And when I did, I saw Serena standing at the foot of the bed, her arms crossed on her chest, her eyes locked to our mother.
But the Go’Doan priest was at Mum’s bedside, he had her wrist in his hand, and it was he to whom she was speaking.
He then placed her hand on her stomach and moved his to her forehead.
I opened my mouth to ask who the bloody hell he thought he was when he asked his own question to my mum, though it came out more as an accusation.
“You’re in pain?”
“A little.”
“I gave you draughts for this,” he stated.
He did?
“I thought I would wait—” Mother began.
“The time is now,” he stated smartly and then turned to the door and called, “Saira?”
A woman in a Dellish gown and cloak, ones of fine quality that were rather charming, bustled in carrying a leather satchel.
“Allo, Saira,” Mother greeted her warmly.
“You did not send a raven for Liam when the time came, Ophelia,” she replied. “He’s most cross with you.”
“He will survive this,” Mum sighed.
I felt something, looked in the direction from whence it was coming, and saw my sister’s eyes on me.
I also heard my mother’s earlier words in my head.
“I will give you time with her,” I said.
She jerked up her chin.
I gave Liam and Saira a glance, a smile to Melisse, a frown to Cassius, and I walked out.
The sky was night. The air smelled of dirt and pine and chill. The pointed tops of the trees seemed an imperative to tip your head back and study the stars.
I did not do this.
I stomped several feet away and whirled on the man I knew followed me.
“So, I have news,” I shared. “Apparently, I will be queen to the Sisterhood and my man knew this well before me.”
“Ellie,” he murmured.
“She said it was hers to give at the time she wished to give it,” I went on.
“It was, and you cannot argue that.”
I drattedly could not.
I looked away.
And because I loved him so, not to mention felt the odd sensation that my body might fly apart at any moment, when he took me in his arms, I did not pull away.
“Melisse is here, as is Serena,” he murmured. “This is good.”
He was very right.
I relaxed into his tall frame and laid my cheek to his chest.
We spoke no words for some time, but Cassius did not move or give the slightest inclination he would wish to do this as we stood on a mountain in his realm, surrounded by soldiers who were keeping us safe from possible attack.
And because he gave me this, I loved him all the more.
Mother was right, as ever.
The heart, if you used it, just grew in its capacity to give.
“She says I’ll be fine,” I told him quietly.
“She is not right, but you will go on,” he replied.
“Cass?” I called, tipping my head back.
“Yes, Ellie,” he answered, dipping his chin down.
“To the sun and every star beyond,” I whispered.
He dipped even farther, and in a return whisper against my lips, he said, “To the sun and every star beyond, my darling.”
Prince Cassius
Night Heights Mountain Range
AIREN
Three days hence, Cassius entered the cottage at the queen’s behest.
He moved to stand by her bed.
She stared up at him.
“You do?” she asked, her voice a memory of what it once was.
“I do,” he answered, his voice strong as granite.
“You will?” she asked.
“With my all, with my life,” he answered.
“Take my hand,” she ordered.
He bent to take her hand.
She closed her eyes.
He waited.
Then he felt a curious sensation, like a feather was brushing his palm.
She opened her eyes, he let her go and straightened.
“When they come, as you first hold them to you, their heads cradled in your palm, whisper in their ears, ‘Your grandmother loves you,’ and they will know.”
He felt his jaw flex as he clenched his teeth.
“Promise me, son,” she urged.
“It will be done,” he gritted.
“You were loved,” she shared.
His voice was thick when he replied, “I know.”
Her head made a slight movement against its pillow, like a nod.
“I must rest.”
He bowed to her and moved to the door.
Before he opened it, he turned back.
“You were loved,” he told her.
“I know,” she replied.
The Squad of the Sisterhood of the Nadirii and the Airenzian Battalion
Night Heights Mountain Range
AIREN
Four days hence, the Sisterhood of the Nadirii formed circles around a platform made of piled stones, pinecones and dirt.
These circles of sisters started small and tight to the altar atop which lay the body shrouded in coral and purple. Close to the backs of the circle at the altar formed the next. And close behind them, the next. And so on.
The Airenzian soldiers stood at the back, not in circles, amongst them The Drakkar and his princess.
All except for the crowned prince of Airen, and his lieutenants Macrinus, Antonius and Nero.
These men stood in the circle at the front along with G’Liam of the Go’Doan and his chosen one, Saira.
The queen’s lieutenants moved silently around the edges of the altar, placing candles on the ground and in the stones and lighting them.
The hums began when Melisse, Lucinda, Agnes and Julia joined the circle closest to the altar and everyone amongst all the rings held hands.
The hum sifted through the sisters, rising higher, as bodies swayed side to side.
The Nadirii kept their gazes focused on the remains of their queen, their thoughts on her, or in prayer, as their mournful hum drifted through the pines.
