Cursed Song

by Samantha Kroese

  Raelle didn't tear her gaze from the sea, her amethyst eyes locked on something in the darkness there and the wind whipped purple strands of hair across her pale face. "Is the camp secure?"

  "Yes, Leader," Ruyne replied, lowering his gaze respectfully. He watched the thick mist coil around his legs like snakes.

  "Where is your brother?" Raelle asked suddenly and grabbed his shoulder. "Ruyne. Find Shadow. Quickly."

  Ruyne didn't have time to process the request fully before he broke into a run toward the camp. He hadn't seen Shadow all night. Not since Shadow's performance on the stage. Where was his brother? Was that what the Song was warning him about? He tried to use the Song to find the unique magic that belonged to his younger brother, but it didn't work. That meant Shadow wasn't nearby.

  Ruyne slid to a stop and stared at the camp. The people nearest to him stopped to look at him in alarm. Their Song magic would allow them to pick up on his alarm. He tried to calm the racing of his heart. It wasn't good for any of them to be away from the camp this late. He walked quickly through the camp to where Derestan's parents had their wagon. Derry was Shadow's best friend; if anyone had seen him then it would be Derry.

  "Ruyne? What is it?" Derestan's mother, Delaih, asked as she stepped out of the wagon. Worry etched itself into the lines in her face.

  "I need to talk to Derry," Ruyne responded as he tried to peek behind her into the wagon. The warm orange glow of the lantern inside revealed nothing but the comfortable settings.

  "Derry? We thought he was with you and Shadow. We haven't seen him since the performance," Delaih said, then followed Ruyne a few steps when he started to walk away. "Is something wrong?"

  Ruyne shook his head, not wanting to frighten the poor woman. Delaih was prone to falling ill easily. "I'm sure they're fine. Probably just playing games with me. I'll tell Derry to come home when I find him."

  "Thank you, Leader Ruyne," Deliah called after him.

  Ruyne bristled. He wasn't Leader yet. But apparently, he hadn't been the only one to notice his mother's behavior. He would be soon enough. He tried to force that thought out of his head. He had to find Shadow. He stalked back to his wagon and past it to the one near it. His best friend, Silver, always convinced his parents to park near Ruyne's wagon. Ruyne rounded the corner of it to find Silver's father, Bronze, picking at the hooves of their horse. "Bronze, is Silver here?"

  "I'm right here." Silver said softly from behind Ruyne, looking almost like a ghost in the darkness and mist with his pale skin, slim frame, and silver hair. His silver eyes reflected in the gloom too, making them shine almost like a cat's. "What is it?"

  "I can't find Shadow or Derry." Ruyne frowned. "Have you seen them?"

  Silver shook his head but had already turned to run to his horse. He threw the saddle onto the slim mare, fastened it, and was in the saddle before Ruyne could say another word. "I'll go scout for them. I think I saw them go into the forest earlier. I'm sure they just lost track of time. Don't worry. I'll bring them back."

  Before Ruyne could protest, Silver had turned his silver mare into the woods and disappeared in the mist.

  "Don't worry, Leader Ruyne. You know Silver is our best scout. He will be fine," Bronze's gruff voice said from behind the wagon horse. "Best go see to your mother, Leader Ruyne."

  Ruyne felt a chill work down his spine that was not from the cold air. Again, someone referred to him by that title. He turned and hurried to the next wagon. Glancing around, he didn't see Raelle at the edge of camp anymore. The Song told him she was in her wagon, which she still shared with Shadow. Her magic felt...wrong. It made his Song jump around like rabbits scattering in the presence of a predator.

  Ruyne covered the distance to her wagon in one jump and threw open the door. He found her there, pale and shaking, lying on the comfortable pillows in the main living area of the wagon.

  "Shut the door and come closer, my son," Raelle instructed, her voice a raspy whisper, as she beckoned him with a thin finger.

  Ruyne reached behind him to close the door softly. Then he walked across the room and knelt at his mother's side, taking her hand in his. She was cold to the touch already. "Mother?"

  "No!" She warned, reaching her free hand to put a finger against his lips. "You listen now. There is not much time. The sea calls to me. I can barely hear you over it."

