A Single Spark

by Tayvia Pierce

  He smiled at me and took the book, flipping it open to read over what I had written. His brow furrowed as he studied the text, silent in contemplation. “Give me some time to read this over and I will see what sense we might make out of this.” He murmured absently, already lost in translating what I had scrawled.

  Agoston spared a glance to the notebook before returning his green eyes to me. “They are agents of Azkaelom that have managed to evade the Remnant for many years. There is an agent of the enemy that is a valuable part of the enemy’s plans. In truth, he is the key, and we must locate him as soon as possible. An informant led us to believe he is in Lundham, but as of yet, we have found no trace of him. The presence of the Azkaelomin cannot be coincidental, and we believe they could potentially lead us to him. But this abduction has raised several questions, the primary one being what they would gain with abducting a young noblewoman for a ransom, only to simply let her go?” All eyes turned back to Rhian to study her intently.

  Rhian shrank back a little beneath the weight of everyone's’ perusal, giving the elves a defensive look. “I don’t know!” Verity smiled gently to her and said. “Not all things are easily understood, Rhian. There is no need to be defensive.” She continued to study Rhian, gauging my sister for the limits of her cooperation.

  “Why don’t you tell us everything that happened?” Bahadur asked, though it would seem the elf had misjudged her willingness and Rhian rose quickly, huffing. “No. I have told it already too many times, and there is nothing to tell. I am just trying to move past it, so I will not discuss it anymore!” She crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly and looked at me. “I wish to go home. Now.”

  Brynmor had been completely silent until now, Rhian’s demand to go home bringing him instantly to his feet. The elves rose as swiftly as he did, staring at Rhian with a mixture of concern and disappointment. “Why would you not wish to relay the tale to us?” Agostan asked gently, his dark eyes flashing bronze with the shift in his mood.

  I found my feet and turned to Rhian, my own confusion mounting at her outburst. “Don’t you want to find the men that took you?” I asked, completely bewildered.

  Rhian turned red and shook her head. “I don’t want to tell it because it’s embarrassing! You were right about me being foolish and wandering off without a guard and I was taken and beaten and it proved you right. I get sick just thinking about what they could have done to me, and I’m ashamed at my stupidity and so I want to forget that it even happened.” Tears began to pool in her eyes and it would be only a matter of moments before she burst into tears.

  Brynmor’s jaw set, always ready to do exactly as Rhian wanted. “Of course, Rhi. We should go, we are already late for dinner.” He moved off to collect the horses and I sighed, knowing the conversation was over.

  Owain looked up from my notebook, glancing from Rhian to Brynmor with a growing frown. Closing the book with a light snap, he also rose and turned to face me. “Lady Carys, the Azkaelomin were indeed arguing. The one said you were a pleasure to look at and wanted to take you back with them. The taller one refused, saying taking women for pleasure was not their reason for this, and to stick with the plan.” He informed me quietly as he held my book out for me to take.

  I felt my insides turn to ice at those words, a sick dread knotting in my stomach with the idea of the shorter man getting his way. Several ‘what-if’’ scenarios began formulating in my mind, each possibility worse than the last. I decided to schedule more lessons with Ben the next morning, feeling an overwhelming need to be better.

  Rhian paled as well; she turned to look at me with a confused expression. “Whatever would they have wanted with you?” She asked, her innocence either painfully clear or she was being deliberately obtuse to insult me. I figured it was the former.

  My mouth was nearly as dry as the Yehketi desert when I reached out for the notebook, rising to my feet. I ignored Rhian’s question and spoke lowly to Owain. “Not much in the way of answers, but I am grateful for the translation. Whatever their plan is, Rhian’s abduction was merely a means to an end, and I am grateful she was not harmed.”

  Brynmor returned with the horses, taking Rhian by the hand before helping her up. He gave a firm nod towards the elves and Owain, stating bitterly. “I am glad to know that someone is looking for those men. When you do, eventually find them, feel free to kill them slowly and painfully.” He held his hand out for me, wiggling his fingers to beckon me over to him and my horse.

  The elves studied Brynmor silently, finally turning to speak to each other softly in their own language. Finally Agoston looked to me and smiled gently. “We now have a place to begin. Thank you, Lady Carys...Lady Rhian. We are grateful for what you have shared with us. You may go.” There was a tone of finality to their words, and I doubted we would see them again. They had their own affairs to see to, and our problems seemed small in comparison.

  We parted ways, Owain speaking softly to me before our departure. “I will stay in touch, Lady Carys.” I offered a grateful nod before nudging my horse into a walk, wanting very much to see this search and investigation through to the end, but Rhian’s words had given me pause. She had wanted to put the incident behind her and move on, and I wondered if it would be better to simply let this all go? By the sounds of it, the elves and Wardens were handling the matter, leaving me with no valid reason to continue prying into such affairs.

  CHAPTER 45

  The ride home was quiet, and as Brynmor had pointed out, we were late for dinner, drawing the relieved looks of everyone who had nearly finished eating already. Father grunted with concern. “You are late, daughters. I trust there is no crisis that must be dealt with?” He looked pointedly at me, and I was relieved to shake my head.

