After extinguishing their candles and placing them back in the rack with the others, Melenthia followed Dallen down the path toward the city center. They were silent for a long time, but Melenthia felt that she should make sure Dallen knew she was not angry with her. She had been a big help to her since she’d been here, helping with her training, but had also become friends as well. It had been a long time since she had anyone that she could talk to, or that she enjoyed being with. Dallen had the same carefree attitude she had, and Melenthia felt they shared a kindred spirit. Sometimes they stayed awake nights talking and giggling just like ordinary girls. Dallen meant a lot to her, and she wanted nothing to come between that.
“Dallen, was I not supposed to go into the temple? Was I forbidden to enter without permission?”
“It was not forbidden but only intended to be delayed until the king thought things were ready to be revealed. I am at fault. I failed in telling you. It is my responsibility, not your mistake. I will take whatever consequences befall me.”
“I don’t think you should get into trouble for my curiosity.”
“The king is stern but fair. My punishment will not be severe. I must learn.”
They continued on until they reached the city and turned down the path toward the residence of the king. They passed the guards on the steps and entered the hall. Tomaz was in audience with Theron. Dallen and Melenthia waited silently at the doors until beckoned. Theron saw them waiting and motioned them to enter. Melenthia and Dallen bowed in reverence, then rose when told to do so. Dallen approached the steps and looked up at her grandfather.
“I am afraid Melenthia has been inside the temple, Your Majesty.”
Theron looked from Dallen to Melenthia. “You have questions.”
“Yes.”
Theron waved Dallen off, dismissing her until called. Dallen bowed again and left the room. Theron looked now at Tomaz, but said nothing. Something passed between them and Melenthia caught it.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but there’s something you’re not telling me. I have a right to know. Why is my picture in the temple with past royalty?” Her tone was high and accusing.
Theron looked at Melenthia without speaking, his eyes softly penetrating through her, and she felt calm wash over her.
“You know the answer to that, Melenthia. You need to just trust your heart.”
She was silent for the longest time, biting her lip in consternation. Tears started to well up, but she did her best to hold them back. “My mother,” she simply said. “But how is that possible?”
“Your mother, Aerwyn, was my daughter, Princess of Vallis. Your father had been king for only a couple of years, becoming so at such an early age. One day he got lost while on the hunt, and wandered too close to our border. Aerwyn was working when the warriors at the gate were informed of his arrival. She was a curious girl, precocious and feisty, not unlike you, and she wanted to see the human for herself. When she saw him, she had a desire to be near him and ordered the border patrol to allow her to go with them to escort him away from the border. When she saw him up close, she became more enamored with him and spoke to him. When she did that, he knew where he was, and the spell we cast to erase his memory failed. He was just as enamored with her as she was with him. When she came to me and told me, I was furious. There had not been contact with the humans for many, many years. I forbade her from making contact again, but she went behind my back several times. I saw the love she had for this man, but I was worried about what might happen if I allowed them to be together. Power can often cloud one’s judgment, and I did not want her to be corrupted by the ways of man. When we heard about the coming conflict with the rebels from across the Tiernan Sea, we watched the king and his troops bring peace to the rebellion. I was impressed with your father’s love and compassion for his people and for his ability to allay the fears and need for uprising in those that would oppose him. I saw his ability to keep the peace. Together with the southern king, they brought peace and quiet to Aelethia and helped keep its borders safe. I decided that Aerwyn was wise enough to choose her path and gave her permission to be with him. When she came to me a year later, I gave my blessing for them to be married. I saw how much he loved her and knew how well he treated her. They worked together to rule the realm with justice and love. I knew that I had judged him unfairly. There has not been a union of an elf and a human for more than five hundred years. Your mother and father were the first since long before the Great War. Their love was true, so I felt confident they would make it.”
“If she was an elf, I would have known it.”
“We cast a spell on those that knew them to make sure her secret would be safe. There were only two people other than us that knew she was Elvin born, your father’s Prime Minister and the priest that married them. No matter who rules and no matter what justice is done in the world, there is still prejudice. She chose to live in the human world and therefore chose to leave her Elvin life behind. When she did that, her elf life vanished. She still had ties to her heritage. We can never deny that part of us even if we want to, but to the eyes of everyone, she was a human queen. Your brother did not know, either.”
“Why didn’t my father tell us?”
“She asked him not to. She felt it would be safer if she did not tell anyone, but vowed to tell you when you were old enough. She never got that chance.”
“Why didn’t my father tell me after she died, when I was old enough to understand?”
