Circle of Reign (61 page)

“I do not believe it to be a trick, my Duke. The handwriting seems to match the previous message. It is authentic.”

Looking down at the page, Tyjil asked, “Boy, why are you still here?”

“Does my Duke require anything else from me?”

Tyjil slapped him again. “Get out!”

“What of the Eastern forces that were with Hoyt’s?” Wellyn asked.

“The message does not say. But this leaves another question lingering, yes? Perhaps the Arlethian forces are not as decimated as we were led to believe. Did Hoyt defect after a battle or before? Did they turn on the Eastern Province’s forces during the battle? There are too many unknowns here, my Duke.”

“What of the chase-givers? We sent three to that front to make their way up through the Arlethian forces northward toward Therrium’s position.”

“None have returned as of yet, including Rembbran. This is not yet a concern as it is too early to know. We must wait and see.”

“I am not in a patient mood!” Wellyn shouted. Mawldra’s hackles raised at her master’s change in attitude. The loyal hound mimicked Wellyn’s moods with near perfect reflection.

“There is a matter I must see to, my Liege. I will see what else I can learn in the meantime.”

The High Duke rubbed behind Mawldra’s ears. “Another one of your secret tasks?”

“My Duke, all my efforts are for the benefit of the Realm, of course. You have no doubt of this, yes?”

“I have no doubt of you furthering your self-interests, Tyjil.”

“Ah, well, it’s nice when the Realm’s interest and my own line up, yes?” Tyjil left Emeron Wellyn to the company of his hound and departed.

FORTY-FOUR

Reign

Day 3 of 2
^nd
Dimming 412 A.U.

REIGN KERR AWOKE THE FIFTH DAY
after she had slipped into unconsciousness. She silently sat straight up without weariness and processed her surroundings in a single moment. Jayden’s cottage. Day thirty-three of the Dimming Season, being the same as third day of Second Dimming. She looked to the left and saw Jayden sitting in a stationary decrepit chair that seemed to creak simply because the wood was old, not from any movement. She knew the wood to be a mix of cherry and maple by a quick glance at the grains. The alertness of her mind was surprising to her. Such clarity. Jayden’s stare was contemplative. Crimson Snow sat up when he noticed Reign was awake.

The old woman spoke. “I am a current.” She said no more, looking at the younger girl in silence.

Reign did not respond with words or gesture. Her stillness was unearthly, a picture of serenity.

“I am a current,” Jayden said again and waited.

Reign felt the response but was not certain yet of the words. It was familiar in some way, both what Jayden was saying and the answer that she knew she was to supply, the answer that she could feel but not quite express.

Jayden waited patiently, without any sign of ill temper. That, in and of itself, was noteworthy, Reign thought.

As Jayden opened her mouth to speak a third time, the expected response sounded in Reign’s mind with the timbre of a voice nearly forgotten. She spoke the words simultaneously as she heard them pronounced in her father’s voice.

“I am a current of friction and light, a spark against the Ancient Dark that cannot be extinguished, a beam of the Lumenatis.” As she spoke the words, she knew them to be an ancient greeting. More than this, she knew the phrase to be a clandestine expression, used to identify another of—

“The Gyldenal,” Reign said out loud. Her facial expression that accompanied the pronouncement showed wonder at first, then confusion as to why she was surprised. Reign was perplexed as to how she would be surprised by something she already knew, and further, how she had forgotten that she knew. Yet, she realized that she did not actually know previously what she now knew, though it was knowledge that was familiar, like an old memory resurfacing after many years of wallowing in obscurity.

And then something happened that had certainly not been seen in generations. Jayden cracked a smile.

“He is in you,” the keeper of wolves observed. “His last breath. What you are feeling is his knowledge and memories intermingling with yours. If you are still enough, you will notice the difference.”

Reign could sense in her mind the second sentience. It was distinct and separate from her own being, not mingling with or occupying her identity. The second sentience was not hostile in any way. By contrast, it was peaceful and warm. A power resided therein that frightened her a little.