The soldiers at the back began to shuffle and mill when the breeze came, the needles of the pines rustling, as if attempting to join in with the hum.
The united sound of the Sisterhood grew louder as the swaying broke its cadence. Some sisters rounding their torsos, some swinging front to back, some moving faster, some slower, as all tilted their heads back and stared into the heavens.
Clasped hands were raised, two by two, front, back, middle, all around, until all those joined had lifted fists to the skies along with their voices.
And then, after this had gone on for much time, suddenly, startling the soldiers, as one, all of the Nadirii drew their arms down and bent their knees, and a gust so great it could be seen whooshed over the body, extinguishing the candles.
The Airenzian soldiers crept away as this wind soared through the Nadirii, wafting their hair, billowing their cloaks.
But it halted at the end of its sisters and drew back with great speed toward the altar.
And as it retreated to its origin, it dragged the Sisterhood with it so they were crowded against each other, their arms lifted to the sky.
A great Nadirii yell soared from hundreds of throats, rending the air as the pines around them swayed violently and the moon and stars grew blurry.
Then suddenly, it was gone, as was the body atop the altar.
And Queen Ophelia of the Nadirii had become one with the veil.
King Aramus
Bedchamber of the King, Keel Castle, Nautilus
MAR-EL
Aramus jerked awake when his wife did the same.
He turned direct to her, and for a moment, his heart stopped as Ha-Lah stared, motionless and unseeing into the moonlit room.
She then turned into his body, burrowing in, sobbing.
“Ha-Lah,” he whispered into her
hair.
“Ophelia,” she hiccupped into his chest.
He held her tighter and closed his eyes.
The loss was great.
But as ever, it was indication time marched on.
Just as it was an indication he could not ignore that it was also time to prepare.
He set thoughts of that aside for the now and focused on soothing his queen.
Hold her tight in your embrace, he prayed to Medusa.
King Mars
On the Journey to the Great Wohd
WODELL
He heard the flap to their tent slap open, and Mars was up from his seat on the log about the fire where he was with his men, discussing the message they’d just received from a bird.
He turned to his wife, who was dashing across to them through the chill of the night in naught but her nightgown.
Silence was wee, but the force of her impact when she made it to him took him back on a foot.
She then clutched his shirt into her fists, buried her face in his chest, and dissolved into tears.
He wrapped his arms around her.
“What on earth, piccolina?” he asked, torn between concern at her state, and fury at whatever might have caused it.
“Ophelia,” she answered.
Shite.
He drew in breath, and with it, her body deeper into his.
Accept her with mercy, he prayed to The Spirit.
King True
One Hundred Miles over the Border
AIREN
It was not True who woke that night with a start in their tent, it was Farah.
And she sat bolt upright when she did so.
He came up with her, blinking away sleep, and trying to focus on his queen in the shadows.
“Darling,” he murmured.
“They are all gone, save one,” she whispered, before her frame began to shake with her tears.
He pulled her into his arms, asking gently, “What do you speak of, Farah?”
“Ophelia,” she told him.
Gods.
He shut his eyes tight and held her closer.
May she walk in the sun forever, he prayed to Alabasta.
Marian and Jellan
Underground Lair of the Beast
WODELL
Marian felt only a tremor in the veil, though a strong one, for she knew of the veil, just not how to read it.
And she grew wary, for this seemed to be happening far too often of late.
But she had other things on her mind.
Precisely, stopping what was happening just above them, at the surface.
Jellan knew of the veil and how to read it.
Thus, he felt the tremor, and his eyes went direct to the Beast.
The creature had felt it too.
“It is time,” he mouthed soundlessly.
The Beast nodded.
Princess Elena
Night Heights Mountain Range
AIREN
I found her sitting atop a slab of stone at the side of a cliff, the dark shadows of mountains and valleys before her with a backdrop of taller rises in the distance, their black shapes cutting into the night sky.
The two gnomes who had traveled with her, males who had introduced themselves to me some days earlier as Galbdor and Welbrix, were loitering about the top of the slab, strangely as if they were guarding my sister.
They let me pass, however, with courteous tips of their bearded chins.
I dropped down beside her to sit as she was on the slab. Arse to stone, knees up, but Serena had her wrists resting on her knees.
I pulled my thighs closer to my chest and hugged my shins.
I studied the landscape.
She spoke.
“Trust it to be you who was the one who sought me.”
“I can just as easily leave,” I replied.
She turned her head to look at me. “No, you can’t. It would wound you to leave me to my grief, no matter the anger you hold toward me, no matter the spites I have inflicted on you. That is you. That is my sister Elena.”
My sister Elena.
If I was not wrong, that was an olive branch, as best Serena could extend it.
“Serena, we must—” I began.
She turned back to the view and stated, “I know she has named you queen. She told me.”