“Your father did not believe that you were mature enough to handle the truth, so he kept it hidden. And I think he was afraid. Your mother planned to tell you, until she became sick. The last living sorcerer besides Sol, the dark sorcerer that was living in the peaks of the Indriah Mountains, found out about your mother. He also found out by black arts about the Tanith Prophecy, that you were the Chosen One, and that you would grow to destroy his heir. He killed your mother with the only poison that can destroy an elf, the juice from the daylea plant which grows along the edge of the Elanorrah Lake. When brewed just right, and administered slowly, it will kill Elves without trace. A physician cannot decipher the cause. When your mother knew she was dying, she made your father promise never to reveal her secret. She felt it would be too dangerous. She knew that if someone had poisoned her, someone knew of her secret and therefore would know about you. She did it to protect you. So you see, your destiny was predetermined from the beginning, but your life would never be normal no matter what your mother’s intentions had been. I have watched you all these years, and I am happy with who you are. You are my grand-daughter, Melenthia, and I am proud of who you have become. I did not tell you sooner because I felt you were not ready for that burden. Your training is finished and now you, for better or worse, know the truth about who you are. Your time has come to make your stand.”
“All my training is finished?”
“No more do you require. Knowing the truth was the final piece to your destiny. It is time for you to fight for your world.”
She looked to Tomaz who had been keeping silent vigil next to his grandfather. They were cousins, she and he, and suddenly she felt unworthy. She knelt in front of the king, bowing her head in reverence.
“Rise, my child. From this day forth you will always be welcome in this city, in this house. Whatever will be now will be because it should, because it was written that way. Tomaz and Sol will accompany you back to Azlyn. When we are called, we will come.”
He stood from his chair and walked forward down the stairs, taking her hands in his, a tear sliding down her face. He opened one of her hands and laid a large flat stone, polished to a shiny glow, in the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around it. She looked at him, then opened her hand and looked at the stone. Her mother’s image suddenly shone on the surface of the stone. She rubbed a hand across the flat surface as if in prayer and closed her fist once more. She looked up into the eyes of her grandfather, smiling at her with nothing but love in his green eyes. “She wi
ll always be with you. Your father’s love for her, and for you, and your mother’s faith in the world will be with you always. Do not be angry with your father. In the end, he did not know what it was he was doing. Do not ever doubt he loved you, as much as he loved your mother. Aerwyn’s blood, my blood, flows within you, and so does your father’s. You are loved, and in the end, that will save you.”
He kissed her cheek and held her close for a few minutes. Tomaz finally approached and placed a loving hand on her as well. She smiled at him, and he bowed. “Come, My Lady, let’s get you home.”
***
Melenthia packed all her stuff as Dallen watched in silence. She seemed sad. Melenthia didn’t want to pry, so she packed her things without talking. When she was finished, she looked over to the elf who was sitting on the bed, now distractedly fiddling with the glass bauble at her throat. She looked up at Melenthia when she felt her eyes on her. She tried to smile, but didn’t succeed. Melenthia decided to ask. “What is it, Dallen? Why do you look so sullen?”
“I am not ready for you to leave. From the moment I was born, I have had only boys and men around me. I liked having a sister.”
Melenthia sat beside her on the bed now. “I know. Me too. But we will always have a connection now, Dallen. I may be far away, but we will always be together in spirit.”
“I believe in my grandfather, and in Sol, who say that this evil time will turn out right. But sometimes, I feel afraid.”
“Me too. I don’t know what will happen or who will survive, but I know that I go forward with a new courage and a new strength. One that comes from you, and from my grandfather, and from knowing, finally, who I really am. I don’t know what will become of our world, but I know that you and I will be together again. Someday. We are kindred spirits now, you and I. I would not have gotten through this without you.” She leaned over and embraced Dallen. When they parted, Dallen pulled the necklace over her head and handed it to Melenthia. Melenthia looked at it in the light. The milky glass glowed under the sunlight streaming through the canopy of the room. She held it up and gazed into it, the cloudy swirls dancing through it. “I can’t take this from you, Dallen. It belongs to you.”
“I want you to have it. My mother gave it to me before she died. It will keep you safe. When the glass glows, danger is near. If you hold it in your hand and ask for help, help will come. I do not need it here. Inside these walls, I am safe. You will need it more than I. Besides, it may give you something to remember me by.”
Melenthia smiled at her. “I don’t need anything to remember you by. I always will, but thank you. I will keep it with me always.” She looped the cord over her head and tucked it inside her tunic with her other necklace, close to her heart. She hugged Dallen one more time, then stood, grabbing her bag and scanning the room once more before leaving. The time had come, and ready or not, her destiny was about to begin. She placed a hand over her chest where the necklaces touched her skin, closed her eyes, and, breathing deeply in, said a small prayer. The Dark One had risen. The Tanith Prophecy had begun. She was the hope for Aelethia now. One way or another, Fallon would die.
Table of Contents
Title Page
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
Dark One Rising Page 45