Taela turned tear-filled eyes on him. “The amount of energy to build and use this weave will be too much, even for Maleena. If she doesn’t use the weave, we all die including her. If she does, some will still die, but most certainly her.”
Kellinar shook his head, remembering the sadness in Maleena’s eyes. “No. There has to be another way.”
“Chance gave you the possibility, and Choice laid out as many paths as were possible. Like the situation with Trilene, all paths lead to darkness save one,” Serendipity said, her voice calm. “A choice will have to be made.”
“So she has to die? Where is the fairness in the world? How could you let this happen?” Kellinar glared at the old woman.
“We do not let things happen. We do not interfere in that way. It is not up to us to make the decisions as to what path the living souls choose to walk.”
Anevay’s hand slid into his, and she smiled at him. “Some choices and sacrifices are worth making. If I had remained by Emallya’s body at Trilene, that arrow would have killed you. I don’t regret that it took me instead. Here, I am at peace and with Latia. I can ask for no more.”
Serendipity stepped closer to them. “It is time to go. For the sake of your mortal selves, you four must return to the world of the living.”
Kellinar swallowed everything he wanted to say. Every argument he wanted to make about how he would have gladly taken Anevay’s place, a feeling he sensed within Taela as well. Instead, he pulled his lost bondmate into a tight hug one last time and whispered, “I love you,” into her hair.
When he finally pulled himself reluctantly away, Taela embraced her bondsister. Kellinar laid his hand on Latia’s yellow scales. “I have missed you, Latia. I love you.”
“I love you too. In time, we will see one another again.”
“You must go now.” Serendipity’s voice was stern. When Kellinar started back toward the way they came, the old woman stopped him. “No, we go this way. You cannot retrace your steps here. Follow me.”
Kellinar followed as she led them to another break in the trees. His legs felt heavy, and his steps dragged. Several times he looked back to catch another glimpse of Anevay. When he looked back the last time, she and Latia were gone. His heart shattered again, yet somehow he felt peace. He now knew the ache of losing Anevay and Latia would linger forever, but seeing her again gave him the strength to walk away. To turn back to the life that waited for him, Shryden, Taela, and Paki. Anevay didn’t regret giving her life for his. Kellinar did not intend to waste the life she gave him mourning what was instead of embracing what is. If only they could find a way around the weave…
In a short time, they came again to the gate and passed through. The younger Fates, diligent in their duties, never looked up or acknowledged them this time. Consequence pointed at a new silver line on the ground. “Follow this thread, and you will soon find that which you seek.”
Serendipity touched a finger to each of their foreheads. “You will remember your meeting with Anevay and everything she told you. You will remember the peace you found here. However, the workings of the Fates are not for mortals to know. The knowledge will flee from your minds like clouds before the wind when you leave Maiadar, but the sense of right will remain. There is one more thing you will remember. When you see Maleena, there is something you must tell her.”
Kellinar frowned at the urgent expression on the Fate’s face. “I will tell her.”
Serendipity stepped back and folded her hands. “The incomplete weave breeds the darkness. When the sun sets on bloody snow and the shadows touch your hands, accept it else the world will be destroyed by darkness.”
“That’s the message you want to send? Don’t you have one that’s even more obscure and vague?”
“Go in peace, Kellinar.” Serendipity gave him an amused look. “And make haste, your time grows short.”
The dragons made quick headway along the wide silver thread that ran along the ground. Kellinar couldn’t help an inward groan when the shifting landscape of Maiadar’s edge opened before them once again. The constant whispering pressed against his ears. He ran a hand over his braids and tried to block it out. More and more it wore on his nerves. Shryden followed Paki in silence. The strangeness of Maiadar wore on him too.
Kellinar stared at the front of the saddle, refusing to look up any more than necessary. If he never saw this place again for the rest of his mortal life it would still be too soon. Instead of thinking about their uncomfortable surroundings, he replayed his last moments with Anevay over in his mind. There had to be a way around using that weave.
“We’re here,” Taela called from ahead.
