“No, it’s not. My sister takes many things lightly, but that is not one of them. A One is forever. She is yours exclusively from now until she dies.”
Daena scrubbed her hands through her hair. “What are you saying? I mean, I’m a girl. I don’t—we—”
“That may be, but she has dedicated herself to you. She will have no others before you. That doesn’t mean you can’t have other partners, but for whatever reason, she was willing to commit to you and you only.”
“I—” She stared at Sarai. “That’s stupid. I mean, how can she be happy if—if—what is she thinking!?”
Sarai shrugged. “I guess no one is thinking here. You’re busy professing your love for my husband-to-be, when you haven’t even resolved the issue with my sister. Resolved—I should say acknowledged. You’re not going to tell me Janai doesn’t understand you. She knows you better than anyone.”
“I—” Daena shook her head in bewilderment.
“And Janai loves you doesn’t she?”
“Yes,” Daena said without hesitation. “But we’re both women!”
“Daena, since when do you have to be the opposite sex to give comfort and solace?”
“You don’t…” Daena said in voice that trailed off.
“You love my sister, right?”
Daena blinked. “Of course I do. She takes care of me—cares about me—knows what—what I want.”
Sarai laced her fingers. “I don’t understand. If Janai loves you, and you love Janai, and she understands and takes care of you… Why exactly do you need Bannor again?”
The girl frowned. “I—” She thumped down in one of the conference chairs. “I’m so confused.” She rubbed the back of her head. “I can’t believe she’d give up having children. I know she wants children.”
“You’re right. She wants children.”
“If she’s committed to me… then how? I mean it can’t—”
“You are such a dunce,” Sarai said shaking her head. “After a man you don’t love. Having a love, and not recognizing it. Having all that power and not able to see the possibilities…”
Daena’s brow furrowed. “Possibilities?”
“You have been changing your shape for scoredays, right?”
“Yes. So?”
“Are you saying you never considered taking a male form?”
“I—” The girl blinked.
“I know my sister has. Among other things, you’re her One because she wants your baby.”
Daena’s jaw dropped.
Bannor’s did to.
The princess sighed. She turned her back and moved across the room and turned around. “Imagine the child you’d have. Does it seem so ridiculous? With you and whatever children you bless her with she can rule the bloody planet if she wants.” She rolled her eyes. “Girl, just realize your blessings. Who better could she find? You’re young, smart, incredibly powerful, and immortal—you can look like anybody you want—male or female—you’re like fifty partners in one!” Sarai rubbed her neck. “The best part of it all for my sister is she doesn’t have to fake loving you. She’s in love not only with you, but the very concept of you. You are her dream partner. She’s not married because the idea of tying herself to one unchanging static partner is about as appealing as a bowl of mush. No, you are what she wants. She’s more than willing to bide her time, wait until you’re old enough, comfortable enough with yourself and your identity. By that time, I imagine you’d have ideas like that of your own. She wouldn’t even have to persuade you.”
“But Sarai, it can’t be true. She was willing to help me get Bannor.”
Sarai’s face hardened. “Daena, you’re too willful and she knows she can’t control you. She’s going to be supportive of nearly anything you do, just so you look on her favorably. She knows me, I’m certain that she told you it was a waste of time. I bet she even told you could have anybody.”
The girl rubbed at her eyes. “She did.”
“Daena, I know my sister, she’s aware that time is on her side. This plot was going to fail unless you dragged Bannor off under a rock in some godforsaken part of the universe. Someone would call you to task and put a stop to it. So in the end, your heart gets ripped out. Who else would you go to for consolation? There’s no loss there for her, she looks good and you’re tied to her closer than ever.”
Daena gripped her temples. “Damn, I—I don’t know what to think.”
“I’ll help,” Sarai said. “Let go of Bannor.”
The girl straightened and stared at Sarai. “But—”
“Let go of Bannor,” Sarai said, voice growing dark. “And swear you will never try anything like this again.”
