Shrouded Sky (The Veils of Lore Book 1)

by A. Akers, Tracy

  “Few are allowed in the streets after the sun sets,” Orryn replied.

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “Many reasons.”

  “But we’re out,” Chandra said. “Won’t we get into some kind of trouble?”

  “I’m a Pedant,” he said, sitting a little taller. “The rule doesn’t apply to me.”

  “You broke your vow. Doesn’t that mean you can’t be a Pedant anymore?”

  “I didn’t break my vow.”

  “They think you did.” Chandra twisted around to face him. “Why did you let them think it, anyway?”

  The horse’s hooves clopped loudly on the cobbles, accentuating the silence of his reply.

  “Ah, we are here,” Orryn said, angling the reins. He steered the horse through an arch that separated two similar buildings and stopped inside a courtyard lined with stables. Two young men, attendants, hurried forward to assist with the horse.

  Orryn dismounted and lifted Chandra off. He set her on her feet. “Nyal, please notify Master Seth that we’ve arrived.”

  “Yes, my lord,” one of the men said and took off running toward the house.

  “My lord?” Chandra looked at Orryn suspiciously. “What are you not telling me?”

  Orryn tossed the reins to the second attendant. “Treat him with kindness, Bren,” he said. “He’s had a hard journey.” Orryn turned and took Chandra by the elbow, guiding her toward a series of wide steps that led upward toward a massive door.

  The door opened and a bright-eyed girl about Chandra’s age hurried toward them. She was dressed in a satiny robe the color of night, and her hair, pinned in swirls atop her head, was the same dark color. She threw her arms around Orryn’s neck and smothered his face with kisses. “Where have you been, you big oaf?”

  Heat rushed to Chandra’s cheeks. Who was this girl, kissing Orryn like that? But the bigger question was why did it suddenly matter to her?

  A woman’s voice sounded from the doorway. “Orryn!” Chandra turned her eyes to see a distinguished-looking woman dressed in a flowing gown of black and cream coming down the steps.

  “Tiersa, enough,” Orryn said, prying the girl off of him. “You’re strangling me.” Then to the woman who was fast approaching, “Mother.” But before he could say another word the woman ordered him to silence

  “Let us not speak here,” she said. She smiled warmly and wrapped her arms around him. “The night has ears,” she whispered.

  The woman released him. “Inside,” she said, stepping back. She glanced at Chandra. “And take the Imela with you.”

  Orryn took Chandra’s hand in his, and she could not help but glance down at it. He had never held her hand like that, and she was curious as to why he had chosen now to do so.

  The door closed behind them and they entered a magnificent room lit by candelabras and decorated with fine tapestries and ornate furnishings. The woman stepped toward Orryn and wrapped her arms around him again. “You’re safe,” she said with relief.

  Orryn let go of Chandra’s hand and hugged his mother in return. He glanced around. “Where’s Father? We only have the Imela for one night.”

  His mother looked up at him. “He’s in his study, preparing.”

  “What do you mean, only one night?” Chandra asked, grabbing Orryn’s sleeve and tugging him to face her. “And preparing for what?”

  “She’s a feisty one,” the girl called Tiersa said. She grinned at Orryn. “I hear you assaulted her.”

  “How would you know?” Chandra said, annoyed the girl thought it was something to grin about.

  “Word travels fast,” Tiersa said. She cocked a brow toward Orryn. “Well, brother?”

  “I didn’t touch the girl,” Orryn insisted. “It was only a ruse to get Pey and his men off my back. She was raising a ruckus and I needed to prove to them that I was in control of her; otherwise Pey could have made an excuse to take her, then she would have been assaulted.”

  Chandra now understood how close she had come to real harm. “Orryn—” But she didn’t know how to say the words. He had saved her, and for that she was grateful, but instead of thanking him, all she could say was, “What about Tygg?”

  “Who’s Tygg?” Tiersa asked, glancing at her brother.

  “Son?” his mother said.

  Orryn released a slow breath. “He’s the Taubastet who spared my life during the Battle of Nightcrest. Pey has him.”

  His mother’s forehead creased with disapproval. “You allowed the Taubastet into the catacombs knowing you are alive today because of him?”

