Lady of Light and Shadows (31 page)

What little sleep she got was tormented by new nightmares of Rain turning from her in revulsion, of Fey voices crying "Mage-claimed!" in the same way the accusers of all her previous dreams had cried "Demon-possessed!”

Worst of all, she dreamed of shining, grim-faced Fey legions throwing a thousand razor-sharp knives to pierce her, and of Rain Tairen Soul swooping down to scorch her with incinerating fire as she stood before them, crackling with dark power, her eyes bottomless pits of blackness blazing with red flame.

Powered by strong, unnatural winds from the west, the sky itself turned against Rain. Sybharukai was not pleased with his defiance, nor forgiving of his stubborn refusal to hear reason. Strong headwinds surged across the skies like waves on a stormy sea, doing their best to push him back towards Celieria City and Ellysetta, forcing him to wrest each mile from the sky through fierce, hard-powered flight.

Furiously he refused to turn back. The winds became a tempest. Towering thunderclouds blossomed. Buffeted and tossed about the sky, he kept his head turned into the wind and his wings stubbornly pumping. He flew for what seemed an eternity, with no idea how much progress-if any-he was making, but refusing to stop.

As he flew, drawing further and further from Ellysetta's healing presence, he heard the rising murmurs of voices-of the millions he'd slain-hissing their accusations, as they had for centuries.
Murderer. Destroyer.

Worse were the forlorn, grief-stricken voices of the friends and innocents who'd died beneath his scorching fire.

I had a family, children!

My Sahra ... we were to be wed come spring.

Rain, my friend, how could you do this to me?

They reproached him, wept for all their lost happiness, the lost days of life he'd stolen from them, reminding him that he-not Ellysetta-was the one with the true taint on his soul. If ever any creature deserved to be reviled and condemned, it was he.

He raged against the voices, wanting to protest, knowing he could not. Gouts of flame spewed from his muzzle, turning rain to steam as it showered down from the thunderclouds, but still, stubbornly, he flew.

It wasn't until much, much later, in the small bells of the night, that the clouds finally parted. And when they did, fresh fury swelled inside him. His wily tairen kin had used his stubbornness against him. He'd been so busy battering himself against their raging, tairen-spawned winds, that he hadn't noticed those winds had changed their course. Instead of blowing him back to Celieria City, they'd blown him hundreds of miles north, towards Eld.

Below him, the wide, long ribbon of the mighty Heras River cut across the landscape like a scar, and beyond that the dark, dense forests of Eld stretched out as far as his tairen eyes could see. It was the first time he'd laid eyes on the land of his enemy in a thousand years.

Bitter memories flooded him. Some his own, some memories he'd never seen before, sung to him on a vibrant new melody of tairen song flowing on the winds from Fey'Bahren.

«Look, Rainier-Eras,»
the new song urged.

Vivid, bloody visions filled his mind, despairing visions of the terrible war he'd once fought, and the terrible price not only he but all the tairen and Fey had paid to end it. Devastating grief and loss. The grim determination and staggering sacrifice of so many Fey warriors,
shei'dalins,
mates, even truemates who'd lost their immortal lives battling the enemy they had mistakenly allowed to grow strong.

The tairen and the Fey had both been decimated in those wars, a blow from which neither race had ever recovered. Of the survivors, thousands more had willingly, selflessly sacrificed themselves again to build the Faering Mists. They'd given their lives ... not just to protect the Fey, as he'd always thought, but to protect him.

He saw it now so clearly in the tairen song that his heart nearly burst from the pain. Despite the consuming darkness in his soul-despite the millions he'd slain when he scorched the world-neither the tairen nor the Fey had reviled him. Instead, they'd died to give him life.

They'd died so he, Rainier-Eras, the last Tairen Soul and the least worthy of them all, would not perish.

Even Ellysetta, who called herself a coward, had faced the terrible blackness of his soul, and offered him what he'd been too craven to give her: acceptance and healing through the quiet, steadfast courage of her love.

