Warrior Blind (8 page)

A cold hand wrapped around Bron’s chin and turned her toward the voice. “I know you, more than any of us in this room, feel the pang of uncertainty. But you were meant to be here, just as much as I am. Or any of the others. That is the way that destiny works. For all that I am Laquazzeana, I cannot deny the Four of Destiny when they are at work. We each are. Though our King of Arrogance there beside you has yet to earn
his
place, he is still meant to be here.”

“Forget you not, all of you, that I
am
in fact a king. Of equally high birth as the
Phrymos
here.”

“But Ren is my champion, protector of
my
soul.” Bronwen could feel the strength of Aureliana’s power beside her. And her irritation. “You are here because Phaenna spoke for you. No one else.”

Bron didn’t have to see his face to know that Koios would not like that challenge. “Does it really matter?”

Koios’ hand wrapped around her shoulder again. To quiet her or to support her, she didn’t have a clue. “Perhaps I am here to augment the Relaklonos’ numbers. I command a force of mine own, nine thousand loyal to me and my Lothicano. My brother commands an additional number equally as great.”

“So between the demon twin kings, we have twenty thousand soldiers,” Eaudne said. It was the first she had spoken. The rest of the room quieted. “And between the Dardaptoans, Gaian and Evalanedean, we can meet that number times five. One hundred and twenty thousand. The high king has promised us another fifty thousand. I just hope that is enough. I just hope…”

Her voice broke and Bron felt her own breath hitch. Something had happened between her and Eaudne during the fighting three days ago. A bond had formed that Bronwen had never expected. It hurt her to hear the other woman’s pain. Eaudne continued. “I have seen these days before…”

“Eaudne, you don’t have to talk about it. Not if you don’t want to.” Nalik’s Rajni said. “We understand painful memories.”

KOIOS
studied the older woman. Save for the lines around her eyes brought from suffering, she looked no older than any of the other females seated around the massive stone table. It was the aura that surrounded her which made her age apparent to those who looked closely.

“No. To not speak of horrors does no one true service. Not in matters such as these. Cass, Bronwen, babes you both are. Wars, you have not really known. But the rest of us have seen...”

She stood and walked with her damaged gait around the table. She stopped behind Bronwen and stared down at his
gamata
. The grief in her eyes was unmistakable. Eaudne brushed her scarred hand down Bronwen’s braid. His
gamata
turned.

“Twenty-two children have I brought from my body. Each one as equally precious as the others. For thousands of years I lived with the knowledge that all but one had fallen when Evelanedea fell. Kennera was returned to me—and that return was the greatest gift. Since that day I have found three more of my children with reborn souls. Havalana of Amyenka, Nalik of Black, and now in Bronwen of Sebastos. Three in four thousand years. And with my mother’s heart I know that I will fight whatever I must to protect my children.”

Bronwen’s shock was visible when Koios looked at her. It surprised him, as well, though the Laquazzeana had said nearly as much to him before.

“To do that, I cannot hold secrets close any longer.” Eaudne continued around the table to Black’s female. “Cass...my dear, dear Cass...Light is the soul within you. And very much like that of the mother of Druidics that predates the Kind of Gaia’s Ireland who borrowed the name centuries ago. It is from her line your blood descends. She drew her strength from the ground and what from it grew. You have the same purity of spirit because in you the soul of her youngest daughter was reborn. It is by no coincidence that that rebirth happened within you. Nor Bronwen or Havalana. Nor was Kennera brought back to me now, after all these centuries. No it is just a precursor of what is to befall every world. Every realm.”

Koios voiced the question he knew the others were thinking. “What happened to you?” He ignored the expression of censure on several of the females’ faced. War had no time for sensibilities.

“The fires, dear boy.”

She returned to her chair. But she still held everyone’s attention. “The worlds were forged from breath and flesh, through fire and cold. Layer upon layer they formed, each one blending into the next. It was not always so difficult to move between the worlds. And those of the right sorcery can perhaps still manage it. I suspect our Phaenna can...We all know how the differing worlds rest, one directly upon the next, now. But someone, a sorcerer of such dark skill some said he had to be two men, managed to manipulate the inner worlds. To bring the fires of the Three Hells up through five other worlds to burn the Houses of Evelanedea.”

Koios stayed silent as her gaze turned inward, her tone flattened, and her good handed rubbed absently at the bad. Was she even aware of those surrounding her now?

“The fires were on our lands before we knew. Before we could even smell the death on the air. By the time warning was given, it was far too late. My mate’s family had ruled Evelanedea from the moment life was born into our world. But I was just a small peasant girl by birth. It took me so long to adjust...Twenty-two children I brought to the Dardaptos family; twenty-two targets for that sorcerer’s soldiers. We were celebrating the betrothal of my third son Jushua to the daughter of my closest friend. Celebrating, and perhaps more foolish than we ought to have been. But no one can escape the fires of the Three Hells—or at least they are not supposed to. Nelciana and Kennera did. Jushua did. And I did. But the child I carried in my arms did not. Her soul was not strong enough to withstand the sorcerer’s thirst. It is the soul of that babe that I sense within you, Bronwen of Sebastos.”

No one spoke for a long time. Bronwen broke the silence. “I am sorry for what you lost that day. But I still have so many questions.”

Eaudne looked at her for a long, silent moment. “Of course you do. How could you not? But those questions will be answered later. Now, we must turn our hearts and minds to this war that comes. The day my children were taken from me the sorcerer laid his hands upon me; his intentions were very clear. He would claim each Dardaptos soul, and by marriage, through sheer love I had for my mate and children, I was Dardaptoan. I fought him to protect my daughter, and I fell. He should have killed me that day, but he took that precious child instead. And he left me to live. I do not know what stayed his hand, but he left me there in the ash and the mud. The rain. When I next opened my eyes, Jushua was there, and it became clear to me all that had been lost.”

