His voice sounded dispassionate, but Daria sensed the bitterness inside him.
“He fed on them, sucking out all the emotion, the color. My entire past is in black and white and gray. I don’t have feelings about anything from my youth. Not, until the very moment when Jasmine freed me. I’ve been flooded with feelings ever since.”
Daria couldn’t even imagine what that must be like. Her memories of her family brought her so much comfort. To have them violated…. “Perhaps Withea or Arvintor can return them.”
Indaran grimaced and shook his head. “I wouldn’t ask the Deities to spare the energy. They’ll need all They have to battle Ontarem.” He squeezed her hand. “But even though He siphoned off my feelings, you and I didn’t lose our connection. I knew I loved you as soon as I saw you. I doubt the Evil One knows He can’t destroy love.”
They came to an open area of deck where the soldiers from Ocean’s Glory sparred with each other, and the men and a couple of women from Seagem—the former slaves—engaged in pas-sa-ra sword exercises. Their thrusts and blocks were slow and awkward. Two men finished the final cross, held their swords, then released, stepping back and bowing.
Daria and Indaran exchanged glances. Without a word, they advanced on the fighters.
When the two men realized who approached, they sprang erect, then bowed to Indaran, and again to Daria. Both stared at her, eyes wide and full of emotion. “Princess,” said one. “Forgive our reaction. My last memory of you…you scampered into the throne room, ignoring all the important people who’d come to see your father and mother and dashed to the king and climbed on his lap.”
Emotion swelled in Daria. The scene the man described happened many times. They must be Indaran’s original expedition members. She glanced at her brother, seeing the sadness on his face.
“King Iceros didn’t miss a beat,” the man smiled, obviously remembering. “He conducted the remainder of the session with you on his lap.” His face tightened, and he ducked his head. “My pardon, your highness.”
Daria touched his arm. “I’ve had longer to absorb the destruction of Seagem and the death of my family. But the grief still hits me. I know all too well the comfort a warm memory can bring, only to be followed by a wave of pain. I believe we all will mourn in such a way for a long time.”
“Aye, Princess.”
Daria stepped back and surveyed the fighters. She’d become acquainted with the soldiers from Ocean’s Glory during their time at sea and had spent many hours training them.
Her men stopped practicing, lowered their weapons, and cast wary looks at Indaran.
“For those who have not heard the news, I’d like to introduce my brother Indaran, now King of Seagem, whom we thought lost at sea years ago.” She lifted her chin. “If you recall, both nations mourned his passing.”
Many of the men nodded. One bowed, and the others followed his example.
Indaran lifted a hand in acknowledgment. “Years have passed since my sister and I have done the pas-sa-ra together. The last time, she was this high.” He held his hand to his waist. “And she used a wooden sword.”
A few people smiled.
“So go back to your practicing, while I see if she’s learned to fight since then.”
Daria elbowed him. “Better watch yourself, brother.”
In spite of being told to resume their practice, the fighters cleared an area for the two of them, then stood in a ring, obviously intending to observe.
Daria and Indaran unsheathed their swords, saluted, and began the pas-sa-ra. They fell into the familiar patterns as if they’d never been apart, as if they’d sword-danced together for years. Daria hadn’t done the pas-sa-ra since the fall of Seagem, although once she’d met Khan, she’d begun practicing the solitary nis-alt again.
Before long, Daria could feel the strain in her muscles. She needed extra concentration, knowing they fought with naked blades, instead of leather-wrapped or wooden ones.
As they proceeded through the workout, emotion welled up in her. From long practice, Daria fiercely contained her feelings, focusing on the bladework and studying Indaran’s technique. Although the pattern of the pas-sa-ra was the same in every workout, each person made the sword dance his or her own. Sparring with Setteff had been different than with Joshel or Cihkel.
