Where Shadows Lie

by Kim Stokely

  The man shrugged. “I didn’t say they would accept our beliefs, I meant only that they would not fight if we restricted theirs. Many are ripe for change, no longer desiring the rituals of human sacrifice and oppression the Mystic Council dictates.”

  Kennis rubbed her hands against her arms to warm herself. “I don’t trust them.”

  “And neither will Geran. He wants war now.” The man took a step toward my mother. “What do you think Alystrine will do? Will she accept Braedon’s new demand?”

  My mother lifted her chin. The moonlight reflected off her blonde hair making it appear silver. “She’ll do all she can to save Josh.”

  For a moment all I heard was the wind and the soft hush of the water flowing nearby. Then the man spoke. “She seems to have a great capacity to love.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “Not in itself. But when she wears her heart so openly, it only fuels Braedon.”

  Kennis let out a sad laugh. “It’s funny. For so long she kept herself closed off from others, alone. I didn’t encourage her to make too many friends. I never knew what might happen. But now . . . .” She turned away from the river and took a few steps toward the rise I hid behind.

  I flattened myself against the ground as the man turned to follow her. The moonlight illuminated his face.

  Quinn?

  I held my breath and hoped they wouldn’t see me.

  Quinn put a hand on my mother’s shoulder to stop her. “What are you thinking?”

  Kennis shook her head.

  Quinn turned her around. “What is it?”

  “She loved that boy you brought with you. Tegan. That’s why you hid him with me isn’t it? It wasn’t just to keep him from Braedon.”

  “She thought she loved him. That was enough. I was not sure of her powers as a Portal. I needed to make sure her emotions were fully connected to the person she travelled to.”

  I sensed a note of anger in my mother’s voice. “You didn’t think I’d be enough?”

  Quinn reached out and brushed a hair away from her face. “Not for her.” Kennis stepped back but Quinn pulled her close. “We do not have to hide anymore.”

  Kennis seemed to stiffen in his arms. “What of the Elders? What of Braedon?” She tried to pull away again but Quinn placed a hand on either shoulder to keep her still.

  “You are no longer Braedon’s wife. Your dead brother cannot order your life. Only Alystrine, when she is queen, can decide your fate.” He ran his fingers through her long hair. “Do you not think she would grant us this chance?”

  My mom’s shoulders shook. “I’d given up hope.”

  Quinn cupped her face in his hands. “I never did.” He bent his head to hers.

  I closed my eyes. My mother and Quinn? Lovers?

  No, not lovers. In love, but never able to be together because her brother, King Aldred, had forced her to marry Lord Braedon.

  Wow.

  It was bad enough to think about her being married to the Lord Regent, but to know she’d been in love with someone else the whole time?

  I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ebony sky. Wasn’t that what was going to happen to me? I swallowed hard and tried to push my revulsion back down. As much as I wanted to, I didn’t look back at the couple behind me before I returned to the camp. I crept into the tent and under my covers. I passed the time thinking about Tegan–wondering if he’d made it home. I thought about Josh and tried to come up with some way I could get him to the Elder Lands so I could use their passage to get him home.

  Kennis slid into the bed next to mine and sighed. “I know you followed us.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “Are you upset I didn’t tell you about Quinn?”

  “No. Tell me now.”

  “He came to the palace with his father when I was a child. I’m not sure he could see anything but Etain’s beauty then.” A moment later, she rolled over to face me. “He returned when he was twenty to serve my brother, King Aldred. We fell in love.”

  I didn’t move. Afraid if I even breathed it would break the moment and she’d stop talking.

  “We saw each other in secret. Quinn served as the King’s counselor for more than a year before they began to suspect my feelings for him. They sent him back to the Elders to separate us.”

  Her voice caught. I could hear the tears she fought back. “I begged my brother to let us marry. But then the decision was made for me to wed Braedon. I ran away from the palace. I fled to the Sanctuary, but Devnet recognized me and sent me back to Aldred. The only way for me to survive was to cut off my ability to love. I couldn’t be with Braedon . . . I couldn’t let him touch me . . . and think of Quinn. So I thought of nothing, and I survived.”

