The Rabbit and the Raven: Book Two in the Solas Beir Trilogy (8 page)

Abby’s parents and little brother, Blanca, and Marisol sat with furrowed brows, trying to process the new information as they listened intently to the queen.

“And how far does the kingdom reach?” inquired Marisol.

Eulalia
squeezed Cael’s hand, looking to him to explain the geography of Cai Terenmare.

He nodded
at her and turned to the others. “The ivory castle in which you are seated is called Caislucis. It is perched on a cliff overlooking the Western Sea and surrounded by ancient forests. Caislucis is also the dwelling of the Solas Beir’s council and other key leaders and advisors. It is a hub for politics and the symbolic center of the kingdom, even though it is not the geographic center of the vast continent of Cai Terenmare. This castle also houses a great library and serves as the kingdom’s university. Along the edges of the forest are the Great Plains, where the lives of those in the Light mirror the world of your preindustrial human ancestors. The plains are dotted with small farming and ranching communities.”

“It is within these humble villages,” interjected Eulalia, “that David’s work will start. There, he will begin proving his worth and winning the loyalty of his irresolute subjects by using his power to help those in need.”

“Then, there is the matter of the oracles, whose realms lay on the outer boundaries of the kingdom,” Cael remarked.

“Yes,” confirmed the queen. “During the reigns of past Solas Beirs, the four oracles have either been loyal to the Solas Beir or impartial in matters of those in the Light. The oracles are like forces of nature, and there is a mutual respect and elemental balance between their power and that of the Solas Beir. However, as the power of the Kruorumbrae has increased, this balance has eroded, and relationships with the oracles have become precarious. There is no guarantee that they will show loyalty to a new Solas Beir, much less one who has not lived in their world.”

“I believe David would do well in meeting with the Northern Oracle first,” Cael advised.

“I know this is a lot of information to absorb,” David said, scanning
the faces of Abby’s parents and Jon’s mother.

Cael took a moment to observe the newcomers. They did look befuddled.
Blanca gave Jon a questioning look. Jon tried to reassure his mother by putting his arm around her.

“It’s all right,” Marisol said. “Keep talking. We’ll catch up.” She caught Cael’s eye and smiled. He nodded and returned her smile, encouraged by her response.

“The Northern Oracle lives in the isolated northern region of the kingdom,” Cael continued. “She and her colony have little contact with others, but they have been consistently loyal to the Light, dedicated to the pursuit of discipline and self-reliance through a stoic lifestyle and edification through the ancient texts. She guided my fellow warriors and me in our search for the Sign of the Throne, the symbol of the Light that was the key to David’s return. She also helped me vanquish the Western Oracle, a narcissistic monster with a blood thirst rivaling that of her serpent-limbed daughters, the sirens.

“
Like the Blood Shadows, the sirens preyed on those in the Light and were a constant threat to those living in the sea. They murdered my comrades. They almost killed me as well, but I was able to destroy them. With the assistance of the merpeople, who had fallen victim to the sirens for many generations, I survived and was able to return the Solas Beir’s sigil to Caislucis.” Cael studied the faces of his listeners. They still wore expressions of disbelief, but at least they seemed less shocked by their surroundings.

“The sea king’s daughter, Nerine, saw Cael safely home,” Eulalia added.

“Because of her kindness and her loyalty to the kingdom, I recommend her for the post left vacant by the demise of the former Western Oracle,” Cael suggested. “Nerine attended David’s coronation and, politically, it cannot hurt his cause to have one of his own in a powerful position.”

“I agree,” David replied. “Is this something I need to run past the court council?”

“If you wish, I can speak to them on your behalf,” Cael said. “I am sure they will agree, and we can then send word to Nerine regarding the nomination. If she accepts, she will gain power over the seas stretching from the beaches below our castle to the cliffs along the Eastern Sea, where the Eastern Oracle holds court in his city.”

“Thank you, Cael,” David said. “I can think of no one better than Nerine for that role, and I appreciate your recommendation to me and your offer to speak about it to the council. Please move forward on that.”

Cael bowed his head respectfully. “Yes, Solas Beir.”

“I am concerned about the loyalty of the Eastern Oracle,” Eulalia divulged. “It is rumored that those in the Light and those of the Shadows dwell side by side in his city. I do not understand how that can be possible.”

The realm of the Eastern Oracle was located far from the western coast, and it was a stark contrast to the pastoral communities surrounding Caislucis. Separated from Caislucis by an enormous desert, not as vast as the Wasteland, but just as barren—and actually referred to as
the Barren
by locals—the city of the Eastern Oracle would be difficult to travel to. David’s father had closed all the portals within Cai Terenmare, as well as those leading to the human world, and communication had been limited. Eulalia had never met the current Eastern Oracle. As a general rule, only the Solas Beir met with oracles, and the Eastern Oracle was a pious traditionalist.

“Even with the extraordinary circumstances of the assassination of David’s father, the Eastern Oracle was not willing to meet with me or any of the ambassadors I had hoped to send, because I am a woman. There has been almost no communication with the east since Ardal’s death,” Eulalia explained. She looked at David. “I am worried that David will have great difficulty winning his loyalty, even though he holds the crown.”

“Perhaps if David gained the support of the Southern Oracle first, that would influence the Eastern Oracle to join our cause,” Cael mused.

“Perhaps,” Eulalia replied. The Southern Oracle was more of a wild card. Like the Western Oracle, he was rumored to be narcissistic and loyal to no one. “He seems unwilling to engage in the political conflict between those in the Light and the Shadows. Like the Northern Oracle, the Southern Oracle and his people are isolated, but not by distance and harsh, frozen terrain. He lives in the center of a thick rainforest, one with sprawling foliage that will make the journey treacherous, if not deadly, since many of the plants guarding his village are poisonous, carnivorous, or both. Legends describe horrific beasts and phantoms lurking in that dark forest, and as is often the case in this world, such stories have a nasty tendency to be true.”