  "Mother, I'm not ready," Ruyne whispered, feeling tears forming in his eyes. "Wait for Shadow. Wait. Please." He brought her hand up to his lips to kiss it.

  "You are more than ready, Ruyne. I have raised you from birth to be a Leader. The Song will give you what knowledge I could not. You will be the best Leader the Dusksingers have ever know. You will reunite our people. I saw it in a dream the day before you were born." Raelle squeezed his hands weakly. "The Song has already granted me extra time to teach you. You know I should have been taken with your father. Do not begrudge me the opportunity to join him now. You do not know yet how it feels to have your soul halved and entwined with another's then to have it ripped away."

  Ruyne closed his eyes to try to keep the tears from falling. "I understand, mother."

  "Be careful, my Ruyne. You are named after a powerful portent. Your Song is the strongest that I have ever seen. But you are still a man. Capable of being swayed and seduced." Raelle took her hand from his, then rested it over his heart. "Many girls will want to become your wife after this night. Choose wisely, my son. Do not halve your soul for one who does not love you."

  "I understand," Ruyne whispered. He thought he understood anyway. Those who had been Song-Bound were fond of telling others that they could not understand it until it was experienced. And it was permanent. There were no provisions for undoing a Song-Binding. Those two people were Song-Bound forever.

  "I will rest in peace knowing how strong you have become." Raelle's gaze drifted to the ceiling, seeming to dull. "I haven't the strength to wait for your brother. Do not be angry with him. Your paths will differ, but he is ever your strongest support. Do not drive him away, even when he frustrates you."

  Ruyne took a deep breath. He was already angry with Shadow. Where was he? Why wasn't he here? "I will try, mother."

  "Silver loves you, my son. But you are Leader now. You must have children. You must marry a woman. Leaders must obey the rules." Raelle whispered so softly he almost didn't hear her. "Do not drive him away either. All four of you are important. You need them. They need you. Do not let any of them drift from you."

  Ruyne raised his head to look at his mother, startled. "Silver?"

  "Do not let any of them away from your presence. It is important. Remember," Raelle whispered again as he took a shuddering breath. Then, as it left her, it took life with it, and his mother and her Song returned to the sea to join his father.

  Chapter 2

  Silver

  Silver held the reins loosely as his horse wove her way through the trees. The thick mist gathering made it hard to see anything. The darkest hours of night were the ones before dawn and the morning sun was still a few hours away.

  Thorn, his mare, snorted and threw her head up as she came to a stop. Out of the darkness loomed the shapes of two other horses tied to the trees near a cave. Silver urged Thorn to the others then slid off her back. He couldn't tell the color of the horses even though the Song granted him better sight than most at night. Still, they seemed like the right type to belong to the two missing camp members.

  Silver tied Thorn next to them, then scouted forward. There was a large hill made of rock, and as he got closer he could see the warm light of a lantern flickering deep inside the dark maw of the cave. He furrowed his brows, irritated. What were the two of them doing here? Shadow was known to be a troublemaker, and he nearly always dragged Derry into it with him.

  Silver slipped into the cave, but as he got closer to the light he slowed. The noises coming from the two young men ahead of him were unmistakable, and Silver felt his cheeks flush. Sex was discouraged and rare until a man and a woman were Song
-Bound, and between two men before then was even rarer. Just the other day he had confided in Shadow and Derry telling them about his feelings for Ruyne, and they had talked him out of pursuing it! He clenched his fists. Now was not the time to slink away respectfully and leave them to it.

  "Shadow!" Silver called his friend’s name sharply as he stalked into the room.

  "Silver!" Derry shrieked and scrambled away from Shadow, which was quite the feat since Shadow was the one on top.

  Shadow pulled back and sat up, running a hand through his messy hair and narrowing his dark eyes at Silver. "Rude, brother. Can't you see we are busy?"

  "Ruyne needs you. At the camp. Now." Silver crossed his arms and scowled. "It's a few hours from dawn!"

  Derry had already scurried into his clothes, and as he slinked past Silver, he gave his friend a pleading look. "Please don't tell anyone, Silver."

  Silver just nodded so Derry would go. He didn't blame Derry. He knew it was Shadow. It was always Shadow.