“I am sorry, Eaudne, for what you suffered,” Black said. “But what are saying is relevant to today’s threat? We need everything you can give for us.”

“I am haunted—perhaps only as a mother can be—by that sorcerer. A part of his soul was seared into my flesh that day.” She held up her scarred arm for all to see. Koios was taken aback—the scars were in the shape of a large man’s hand, and wrapped completely around her arm. “I am bound to him in some ways. And he still lives. I can feel him through many worlds. Deep within the lower worlds surrounding the Three Hells, he sleeps. But he wakens soon. If he has not already. And he will come—for all who carry the name Dardaptos. For all who came from my body, for all who came from them—and perhaps for all of you. And I am afraid...so very, very afraid that once again I will fall before him, and lose all that I have left. It is he that will bring the fires. Because while he had grown in power, the other worlds have lost much of their defenses against evil such as he. Once...once there was water to fight such fire. Now there is nothing. The balance is lost. There is nothing, but 150, 000 warrior demon men. When ten times that fell in just that one day in Evelanedea. So bring your numbers Ren of Relaklonos, Koios of Lothicano. And my son and daughter’s, plus those of the great demon king. Bring them all, and know that you are bringing upon them death.”

Koios gripped his sword, refusing to allow the fear her words brought to settle into his heart.

He was warrior. He would not fear war.

“Bronwen of Gaia, there is no time, for you, I am afraid. No time for you to grow accustomed to what we have told you.” Phaenna covered Eaudne’s shoulders with a blanket when the other woman slumped against the table. “It is you who has been tasked with the gathering of the healers. For all you can find will be needed.”

BRONWEN
was rattled completely to her core. What—how—was she supposed to do this?

She stood when those around her did. Auri grabbed her hand. “Ren and I are going back to Relaklonos City. Kindara knows how to call the healers.”

“I’m going with you.” If she was to do this, she needed to do it from the very beginning, didn’t she?

“I do not think that is wise.” Koios was there. He was almost always there, wasn’t he?

Whatever was to happen, she had a feeling he would be a big part of it.

How could she accept that? “I
am
going. I make my own decisions, Koios. No matter what. You don’t have the right to say any differently.”

“Think whatever you wish, but from now on. As the
Phrymos
is the Laquazzeana Aureliana’s champion so I am yours. You have my vow of protection and honor.”

She bit back the urge to snap out ‘too little, too late’. That wasn’t like her, and she wouldn’t take her nerves out on him because he was convenient.

She’d been raised better than that.

She turned toward the woman who’d had the biggest hand in that raising. “Auri, can Ren flash us both to Kindara?”

“He can. We can speak with Kinney tonight, and she can send out the call.”

“Then let’s do it.”

Koios started to protest again. But Bronwen held up a hand. “Don’t you have other things to do? Don’t you have thousands of warriors to gather? How can you do that if you’re constantly dogging my footsteps?”

“I do not understand what this
dogging
is you speak of. But yes, I do need to go. I need to speak with my twin. Gather my men. I just do not wish to leave you unprotected.”

“She will not be unprotected, Koios.” Auri’s voice showed her own irritation with him. Or was Bronwen just imagining that? “We’re all on this path together, and hers includes this new place. The Four Destinies will see it happen.”

“Why do you talk of the Destinies so often now?” Bronwen asked. The Four Destinies had only been a fairy tale to her, but now they were referenced all the time.

“The Laquazzeana are intimately aware of the Four Destinies.” Phaenna said from somewhere behind Bronwen. She’d almost forgotten the others, so consumed with what she should be doing next. “You’ll find out someday what I mean. I think you even know one...or two...maybe two. How should I know?”

Bronwen didn’t know what to say to the other woman. She addressed Auri instead. “Can we go? If we don’t do it now, I may just lose whatever courage I have left.”

Phaenna laughed again. “Courage is one thing you do not lack, little one. Or the one thing you will find in this new place.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Of course I am. I am always right. It’s a curse. I deal in a lot of curses.”

THEY
gather,” Auri said.

“How many?” Bronwen stood by the window overlooking the Thrun courtyard that Cass tended so often. She couldn’t see it, but she could smell the roses that Cass had transplanted from Colorado. It was a small bit of home, and a small bit that she needed.

She was barely holding on to the meager breakfast she’d eaten hours earlier.

Thrun was swarming with people. She’d been told healers from every Kind were gathering, with a greater number than ever before in any world. She could hear them everywhere.

And all looked to her to lead.

“Thousands, last I knew.” Auri was in the suite that had unofficially become Bron’s—for all of one day. She’d met with Kindara and spoken with her brother Thadd. Then she, Auri, and Thadd had returned to Thrun. To prepare. They were gathering what Auri deemed essential for a woman on an epic task. Bronwen didn’t have a clue. Hadn’t she spent the last fifteen months feeling exactly like that?

“Baby?”

“Auri, I am so afraid. I can’t do this...” This was her real mother, though there was a definite connection with Eaudne. “What am I supposed to do? I cannot even see the people I am supposed to lead.”

“Oh baby, you do not need sight to lead. You need heart, and courage. Two things Theo, Thadd and I raised you to have. You need to look past what you have lost. Like we all must do at some point or another.”

Bronwen knew what Auri said was the truth, but how was she supposed to do it?

Auri’s hands landed on her shoulders. “This was not something I ever wish upon my child. No burden I would not shoulder for you, if I could. But this is what you were meant to do. Embrace this path before you. For we both know that to do differently will not serve you well.”