Elwyn went on to read the last group of entries that were made in the diary. Rhianna continued to describe her delight in her new daughter as well as her frustration because she had not yet heard from her husband. She filled many pages with the expressions of love that a mother feels for her child. It warmed Elwyn’s heart to realize just how much her mother loved her. Rhianna continued to wonder why she had not heard from her husband or her brother-in-law, Ayron. Then the pages of the diary changed in focus and were filled with her concerns as the mysterious illness began to sweep through the village. As the death toll rose, so did Rhianna’s anxiety.
Rhianna’s last entry was made when she realized that she too was ill. She knew that Rhys was terribly worried about her and Alesia, who was also sick. He and Clayre spent their time trying to bring down their fevers and keep them hydrated with rich broths and cool clean water. Rhianna asked Clayre to take care of Elwyn because she was afraid that she would give the illness to her daughter. At some point, Rhianna must have known that she was not going to live. She called Rhys to her bedside and made him promise to take care of Elwyn and to see if he could find out what was going on in Silvendil. Rhys promised that he would always care for Elwyn, and do what he could to help her to know her mother through him.
She then asked Rhys to carry her outside to her beloved companion, Gemma. Tears streamed down Rhianna’s face as the beautiful morden came to her and nuzzled her neck.
“Gemma, my love. We have shared so much together; joy, sorrow, happiness and pain. I am too ill to continue much longer. I will miss riding and spending time with you. It breaks my heart to have to leave you. I would ask a great boon of you, my precious one. Do not lose yourself in grief after I am gone. I know it is the way of companions but I believe that you have a great destiny ahead among the morden.”
Rhianna then asked Rhys to bring Elwyn outside and hold her up so that Gemma could see her.
“Gemma, I would also ask that you watch over my daughter as she grows. Do not allow any harm to befall her and, if you are able, become a companion to her as you did me. I believe that she carries the best of both Azavon and me. I know that it is a lot to ask, but I see something special in her.”
Rhianna then described how Gemma walked slowly over to where Rhys stood holding Elwyn and inclined her big head toward the tiny babe. She then turned back to Rhianna and nodded her agreement.
The last few lines of the diary were addressed to Elwyn. Rhianna wanted her to know that she loved her very much and would miss watching her grow up to be a young woman. She told her how excited she and Azavon had been at the news that she was pregnant. She also told her how good a man her father was and how anxious she was that they should comfort each other after she was gone. She explained to her that she’d written down the words she said to Gemma because it was a special request that would hopefully save both their lives one day. She added that she wanted Elwyn to have the diary and that Elwyn should write about her own journey in its pages as well. The last line that Rhianna wrote instructed Elwyn to go to her father and tell him just how much she loved them both.
Elwyn felt the warm tears rolling down her cheeks as she held the diary tightly to her chest, as if to feel the warmth of the person who wrote it. She was sorry that her uncle Rhys had never felt able to read its pages. He would have known Elwyn’s father was blameless and was a victim of the conspirators as much as Rhianna had been. She had loved being raised by Rhys, but after reading about the man who was her father, she was more anxious to meet him than before. Elwyn couldn’t imagine ever loving anyone as much as her mother and father had loved one another. She promised herself that she would share the pages of the diary with her father. He had been grieving for all the wrong reasons for way too long and Elwyn was determined to do her best to see the burden of guilt lifted from his shoulders.
It also explained a lot about Gemma. Although it seemed like Gemma had been there from her earliest days, Elwyn never knew she was Rhianna’s companion. She had a connection with her mother right under her nose and never knew it. If only she could see Gemma’s memories.... Her mother’s diary explained so much. It also explained why Gemma had been able to help Raffe deal with Thane’s death. Gemma had gone through the pain of a life-bond being severed and was able to heal enough to bond with her. Raffe would have known that. It was probably the reason why he was willing to listen to her after Thane’s death. Elwyn was emotionally exhausted but elated by the opportunity to begin to see her parents as real people.
Before turning in, she put a few more logs on the fire, checked the drying pieces of meat, and folded the clothes that she laid out to dry. She then lay down and began to think about her reunion with her father. She fell asleep and dreamed about how happy and safe she would feel once she was in Findara with her father and her two uncles.
Chapter 28 – Pulling Pieces Together
Ayron became aware of a tickling sensation intruding into his sleep. He reached up and scratched his head thinking that he might have been bitten by something while sleeping. As he worked to shake off his fatigue and push his reluctant brain into gear, he realized that the sensation was actually Kierra trying to get his attention.
“Where have you been Kierra,” Ayron grumbled, not yet fully awake. “And why don’t you just announce yourself by name when you want me,” Ayron asked.
Ayron immediately felt ashamed as Kierra reminded him that she was not life-bonded to him and to just hop into his brain whenever she felt like it would be a serious breach of protocol.
