I know things now that I didn't before, and I'm disturbed by what I've learned. Daelis was declared dead four months ago. The official story was that he either jumped or fell into the canal and drowned after leaving the Citadel one night. Despite the lateness of the hour, there were witnesses, credible ones, including a Citadel page who jumped into the canal in a failed attempt to find and rescue Daelis. No body was found, but it was assumed the current carried him out to the Celadon Sea, so he could have ended up anywhere.
From what Tessen heard, Duke Daelon Goldtree didn't respond well to the death of his son and sole heir. He was visibly distraught at the funeral and has retreated further from public life since. A debate has risen about who will claim the Jade Realm duchy once Daelon is dead. That debate became widespread and hostile following an assassination attempt a month ago. Daelon survived a crossbow bolt to the chest, but Ranalae has been ruling in his name during his recovery. I've wondered why she didn't kill him herself instead of hiring assassins. The only explanation that comes to mind is she's afraid she'll be caught and lose her chance to rule the Jade Realm.
Tessen is in his room, the orcs are asleep on the living room floor, and Mara is drinking herbal tea before she retires to the bed she's borrowing from Shan. This is the moment of peace before the kindling fire explodes into an inferno. The pause, the expansion, the eruption. Anticipation gnaws at my nerves.
Daelis returns from the washroom. He kicks off his shoes and slides onto the bed next to me. He smiles at the ceiling and says, "So I'm dead, it seems."
"Only a little," I reply. I rake my fingers through his hair. It's freshly washed and smells of sandalwood. Delicious scent... I think I'll bury my nose in his hair once I extinguish the lamps. Maybe that will help calm me down. "We're both officially, indisputably dead, yet here we are. Home. My home. Yours now, too. It's a bit different from what I remember of your house."
"Your son is a mediocre housekeeper, but beyond that, it's wonderful. This feels like home. Nowhere else ever has before. I think he hates me, though. Tessen, I mean."
"If he does, he'll get over it. He's overwhelmed for now so it will take some time. I think he'll be able to relax once we rescue Shan. Are you ready for that? Ready for tomorrow?"
"No."
I climb off the bed so I can extinguish the lamps. "Me, neither. I'm afraid of what we'll find when we get to your mother. But then it will be over, and we can bring Shan and Yana home. One more night on the edge of a nightmare, and then we'll wake rejuvenated."
"I hope so," Daelis says.
"I know so," I reply. I don't. Not at all. We'll probably die tomorrow, but it will be fighting for our children. According to our orc friends, that is highest among the honorable ways to die. I'm not going to fight Ranalae and her Jarrah for the honor, I'm doing it to save my children and give them a world without ash and ruin.
Day 155
Dear Nora,
My previous death was a lie, but my next one may not be. I'm leaving this journal where you can find it in the likelihood that we don't survive today. Sorry about that. You know me well enough to know I'd do anything for my children. You'll understand more if you read these pages. Then I want you to make sure the journal gets to the High King. I'd tell you to take it to Duke Goldtree, but his authority has been compromised. Ranalae needs to be held accountable for what she's done.
I love you, Nora. Thank you for always being there for my sons and me. I know it was difficult when you hated the choices I made, but you always respected me. My sons adore you and they know how much you love them. I'm sorry for what I've gotten them into. I'm trying to make it right. I'm trying to make sure my family is the last one that the Jarrah tears apart.
I'm leaving you with the contents of the box beneath this journal. I ask that you ensure the pendants make it back to their rightful families. The opals are yours to do with what you wish. There are some official documents for you to file. My marriage contract with Daelis, the adoption papers that are official even without Yana's signature. The deed to my house lists you as the beneficiary in the event that my children and I are deceased. Pass it on to one of your children. Arteo, maybe, since he's about ready to fly from your cozy little nest and he always liked spending time over here. I've also included a sketched map to the location where I buried something valuable. Between that and the opals, you'll never have to worry about finances again.
I hope this note ends up not being necessary, but if it is, I'm sorry.
