Ellenessia's Curse Book 1: The Shadow's Seer

by Fran Jacobs

  We dismounted when we reached the trees, tethering the horses loosely so they could munch on the fresh spring grass. Teveriel started to spread a blanket across the ground for us to sit on, when Kal called to him. "Teveriel," he said, in a strangely firm voice. "Can I talk to you alone for a moment or two?"

  Teveriel looked up at Kal, squinting as the sun got in his eyes. "All right," he said easily.

  "Why?" I asked, looking up at Kal as I made myself comfortable on the blanket, yanking off my boots and crossing my legs beneath me.

  "It's not your concern, Dale," Kal said. "Not everything is about you, you know."

  "You can set out the food I stole," Teveriel said. "Keep that curious mind of yours busy."

  "You stole it? Why? You just had to say my name and they would have given you whatever you wanted."

  "It was more fun to steal it, Candale," Teveriel replied, with a bright smile. He turned to Kal and gestured towards the bank. "We can walk over there," he suggested, "and that way we can keep an eye on any little bird who might want to listen in on what doesn't concern them."

  "'Little bird'?" I asked. "Do you, by any chance, mean me?" But neither Kal nor Tev bothered to respond as they walked off together towards the bank of the lake. "Hmm," I murmured, staring after them. "That's odd. What could they have to talk about?

  "If I didn't know any better," Silver said, kneeling down beside me on the blanket, "I would think that they were going to have 'the talk'."

  "'The talk'?"

  "Yes." He reached out of the cloth bag that held our food and wine and started to unpack it, spreading it out on the blanket. "You know. Tival had one with you, asking you what your intentions were with Hazel. And, when I was thirteen, Shayla's father had one with me. It's what fathers do, protect their precious daughters from men who might want to lead them astray, even though most women are perfectly capable of leading themselves astray and don't need protecting." I think he had added the last bit for Trellany's benefit, as he quickly glanced her way. She didn't respond, just made herself comfortable on the blanket.

  "Why would Kal want to have a talk like that with Tev?" I asked. "He doesn't have a sister and Tev certainly wouldn't dream of courting Aylara."

  "No, but he could asking Tev of his intentions towards you, warning him not to lead you astray," Silver replied, with a bright grin.

  "Gods, you don't think he is, do you?" I asked. "I already told him not to worry, that Tev isn't a bad influence on me."

  "They're probably just discussing music for the betrothal," Trellany said, giving Silver a withering look, as she reached for the cloth bag that held our food and wine.

  "More than likely," Silver agreed. "It's just fun to tease Dale sometimes. He can be so gullible."

  I pulled a face at him, but I wasn't convinced. Why were they talking about music now, they had plenty of opportunity to do that later? And why did they need all the secrecy? I yawned and stretched my arms upwards, trying to pretend that I wasn't interested in Kal or Teveriel standing by the bank, talking to each other, but I was and I knew I wasn't fooling anyone. But they were too far away for me to have a hope of trying to hear them and I soon grew bored of trying to read their lips, so, with a weary sigh I gave up.

  The food was all spread out on the blanket by the time Teveriel and Kal returned to us. There were small chunks of cold chicken, small pastries stuffed with vegetables, a thick slab of honey cake, small lemon biscuits, strong white goat's cheese with ginger and fresh crusty bread. Teveriel flopped down beside me as soon as he returned, narrowly missing me, and he started to load a plate up with food. Kal knelt down at the furthest edge of the blanket and, although he did help himself to food, I could see that he wasn't truly comfortable with the situation at all.

  "So," I asked, reaching for a small pastry, "will you let us in on the big secret and tell us what you were talking about?"

  "Music," Teveriel replied simply, and Trellany gave me a look that said, I told you so. "We were discussing what I'd play at the dance following the betrothal."

  "And that was the reason for all the secrecy?" Silver asked.

  "No, that was done purely to irritate our prince," Teveriel said. "He needs to learn patience."

  "So you did that for my benefit? To teach me patience?"

  "Yes," Teveriel said. He took a bite of one of the biscuits. "And I hope that you're grateful."

  "Eternally," I told him dryly.

  We ate all the food that Teveriel had 'stolen', drank all the wine, and, an hour or so after we'd finished, Trellany and Milan headed off a short distance to run through some weapons exercises. They were both very graceful, as they moved together, wielding their pieces of wood as practise blades. It was the grand dance that Trellany had shown me, when we had been locked in my suite, only now she had a partner as skilled as she was. Their feet moved swiftly, the pieces of wood met each other with dull thuds, and their eyes were bright with enjoyment. Every move they made showed off just how strong and healthy they both were, with toned muscles and swift reflexes. I knew that I would never be able to wield a weapon that well, or move my feet that fast, without tripping over them.

  Teveriel watched them for a short while and then launched into a bawdy song that he appeared to be making up off the top of the head, with Silver joining in the chorus. Breskarn and Kal remained quiet, although Breskarn looked mildly entertained. I could see his booted feet tapping in time.