  “It’s not so simple, Mother. I had the Imela, she was injured, and he insisted we go with him to Adjo to treat her.”

  Tiersa gasped, her blue eyes widening. “You went to Adjo?” she exclaimed.

  “That information is not to leave this room,” Orryn said. “I don’t need the Sovereign picking my brain over the details.”

  “What does this have to do with Pey?” his mother asked.

  “Tygg insisted on escorting the Imela and myself back to Syddia. He knew I was going through withdrawal.”

  “So again this man shows you mercy and you throw him to the wolves?” his mother said.

  Orryn shook his head. “It’s not like that. He has an agenda, I’m sure of it.”

  “What sort of agenda?” she asked.

  A handsome, blond-haired man dressed in black britches and a silky, white tunic entered the room. “Son,” he said, hurrying toward him. He pulled Orryn into his arms. “Praise the Maker, you’re alive.”

  “Yes, Father,” Orryn said. “At least as alive as a Pedant can be, considering I’m overdue for lavation.”

  “Not to worry,” the father said. He lowered his voice. “I managed to secure some tincture of borro. It should hold you for a while.” He smiled at Chandra, and she felt a little breath catch in her throat. The man, though older, looked so much like Orryn it was almost cute. His eyes, his coloring, the set of his jaw, everything about him screamed Orryn in twenty years. “So this is the Imela,” he said, openly pleased.

  “Yes, Father. This is Chandria.”

  “Chandra,” Chandra said, correcting him. She extended a hand to Orryn’s father. “He never pronounces it right.”

  The man gathered her hand in his. “So pleased, so pleased. By the way, I’m Jhon. You’ve been introduced to the others?”

  “No,” Chandra said. “Well not officially.”

  The man sighed. “Orryn never has been one for courtesies, but that is what giving your soul to the devil will do.” He laughed softly.

  “Don’t listen to him, Chandria,” Orryn said. “I did not give my soul to the devil.”

  Orryn’s mother huffed. “Indeed you did. Which, by the way, was your father’s idea.” She gave Jhon a look of disapproval.

  “We do it for the greater good, Mayra,” Jhon reminded her.

  “Indeed,” Mayra replied tersely.

  Orryn narrowed his eyes. “Those were the very words Tygg said.”

  “Who?” Jhon asked.

  “I’ll tell you more of him later, Father,” Orryn said, redirecting the topic. “But first let’s introduce everyone.” He turned to Chandra. “Chandria, this is my Father, Jhon.” He then gestured to his sister. “And you have already met Tiersa, my little sister.”

  “I’m not so little anymore, Orryn,” Tiersa teased. “I have a suitor now.”

  “What? You cannot!” Orryn said, aghast.

  “I do.” Tiersa looked down her nose at him. “It’s Ren, and I’ll hear no words from you.”

  “Indeed you will,” Orryn said, and turned his attention back to the introductions. “And this is my mother Mayra.”

  The woman nodded respectfully.

  Chandra forced a nervous smile. “I would like to say it’s nice to meet you, but with Orryn I’m never sure if there’s an ulterior motive.”

  “Oh indeed there is,” Jhon said.

  “And that would be . . .?”

  “Let’s retrea
t to my study where we can speak in private,” Jhon suggested. He ushered her toward a paneled wall. The rest of the group followed.

  Jhon pressed his palm upon a decorative carving, and a section of the wall rolled into another panel, allowing them access. They entered the room beyond it, the panel closing at their backs.

  The room beyond was large and nicely furnished. Against one wall, a fire crackled in a marble fireplace, casting a cozy glow into the well-appointed space. There were no windows, only walls lined with shelves of books, artifacts, and other assorted antiquities.

  “Come, sit,” Jhon said, gesturing to Chandra.

  Chandra sat down on a comfortable couch, while Orryn took his place next to her. Mayra and Tiersa settled into two identical chairs near the fire.

  Jhon stepped to a large wooden desk littered with stacks of charts and maps and books. He rummaged through some of the materials, then shoved them aside. At last he pulled out a small package. “Ah,” he proclaimed. He stepped to Orryn. “This should be enough to get you by for now.”

