“Name it.”
“You have to take me with you.”
“We can’t do that!”
“You want the permission, the horses, the guards. Take me with you. Otherwise, I doubt Sarai can budge Mother and Father.”
Wren looked helplessly at them. Bannor could only shrug. The King would come absolutely unhinged. What choice did they have?
They had to choose between making peace with the King or loosing Irodee and DacWhirter.
Either way, they would lose.
* * *
The death of an avatar is always a painful shock, but one grows used to it.
It is one of the sacrifices that must be made in order to grasp the prizes one desires most…
—From the Dedriad, ‘musings of an immortal’
Chapter Fifty
« ^ »
Bannor limped through the cavern assisted by Wren and Janai. The goal now was to reach the upper caverns, free Laramis, and acquire horses and guards. To his fatigued eyes, the gray stone walls of the tunnel appeared to pulse and shudder. After resting in Janai’s quarters for a while, it seemed as if he would be all right, but the weakness and vertigo returned as soon as he stood up. Holding onto Wren and Janai was like having each arm wrapped around a different season: bitter hard winter and vibrant spring.
On his right, Wren moved stiffly as if she’d been frozen. Against the crook of his arm, her skin felt clammy and the muscles of the blonde woman’s neck and shoulders felt knotted and hard as rocks. Any more tension and he expected to hear something snap. Wren didn’t like Janai’s ultimatum, not in the least. She obviously loved Irodee so much that the risks didn’t matter, though.
On his other side, Janai felt pliant and warm, vibrating with excitement. The princess appeared completely oblivious to the hardship she might put them in. She denied that there’d be any repercussions from her ‘taking a little jaunt’. She insisted that because it was ‘her choice’ that accusations of them becoming ‘accomplices’ were preposterous.
How could Janai be so blind? Didn’t she see what King T’Evagduran tried to do to Sarai in court? He’d threatened imprisonment and worse. Maybe Janai thought she was immune to such treatment. The voluptuous elf would likely learn otherwise.
Ahead of them, Sarai slowed and gave them time to catch up. Her strength had not returned completely or else it would have been her instead of Janai assisting him. She hated letting Janai touch him. Allowing even a smile while being close to the older sister was tantamount to a hanging offense. The looks Sarai gave him were sharp enough to carve the hide off a rhinotaur.
Bannor’s foot caught in a crack, and he stumbled. His knees buckled. Both Wren and Janai grunted under his weight. The three of them listed one way, then the other, finally staggering against the cavern wall. Janai let out a squeak and grabbed hold with both hands to keep from being dragged to the floor with him.
Wren collapsed on his chest but popped back to her feet and began brushing at the expensive blue silk she wore.
Sarai came over and knelt by him. “Are you hurt?”
He swallowed. “Don’t think so. Why am I still so weak?” His legs tingled painfully as if they’d fallen asleep. Sweat trickled down the small of his back. Odin, he hated being an invalid, having to lean on these women simply to move from one place to another. It rubbed all his hairs the wrong way.
Light from the sputtering torches cast an eerie light on Wren’s face. She looked serious and concerned. “That demon’s poison was bad stuff. I don’t know what we can do about you. I know I’m not going to leave you here for Kalindinai to work over, though.”
Sarai put hands on hips and frowned at Wren. “What do you mean by that remark?”
The two women locked eyes, icy blue focused on violet. “I mean I won’t let her try breaking him like one of her prize unicorns.”
That brought Janai into it. Her face darkened, and she folded her arms. “I’d have you apologize for that.”
“Like Hades. Your Mother will try and control him as quickly as the avatars will.” Her gaze swept to him. “I’ve reason to believe she’s already done just that.”
Bannor’s heart jumped. Did Wren know about what went on between him and Kalindinai? Could she be guessing?
Janai brushed a strand of black hair out of her eyes. Her voice hit a sour note. “What’s so wrong with that?”
Wren glanced from sister to sister. “She’d lock him up in a box more confining than the one you two are so eager to escape.” She ignored their irritated expressions. “Your mother doesn’t care about humans, or savants. Her only concern is your kind.”