He looked up, his stomach lurching with the landscape. There it was. The lake, tilted at an impossible angle. The surface of the dark-blue disk rippled in a breeze they were unable to feel in Maiadar.
Taela eased down from Paki’s back, made her unsteady way to it, and traced symbols on it with her finger. She waved him forward as she walked back to Paki, her expression weary. “You have to go ahead of me.”
“Ready to freeze your rear off?” Kellinar sent to Shryden.
“I don’t find the lake at Galdrilene to be that cold.”
“Lucky you.”
“Stay strapped to the saddle. I’ll get us to the surface,” Shryden sent as he approached the gateway to the living world.
Kellinar grabbed the wooden handles on the pommel of the saddle, took a deep breath, and braced himself.
The icy water struck him like a fist; the shock of it almost knocking the air from his chest. Within seconds, it soaked his clothes with a cold so intense his muscles cramped. Shryden surged through the dark depths, the powerful strokes of wings and feet pulling them upward.
The breath left Kellinar’s chest in a rush when they broke the surface. A chill wind brought on a bout of shivering so extreme his body locked up. He tried to reach for the buckles of the safety straps with numb fingers but couldn’t get anything to obey properly. Water ran from his braids in icy rivulets.
Snow, unusual for the lower elevation of Galdrilene, drifted on the air in fat flakes. A shout went up from somewhere. Kellinar couldn’t summon the energy to look toward the sound. His lids drifted down as exhaustion swept over him. Someone called his name with an urgent tone, but his jaw was shivering so violently he couldn’t speak.
Belynn unfastened the safety strap on one side while Toren worked on the others. Kellinar’s limbs were useless in getting his body out of the saddle. Toren reached up and pulled him down, half carrying, half dragging him toward the kitchen cavern.
“Taela,” Kellinar mumbled through numb lips.
“Paki is coming out of the lake now.” Toren hauled him into the kitchen. “Belynn and Nolan will help her.”
Marda turned from where she lectured a young cook on the amount of salt to put in a dish and gasped. She recovered quickly and pointed her long wooden spoon at a couple of serving girls. “Blankets. Now!”
As they ran to do her bidding, she continued to bark orders. The fire in one empty hearth was built up, and Toren instructed to deposit Kellinar near it. Warmth from the flames and radiating off the stone hearth washed over his frozen skin. His muscles loosened enough for the shivers to shake his entire body.
Mckale carried Taela in, followed closely by Nolan and Belynn. The women sent to fetch blankets each returned with a stack. Maleena took one and shook it out, then wrapped it around Kellinar as Nolan wrapped one around Taela.
Marda thrust steaming cups of coffee into their hands. The heat from the cup nearly burned Kellinar’s skin. Uncaring, he drew it to his lips with shaky hands. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this cold. Inside, the gaping emptiness where Anevay and Latia had once resided, tore open anew.
In Maiadar, the connection of their bond had returned, just as it had for Emallya and Rylin when they first passed through the lake on their way to Galdrilene. The temporary connection severed the moment he and Taela returned to the world of the living. I
n his heart, he knew Anevay was at peace, that any other choices but those made that day at Trilene would have led to nothing but darkness. And yet, still a piece of him died again.
For the first time, Kellinar could truly appreciate the strength it must have taken for Emallya to walk away from Rylin and return with them to Galdrilene. As much as he loved Anevay and Latia, Kellinar knew he would never have been able to leave Maiadar if it had been Shryden he was leaving behind.
Warmth slowly soaked into his frozen body and the shivering eased. It was a relief, and at the same time, a burden. No longer distracted by the need to warm up, the weave Anevay had given Taela dominated his thoughts. Marda directed the warming up of the evening soup with one arm while the other held Maleena’s tiny daughter. Emmaleen slept with her cheek against Marda’s shoulder, and her little body resting comfortably on Marda’s ample breast.
