by Luna Lais
Claudette did not no what to say to Lissandra. There were no such things as dragons or blue cows. Lissandra seeing Claudette did not understand grew more frustrated. The Order was not the end if Claudette did not know of the dragon or blue cow.
Claudette turned and reached out her hand towards Lissandra. It was not an act of aggression. She slowly laid her hand on Lissandra's arm. Their eye's met. Lissandra saw a look of pain across the old woman's face. "I still have a niece in Rorgrim," she said softly.
"As long as she is loyal to Raven, no harm will come to her," Lissandra said understanding the woman's pain. "You never sent anyone to Hokaren after me?"
"We never knew where you were," Claudette confessed. They had been so sure she would go to Rorgrim. They never believed she would leave Calandoria. Even if they would have wanted to check Hokaren, that would have been impossible. "The Hikirian Army, at least part of it camped on the main crossing of the Blue River. We could not have sent anyone, even if we had known where you were. We actually stopped looking for you after Rachel's death. Sooner or later you would have married and no longer been a Raven. The Acumen had been insistent that the Raven line must end." Lissandra lost herself in thought over Claudette's words. If the Order had not burned Eranen's farm, then who had?
"I know you do not care, but my preference if I may have a choice is to go the same way as Norah." Lissandra looked at the old woman before her. If not for Lissandra, how many years would she have left? She could feel her anger leaving her faced with the truth. Darien had been right. All the misery that befell them came from the Acumen, not the Order or even the religion they represented. Still the Temple could not stand. It was a lie and the world needed truth right now.
"Is the Acumen still alive," Lissandra asked her.
"Given the events of tonight, I believe the Acumen will die when I do if he still lives." Claudette said.
Lissandra was overwhelmed by a sudden dizziness. She slowly walked back to the pool and sat at the edge looking into the water. "The Destroyer is coming," she said absently rubbing her abdomen with her hand. "The destruction of the Temple is critical to our plans of defeating him." She sighed and looked at Claudette. "I will need help." Claudette's eyes rose to meet Lissandra's. "From someone who is knowledgeable in the power of the Arts." Lissandra took several deep breaths, resolved with her decision.
"Many of the girls have excelled, but their talent is limited to the Moon Arts," Claudette offered.
"That is not what I meant," Lissandra said standing and walking to Claudette. She held out her hand to the woman. "If you can accept the destruction of the Temple and swear your loyalty to Darien, I would like to take you and the Order somewhere safe until you are needed. There is much training to be done."
Claudette looked at the hand extended in front of her. "What training?" she asked frantically. "Without the Temple,"
Lissandra cut off Claudette's words, "Trust me and help those who you sought to destroy," she said.
Claudette looked at the remains of Abby and then to Norah's tomb of ice. She took Lissandra's hand and nodded. "We will go where you lead us and do everything in our power to aid King Raven." Lissandra was relieved. She did not know what had caused her to want to spare Claudette or recruit the Order, but it felt right. Opening the entrances with her mind Lissandra began walking to the main doors. Claudette stood where she was watching Lissandra glide across the floor.
"Go to the dormitories and get the others," Lissandra said still walking towards the entrance. "Meet me on the steps in fifteen minutes. Anyone left behind will perish."
"What should I tell them?" Claudette asked.
"Tell them raiders strong with the Sun Art are approaching and they must leave with haste." Lissandra opened the door and walked out into the cool night air. She took several deep breaths and looked around.
Eranen was sitting at the base of one of the many statues on the platform near the entrance. He was rolling his sword over in his hand, looking bored. Duncan, their Hikirian guard, was standing with his back leaned against the statue, his arms were crossed and he was frowning at Lissandra. It had been Duncan who was behind them in the woods. Eranen had began attacking the man before he could speak and it had taken several minutes for Eranen to realize it was a friend, not an enemy he was fighting. He had followed Lissandra immediately, but the doors were sealed before he arrived. Eranen looked up at her with a penetrating stare. She gave him a weak smile before walking over to the men.
"Is it finished," Eranen asked standing. He sheathed his sword at her nod.
"I could not stick to the plan," she frowned. "I could only bring myself to kill those who attacked me," she dropped her head and waited for his reaction.
Eranen raised her chin with his hand, "and you see that as failure?" he asked.
"I was supposed to avenge Rachel's death." She was trembling at the thought of having to tell Darien she let Claudette live. He would not understand, neither would Makren. "I let my family down."
"No," Eranen cut in. "You are giving your brother what he needs more than revenge. The world will rally after the fall of the Temple, against Descartes." Lissandra searched his eyes relieved he was not disappointed in her.
"Duncan," Lissandra said turning to the guard. "We leave for Hokaren tonight are the other guards with you?"