  “Get him by for what?” Chandra asked.

  “All in good time,” Jhon said, watching Orryn unwrap the bundle.

  Orryn pulled out a small topaz bottle. He popped off the top and took a sniff of its contents. “This smells familiar,” he said with a frown. He glanced up. “Where did you get it?”

  “Not to worry, son,” his father said.

  Orryn stared at him.

  “Very well. From a woman with talents.”

  “What kind of talents.”

  “Herbal talents,” Jhon assured him.

  “Fine,” Orryn said. He downed the bottle’s contents. “But if I start to see lions, well let’s just say you’ve been warned.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Jhon returned to his desk and rummaged through more of the documents scattered across it. As he worked his way from one pile to the next, Chandra notice a large tapestry displayed on the wall at his back. It appeared to be a map of the world, but with interlocking circles that made it look more like a Venn diagram. Curious, she attempted to study it, but from where she sat it was hard to make out the details.

  Jhon pulled out a leather-bound book and set it in front of him, then took a seat in the padded, high back chair behind the desk. He grabbed a quill from a nearby inkstand. “It’s been a while since I’ve had the privilege of interviewing an Imela,” he said.

  “Orryn said we don’t have much time,” Chandra said, “but I don’t know what that means.”

  “It means our Sovereign Lady will send for Orryn in the morning.”

  “That soon?” Chandra asked.

  “She must determine if I’ve suffered permanent damage,” Orryn said.

  Memories of her conversation with Orryn at the springs put Chandra on new alert. “You mean—” She stood and faced him. “You’re actually going to go through with it? You’re going to let some crazy lady crack open your skull?”

  “I have no choice. And she’s not going to crack open my skull.”

  “No, she’s just going to slip her slimy fingers into it. That’s so much better.”

  “You don’t understand,” Orryn said.

  “You’re right. I don’t.” Chandra turned to Jhon. “So what does this have to do with me?”

  “The Sovereign will send for you also, Chandra. She’ll want to know what you know.”

  Chandra blinked. “She’s not going to do the same thing to me, is she?”

  “Yes,” Orryn said. “And Tygg also if . . .” He grew silent.

  “If what?” Chandra demanded. “What are you going to do about Tygg?”

  “There is nothing I can do!” Orryn shouted, suddenly on his feet.

  “Son,” Mayra said, trying to calm him.

  “Who is this Tygg you speak of?” Jhon asked.

  “He’s our friend,” Chandra said.

  “He’s not a friend!” Orryn said. He began to pace. “Or maybe he is. Oh I don’t know!”

  Mayra rose and stepped toward her husband, while Tiersa remained in her seat. Judging by the frozen expression on the girl’s face, she had never seen her brother in such a state.

  Chandra rounded Orryn, forcing him to stop. “Listen to me,” she said.

  “There’s nothing you can say.”

  “How about Tygg’s your friend? And so am I.”

  Mayra and Jhon glanced at each other. “What’s happening?” Jhon asked quietly. Mayra leaned toward him. “The boy who spared our son at the Battle of Nightcrest is Tygg,” she whispered back.

  Chandra narrowed her eyes, anger burning behind them. “Now, you listen to me, Orryn. If I have to answer your father’s questions, I will. But I won’t stand by and do nothing while they torture Tygg.”

  “It may be too late to stop that,” Orryn said.

  “Or not,” Chandra said. “For argument’s sake I want you to think of the cruelest thing Pey could do to him—and I want you to imagine he’s doing it to him right now!”

  “No!” Orryn shook his head as if to fling the image from his brain.

  “But you are thinking it; I can tell,” Chandra said. “How does it make you feel, Orryn? Like shit? Well I hope so! Because that’s how I’ve felt every second since they shoved him through that door!”

  Orryn’s stony expression began to crumble, and Chandra couldn’t tell if he was going to scream or cry or both.

  “God what’s happening?” Tiersa asked, rising quickly.

  “I’m not sure,” Mayra said, then looked at her husband accusingly. “What did you give him?”

  Jhon rose from his chair. “It was only an elixir to calm him,” he assured her. “To help him get through the examination tomorrow.”