Love,
Rin
Day 155, part 2
We left home just after daybreak. A cold and steady rain fell over the city, lifting scents of mud and decay from the already saturated ground. Oh, how I had missed a good Jadeshire winter rain. I let it trickle down my face and neck before drawing my hood and mounting my horse.
"We're going to be soaked by the time we get there," Tessen said. He trotted his horse up next to mine. His sword was slung across his back. I wanted nothing more than to take him home and read to him in front of the fireplace while we ate fresh scones with tea, but he wasn't a child anymore. He was a novice warrior willingly running toward the unknown only because he wanted to save his brother from the darkness. I feared I hadn't taught him enough, that his lack of experience would doom him when he met a real foe. I doubt he knew how hard I would be working to protect him even if he did prove himself competent in battle. I didn't fight my way back to him only to lose him in less than a day.
"That's why we're wearing wool cloaks over our jerkins. No one wants to fight in wet leather," I said. I adjusted my hood so I could see better and watched Mara climb behind Frald. Daelis would ride alone, and ahead of the rest of us. He was the key to the Manor, and we would follow once he convinced the ducal guards that he was himself and alive.
"Mom? Do you think he's all right? Do you think she's hurt him?" Tessen asked. The orcs mumbled to each other as they recounted their weapons and readied their horses. They made Tessen nervous and he couldn't figure out why they were going with us. I had to explain it to him earlier—the orcs are here to seek justice for the Foxfire clan lives taken by the Jarrah. They have as much right to fight Ranalae as we do.
"Shan will be fine. I'm more worried about Yana," I said.
"It's hard to worry about someone I've never met and only just learned about."
"Wait until you become a parent. Then you'll find it's easy."
We rode toward the city wall, then veered northward to follow the perimeter, then westward. It was a roundabout way to reach Goldtree Manor, but the route was forested and sparsely traveled. A few mushroom pickers looked up at us as we passed, but we were otherwise unnoticed.
After about ten minutes, the forest cleared into a meadow. A pale stone wall rose to enclose a sprawling estate. We slowed the horses and headed toward a narrow gate. Daelis awkwardly dismounted his horse and led the beast toward the watch house. Tessen and I dropped to the ground and followed. The others would remain mounted and distant until Daelis signaled it was safe for them to approach.
"Yeah, what do you lot want?" a jaded guard asked from under the gate roof. Daelis had told us this entrance was rarely used, and only existed to give easy access to the hunting grounds in the hills beyond this section of the city wall.
Daelis pushed back his hood and tilted his head. "I wish to enter my family home, Lieutenant Morrow."
Morrow's mouth gaped. "Lord Goldtree? But you... but you're supposed to be dead. Aren't you dead?"
"I apologize, Lieutenant. I was the victim of a rather elaborate death hoax and kidnapping." Daelis nodded toward me. "As was Katrin Sylleth and our son, Shannon. It is of utmost importance that we speak with my father immediately. Do you see my friends over by the trees? They saved my life and they will be joining us."
"Orcs, sir?" Morrow's confusion grew deeper by the moment. He shuddered and straightened his shoulders. "I hate to ask this of Your Lordship, but do you have any proof that you are, in fact, Lord Goldtree?"
Daelis sm
iled at me. He approached Morrow and cupped a hand over the elf's ear so he could whisper. I wasn't able to hear the words, but I assumed Daelis and Morrow were well enough acquainted to hold a shared secret.
Morrow smirked and reached toward a lever on the watch house wall. "Very well, Lord Goldtree. Welcome home and welcome back to being alive."
Day 155, part 3
Lieutenant Morrow escorted us to the manor while his subordinates guarded the gate. We left our wet cloaks with the confused and uneasy staff, but Daelis objected when they tried to take our weapons. He revealed his harness full of knives, and even the seasoned house guards backed away muttering, "Apologies, Your Lordship. Welcome home."
Morrow led us up a flight of stairs to a window-lined corridor. Rain beat a soothing rhythm upon the glass panes. Morrow stopped in front of a door at the end of the corridor and turned toward Daelis. "Lord Goldtree, your father is not well. He is recovering from a recent attempt on his life. It may be less stressful for him if your companions remain in the corridor."