  Her soft sobs filled the tent. Only when they quieted did I dare to speak. “Quinn was right.”

  My mother didn’t say anything.

  I rolled over and reached my hand out toward her. She grabbed it. Her fingers were wet with tears. “When I’m queen, I’ll give you the chance to be together. You deserve to know love.”

  Kennis squeezed my hand. I listened as her breathing slowed then deepened. Her fingers relaxed and slid out from mine. I stayed awake even with the herbs Sarai had given me to relax. Too many thoughts spun through my mind. I pulled a blanket around my shoulders and made my way out of the tent.

  Wisps of gray clouds sped across the black sky, obscuring a haloed moon. Moisture hung in the air. Would it snow soon? I followed my previous path out toward the river, only this time I didn’t care if I was seen. I doubted anyone else was up at this time of night anyway.

  The river flowed like a silver serpent across the plain. I sat down along its banks and let the sound of the water wash away some of the tension in my body. I drew my knees up and rested my chin against them. I wondered what else Braedon wanted from me before he’d release Josh. His main concern was getting me crowned so that the countdown could begin for our wedding. Would he use Josh as a means to move the date up sooner than a year?

  The chill in the air seeped through the blanket and into my soul. Whether that was what he intended for now, I couldn’t be sure. But I knew once Braedon got me in the same room with Josh he’d know how devoted I was to him. Like Quinn said, I wore my heart on my sleeve. Braedon would use that to his advantage.

  I tried to imagine not letting my emotions get the best of me, of trying to convince Braedon that Josh meant nothing to me. I couldn’t see that happening. I wasn’t good at lying. Maybe the Elders could help me with that as well.

  A shadow moved in the corner of my eye, startling me out of my thoughts.

  “Sorry if I frightened you.” Quinn drew nearer.

  “It’s okay.”

  He stood over me. “Did you dream?”

  “No, I’m too worried about Josh to sleep.” I patted the ground by my side. “Did you see him?”

  Quinn groaned as he sat. “Yes.”

  “And?”

  He folded his knees so he sat cross-legged. “He’s doing as well as can be expected.”

  I hugged my legs to my chest. “Is he in the prison or a room somewhere?”

  Quinn paused. “The prison. But he’s not been beaten.” I sensed he wanted to tell me more.

  “Go ahead. Tell me everything.”

  “He’s very afraid. He cannot understand what’s happened to him. Braedon has done nothing to explain the situation.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Sigal brought him straight to the prison. He’s had food and water, but he doesn’t know why he’s been taken or where he is.”

  I chewed on a ragged edge of my fingernail. “What does Braedon want next?”

  Quinn’s eyes shone in the moonlight. “He wants you to return so the coronation can take place.”

  I looked out over the river. “And then we’ll be married and then I’ll be forced to have his children.” My stomach rolled. “I’m not ready to be a mother. And I don’t want to raise his kids.”

&
nbsp; “It will never happen.” Although he whispered the words, he spoke with assurance.

  I gave him a sideways glance. “I know.”

  He nodded. “I’m glad you trust me.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I know about you and Kennis. I followed you earlier. I know you love her.”

  His body stiffened next to me as if unsure of what to do.

  “You couldn’t save her from marrying Lord Braedon. What makes you so certain you can stop my wedding?”

  The night was dark but I still caught the faintest of smiles cross his lips. “Because I already have.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “No matter what he thinks otherwise, you are not betrothed to him.” He put a hand on my arm. “Do not ask me anymore. It’s best you don’t know everything until it is time.”

  I narrowed my eyes and concentrated but he laughed.

  “Do not try and read my mind, Your Majesty. You will find nothing about Braedon there.”

  “What will I find?”

  His smile faded. “Kennis.”

  “Oh.” I looked back at the river.

  “What do you intend to do?”

  “About?”

  “Kennis and I?”

