Avalyne Series 02: The Easterling (14 page)

‘
Screaming?’ He exclaimed, understanding now why her dreams were so terrible throughout their journey here.

‘
Yes,’ she swallowed, drying her eyes only to be rewarded with the sight of blood. Reaching for a cloth near her bedding, she dabbed at the blood and resumed speaking, ‘In them, she was always screaming as if something terrible was happening to her. I never told my father any of it. He spent all my life devastated that she chose to leave him before she was forced to return with us to Nadira. I do not think he could have endured knowing that she may not have had a choice in the matter, that something had happened to her so I remained silent.’

Aeron was unconvinced that her silence was a kindness but he said nothing t
o that since it was a deed done. Melia’s father was no longer living for amends to be made.

‘
You said you know what happened to her. Did you see it in your dreams?’ He asked wondering if being here had unlocked something in her mind that allowed her to learn her mother’s fate. 

‘
She was here Prince,’ Melia met his eyes with sorrow. ‘She was here with others I think. They were all weeping. There was so much fear and suffering. I think what I saw was always inside me but it required being here at Tor Iolan to open the door. I do not think she is dead, I do not feel it.’

‘
But you saw her in torment,’ Aeron reminded. ‘If she was here, the Disciples would have killed her, killed all of them. We found no one here Melia. They had all been killed.’

‘
Something was being done to her,’ Melia explained, trying to mine her memory for every detail of the tortured vision. ‘She was weeping and there was man, she called him Mage.’

Aeron
' eyes widened with shock. ‘Did you say Mage?’

‘
Yes,’ Melia nodded.

Aeron
stood up and walked away disturbed beyond all reasoning. Melia realised that he knew something and stood up shakily, her shoulder pulling at her as she stood. ‘Aeron, you know something. Tell me.’

‘
It is impossible,’ he turned to her after a moment, not knowing what to say. ‘Tamsyn is the only mage left in Avalyne. All the others were killed, presumed dead during the Primordial Wars. I do not believe one has been sighted since then. Are you sure?’

‘
She said mage,’ Melia insisted ‘He was about the same age as Tamysn except his skin was dark.’

‘
Like an Easterling?’ He turned and looked at her.

‘
No,’ she shook her head. ‘Not any Easterling I have ever seen. His skin far darker than any of the people in the Eastern Sphere. It was beautiful, so flawless, almost like the richest mahogany and he wore amber robes.’

‘
We encountered no mage when we destroyed Tor Iolan,’ he answered. ‘Only Disciples.’

‘
He was here!’ Melia insisted. ‘If you say you love me, if you believe that I am all that you will ever want in this life, I swear to you I know what I saw. It was real! He was here doing something terrible to my mother and all her people! I have searched for years to find some trace of a River Daughter and I have found nothing. What if they were all somehow brought here to Tor Iolan? What if it was his will to destroy them all? Would that not explain why no one has seen or heard of a River Daughter?’

‘
Melia,’ he took her shoulders in his hand and made her look into his eyes. ‘I believe what you saw but if what you say is true then she would surely be dead along with the others.’

‘
She's alive!’ Melia exclaimed. ‘I know it! If we find the mage then we can find her. I have to find him!’

‘
Melia,’ Aeron stared at her in exasperation, wanting to help but what she wanted to do was next to impossible. ‘If you saw a mage, he could be anywhere in Avalyne. He has remained hidden for centuries without any of us, not Tamsyn who is of his own Order, having any idea of him. How do you expect to find him?’

Melia stared at him, the words sinking at last.

He was right. It took years to learn this much. How could she possibly imagine she could find a wizard who had remained concealed for so long. The pain in her body made her pull away from him as she returned to her bedding.  Shoulders slumped, she felt deflated of her earlier spirit. When she lowered herself the sleeping place he had prepared for her, he saw her eyes filled with tears.

Seeing them broke his heart and Aeron cursed himself for being so harsh with her. However, he too had questions that burned beyond finding her mother. If Melia was correct and she had seen a
mage in her vision, how had Tamsyn not known of it? He was certain that the members of the order were known to each other. All of them should have been connected by the power of the Celestial Enphilim. Worse than that, the mages had always fought against evil. Yet Melia believed this mage had helped Balfure slaughter the River Daughters.

‘
Mia,’ he knelt before her. ‘I am sorry,’ he apologise. ‘I do not meant to dash your hopes but these are the realities that face us if we are to continue this search. I will go with you to the ends of Avalyne if we know where to look but we do not.’

