A male stood before her, his face indistinct. A green haze surrounded him. Was she still dreaming? “Welcome, Ilythra. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ilythra knew she was awake; she was in pain. Her eyelids felt heavy, her movements sluggish. Senses alert, she mentally examined her body. Pain radiated from her ribs, her arm, and the tight feeling on her thigh could only be stitches. She hoped they were neater than hers. Where was she? Alarm drove her further into consciousness. Where was Melior? Ilydearta lay against her chest, cool and inert. Ilythra’s racing heart slowed.
Running water tinkled over stone in the distance. Soft footsteps moved across a floor, and somewhere close, muted voices whispered. The faint scent of lavender wafted from the silky, soft bedding surrounding her.
With every ounce of willpower she possessed, Ilythra opened her eyes to soft light, then eased up on the pillow behind her, grimacing at the sharp pain stabbing her torso. But in truth, there wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t ache. The room swam. She focused on the bed’s posts. Carved of dark wood, they resembled intertwining branches arching over the bed and meeting in the center. A soft, filmy material lay over the branches. Tiny silver stitching peppered the dark-blue fabric. Ilythra smiled, recognizing the constellations.
Movement caught her eye. She focused on double doors across from the bed. A brown bird pecked seeds from a bowl on some kind of terrace. A cool breeze ruffled the fabric above her bed and brought with it the scent of rain. Where was she?
“You were seriously injured.”
Ilythra startled, sending pain radiating over her body. She turned toward the voice. A man stood near her bed. She reached for her sword, only to remember she didn’t know where it was.
“You are safe.”
“Where am I?” She didn’t recognize her own voice. She studied the man. His dark hair was pulled away from a face with high cheekbones and a straight nose but fell freely around his shoulders. A white feather fluttered against the dark strands. Intelligent, almond-shaped eyes regarded her. As he approached, she noted they were brown but rimmed with gold.
He wore a long golden tunic over dark leggings. Something in the way he moved was unlike anyone she’d ever known. Cold washed her body. Although she couldn’t determine exactly why, his features were not human.
“You’re Siobani,” she whispered.
He froze but his face showed no change of expression. “My name is Arien.”
But...but you are Siobani?”
“We call ourselves Children of the Dawn, or the Elder. Only humans refer to us as Siobani.”
Tears formed in the corner of her eyes. I found them. She sunk into the soft bedding. After everything that had happened... She felt as though everything came together and fell apart at the same time. Her entire life had been spent preparing for this one moment, and now that it was here, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. An odd disappointment edged the wonder. This wasn’t the way she’d imagined it would be. She couldn’t even get out of bed. She wished more than anything her grandfather was there. Experiencing it alone seemed somehow wrong. She pulled herself together. “I’m Ilythra. What happened?”
“Rugians attacked you.” He sat in a chair near her bed as though he had not just changed her world.
“Yes, I remember that part.”
“They poison their blades.” He took a deep breath. “Two of your ribs are broken. You have a serious injury on your shoulder and thigh, several abrasions over your body and you’re malnourished. We brought you here.”
That pretty much summed it up. “You’re a healer?”
“I am. You were badly wounded.” He hesitated. “But you fought well.” The last seemed almost a reluctant admission.
She ran what she could remember of the battle through her head. She’d never had a chance. “Yes, well, I’ve done better.”
“If you say so.”
For some reason, the comment annoyed her. There was a slight flavor of condescension to his words. Did Siobani women not fight? Was he prejudiced against her because she was a woman or a human? Then something else he said clicked. “You were there?”
“Yes.”
“You watched?” Disbelief and anger surged through her body.
“No, we only caught the last few moments, but we could see the fallen Rugians—the evidence of your skill,” he said in the same careful tone. “My father has sent patrols searching for you for several moons. You’re late.”
Ilythra met his gaze; golden light played in the dark depths. “I was held up a few times.” She struggled to sit up. Arien didn’t move to help her. “You were expecting me?”