“I’m sorry and you’re right Kierra,” said Ayron sheepishly. “I’m just so bone tired that I’m not thinking straight,” Ayron said, still fighting the fatigue that kept trying to overwhelm him.
Kierra quickly let Ayron know that she understood and had taken no offense at his grumpiness and recommended that, when they were finished, he go find some strong tea to drink and have some nourishing food to eat. Kierra spent the next several minutes filling him in on what she knew. Ayron was disturbed that Kierra had not been able to penetrate whatever was blocking her from communicating with Elwyn in Kren. However, Kierra was able to let him know that Elwyn was still in the small village, was not in immediate danger, and was planning to leave the next day if he was still not there. This panicked Ayron a bit, because he had some stops to make before he left Amarni for Kren, and he wasn’t sure that he would be able to get there early the following day. When he asked her how she was aware of this, she moved smoothly on to the next subject; Keroc.
Kierra let Ayron know that Keroc was steadily improving. She told him that he was conscious, growing stronger, and that his broken wing was mending. She asked him to continue reaching out with his mind trying to contact the little drakenhawk. Kierra thought that the life-bond Ayron shared with him might be even stronger than her link with Keroc. Kierra also added that the six drakenhawks she sent to protect them and heal Keroc were about a day away from reaching Kren. They had been nervous about flying over Wheryn and decided to detour around it. Ayron agreed with her that the drakenhawks were wise to avoid that land. There had been many mysterious deaths associated with Wheryn and no one yet understood why. He did hope that the drakenhawks would reach Elwyn before he did, and asked Kierra that they try to contact her as soon as they were able and explain to her why she should wait for him in Kren.
Ayron then took the opportunity to ask Kierra about talking to Azavon and telling him, through Torjon, about Elwyn. Kierra hesitated and then told him that they would speak of it again after he was reunited with Elwyn and were safely on Silvendil land. She added that she had spoken with Torjon herself and impressed upon him just how important it was the he remain silent on the matter. When he asked how things were in Findara, the most she would say was that there seemed to be a lot of tension, especially among the council members. But she also said that she ordered the drakenhawks not to communicate with Ayron’s or his troops and felt that perhaps the council members were struggling because they were unable to see wha
t he was up to. She was really attempting to keep the ruling body in Findara from learning of Elwyn’s existence until Ayron returned with her. She impressed upon him that his return to Findara might not be as peaceful as he might expect and that she felt he should remain vigilant in assuring Elwyn’s safety even after they arrived. With a gentle farewell, she exited his mind. Ayron loved his conversations with Kierra, but they were always too brief and she was sometimes reluctant to fully answer his questions. All too often, she skirted issues and left him with more questions than answers. But in this case, Ayron was grateful for whatever communication she was willing to provide. With a few groans, Ayron stood up, grabbed his clothes, and headed to the bath house.
In a short while Ayron was washed, dressed, and drinking a large mug of tea made sweet with cane sugar. As he drank his tea, Alea handed him a bowl of hearty stew with some bread. As they sat there in companionable silence eating, many of the village children gathered around them. He smiled and greeted the ones he knew from his previous trips, and asked to be introduced to the children he didn’t recognize. The Amarani held their children in high esteem and it would have been deemed an insult had Ayron not been willing to converse with them, especially since he knew their language. It was this kind behavior that had gotten him renamed brother, or friend, by the Amarani.
“I can see why these people love you, Ayron,” Alea said with a smile. “You are wonderful with children. You are as protective and loyal with the Amarani as you are with your own family. It is no wonder that they are always delighted to see you.”
“Thank you Alea,” said Ayron while bouncing a child on each knee. “But if truth be said, the reason that this is such a joyful experience for me is that I can always return them to their parents if they get to be too much for me. Unfortunately, if you are the parent, you are stuck with having to deal with any and all situations. That has always scared me to death.”
“Oh Ayron, raising children is not to be feared, but enjoyed,” Alea said giggling quietly. “You should go talk to Hodari. I believe that he has at least a dozen, maybe more.”
“I’ll get to him later this morning, but first I need to see Rhys and Clayre. I want to check in on them to see how they are doing before I leave,” Ayron said getting up from his seat. “Would you please tell the others that I will need to talk with them here at the campfire later this afternoon?”
Ayron left Alea to entertain the children that were gathered around the fire and headed over to visit with Rhys and Clayre. He found them both awake and finishing up their morning meal.
“Hey old man, it’s good to see you looking so well today. You would never think you’d been the target of several assassination attempts this last week, “Ayron said with a smile as he entered the hut.
“And how are you holding up, Clayre,” Ayron added in a quieter tone. “I hope you don’t hate me for bringing you here into the wilderness to live with strangers,” he added.
“Ayron, you have saved both our lives many times over,” Clayre said giving him a quick hug. “I could never hate you,” she added with a smile. “I can leave for a while and let you both talk if you would like.” Clayre said, walking toward the door of the hut.