Indaran didn’t move with the grace of his brothers; his strikes were more jerky, his blocks slower—nothing that those watching would see, for they didn’t have the training of Micfal’s elite fighters. But Daria could tell. As a girl she’d spent many hours watching her oldest brother spar with Micfal, Thaddis, and even their father. She’d been so young, yet hadn’t forgotten how he moved, maybe because his supposed death had seared the memories into her brain.
Daria suspected that Indaran’s style would become smooth again as soon as the effects of his long confinement wore off. So I’d better take advantage while I can. She went low on the delt-tay, flashing him a taunting grin when his legs gave out sooner than hers.
They moved into the final buth-hay, then finished in the overhand cross of swords. They held the position for several seconds.
For the first time, Indaran wasn’t bending to her little girl level nor was she stretching high to reach to his. They met as equals, even if he did have four inches on her height and broader shoulders, too. They looked into each other’s eyes, and through her othersense, Daria felt Indaran’s pain, his joy at sparring with her, and his grief. Emotion clogged her throat.
The two stepped back and bowed, sheathing their swords. They fell into a tight embrace as if they would never let go. Even the sound of the spectators clapping didn’t make them pull apart. Tears blurred Daria’s eyes, and when they finally released one another, she saw by the glitter in Indaran’s green eyes that he too struggled with his emotion.
She tried to smile, feeling the edges of her mouth quiver.
“I have no words.” Indaran paused for breath. “You’ve grown into a strong woman, a fighter, a leader. I can’t even describe how proud I am of you. How thankful I am that we’ve found our way to each other.” He waved an acknowledgment to the watchers before turning back to Daria. He lifted his chin in the direction of the stern of the ship. “Come, let’s finish our walk.” He wiped his sleeve across his sweaty forehead.
Daria pulled out her handkerchief, embroidered by her maid Issa and restored to its original state by Withea, and patted her face. Then she tucked the scrap of cloth back into her pocket.
They joined hands again, walking in silence. When they reached the stern, the two released their handclasp to lean over the rail. In silence, they watched the white wake of the ship churn in the turquoise water.
Indaran took a deep breath of the briny air. “Just like Ontarem didn’t steal my love for you, He failed to break my connection to my family. Being with you awakens my emotions and makes me miss them.”
“When we thought you’d died, Indaran…” Daria remembered how she’d screamed when she’d felt the severing of their heartline connection, and her voice quavered in spite of her attempt to control it. “Mother’s heart broke with grief.”
“I didn’t know about her death until Archpriestess Anza told me. The whole time Ontarem held me captive, I thought Mother was alive. Even though she’s been gone for a long time, I’m mourning the loss of my family all at once.” Indaran’s tone sounded heavy with grief. “Mother, Father, Cihkel, Joshel, and Setteff. I envy you having all those years with father and the boys.”
“We had a good life.”
He tugged on her braid. “You were always spoiled.”
Daria grinned. “Yep.” She leaned her shoulder against his. “When this is over and we’ve recaptured Seagem, we’ll sit together, and I’ll tell you tales.” Her brief burst of mirth died away. “It all started when Thaddis offered for me, Indaran. At a public banquet. My othersense warning was so strong I rejected him out of hand. In his anger, he drove a knife into the table and stormed out.”
“How did father
react?”
“The king wasn’t pleased with either of us…until we heard Thaddis had kidnapped his pilot. That’s how he knew the way through the shoals. When that evil man invaded Seagem, killed our family, I thought it was my fault. I blamed myself…wanted to die.”
“No, no, no!” He grasped her arm. “It wasn’t your fault!”
She knew her smile wobbled. “So Khan has managed to convince me. Most of the time, I can believe him. But at weak moments…the guilt rises up and bites me.”
“I know about guilt.” Indaran paused. “Khan’s a good man. I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.”
The warmth of her love for Khan, her brother’s approval for the man she’d chosen, swirled through Daria’s heart, easing her guilt and regrets. “Khan came to me in othersense dreams. That’s a big reason why I turned down Thaddis. Khan’s so different from us. Exotic. Sometimes that’s challenging, but it’s all to the good…. More than good. Wonderful!”