Melia believed him. She only had to look into his eyes to know that he would do exactly that. Whatever obstacles lay before their future together, at least she could not doubt his devotion but even that was not enough in the face of the despair she not felt.
‘This cannot be all there is Prince,’ she said softly. ‘I cannot have come so far to learn that I cannot go any further. I feel it in every part of my being she lives, that somehow there is something left in her that was able to reach out to me for help.’

Aeron took her hands in his, caressing them gently,
‘if you are right and she lives. We need to know where to search. Finding a mage is going to be exceedingly difficult. I have not even heard of on in my lifetime and certainly Tamsyn never spoke a great about them. He woke from his hibernation to learn that they were all gone.’

‘
We never saw any of them in the East,’ Melia replied, taking comfort from Aeron’s touch. It was soothing in the face of her melancholy. ‘The only men of magic we ever saw was Balfure.’

Aeron wanted to help her but nothing in his memory explained the disappearance of the
mages. It was assumed that they were all killed by Balfure but even before them, tales of the order were scarce. Perhaps what was needed was to hear from those who might remember when the order was at its full power.  However, he worried about giving her false hope that he might have an answer.

Still some hope was better than none at all and he had power in the face of her fear.

‘Mia,’ he looked at her and hope she took his suggestion without argument. ‘Come home with me to Eden Halas. My father has been around since the Primordial Wars. If there is anyone in Avalyne that might know the fate of the Order, save Queenly lea, it would Halion. Perhaps he might have some idea as to where they might have gone.’

For the first time
since she had awakened form her nightmare, it was not her mother or the Mage she was thinking of as she listened to his proposal. When she had entered the court of Eden Iolan, much speculation had been made as to her relationship with the Prince. What would be the result if she entered the court of King Halion of Halas, Aeron’s father? How willing would he be to help her if he for one moment thought his son might have feelings for a human and not just any human but as Hadros had pointed out— a barbarian?

‘
Is that wise?’ She asked tentatively.

For a moment, Aeron was taken back by her question. He thought that suggesting that Halion may have the answers she need would put her in better spirits but now he saw a different kind of trepidation in her eyes.
‘Why would it not be?’ He found himself asking, puzzled.

‘
Prince,’ she loved him for the simple fact that he could not see the trouble. ‘Your father may not be eager to see me at his court.’

‘
What do you mean...’ He almost did not grasp what she was saying until he thought about it a second more.

She was worried about his father. Halion would not be pleased if he thought his youngest son was bonded to a human. However, he was not the first person in his family to defy his father. his mother had set the precedent and he was willing to follow in her footsteps.

‘Let me worry about my father.’ He said after a moment, trying to show her as much confidence as possible. “I am certain that if he is going to be angry with anyone during this visit, it will most likely be me.”

At least he hoped that was the case.

They remained at Tor Iolan
for another two days before setting out for Eden Halas.

During that time, she continued to dream
of her mother’s disappearance without new insight into whereabouts of the Mage who may well be responsible for the disappearance of all the River Daughters. The place unsettled the Prince and in truth, she could feel herself at the tipping point of either being swallowed up by the visions or being denied completely of anything new. In the end, Aeron’s suggestion that they go to Eden Halas to learn if his father or mother had heard of a mage in these parts seemed the best course of action.

Of course going to Eden Halas
presented a whole different set of anxieties for both Melia and Aeron.

During the two day trip to cross the East Yantra and enter the pristine woods of Halas, travelling the
forests of his childhood playground did not raise Aeron’s spirit. While it was good to see the trees he climbed as a boy or the glades where he sat and listened to the sounds of the forest, it also saddened him to know that soon he would be leaving all this for good.  Through all his travels, Eden Halas had been the one constant in his world and now through his own devices, he was about to cast off the last anchor that kept him tethered to this place.

The decision would anger his father no doubt but it was his mother who Aeron worried for most of all. His brothers would not be much surprised for they knew he had a wanderer’s spirit like the elves of old who charted the world before the Primordial Wars.
However, it was Syanne that would be most affected by his decision. He and Dare were her favourites and leaving her alone bothered him. However, Dare was right. He would never be happy living under his father’s rule. Even in his youth, he differed from other elves because he burned to leave when most of his people preferred to remain cloistered away within the Veil.

If that was not in itself troubling, Aeron began to consider how Melia would be received when they arrived at Eden Halas. Despite his confident words to her that his father would be too preoccupied by his announcement to concern himself with the relationship between his son and a mortal, Aeron knew better.  While nothing was decided between the two
of them, he had to admit that there was no hiding how he felt for her. His mother would certainly know it and if Hadros could suspect it at Iolan then Halion would be just as astute.

And how would
he react to it?