"Yes, that is acceptable," Daelis said. He reached for me. I took his hand and stepped to his side. "Rin comes with me. Tessen and Frald... stay here and keep an eye on Morrow. I haven't trusted him since I caught him cheating in one of our chess matches."
"That was over thirty years ago, Daely," Morrow said with a grimace. "We were kids. Mum said I didn't cheat, you just didn't know all the rules. And if I remember right, you're the one who always cheated at Fox and Geese."
"Perhaps. You have to admit you had a flair for the dramatic when it came to board games. Alton the Coyote, always finding loopholes in the rules." Daelis leaned toward me and whispered, "Alton Morrow's mother was my wet nurse, and Father later rehired her as one of my tutors. We were raised together for a while, but he still thinks he has to address me formally."
"On with it, Daely. As relieved as I am to see you alive, I want to return to watching ducks fly past the watch house," Morrow said. He opened the door and bowed his head. "Duke Goldtree is in his suite. He hasn't left it since the infirmary released him."
"Thank you, Morrow. This shouldn't take long." Daelis squeezed my hand before ushering me through the door. "Are you all right, Rin?"
"Me? You're the one who's moments from being disowned," I said.
"I can live with that."
Daelon Goldtree's personal suite was much plainer than I expected. The other parts of the manor we'd passed through verged on gaudy, but this area had a different aesthetic. The walls were painted a lavender-gray and the floorboards were laid in a simple herringbone pattern. The furniture was simple in design and the wood was sealed with a light stain rather than paint or lacquer. The decor was sparse and consisted mostly of worn books and antique celestial globes.
"Have his rooms always looked like this?" I asked.
"Yes. He finds the typical decor of his class overwhelming. This is the only part of the manor he won't let my mother redecorate. I doubt she's been in here since before I was born." Daelis's fingers trembled against mine. We were coming to another threshold, opening into what I assumed was Daelon's bedroom. Daelis paused and released my hand. "I'm afraid of him. Not like I'm afraid of her, but I'm afraid he won't care when he finds out I'm still alive."
"Who is there?" a voice called from the large room at the end of the corridor. "Erith, is that you? I have no need of your assistance at this moment."
"That would be my father." Daelis rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. "Stay with me. Please."
"Forever," I said.
We entered the room together. Daelon Goldtree sat in a chair by a large window, facing away from us. His fair hair fell loose about his frail shoulders and his face was partially hidden behind a leather-bound book. He didn't look away from the pages to acknowledge our approach.
"Erith, I told you not to interrupt me while I'm reading," Daelon said.
"Hello, Father," Daelis said, his voice barely audible above the sound of the rain.
Daelon slowly lowered the book and looked up. I'd never seen him before except from a distance. His eyes were pale gray and his fatigued face was more angular than his son's. They shared a similar nose and lip shape, but otherwise Daelis more closely resembled Ranalae.
"I did not expect Death would wear the face of my son when it came to claim me. A rather cruel joke, is it not?" Daelon closed the book onto a silver bookmark and set it on a side table. He stood and touched Daelis's chin with the back of his hand. "Your skin is warm. Should not Death be cold?"
Daelis pursed his lips and swallowed. "I'm not Death and I'm not dead. I suppose I was meant to be, but never have I been dead."
Daelon's hand rested on the back of Daelis's neck. "Where have you been if not dead, Daelis?"
"Mother tried to kill me. She put me underground and meant for me to die, but I escaped. We escaped. I wasn't alone. I need to know where she is, Father. She took my children. She kidnapped my son and the little girl I found in the caves, and she twisted my daughter into a monster for her cause. I killed my daughter. I killed Eilie, and it was all because you forced her into exile before she was even born. My firstborn child grew into a cruel and horrid monster because you were so ashamed of my mistakes that you never let me know her." Daelis ducked away from Daelon's arm and stared at a golden yellow rose that sat in a vase on a nearby shelf. I'd never heard such animosity in his voice before.