«Enough,»
he cried to the winds.
«I yield.
»

The unnatural, tairen-spawned winds died instantly. The skies cleared.
«If death is what you seek, it lies before you. We will not keep you from it. If life is your choice, you know where to find it, and you know what you must do.»
Sybharukai's final words resonated across the vast distance; then the tairen song, like the winds, fell silent.

Circling the calmed skies near the land of his enemy, Rain made his choice. His wing dipped. His tairen body wheeled north, into Eld.

Ellysetta woke, exhausted, to the faint light of dawn. Still curled in the wing-backed chair. Still alone. No courtship gift lay beside her. No
shei’tanitsa
awareness warmed her senses. Rain had not returned.

Gaelen and Ellysetta's quintet were waiting for her when she emerged from the bedroom. They regarded her in silence, their Fey eyes full of compassion and remorse.

"Where is he?" she asked.

"We don't know," Bel admitted. "He isn't responding to anyone's calls.”

Her chest felt as if a tight fist were squeezing slowly, inexorably around her heart and lungs. "It's over, then. He isn't coming back.”

"He just needs more time," Kieran suggested. "He'll be back as soon as he starts thinking clearly.”

"Of course he will," Gaelen concurred, "but we can't afford to wait for him. The High Mage is hunting you,
kem'falla.
You aren't safe here. You must accompany the Fey back to the Fading Lands. It's your only hope of survival.”

"The Fading Lands?" She stared at him as if he'd gone mad. "You made it very clear last night that's the last place I can afford to go. I'm the High Mage's daughter, you said. I bear a Mage Mark. You even planned to kill me to stop me from entering the Fading Lands.”

"That was when I thought you were corrupt. You are not. But you
are
in grave danger. Rain has left. We must assume the Mages know that by now. They will think to use his absence to their advantage, which means the attack will come soon.”

Ellysetta turned away. At the moment, she didn't care if the Mages attacked. She just wanted the hollow pain in her heart to stop hurting. "My parents agreed to send me to the Fading Lands only on the condition that Rain marry me by Celierian custom in a Celierian church. Well, look around.” She flung out her hands to indicate the room. "Rain's not here. It's hard to have a wedding without a groom.”

"You can wed by proxy," Gaelen answered without hesitation. "It was common practice among kings of old when they took a foreign bride. Belliard will stand for Rain so the wedding can take place today and we can quit the city before the Eld have time to attack in force.”

"Rain wanted the wedding to take place today, in any case," Bel added. "Marissya has the warrant he obtained from the king to ensure the archbishop's compliance.”

She stared at them in sudden understanding. "You've both been planning this all night, haven't you?”

Bel and Gaelen glanced at each other and nodded in unison. "We are bloodsworn to protect you," Bel said. "No matter what happens between you and Rain, the
lute'asheiva
bonds Gaelen and I both made to you remain. Getting you out of harm's way is our greatest priority.”

She almost started weeping again. What sort of cruel irony was it that Gaelen and Bel would be more steadfast than Rain? "Bel, answer honestly. Do you really think the Fey or the tairen will be safer with the daughter of the High Mage residing in the Fading Lands?”

"Whatever the High Mage is to you makes no difference," Bel answered. "You are the Feyreisa. And your soul is so bright, I cannot believe he could ever use you for evil.”

"You didn't answer my question.”

"You did not ask the right question," he replied. "Would the Fading Lands be safer with the daughter of the High Mage living within? Perhaps not. But would our queen be safer with the power of the Fey, the tairen, and the Faering Mists standing between her and those who seek her harm? The answer to that question is now and always will be
aiyah.”

There was certainty in his shining gaze, no doubt at all. She looked away. "I need to go home. I need to be with my family. I'll give you my answer after I've spoken with them.”

Her quintet and Gaelen exchanged glances, then nodded. "We will take you."

Whatever hope Ellysetta harbored for parental comfort shriveled the moment she reached her family home. Her parents were waiting by the door, their faces drawn tight with more anger and disapproval than she'd ever seen.

"What have you to say for yourself?" Lauriana snapped the moment Ellysetta crossed the threshold. Fists planted firmly on her hips, she glared at her daughter. Beside her, Sol stood puffing rapidly on his pipe, a sure sign of his agitation.