Daena squared her shoulders. “Sarai, you don’t know that I did anything.”
His wife-to-be stepped up to the table and grabbed the sheath of the shaladen. “If you make this hard Daena, you will be admitting this duplicity to my parents and the rest of the savants.”
“Why would I do that? How could you force me? Nobody outside of an eternal can force me to do anything.”
Sarai lifted the sheath of the shaladen and caressed the jeweled scabbard. “Are you positive you want to put that to the test?” The elven princess brought the hilt of the weapon up to her lips. “Daena, admit the wrong doing—fix it—promise not to do it again. Do that, and apologize, and I will forget this ever happened.”
“What about Janai?” Daena asked with a frown.
“Janai has nothing to do with this. She would never be so stupid as to cross me twice. What you do with her is your business. Make a million babies with her or not, as it suits you, as long as Bannor and I are excluded from your games in Coormeer and elsewhere.”
This had gone on too long. Sarai had handled it masterfully, better than he ever could have. Still, he had to say something. “Daena please. Please do as she asks. I will always be your brother. Nothing will ever change that.”
Daena turned to him eyes getting dewy again. “You’re not mad?”
“I—” He paused. “No. I want you to be happy. I think she gave you good advice.”
“What advice?”
“Were you listening? You are Janai’s One. If you feel so lonely—go to her.”
Daena rocked her head back. “I—” She frowned at Sarai. “I still think I am better for him. If love is so selfless, you should let him go where he’ll be the most happy. You just finished saying what a good partner I make.”
“You make a great partner for someone besides my husband-to-be. We have been to Hel and back—literally—so we can be together. I will be damned if I’m going to give him up because of some girl’s whim. Is that your choice Daena? Are you going to force me to be unpleasant?”
The two women stared into each other’s eyes for long chilly moments. Daena’s shoulders slumped.
“No,” the girl said. She looked toward him and her green eyes flared white. He staggered back as a wave of dizziness made him grip the table. “I swear I won’t try to control Bannor again,” Daena said. She let out a breath and raised her chin, eyes fixed on Sarai. “And I—” Her jaw worked side to side. “I apologize to you and Bannor for trying to come between you.”
Sarai let the shaladen fall to her side. “Apology accepted.”
Daena rose from her chair, head down and shoulders slumped. “I need to go be alone,” she glanced to Bannor, then looked up at Sarai. “Can I leave now?”
Sarai stepped back and opened the conference room doors.
Bannor stepped up beside Sarai as the girl hurried out of the room and headed down the hallway. Sarai watched the young ascendant go, fingers drumming on the scabbard of the shaladen.
“Do you think it’s over?” he asked.
“It better be,” Sarai said. “Because next time I’ll kick her arse.”
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Four
Leaky Paladins and Accidental Mindscans
« ^ »
I never dreamed I would wield a shaladen. However, Koass said it was th
e best way for our family to defend itself against the Baronian invaders. So, I took the blade that was offered to me. Quite suddenly, the universe was revealed to me, and I felt strong enough to do anything. I will never be the same…
—Arminwen Ryelle T’Evagduran, 1st Princess of Malan
Bannor and Sarai returned to their temporary chambers. He felt uneasy, afraid to touch her for the prickly hot threads of agitation that whirled around her. She wasn’t exactly angry at him, but she was hairs from being that way.
At a little after six bells, a knocking came at their door. Bannor went and opened it. Senalloy stood in the hallway. She was dressed in a simple white blouse, close fitting blue breeches and soft walking slippers. Her long silver hair was doubled and tied into a tail. She carried a large leather satchel under her arm.
“Good morn, Lady Sen,” Bannor said, bowing to her.
The Baronian lady returned the bow. She peeked past him to where Sarai sat on a hassock near the window staring out into the mists covering the western part of the citadel grounds.
“Morning Bannor,” she said. “Is our Arminwen still grouchy?”
He frowned. “How did…?”