  Shadow dressed, grabbed the lantern, and then rubbed at the tattoos that sleeved his powerful arms as he came closer to Silver. "What could he possibly need me for?" Shadow asked, his voice full of irritation.

  "I don't know. But it's important, Shadow. His Song was in a panic. I rode as hard as I could to find you. Hurry." Silver insisted.

  Shadow glared at him but started past him. "Fine."

  Silver reached out to grab Shadow's arm as the larger boy walked past. "How could you, Shadow?"

  "I'm not going to be Leader. And I don't care what the rules say. I'll do what I want, Silver. And it's not your business. Keep your mouth shut," Shadow warned, as he pulled his arm free. "There's nothing wrong with it."

  "But it was wrong for me to want that with your brother?" Silver hissed as he fell into step next to Shadow.

  Shadow had the decency to flinch at that. "You know it's different, Silver. Ruyne is going to be Leader. He has to marry a woman and have children."

  "And if something happens to Ruyne, you will be Leader," Silver reminded him, annoyed. "You shouldn't take advantage of Derry."

  "I'm not. I told you to mind your own business." Shadow gave him an irritated look. "Nothing will happen to Ruyne. You’re his best friend, he listens to you. His welfare is your job."

  "It's okay for you to seduce Derry, but I can't seduce Ruyne?" Silver repeated in disbelief.

  "Right. That's exactly what I'm saying." Shadow nodded, then stalked over to hang the lantern from his saddle. Derry was long gone already, only Thorn and Shadow’s horse stood there. "I'm sorry, Silver. It's just the way things are."

  Silver stalked over to his mare and untied her, then pulled himself up on her back, shaking with anger now. "You really should be more responsible, Shadow."

  "That's why we have Ruyne." Shadow rolled his eyes. "Don't tell anyone what you saw, Silver."

  Silver watched Shadow urge his mount back toward the camp. As Shadow disappeared into the mist, he tried to calm his anger. The Song was a dangerous thing. If anyone was angry or out of harmony, anyone else with the Song could feel it. It disrupted the whole camp. He didn't want to be the ripple in the pond. Especially since he had a feeling whatever had happened in the camp tonight was going to be bad enough.

  When he had appropriately calmed himself, he sent his mare racing back to the camp as well. He was, of course, the last one back to the camp. He pulled Thorn up, confused at the gathered crowd in the center of the camp and the dread stillness over the entire camp. Something had happened. Something terrible. Shadow was nowhere to be seen, nor Ruyne, but Derry stood by his parents looking just as shocked as they were.

  Silver tied Thorn to his parent's wagon and then wandered through the crowd to his parents. The Song magic drifting through the camp was full of mourning. Someone had died. He swept his gaze over the crowd, trying to figure out who wasn't there.

  "Good job, Silver," Bronze said as Silver came up to them. Silver's mother, Lapis, wrapped her arm around her son in a comforting hug.

  "What's happened?" Silver asked, feeling panic beginning to fill him when he still didn't see Ruyne or Shadow.

  "Leader Raelle has joined the Song in the sea. Ruyne is Leader now," Lapis said gently.

  Silver stared at her for a moment, then tore his gaze away to look at Raelle's wagon instead. He mourned. Raelle had been like another mother to him. And, with her death, his love for Ruyne was now a forbidden abomination he would never be able to fulfill.

  Silver lowered his gaze to the ground, choking up. He wanted to run and hide in his parent's wagon, but it was not done. They would all stand vigil until Ruyne emerged. Then they would perform the ceremony to initiate Ruyne into his position of Leader.

  "I must go to help them ready for the ceremony," Bronze said gruffly. He put a sympathetic hand on Silver's shoulder. "Be strong, my son."

  Silver leaned more on his mother once his father had disappeared into the crowd. His parents knew how he felt about Ruyne. He was pretty sure most people in the camp knew, except Ruyne. Ruyne was oblivious.

  The four of them had grown up like brothers. Always together, always as one. Over the last few years, Silver’s brotherly love had developed into a romantic desire for Ruyne. He wanted nothing more in the world than to be with Ruyne. He had tried to puzzle it out, tried to find a way to make it work, consulted all the wise ones of the camp. The adults were all agreed on one thing, though. While sometimes those with the Song ended up Song-Bound to the same gender, the Leader had to follow the rules of the camp to the letter. The Leader's line had to be unbroken. The Leader had to have children. The Dusksingers only had children with those to whom they were Song-Bound.