  It was my turn to smile. “I’m going to dance at your wedding.”

  Quinn remained silent. Tears glistened on his cheeks. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  “My pleasure.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Forgiven

  Quinn and I took comfort in the scene before us, enjoying the peace the night brought and the soothing calm of the river. The first gray light of dawn broke the horizon before Quinn spoke again.

  “Your uncle is here.”

  “What?”

  “Your uncle Devnet is here with the Elders. He’s sitting with Geran.”

  I stretched my legs and tried to work the kinks out. “When are we going to tell them?”

  A faint popping noise accompanied Quinn as he stood. “Tell them what?” He lowered his hand toward me. I used him for balance as I struggled to get up.

  “About the contract.”

  “As the marriage won’t happen, they need not know about it.”

  I brushed some dirt from my nightgown. “You think that’s smart?”

  “It is better than having them up in arms about motives and strategy. After you are crowned, then we can discuss our plans.”

  I shook my head. “But I don’t have any plans. You do. I don’t like being out of the loop.”

  He reached out toward me and waited until I put my hands in his before he spoke. “Your Majesty, I make this promise to you now. I swear to you, I work only for the good of Ayden and for your rule as Queen. Please trust me.”

  I squeezed his hands. “I’ll try.”

  We walked back to the Elders’ camp. The morning sun cast a peach glow over the caves in distance. “Who lives there?”

  Quinn followed my gaze. “Families with small children. Those that are sick.” He waved his hand in the direction of the tents. “These are to remind us that our life on earth is temporary. We are travelers here for a short time, but Ruahk is eternal.”

  “Oh.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say to that. God was still an abstract concept for me. Quinn bowed then went to the tent where the Elder Council met while I found Kennis.

  She wove her hair into a braid and tied the end off with a piece of light brown ribbon. “Where have you been? The Elders have already gathered.” The lids of her eyes were rimmed with red from the tears she’d shed, but her mouth was set in a determined line. “Your Uncle Devnet has arrived.”

  “I know. Quinn told me.”

  She looked away when I said the Portal’s name. I could almost see the wall she was building to keep herself from getting hurt again.

  Tamra, the blonde girl who’d helped me dress the night before, appeared in the entrance with a tray of bread. “May I assist you this morning, my lady?”

  I took the bread and tore off a hunk.

  “Hurry and eat something.” My mother smoothed her tunic. “I’ll walk you over when you’ve dressed.”

  I swallowed a mouthful of bread. “I know where it is. You don’t need to take me.”

  She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.

  “Sorry. But I don’t think you’re allowed at the Council anyway and I don’t want them to think I’m too scared to face them on my own.” I tore off another hunk of the dark loaf and dropped the rest back on the tray. “Guess I’d better get this over with.”

  I paused at the entrance to the tent, wanting to glimpse what was going on before I stepped into what appeared to be a stand-off between Quinn and Maris.

  “You can’t be serious?” My grandmother stood tall among the circle of Elders, Quinn opposite her.

  “I know it must seem like I’m in alliance with the Lord Regent.” The Portal lifted his hands to his side. “But I’m not. He demands Alystrine come to the palace so she can prove her return.”

  Maris spoke above the grumblings of the others. “So he can murder her is more likely. Like he attempted with Malvin.”

  “I’m convinced,” Quinn argued, “that Malvin was betrayed by someone within the Sanctuary. Alystrine saw one of the Fallen ordering the old man to kill her.”

  “It’s true.” I stepped inside. “The thing was definitely controlling his actions.”

  The Elders stood once they spotted me at the back of the tent. Oded crossed the tent to lead me to an opening in the circle. The others continued to argue over who had ordered the assassination, the Mystics or someone on the Joint Assembly. Everyone sat as I did, except for Quinn and my grandmother.

  “Braedon insists he wants the coronation to take place.” Quinn didn’t look at me. “By the next whole moon, if possible.”

  Maris shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. He loses all power with her ascension to the throne. What can he possibly gain?”