“Oh please, Bannor,” Senalloy said. “The castle is full of telepaths now.”
“Frelling nosy ones,” Sarai growled by the window. “Come.” She gestured.
Senalloy strolled in and set the case down beside Sarai. “It needed doing. I rather admire your restraint.”
“Do you?” Sarai glanced up at the woman. “She’s my sister’s One. Not to mention the insult to Koass if I used the shaladen entrusted to me to trim the little fool’s head from her shoulders.”
“Janai warned me something might happen. I was prepared to step in, but you seemed to have things under control.”
“She came so close…” Sarai shook her head, staring out the window again. “I don’t know if I can ever trust her again.”
“I think you handled it perfectly,” Senalloy said. “She has to respect you.”
“Maybe,” Sarai said with a sigh. She looked around and found him with her gaze. “What are you hanging back for? You’ve been walking on eggshells all morning. I’m not mad at you.”
He moved a little closer. “I was concerned about losing a limb.”
She snorted and smiled. “Come here.” She leaned forward and captured him around the waist and pulled him close. She rubbed her face against his middle. After a few moments she seemed to have gathered enough strength and looked up at Senalloy who stood patiently watching the two of them.
“So, what’s in the case?”
The Baronian opened the satchel. “I know you don’t like that body suit but you don’t have anything that fits right. So I brought your favorites over from Green Run.”
“So? All my measurements are so different they’ll fit like sacks now.”
“Sarai,” Senalloy said. “What kind of grand lore mage would I be if I couldn’t cast a few simple altering spells?”
Sarai brightened. “Really?”
“Stand up,” the Baronian lady said. “The blue is your favorite, right?”
Bannor sat down behind Sarai, and complimented appropriately as Senalloy fussed over his wife-to-be, having her try the different outfits and adjusting them with incantations so they fit. It was such a simple gesture, but the activity worked in exactly the manner the elder obviously wanted. Sarai broke out of her fume.
The new body had some marvelous curves, and with magic to let in and let out the fabrics with exacting precision, some truly breathtaking results were possible. After about a bell, Sarai was humming and grinning as she turned and examined herself in the mirror with Senalloy looking on.
Hands on flaring hips, Sarai murmured as she examined her reflection in a brilliant red, low-cut gown chased with gold thread. A phoenix was stitched into the front, its stylized wings flowing up either side of her neckline and down her arms into angel sleeves.
She stopped and glanced back at the silver-haired woman, mirror apparently forgotten. “Since when is cheering me up part of a body-guard’s job?”
Senalloy raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to think we were friends first. You have to trust me for me to truly guard you effectively.”
“Hmmm.” She looked back to Bannor. “What do you think of this one?”
“Magnificent,” he answered carefully. “The gold dragon outfit is still my favorite.”
“After Senalloy’s adjustments, that is so brazen. There’s more me than cloth.”
“It highlights the brilliance that is you.”
“Oooh, good answer,” Senalloy said with a grin.
“Yes, over the scoredays he’s gotten rather good at the finer strokes.”
He tilted his head. “Self preservation.”
“Well, I’m not wearing that to breakfast.” She started unfastening the red gown. She looked to the Baronian lady. “Thank you, Sen.”
Senalloy nodded. “I had fun. It’s not often I get to be a lady’s maid.”
“You do a wonderful job.”
The silver-haired woman bowed.
Sarai continued undressing. She glanced to the tall woman. “Sen, I do have a question.”
“Sure.”
“What do you think of Bannor being an ascendant?”
Senalloy looked to him. “I think he’s your enemy’s worst nightmare. I think he’ll put me out of a job.”
“I could never replace you, Sen,” he said. “There’s a difference between strength and experience.”
The Baronian woman smiled at him. “I’m glad you recognize that.” She looked to Sarai. “Was there something else you were wondering about?”
“It’s about power itself. What happened this morning made me reflect on something about myself. Does power change you? Or is it something in you already that the power brings out?”
