Burden of Stones

by James Dale

  "But you enjoyed our kiss," Elua smiled, sliding her arms around his waist. "Does she not wish her mate to be happy?"

  "She wants me to be happy kissing her," Jack explained.

  ”That seems selfish,” Elua pouted. “Keeping you to herself.”

  "Elua,” Jack tried to explain. “Among the Aerfal'Miera do mates who...love each other not stay...do they not only kiss each other?"

  “My people are not so selfish with their affection Cu'ath'dathu," Elua asked, confusion turning her blue eyes into silver pools. “They are few males among the Aerfal'Miera, we must share our mates with others if we are to flourish."

  “Pretty nice set up for the men," Jack sighed, but such an arrangement would cause him no end of trouble. "I'm sorry. I can't share my…affection. But as your friend," he smiled, gently removing her arms from around his waist, "I can help you find someone who will enjoy your kisses. Come with me to the shore. I have someone...some friends I want you to meet.”

  "Would one of your friends like my kisses?" Elua asked, her eyes turning blue once more.

  "Oh, there are several who would enjoy your company," Jack grinned. “But only one I trust with the task.” Poor Arrinor doesn't have a chance.' Braedan thought silently as he waited for Elua to...grow her legs before leading her to the shore. When the water reached only their waists, he suddenly noticed everyone was watching their approach with wide eyed stares.

  "Turn around you perverts," he called to his Lions, stepping in front of the nude mermaid. "Ally, bring me the blanket. Turn around I said!"

  With mutters of regret, his men slowly did an about face.

  "You too Arri!"

  "Arrinor," Ailicia said sternly.

  The Ailfar prince spun like a top at the tone in his sister's voice. Lord Faendil turned with a satisfied smile.

  "Do you not want your males looking at me?" Elua asked teasingly.

  "Only one," Jack replied, releasing her hands to take the blanket from Ailicia, and wrapping it around Elua's shoulders.

  "Who is this?" Elua asked eyeing Ailicia suspiciously. “Does she share your kisses?”

  "This is Ailicia An'Mera," Jack replied. "She is a princess among her people. More importantly, she is my family and my friend.”

  "She is very beautiful," the mermaid observed.

  "What is she saying cousin?" Ailicia asked. The Ailfar maiden couldn't Mindspeak outside of a wolf dream, but she could certainly sense when another woman was talking about her.

  "She says you are very beautiful, Ally." Jack smiled.

  "Coming from her, it is a great compliment," the princess smiled. "I am Ally. I have brought you some clothes to wear while you are visiting us. May I help you dress?"

  "What are...clothes?" the mermaid asked curiously, when Jack relayed Ailicia's offer.

  "Covering for your body," he explained. "It is silk. I have a suspicion you'll like the way if feels."

  "What is silk? And why must I be...covered?"

  "It is....custom among us to wear such things. To protect our bodies." 'And it will save us a lot of trouble.' he added silently to himself, careful to shield his thoughts from the mermaid.

  "Must I?"

  "Only if you want to go with us."

  "It will cost you another kiss," the mermaid replied.

  "Elua..."

  "I am teasing," she smiled. "If it is as beautiful as the coverings Ailicia An’Mera has over her body, I will wear them."

  "Judge for yourself," Jack said, taking the silk blouse and divided riding skirt from Ailicia for her inspection.

  Elua touched the clothes hesitantly, then smiled with pleasure. "They are very soft."

  "I thought you'd like them."

  "Help me put them on!" she said, with childlike excitement, dropping the blanket.

  "Umm, Kaiddra," Jack said, quickly turning away from the Aerfal'Miera beauty. "Could you help Ailicia please?"

  "Modesty?" Kaiddra grinned mischievously. "You seemed comfortable enough a few minutes ago when she was draped all over you?"

  "Please?"

  "Let me help you dear," Kaiddra laughed softly.

  "You may turn around," the former pirate announced a few minutes later.

  "Very lovely," Jack said, taking Elua's hand. Ailicia may have let out the bust line of the blouse, but not nearly enough. She was going to be turning almost as many heads wearing these clothes as she would have been walking around without them.

  "It feels...wonderful!" Elua laughed.

  "Come on," he said, leading her up the beach. "Let's go meet everyone."