  “No, we were detained, I apologize.” Father nodded and returned to his meal, accepting that vague excuse easily, as did the rest of the family. Ben studied my face for an extra moment, reading more in my features than any one else would see.

  I met his gaze, holding it for a moment before I asked him as casually as I could manage. “Ben, can we resume our lessons tomorrow morning?” The furrowing of his brow lasted only a moment before he nodded his acceptance, though I could see his curiosity would not be so easily diverted. “Of course, Lady Carys.” He said, equally informal, though he would certainly question me later privately.

  As it turns out, Rhian chose to tell the family about the visit with the elves and Owain, deciding that bragging about helping the elves was worthwhile, despite her earlier discomfort with their questioning. “Carys’s warden friend stopped us in the road and insisted that we meet his friends. Those friends happened to be elves. Remember the ones that passed us on the road when we arrived? It was them.”

  Ben’s gaze hardened a little at the mention of the elves, giving me a look that declared ‘we are speaking on this later’. He seemed to grasp my reasons for wanting further lessons, however, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind as he retreated to the chair in the corner.

  Mother arched a brow, smiling faintly. “Oh? And what did you talk about with these elves? I would imagine something of great importance, yes?” She handed her now empty plate up for Derryth to take, not even sparing a glance to the elderly woman as she did so.

  Brynmor broke in and said tightly. “They are looking for those Azkaelomin and wanted to know about Rhian’s time spent in their company. That’s all.” Brynmor glanced at me, his anger turning to worry as he added. “The warden, Owain, translated what Carys believed the men had said at the exchange. It seemed her kidnappers were not in agreement on their course of action. Apparently one of them liked Carys.” He said with a scowl as he took his plate of food from Derryth, digging into the meal as soon as the plate touched the table.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at Brynmor before the collective stare turned to me. I sighed, not hungry in the slightest, and waved away the plate of food Derryth tried to hand me. “The elves and wardens are searching for these Azkael
omin so I highly doubt they were foolish enough to stay in the Badlands. We have nothing to worry about.” I said, not wanting to discuss the translation.

  I felt sick to my stomach and I swallowed hard, shaking my head a little to rid my mind of the terrible scenarios that had invaded my imagination. They would be idiots to stay with so many people looking for them. We are safe. And with that thought, I convinced myself of it and slowly began to relax. “I’m tired, and I am going to retire for the night.” I said to my family, not waiting for them to respond before I vanished to my room.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  My lessons resumed after breakfast, Ben waiting for me in the yard with less than his usual patience, which was already paper thin these days. He stood stiffly until I came into view, quickly turning on his heel to face me as I approached. “What did you tell the elves?” He wasted no time in asking his questions, not that it surprised me.

  My brow lifted at being spoken to in that way, almost reminding him of his place, though I was too exhausted to start that argument, recalling the blade that flew at my head last time. “Rhian didn’t know much and so said little that was useful. I gave Owain my notebook with my notes on what they said at the grove.” I answered, unfazed by his gruff demeanor.

  “I did not realize you spoke their language.” He said, his gruffness easing into wariness as he stared down at me with an appraising look, though I quickly shook my head under his scrutiny.

  “I don’t. I just remembered what I heard and tried to write out what I thought they said. Owain translated.” I said quietly, looking up to him. “It doesn’t matter, they didn’t really say anything useful anyways.” I went to my usual starting place, tying my hair up into a ponytail with a leather cord as I turned to face him.

  He moved into place and studied my face intently but didn’t take up his ready stance. “What did the elves say to you, then?” He asked bluntly, his expression still akin to a rock, though slowly lessening from the stony rigidity that he had for me these last few days.

  I shrugged slightly, telling him briefly what we had discussed. “They are here to help the Wardens find those Azkaelomin, who have evaded them for years and some informant said they were in this area. With Rhian’s abduction, they know for certain they are here but I think they would be stupid to stay with so many searching. I think Rhian’s abduction was just a means to an end for them, but it’s anyone’s guess as to what they wanted.” I rolled one shoulder, than the other, and out of my desire to stop discussing it, changed the subject, “What are we learning today?”

  Ben’s lips twitched, though he didn’t look particularly amused. “I warned you already about them, Carys.” He growled softly. “They have their own agenda and they won’t hesitate to use you and Rhian in their plans. They won’t care if you get hurt.” He completely ignored my question, not ready to commence my lesson until he said his piece.

  I looked up to him and frowned. “Strange to hear you, of all people, say that. You are Velynesian, aren’t you? The elves are your allies.” Despite Ben’s warnings, I still held to what I had read about the elves over my childhood, believing in their inherent goodness and willingness to help those in need.

  He stared hard at me, his shoulders finally releasing their tension as he slumped slightly. He looked down to me and said. “I share their bloodline, that much is true, though my experiences with elven-folk have colored my opinion of them in a way that is different than the rest of my kinsman.” He said vaguely, his steps now taking him in a slow circle around me with his darkening mood.