“I think you slight my mother without knowing her,” Sarai said in a low warning tone.
Wren shook her head. “People look out for their own kind. Bannor and I are savants. We must protect our kind. We must keep the kings, queens, and avatars from making us puppets in their games.”
“We can’t do it by ourselves,” Bannor said. He shook his head. It felt as if gravel rattled around in his skull. He paused and glanced both ways down the rough-hewn corridor. Out of the corner of his eye, it appeared as if something had flicked through the darkness. Probably only a shriekwing. “We have to trust somebody. Not everyone is out to exploit our power.”
Wren snorted. She gave the tunnel an uneasy scan as if having sensed what he did. Nearby, something squeaked and fluttered. She relaxed a little. “Bannor, if you believe that, then you’re a bigger idealist than I thought. Your complaint against me was that I wanted something from you. Everyone wants something. Nothing is free.” She looked at Sarai. “Not even love. Love comes at the cost of compromise. It has the price of identity, when ‘I’ becomes ‘we’. It costs you your freedom. You’re no longer truly free to do anything you want because you’re conscious of your mate’s reprisal.” Her gaze shifted from Sarai to Janai, then settled on him. “Trust me. Kalindinai wants something. It won’t be small, either. The way she gave in so rapidly on your engagement to Sarai makes me certain.”
The sisters stared at Wren, eyes unblinking. Neither spoke. Apparently, part of what Wren said, had struck true. Maybe they saw an insight in Wren’s words that neither would quickly discount.
He stared up at Sarai, hoping to find something in her expression that said Wren had missed the mark. He only saw doubt. It made his stomach tighten. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like being unable to trust your own mother.
Janai only frowned. The older sister looked even less eager to attack Wren’s observation. Why did Wren always have to be right?
The savant offered a hand to help him stand. With her assistance, and the aid of the wall, he fought his way to his feet again.
“What if you’re right?” he asked. “What if Kalindinai wants to use me for some purpose? How can we help that? We can’t do anything if she doesn’t approve of it.”
“It’s a problem,” Wren admitted.
“It’s more than a problem,” a deeper female voice said.
Both Sarai and Janai let out gasps of pain. Grimacing and canting their heads to one side, they rose on tiptoes, hands groping for something behind them.
Bannor’s body went cold as Queen Kalindinai shimmered into view, gripping each of her daughter’s by the ear. As if she was manipulating a pair of puppets, the elder elf forced the two sisters, wincing and squeaking into the center of the passage.
The Queen wore dead-black leather that covered her from shoulders to toes. The tight fabric silhouetted a body both trim and strong. With her hair piled on her head and wearing high spike-heeled boots, she loomed over her daughters.
“If one isn’t lying, the other’s conspiring. You two are trying my patience.”
Bannor glanced at Wren. Fists clenched by her sides, the savant had frozen. Her lower lip trembled. Her blue eyes looked like twin moons, even their bright blue color looked pale. Why did the Queen terrify her so?
“Ow! Mother, I can explain—!” Janai started.
Kalindinai shook Jana
i’s ear, forcing the woman to subside into yelps of pain. “Did I ask for an explanation?”
Sarai’s eyes narrowed. Her hands started glowing.
Bannor’s heart leaped. He started forward but the Queen moved too fast. She pushed Janai away and slammed Sarai into the cave wall, hand gripping her throat.
Sarai grabbed at Kalindinai’s arm. Her eyes flared white. The stone in the floor, walls and ceiling quivered.
The Queen’s voice turned to a menacing rasp. “Dare it, my daughter, and I will make you eat those rocks one pebble at a time. Let go of your power—now.” Green and blue sparks danced around Kalindinai’s arms.
Janai reached for the Queen. “No mother!”
Bulges of stone swelled out of the walls and floor, making the cavern rumble. Creaking and groaning, huge tentacles of rock thrust toward Kalindinai.
The sparks around the elder elf grew brighter until the light hurt Bannor’s eyes. Heart hammering, he staggered forward, groping in the light for Sarai. His hands didn’t touch anything. All he felt was the heat of the magic building around the two elves.
“Don’t push me, child,” Kalindinai warned.
