“Why is it impossible?” Durstin groaned, letting them know he was awake.
“Because no one knows where Melamar is, not even the Ardaks. I’ve asked the crystals in this cave several times, and they are very clear that the homeworld is hidden for a reason. It will be revealed only when the time is right,” Merryth answered.
“Whether or not the Ardaks can fulfill their half of the bargain is irrelevant,” Kiersten said. “The elixir showed me what he’s planning to do—Aurora will still be in their hands.”
Merryth was quiet for a moment. Then she reached up to the table and handed Kiersten some tea and elven bread before handing a twin plate to Durstin. Perhaps her sister was slowly getting over her misplaced anger.
The sight of food made her realize how hungry she was. Kiersten bit into the bread, chewing slowly as she digested the vision.
“What are you going to do?” Merryth asked quietly.
“I’m going to go up there and stop him. What else?”
“There has to be another way without fighting Elsifan.”
“What way is that? Do you think he’s going to magically give back the golden key to the Crystal Cave?”
“He has the key?” Merryth’s eyes went wide with fear. “You didn’t say that. Valdjan should have it—he’s the one who passed the tests. How did Elsifan get it?”
“Who knows? Who cares? He’s going to leave the crystals and the rest of us to the Ardaks.”
“Well, we still have time to change it,” Durstin said firmly.
“And how exactly do you plan to do that? Elsifan has a powerful dark magic and the golden key.”
“That’s the task, remember? We have to find a way, and the knowledge will be worthless without the crystals.”
Merryth’s voice rose. “That isn’t true. The knowledge is powerful it its own right.”
Kiersten rubbed her forehead. “All right, I know! I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. The knowledge is important in its own right.”
“The knowledge might be important, but we have to warn Tordan and try to stop Elsifan,” Durstin added. “If he gives the Ardaks the crystals and takes the most powerful elves with him, we’ll have almost no chance of stopping the Ardak invasion.”
Kiersten paused. Something told her to open the box where they’d taken the vials. She did, and found a second crystal inside. This one, however, had a golden bubble in the center.
“A knowledge crystal,” Merryth said unhappily. “Why did you get that?”
“I don’t know.” Kiersten shook her head. “We haven’t stopped Elsifan yet.”
“Maybe you don’t have to. You should drink the final vials.”
Kiersten closed the box and then opened it again. “The vials aren’t appearing. I think we are supposed to stop Elsifan, but I’ll keep this with me just in case.” She tucked the crystal into her pocket for safekeeping.
“Fine.” Her sister waved her hand bitterly. “Leave. Again. I’m sure I’ll see you once more if you win.”
“I hope we get the key from Elsifan, and then come back to the Cave of Knowledge. And then I hope we defeat the Ardaks. But what I want, what I hope most of all, is to get my sister back.”
Merryth swallowed, but for the first time, she didn’t say anything at all.
Chapter Twenty-One
Durstin
They emerged from the portal into a different cave, one Durstin didn’t recognize. Once the portal closed behind them, Durstin turned to his wife. “I hate to say it, but your sister has problems.”
“Yes,” Kiersten said, kicking a rock across the cave. “I don’t know if it was the thousand years alone or if she was just able to hide it better when we were younger.” She headed for the opening of the cave, but Durstin stopped her.
“We need a plan before we go barging into Elsifan’s domain,” he said.
Kiersten paused. “It isn’t his domain. I was simply going to confront him in the great hall. It’s midafternoon, so if he’s anything like my father, he will have an audience in there right now. They’ll back me up.”
“Somehow, I don’t think it will be that easy. And you might not think it’s his domain, but you gave it to him twenty years ago. I’m sure he’s done plenty in the meantime to make the kingdom his. I know I would have.”
She sighed and walked over to the side of the cave, sitting on a large boulder. “Yes, you’re right. I’m going to have to think of something better, aren’t I?”
He nodded. “Perhaps we should discuss the details of our visions first.”