  "Okay guys, you can turn around," Jack announced, stopping before the company. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Elua’danna’ma’chaea’aerfal’mai”

  The company bowed respectfully, most valiantly trying to keep their eyes fixed upon anything but the generous amount of cleavage revealed by the mermaid's borrowed clothes.

  "Elua," Jack said, pointing out each person as he named them, "This is High Lord Perigaen, an Honored Elder among our people. This is Lord Dhoran and Faendil and Adept Harold. They are... guardians of power. And these men are Princes of the Whesguard. Prince Thonicil, Prince Kirstaen, Prince Dorad and Arrinor. The big, grinning idiot is my friend Tarsus Aernin, King of Amar. Here is also the Lady Ara’fael."

  "She has much power," Elua observed, eyeing the Ailfar Spellweaver. "More than all save the Honored Elder."

  "She does indeed. And a temper to match. The rest are my friends," Jack continued. "As the Dau'tua watch over you, The Golden Lions do the same for me. Of them all, Arrinor is the only one other than me who will be able to communicate with you until you learn our language. He is my mother's brother's son. Come say hello Arrinor. Take her hand. Her Mindspeak is easier with physical contact."

  "I am honored to meet you Elua'danna'ma'chaea'aerfal'mai," Arrinor bowed, stepping forward quickly to press her hands to his lips.

  The mermaid's blue eyes sparkled as she regarded the Ailfar prince. "My friend Jack calls me Elua," she smiled. ‘You may as well.”

  "Very well...Elua," he grinned. "And you may all me Arri."

  "Do...do you like to swim, Arri?" the mermaid asked hesitantly.

  "Why yes," Arrinor said. "I love to swim."

  "Perhaps we may...swim together soon?" Elua smiled demurely. The way her alabaster cheeks colored however, Jack guessed there was more to her offer than a simple dip in the ocean.

  "I would like very much to swim with you," Arrinor grinned, blushing in turn.

  'And that, as they say, is that.' Jack thought to himself.

  "Well everyone," he said aloud, "Are we ready to ride? It's a long way back to Lord's Hall and I don't know how long Elua can...Elua, how long can you stay...as you are?" he asked, turning to the mermaid.

  "I have never retained this form for longer than one rising of the sun," Elua replied, never taking her eyes from Arrinor.

  "Then we need to get moving. Mount up," Braedan instructed the company. When Elua saw everyone begin to climb onto their mounts, she turned to Jack with a look of trepidation.

  "We...we must travel on these?" she asked, eyeing the horses warily.

  "It's okay," he assured her. "They are my friends as well. Say hello Sky. Don't be afraid Elua, he is...the elder of the Val'anna...like Mika is an elder of the Dau'tua."

  The large stallion approached the Aerfal'Miera with his shaggy head bowed docilely. Elua reached out a trembling hand and stroked his mane. At her touch, a wash of emotions and words too quick for Braedan to follow passed between them. Elua laughed and took Sky's enormous head between her hands, kissing his pink nose. The stallion nickered with delight and pawed the ground, anxious for her to mount.

  "I guess she'll be riding with me," Jack informed everyone.

  "I think it would be best," Lady Ara’fael nodded, her gaze shifting warily between the beautiful Aerfal'Miera and the entranced Arrinor.

  "You've done enough nudging for one day," Lord Faendil agreed with a whispered aside to Braedan.
/>
  "They took right to each other, didn't they?" Jack smiled.

  "Yh works in mysterious ways," the Lord chuckled. "But have care. You need Arrinor without a copper and gold tail."

  "You're whispering again," the Ailfar prince said.

  "Try reading Sky," Lord Faendil instructed. “I am interested in the ability to Mindspeak between Elua and the Val’anna.”

  "He...he's thinking about Elua," Arrinor grinned.

  "I bet he's not the only one," Ailicia remarked, patting her brother's arm before she mounted.

  "Come on Elua," Jack said. "You ride with me on Sky."

  "How do I...how..."

  "I'll show you," he said, leaping onto the stallion's back, then offering her his hand. He lifted her easily, settling the mermaid behind him. Much to the dismay of the Golden Lions, Jack quickly repositioned her skirt to cover as much of her long, slender legs as he could.

