That is because you are just like your own father, my son.
Mother. Do not ever compare me to Taanyth. He was a mad tyrant. We are all better off without him.
Don’t say that, Ome. Your father loved you—you were our pride and joy. You were the best of both of us, unlike your brother Kalinth.
His fate is your fault, just like Taanyth’s. You left them both there, defenseless and alone. Andyth and I were wise to go when we did and not let our daughter be tainted by you. Mother, but what do you want?
I want to know if you have any information on who is controlling your daughter, Daelyth.
What do you know about my daughter?
Have you found the wizard who has compromised her to get the orb from her?
As if you didn’t already know where she is. She is safe at home, thank you for your concern, Mother. Goodbye -
Wait. Does Daelyth have the orb?
Goodbye, Mother.
The bond severed, and Omerith shook his head to clear it. How did she know that he suspected something was wrong with his daughter unless it was through the bond? The red dragon lowered his head and narrowed his eyes. How would she know indeed, unless she was the one to send the wizard after Daelyth in the first place—and for what reason? He sought out the Nature Walker. Daelyth had been so wary of the Rajah but seemed comfortable with the Nature Walker.
Yes, Omerith?
Ginolwenye of the Trees. Pardon the intrusion, but I need to speak to you about the matter of who has compromised my daughter’s mind. I have new—suspicions, if you will, that it might have involved my mother. May I come to your chambers?
Aye, my lord, I will help you as much as I can.
He closed his eyes and brought his body to join his mind, and soon he was standing in front of a surprised Gin and Sath. “I hope I am not interrupting?”
“Of course not.”
“I sense that you are—troubled about my daughter. I sense that—you seek to do my daughter harm?” He leaned his long neck over the bed until he could see the spellbook. “What are you doing, Nature Walker?”
Sath covered his ears for a moment at the booming voice of the red dragon, then leveled his gaze up at Omerith. “With all respect, my lord, I fear that she is not safe. I fear that there is a wizard inside her mind, and that wizard wants the orb for himself.”
Voluminous puffs of smoke poured out of Omerith’s nose as he took a step back from them. “How DARE -”
Gin jumped in between them. She placed a hand on Sath’s arm and reached out for Omerith, but he pulled away from her. “Omerith, if you will search Sath’s mind in the bond, you will see the wizard to whom he refers and why we suspect this. Please.” Omerith turned his attention back to Sath and stared into his teal eyes. Gin clamped down on his arm as the Qatu’s knees buckled, and he stumbled. “Easy, Omerith, he has only recently learned to use the bond.”
“Lies, Ginolwenye of the Trees. The Qatu have always had the bond. It is—how do you say in your language? It is innate. They are born knowing how to form the bond, just as my kind are.”
“He does not know that, Omerith. The bond is forbidden in our side of the world now, you know that. Draoch of the Trees made the proclamation that it would not be used again.” Sath rumbled in his chest, and Gin recognized fear from him rather than anger. “OMERITH! Please—you will leave him with nothing left if you DO NOT TAKE CARE.”
“All right, Ginolwenye of the Trees, if you share the memory with him, I will look in your mind instead.” Without warning, Gin felt the dragon’s consciousness plunged into her mind, just as Taeben used to do when he was angry with her. However, thanks to her time with Taeben, she was able to slow him down and point him in the direction of the memory.
I do not understand, Nature Walker. This is the wizard that my father was using to create his spell. This wizard is dead. You told me that yourself that the Rajah killed him.
That is true, Omerith, but he had made a bond with a living being Void and is trying to use her to get the orb. Once he has the magic of Ikara at his disposal, he can free himself and return to the world of the living.
But what does that have to do with my daughter?
He believes that she alone knows where the orb is, my lord. If he could not convince her to tell him or his living apprentice—an Ikedrian called Elspethe—where the orb is, I fear that he has bonded with Daelyth and is pulling himself into her mind to find out. If he is there for too long -
If he is there for too long, he will pull his body from the Void into Daelyth’s, and she will die.