Her glowing eyes hesitantly met his. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you saw.”
“I saw that you had a kingdom and Elsifan forced you to leave it.”
Her eyes filled with grief, but she shook her head. “I’m fine with what happened. I didn’t want to be with Elsifan, and I found a new life with you.”
For a moment, his face softened. “Kiersten, Kerryth, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I also saw something else. Your father . . . he didn’t die in his sleep. He was murdered by Elsifan.”
“What?” The word was barely a whisper as she started to shake her head. “That can’t be true.”
“It is,” he replied gently. “I saw it in my vision.”
“What exactly did you see?” she asked faintly.
Durstin wished he had been shown anything else. He didn’t want to tell her what had happened to her father.
“Tell me,” she insisted quietly.
He sighed. “It was the night of the ball where Elsifan tried to trick your father into announcing your engagement. After you covered your father with a blanket and retired for the evening, Elsifan entered your father’s room with two other elves. They bound your father in vines and then Elsifan put his hand over his heart. He . . . pulled out your father’s life force.”
She gave a horrible cry, and he could hear the raw pain in her voice, could see it in her eyes.
He went to her quickly and pulled her close, the need to comfort her a reflex from all their years together. Tears rolled down her face, and he marveled at how much she was like Kiersten, yet not like Kiersten. Knowing her history gave her a depth he hadn’t imagined. She’d lost her sister, then her father, and had been forced to flee her home. Yet she’d come through, and he saw she was stronger for it.
But even with her strength and magic, she still probably couldn’t defeat Elsifan on her own. And hadn’t been able to do much against the Ardaks.
Seeing her true limitations was making him rethink what little he knew of elves.
He remembered Elsifan pulling out the black cloud that was her father’s life force and he shuddered.
“Are you all right?” she asked, streaks of wetness on her face.
Here she was, crying over her father, and she was asking him if he was all right.
“I’m fine, love,” he replied. “But what Elsifan did . . . it was the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen. I want vengeance for your father, and I didn’t even know him.”
“An act like that could only be done by black magic,” she sobbed the words into his chest. “We aren’t supposed to do black magic. It taints the soul of the one who does it, turns them from the light.”
Before he knew it, he was rocking her gently, processing what he’d seen in the visions. Her flight from Garthurian had probably saved her life. She hadn’t been lying to him to cover up some awful deed from the past. She’d been telling him the truth, and if she hadn’t been lying about that, maybe she really did love him.
She cried for several more minutes before wiping her eyes. Then she rose, defiant. “That bastard Elsifan. I’m going to kill him myself right now!” She raised her hand to make a portal.
Durstin jumped in front of her just in time. “Stop! Think about what you’re doing. Elsifan killed your father without breaking a sweat. I don’t want you to have the same fate.” And as he said it, he realized it was true. Through the visions he’d seen, somehow he was starting to forgive her.
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She was silent for a few minutes, tears slipping down her face. “It can’t be true. Even Elsifan wouldn’t have stooped so low as to use black magic.”
“That’s what I saw. Do you think the visions could be wrong?”
She shook her head. “No. That would be why they’d never found the cause of death. They hadn’t been looking for it. But even if they had, they might not have found it. Black magic operates by different laws, drawing on the soul of the user for its power. It’s possible that it could have remained undetected, even if they’d known.”
“What did you see?” His voice was gentle.
“I saw the Ardak invasion. Elsifan was there in the trees when Queen Mirielle died. I’m sure now that he was the cause.”
Durstin nodded. “I agree. I’ve thought it since that night. Elsifan needs to die. You don’t have to look so shocked. Anyone would want vengeance. Hell, after what I saw, I want vengeance for your father. And I want vengeance for the Renwyn queen. She and her army were going to help me save Tordan and his people.” He paused for a moment, obviously lost in thought. “But I have to ask, will your magic be equal to his? He easily defeated your father, and it’s been at least twenty years since the murder. Perhaps he’s grown even stronger, and he might have more people on his side.”