  I was sure they’d all be able to see that I knew more than I was letting on about the situation. I shivered in spite of the heat inside the tent.

  Oded put his hand on my arm. “Are you well, Your Majesty?”

  The tent flap flew aside and the conversation around the room again grew silent. Devnet led my father into the circle of Elders. Geran leaned on his brother’s arm, his feet shuffling along the woolen blankets covering the floor.

  My father glared at Quinn as he took his place among the council. “I have heard the Lord Regent demands my daughter’s return to Uz.”

  The Portal lowered his head. “Yes, my lord.”

  Geran lifted his brow at Quinn’s deference. “She cannot go.”

  I looked up. “What?”

  “You are not ready.” He spoke to me like I was ten. “You need to learn more about how to govern this kingdom. You need more time to train your powers.”

  “But if I don’t go, he’ll kill Josh!”

  My father’s eyes went cold. “We all have made sacrifices for the good of the kingdom.”

  “I understand that.” I stood to face him. “But you made those sacrifices of your own free will. You all had a stake in what happens here. Josh doesn’t. He was brought here because of me. Because I failed him.”

  Geran’s face turned red. “And you will fail again if you do as Braedon demands and return to the palace under his power.”

  I stepped toward him. “I won’t let Josh die!”

  My father squared his shoulders. “You have no choice.”

  I mirrored his stance. “Yes, I do.”

  Geran’s body quivered, from weakness or rage, I couldn’t tell. “I forbid anyone to escort you to Uz. You will not get there on your own before we find you and bring you back.”

  “I don’t want to go alone, but I will. And I don’t need an escort. I can find my way through the passages.”

  The others in the tent gasped.

  Geran’s face paled. “You wouldn’t.”

  I stared at my father. “I won’t let Jo
sh die because of me.”

  Geran shook his head. “The palace is protected. There is no passage in.”

  He’d forgotten about the one Quinn and I had used. I wasn’t about to remind him. “Then I’ll find my way to the town outside the walls.”

  “Stop being ruled by your emotions.” He clenched his fists at his side. “Think for a moment what will happen if you give in to Braedon’s demands.”

  I took a deep breath. The image of Josh being tortured by Black Guards pushed away any thoughts I had of my own safety. “Come with me. Stand with me against Braedon and help me save my friend.”

  Geran closed his eyes. When he opened them again he looked to Quinn. “Did he give a deadline?”

  “Not precisely,” the Portal answered. “But before the full moon.” He glanced at me. “About two weeks’ time.”

  My father’s gaze returned to me. “Very well. Then we will make our way through the Commonland. We will introduce the people to their Queen so that by the time she arrives, Braedon will have no choice but to crown her and keep her safe.” He looked to Maris and Oded. “We will need a contingent of Elders to protect her. Our own guards.”

  “I will see to it,” said Oded. “We have been training for battle since your daughter was taken by the Black Guards.” He cast a cold glance toward Quinn.

  I left as the Council discussed the plans to escort me to Lord Braedon. Kennis sat by the well outside the circle of tents, talking with a group of women. I was tired from the lack of sleep the night before and wanted to rest before someone else decided to lecture me. I greeted the women as I approached and they each bowed their heads toward me.

  One woman caught my attention. Even though I longed to sleep, something compelled me to approach her. “Have we met before?”

  Her long, chocolate brown hair lay, like most of the Elder women’s, in a thick braid down her back. “No, Your Majesty.”

  I narrowed my eyes, trying to recall where I’d seen her. “Are you sure?”

  She gave me a sweet smile, her whole body exuding an air of peace. “I am certain. You have only just arrived and I have never left the Elder Lands.”

  My heart skipped a beat as an image flashed in my mind. Hazy and unclear, memories came from after I’d been shot with the bandit’s arrow in the Fey the first time I’d come to Ayden. She was the Healer Andrew’s wife. I’d seen her only briefly in my pain induced dreams, or had I Spirit Travelled? I knew it was her. A small cry escaped my throat.