Ambrosia gulped.
“Only your heart, then?” Noelya asked.
“No. I’m...I’m fine,” Ambrosia mumbled.
“Hmm,” Noelya replied. Then she beamed with joy. “I came here to bear good news—the best. I’ve conceived my first-born son. His name will be Lu Lyle. Not a traditional name among elves, but you will name your child Lu Lu. They’ll bond, and unite our two kingdoms. So much will change, and so quickly. Blessed is your womb, my Queen. For one day, you will need a blessing upon that child, twice. Though help will always come, you’ll receive assistance in ways you never imagined.”
“Can I…” Ambrosia desperately spoke up. Her voice was shaky with nervousness, as if she was unsure if she should continue to speak. “I’m sorry I accused you of being a witch. I have no place to ask, but I must… Can I have a blessing on my womb for children?”
“My child, you don’t have a need for a blessing, do you?” Noelya asked. “I protect Lu Lu for my son. Why do you think you need a similar blessing?”
“I don’t have a need because I am not barren?” Ambrosia asked hastily, clearly unsure she understood Noelya, but hoped she could conceive.
“You will never conceive in your barren state, but as I said, you do not have a need for a blessing of a child, because your heart is still divided. I would be interfering...but then fate always finds a way…. You haven’t decided what you truly want. Or should I say you haven’t abandoned what you love more than your desire for children. Should I really fulfill your uncertainties?” Noelya queried, with a playful expression on her lips.
“She does have a need for children, my Queen,” Tyrus interceded for Ambrosia. Noelya held her head higher in obvious enjoyment. “She’s like all the women who travel with us; they all have such strong desires for children that it is a need. I assure you she longs for nothing greater.”
“I am not so sure. If you are confident enough about that, would you give up your blessing, which would ensure you as chief of Cobaaron’s army when he steps down, for this girl?” Noelya asked as she gestured to Ambrosia. “I could make you great. Didn’t you state, ‘Amazing how a Star can change a man? Pity you have to unite with one to receive such a blessing.’” Amazingly, her voice sounded exactly like Tyrus’s.
“I did say that.”
“I could give you all Cobaaron has, his strength, speed, and the loyalty of his men. All you have to do is deny this woman’s blessing and take it. She’s nothing to you anyway, other than an old friend. Again, those are your own words. So, which is it? Who should I bless? A woman to populate the earth like Lu Lush, or a guarantee to be one of the greatest warriors this world will ever see. Which is more important? Is your legacy everything to you?”
Tyrus looked at Ambrosia. Ky could see the heartbreak in Ambrosia’s eyes as she teared up. It was obvious that Ambrosia knew what Tyrus would do.
“Tyrus, please,” Ambrosia whispered in a desperate plea. She reached out, clutching his arm. “Please,” she mouthed again, in silent petition. “Please. I’ll do anything…I’ll go home as you asked.” Ambrosia began to sob, but wiped her tears. “Please.”
Ky knew how Tyrus would choose. Everything he was doing was a calculated move to prove he was capable of maneuvering the army. He risked his life to obtain wisdom from a mermaid. Now he freely could take a blessing from an elf to possess skills like Cobaaron, with matched strength and speed, along with loyalty of his men. It was temptation enough for any driven warrior.
“Then the decision is made.” Noelya nodded at Tyrus, who made no reply, but Noelya was powerful, and Ky didn’t doubt she read thoughts and deep desires. Maybe it was for the best that she didn’t make Tyrus declare aloud that he would take the blessing for himself. Ky knew she couldn’t forgive him if he did that, and knowing how much Ambrosia longed for children, Ky was certain Ambrosia would have a harder time letting it go. Maybe Ambrosia would never speak to him again.
“I’ll see you all in Opalace in a few weeks. The leaves of Hastily trees will be blowing; I love that season and the smell of warm sap. This time, Cobaaron, you will stay longer than a night. Bring gifts for my son.” Noelya leaned close to Ky. “Remind him again when you head our way if he forgets. He’s rich, yet never buys gifts. Gift giving is important among elves, like most other magical clans. But not among the humans.” Noelya winked, and then mentioned her charms would linger for another hour. She warned that by that time they should be far away, for their own safety. Before they spoke a farewell, Noelya vanished with a pop.
Ambrosia and Tyrus stared at each other. He didn’t dare move. Ambrosia’s eyes welled up with tears. “You didn’t, did you?” Tyrus was quiet. “How could you, Tyrus?” Ambrosia asked, as she began to weep. “You had a chance to see to my happiness and you hesitated. I thought you were ambitious and unfeeling before, but for this...I can never speak to you again. You kept me barren when I could have children! I hope one day when you’re sitting on top of all your success that you look back to this moment and realize how empty you are! And when that time comes, I assure you, my emptiness will be far greater. Is it your design to take all from me that I could have loved? Have you grown to hate me?” She wiped tears from her cheeks and then hurried through the brush, heading for Huntra. He bounced her up into the chair, and she hunched over weeping.
Ky rushed after her. “Ambrosia.”
“I’m sorry, but I want to be alone for a while,” Ambrosia said, without looking at Ky because she was so heartbroken. She sobbed, burying her face in her hands.