Kellinar locked eyes with Maleena, his thoughts loud in the forefront of his mind. She shook her head slightly in answer to his unspoken thoughts. He was right, Mckale didn’t know about this weave. Taela and Maleena both shot warning looks his way. He narrowed his eyes, his thoughts practically a mental shout.
Maleena leaned over him to adjust the blanket higher up on his shoulders and whispered, “He has no such right. You will remain silent on this, and we will speak of it later.”
When she stepped back there was something in her violet eyes that made it clear he had better not cross her in this. Fine. He would say nothing to Mckale for now, but they would definitely speak of it later. Kellinar made sure those thoughts were loud in his mind. She nodded slightly and walked over to Marda, gently taking Emmaleen. Maleena glanced at him and Taela. “You two should go to the baths and soak the cold from your bones.”
Without another word, she walked away, leaving Kellinar to fume in his own head with the reproach from Taela flowing through the bond to keep his thoughts company. Damn the Fates, this wasn’t how things were supposed to go.
Maleena sat patiently in Kellinar’s lair watching him pace the width of the chamber. Mckale worked with the younger riders, and Marda watched over Emmaleen. It gave her time to let him say his piece.
Kellinar shot a dark look at her. “Do tell me, why is it you feel Mckale has no right to know?”
“It will only cause him senseless worry and despair. Why do that to him? Why not let him fully enjoy the time that is left?”
“Because he’s your bondmate, that’s why! Because maybe together all of the Guardians could come up with something better.”
She shook her head. “There isn’t something better. It would be a useless waste of time. I don’t want people to look at me the way you’re looking at me now.”
“So you plan to pretend this isn’t happening?” Kellinar ran a hand over his braids. “Fates, Maleena, you’re planning on killing yourself! How do you expect me to be all right with that?”
“I will only use the weave if there is no other way. And yes, I expect you to be all right with it.” He had to see this was the best way.
She paused then reached for Nydara. “Send what we saw to Shryden. Make sure he knows it isn’t to be shared with any other dragon. Have him share it with Kellinar.”
Maleena returned her attention to her friend. “Shryden is about to send you something. You will see why I have no choice.”
Kellinar’s eyes widened, and Maleena knew from the grief-stricken look on his face that he saw the possible futures she’d seen in the lake. After a stretch of time he slowly sank into a chair, elbows propped on his knees and face in his hands.
She gave him a moment to recover from the shock before saying, “You see now that it makes no difference whether or not I use the weave. I die either way. One choice leaves all of you dying with me; the other sees the Guardians intact and gives my daughter and my bondmate a future. I don’t throw myself on a sword because of some perfect, self-sacrificing reason. I wish I could be so noble.” Maleena stared at her hands for a moment. “Honestly if I saw any other way, even if it saw many people killed, I would likely take it. I have no wish to take myself and Nydara to Maiadar.”
Kellinar raised his face from his hands. “How did you survive even viewing that?”
“It wasn’t easy.” She gave him a small, sad smile.
His eyes met hers and in them she saw all of the grief she hoped the weave would spare. “I understand now.” He swallowed hard and blinked rapidly, rubbing his hands over his face. “I don’t like it, but I understand. You are a better person than I am if you can pull it off. I’m not sure I could even begin a weave like that knowing the outcome. But if it works, that was…some sight.”
She nodded, knowing exactly how he felt. “I will be able to create the weave because of Emmaleen. She is what drives me in this. As much as I love all of you, including Mckale, I’ve found another besides Nydara I’m willing to die for. Thankfully, Nydara feels the same as I do.”
Kellinar stared at the floor. “It’s strange to see the ending so many times, all of the possible paths. At least now I don’t have to wonder if the world will survive the Shadow Riders.” He looked up and tears swam in his eyes. “I just have to see it coming and know I’m going to lose a good friend and have to watch another good friend go through losing a bondmate.”
“In war, everyone loses something. I’m merely choosing what I wish to lose.”
He nodded and was silent for a long time, his expression pensive. Finally he sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. “Your mention of choosing reminds me. I have a message for you from the Fates.”