"I left them with your horses," he gave her a small bow. "They do not know of you abilities, having not followed you out of the castle that night in Rorgrim. I did not know if you wished to keep them a secret, so only I followed on foot."
"Hokaren," Eranen said having already heard about Duncan's revelations while waiting for Lissandra. "What of your brother?"
Lissandra took Eranen's hand and led him away from Duncan. "I can not take the Order to Darien. I must see them safe first. There are several books in the Moon's Soul. I would like you and Duncan to get as many as we can carry. I will lead the Order into the woods and then come back to finish here." Lissandra swayed just a little, but it did not escape Eranen's notice.
"You are not well," he put his arm around her shoulder for support.
"I am just tired, nothing more." She kissed him quickly on the cheek. "I will meet you in the woods," she said turning back to enter the Temple. Eranen motioned to Duncan to follow and they entered behind Lissandra.
Chapter 38
The castle was quiet except for the loud constant footsteps echoing off the high ceiling of the grand entrance hall. The steady drum had not wavered in the past two hours. When it had began shortly after the evening meal, the residence of the castle had made themselves scarce. With so many having been thrown into prison the last few days there was no sense in putting yourself in the path of the king's wrath. Most assumed his present mood was due to the destruction of the Temple of the Moon's Soul two weeks before by the raiders in the from the north. That had been the official statement from the castle.
The king himself had made an address to the people once the news reached him. He spoke of changes that were being made in the kingdom to keep peace, while he focused on the raiders. Even worse he told them that an army was planning on invading in the spring. It was led by the same man who had destroyed the Temple and stole the Moon Arts from the people. Calandoria was on the brink of war and now was the time to stand united. Everyone was in a somber mood as thoughts lingered on the upcoming war. Many would die, but the king promised victory. Victory not just for Calandoria, but for the world.
The king raked his hand through his hair in frustration just moments before picking up a priceless vase that sat on a nearby table and hurling it against the stone wall, just missing one of the portraits of his ancestors. Only then did he pause his pacing. He stared at the vase, shattered into several shiny shards, scattered across the cold white marble floor. He stumbled to the base of the stairs and sat on the bottom step with his face in his hands.
Why was she doing this he wondered? She had promised to stay until Lissandra returned, but even now Cate was readying their horses
. They would leave within the hour. Darien rose and began pacing again. What did he expect really? With the exception of Lissandra and Rachel he had never known a woman who could keep a promise. He expected to much from her. Darien paused again at the stairs when he heard footsteps coming down the hall. He waited and caught her with his steel gaze on the landing. His eyes followed her until she reached the last step and was standing before him. She was smiling. She had been smiling when she first noticed him from the landing. How dare she smile at a time like this! She was abandoning him and smiling about it.
"I was hoping I would see you before I left," Alli hoped her smile was convincing. She had thought everyone would be in bed at this hour and had already said her goodbyes after dinner.
Darien made no comment to her remark. He kept his gaze fixed on her eyes. Alli began playing with her hands. She always did that when she was nervous. "What has happened," she said noticing the pained expression on his face. "Is it Lissandra?"
"Yes," Darien said softly allowing himself to glance at her hair. She was wearing it loose instead of in a tight braid. Her golden curls fell around her shoulders and rested at her hips. He had always been amazed that she could put all that hair into a single braid. The braid was so tight not a single curl was evident.
Alli's breath caught at his answer. "Is she alright?"
Darien let out the breath he was holding. If she could ask, then there might still be a chance he could change her mind. "I do not know." He reached out and still her hands with his own. "You see I have not had word from them yet." He was speaking softly, afraid she would bolt if he used a tone that reflected his mood.
Her brow crinkled, it always did when she was confused. "Then there has been no change to put you in this mood?"
"I did not say that. As a matter of fact I would say there has been a great change." Alli diverted her eyes from his intense glare and pulled her hands free from his.
"This is about my leaving?" He reddened at her tone. "You are throwing a tantrum because I am leaving?" She folded her arms across his waist and began patting her foot waiting for his response.
"I was not throwing a tantrum," he said defensively.
"Really," she said waving her hand towards the shards of glass on the floor. "You told me that vase was one of your mother's favorites."
Darien felt his anger leave him at once. He looked at what had once been one of his mother's favorite possessions. He had watched her arrange flowers in that vase a hundred times as a child, but then she died. No one ever put flowers in it again. Not the housekeeper, not Maureen. It had been empty since her death. It felt as if the whole castle had been empty since her death, at least until Alli had come.
Darien looked at Alli. She was piqued he could tell. Her lips were drawn together tightly and her blue eyes sparkled with fire waiting for the opportunity to be released. "It was worth it if you agree to stay," he whispered.
