The Borderlands (Book Two): War

by Aderyn Wood

  Dale turned in her chair again to look Helgda in the eye. “About being the saviour?”

  Helgda smiled, her pink cheeks glistened in the rosy afternoon sunshine, but when she opened her mouth to speak, only a squeak and silence followed. Helgda’s smile turned to a frown, and she opened her mouth again, but still no words.

  Dale understood. The prophecy forbade Helgda to speak whatever pearl of knowledge it had shown her. Still, at least it had made her quiet for a moment. Dale turned around and enjoyed the silence while it lasted, wondering what it was the prophecy stone had shown Helgda.

  When Helgda finally finished preening and fussing Dale assessed the dwarf’s work in the mirror. She certainly looked like a princess. She wore a green silk gown with embroidered red poppies. Her hair shone almost as much as Agathina’s always did, and an emerald and ruby tiara rested atop her head.

  “Beautiful, Princess.” Helgda beamed.

  Dale smiled. “Thank you, Helgda. I hope you’ll be coming to help us celebrate.”

  “Of course I’ll be there, yer Highness. I’ve earned a drop of ale, I’d say.”

  Dale laughed. “I’d say too.”

  By dusk the rain clouds that had grown through the afternoon finally released their cargo, and the queen announced she’d move her reception from the terrace to the palace foyer. The councillors and other elders moved into the palace and Dale followed suit. The city-folk we’re beginning to arrive, wet but eager to celebrate, and as was tradition at these feasts, Dale and her mother greeted the guests personally. The queen wanted all of Arcadia to enjoy this night together. While the city’s population was depleted, with most of its people already at the front, the remaining families soon filled the ballroom.

  A banquet of hot food set up on tables near the ballroom’s entrance emanated the usual tantalizing aromas of Ma'r Warmston's fare, and was soon devoured. Musicians played joyous upbeat tunes on the stage and the children enjoyed games with the free spirits who always attended such celebrations.

  Dale nibbled on some rabbit meat and spotted Esme with some of the other sprites, teasing a couple of gnomes by the look of it. Then she spied Rhys across the room, talking with Sa’r Atapole. They seemed to be having an argument of some kind. Dale wiped her hands on a napkin and crouched behind one of the marble pillars to peer through the lantern light and watch them.

  The philosophy master’s gestures grew more animated, his silk cap moved from side to side as he kept looking over his shoulder.

  Dale opened her second sight and cast her gaze over Rhys. Flame-like colours of red and orange danced in a frenzied mess around him, he was angry. She snapped her vision back, his face, normally so calm and serene, now wore a heavy frown. Finally, he said some sharp words to the master and stalked away.

  Dale followed.

  Rhys strode to a side table and poured a glass of wine.

  “Rhys,” she said.

  He turned and smiled when he saw her. “Dale. It’s good to see you.” His eyes wandered over her hair, and then down to her dress, before he returned his usual gaze, firmly locked on her eyes.

  Once again, her blush rose to the surface and Dale took a breath. Talking to Rhys was always difficult; she’d just have to muddle her way through again.

  “Would you like some wine?” he asked.

  Yes, and lots of it. “Yes, please.”

  He turned to pour her a glass and then, with their glasses in hand, he said, “follow me.” He walked them to a love-seat that stood alone in a gloomy corner of the ballroom beneath a window. The rain outside tapped gently on the glass.

  They sat and Rhys handed Dale her glass while raising his own. “Good providence,” he said.

  “Good providence.” Dale touched her glass to his and took a sip. It was pomegranate wine, both sweet and sour on the tongue. “Were you arguing with Sa’r Atapole just now?”

  Rhys clenched his jaw. “I suppose that’s what it was.”

  “He didn’t like something you said?”

  Rhys looked at her, his eyes squinting. “He wanted to talk about traitors again. I told him now was not the time.”

  “Oh.” Dale wished she could tell Rhys about the prophecy. Perhaps he would know why the traitor was mentioned.

  Rhys continued to stare over the rim of the wine glass as he took another sip. “He wanted to talk of some other things too, but to be honest with you, I found his conversation tedious. I’m glad he won’t be coming with us to the war front again, but I don’t like the thought of him staying here to annoy you. He won’t be any good for your confidence.”