  "It will be well, Silver," Lapis whispered in his ear, comforting. "You are young. Love is confusing. There will be someone else for you. The Song never meant for you to be Bound to Ruyne as anything more than a brotherly friend."

  Silver knew she spoke the truth. It didn't make it hurt any less. He wanted to pull away and run to Ruyne. He wanted to be there to comfort his friend. But now everything Ruyne did would be scrutinized. And he knew Ruyne's personality enough to know that Ruyne took responsibility very seriously.

  Their lives were about to change dramatically. Not just Ruyne's. All four of them and the entire camp would change. Silver glanced toward the woods and the sea beyond. It was an ill omen to camp so close to the sea. The events of tonight had proven it once again. He would make sure Ruyne never camped so close again.

  Silver glanced over at Derry. Derry stared at the ground, guilt all over his face.

  Chapter 3

  Shadow

  Shadow knelt next to his mother's body in silence, holding her cold hand in his. He didn't know how to feel. He lived with Raelle, and he had seen she was failing before anyone else. Maybe that was part of why he had fled the camp with Derry when she camped so near the sea. He had known it was coming and had not wanted to be here to watch it.

  Shadow bent to kiss his mother's hand, then gently placed it with the other across her chest. He rose in silence as Ruyne came close again. They hadn't spoken much since Shadow had returned. Ruyne didn't have to say a word. As brothers, they were tuned in to each other's Song magic so well they often didn't have to talk. Ruyne's anger was clear, but for the sake of their mother, now was not the time to discuss it.

  "Help me take her outside to the pyre," Ruyne said softly as he moved to raise their mother's shoulders.

  "Yes, Leader," Shadow said as he obeyed. He kept his gaze downcast. He felt Ruyne's anger toward him was misplaced, but he also knew that Ruyne was no longer just his brother.

  They solemnly carried their mother out of the wagon. The crowd gathered there parted the way to the funeral pyre that had been set up in the middle of the camp. Several of the men placed wood along the bottom of it as the women spread ceremonial herbs across the top.

  They laid their mother on the pyre, and Shadow edged back toward the crowd. He subconsciously drifted toward Derry and Derry's parents. He
couldn't look at Derry. He knew his friend would be feeling guilty, even if Shadow was not.

  Ruyne bowed to the pyre, then stepped back and turned to face the crowd. He looked as though he had aged several years in the last hour.

  Usually, a death in the camp was recognized more as a celebration of life. Only the Leader's death brought such a heavy sorrow on the Dusksingers. Raelle had been a fair Leader and beloved by all. Shadow felt hollow as Ruyne recited the ceremonial words.

  "The sea has called Leader Raelle to join my father in the sea at last. She will be missed. But she would not want us burdened with sorrow. In the end, she rejoiced that she would soon see her Song-Bound again." Ruyne stepped away as Bronze came forward with torches and set them at the foot of the pyre. The fire caught swiftly and burned brightly in the darkness.

  As the body burned, the Band joined in a farewell song to their Leader to guide her journey to the sea. Once there was nothing left of the pyre but smoldering ashes, the eldest of the Band, a man named Hestus, shuffled forward. One of the oldest living Dusksingers, Hestus had bad hearing, worse sight, and his back bent with age.

  Hestus cleared his throat and adjusted the special ceremonial robes he had donned. "The death of a Leader is always a sorrowful time. But it is a joyous time as well. We all know that Raelle raised Leader Ruyne to be a good Leader for this Band. It is my great pleasure and honor to be the one to grant him the magic of the Leader." Hestus walked forward until he stood in front of Ruyne.

  Ruyne towered above the old man, buta s Hestus approached, he bowed his head and knelt to the ground.

  Hestus pulled a highly decorated ancient sash from his own shoulders and laid it across Ruyne's. "Ruyne, son of Raelle and Rastar, do you understand the responsibilities of the Leader?"

  Ruyne closed his eyes but his voice was strong and unwavering. "I do understand them."