“Great,” David muttered. “Well, I guess I’m up for a challenge.”

Abby squeezed his hand. “Me too.”

Cael glanced at Abby’s mother, who looked horrified. “Fear not,” he assured her. “I will travel with the Solas Beir and your daughter to ensure their safety.”

Bethany Brown nodded, but did not look any less worried. She gave Abby a stern look that said they would be having a discussion later.

Cael found he could not blame her for worrying, considering Abby had almost died once already.

“I visited the Southern Oracle’s village many years ago, when Ardal was still alive,” Eulalia said. “Traveling by portal, we avoided the dangers of the rainforest. I enjoyed the warm hospitality of his people, who embrace the dangers of their forest, revere them even, and in doing so, value their lives more. I remember the Southern Oracle as charismatic and full of life, and I suspect that he holds the same philosophy as his people. Perhaps that is why he seems loath to get involved in politics.”

“Indeed.” Cael nodded in agreement. “Choosing sides comes with serious consequences. But if David can win his loyalty, it will be a great victory for the Light.”

As David prepared for his journeys to the oracles and waited for word from Nerine, he began his training in earnest. As the new Solas Beir, and with the magical powers that came with his heritage, he had already gained experience with his abilities to fly and heal, but needed to learn about politics and combat. Eventually David would be able to weaken his enemies sufficiently so that he could end them by simply speaking a word, though this would take much time and dedication to his training.

Until he gained that level of mastery, however, it was time for school—and not just for David. Abby had much to learn about being a c’aislingaer, slang for cai aislingstraid—one who walks in dreams. And since she, Jon, and Marisol were not about to be left behind when David traveled to the outer realms of his kingdom, they too had work to do. They met with Gorman to learn about the history and politics of the kingdom, and David and Abby each had individual sessions with Eulalia to learn more about their abilities. David met often with Obelia and the other
six council members, learning on the job, as it were.

At the large, round table in the room adjacent to the Great Hall, David met with the council to discuss the latest news of the realm.

Obelia scanned a piece of parchment before addressing the Solas Beir
, Cael, and her fellow council members. “Solas Beir, reports have been coming in about several villages in the Great Plains being ravaged by Shadows. With rumors of Tierney’s escape, those in Darkness are growing bold again.”

David sighed. “It seems there
’s no rest for the weary.”

Fedor of the
Great Plains spoke up. “Your Majesty, I believe it is imperative that you meet with the plainspeople soon if you hope to win their trust.”

David looked at Cael. “What do you think, Cael?”

“I agree,” he responded, “but I would be hesitant to have you put yourself at risk again without combat training.”

As Solas Beir, David didn’t need Cael’s approval. He could have gone anyway, but he trusted Cael’s judgment and submitted to his guidance.

“All right,” David said. “When can we start?”

The more Marisol came to know Cael, the more she admired him. Cael supervised the combat training himself and coached her, David, Abby, and Jon on military strategies. He was pleased with their progress, and praised them often. Cael seemed to understand that while David could easily break the class curve by virtue of being Solas Beir, Marisol and his other human students also needed encouragement. He had high expectations, but he was fair. He recognized hard work, and that his pupils understood what was at stake.

For a girl who had shied away from conflict her whole life, Marisol found that she was quite adept at the logic involved
with strategies for battle, and not too shabby with the hand-to-hand stuff either.

When she knocked Jon flat on the training lawn—again—Marisol
apologized. “Sorry! It’s only because I took mixed martial arts when I was a kid.” He was sprawled on the ground, trying to catch his breath after getting the wind knocked out of him. “My mom was a little paranoid about the paparazzi,” she explained.

“No—don’t be sorry,” Jon said, looking up at her and rubbing his jaw. “My aching pride and swollen face aside, it’s kinda hot to have a girlfriend who kicks butt.”

“Am I?” she asked, extending her arm to help him up.

Jon brushed himself off. “Hot? Two words—last one’s ‘yes.’”

Marisol laughed. “No, you ginormous dork. Your girlfriend.”

“Uh,” he faltered. “I actually thought we’d already established that, considering the, um, quality time we’ve been spending together. Sorry—I assumed…”

“Well, you never actually asked me,” she pointed out, putting her hands on her hips.

“Oh. Easy enough,”
Jon countered. “
Will
you be my girlfriend? Don’t leave me hanging—please say yes.” He flashed his big, brown, pleading-puppy eyes.

Marisol grinned. “Two words—last one’s ‘yes.’”

David was surprised to learn that aerial combat might come into play. He
had
been rather pleased with himself when he learned to fly on his first official day as Solas Beir, but he had assumed that the purpose of that power was simply transportation. Fighting while in flight seemed a bit more complicated. Erela, the tall, enigmatic councilwoman with billowing, white wings, volunteered to train him.

David had thought of Cael as stoic, but working with Erela brought new meaning to the concept. Cael would never be mistaken for a joker, and he was not known for his winning smile (although David was seeing a few more smiles these days, thanks to the time Cael was spending with Eulalia). Nevertheless, Cael
was
capable of emotion—he had just been trained to keep it in check. David wasn’t so sure about Erela. She was intelligent, but seemed to have a strong moral compass that lacked in compassion. She noted when he did well in his exercises, but there was an emotional flatness to her feedback—you couldn’t exactly call it praise. It was simply information.

Her response to his failings was more difficult to discern. It was almost like there was a dark undercurrent there, but whatever it was, it was secured under lock and key. Her grey eyes were those of a cold, calculating killer—not because she was cruel, but because she
was
a predator.