  Dale took a deep breath. Sa’r Atapole wasn’t the warmest of masters. He wasn’t good for anyone’s confidence. “I’ll try to ignore him then.”

  “I think that would be best.” Rhys sipped his wine, still staring at Dale over the rim.

  An awkward silence made Dale gulp her own wine before she posed the question she'd been waiting to ask, “How was Earth?”

  Rhys chewed his lip. “Well, at first glance it wasn’t all that different to last time. But I did notice one thing.”

  “What?”

  “Those churches, like the one you and your old family used to go to.”

  “Christian Central.” Dale nodded. She used to hate going to the Sunday service, at least now she knew why. Ricardo was using the church as a way to search for her.

  “There's more of them. I counted five at least.”

  Dale frowned. “And this was in Glasgow?”

  “Yes, I just stayed there, in Glasgow, that’s the only place I know on Earth. But, at some stage in the future I think we’ll need to explore further afield."

  “Earth’s a big place, and the population is completely out of control numbers-wise. I don’t think we have the resources at the moment to risk too much exploring.” Dale took another sip of wine. “The Unseelie have advanced again. Sa’r Aethyll believes they may have moved south another ten leagues.”

  “I know, I was briefed as soon as I returned.”

  “Oh.” A sudden irritation made Dale frown. Everyone seemed to know more than she did. Even though she was the princess and outranked all but her mother, she was still the last to know such details. Dale shook her head, trying to banish her irritation. Rhys was an accomplished sorcerer and had lived here all his life. Of course, he’d been told.

  “It’s good to see you, Dale.” Rhys interrupted her thoughts and her blush worked its way further along her cheeks and down her neck.

  She didn’t know how to reply so she smiled and took another sip of the wine. Then she cleared her throat. “And what of Ness, did you look for her?”

  Rhys frowned. “I couldn’t risk using too much magic and alerting them to my presence. I’m sorry, it was too risky.” His eyes danced away for once as though he was nervous.

  Dale took a breath. Too risky? Why wasn’t anyone willing to search for her? Dale’s annoyance must have shown on her face. Rhys reached out and touched her hand, and Dale could feel his usual calm energy flow through her, but she didn’t want to be calm right now. She wanted to talk about Ness, and plan how to find her. “How long has it been on Earth since I left it?” she asked.

  “A year. It is autumn again there now. Their time is almost in synchronicity with our own.”

  “How can we be sure that Ness isn’t trapped by Ricardo?”

  “Dale,” Rhys shook his head. “It’s been a year, and we’ve had no sign of her. All she need do is break her crystal and we’d know she is in trouble. Your mother would feel it immediately.”

  “But what if Ricardo has taken it?”

  “We would know that too. The crystal is linked both to her and the Borderlands. If someone else takes possession of it, your mother would feel it. Particularly if that person was Ricardo.”

  Dale shook her head. “Well, what if…”

  “Dalendra.” Rhys squeezed her hand. “She has gone, you have got to accept that.”

  She snatched her hand away.

  “Please
, Dale. You can’t linger on the past.”

  “Is that what you think I’m doing?” Anger brought a scowl to her face. “No, I’m just concerned for a friend, and I’m getting frustrated that no one else here seems to share my concerns.” Dale stood.

  “Dale.”

  She turned her back and walked through the crowd, leaving Rhys behind.

  Why couldn’t anyone else see they’d not done enough to find Ness? Yes, the war was important and most of their resources had to be dedicated toward it, but if they had spared someone, anyone, to go back and look properly…

  Few people knew Earth the way she did. Perhaps that was the problem. Even Rhys, while he was born on Earth, and while he had spent some time there when he was protecting her, even he didn’t know Earth the way she did. And the way Ness did. The problem was Ness and Gareth had been the last contacts from Earth. And now they were gone and there was no one else to replace them. There were no other sorcerers from Earth.