“Father has heard Ilydearta’s song for some time now. He has called you.”
Shame washed over her. She might have heard the call earlier if she hadn’t been obsessed with revenge and finding Bredych herself. “I need to talk to your king.” She adjusted the blankets, trying to free her legs so she could swing them over the side of the bed. Her ribs burned fire and she gasped before she could control the reaction.
Arien rose to his feet. “You are not quite well enough to move.”
“It’s important,” she gasped, but stars swam in her vision.
“More important than your health?” His eyebrows drew together. “He knows why you’re here. There is no need to hurry.”
“You can be kind of irritating.”
Arien lifted an eyebrow.
She leaned back against the pillows. Relaxing felt so good, she almost closed her eyes. “Sorry. I am not a good patient. I tend to speak my mind when I shouldn’t.” She moved and grimaced. “It is very important I speak to your king.” Did all the Siobani know about the stones? How much should she tell this healer?
Arien stepped forward. “Allow me.” He placed his hands over her forehead. A warm wave washed over her body and the pain eased. He removed his hands.
She stared at him in astonishment. “You’re a real healer.” But even Maelys hadn’t had the healing energy this Siobani had just effortlessly displayed.
“As opposed to a pretend one?” His forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“No, as opposed to one who only knows healing herbs. Like me.”
“You’re a healer?” The first glimmer of interest danced in his dark eyes.
“Yes, but only with herbs.”
He nodded and took a deep breath. “I will leave you now.”
“Wait. How long have I been unconscious?”
“Two days. Your horse has been taken care of.” He didn’t turn.
“Thank you.” She sank further into the pillows.
He paused at the door. “Please rest, or you won’t get better and my work will be in vain.”
Arien moved out the door. Ilythra observed his graceful motion. That was one Siobani who didn’t like her much. She hoped they all didn’t feel the same way or she might have jumped from the pan into the fire.
* * *
A melody played in her mind just distant enough that she couldn’t quite make out all the notes. She concentrated on the music until it danced around her in a golden-green mist. The notes seeped into her skin, infusing her with peace. Ilythra opened her eyes.
The music didn’t disappear. It was the song of Ealois. Excitement surged through her body. She sat up, wincing slightly, but the majority of the pain was gone. The Siobani healer had done wonders. She wished she had that trick up her sleeve.
Light shone through sheer curtains on large glass doors. She threw off the covers to discover she was naked, save for an almost-sheer nightgown. She’d never been overly shy but she didn’t think she’d want to meet a Siobani king her present attire. Her clothes were nowhere to be found but a large wooden armoire stood opposite the bed. She climbed out of bed and made her way across the room. Th
e wooden floors were surprisingly warm. Several dresses hung within the armoire. She picked the simplest and shrugged it over her head then turned her attention to her surroundings. The room wasn’t large, but it was comfortable. The bed took up the majority of the space, leaving only room for a small table and chairs, the armoire and a small bedside table. The furniture was a dark, rich wood and the air smelled of lavender and the mineral tang of stone after a rainstorm. Two closed doors seemed to be the only exits. The glass one led to a small balcony and was the source of light. She moved toward the glass doors to see the view.
A knock sounded on the other door.
She turned and took a deep breath. “Come in.”
Arien entered. His eyes widened slightly before he bowed his head in greeting. “You are up. After you’ve broken your fast, I will take you to see our leader.”
“I can go now.” Ilythra stepped away from the glass door.
The Siobani blinked. “You need to eat first,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. He placed a tray down on the table.
She glanced at him. He didn’t say a word but she could tell she wasn’t going anywhere until she ate something. Was she this demanding with her patients? She didn’t think so. Even if she was, she was sure she tempered it with some softness. There was nothing soft in the Siobani’s manner.