  I lay down on my back in the soft, lush grass, its sweet smell filling my nostrils. The sun was warm on my face, my belly was full and, with the clatter of swords ringing in the distance and Teveriel singing his dirty little song close by, I felt comfortable and at peace. Out here in the pleasant spring sunshine, shaded by the trees, the vision I'd had the day before seemed a hundred miles away, just a distant memory, part of another Candale and his life instead of me and mine.

  I shut my eyes to listen to the sounds ...

  And I finally fell asleep.

  ***

  A shadow moved over me and I felt warm breath on my face. "Candale?" It was Kal's voice. I recognised it instantly. "Wake up, Candale."

  "I am awake," I muttered. "Although I don't want to be."

  "No?" Kal sank back on his heels as I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes. The sun had moved across the sky, it was late afternoon. I must have slept a good few hours. I felt a little better for it, but it wasn't enough. "We have to get back, we have rehearsals."

  "Drakan alone knows why," I muttered. "I know what I have to say, and you and Aylara don't have to say anything at all. I just don't know why we're bothering."

  "To get it right," Kal replied briskly. He got to his feet and held down his hand to help me up.

  Everything had been cleared away and the others were already mounted. It must have been a heavy sleep if I hadn't even woken to the sound of movement so close around me. I yawned.

  "Candale," Kal said, in a soft voice now, "you look terrible."

  "Of course I look terrible!" I snapped at him. "I can't sleep at nights and the first time that I do manage to get to sleep, someone wakes me up so I can ride back for some Drakan damned rehearsal!"

  Kal's eyes widened with a flash of hurt and his mouth dropped open as he stood there, staring at me.

  I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair roughly. "I-I'm sorry," I said, more gently now. "I don't blame you for this, Kal. I'm just so damn tired."

  "I'm sorry," he said. "I know it's a lot of preparation, but your grandfather and mother want it to be perfect, and so perfect it will be. It will all be over before you know it, Dale, and life can get back to normal."

  I nodded. It seemed easier than letting myself think about the fact that I didn't know what a normal life for me was anymore. I gave him a soft smile and touched his arm gently. "All of this for half an hour of pomp and ceremony. I hope you appreciate this," I teased.

  "I do," Kal said seriously. "Of course I do."

  I stretched my hands above my head, to ease some of the kinks
out of my spine. I felt a pleasant tightness down along my ribs and across my belly. Then I lowered my arms with a sigh. "Well, let's get back to it then."

  Kal plucked a blade of grass from my hair, and nodded. "Yes," he said, "let's." He plucked another blade of grass from the shoulder of my coat. "You talk in your sleep, you know," he said.

  "I know." I glanced down at him. "Was it anything interesting?"

  "Hmm." Kal scratched the corner of his eye. "It wasn't easy to understand, really. You mumbled a fair bit, but I could make out a few words clearly." He jerked his head towards Teveriel. "You mentioned him," he said. "And demons, rain and the name 'Kylin'."

  "Kylin?"

  "I was going to ask you what Kylin was," Kal said. "Or who. It isn't a name I've heard you mention before."

  "I don't know a Kylin," I whispered.

  "Then why are you saying his name, Dale?" Kal asked.

  He was concerned, anxious, but what could I tell him? I really had no idea who Kylin was and if I insisted on my ignorance then Kal would only worry about me further, or disbelieve me, and if he disbelieved me, if he thought I was lying, then he would think that I had something to hide, and that might cause a rift between us.

  "Dale," Teveriel called suddenly. "I'll race you back to Carnia Castle. That will wake you up a bit!"

  I sighed silently with relief, and flashed Kal an apologetic grin. "A race is a race, Kal," I told him, bounding quickly towards my mount before Kal could say anything else. "Thanks," I whispered to Tev, as I took hold of Midnight's saddle and swung myself up.

  "Any time, Dale," Tev whispered back. "We did try to convince Kal he had misheard but ..." He shrugged. "I guess we failed."

  "Hopefully he will soon forget about this. If not, then at least the ride back will give me a chance to try and come up with an explanation."

  "And you really have no idea about Kylin?"

  "No," I said, settling myself in the saddle and gathering up the reins. "I really don't." I gave Midnight a firm kick and started him into a walk. "But I imagine we'll find out what it is, eventually."

  "Yes," Teveriel agreed. "Eventually."

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  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  BETROTHAL

  Aylara's betrothal was to take place in the Shrine of the Six, the temple to the gods. Situated at the foot of the Sacred Garden, it was built against one of the castle's inner walls. It was a simple structure, nothing more than a large arch, with the six, knee-high, stone figures of the gods standing beneath it, and a stone altar standing in front of them. As it was open to the elements, it was decorated with bird droppings, worn by the rain and covered in mould and moss, yet there was still something in those carved eyes that seemed very alive, which had always made me feel uncomfortable.

  No one in my family was particularly religious. In fact, no one in Court was, so it had been years since I had last been to the shrine. Four years, in fact, for Lord Wevin's funeral ceremony. Tradition dictated that important ceremonies, betrothals, marriages, naming of newborns and funerals, took place at the Shrine, so we had gathered there to pay our last respects to my grandfather's closest advisor. I had been fourteen at the time and hadn't wanted to spend a fine's summer's day mourning a man I hadn't known, or cared about, when I could have been out riding, or swimming. At fourteen, the shrine had seemed dark and oppressive, with the carvings of the six gods staring down at me and the heavy morbid atmosphere that had accompanied all the mourners.