“All I can say is that it’s about time. Last breaths don’t endure forever. I’m frankly a little surprised that he lasted as long as he did without moving on to the Living Light.”

Reign looked away and pondered. “How?” she finally asked.

“How is less important than the fact itself. But, I remember being young and needing to know what’s behind everything.”

Reign looked up as if realizing something for the first time and locked eyes with Jayden. “How long ago was that? When you were young?”

Jayden again smiled, shattering the image she had built over so many years of a humorless, short-tempered old woman. “I think you already know.”

Reign realized she did know, but not from her own deductions or knowledge. “You are over four hundred years old.” Reign’s mouth remained open as if trying to formulate words. “But you are not Senthary or Arlethian.” She turned pale with eyes wide. “You are Hardacheon! That’s impossible!”

“We were not
all
destroyed, child. There are many things taught about my forgotten people that are regrettably true; but, we were not all meddlers of Dark Influence, or full of evil as the Senthary and Changrual are fond of teaching. But in truth, most of my people were duplicitous by nature. I cannot help to whom I was born, no better than can you. I think more of myself as a member of the Gyldenal than part of any race. We have been made up of many peoples and cultures over time, but Arlethians make up the majority of the order.”

“But, how did you survive? How have you lived so long?” Reign protested. She found it increasingly difficult to separate what
she
knew as person and what she was learning at incredible speed within herself.

“It might be best to ask your father. I’m certain he would love to speak with you again.” A vast new pool of knowledge was springing up inside her. So far only driblets of insight had spilled over and been soaked up by her mind. There was more. Much more.

Do I dare tap into it? Allow it to flow freely?

As if sensing her uncertainty, Jayden reassured her. “Your father is a powerful man. His will is strong, knowledge and experiences rich, and abilities well-seasoned. Accessing his last breath within you may have…” She cut off but did not break her eye contact. “Reign, there can be side effects. Consequences.”

“Consequences? Such as what?”

“I’m not sure,” Jayden’s replied. “But, consequences are not always a negative occurrence, child. Regardless, you can control the access. You can close it off if you wish.”

Reign looked away. Crimson Snow whined and wagged his tail. The large pure white wolf was enormous in size but much older than he used to be. He lowered his head and rested it on Reign’s bed.

Does he sense father as well?
she wondered.

Reign took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Inwardly, and somewhat timidly, she called for her father in ancient Arlethian.
Threyil?
She let the gates in her mind open to her father’s last breath.

The warmth and pure love that burst forth from inside her was all-encompassing. Thannuel’s release of pent-up emotions of the past six years flooded through his daughter’s mind and heart, filling her completely. The innocent intimacy of the feeling was so tender, so gentle. Reign let out a small laugh and then began to cry.

“I forgive you,” she whispered. “There was never anything to really forgive. But I miss you,
Threyil
.”

The voice inside that answered her was full and deep. Gentle but firm like the current of a fast-moving stream.
Dhar vash alaqyn duwel partia, my little one. I have never left you. Not for one moment. Nor shall I for as long as you desire me to stay
.

Crimson Snow stood up and wagged his tail so exuberantly that Jayden had to raise a hand in defense.

“Calm down, you old beast!” she snapped. “It’s not like you were his child!”

I don’t understand how this can be
, Reign thought, knowing her father could hear and understand her thoughts.
I am so happy, though. I have not been happy since you
—

Since I died
, Thannuel offered.
It is no harm to say the truth. I am grateful to the Ancient Heavens that you still live. Your capacity for Light is significant. The Gyldenal will welcome you. But for now, I believe there are
matters of greater urgency upon us. The Dark has spread. Something has happened in these last few days. It has been unlocked somehow
.

Noxmyra
, Reign recognized as she drew from her father’s knowledge.
The Dark Mother
.

The Ancient Dark, yes. Her name is Noxmyra, or the Dark Mother. She caused the downfall of the Ancients and dimmed the power of the Lumenatis. She assumes now that the Lumenatis’ Influence is so weakened that it can finally be snuffed out. Her forces even now are being gathered. I can feel it, as can all who are of the Lumenatis. But, darkness cannot see light; for all illumination causes darkness to be blinded and flee. Noxmyra does not know the strength and power that has been preserved
.

