The Drifting (53 page)

Glynnis walks out of their room and makes her way to the sideboard where fruit, pastries and drink
s
are set
up.  She looks at the spread before her without touching anything.  After a moment, she walks over to a side chair along the far wall and sits quietly.  I notice her eyes are puffy and red.  I look at Milina, “Will she be all right?  I need her to be ready
.  I
f she’s not up to it, I’d rather not have her here.”

Milina turns to look at her sister and then turns back, giving me a reassuring look.  “She will be all right, my prince.  Last night your brother told her that he is promised to someone else.  She isn’t handling his rejection very well.”

Ziri is promised to someone else?  Ah, it seems that Nameth has gotten to him after all.  I shake my head, putting my brother and his social life out of it.  I have to concentrate on my next move.  I turn to Alorn, “I’ve already warn
ed
the king
and Ka.  They will take extra precautions, which means Sema will also be on alert.”  I
say under my breath
, “I wish Tolan found something on those two.”

Alorn
looks at
me and for my ears only, he says,
“Did he look under her real name?”

I turn to him quickly,
“
Sema’s
real name?”

“Yes.  You remember, when we were on the path fighting the clones and their beasts, Ka called out to her to stand by his side.  Together they used their will to bring down the lightning.”

I stare at Alorn.  He’s right, I remember Ka yelling out for her before she appeared.  That’s when I notice
d
Cessa and
knew
Lily
was
close by. 
“Can you remember what it was?”

He thinks for a moment and then says,
“All I can remember is the Semalie part.  Give me some time, it will come to me.”

I nod and give a last order to Milina, “One more thing.  Keep an eye on the old woman as well.  Don’t leave her alone with Lily during the ceremony.  Where Lily goes, you go.” 

Something is off.  I didn’t notice it last night because of all that had happened.  I turn to Milina, “Where is Julia?”

Milina gives me a blank look.  I turn to Alorn and he shrugs, “Maybe she and Tolan made up and she left with him.”

That doesn’t sound like Julia to leave Lily alone before the Seating.  As for Tolan, he told me
he
would return after the coup to speak with Julia.  Something’s not right.  I turn back to Alorn, “Find her.”

To Milina I instruct, “See what you can find out from Lily.”

She gives me a bow and moves aside.  Alorn follows close behind as I make my way to the door.  Phoris gets up and follows.  I glance back at Mellis who removes the pitcher and pats his lap for Milina to have a seat.  She reaches for the same pitcher and before she can do any more damage to him, he’s up and moving quickly to catch up with us.  

~ * ~

Chapter Thirty-Six

~ Lily ~

This has got to be the worst
day of my life. 

The minute Sema wok
e me this morning it was a non
stop parade of maids, servants, tailors, seamstress
es
, courtier
s
, planners, chefs and whatever the people in the yellow uniforms are called…all coming into the suite incognito and by way of secret passages.  I’ve been poked, prodded, stripped, scrubbed, pulled, pushed and yanked every which way.  And that was just to my face and hair.  In addition to that
,
and before the dress went on
,
they put me in a gold brocade that I thought was the actual dress.  According to Sema
,
it’s kind of an
elfin bullet
proof vest, except instead of protection against bullets, it’ll protect me against black magic…well, any kind of magic really.  Only problem?  It’s like a tight tube-like sheath that limits my movement.

When they brought the actual ceremonial gown in
,
I was speechless.  The Willow Clan royal gown is as green as the kavi leaves, deep, rich, earthy and a shade that can never be capture
d
in my realm.  It’s
form
fitting to the waist and then
falls gently
.  It’s the most beautiful piece of clothing I’ve ever seen. 

As Sema buttons up the back
,
I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I’m shock
ed
to see someone else staring back at me.  My hair, shining in soft waves
is
pulled back and up in the front to cascade down my back. 
This is
the longest I’ve ever seen my neck and I crane from one side to the other in stun
ned
admiration.  The gown falls off my shoulders, with sleeves to just above my elbow
s
with soft gossamer hanging from its trim.  Gold embroidery lace
s
the neckline and shoulder.  At my left shoulder a tattoo matching Tharin’s, only more seductive, more feminine, peeks out at the top of the gown
’
s shoulder trim.  My first tattoo ever and I love it.  My eyes stop at the black onyx at my wrist and I’m tempted to call Cessa to me, to be a part of this day. 