  "You are the only man I know, who can jump on the nose of a sea monster and end up riding bareback in the sun with a mermaid’s arms around you," Tarsus smiled, riding up to them. "It's obvious the poor girl is lost without you, but I'm not entirely sure Queen Anna would understand your...eagerness, to be so...accommodating to her needs."

  "That sounds a little like bit blackmail," Jack muttered.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," Tarsus replied innocently.

  "And if I let you ride beside us?" asked Jack. "Will it dim your memories of this morning?"

  "It'll be a start," the Amarian grinned.

  "Just keep your eyes forward," Jack instructed his friend. "I'm not entirely sure Maerinna would approve of your...interest, in Elua either."

  "Of course, not my Lord," Tarsus smiled, bowing to Elua for one last look.

  The ride back to the barge passed quickly, with Sky and the Aerfal'Miera maiden enjoying a running conversation Braedan couldn't follow, try as he might. Once they were back on the barge, Harry begged to be allowed to ask Elua a few questions.

  "Arrinor, would you mind interpreting for them?" asked Jack. "It'll mean holding Elua's hands, but..."

  "I don't mind," Arrinor answered quickly.

  Too quickly for Ara’fael's liking, but Lord Faendil pulled the Spellweaver aside for a quiet word. After that, she eyed the mermaid curiously, as if contemplating what a union of Ailfar and Aerfal'Miera blood could portend.

  "The possibility is...intriguing," she admitted quietly to Braedan later, watching them together.

  "Isn't it though?" he smiled.

  They reached Lord's keep just before sundown.

  "How are you feeling Elua?" Braedan asked as he helped her disembark from the barge.

  "Tired," she replied softly. "I have never traveled so far from the sea before."

  "Would it help if...if we drew you a bath?" he asked. "You could rest for a while perhaps." When he explained to her the concept of a large tub of water, the mermaid nodded eagerly.

  "A...bath would be enjoyable."

  "Harry?" Braedan called. "Would you and Arrinor find the Lady Elua a room and draw her a bath? She's tired and would like to...ummm, return to her natural form for a few hours."

  "Of course," the Adept nodded.

  "We would be honored," Arrinor bowed.

  "I'll go with them," Ailicia suggested quickly. "She'll need help undressing. Unless you would like to care of that for her brother?"

  "Of course not," the Ailfar prince blushed.

  "I'll bet," she muttered, taking Elua by the hand and leading her into the keep.

  "Prince Bra'Adan," High Lord Perigaen said, coming to his side. "There are also some things we should discuss before you ascend to the Temple of the Sword in the morning."

  "Of course," he nodded. "I am eager to get this over and done with."

  "Come with me then," the High Lord bowed.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Temple of the Sword

  At its founding by the Arch-Angels after the First War of the Stones, the Lords of the Staffclave numbered in the hundreds, each gifted with a staff fashioned from Illios, The Father of Trees, with the High Lord carrying the Staff of Mikael, leading them. Over the millennia, through war and loss, their number had dwindled considerably. For though there was no end to the number of Yh's Children willing to offer themselves into service with the Staffclave, when a Lord's Staff was lost through some calamity, it could not be replaced. No one living knew the location of Illios or the how of fashioning more staffs.

  The people of the land were willing, but the conduit for channeling the Creator's power was limited. Many had learned the lore handed down over the centuries and could wield it to some degree, but in a greatly diminished capacity without a staff in their hands. Malik Gamrin was an example. Though he had left Lordsisle before gaining their full knowledge, there was much he could still do. Others were more powerful still, Adepts who had completed training but could not be raised to the Staffclave until a Lord passed them a staff. There were thirty-seven Adepts residing in Lord's Hall, each prepared to take up defense of the land when their opportunity came.

  Forty-two Lords and thirty-seven Adepts were all which remained of what was once the most powerful force below Heaven. And they had no Staff of Mikael to lead them. It had passed from the world when the Prophet Aaracus had given up his life to ensure Ljmarn's Heir returned through the Temple of the Door. The staff High Lord Perigaen bore was the same he had carried since being raised.

  It was this diminished group which Braedan stood before after a quick supper in the keep's kitchen. Forty-two staffed Lords; twenty-seven men and fifteen women, Human and Ailfar, from all stations of life, both rich and poor. Lord Eirique, though she looked half her sister’s age, was twin to Queen Mirique of Annoth. Lord Sheva, the Dreamwalking lord who had been sent to apprentice Ailicia, had grown to adulthood in the slums of Zsgreb, capital city of Zslonandar. They were diminished perhaps in numbers, but not in heart.