His father tolerated Dare but made it clear that the orphan babe brought into his court was not apart of his family, despite his mother’s claims otherwise.
Aeron knew Dare felt the distance all his life and was it formed part of the reason he chose to depart Eden Halas at first opportunity. Aeron was of Halion’s blood but as his youngest son, understood that alienation. He was too much like Syanne for Halion’s liking and so very different than Syannon and Hadros. Halion never knew what to do with him and never seemed to object when he spent his time in Eden Iolan or Eden Taryn with Queenly lea.

However,
as difficult as it was for Halion to show it, he knew his father loved him. Whether he loved him enough to tolerate his youngest son binding himself to a human for all time, was another matter entirely.

Melia spoke nothing of her insecurities to Aeron even though she had them. During the quest to the Frozen Mountains, Celene and Keira (before they knew she was actually Syphia) told Melia of their reception at the Court of Halion. While the
King was polite enough, it was clear he cared little for Arianne’s companions. She feared how he well he would tolerate an Easterling in his city even without the knowledge of his son’s affections.  Melia decided for all their sakes, it was best that she and Aeron revealed nothing about their feelings for each other.

It would only complicate the situation.

‘How far are we from your home?’ Melia asked as their horses moved through a well-travelled path through the forest.

Once they crossed the river, the dangers that plagued Iolan seemed to have vanished. Aeron had revealed that Halion and his Forest Guard had seen to it that the ancient menace was never able to taint these woods. Even when Balfure had released the Syph
ii into Halas, the menace was driven out with ruthless efficiency. Halion’s love of this forest had no equal and he would tolerate no desecration of it.

‘
Less than an hour’s ride,’ Aeron remarked as he cast a knowing smile at the trees flanking them as they travelled.

‘
An hour from Halion's court and not one guard?’ She declared,  voicing her growing puzzlement at having seen none Halion’s famed Forest Guard since they entering the woods. ‘That is hardly a safe situation. Surely there must be sentries of some kind.’

‘
You think so?’ He tossed her smug smile.

‘
What do you know that I do not?’ She demanded staring at him suspiciously.  He had that playful look of mischief that she meant she had missed something.

Aeron burst into a grin and called out to the forest.
‘Shall we tell her Syn? Or do you and your men plan on hiding in the trees all the way home?’

Almost immediately a ripple of laughter moved through the trees like a breath of wind before Melia saw the leaves rustling around them to reveal the elves that were perfectly concealed there. One by one, she saw them emerging from the canopy of the trees, descending to the ground like falling leaves to surround
the two of them on their horses. Aeron flashed Melia a look of guilty admission that told her he had been aware of their escort for some time now.

Melia in turn felt completely ineffectual as she was not the slightest suspicion they were being watched.
As a watch guard, she prided herself in being aware to enemy before an ambush and not seeing any of the Forest Guard made her skills feel clumsy and useless. Still, she reminded herself, even the best mortal tracker in all of Avalyne was no match for the skill of the elves at being able to blend into their background and approach stealthily.

The leader of the group, approached Aeron’s horse and Melia immediately
knew that he and Aeron were kin. In build he was slightly stockier than Aeron but his features bore similar characteristics even if his eyes were different. All three sons of Halion had the same dark hair, she noticed.

‘
I was starting to think your time among men has made you forget all your skills,’ he greeted.

‘
I do not need any skill to find you,’ Aeron retorted as he dismounted his horse. ‘I could hear you scratching yourself like you had  fleas,’ He teased causing  another burst  of laughter from the other elves around them. ‘It is good to see you Syn,’ Aeron said as his brother reached  him.

‘
And you little Princeling,’ Syannon returned ruffling Aeron's hair before both brothers embraced each other warmly. ‘Its good to have you home. Mother will be pleased to have you home. She misses you.’

‘
I miss her too,’ Aeron admitted readily enough and then saw Syannon's gaze shifting over his shoulder  in Melia's  direction and realised  that introductions needed to be made. His brother seemed to be sizing  her up but unlike Hadros, there was no contempt or suspicion, merely curiosity. That was not Syannon’s way. His middle brother was much like his father in many ways but he had a more personable manner.

‘
Syn, I would like you to meet Melia, she is a watch guard of the Baffin and my travelling companion.’

While his men had been staring at her
hard because some of them had rode at the Prince's  side at Astaroth and knew by her appearance where she originated, Syannon did not regard her with the same scrutiny. In anything, he appeared fascinated by what she was and most likely what she was to his younger brother.

‘
Welcome to Eden Halas, Melia of the Watch Guard,’ he greeted her with a genuine smile of greeting and Melia saw that behind him, Aeron visibly relaxed. She supposed he was worried his older brother might give her a similar greeting similar to that of Hadros' in Eden Iolan and was glad to be proven wrong. 