The tall lady folded her arms. “I think it’s a little of both actually.”
Sarai nodded. She stepped over to where the shaladen was leaned against the bed table, bent down a picked up the sheath. “You know, I don’t know why, but I have always craved magic; as much of it as I could get my hands on.” Her attention went to him briefly and her cheeks colored. “Foross changed me into Adwena, and Koass gave me this shaladen. Suddenly, I had more power than I ever dreamed.” She let out a breath. “Now—” She blinked. “Suddenly, I find it scares me. I nearly took that child’s head off.” She shook her head. “I knew her every thought. I sensed her life-force. I was prepared. She couldn’t have stopped me.” She looked back to him. “I was always so confident it wouldn’t change me, now—I’m starting to doubt.”
“It certainly can.” Senalloy asked. “I wouldn’t worry about it. You two are pretty well adjusted. No matter how strong you get, you’re going to need an old sneak like me to look after you and teach you what’s what.” She rubbed Sarai’s shoulder.
His wife-to-be laughed. “Yes, I guess that’s true.”
Breakfast was much like dinner, held in the same large hall with a huge buffet to serve the tremendous appetites of the immorts. Bannor was surprised that after such a short time some of the assault team had already rested enough to join them. The Kergathas were already at the royal table with the King, Queen, Ryelle and Janai. It was not surprising that Daena did not come to breakfast. No doubt, the girl had a lot of thinking to do.
Shael Megan and Shael Elsbeth sat at the further end of the table conferring with Sindra and Drucilla who were with Cassandra’s golden daughters, Cassin and Annawen. The new royal healer, Wysteri with her purple hair tied in court fashion sat at one corner of the table listening intently to the conversations.
Bannor pulled back the chair for Sarai and seated her, before settling in.
Queen Kalindinai leaned forward and appraised her daughter with gleaming amber eyes. “So, this is it? The new you?” She raised her chin. “I approve.” She raised an eyebrow. “There seems more of you than I remember though.”
Sarai rolled her eyes an
d sighed. She cast a look at Wysteri who chose that moment to be enjoying her juice. “Our physician informs me it’s best for our baby.”
Janai coughed into her fist and said something so low that Bannor didn’t catch it with the other voices at the table. Whatever it was made Sarai glare daggers at her. Ryelle elbowed the second princess.
Kalindinai turned her attention back to the Kergathas. “Ri, so how is the new family?”
Euriel shook her head. Studying the expressions of her husband, and two children, all of whom had the glowing eyes of the ascendants. “Not so much new, as made over. Shoulder to shoulder has taken on a new meaning for us this last day.”
King Jhaan nodded. “Kidomma Idun, our table is blessed to have you for the first time. I trust your accommodations were satisfactory?”
Idun inclined her head and brushed back her glowing blonde hair. “I find the Freyr-kin of Titaan have even greater talent for bed-making than those of Gladshiem. I enjoyed my rest quite well. Thank you.”
Kalindinai turned to Idun. “Kidomma, I am curious. You have been witness to these changes to your kin and the other savants. What are your thoughts?”
The goddess took a sip from her goblet and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “I am wishing we had ascendants in the family seven scoredays ago. We would have settled the argument with Odin in a rather different way.” She focused on Wren, reached out and stroked the savant’s flowing blonde hair. Glowing blue eyes hooded, the Kel’Varan moved against her grandmother’s hand with a comforted smile. “Truly, it concerns me that the courts of the outer realms will catch wind of this. What Lady Marna did in a mere handful of moments was create a new pantheon, and not something trivial. There will be consternation and there will be apprehension. Many were the wrongs heaped on the Ka’amok and manifold is their incentive to pay those wrongs back.”
Azir looked to his grandmother. His radiant eyes narrowed. “I have about five years of paybacks due.”
“Aye,” Idun agreed. “And as my grandson alludes, the temptation to take up that standard while the opportunity presents itself is quite strong.” She leaned forward. “But we will resist that temptation—won’t we?”
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