  Dale continued walking through the crowded ballroom. People were getting louder and the drink was flowing too easily. She spotted Hentiel trying to dance with Mirthryll, but it came off as a strange blend of swaying and jigging. They’d had too much to drink. As had Troidan and Alf who played some form of ‘throw the gnome’ with a group of free spirits. Dale pushed between two women whose laughing cackles reminded Dale of a pair of Ma’r Warmston’s hens about to lay their eggs. Then she spotted Ma’r Warmston herself, tankard of ale in hand having some sort of argument with Helgda, who clutched her own tankard. Dale quickly stepped behind a pillar. If she was found by either dwarf she’d be drawn into their feud.

  She fought her way to a space near a banquet table. A few slices of bread lay limp on a platter, but everything else had been eaten. Dale wondered how many turnips Ma’r Warmston had used for this banquet.

  Most of the guests were now intent on drinking their share of ale or wine, and dancing to the music that grew louder. This was going to be a long party. She caught a glimpse of yellow in the crowd to her right, and the tall form of her friend came into view. Agathina. Dale took a breath and moved toward her.

  “Agathina,” Dale said.

  Her friend looked at her with a level stare and Dale could see she still bore anger. She could sure hold a grudge. Not that I blame her for it.

  “Look, I’m sorry for what you saw,” Dale said.

  “You’re sorry I saw you kiss Jaral?” Agathina’s perfect brow creased. “You mean you would have preferred to kiss him and that I didn’t see, is that it?”

  Dale shook her head. “No, that’s not it.” This was confusing.

  “Well what are you trying to tell me, Princess? That I shouldn’t have told you my secret because you’d just throw it in my face? Well, you don’t have to tell me. I‘ve already worked it out.” Agathina turned and walked through the crowd, disappearing into the shadows.

  Dale put a hand to her forehead. Tonight was probably her last chance to apologise to her best friend. Tomorrow, Agathina would leave with all the other sorcerers and new recruits. Only Dale would remain behind with the children and the elderly, and her mother. And Helgda, evidently. And she’d botched her apology like she’d botched everything else.

  She walked over to a table, poured herself a glass of wine, and downed it in three gulps before pouring another. Maybe Agathina was partly to blame. The more Dale thought about it the more she realised Agathina was acting like a teenager back on Earth. This was the type of behaviour she would expect from Prudence Feathertop in high school.

  Dale sighed, if only her troubles were as big as that now. Prudence Feathertop was nothing in comparison to the Unseelie. But then again, Dale smiled. Prudence was a bit of a monster, actually. She giggled.

  “Something amusing, Princess?”

  Jaral stood before her. His golden braids pulled back and the line of his jaw prominent in the lantern light. His amethyst eyes sparkled, and Dale caught her breath. She’d never seen him look so tall, so handsome.

  “Nothing much,” she said. “I was just remembering something from Earth."

  “Well, I was looking for Agathina, have you seen her?” Dale didn’t want Jaral to leave so soon. Tomorrow he would be gone, with the others, and he could have all the time he wanted with Agathina then. “No. I saw her earlier, but I’m not sure where she is now.” Dale swallowed the lie with another sip of wine.

  “Well then, I’ll just have to ask my princess for a dance.”

  Dale laughed as Jaral took the glass out of her hand, placing it on a table and led her through the crowd to the dance floor.

  People were desperately joyous in the knowledge they may not see one another again. A desperation that proved contagious. Jaral spun her around and rocked her in his arms as she laughed. He truly was the best dancer in all three worlds, just as he always boasted.

  Then the song finished and the troop started a slower melody. Jaral had a fire in his eyes and he drew Dale closer. His arm clasped around her back, and he bent his head to whisper in her ear, “You look so beautiful tonight. You quite stopped my heart when I saw you.”

  Dale felt her heart melting, along with her knees. There was something about Jaral. Something that was different to Rhys. Something more instinctual.

  His lips hovered over hers and when his hand pulled her forward, she didn’t resist. His lips were warm and made her own lips tingle when they touched, light at first, then firmer. Something in her mind told her to stop – this was wrong – it would only hurt Agathina more if she saw them kissing, and Rhys, what would he think? But Jaral had his hands on her shoulders and then they moved over the small of her back and one moved up, so slowly and caressed her breast. And Dale took a sharp breath, her eyes wide.