  “Well, it’s not working,” Tiersa pointed out.

  Orryn stared at Chandra for a confusing moment more, then he drew a deep breath and turned to his father. “Have you any sway in the sentencing of a Taubastet?” he asked.

  “I don’t know; perhaps,” Jhon said. “What’s the cat’s crime?”

  “There is none. But you know as well as I they’ll force a confession out of him, even if it’s a lie.”

  “Orryn,” Mayra said, drawing his attention. “You said you believe Tygg has reason for being here. An agenda, you called it. Why do you think this?”

  “He told me he believes the gods wished him here, that by escorting me and the Imela to Syddia it could be seen as a sign of peace.”

  “And yet Pey throws him into a cell,” Jhon said. “Did you not warn Tygg that gods or no gods this was folly?”

  “Of course I did.”

  “Tygg said it didn’t matter,” Chandra said. “He said if his gods wanted him here he had to come.”

  “But why would the gods want him here?” Jhon said. He thought on it, then pulled a large parchment from the pile. He rolled it out and looked over it.

  “What is it?” Orryn asked, stepping closer.

  “A star chart,” Jhon said. He pulled out another parchment and opened it, comparing the two. He glanced up at Orryn. “You’ve seen the stars more recently than I. Which of these is more current do you think?”

  Orryn looked at them, then said regretfully, “I fear I didn’t take the time to look at the stars, Father. Too many years trained to do otherwise.”

  “I looked at them,” Chandra said. “Back home we can barely see them, but here they’re amazing.”

  Jhon gestured for her to come take a look. She stepped to his side and leaned over the charts, studying them. “This one,” she said, pointing to one of the parchments. She twisted her head to look at Jhon. “What did you two mean ‘haven’t seen the stars recently’? How can you not look at them?”

  “Our Lady shrouds them from us,” he said. “Only those who leave the city can ever hope to see them.”

  “Why?”

  “She says they hold lies. It is said Daghadar gave her the ability to veil them. That is her justification.”

  “Daghadar?” Chandra said, surprised. “I know t
hat name.”

  Jhon looked at Orryn.

  “She has ancestral memory, Father,” Orryn said.

  Jhon’s eyes widened. “A true one of the Lost?”

  “I don’t know, but she spoke of Kiradyn soon after I found her on the beach.”

  “Why were you within Taubastet borders, Orryn?” Mayra asked, stepping closer. “Clearly she’s not Syddian.”

  “I found her on the Syddian side,” Orryn assured her. “I only entered Taubastet territory when Tygg used her injuries and my illness as leverage to drag me there.”

  “So he was patrolling their beach while you were patrolling ours,” Jhon said.

  “Yes.”

  “Yet the elementals sent the girl to us.”

  “Yes.”

  “We must ask her, Jhon,” Mayra said, turning to him.

  “Ask me what?” Chandra asked.

  Jhon escorted Chandra back to her seat. He pulled up a stool and sat facing her. “We have questions. Would you indulge us with a few answers?”

  “Well, I have questions, too,” Chandra replied. “Perhaps a Cliff Notes version of what’s going on first?”

  “Cliff notes version?” Jhon asked.

  “A shortened version; a synopsis.”

  “Ah. I see. Very well.” He gestured for the rest of his family to join him. They gathered around, watching her closely.

  Chandra felt like a bug under a microscope, but at least they weren’t dissecting her brain. That would come tomorrow, when she was taken to see the Sovereign Lady. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

  “Are you cold?” Orryn asked, sitting down next to her.

  “I doubt it,” Tiersa said with a laugh. “For one, she’s covered in animal skins, for another, she has your hot air breathing down her neck.”

  “I’m fine,” Chandra replied.

  “Chandra,” Jhon began, “The cliff note version is this: we seek those who were lost, the descendants of those who were taken from us. Within them lies knowledge that proves our existence to Sister World, and Sister World cannot know of us.”

  “Sister World?”

  “That place where you are from,” Orryn explained.

  “You mean Earth?” Chandra said.

  “We are of the Earth also,” Orryn replied, “though your kind would have a difficult time accepting us.”