"Mama?”

"Gone all night, doing gods only know what.”

Ellysetta had spent the night in torment because she was the soul-cursed daughter of the High Mage, and Mama was worried about the appearance of impropriety? She would have laughed if she weren't so close to crying.

"Mama, please. You're upset for no reason. There was a .. disturbance last night, and Rain thought I would be safer spending the night in the palace. Didn't you get my note?”

"Upset for no reason, she says," her mother growled. "An unmarried girl hies off to the palace to spend the night with a man, but her parents have no cause to be upset. Is this how we raised you? To act the slut for an immortal with a pretty face?”

"Mama!" She couldn't have been more shocked if her mother had slapped her across the face. Never had Ellysetta heard her mother voice such an ugly accusation, let alone aim it at her.

"Madame Baristani-" Bel began.

"Silence!" Lauriana's roar cut them both off. She turned the full force of her fury on Bel. "You Fey have no comprehension of decency. You've tarnished our daughter's reputation beyond repair! No decent man would have her now.”

Bel stiffened, and Lauriana was angry enough to be pleased he was insulted. Ever since their arrival, these Fey had trampled on Celierian customs and honors, bit by insidious bit tearing away the lifetime of moral lessons Lauriana and Sol had worked so hard to instill in Ellysetta. Seducing her with their evil magic ways and deadly beauty. Endangering her soul.

"Nothing happened, Mama," Ellie said. "Rain wasn't even there-he left almost immediately after bringing me back to the palace.”

"You were seen, Ellie!" her mother exclaimed. "You were seen entering the Fey king's suite at night in nothing but your nightgown! Look me and your father in the eye and tell us the Tairen Soul hasn't mated you, tell us he hasn't started you using magic. Tell us you've kept to the vows of your Concordia!”

Ellie went pale, then flushed bright, betraying pink.

Sol stiffened at Lauriana's side. "He promised me ... he swore a Fey oath-”

"It wasn't like that," Ellie protested quickly. "Rain kept his oath. He swore to you he wouldn't mate with me, and he hasn't-not really-and the magic was just little things. He was trying to teach me to how to control my magic. We just-”

"You need not explain nor apologize for anything,
kem’falla.
You have done nothing wrong." An unfamiliar Fey with piercing pale blue eyes stepped close to Ellysetta, towering over her in a manner that radiated protective devotion. But the moment he shifted his attention from Ellysetta to Lauriana, his entire demeanor became one of palpable threat. He stabbed her with a look of such coldness, she actually felt the blood chill in her veins.

"There are none who could guard your daughter's honor better than the Fey," he stated in a voice dripping with disdain. "Even were that not so, she is meant for greatness, not for playing broodmare to a mortal or being shamed by filthy minds too blind to see her brightness”

Lauriana stepped closer to Sol and instinctively clutched his arm. "Who are you?”

"My name," the man said coldly, "is Gaelen vel Serranis.”

Lauriana had never paid much attention to Fey tales, but every Celierian knew the terrible history of Gaelen vel Serranis. "The Dark Lord?" Her tone rose, ending on a shrill note that made more than one of the Fey wince. She speared Ellie with a horrified look. "You brought the Dark Lord into my home?”

"Mama-”

"Madame Baristani-" Bel began.

"Out!" She pointed a shaking finger towards the door. "Get out of my house! You gods-cursed Fey sorcerers have put your last foot across my threshold. First it was magic, then demons and dead men and the ruination of my daughter's reputation. And now you
dare
to bring the Dark Lord himself into my family's home? I will not stand for it!”

"Mama, please!" Ellysetta held out beseeching hands. Never once in her life had she seen her mother in such a fury. Or so close to hysteria.

"Don't you `Mama' me! I want these Fey out of my house. And gone from my doorstep. This instant!”

"Madame Baristani, it is too dangerous to leave you without any protection," Bel tried again. "The Elden Mages have-"

"OUT!" she shrieked. "GET OUT! Sol!”