The thought of giving the oath eats at me again and I start to taste the bile at the back of my throat.  I place a hand at my stomach and take a deep breath, looking around for an escape, for just a quiet moment to myself.  I take a quick glance at the mirror spotting Milina and Glynnis talking quietly nearby.  I glance back at my own reflection when Milina looks my way.  I know she and Glynnis are excited about their new clothes.  Their top
s
are a
soft dark chocolate color with matching pants, both tailored to their slender physique
s
.  Although the shade is the same, it seems to shift to complement their individual complexion.  I also couldn’t help but envy their pants and the freedom of movement it allows them. 

They continue to talk and laugh quietly, not paying attention to me. 
This would be my best chance to get some air.  Besides, if I get in trouble, they’ll come to me instantly, and there’s also Cessa.

I settle back into my seat and think back to Gastah Point.  When Julia needed me, I was able to
speed to her side and help her
.  I think back to how I made that happen.  My abilities as an elf are still new to me, especially the physical ones.  The urgency to get to Julia spurred me to her and it only happened because my focus was all on her.  I turn slightly in my chair to see out to the garden just outside the room.  Lucky for me, the paned doors are wide open, allowing
air in
.  The garden is something that Tharin’s mother created
. 
I’ve found myself many times wanting to go out and take a look.  Now will be that time. 

I keep my focus at the end of the garden and I quiet my breathing.  Move, Lily, just move and get there without being seen.  The red londia near the bend of the garden seems miles away, but I remain focus
ed
on it.  I can hear the voices of everyone in the room as everything around me becomes clearer, more detailed and I startle to a stop next to the red londias a split second later.  I quickly step to the side behind the wall and out of sight.  I smiled to myself, pleased at my success, and overjoyed to have escaped the madness going on inside the suites.

The garden landing goes around the tower and I make my way to a small oasis
– a
bench in the middle of a forest of pando trees,
with
white
slender
trunks and
soft gold leaves.  There are so many spread in a semicircle standing tightly together that I can’t see past their
borders
.  A blanket of grass covers the floor of the garden and at the edge along the woods pans
was rise slowly to dance in mid
air at my approach.

I move past the blooming archway of flowers I’ve never seen before and take in the fragrance of jasmine.  I look about me, but don’t see any of the fragrant vines, only soft purple flowers that give off the same scent.  So peaceful, so tranquil and the peace within this place pulls me forward as if
transporting
me into another world.  I stop and look behind me.  Instead of the blooming archway, only endless forests of giant pando trees surround me.  Then I notice it…there’s no sound.  No birds chirping, no wind blowing, no small creatures…just silence.  I look up to see the star-filled night and a low moon barely
hanging
above the giant trees. 

A sense that I’m not alone puts me on my guard and I follow the tug at my gut.  I notice that no matter how far or how long I walk, the scene doesn’t change.  I don’t believe I’m here by chance
.
I no longer believe in coincidences in the realm of Velesi, everything has a purpose here.  The feeling of someone else
being
here comes again and I look down to find Cessa walking alongside me.  She nuzzles my hand before loping
ahead of
me.  I laugh as I run after her, loving the feel of movement, no matter how restrictive the dress and the golden brocade
are
. 

Cessa takes me to an opening, surrounded by the trees and blocked off by a rock face that seems to go up forever.  At the bottom is an opening, a cave surrounded by bleached white
boulders
covered with grass and moss.  Near the cave
opening
is a stone ledge, covered with a thick layer of the dark green grass.  I watch as Cessa leaps
o
nto it and settles down, her tail and one of her large paws hanging off it.  This is home, her home.

Another lower ledge sits before her and she moves with her head and front paw at it, indicating for me to take a seat.  I make my way over and sit, looking about me and once again, the silence is prominent.  “Cessa, it’s beautiful here,” I say
,
tilting my head at the black cat.  She lays her head down, yawning at me and seeming content to have me there with her.  She closes her eyes and within seconds her loud purring starts.

“Yes, Lily, she is alone here,” answers the soft voice from behind me, reading my thoughts.  I am instantly up and turning to see a woman whose beauty is indefinable.  I recognize her instantly, the lady in the portrait in Tharin’s room
–
the portrait of his mother.  She’s wearing the same golden gown as she did in the
painting
.  As beautiful as she looked
in a
frame, the portrait didn’t do her justice, not by a long shot.

“I am Lea’ith and I know who you are, Lily.  You look beautiful, my dear,” she says eyeing me up and down approvingly.

I look down at my dress and my hand automatically reaches up to touch my hair.  I smile back at her
,
humbled, answering, “Thank you.”  I give a clumsy curtsy, not sure what else to do.

“Oh, please, Lily…let’s not get formal
.  A
fter all
,
in a few days we’ll be family.  Now, sit down.”