  Now it was very different - a place of light, with white flowers everywhere and white candles giving off a warm glow and a sweet cinnamon scent. Even the statues of the six gods didn't seem dark or oppressive now, bathed in the bright spring sunlight, but nothing could hide that look in their eyes, the one that I could have sworn was looking straight at me.

  I shifted my weight uncomfortably. "I'm sure it won't be long," Trellany said, in a low whisper, mistaking my discomfort for impatience.

  "No," I said. "I know."

  My guards and I hadn't meant to arrive at the Shrine before anyone else, even before the priestess Rehea, but we had misjudged the time and been ready long before we had needed to be. Now there was nothing for us to do except wait, but at least I wasn't standing here alone, that would have been extremely embarrassing.

  After almost quarter of an hour, Rehea, arrived, dressed in white breeches and a simple white tunic. She had her silver-grey hair tied back into a long braid that snaked down between her shoulder-blades. She came to stand in front of the altar with a warm smile on her heavily lined face.

  "I had hoped to see you here before today, Prince Candale," she told me.

  "Why?" I asked.

  "To give thanks to the gods that you're still alive," she replied.

  "Oh."

  "After all, they did save your life."

  "No," I said. "Mayrila saved my life."

  "And who do you think sent Mayrila to you?"

  "My grandfather sent for her," I said.

  Rehea laughed. "Yes," she said. "I know. But I like to think that my prayers, and the prayers Princess Silnia made, had something to do with it."

  "Mother prayed for me?" I whispered softly.

  "Many times. Once a day, sometimes twice. She brought sacrifices, too. Roses from her garden, food, and she lit many a candle. She wasn't the only one. This little Shrine has never seen so many gifts and prayers as it did last summer, from courtiers and servants alike."

  "Oh." I shifted my weight from foot to foot again. I felt rather embarrassed about that, that I hadn't known, or even thought about, how my illness had affected anyone except my family.

  We fell silent as we waited patiently for the rest of my family and the chosen guests to arrive. I let my eye wander, as I waited, roaming across the six statues of the gods and up towards the balcony that overlooked it. The hall that Aylara had chosen to have the ball in after the ceremony overlooked the Shrine. It meant that those nobles she hadn't chosen to invite could still watch, as long as they managed to fight their way to the front of the crowd to get a good view from the balconies and high windows of the room above. But that meant that there were people looking down on me and I didn't like being watched when I wasn't able to watch back.

  I didn't have long to think about it as my parents and my grandfather soon joined me. Gerian held Silnia's arm, leading her carefully across the grass, as she held up her blue satin skirts to make sure she didn't get grass-stains on them. She looked beautiful, as always, with her hair long and free, and a crown of blue flowers and gemstones to keep it back out of her eyes. My father and grandfather looked smart and calm, although Gerian's eyes were gleaming, as he nodded his head towards me in greeting. I think if he could have, if he hadn't thought it too undignified, he would have been grinning hard enough to split his face in two.

  Not long after my family had made their appearance, the chosen few guests arrived and stood either side of the aisle my sister and Kal would walk down. Most of the invited guests were counsellors and advisors to my grandfather, people Aylara felt she had to invite, no doubt, but there were a few young Lords and Ladies, too. They stood around and talked to each other in soft whispers, which were silenced the moment Aylara and Kal appeared and began to walk down the aisle together.

  They were both dressed simply. Aylara wore a long white, satin gown, free from any decoration, with her blonde hair held back from her face with simple diamond clips. Kal was also dressed in white, breeches and a long coat. Even their shoes were white. The colour was meant to represent rebirth, to symbolise the ending of their lives as individuals as they begun the journey towards being a married couple. It had once been the tradition that a betrothed person would wear one item of white for the entire year before they were married, to mark this transition, but I doubted that Kal or Aylara would go that far.

  Aylara and Kal went to take their places. My sister stood alongside my parents and Sorron, who were acting as her guarantors, while Kal came to stand besid
e me, who was acting as his, as his own parents had died while he was young. When they were both in position, Rehea began her speech. First she explained what we were all doing here, before moving on to ask the gods to bless the couple standing before them. When she had finished it was my parents' turn to speak for my sister, before it was my turn to speak for Kal.

  I had spoken publicly before and I was used to being the centre of attention, but this was different. This meant everything to my sister and I wanted to do my best not to embarrass her, to not ruin her day, and because of that I was very nervous. My tongue felt thick in my mouth, my heart was thundering, my hands were slick with sweat and my mind was blank. Nervously I swallowed and cleared my throat, desperately trying to think of the first words of my speech.

  Then Kal flashed me an anxious grin and somehow, just knowing that he was nervous, too, made it easier for me. The words clicked in my mind and I began to speak them, surprising myself with how clear and level my voice was. I gave his full name, his age, his parentage, explained how I knew him, and that I felt he would be a good husband to Aylara. Kal's nervous smile grew steadier and broader as I spoke. I could even see tears sparkling in his eyes.