  My head turned to follow him as he walked, my body slowly following. “What did they do to you to warrant such an opinion?” I asked quietly, several possible scenarios running through my mind. Had he lost loved ones? Had he been left behind in some frightening attack?

  His eyes remained on me as he took deliberate steps around me, beginning to look more like a circling wolf than a man. He was silent as his thoughts turned inward. “They promised to help and they offered their rewards, but mortals are expendable to them. They withhold that which does not belong to them and have no care for those whom they have wronged. That is all I will say.” He growled softly and came to a stop before me.

  I was filled with trepidation as he spoke as one far older than his years, one who had seen strife by their hands. I had read of the legend of Velynese and the reclusive Wardens and the duty to which they now held, but there was nothing about Ben that fit with that duty or lifestyle. It occurred to me, then, that perhaps he had left that duty behind, though there was one last question that I could not even begin to guess the answer. “Exactly how old are you?” I asked as he drew his dagger from its sheath.

  His blue-grey eyes met and held my gaze, something in their depths unreadable. “I am forty one winters.” He said quietly, something in his bearing seeming to relent.

  My jaw dropped a little, lessons all but forgotten. “But you don’t look much older than twenty five.” I said in surprise, the reality of the Velynesian bloodline and their extended lifespan proven here in the man standing in front of me. He gave me a hard look, but deep beneath it, was resignation. What was he resigning himself to? To be a part of the Remnant of Velynese was no small matter, and yet he looked like it was a prison sentence rather than an honorable duty.

  “My forty-one years is similar to your twenty-five.” He grunted before dropping into his ready stance. “Today, we will spar.” He responded, pushing all other conversation away. “I will not go easy on you, Lady Carys. You must be able to protect yourself.” He stated firmly, causing me to stare for an extra moment up to him. He had always been one to move through the lessons slowly and thoroughly, ensuring that I was adept at one thing before moving to the next. For him to push ahead meant he was afraid that I wouldn’t be ready when the need arose, and I thought to the Azkaelomin who expressed a liking for me and shivered.

  The time for basics was over.

  CHAPTER 46

  The first days of Yule had arrived at last, the days growing cold as the snow seemed to fall daily and the smell of fir and spices filled the air. Rhian and Derryth had set to decorating the cottage with pine garlands and enough candles to light all of Lund, a pot of our cook’s famous spiced cider ever-ready on the stove for the family to drink.

  I had spent the last six days sparring, trying to plan a wedding I didn’t want to participate in, and giving opinions on Rhian’s thousands of Yule ornaments. As the sun rose on this particular morning, the snow in the yard suddenly shimmering like a thousand diamonds though I was too tired to appreciate its beauty. As usual, I had barely slept, my restless mind puzzling over the many problems that continued to plague our family despite my efforts to let them go.

  Rhian was practically bouncing around the house that day as I sat still, changing the bandage on my arm. My lesson with Ben the morning before had ended with blood, his promise to not go easy on me fulfilled. He moved to show me the hole in my maneuver and while he adjusted his strike to prevent serious damage to my person, the edge of his blade sliced through my coat to find flesh. It was little more than a scratch, and would heal quickly enough though the blood that soaked my sleeve brought a hard and indecipherable look to his face.

  Rhian couldn’t stand still, pacing the sitting room though she was watching me wrap another linen bandage around my arm. “Can we have a bonfire today, Carys? It’s Yule’s Eve, and it isn’t that cold outside and Derryth can make mulled wine and cookies....please, please, please? It will be fun!”

  I smiled a little at her, my eyes lifting from my task briefly to find her as I agreed, “I don’t see why not. It should be a pleasant afternoon, so why don’t you talk to Darius about getting some wood and finding a suitable place down by the pond?” I barely managed to pull my sleeve back down before she squealed with joy and ran over to hug me, thankfully mindful of my freshly bandaged arm. “Why don’t you talk to Derryth and see what she can cook up for us to bring along?” She nodded emphatically and let go of me, sashayin
g into the kitchen to slide up next to Derryth as she began to converse with our cook.

  Madox and Iolyn came in from outside, stomping their feet to shake off some snow as they talked quietly, their conversation halting as they saw us. Iolyn flashed me a smile and said, “In case you are interested, Mother took Brynmor to do wedding shopping today. Brynmor might be more excited about this marriage than you are, Carys.” He teased, and I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing all too well the truth of that statement, though I wasn’t about to admit it.

  “We are going to have a bonfire out by the pond later, if you two want to join us.” I said to them, blatantly ignoring his teasing as it irked me to no end. My husband-to-be knew full well that I wanted to wait until next year, but it seemed that he was ignoring that directive, and somehow he managed to charm Mother into supporting our marriage, and even helping to speed things along.

  Iolyn’s brows perked and he nodded. “That would be fun. Have some Yule cheer and treats and the cozy warmth of a raging inferno?” He chuckled and winked at me. “Count me in, but for now, I’ve got plans in town. I’ll be back later, so save me some wine!” He called out as he vanished into his room.