"I can not," she said flatly. "I need to fulfill my new prophecy as quick as possible, so I can get another. Perhaps the one that will help us beat Descartes." She averted her eyes from him so he could not see she lied. She had used the excuse of a new prophecy to hasten her departure.
"What is the prophecy?" he asked her again. He had been asking her for the past week.
"It is not for you to hear or I would have told you," she said. She was starting to lose her resolve. What if Lissandra did not come back? The guard who reported the Temple's destruction to Darien had said no survivors had been found. That had been part of the plan, but what if the plan had gone awry and no one did walk away. Darien would need her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. That was the very reason she had to go now. If she stayed she may never leave. She would forsake all just to be there with him. A man she could not have.
Darien looked defeated. He could tell by looking at her she was not going to change her mind. He almost called the guard to arrest her to keep her from leaving, but that was not the way. She either stayed with him by her own choice or not at all. He could not force her. If he thought sanely for a moment he knew she was right. She would die if she did not go. She had already spent two extra weeks waiting on Lissandra.
"Spring seems an eternity from now," he turned his eyes back to hers. She could see his resolve had crumbled. She almost let out a sigh of relief, but held it. She had not made it out of the castle yet.
"It is a long time away, but it will come," she took his hands. "And when it comes I will meet you with my army if prophecy does not bring me back before then." Darien nodded. He did not like it, but she was right. Spring would come just as the harvest had. Nothing could stop it.
She smiled at him again, "Try to stay out of trouble while I am gone."
He laughed a rich full laughter. "Since I live a life of peace before you entered it, I expect to be quite bored until you return."
"I did warn you when we met that situations tend to follow me," she laughed. Darien stopped laughing at the sound of her laughter. He had never heard her laugh before. A little giggle every now and then, but never a full laugh. He pulled her into his arms and captured her lips with his. He did not know what came over him. He had to kiss her laughing lips.
Alli was startled by his bold move, but made no move of her own to stop him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. It was exquisite she thought, the taste of him, and the masculine scent that filled her.
He was in similar rapture breathing her in. Reluctantly he ended the kiss. He had to or she would not be walking out the door tonight, or any night if he could help it. "Something to remember me by," he whispered in her ear.
"I will see you again," she said hugging him tightly.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made them jump. Alli turned read as a beet when she saw Cate standing at the door. "Are you ready?" he asked sternly.
"I will be there in a moment," she was squirming under his gaze. "Do not forget me," she said to Darien giving him one last squeeze before pulling out of his arms.
"I could never forget you," he smiled. He followed her with his eyes as she made her way across the room to the door. She spared one final glance at him before leaving. Cate' gaze was fixed on Darien even after Alli left the hall. After a few minutes more he stiffly turned from Darien not saying a word and followed Alli into the night.
Darien turned and headed up the stairs. He had been left weak by that kiss. He would miss her, but more importantly he knew the lies she was telling him were not meant to hurt him. She was trying to save herself. Darien was sure that was why she was running. She did not trust herself, he smiled. Spring was still several months away, but it would come and he would see her again. For the first time in many nights he would finally sleep easy.
Chapter 39
Lissandra sighed as she and Eranen reached the top of the last hill. It had taken two weeks traveling through fields and forest rather than by road, but they had finally made it. When she and Eranen had left almost a month before she was sure she would never see the little farm again. She really could not call it a farm now she supposed. The barn and the fields had been burned. Nothing but a small corner of the barn and the dilapidated shack remained.
"Why are we stopping?" Claudette asked as she strolled up behind Lissandra.
"We are home," Eranen smiled at Lissandra.
Claudette surveyed the char plot of land that lay before them. "We can not stay here," she said.
"It is the safest place for the girls," Lissandra turned and looked at them. There were thirty-three in all. They were covered in dirt and there clothes were torn, but they had all made it.
"Duncan," Eranen turned and called to the guard who was bringing up the rear with the other men. The men took their responsibility of being their personal guard to the extreme and somehow had ended up on this mission with them. A mission known only to the King of Calandoria and his council. Eranen did not complain, however. He needed help if he was to keep them all safe. The youngest of the girls was twelve and
Claudette their former High Mother was definitely the oldest. Eranen had not asked her age, but he figured she was well past sixty. He was following Lissandra's lead were the Order was concerned. Their lives were hers. She was the one who had spared them. Everything would have been much simpler if she would have just destroyed the Temple with them inside.
"Yes, my lord," Duncan answered as he approached Eranen and Lissandra.
"Eranen," it was the automatic response now to anything Duncan said to him.
Yes, Lord Eranen," Duncan said causing Eranen to roll his eyes skyward before continuing. "I am leaving Lissandra and the others here. I want you all to stay with them while I go to town for supplies." Duncan bowed as he backed away to tell the others of the order.