‘
Thank you Prince Syannon,’ she bowed her head slightly as she answered him politely and added further, ‘I must commend your men on their skill. I am rather ashamed I had no idea that any of you were there. As a watch guard, that is somewhat embarrassing.’ She tried to joke.

‘
Please call me Syn and please  do not feel that you are any less for not seeing us. We have had a very long time to perfect our ability to move unseen,’ he said kindly.

‘
That does make me feel a little better,’ she laughed at his attempt to console  her and decided Syannon was very different indeed from Hadros. He was actually charming.

Even though Aeron had told Melia he felt as if he had little in common with his older brothers, he shared more than he knew with Syannon, she decided. They both had the same easy going manner. His easy acceptance put her a little more at ease with what sort of reception she would receive in Eden Halas when she met the
King and Queen.

******

Melia did not have long to wait to find out.

No sooner than they had crossed the Veil , the
King and Queen were waiting for them at the foot of the spiral stairs that coiled around the Great Tree of Eden Halas. The Great Tree was one of the oldest and tallest trees in Avalyne and on its mighty shoulders, it carried the city of Eden Halas. It was said that Halion had journeyed south after the Primordial Wars with some survivors of Sanhael almost two thousand years ago and began constructing the city in the very place they were standing. Since the destruction of Eden Ardhen, Eden Halas was now the oldest elven city in Avalyne and its people took pride in that.

Melia, who had never been in an elven city before,
gaped in awe and wonder and the beauty and grandeur of the place. She had she seen trees so magnificent or strong that they were able to hold an entire city on their enormous branches. However, not all of Eden Halas was constructed on the Great Tree,  some  part of the city were built the ground and the path through these terrestrial dwellings were framed with beautiful shrubs and plants that filled the forest floor with colour and the scent of flowers.  With the sunlight streaming through the canopy of leaves from above, Melia felt as if she had wandered into a dream because neither Arianne’s or Aeron’s descriptions did it justice.

As Syannon directed his men to see to their belongings and their horses, the three of them went to greet the
King and Queen.  As she approached the regal couple, Melia once again wished she could disappear into the forest as effortlessly like Syannon's men. They appeared as unreal as their city, elegant and ageless. Next  to them, she felt as if she were this crude, clumsy thing  that had somehow stumbled into their presence and no place amongst them.  Steeling herself for whatever came next, she reminded herself that she would bear any slight for Aeron's sake.

When she laid eyes on the
King of Eden Halas, it was staggering to imagine that he was more  than four thousand years old. 

To begin with, he bore the
appearance of  a man barely past his fortieth year who was far too  young to be father to three grown sons. Hadros and Syannon had inherited their features from him and his intense dark eyes but while they wore their emotions on their faces, Kangaloon was a cipher. She could not tell what he was thinking when he regarded her, most likely maintaining a facade of polite interest while taking  her apart  inwardly with his steely gaze, she was certain.

It was easy to see why Aeron considered his parents such an ill match when one compared the
King to his Queen. Where he was dark and serious, reminding Melia of the coolness of the moon, his wife was like sunlight captured in the palm. A porcelain  beauty from whom Aeron had inherited his handsome features, it was her hair that was the most recognisable thing about her.  Its fiery lustre matched her warm personality and under the sun, it shimmered like polished copper. She stared at Melia with her son's  blue eyes before taking Melia's hands in her own, welcoming her to Eden Halas.

With that one gesture, Melia knew that they had concealed nothing from
Queensland despite their attempts to feign a platonic relationship. Melia suspected that Aeron's mother had questions and in due course would wish them answered but at present, Syanne treated her with kindness that did much to put her at ease. The Queen placed a friendly arm around Melia's shoulders and led her to the steps circling the Great Tree, revealing why she was so loved by her son.

As they ascended into Eden Halas proper, the
King immediately called for a feast to celebrate the return of his youngest child. The idea of appearing before the entire court  of Eden Halas did little to settle Melia's nerves but she knew it would mean much to Aeron for  her to be there with him and it would be the height of rudeness to refuse attendance. Besides after all he had done for her since leaving Sandrine, she could not deny him one night at his arm.

******

The royal family occupied a solar that was attached to the Hall and contained several chambers and private rooms for them and their guests. It was one of these that Melia was provided for her stay in Eden Halas and once again, she was in awe at the elegance and beauty of elven architecture. The room was constructed with tall fan shaped windows that faced the forest and provided its occupant a panoramic view of Halas while the wooden walls were treated with some kind of wax to seal and bring out the lustre of the grain. She guessed that elves designed their homes to ensure they never felt wholly separated from their woodland surroundings.