She tore off a piece of bread and shoved it in her mouth then chewed slowly. It had to be the softest bread she’d ever eaten. More slowly she selected a piece of fruit. The pale yellow flesh reminded her of the luna fruit on the Faisach. She ate every bite then turned to Arien. “Done. Let’s go.”
Arien nodded. His face was unreadable. “Follow me.”
Did anything ruffle this Siobani? Maybe they were all like that. Her stomach fluttered. She was about to find out. She rubbed suddenly damp palms on the dress then looked up to see if Arien had noticed the obvious sign of her nervousness.
If he had, nothing in his manner indicated it. They moved through a stone arch, down a corridor bordering a courtyard open to the sky. A fountain burbled a merry tune, chaperoning the silence. Columns guarded the corridor’s sides, their surface textured with symbols. Ilythra paused; the characters seemed familiar. The Siobani stopped and waited for her before a large wooden door.
“Stay a moment here, please.” He didn’t wait for a response.
Her body vibrated. It took a moment to realize what she felt was the song she’d been hearing faintly now rising in volume. It was beautiful. So unlike meeting Crioch for the first time.
She swallowed against a dry throat.
A new Siobani, hair pale against a dusky face, peered at her from the entrance. “If you will come this way?” He didn’t smile, but he seemed more friendly than the healer.
Ilythra moved away from the wall. A strange feeling, as if she’d already been here in this moment and was only reliving a memory, halted her step. She shivered. Had she walked through the door before? She took a breath and stepped forward into a small room. Plush pale couches sitting between arched doorways contrasted with the floor’s intricate stone mosaics.
“This way.” The Siobani led her through another set of doors.
An empty dais stood at one end of the room. At the other, a large fire crackled in a stone hearth. Several Siobani stood from a large table in front of the fireplace as she entered. Ilythra recognized Arien. Their clothing was as bright as a Benai’s, if not as garish—shades of emerald, jade, blue or yellow tunics with faun-colored or black leggings. They’d captured summer in their attire. Angled eyes observed her as she moved toward them. She managed a shaky breath.
Ilythra didn’t need a throne to determine which man was the Siobani king. Dark ebony hair highlighted by a simple silver circlet topped the pale face. He stood watching her, his bearing regal without being ostentatious. She also didn’t need to see his stone to know he was a stone keeper. The music of Ealois sang along the winds of Teann, calling her, harmonizing with Ilydearta. It was as though fresh energy surged through her veins. She almost felt like laughing. Was this the way it was supposed to be? What would it be like if all three were together? But then she remembered the cry of Crioch, the distorted melodies as the stone suffered under its keeper, and her throat closed with emotion. She needed to free the stone.
“Welcome, I’m Ewen of the Dawn Children, one of the Elder Born.” In his voice, Ilythra heard the music of the wind, the thunder in the mountains and the gentle patter of rain. She knew the voice; she’d heard it in her dreams. He was the third man, the one who had come to her next to the river.
With a sweep of his arm, he indicated for her to sit at the table. She settled on the edge of a chair, careful not to jar her ribs. The Siobani reclaimed their seats.
A feeling of unreality filled her. Was she dreaming now? Had the Rugians beaten her senseless? She swallowed. What did she say? How did she start? She’d imagined this moment a thousand times, but in her imagination, she’d known what to say. Now her tongue didn’t belong to her. She gripped her knees to keep her hands from shaking. The Siobani were calmly observing her. “Your Majesty, my name is Ilythra.”
Ewen raised a hand. “The Children of the Dawn do not have a king. I’m Riege, which in your language best translates to sovereign, and eldest of the House of the White Feather. Please, call me Ewen.”
Ilythra lost herself in his gaze. Green as the forest after a rain, his eyes drew her in. They seemed to beckon, to see beyond her appearance into her heart. She felt naked, exposed, but as though they were alone in the room. Her fear began to melt and her body relaxed. He appeared neither old nor young. His face bore the beauty of youth, but the wisdom of age seemed to radiate from his eyes.