“And I know it is soon after she’s joined the veil, but perhaps, before feelings can dig in, we should talk about it.”
She again gave me her attention. “Why?”
I blinked at her. “Why?”
“It is her wish. And there is one thing I am certain you know about me. I can follow orders.”
“Are you disappointed?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. I plan to sail to the Southlands. I liked the look of that warrior from there, and if there are more of them as such, they would be an appealing challenge to me, as both a warrior and a woman.”
“I, well…yes,” I stammered. “It is my understanding that they are all like that there.”
“Hmm,” she hummed, again looking away.
“There is much change in you,” I whispered.
“Yes,” she agreed.
I braved leaning an inch her way and saying under my breath, “Who are the gnomes?”
“They are my friends,” she told the view.
Friends?
“What about Darma, and Heloise and Genia?” I asked.
“They have sent me ravens. They have returned from Firenze to The Enchantments. I have ordered them to stay there. It still needs guarding and patrolling, especially on the Airenzian border.”
“Of course,” I muttered.
She looked at me. “If you wish, while this is happening, with your marriage, and the Beast, I will act in your stead in The Enchantments,” she offered.
I had intended to ask Lucinda to do that.
“Right,” she mumbled, reading my face.
“Serena—”
“Then I would wish to be at your side.”
My chin jerked in my neck at the shock of this.
She thought she read that too.
“As you do not wish that either, I will need your orders, my queen.”
“I will always be your sister,” I corrected her.
“Then I will need your orders, my sister.”
“I meant sister sister.”
“So did I.”
I could not continue to be startled by everything she said, thus I quickly moved beyond that one.
“Cassius fears there is going to be a war,” I informed her.
She nodded shortly. “There will be. They will not accept a Nadirii as their queen. Not without a fight.”
“Then if he and you are correct, we will need all the skilled warriors and experienced generals we can have.”
Serena did not move or speak.
I did.
“And when it is over, if you wish to travel to the Southlands, so be it. If that is what you want, I want it for you. But in the meantime, I will need your help. I will need your counsel. And I might continue to need your sword.”
“I have behaved—” she started softly.
But I couldn’t bear it.
I couldn’t bear my Serena soft.
She was the hard edge of stone breaking through my dirt.
The world needed the dirt to nurture it.
But it also needed the stone to support it.
“You have, and that is done. We no longer have Mum, but we have each other. And I will tell you that Lahn has brought a number of his warriors here. They are in Sky Bay, and I sense they would greatly enjoy a dalliance with a woman such as you. I have not noted they are fond of what is on offer in Airen. They go to the docks often. They return appearing in bad moods.”
“Well then, let us hope our journey to the Bay is a swift one,” she muttered.
I did not smile. It was not the time for smiles. My heart was heavy, and my limbs felt numb, but my mind was awash with too many thoughts.
And thus, I did not think one that I should have before I also turned to face the view and stated, “I am glad of this quest for a Korwahk warrior for you. And I am glad of your gnome friends. He was handsome, but I never was fond of the bent of Cassius’s decision to remove your attention from me, using that Trusted. Chu.”
“Chu?” she asked, her voice odd, croaky, but then again, perhaps not so odd as our mother had joined the veil not an hour ago.
“I hope you enjoyed him, my sister, before you were rid of him,” I said and turned back to her to see her gaze on me. “And it is good that his shenanigans necessarily meant he taught you how to be an apparently very successful spy.”
“Shenanigans,” she muttered.
“Indeed, and I will say now what I should have said earlier, but with Mum, and the fact we weren’t speaking, I did not. Well done in Notting Thicket, Serena. That was brilliant.”
“Yes,” she said as if it was not.
Then again, it was not the time to get effusive over compliments, or the accepting of them.
And Serena had changed, but she’d never been effusive over anything, and I had the feeling she did not change that much.
I returned to the topic. “But those games are over for us. Yes?”
“Games,” she said, and I started to get concerned due to her one-word answers.
“Yes. And they are over.” I turned fully to her, letting go of my shins to wrap my fingers around her forearm. “Because this is what we have decided. Though I will share the warning that this also is because Cassius won’t abide it. He’s ridiculously protective and it bothers me he has these worries or upsets. So, I am doubly glad we will not upset him.”
“I would not wish to upset Cassius. By the goddess, I have learned not to do that,” she said to the view.
Although, with that, she spoke more words, they did not give me a good feeling.
“Serena?” I called.
“I fell in love with him,” she told the night sky before a burst of sharp, humorless laughter came from her, a sound that alarmed me all the more.
“Who?” I asked, perplexed.
“Chu,” she answered, and my stomach clenched.
“Serena,” I whispered, having had no idea, wishing I had talked Cassius away from this idea before it took root, and scooting closer to her. “Oh goddess,” I breathed. “What have I said?”
The Dawn of the End Page 42