Ky petted Huntra, and asked him to make her sleeping cart for Ambrosia to be alone. The room enfolded over Ambrosia, and on top of the box were four seats with two in front and two in the back facing in the opposite direction. They climbed into seats, Cobaaron tossed his gem into the room from the small window, and the three ignored the muffled sobs coming from the small room. A short while later Ky heard nothing, and wondered if Ambrosia put a muffling charm on the compartment.
“I hope she’s okay,” Ky breathed, glumly. She felt terrible for her friend. It broke her heart knowing she would never know love. Ky had a hard time looking at Tyrus. Warriors truly were heartless when it came to chasing success.
Huntra heeded Noelya’s advice to leave the area quickly, and hurried along his way. They passed the mountains that hugged the forest and entered a denser part of the woods where a
thick fog settled, and Huntra had to slow down.
“Is this the fog of the merchants?” Tyrus asked Cobaaron.
“Yes,” Cobaaron said, “the largest sea is to the west. However, no one can sail it without coming to his or her death. The fog is unnatural with the spirits of those who once came and went as they transported their goods, but got lost and died. Close your eyes, Ky. If you feel something grab at you, slap it away.”
“That isn’t comforting,” Ky grumbled, and before she closed her eyes she saw a white face of thick fog appear and a disembodied hand swiped at her arm. Ky gasped because the fog could physically touch her. Cobaaron batted it away.
“Close your eyes, love,” he repeated. She pinched her eyes tightly.
Cobaaron turned his head; Ky heard the change in direction, as he suddenly became chatty. “Young Tyrus.” Cobaaron waited for as Tyrus grunted a response. “Two hundred years ago, I would have made the same decision. But I caution you, when you are chief and king to numerous cities around the world, you will have to think of your people. Not only do you need the trust and respect of the warriors, but you also need the approval of the kin of this world who will judge your every action. You may have alienated an entire race of healers because of your choice. I hope for your sake that today’s decision will not adversely affect your future with healers. From now on, it would be wise to never alienate a race from your protection. You may find one day you need them, and they will not help you.”
“Ambrosia will come around,” Tyrus stressed confidently. Ky knew they were long-time acquaintances, but their relationship seemed rocky. “She won’t spread rumors about me. She guards her privacy fiercely. You’ll see; after she’s had a long cry and had her revenge, she’ll be scolding me and correcting me once again.”
Ky wasn’t convinced he wouldn’t have redemption so easily. Women were obsessed with bearing children, and he robbed her of an opportunity that guaranteed conceiving.
Ky gasped, and slapped the hand that tugged her hair. Her druse was fighting abduction. Ky didn’t even know when Prism decided to leave Huntra’s head to find her. She opened her eyes long enough to see Prism was struggling as fingers held onto her wings. Ky whacked away the hand, freeing Prism, and then told her to hide in the room with Ambrosia. Before Ky shut her eyes, she shrieked. The gray fog became thick with ghoulish faces, greedy to take her now that her eyes were open. They surrounded her. “They’re everywhere!”
A hand clapped over Ky’s eyes. Ky screamed and tried to pull it away. “Stop, love, it’s me.” Cobaaron drew her close to his body to prove it was he. “I told you not to look at them. Don’t look in their hollow eyes sockets, Ky. You’ll want to be taken then, and you’ll become one of them. They’ll eat you alive.”
“I swear I won’t open my eyes again!”
Cobaaron still covered her eyes, and spoke once again. “Do you feel you have earned respect from my men, young Tyrus?” Ky batted away several hands that grasped her. She squealed in panic. Cobaaron kept her glued to his side. “Because being strong and fast, with loyalty of my men, doesn’t give you rights to my army. After sparring with you, I know all your weaknesses. You are by no means flawless.”
“If you’re suggesting I’ll now duel you for your position, you’re wrong. The best warriors didn’t challenge their leaders to the death. It’s not respectful. If I defeated you in a challenge, the warriors wouldn’t test me for my rank, but I would never do that. I’ve found the hardest thing to do, is the right decision. I will never challenge you. I will always look at you as my chief, my king, and my leader. Like all great men before me I will always answer to my predecessor.”
“That makes no sense,” Ky said, interrupting him. “The hardest thing to have done back there, with Noelya, would have been to give up your blessing, and earn your title without supernatural power. That would have been hard. So, according to your own wisdom, you made the wrong choice.”
“Nothing about that decision was easy, Ky,” Cobaaron interjected, gently. “I don’t blame him for making that decision. In fact, I said I would have done the same thing when I was young.”
“What would you have done if it was me, and it was our only chance of having children?” Ky inquired.
“Love, I’ll always put you before me. But before I knew you, and knew your love, I’d have taken the blessing. The circumstances are so different your question is unrelated to the conversation and can’t be compared. Young Tyrus, who seeks the life of a chief warrior, a successful chief warrior, wouldn’t throw away that opportunity. My warning was simply this; don’t assume you’ll be great, young Tyrus, without earning loyalty because you’ll recruit other men before you learn how to govern warriors. He needs respect to have influence over his men and the devotion of the people of the world to ensure a long reign. It’s key to being chief or he will never last longer than two ash seasons.”