As Thannuel spoke within Reign he supplied knowledge, both visually and audibly, to give greater depth of that which he said. Scenes played before her mind’s eye, helping her grasp his words. When she did not understand, Thannuel would automatically provide deeper insight, sensing the confusion. Reign also discovered that she could freely access any subject that her father had knowledge of and experience it herself, as if she had learned the information innately.

I don’t know the light or power you’re talking about
, Reign said.
Or this Lumenatis. Why haven’t any of us heard this before?

Its Influence has been hidden. Sequestered deep and far from Noxmyra and those who serve her. Since the Ancients fell, the Gyldenal have preserved it for more than four millennia. But, though hidden effectively, it has been too well anchored to be extracted completely
.

Extracted?
Reign asked. And then she understood as disparate pieces fell into place.
The trees! The Lumenatis is in the trees!

She felt her father smile.
Specifically the Triarch trees. The remaining Ancients, who formed the Gyldenal, sank the Light into them. The positive effects have radiated through much of the land of Arlethia, sustaining the land and allowing Arlethians to speak with the forest. Because of the Lumenatis’ Influence, the forest is more sentient than most know. But, we have to turn our attention there and leave the rest for later
.

“Try again,” Jayden said.

Reign and the old wolf shepherd, along with Crimson Snow, had traveled to the northernmost edge of Arlethia, where they could find trees that spoke. Jayden’s speed had surprised Reign and she sensed the feeble-looking image Jayden conveyed was deceptive, likely on purpose.

With her father’s last breath inside her, Reign’s first attempt to speak with a Triarch had felt foreign, as if her senses were distorted. At the old woman’s urging, Reign once again lifted her palm to the large Triarch, forcing it flush against the bark. Her other hand clutched a small Triarch leafling.

The rush of the connection again flowed into her, first feeling invasive. Accessing her father’s capacity and strength, she honed the connection, focusing it and bringing it under control. There was a distinct difference in the way Reign discerned life around her. The subtle vibrations transmitted that allowed all wood-dwellers to feel their surroundings accurately were still there, but Reign’s discernment was deeper now. The
way
she understood her environment was through sensing the actual sentience around her. She felt the life itself, whether or not it moved. It was more than sensory refinement. This was awareness.

It is how the Lumenatis works. You are sensing the Light in the living elements that are present. Your reach of distance will increase with time. It still requires masterful sensitivity
, Thannuel explained.

“Could you do this?” Reign asked her father aloud for Jayden’s benefit. “Sense the ‘Light’ as you call it?”

No
, her father replied.
Not like this. I’m not aware of any who could then or can now. In the Gyldenal Order, we have knowledge of many things, but our actual experience in them was limited. Most did have the capacity to use the Lumenatis. And…

Her father stopped speaking inside her. Reign had been repeating his words for Jayden to hear the conversation.

“And what?” Reign asked.

“The Light will not allow itself to be harvested by those who have selfish or ill intent,” Jayden told her. Reign felt Thannuel’s
agreement with the statement. “We have had more than one occasion of this being attempted. The last attempt was actually not so long ago. But the Ancient Dark, that is free for the taking. Those who fail to capture the Light often turn and embrace the Dark.”

She broke the connection with the tree again. The leafling still provided some connection to the forest, although the channel was weaker than a connection created by direct touch with a Triarch tree. She sensed something. The forest was agitated. Afraid. It felt very familiar to her, the same type of feeling she received from the forest when she first saw the High Duke and the demon. The Helsyan.

“I am still afraid of him,” she said, not needing to clarify who she meant.

As am I
, Thannuel admitted.
But, that emotion can be recycled. It is internal friction. If you can capture the energy caused by it, you can easily redirect it for good within you
.

Reign understood more as Thannuel provided further insight through his knowledge in her mind.