A fist of stone twice the thickness of a man’s leg poised hand widths from the Queen’s head. Bannor had seen what Sarai’s power could do. It could crush the Queen like an egg.
“Mother…” Sarai growled. “You’re hurting me.” The rock edged closer, the end nearest Kalindinai spreading out like fingers.
Cold air rushed through the cavern. The sparks around Kalindinai turned the hue of blood. Her voice dropped to whisper. “I lose patience. Do as I say.”
As though breaking a spell, Wren appeared to snap out of her paralysis. “Obey her, Sarai.”
Sarai looked to Wren, then to him. She hesitated.
Kalindinai’s eyes narrowed. She stared at the rock shape reaching toward her. “Be gone!” Her voice cracked with incredible volume. It felt like someone clapped their palms against Bannor’s ears. The sound vibrated through his bones and head.
The stone extended toward Kalindinai exploded, sending shards and dust blasting down the passage. The force flung Bannor against the wall and knocked Wren down. Janai let out a scream and covered her head.
The world danced. Pains shot through Bannor’s back. He couldn’t see Sarai for the dust. “Sarai!” He started forward again.
The swirls settled, revealing an ashen-skinned Sarai, her eyes wide with pain and surprise.
The Queen snarled. “Do not make me angry. Release your power.”
Sarai went limp and bowed her head. The glow around her hands and body winked out.
Bannor looked around. Why wasn’t the cavern filled with elves investigating the ruckus? Surely all this noise should have brought guards. Yet, he heard nothing except the ringing in his ears. He never imagined the Queen was so powerful. What had Janai said, something about the Kalindinai being a wilder?
Kalindinai let Sarai go. The flickering around her arms dimmed. “Never, ever, raise your hand to me or your Father again. I will not tolerate it. If it happens again there shall be—severe—consequences. Understand!”
Sarai swallowed and nodded.
“Get over there.” Kalindinai shoved Sarai into Janai’s arms. “I am sorely disappointed in both your behavior.” She turned to Wren. The savant stiffened. She visibly braced herself for whatever she thought would be coming. “I take it you heard about Laramis’ wife being spotted near the avatar’s gate.”
Wren’s eyes widened. She nodded.
“You are dressed for an audience, yet I suspect you decided against going through the proper protocols. Tell me, Arwen, do you think it wise to disappoint me twice?”
The savant’s throat muscles twitched and a shudder went through her body. “No Matradomma.”
“Ask me.”
Wren stared at her. Face slack with non-comprehension. “Pardon?”
“I am here now. Ask me.”
The blonde woman cleared her throat. She looked completely stunned. “For leave, Matradomma?”
The Queen frowned and crossed her arms. “You’re supposed to say, ‘May we form an expedition to rescue Laramis’ wife?’ ”
Both Sarai and Janai’s heads came up, shock written in their expressions.
Wren goggled. “May we?”
“Permission granted.”
Bannor couldn’t believe his ears. They could go? How was that possible? Why?
The savant’s jaw dropped. She blinked. Bannor saw she was mentally pinching herself make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Words seemed to stick in her throat. “Matradomma, I—”
The black rod the Queen often brandished appeared in her hand. She spun the heavy metal implement and placed it under her arm. Her tone sounded half serious, half chastising. “Don’t fall all over yourself thanking me.”
The blonde woman clasped her hands together. Obviously, Wren was warring with her own incredulity. No doubt she wanted to avoid saying something to make the Queen change her mind. Finally, she said the word at the root of her dilemma. “Why?”
Kalindinai’s eyebrow rose. “Why, Arwen, can it be you’ve forgotten your own words so quickly.” The elder woman’s stare became piercing. “Obviously, it’s because I want something.”
Sarai, already been pale from the tussle with her mother, shuddered. Her voice sounded little above a whisper. “What?”
The Queen focused on Sarai. “Did you say something?”
His mate rubbed her neck and cleared her throat. “What do you require from us, Mother?”