  Jaral drew her closer still and kissed the top of her head. “I know, we shouldn’t,” he whispered in her ear. “But, Three Worlds, you’re alluring tonight.”

  Dale rested her head on his chest. Through the glow of the lantern light, she could see Agathina, her back to them, making her way out of the ballroom. Dale swallowed, she’d probably seen them. A small flicker of guilt filled her heart, but it warred with the gladness there, and she already hated herself for it.

  11

  Midmorning the following day the Seelie host prepared to leave. In the large open space outside the city gates a mass of movement swirled as people and horses readied to set off, the free spirits played and danced around them. Some would ride the fresh battle horses, or sit atop the few carriages, but most people would walk the hundreds of leagues to the war front.

  Dale stood beside her mother, near the city gates. A long queue had formed as the queen bid farewell to every individual to extend to him or her a blessing. Once given, the recruit would turn and make their way up along the northern trail that would take them first through the forest, and then down to the valley which led to the war front. Now, like a trail of ants, a long line of them disappeared into the forest. Some also approached Dale to say goodbye to their princess. But others didn’t, avoiding her eyes instead. Dale understood: they'd lost faith in her.

  Agathina, Vulpanna at her side, greeted Dale’s mother. The queen gave them both a blessing. When Dale reached out to her friend, Agathina kept her eyes to the side as she walked past, but Vulpanna sat on her haunches at Dale’s feet and nudged her hand.

  Dale smiled and obliged the wolf with a scratch behind her ears. Then she walked a few steps with Vulpanna toward Agathina, who had her back to them, waiting patiently for her hysbryd. Dale saw the hurt and feelings of betrayal in the line of Agathina’s shoulders and a heat wave of shame washed through her. What had she been thinking when she’d flirted with Jaral last night!

  Dale bent down to speak into Vulpanna’s ear, knowing Agathina would overhear. “Vulpanna, I will miss you. Be careful. And please tell your mistress I am sorry for being so foolish. I hope she can forgive me. She is my best friend and I love her dearly.”

  She let Vulpanna go and noticed a slight shudder in Agathina’s
shoulders before she walked on.

  Dale wiped a tear from her eye. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have hurt the best friend I’ve ever had?

  “Farewell, my Princess.” Jaral stopped before her and bent on one knee. There he was, the man at the centre of their feuding. She considered Jaral for what he was – a tall, extremely handsome and flirtatious young man. He probably had half of Arcadia in love with him. She’d been warned enough about Jaral and his charms. By her mother, by the masters, by everyone really. And by Rhys. But she’d let her doubt and her loneliness get the better of her. No, she had no true feelings that way for Jaral. It was time she put an end to it.

  She took a deep breath. “Be careful, Jaral. And please, be even more careful with Agathina’s heart.” She gave him a stern look, and he tilted his head as he stood.

  “That’s a serious warning. I would have thought it your heart that needs to be careful, after last night.” He gave her a lopsided grin and took a step closer.

  A streak of desire shot through Dale’s core and she took a slow breath. Jaral had a natural spell over women; she had to be careful not to fall for it again. “No, not me. Agathina is the one who cares for you that way. Please, do not toy with her.”

  Jaral’s smile faded. “Is that it? I’m not good enough for a princess?” His eyes glanced at the queen. “Has your mother decreed as much? Goodbye, Princess. Your meaning cuts my heart.”

  “No, Jaral!” Dale wanted to explain but Jaral was stalking over to Belor, his horse, his body fuming with every step. She’d angered him as well. All her friends were leaving on bad terms.

  She walked back to stand beside her mother and straighten her shoulders. It was hard to look the part when everything was crumbling inside.

  Rhys approached then after receiving a blessing from her mother. Let’s see how you can screw up this one too.

  “Well, I suppose there won’t be a goodbye kiss this time,” Rhys said, glimpsing at the queen.

  Dale bit her lip. Clearly, he hadn’t seen her dancing with Jaral last night, or their stupid kiss. But how long till he heard talk of it?