“You misunderstand. Wyt told me privately that not only will I reign beyond the end of the age, but also I’ll never be contested. The men will respect me, and I haven’t alienated any race. Ambrosia has always been a faithful friend. I don’t worry about her repercussions, other than a few fights, jinxes, and maybe a bruised arm. I’ll speak to her in private, and she’ll be fine.”
Ky slapped another hand away. “Are we almost out of this fog?”
“Hmm,” Cobaaron hummed. “I hope you tell no one what Wyt foretold. Men would kill you for boasting.”
“I haven’t told anyone. I’m simply saying that I already knew I’d be chief, so, why would I take my friend’s blessing? I only ever had one option.”
“So, you gave away the blessing? Are you mad?” Cobaaron chuckled loudly.
“Tyrus.” Ky shook her head, confused while she asked, “Why are you making her think you took it and she can’t conceive? You could give her piece of mind. She is crying her eyes out in there.”
“I know her. I know what I’m doing. She will not be furious long, and when she has cooled down I will tell her.”
“I can’t believe you gave away that blessing,” Cobaaron said, still amazed. “Some warriors would battle a war alone for that opportunity.”
“I know I’ll be chief. My time will come,” Tyrus said, “and I’ll follow you, my King, as I am until the tournament in the City of Lights. I’ve no family, but I’ll serve you as a son. That is a vow I will always uphold, even when I inherit your army.”
“I’m impressed, young Tyrus,” Cobaaron said, sounding pleased. “I’ll tell you what Lanskyz the Brave told me. Take care of your warriors and they’ll take care of you. It’s basic information, but for thousands of years it has been passed down as good advice. Indeed, it is. You, too, will have to say it.”
“I’ll do my best to remember, Chief,” Tyrus promised.
“We’re out of the fog,” Cobaaron announced. Ky opened her eyes, seeing dark mossy woods with dull, glowing orange mushrooms on the trunks. “We’re in wooded area for pixies. And no, Ky, you can’t have one,” Cobaaron smiled as he teased her.
“Would Ambrosia want one? It may cheer her up.” Ky was about to ask if they were like druses but then she saw something fluttering around a mushroom in a slow, sluggish manner. Its wings were pink and blue bioluminescent while its body was creamy ivory. It wore clothes and had short purple spiked hair; exactly as Ky imagined a pixie would look. “Oh, I’m sure she would want one.” Before anyone agreed, Ky told Huntra to open the room. They all got down as the box began to bubble and seep into Huntra’s fur. Ambrosia sat up, wiping her bloodshot eyes and pink blotchy skin. Evidently, she had been weeping bitterly the entire time.
“What is it?” Ambrosia asked. She stood when the seats appeared.
“There are pixies if you want one,” Ky said, pointing to the trees. “It may cheer you up.”
“Thanks,” Ambrosia said glumly, and didn’t hide her frown. She continued to wipe more tears, and refused to look at Tyrus. “Have your druse bring one to me. Then they won’t fight, and kill each other
before we reach the next city.”
Prism zoomed off. They sat in chairs, and continued passing between the trees. They weren’t silent long before Ambrosia spoke with a pitiful quiver in her voice, saying, “I decided I...I’ll no longer try for children. There is no point risking my life while traveling. I want to be left at the next city, where I’ll be a handmaiden….”
“I can’t allow that, Ambrosia,” Cobaaron interrupted. “You’re my partner’s friend, and I promised my wife to get you safely to the City of Lights. If you don’t want to use my men as studs, I’ll honor that. It will save a few of my men from fighting over you. Besides, your room is of great help to the women, especially Athaya; you’re a great asset to this army. I’m pleased to hear you will abandon that effort.”
“The men fight over the women?” Ky asked, surprised.
“Some to the death,” Cobaaron said. “We will find more women for the men. Thirty-two females are nowhere near enough to occupy the men, especially since two are united and one is vowing solitude. I hope your decision isn’t temporary. I hope you refrain until we reach the City of Lights.”
“I do wish solitude, and it’s not temporary. I’ll never have children, so what’s the point. I’ll never bond or try again,” Ambrosia sniveled, but she sounded certain. “I’m not destined to feel love anymore. Or, I should say, I was destined to live without happiness.”
“Don’t say that, Ambrosia. You don’t mean it,” Tyrus said.
“That is the problem with you, Tyrus. You never believe anything I say,” Ambrosia snapped. “I mean it, don’t talk to me! Or, so help me, your tongue will be stuck to the roof of your mouth for days!”
Ky sighed. She was irritated with Tyrus for continuing to withhold the decision he made from Ambrosia. However, he was correct in assuming Ambrosia would jinx him. But Ky didn’t see any point in Tyrus waiting for Ambrosia to calm down. If he were working her to get on her good side to receive something, Ky would know Tyrus had a weak character, and she wouldn’t like him for it. But she couldn’t see what he would want from her, when he refused much from a more powerful being.
The Coming Dawn Trilogy Page 53