Maleena shook her head, still amazed that Kellinar and Taela had met the Fates even if they couldn’t remember a lot of it. “What message?”
“The incomplete weave breeds the darkness. When the sun sets on bloody snow and the shadows touch your hands, accept it else the world will be destroyed by darkness.” Kellinar gave her a puzzled look. “Does that make any sense to you?”
Maleena frowned as she repeated the message in her mind. She took a moment to examine the weave as Taela had seen it. It looked complete to her. If it was complete, how could it be incomplete? “No. I have no idea what it means.”
“I suppose it’s one of those ‘when the time is right’ Emallya type things. It appears the Fates seem to enjoy talking in circles as much as she did.” He sighed in exasperation.
“It would seem so.” Maleena chuckled though her mind kept turning the message over trying to understand it.
Kirynn unbuckled the catcher strap and tossed it up on the saddle. The people of Welan poured out to meet them, the early sun creating long shadows that rippled over the grass. Watching them, she reached for the emotions she had shut down at Trilene. Basc had set her reconnection back and left her struggling again.
As usual, little Lenya was the first to reach them on her short legs. “Did you bring it, Kirynn? Did you bring it?”
“Did I bring what?” Kirynn feigned confusion while Vaddoc chuckled.
“My zahri.” Lenya’s expression became uncertain, and she stopped her headlong rush.
Kirynn pretended to think. “Your zahri? Hmm, wasn’t there something about a Lenya-sized zahri, Vaddoc?”
“I think there was.” He nodded.
“Oh yes, I seem to remember now.” She turned and pulled a small replica of her own zahri from the ties on Syrakynn’s saddle. “Is this what you’re wanting?”
Lenya squealed in delight and clapped her pudgy hands together. “Mama, lookee what Kirynn brought me!”
Anly eyed the small weapon warily. “Are you sure that is a good idea?”
“The blades on the ends can’t hold an edge for anything.” Kirynn snorted. “Even in Boromar, she would be too young for a real weapon.”
Lenya tugged at her pant leg. “Will you show me?”
“Of course, little one.” Kirynn glanced at Vaddoc. “Go speak with Medar and find out if there are any issues that need to be handled.” She knelt next to Lenya. “You hold it like this,” she said,
placing the miniature weapon in Lenya’s hands. The action thawed more of the emotions inside Kirynn’s heart, and she welcomed it. Even though she wasn’t back to normal, it felt good to feel.
Kirynn stood as Lenya’s older sister approached. “I brought yours as well, Tenyi.”
The girl, on the verge of becoming a woman, paused, her quiet hazel eyes conveying more emotion than her expression. “I wasn’t sure if you would remember.”
“I never forget.” Kirynn untied the second zahri from Syrakynn’s saddle. The sun flashed off the twelve-inch blades that tipped either end of the long weapon. She leveled a stern look at Tenyi. “Unlike Lenya’s zahri, this one is functional. The blades are made from the best metal Galdrilene has to offer. It is superior to the blades your Border Guards carry in quality, craftsmanship, and its ability to hold a sharp edge. This zahri must be in your control at all times. The blades will not differentiate between friend or foe. It’s up to you to handle it properly. You will treat this weapon with the respect it deserves at all times.”
Tenyi stood a little straighter. “I will honor your teaching and treat this weapon appropriately.” Her mother looked worried but remained silent.
Syrakynn and Namir raised their voices in welcome as another Slide spun open and a red dragon came through. Younger than and not quite as large as Syrakynn, Tanis was still impressive. The red landed in the tall grass and rumbled a greeting at everyone.
Marcaius, his rider, removed the safety straps and leaped down. With quick movements, he released the catcher strap and tossed it up on the dragon’s back then untied his zahri from the saddle.
“Nice of you to finally join us,” Kirynn called.
He jogged over to where she stood, his long, red, Boromari braid swinging behind him. “Tanis took some extra time fixing the image of this place in his mind. This is the longest Slide we’ve made.” Marcaius glanced at the two younger girls, each holding a zahri. “Teaching, are we?”
Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) Page 12