Daelon returned to his chair. He rested his hands on his knees and stared at me as if he'd only just noticed I was in front of him. "You haven't a son, Daelis."
"I do. I know you have no desire to acknowledge my half-human children, but that doesn't make their existence any less real. Eilie is... was my daughter. Shannon Sylleth is my son." Daelis's rage faded as his father's cool stoicism was replaced by confusion. "I'm afraid I must apologize. You didn't know about him, did you?"
"I did not," Daelon said. His slender fingers tapped against the sides of his knees. He tilted his head slightly to the left and studied my face. "Excuse me, but who are you? Why are you here?"
"Father, this is Katrin Sylleth. My wife. Shannon's mother." Daelis sighed and shook his fingers through his hair. "Mother kidnapped her and put her in the caverns before me. We found each other and she's the reason I'm still alive. Father, Rin... Katrin was abducted because she refused to assassinate us. Both of us. Mother tried to hire her to kill us."
Daelon's gaze wandered to the same golden rose that demanded Daelis's attention. "Ranalae was never happy here. I doubt she would have been anywhere. I hope you are happier with your wife than Ranalae was with me. I suppose... I suppose this scenario you propose is not only possible, but likely given the words she once spoke to me about endless depths and dark places. You said she has abducted your son? Where do you believe she has taken him?"
"Back underground, I assume. Father, I need to know if the stories about passageways and catacombs under the city are true. I think she has taken him there. How do I access them?"
Daelon stood again and paced away from us. "There is a false wall in a first floor lavatory, the one by the office directly below this room. You must tap a number code upon the tiles to open it. Ten blue tiles in a row, that is what you tap. The number is your birthday. Day, month, year. Forward to open, backward to close."
"You used my birthday as the code? Frankly, I'm surprised you know when my birthday is," Daelis said.
Daelon turned toward us and a faint smile twitched at the corners of his lips. "I remember things of importance in great detail, and you are important to me. I did not realize how important until I was informed you had died. I... I am sorry, Daelis. There are many things I wish to discuss with you, but the retrieval of your son is more important. Go, Daelis. Go find Shannon. We will speak again when you return."
"Thank you," Daelis whispered, his eyes glossy.
Daelon stepped between us. He kissed my cheek and said, "You are welcome here, Katrin Goldtree." Then he embraced Daelis with such awkwardness that I knew it was the first time h
e'd hugged his own son. "You are worthy of your name, Daelis Goldtree. You are worthy of my pride and my sorrow. You are worthy of the happiness I have watched you deny yourself for so many years. Stop denying it and accept it." He kissed Daelis's brow before returning to his chair. "Go rescue your son. I would like to meet him upon your return."
We left Daelon behind and returned to the hall leading out of the suite.
I handed Daelis a handkerchief for his teary eyes. "No disownment today, sweetie. He does love you, even if he has trouble expressing it."
"This is the first time I've felt any sort of affection from him. It was genuine, too. Never expected that," Daelis said. He dabbed his eyes and smiled at me. "My other parent won't be so kind. We have a route, so it's time to find her. Downstairs we go, then down again. Back into the wretched darkness for Yana and Shan."
Day 155, part 4
I still feel bad about what I did to Tessen, but it had to be done. My heart wouldn't be able to bear it if I survived but he didn't.
I whispered my plan to Morrow on our way down the stairs. He agreed without hesitation. An untested teenager has no business going into battle, especially when that teenager is the last of his family line.
It took a couple tries to find the false wall in the lavatory. The room had six walls and the seam was well-concealed. Daelis muttered a curse as he counted out the blue tiles. "Do you think the zero is the first or last tile?" he asked.
"Try it as the first and if that doesn't work, try it last," I said. Tessen was next to me. I slipped my arm around his waist and rested my head on his shoulder. He was quite a bit taller than me already, a little taller than I remember his father being, and he likely still had a few years of growing left to do. I hoped I'd live long enough to know my Tessen as an adult. He was going to be a wonderful one.
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