“We’ll have the advantage of surprise on our side, and I know the others will listen to me. When they find out what he did to my father and Queen Mirielle, they’ll side with me.”
“But what if they don’t?” he mused.
Kiersten pursed her lips. “If they don’t, we’ll need an army. You know, if Elsifan also killed Queen Mirielle, perhaps her daughter, Aielle, would want vengeance.”
He jumped on that option. “Plus, we have our own warriors back at Renwyn. Why don’t we go to Renwyn first to see if they’ll assist us?”
She raised her hand to make another portal but stopped short. Her eyes met his, her gaze liquid. “I’m so sorry, Durstin. I’m sorry for lying to you. I’m sorry the Renwyn elves abandoned you during the Ardak invasion. I saw them abandon you and your men in my vision. It was so terrible.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “I know you think I betrayed you, but it wasn’t meant that way. I love you so much. I should have told you the truth.”
His arms came around her, and she sobbed harder. He held her against his chest, his face in her hair. “It doesn’t matter now. I saw you, too. I know what happened. It’s difficult, but I understand it.”
When her sobs had tired themselves, they parted slightly and he kissed her forehead. “Let’s go gather an army and take that bastard Elsifan down.”
She nodded, raising her hand and forming a portal to Renwyn.
He clasped her other hand, and they stepped through the portal together, only to come out in darkness. “We’re in the basement of Renwyn again?”
“Yes. We have to get Aielle to move that crystal.” She created the light a second time, and he peered into the darkness.
“Well, maybe it’s safer down here,” he allowed.
The floor above them opened, and a booming voice came down from above. “Durstin?”
“Who else?” he answered wryly, and Kiersten elbowed him in the side.
Tordan’s and Aielle’s faces peered over the side once more as they climbed the stairs into the throne room.
“How did it go?” Tordan asked.
“It could have gone better,” Durstin said dryly.
“Well, at least your timing has improved. It isn’t the middle of the night. What happened with King Nirjhar?”
“He was grateful for the cure and said he would discuss aligning with us against the Ardaks. He said he would send word once they made a decision. But that isn’t why we’re here,” Durstin answered.
Tordan’s brows rose. “Another vision?” At Durstin’s nod, he continued. “Tell me what you saw.”
“I saw Elsifan murder Kiersten’s father. But what’s more important to all of us is what Kiersten saw.”
All eyes turned to Kiersten. “I saw Elsifan give the location of the Crystal Cave to the Ardaks in exchange for passage to the elven homeworld for himself and his followers.”
Tordan’s entire body stiffened. “He can’t do that, can he?”
“If he knows the location, he can. In the vision, I saw the Ardaks arrive. Elsifan handed them a golden key and some coordinates, which he said would lead them to the Crystal Cave. In return, the Ardaks took him and his followers onto their ship, presumably taking them back to Melamar.”
Tordan didn’t respond, but strode away, going quiet again.
“He’s probably asking Valdjan if he still has the golden key,” Aielle offered by way of explanation.
They all waited silently until Tordan came back, his face leeched of color. “Oh gods. Valdjan was wearing the key around his neck, but now it’s gone.” His voice rose. “I can’t believe it. This cannot happen!”
“I agree—but we have to be strategic,” Durstin pointed out. “Elsifan killed Kiersten’s father with black magic, so that’s probably what he used to steal the key. He could be more powerful than we are, especially if he’s been practicing all this time. I don’t think Kiersten and I can do it alone, so we came to ask for backup.”
“You have all the resources I have at my disposal. We can use the Ardak ship to get up to the village—Garthurian.” He corrected himself. “Hopefully, we can stop him in time. And with the black magic, it’s a good thing we have a few upgraded cyborgs on our side.”
“Upgraded?” Durstin asked.