Yes, that is our fear. You can see, in the memory, what happens to the Ikedrian when Taeben takes control of her body. It weakens her to the point of losing consciousness—imagine if he does that over and over? It will kill her.
One moment, Nature Walker, I must check on my daughter.
NO! My lord please if the wizard is in control of her mind then -
And he was gone. Gin slammed her fist down onto the bed. “Na’hina!” she swore, and then looked over at Sath who was still staring off into space. “Oh, Sath…” She would have to worry about the red dragon later. If left too long in his own mind, Sath might never find his way back out. Silently thanking Draoch for writing so extensively about the bond in his journals, Gin scrambled over to Sath and took his hand, carefully leading him to the cushions by the fireplace. She placed the palm of his hand against her cheek—where the scar used to be—and looked up at him. He had not yet adjusted his gaze. She would have to go look for him.
Sath.
There was nothing but roaring and screaming when she entered his mind. She moved around as slowly as she could, repairing the damage that Omerith had done as best she could.
Sit down, Sath. Do not take your hand away from my face. Yes, just like that, well done. I need you to answer me, please. Tell me that you can hear me.
Gin? Sath blinked a few times and then looked her in the eye. His teal gaze, usually so full of optimism and hope, was hollow and fearful.
It’s me, Sath. I know how this feels for you. Ben did this to me before, so many times, so I know how you feel exactly. But you must reach deep down inside yourself for me. Find the places I can’t go. Find your magic, and let me know when you have found it.
He blinked a few times, but his eyes still looked hollow and dark. I have found it.
You have to heal yourself, Sath. The red dragon says that your kind have the bond innately, like they do. Go into that magical space. Find the bond and use it to repair the damage Omerith—
At the sound of the red dragon’s name, Sath shuddered and recoiled. Gin held his hand firmly against her cheek. She could feel his claws puncture her skin in a few places, but she ignored the pain and focused on him.
You are safe, Sath. Omerith is not here. I’ve got you. Find your magic. I’m going to let go of your hand -
No! Gin winced at how much Sath’s voice reminded her of a young Khujann. His grip tightened, but this time he shifted his fingers first so that he didn’t scratch her. Progress.—Sath was coming back to himself.
Okay. I won’t let go. You just keep connected to me, okay? Find your magic, Sath. Find your ancestors—let them help you.
Sath nodded and closed his eyes, and Gin stared at him, watching for any outward signs of trouble. She had withdrawn from his mind to give him privacy to work, so his facial expressions were her only way of knowing what was going on inside of him. He sat completely still, eyes closed, for a long time, but finally, his eyes opened and—while still hollow—they were returning to normal as he looked at her.
“The red dragon is correct, Gin. My people have the innate ability to form the bond just as the dragons do. We were never taught how to use it, not from the first day we stood up on our hind legs and walked toward our island home. I—I have always known of it, but like Omerith, I guess, I thought that it was only something I could do with other Qatu.” He frowned sadly. “That must be why I could see what was going on in that room.”
Gin suddenly rubbed the back of her neck as Sath winced in pain. “What the -”
Nature Walker. Rajah. I do not have much time. My master Taeben is away, and I can contact you for a brief time without him knowing. I am Elspethe Turlach, and I must apologize to you for what I have done in releasing Taeben from the Void and trapping you on the dark side of the world. I did not know his true nature when I agreed to help him. I was, but a stupid, lovesick child, and I could not imagine the world without him. But I know now, and if I can, I want to help you stop him from returning. He is coming for you, Nature Walker—he wants your power, and if what I have experienced so far is any indication it will not only be a disaster for the world, you will not survive it. Rajah, he does not know of your innate ability, and I would suggest you keep that a secret. One last thing—the Mother Dragon seeks the orb, and Taeben has forced me to play along with her in the hopes that I can intercept it on the way to her and bring it to him instead. I do not believe that he knows of my treason against him—it is taking all of the strength I have to keep barriers up in my mind. It is in honor of the bond my family has with yours and because you showed me the All-Mother’s mercy that I come to you now, ready to help. I am duty-bound as a descendent of D’Ayna of House Turlach. Do not attempt to contact me in the bond—I will contact you again when it is safe.