She inclined her head, not in ceremony, but respect.
“This is Galen and Manu. You’ve met my son, Arien.” Ewen indicated the Siobani in turn.
His son? Not a simple healer, he was a Siobani prince or whatever they called themselves. Her cheeks warmed. Maybe that was why he’d been so cool. She hadn’t treated him with the deference he deserved.
The firelight played with the angles of Ewen’s face as he regarded her. “You are named well, Ilythra. You have wandered long and far. Welcome, sister keeper. I am sorry for your reception by the Rugians. It was not my intention. We have patrolled the forest’s edge, waiting for you, but we were not able to determine which entrance you’d use.”
Which entrance? Disbelief almost coaxed a smile from her face. “There’s another?”
“Yes, but as difficult to find as the one you used and more challenging to breach.”
Ilythra swallowed. If she’d taken the easy way, she hoped she never had to navigate the harder passage. “You knew I was coming.”
Ewen smiled. “Yes, and I gave you what help I could.”
So Mohan had been right. “Melior.” For a moment she considered hugging the Siobani Riege. Melior had not only saved her life more than once, he’d kept her going when she didn’t think she could take another step. She considered the horse a friend.
“Indeed. The stallion was released to find you, if possible.” He shared a glance with the other Siobani that she couldn’t interpret. “And now you are here.”
She leaned forward a little. “Where is Melior?”
Ewen smiled. “He is in the stables, and I imagine he is as anxious to see you as you are him. But I have been told you have a tale to tell.”
“Yes, I—” How to begin?
Ewen’s eyebrows drew together.
“In Greton, there is a man, Bredych. He bears Crioch and he plans to start a war.”
Silence reigned in the room. Ilythra heard her heart beat in her ears.
“We have long known Crioch lies somewhere to the south, but are you certain its keeper plans to start a war?” Ewen asked.
If she wasn’t imagining things, his face had paled
slightly. Arien, behind him, stiffened, his spine growing rigid, and his eyes flamed.
Ilythra cleared her throat. “He’s aligned himself with the Rugians and is taking the locals captive to work in mines and forges. I was in one forge. All it produced was weapons, so I’d say yes, pretty certain.”
Galen and Manu exchanged glances with Ewen. Arien’s jaw clenched. “It would be in character,” Galen muttered.
Ilythra focused on the elder Siobani. Silver laced his dark hair and his eyes were so pale brown they appeared golden. “You know the keeper of Crioch?”
Ewen took a deep breath. “Yes. At one time we thought we did.”
“You’ve known he has the stone and you haven’t done anything about it?” Anger kindled deep in her gut.
The Siobani again exchanged glances.
“I thought you were the original keepers of the stones. Isn’t your responsibility to make sure they’re used in the way they were intended?”
Sorrow deepened lines around Ewen’s eyes.
“Do you think if we asked nicely he would release it to the Siobani, where the stones rightfully belong?” Arien asked. His voice was gentle but his eyes sparked fire.
She didn’t miss his implication. Despite being a stone keeper, she also wasn’t Siobani. She ground her teeth together to stem the irritated words that filled her mind. It wasn’t her fault she wasn’t Siobani. Besides, she’d done more to reunite the stones than it seemed these Siobani had done.
“Or do you propose that we should have waged war to get it back? That path has been traveled already,” Arien continued.
A glint sparkled in the Riege’s green eyes. Ewen moved his hand almost imperceptibly, and Arien stepped back but his chin rose. The healer’s dark gaze bore into hers.
“I have been told you are recovering from your injuries quickly,” Ewen said. “Is there anything else you need?”
Ilythra blinked at the sudden change of subject. She took a deep breath. She was a guest in the Siobani land. It wouldn’t do to make enemies. She waited another heartbeat for her temper to cool. “My clothes.” She fingered the dress. “I’m thankful for the generosity, but I’d feel more comfortable in my own clothes.”
Journey of Wisdom Page 18