“Yes, the rebellion used a procedure to upgrade several cyborgs, and five of them are here. They have abilities that will make you shake in your boots.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“That would be Mordjan,” Tordan explained. “He’s the leader of our defense force, so we’ll need him to gather the troops and get everyone ready for battle.” Tordan was silent for a moment, and then the other cyborg entered. “Mordjan. Give the order to ready the defense force. We leave for Garthurian in two hours, expecting a battle. Then return here shortly, we’ll need to make plans.”
“Of course.” Mordjan nodded and swiftly turned on his heel.
Aielle turned to Tordan. “I’ll get Geeeroo and the other elves from the village while you three catch up. We’ll be back shortly.”
Durstin shook his head in disbelief.
“What is it?” Tordan asked.
“I was readying myself for a battle of my own, trying to convince you to help us. I’m grateful that I didn’t have to waste the time and that you’re taking this seriously.”
“Yes,” Kiersten added. “I’m not used to that. Even with my position, the elders and the council rarely took me seriously. The elders rely heavily on tradition, and that tends to be male-centered.”
Durstin’s chest constricted. Had he made her feel less than worthy? He felt silly that he’d forbidden her from going into battle or taking all kinds of risks that she probably could have handled easily. But then again, he hadn’t known of her magic. “They might have been focused on the men, but they still allowed their females into battle. I fought with the Renwyn army during the first invasion, there were many females there.”
Kiersten tilted her head in thought. “You’re right, but the elves of Renwyn live by different standards. Better, more equal standards.”
“Well, perhaps it’s time for the Garthurian elves to change.” Tordan’s gaze was serious. “And you just may be the one to do it.”
Kiersten nodded briefly. “I wasn’t before, but now, I believe I am.”
Durstin looked at his wife with a new respect, and the realization that if she took down Elsifan, she was going to have to lead her people. He was fairly certain she’d be making those changes.
But for the first time it hit him that even if he accepted her, they were going to have to change. If they won this battle against Elsifan, she wouldn’t just have one people, she would have two.
And he had no idea
where that left them.
She’d been with the River people for twenty years, their queen for nine. But she’d been elven royalty for over a thousand. In her place, he knew where his loyalties would lie.
And like the elves in times before, he was probably going to have to watch her disappear.
When she reached for his hand to follow Tordan back to the great hall, he instinctively took it, calling himself every kind of fool. But then her undisguised golden eyes found his, so like the Kiersten he knew and yet so different, and realized that he really didn’t give a damn.
After all the years they’d been through, and everything they’d done, he was a fool who loved her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kiersten
Kiersten held tightly to Durstin’s hand as they followed Tordan back to the great hall, or as Tordan called it, the throne room. She was thankful to be escaping the laboratory. What it held was beyond amazing and her father might have loved it—but to her the technology seemed like a strange kind of cold, metal magic.
Mordjan and several other cyborgs met them at the door. He gestured to each as he spoke their names. “This is the upgraded cyborg team: Roihan, Aria, Simban, Borian, Chihon, and Jovjan.”
Each of them nodded in greeting, and she set herself to remembering their names. Aria’s would be easy. The presence of a female cyborg surprised her, as she had thought they were all men.
Aria must have seen her questioning glance. “Yes, I’m the anomaly. The only female cyborg ever created.”
“You must be extremely strong,” Kiersten replied.
“Or just extremely stubborn,” Aria replied with a wink.
They shared a chuckle as the door opened again and Aielle strode in, followed by several elves she recognized. They were Geeeroo, Theoduin, Ryoduin, Rydaeron, and Evindal.
Geeeroo embraced her warmly. “Kerryth, I was so worried when you fled. At first, I had hope, but then we heard absolutely nothing. After Elsifan took the throne, there were rumors that you had passed away.”
“If he would have had his way, I probably would be dead. Or I would be his mate, mindlessly serving his whims and having no opinion of my own. How did you get here?”
Durstin (Cyborg Warriors Book 6) Page 9