Like a door slamming shut, the Ikedrian’s presence was gone. “Well, we can’t believe that now, can we?” Sath said, rubbing his temples. Most of the pain left by Omerith’s intrusion into his mind was gone, but his head still felt sore.
“I feel like we can, Sath.” Gin held up her hand before he could voice a protest. “Can’t you feel when someone is lying through the bond?” He nodded. “She wasn’t lying—at least she believes what she told us.” Rubbing her own temples, Gin rose from the floor in front of the fireplace. “I know how she feels, Sath. I remember being that lovesick child as far as Taeben was concerned. It makes no difference that her feelings are her own, whereas mine were placed there by him.”
“Putting a pin in that for a moment,” Sath snarled, “how can we help her? What can she do? You saw what I saw, Gin—he is in full control of her.”
“I can lend her my strength and help her create a barrier against him. I have done it before, with Tairn, and I can help her. Then she will be an ally and out from under his control.”
“You are too trusting.”
“You are so stubborn!”
“You are both requested to remove yourself from La’al Drygyr immediately, by order of Lord Omerith, only surviving member of the First Brood of the Mother Dragon!” proclaimed a booming female voice in the doorway. They both turned, expecting to see Raikynth, but instead found Daelyth, the golden dragon, staring at them maliciously. “He feels that you are a threat to me, and are therefore banished from his house.”
“My lady Daelyth, if we might speak to your father -” Gin’s voice stopped, and she grabbed at her throat, gasping for air. Daelyth smiled as Sath made a move to charge but found himself hanging in mid-air and unable to speak or call out.
“It has truly, TRULY been a pleasure to see the two of you again. I mean, I never thought that you would live through the trip to the Void, and here you are! Ginny, you are a vision, as always and Sath—well, I preferred you as a wood elf, but there you are.” Taeben’s voice floated underneath Daelyth’s as the dragon beamed a toothy grin at them. “I’m afraid, though, you’re going to have to go now. I have things to do, you see, and you are in my way.” Daelyth’s abdomen flared blue as the dragon stepped back out of the doorway. Puffs of smoke billowed out of her nostrils. “This really is the best part. I will miss this.” Frost poured from the dragon’s mouth, freezing Gin and Sath in place. As they watched, unable to move, Daelyth mumbled words that Gin recognized. She tried to cast something else—anything else—but couldn’t. “M’aanyr.”
“Ben, please! Don’t!” The circle of fire formed around them, and the last Gin saw was Daelyth staring at her—with Taeben’s silver eyes.
Thirty-Five
Turlach Rising
Ellie was imprisoned in her mind, probably for good this time. She didn’t know how much time had passed since she was able to make contact with the Nature Walker and the Rajah, nor was she sure that Taeben had not overheard that message. All she could do was hope—but the place where she found herself now was not terrifically conducive to hope. At least this time, she had only had to contribute her magical energy to Taeben for him to make the leap out of the Void and into the world of the living. There was nothing that she could do now—nothing but wait and hope.
Now then, my child, my legacy, that is simply not the truth.
Who is there?
Ellie reached out as far as she could with her consciousness. Someone had come into her mind unbidden—but it was a familiar presence, wasn’t it?
Familiar, possibly not, but familial, absolutely.
Laughter filled her mind, warm and happy—she remembered her mother laughing like that when she and Mae were little and were trying to be the first to answer her questions during their tutoring. Was it her mother?
No, but you are on the right track.
Who are you? I have no time for games.
Oh, little one, if only that was true. The truth of the matter is that if you do not allow me to help you, all you will have is time. You will be trapped inside your mind forever.
Tell me who you are, or I will block you out -
Fair enough. You are Elspethe Turlach, of the House of Turlach of Ikedria. I am D’Ayna Turlach, First Lieutenant of the Great Army of Ikara and Daughter of the House of Turlach.