“Ah.” Kalindinai nodded. She slapped the black rod into her palm with a crack, making everyone flinch. “I must attend to the avatar’s gate. It annoys me. I need guards—strong ones—savants for instance.” She glanced to him and then to Wren. She tapped the rod on her shoulder, speculating aloud. “A paladin lord might be useful. A Myrmigyne warrior or a dwarven war master could be valuable as well. I imagine a stone elemental would make a good ally—” she narrowed her eyes and fixed Sarai with steely gaze. “If she behaves herself.”
Wren seemed to vibrate with excitement. The savant spoke first. “You’re going after the gate?”
Kalindinai grinned. “What, did you think I’d let you youngsters have all the fun?”
* * *
The touch of true power is more alluring than the most skilled and attentive of lovers. Indeed nothing sparks my passion more than the white-hot flash of a deathbolt as it leaves my fingertips…
—From the Dedriad, ‘musings of an immortal’
Chapter Fifty-One
« ^ »
Bannor stared at Queen Kalindinai, heart in his throat. The torchlight reflected on her pale skin and silver-white hair. The dance of the flame made the glow from her violet eyes appear to pulsate. Could he have heard correctly? I must attend the avatar’s gate. Could she really mean to close the portal between this world and that of the gods? It had taken all his powers, Sarai and Wren to simply stop Nystruul the avatar. How could they possibly get past the armies of spawn and minions, much less the avatars themselves?
The whole idea was more than surprising.
It was ludicrous.
A cold draft made his nape hair stiffen. He realized his hands were shaking. Janai and Sarai looked stunned, their eyes bright and wide. Wren’s mouth hung open.
“Well, don’t stand there and gape,” the Queen snapped, hands on hips. “There’s work to be done.”
Of everyone, Sarai looked the most surprised. “Mother? You aren’t really planning on trying to fight the avatars?”
Kalindinai smacked the black rod in her palm. “Darling, the war’s already joined. I plan to end it.”
“By yourself?”
The Queen scowled. She ran long-nailed fingers through her upswept hair. “Don’t be a snippet. I have you four, plus Laramis, his wife and that dwarven war master. That’s hardly by myself.”
Bannor felt a wave of weakness sweep over him. He wiped his sweaty brow. “It’s not enough,
” he muttered.
Wren gave him a concerned look. “You all right, Bannor?”
He staggered and leaned against the wall. “Actually—No.”
Kalindinai shook her head. “You were going to take him out of here like that?” she asked Wren.
Wren’s jaw tightened. She dropped her gaze.
The Queen stepped to Bannor and put a warm hand against his cheek. He felt his pulse quicken. “It was unwise to try to leave without me.”
Sarai stiffened, her violet eyes narrowing to glowing slits.
Janai cleared her throat. She ran a shaky hand through her dark hair. “Does Father know your plans, Mother?”
Kalindinai snorted. “Jhaann? No. If he can hold hearings of our daughter without me, I can conduct a skirmish against the enemy without him.”
Janai started to tremble. The princess wanted excitement. Now, it appeared she might get more than she bargained for.
Kalindinai turned her attention to him. She pulled the collar of his tunic down and examined the wounds the demon had inflicted on him. “There’s no infection. You shouldn’t be this weak. The salves and herbs I gave you should have neutralized the gray death. There’s only one explanation.” She took Sarai’s arm and pulled her close. “My greedy daughter.”
Sarai’s jaw set. Her mother had been pushing and pulling on her a great deal. Bannor sensed another fight was brewing. Right now, he felt so weak he couldn’t stop a pair of bugs from fighting.
“What do you mean, Mother?”
“You bonded him, didn’t you?”
“He is my One,” she said in flat tone.
The Queen sighed. “Answer the question.”
“Yes.”
“Did he participate? Did he know what you were doing?”
Sarai’s cheeks reddened. That surprised him. Sarai never blushed, little seemed to embarrass her. “He has to cooperate.”
Kalindinai groaned. “Daughter, I taught you better than that.” She gripped Sarai’s shoulder. “Both sides of the ritual, darling, both sides. You can kill him if you don’t.”
Sarai scowled. “That’s a tale! Ryelle single bonded her One, it didn’t hurt him.”
Reality's Plaything Page 40