Sol took the pipe stem from his mouth and put an arm around his wife's shoulders. Anger had turned his eyes hard and cold. "My wife is absolutely right. You Fey have abused our trust and brought the worst sort of evil to our doorstep. You need to leave. Right now”

"Papa!" Ellysetta protested.

"They go, Ellysetta. All of them. This instant. And they can consider the betrothal contract null and void, too. The entire flaming world can burn like the Seven Hells before I'll entrust the Fey with my daughter now." He jammed the pipe stem back into his mouth and clenched his teeth down hard.

"Papa! You can't be serious! The Fey are here to protect us. We're all in danger.”

Neither the furious expression on her mother's face nor the sober determination on her father's wavered the least bit.

Ellysetta's lips trembled. She clamped them together and clenched her fists at her sides. She'd never defied her father before. She was going to defy him now.

"I will be leaving with the Fey today, Papa," she said. She met his gaze without flinching. "I'd rather go with your blessing and a Church-sanctioned marriage, but I'll go without both if I have to." She saw the shock in her father's eyes, and it almost gave her pause.

"You would choose the Fey over your own family?" her mother cried.

"If I stayed here without them, I'd endanger us all. I won't do that. I've already brought enough harm to this family.”

Lauriana's expression went lax for one shocked moment, then hardened with determination. "If you walk out that door, Ellysetta Baristani," she declared in a tight voice, her face pale but resolute, "you will not be welcome back.”

"Laurie," Sol muttered. He gave her shoulder a warning squeeze. "That's enough.”

Lauriana yanked free of his grip and ran up the stairs in a flurry of skirts. The slam of her bedroom door rattled the glass table lamps in the parlor.

Sol turned back to Ellysetta, frowning. "I trusted you, Ellie, despite your mother's misgivings. And in return, what have you given us? Lies and deception. And now the Dark Lord. What sort of evil has Rain dragged you into?”

"It's not like that. Rain's been trying to protect me from evil, not drag me into it.”

"Then how do you explain
him?"
Sol jerked his head towards the infamous Fey behind her and lowered his voice, "He's a dangerous man. The most murderous
dahl'reisen
who ever lived. I can't believe Rain allowed him within seven miles of you. I can't believe you brought him into this house.”

"Gaelen's not a
dahl'reisen
anymore, Papa. I restored his soul.”

Her father's pipe fell out of his hand and clattered on the floor. "You
what?”

"That's what happened last night. That's why Rain took me back to the palace." She spread her hands, staring at the smooth, seemingly mortal palms. "There's magic in me-and not just the little bit you've always suspected. It scares me even more than it scares Mama, but I can't deny it any longer. And I'm going to have to learn to use it.”

Her father's brow creased with dismay. He knew, just as she did, there would be no reconciliation between Ellysetta and her mother once she began using magic openly.

"I love you, Papa. I always will ... but you and I both know I don't belong here anymore." Her throat closed tight, cutting off the last word. It was the truth, but saying it aloud was like stabbing a knife in her own heart.

"Ellie, no ..." Tears rose to her father's eyes. "We can go away-leave the country if that's what it takes ..

"No, Papa. I've been running all my life, and you've been running because of me. It's got to stop. The Fey can help me in ways you can't. And they'll keep me safe.”

"Is this what you truly want?" His eyes begged her to say no.

"It's what has to be." His shoulders slumped in weary defeat, and she rushed on before she completely lost her composure. "You agreed the wedding could take place today, immediately after the Bride's Blessing. I'll understand if you and Mama don't want to come, but I'd like your approval and blessing all the same.”

"If I don't want to-? Oh, Ellie." Sol wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight to his chest. The fragrance of fresh wood, pipe smoke, and polishing oil surrounded her-the scents she would always associate with love and protection. "Of course I'll be there. We both will. You're our daughter.”

"Thank you, Papa," she whispered against his throat. "I'm so sorry for all the trouble I've caused." She closed her eyes, sent up a silent prayer, and tried to summon her power. The crystal on her wrist glowed, aiding her, and a whisper-thin thread of Spirit answered her call. She wove her thoughts into it and sent the thread into her father's mind.
«I'm going to order the Fey outside to stay, Papa.
»