  "Thank you for joining us tonight, Prince Bra'Adan," High Lord Perigaen said. "We know you have had a long day."

  "No longer than yours, sir," Jack replied, giving him a respectful bow.

  "But I have not just come from slaying Rhondiyana, trekking barefoot across Lordsisle, or battling the...charms of Elua," Perigaen smiled. "She is resting well I hope?"

  "I'm sure Harold and Arrinor aren't pestering her with Ailicia standing watch," Jack smiled.

  "If you are up to it then," the High Lord said, "I will introduce you to the Staffclave, and afterwards you will present your claim to Yhswyndyr. Though we do not doubt you," he assured Braedan, "protocol must be observed."

  "Of course," Jack nodded.

  "To my left is Lord Wiegl," the High Lord began. "Second of the Staffclave."

  "Lord Wiegl," Jack bowed.

  "On my right is Lord Dhoran, whom you met briefly this morning." Perigaen continued. "He is the Staffclave's Master of Studies."

  Kaiddra's finance was as tall as Tarsus, though not as broad of chest as the Amarian. He was certainly handsome enough, and had an air of dignity and strength and a warm smile which put Braedan immediately at ease. He could understand how the Queen of the Sea had fallen for such a man.

  "Prince Bra'Adan," he bowed, his accent hinting at his Annothian heritage. "I apologize for not speaking to you in more detail this morning. I was busy…observing and had no time for polite conversation. I feel like we are old friends already, however. Lady Kaiddra has spoken of you often. Young Heath thinks the world of you."

  "They are both dear to me as well, Lord Dhoran," Braedan smiled. "For the kindness you have shown them, I will be forever in your debt."

  Lord Dhoran bowed and resumed his seat.

  On down the table the High Lord went, introducing each Lord in turn. "And last but not least," he finished, "Lord Faendil, whom you have met before."

  "Our Adepts," he continued, indicating the group of standing along the wall behind the lords. "Uileen is the most experienced. She completed her training, how long has it been Uileen? Ninete
en years?"

  "Twenty, High Lord," Adept Uileen bowed.

  Twenty years! Braedan marveled. She barely looked twenty herself! She had black hair and eyes, so she obviously wasn't an Ailfar. Her youthful appearance must have something to do with her studies as a Lord. Somehow, the knowledge she had acquired from the Staffclave must have...slowed the aging process. 'If she had been an Adept for twenty years, how old was High Lord Perigaen?' he suddenly wondered.

  "Adept Harold, your guide and our resident authority on Aerfal'Miera, is our youngest," Perigaen concluded. "The others I will introduce to you by name when time and circumstance permit."

  "If you would Jack Braedan," the High Lord said, taking his seat, "please recount for us your claim to Ljmarn's throne and the Highsword Yhswyndyr. Take as long as you like. The floor is yours."

  "High Lord," he bowed. "Honored Staffclave. Adepts of Lord's Hall. My name is John Michael Braedan. My father was Patrick Braedan, son of..." He was becoming quite practiced at reciting the story of his life. Every time he stopped running or fighting for longer than five minutes, it seemed someone else wanted to know why he thought he should be allowed the privilege of facing the might of the Bloodstone and the monstrous former Lord who was its master.

  Only two others had made this claim before him, long ago, when Graith was thought to be dead and the reward of claiming Yhswyndyr and the vacant throne of Immer was considered a prize and not a burden. Both those men had paid for their greed with their lives in a most decidedly gruesome fashion. Since Braedan cared nothing for Ljmarn's throne or the riches of his former domain, only wanting to take up the Highsword to protect the life of the woman he loved, he hoped the Sword of Life would be more receptive to the blood flowing through his veins.

  "Honored Lords," he said, coming to the end of his tale, "I...I do not know if all that has happened to me proves I am the last heir of Ljmarn Bra' Adan, but I think it has earned me the right to draw Yhswyndyr and learn if the hope others have placed in me has not been given in vain. I ask you give me the opportunity. I ask to be allowed to enter the Temple of the Sword and draw Yhswyndyr, the Sword of Life."