“Get back here woman,” grumbled Rhys. “We have been through far too much for us to have secrets from each other anymore,” he said gruffly, a small frown attempting unsuccessfully to find a place on his face.
“Sit down Ayron”, said Rhys. “We have some things to talk over. I haven’t been entirely honest with you concerning Rhianna or Elwyn,” Rhys said, head held low. “You have been very honest with me and proven that you can be trusted. It is time I told someone what I know about the events of sixteen seasons ago. I would have told Elwyn before, but the child is head strong and I feared she would go off on her own and perhaps die in the attempt to right the wrongs done to her mother.”
“I know what you mean Rhys,” said Ayron seriously. “Kierra just told me that the morden and Keroc are having a difficult time convincing Elwyn to wait for me and not leave Kren before I arrive. That is why I need to leave as soon as I take care of a few things here. Sometimes that young woman just doesn’t take warnings seriously,” said Ayron shaking his head. “But Rhys, Ayron said with a smile. “Did we at her age?”
“Well Ayron, I hope you can understand why I haven’t been a fountain of knowledge around her,” Rhys said with a heavy sigh. “If that child knew half of what I know, she would have been trying to go up against Stefan and find her mother’s enemies in Findara all on her own.”
Rhys began to tell Ayron what he knew of the events that occurred in Findara so long ago.
“Rhianna never once doubted that Azavon loved her, but she did wonder what could have happened to keep him or you from coming for her. Apparently, she only trusted one young woman with the truth of what happened to her and asked her to speak with you upon your return from negotiating with the dwarves. I take it she never spoke to you?”
“No, when we got back to Findara, it was to the news that Rhianna committed suicide because she was so unhappy. I have to tell you that both Azavon and I had difficulty believing it because it didn’t seem like something the Rhianna we knew would do. However, the healer and at least one of the council members testified to her death and Rhianna’s assistant was nowhere to be found. We were told she went away to grieve. I thought it strange though that I never saw her again. I think her family may live in Findara and if I can learn her name, I plan to find them when I return. Maybe they can shed some light on where she is or what happened to her. Did Rhianna tell you anything else?”
“She did say that someone at the palace began spreading rumors that she was sick and might even die before Azavon returned or her child was born. Neither she nor that assistant of hers could ever figure out who started them though. She also said the healer kept refusing to listen to her when she claimed that the food was making her ill. He kept telling her that she was imagining things because she was so depressed. From what she said to me, she was terrified that someone was trying to kill her and not depressed at all. That’s about all I can remember but all that still makes me afraid for Elwyn.”
“You have my word as a friend that I will investigate what happened to Rhianna and bring whoever was responsible to justice, Rhys. I will also protect Elwyn, as will her father as soon as he knows of this horrible crime.”
“I have to tell you, elf, that for the first few seasons of Elwyn’s life I kept expecting to see Azavon walk through my door looking for Rhianna and the child. When that didn’t happen, I figured he just didn’t care. I never realized that he thought them both dead. I feel badly for my misjudgment and the bitterness I have felt towards him over the seasons. When you told me how Azavon had been deceived, I realized that I had to let that anger and bitterness go so I could do what is best for my niece.
When I heard you describe what your brother went through when he heard the news of Rhianna’s death, I understood Azavon’s grief because it mirrored my own. I was devastated at losing my wife and unborn child to the same illness that took Rhianna’s life. I also have to confess to you both that my sister’s dying wish was for me to go to Findara and tell Azavon that her last thoughts had been of him and the incredible love they shared. She also asked me to tell him that her only regret was to have to leave him and their baby daughter so soon.”
“Rhys, I’m a little confused. Why didn’t you ever come to Findara, or at least sent word to Azavon at some point in time.”
“Actually, what kept me from contacting Azavon was the illness that swept through our village a month after my sister gave birth. For over a hundred seasons before I came to Tarlon, there had not been a plague or a disease that was as widespread and as lethal as the one that swept through the village shortly after Rhianna’s arrival. The illness specifically targeted all children under two seasons of age, and all adults that had been weakened by some recent illness or condition such as pregnancy.
After the illness did its damage,
I discovered that all of the elderly villagers, pregnant women, villagers that had been recently treated for an infection or illness, and children under the age of two were dead. Anyone else who came down with the illness, recovered without any lasting health issues.
At first I thought maybe Stefan found out where I was living and hired an assassin to try to eliminate me, but I later decided that, due to the nature of the disease, the most likely targets were Rhianna and Elwyn. I came to believe that the enemy was most likely someone from Findara who followed Rhianna and was willing to sacrifice an entire village to eliminate her and the unborn child she was carrying.
I have never been willing to risk Elwyn’s life by going to Findara. When I thought about what had happened to my sister, a grown woman, I was not willing to risk bringing a babe or a young child into that danger. I promised my sister I would protect her and I wasn’t sure that I could do it there.
“As much as I hate to admit it, you may have a valid point in that, Rhys. The more I hear, the more concerned I am, even for Azavon’s safety.
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