Ellie felt faint. It was possible to contact those in the Void through the bond that Taeben taught her. If this intruder was telling the truth, then -
D’Ayna Turlach was my grandmother’s aunt, and died during the first skirmish of the Forest War, at the Attack on the Western Tower. How is it that you are speaking to me now?
You are mostly correct. The laughter again flooded Ellie’s mind and soul, and she found herself relaxing, even reveling in the sound. You are indeed my great-great niece, for my brother’s family carried on the Turlach name. But I did not die at the attack on the Western Tower, Elspethe. I died in the forest, drawing the Mother Dragon away from the troops sent from the high elf citadel.
Alynatalos.
Yes, named for the great Queen of the Elves, Alyndra. She was the bravest of all of us, I think.
Are you aware that the wood elves took your name for their treetop city?
Yes, my dear Draoch told me. He wanted to honor my sacrifice and that of my dragonkind cousin, Maede, so he combined our names. Aynamaede. Laughter. It doesn’t exactly roll off the Ikedrian tongue, does it? Do you know why you are now called Ikedrian?
Because we are the people of Ikara.
Yes, after the wood elves ventured underground in their exploration and were taken by Father Ikara, those loyal to him named their underground world Ikedria and became Ikedrians. I am glad to see that the knowledge of my time is still being taught. I am not surprised that you did not know the truth of my death—Draoch told me that my family would not know of my betrayal to our kind.
Why have you come to me now?
My little Elspethe—you were named for my mother, D’Elspet, I have no doubt—you are in a precarious position. You hold the ability to stop the wizard from doing more harm, but I do not know if you are strong enough on your own to make it work.
Ellie could feel the presence of her ancestor, D’Ayna, moving around in her mind, and she let down each barrier as D’Ayna approached it to give her unfettered access. It was very different, doing this on purpose, as opposed to the pain involved when Taeben shattered the barriers she put up against his intrusion.
Oh, my Ellie, what a life you have led. I cannot allow the House of Turlach to end with you if there is anything I can do to save it. You deserve better, so much better.
I am the last Turlach. There is nothing that can b
e done.
Perhaps there is. You were able to contact the Nature Walker, yes? The current Nature Walker?
Yes, but only for a moment.
Let me try. I have your memories now. If I can get to the Nature Walker and the Rajah, then I can lead them to the wizard, and then to you.
Can you bring yourself to me, the way that Taeben does?
No, my child—unlike your wizard, who took advantage of you and made a blood bond before his body was lost entirely to the Void, I am but a spirit. All that is left of me is my consciousness.
A blood bond? Oh—right before he died…
Yes. Taeben bonded his soul to yours, my little one, so that he could come back to the plane of the living and—using your body—could be resurrected.
Yes, I know his plan now. I have seen him do it with the golden dragon. I fear he has killed her, D’Ayna!
I know. We all heard Daelyth’s soul cry out as it neared the Void. I do not want the wizard to do that to you as well. That is what brought me to you.
I wish that he had done it to me rather than her. She is innocent—I certainly am not. Is there no way to remove him from her mind?
There may be. But for now, listen to me, Daughter of Ikedria, Last Daughter of House Turlach, you will NOT give up on finding a way to defeat the wizard. I will help you as much as I can, but you must not give up. Turlachs do not give up. Do you understand me?
Yes—what should I call you?
Laughter again filled her heart. I suppose you could call me sa’maa, do you know what that means? Is that word still used in D’leesh? It is funny, I was your age when I died, so that seems too formal somehow.
Honored mother or aunt—that is what you are. I will call you Sa’maa Ayna. I will do as you ask, and I will be brave.
Of course, you will, pry’ah, my girl. You are a Turlach. Do not forget who you are.
Never, Sa’maa Ayna. Never.
With that, the presence withdrew. Ellie thought of her House—her family. With the help and strength of her ancestors, there was a chance that she could bring her House back to its former noble status, but she needed to focus on the problem at hand first. She had no idea how her Sa’maa was going to help her defeat Taeben from the Void, but it was the first bit of hope she had, and she wasn’t ready to give it up just yet.
Darkness: A Guardians of Orana Novel Page 30