“I have the same challenges with Jasmine. We’re blessed that Withea drew the two of them from Earth, although I regret all my lady wife suffered beforehand.” He let out a long breath. “If only we weren’t leading our mates into battle. They are untrained in fighting. I fear for them.”
“We’ll have to keep them safe.” Daria fumbled for the heavy gold chain she wore around her neck. As she pulled it up, the gold case of the collapsing telescope thumped against her breastbone. “Father’s telescope.”
“He had a replica made for me before I left Seagem. Ontarem’s priests must have taken it from me.”
With both hands, Daria lifted the necklace over her head. “This is for you,” she said, intending to drop the chain over Indaran’s head. “Father gave it to me right before he sent me away from Seagem. That’s when I knew all was lost.” Her voice faltered but she swallowed and continued. “He made me vow to stay alive. The telescope saved Micfal and me many times over.”
He pushed the case back. “Keep it. I don’t deserve it.”
“Indaran!” she protested.
“I’ve watched you, Daria. You’re a natural leader. You should be the reigning queen.”
Horrified at the thought of ruling, Daria strove to make him understand. “I belong with Khan in Withea’s land. Besides, there isn’t a Seagem.”
He firmed his mouth. “If we win this war, there will be. And I intend to step aside so you can be queen.”
“But why?” she asked, bewildered.
Indaran took the necklace from her limp fingers and dropped the chain over her head, gently lowering the case to rest against her chest. “It wasn’t your fault Seagem was destroyed, little bird. It’s mine.”
Puzzled, Daria stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“I was vainglorious and ambitious…restless. I had to go chasing after a myth, ignoring all the indications that told me not to go. Even Yadarius advised against the voyage, although He told me He’d support me.”
“I doubt Yadarius knew how strong Ontarem had become.”
He narrowed his eyes. “How do you know that?”
Daria tried to figure out how but couldn’t. She shrugged. “Just a feeling.”
“The last of the memories Ontarem violated was the one of you visiting me on the ship in our othersense dream. That’s how the Evil One knew about you—how strong you are. He destroyed the city to get to you. Somehow, He used Thaddis as his instrument.”
“Thaddis told me that after the news came of your death, he didn’t believe it. He sailed to find you.”
Indaran sucked in his breath. “He must have been captured, too. But instead of being held, he was sent back to Ocean’s Glory.”
“He returned with a mistress, Lady Pasinae.”
Indaran swore and smacked the rail. “Ontarem’s priestess. She and her two brothers rule…once ruled in Penutar as the Trine. Now there are only two of them.”
“Do you think Thaddis acted willingly?”
“The Thaddis I knew would never have killed his foster father and brothers. I’d like to think Ontarem took him over…but maybe not. Maybe greed or something else motivated him to fall in with the Evil One’s plans. Although if that’s so, I doubt Thaddis knew the extent to which he’d be controlled.”
Indaran fisted his hands, then shrugged. “Enough of Thaddis. We have fighters struggling to work through the pas-sa-ra with no instruction. Let’s go practice with them, for they’ll need all the preparation we can give.”
~ ~ ~
Khan watched his wife and her brother walk away from him and Jasmine. Thank you…. He paused, not sure to which deity to give the credit. Maybe all of them—the good ones at least. Thank the Gods and Goddesses that Indaran is alive and free and reunited with Daria. Thank the Gods and Goddesses that Jasmine is free and healed and in love. Thank you, Gods and Goddess, for my wife.
He glanced up at Shad and Shir perched on the rigging. The pair obviously enjoyed swinging in the wind. Jasmine’s monga had curled up in a coil of rope, napping in the sunshine, his lime-green fur bright against the hemp color.
Jasmine brushed the wind-whipped tendrils of hair out of her eyes and stared at Indaran and Daria, a loving look on her face. “Those two are so beautiful. Look at how they walk, strong and proud. You can tell they’re royal, just by the way they move. Seeing them together, so alike, takes my breath away. I can only imagine how the whole family must have appeared when they were together.”
Khan smiled at her. “Daria told me they commissioned a family portrait not long before the invasion, although she doubted it survived the sack of the city. But maybe someone hid the painting, and someday, we’ll find it.”
“Do you think we’ll have a someday?”
“All we ever have is right now, Jazy. And we almost didn’t have that because of Amir.”
A shadow crossed her face.
Shame coursed through him. Khan took her hand. “I’m so sorry, Jazy. I didn’t protect you. I should have sent you to America. Should have hidden you so Amir couldn’t find you. I…” He couldn’t go on because of the emotion balling in his throat, the hot prick of tears he wouldn’t allow himself to shed.
Jasmine gave his hand a squeeze. “It wasn’t your fault, Khan. It was Amir’s. As I told you, Withea healed me—not completely, but mostly. I think for me to heal entirely, the Goddess would have to take away my memories, and I wouldn’t want that. Because of what happened to me, I could help the women in the slave camp in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to before. I understood their pain and shame. For a woman, feeling understood is an important part of her healing process.”
“Good to know.”
“I’m not saying I’m glad it happened. I’m not. But if it weren’t for Amir, I wouldn’t be here now. You wouldn’t be here,” she said, her tone becoming fierce. “I wouldn’t have found Indaran. You wouldn’t have loved Daria. I wouldn’t have come into my healing powers. The people from Seagem would still be enslaved in Ontarem’s land. I’d pay the price all over again to have what we have now.”
As she spoke, Khan could see wisdom radiating from her thin countenance. Jasmine had matured from the girl he’d known to a woman, one who’d found her calling and her place in life. Pride in her made his shame seep away. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You are a strong, courageous woman, Jasmine, and I’m honored to be your friend.”
She gave him an impish grin. “Sister.”
He rolled his eyes. “My sister,” he echoed her. “You always were like a little sister to me. I’m glad we’re family in truth now.”
Jasmine’s blue eyes turned dreamy. “Our children will be cousins.”
For a moment, Khan let himself be caught up in her fantasy. He could see the four of them as a family, children playing at their feet. But then he thought of all that lay before them.
Only if we live. “Jasmine.” He put some urgency in his voice to bring her back to the present. “Have you and Indaran learned how to combine your energy? How to work to
gether with it?”
“Yes. Just…” She stopped, brows drawn together. “Was it really yesterday?”
“Then I think the next step is for you and I to give it a try. I think we’ll be in need of the power of we four combined.”
She twitched her nose. “The blending of my power with Indaran’s is so wonderful, I wish we just needed it for good…like healing.”
“We’ll certainly need it for healing, but also defense…maybe even offense...fighting, killing. Do you think you can do that?”
A vulnerable look leaped into her eyes. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
Khan cursed, although he didn’t say a word. Gentle Jasmine would always have had a difficult time with physical aggression, but after what Amir had done to her… He wished his brother were still alive so he could kill him all over again—slowly this time. He took her hand. “Let’s not worry about how we’ll use our combined othersense and just focus on practicing together. Do you think you can do that?”
She nodded, although her eyes looked solemn.
“How about if we just jump in, fumble to connect, and see what happens?”
Her smile looked strained. She gave him her other hand. “It might be easier this way with both our hands connected. Let’s try with our eyes closed first.”
Khan took her hands in his and reached inside for the othersense he’d recently cultivated. He visualized the blue energy swirling around his center, flooding up his chest, down his arms, and into his hands.
Jasmine’s reddish energy flowed into her hands and, when they touched, their powers combined.
Khan felt the connection melt together, no strain or fumbling like he’d expected. Instead, their lifelong friendship, all they’d ever said and done together, manifested in an othersense bond that felt comfortable and good. He experienced Jasmine’s power differently from Daria’s. His wife’s warrior strength showed in her steely othersense, while Jasmine’s felt thick and rich like dark amber honey.
They stood together for a few minutes, bonding, healing. Slowly, they pulled their energy back into their bodies and disengaged.
Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) Page 7