by J D Abbas
When Elena reached out to lay her hand on Sophe’s arm, the glint of the ring Elbrion had given her caught her eye. “Oh! Is this yours? Do you recognize it?” Elena pulled the ring from her finger and handed it to Sophe.
The woman held the ring in her palm and studied it by the pulsating light of her flesh. “How did Elbrion retrieve this? Anakh’s people stripped me of my jewels when they tortured me.” Sophe’s eyes contained an all-too-familiar torment.
Elena’s gaze fixed on the bracelet on Sophe’s wrist.
“This is not mine,” Sophe said as she held up her forearm. “The Mymara gave it to me. They said it would help them to monitor my movements, though I am not at all certain how a bracelet can facilitate that.” She slipped the ring onto her slender finger. “How is it my jewels were returned? And how did you come to have this?”
Elena’s lip quivered. “Elbrion gave me the ring when he adopted me,” she whispered.
“Adopted you?” Sophe raised one brow in a manner so much like Elbrion, Elena’s breath caught.
“He and Celdorn, the Lord Protector of the Shalamhar, took me in as their own several months back. Each one gave me gifts from his family line. Elbrion told me this had been yours. I also wore your garments when I was married not long ago.”
Sophe hesitantly laid her hand on Elena’s cheek. “He adopted you.” More shimmering tears spilled. “So Elbrion has married and given me a beautiful granddaughter.” A wistful smile spread across her lips.
“Elbrion isn’t married. He has pledged his life to Celdorn, to be his companion and protector. Neither has married. But … but they did adopt me, formally, so I guess that would make me your grandchild.” Elena blushed and looked down.
“I’m sorry. You must have so many questions,” Elena said. “Let’s not dwell on me.”
Sophe laughed. “Well, I just met my granddaughter. I do not mind at all dwelling on you.” She patted Elena’s cheek. “You said that Elbrion serves as a protector to this Celdorn. Then Elbrion is not king in the absence of his sister.”
“No, there is no king or queen in Queyon, only the council of elders. Celdorn serves as Lord Protector over the Shalamhar. He was chosen by the council.”
“No queen or king?” Sophe jolted, and her brows arched high. “What happened?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know much of Queyon’s history yet. I’ve only just arrived here—There. I guess, technically, I’m not in Queyon anymore.—I’m afraid I can’t answer your questions. I know that Celdorn has served for twenty-five years, and his father served before him. That’s all I know. Most of the council has been serving for a long time so you probably know all of them.” She named the ones she could remember.
Sophe listened intently, absorbing the information. “You are correct. I know them. Hmm … no women on the council. That is an odd turn,” she murmured, her eyes distant as if deep in thought.
Sophe straightened and turned her gaze back to Elena. “Forgive me, my dear. I seem to have drifted. I have been in isolation too long,” she said with a sigh. “Now that we have established who we are, may I ask again, how did you come to be here? What did you mean when you said this was inside your mind?”
Elena explained the best she could about how her internal world worked and about the third door. When Elena mentioned the Mymara entering her mind along with members of the Qadhar, Sophe’s expression sobered and her hands gripped her knees.
“Why would they want to enter your mind? What do they hope to gain? And … and how would they do such a thing? Khanab must have learned new skills.”
Elena squirmed. “It’s because of my gifts. They tell me it is I who make it possible.” She glanced at Sophe then down at the floor, suddenly self-conscious. It sounded so arrogant when she said it aloud. “The Mymara said they can no longer see the future and asked to accompany me to observe the images behind the third door, where I can see things from the future and the past, apparently.”
Elena glanced up to find Sophe’s eyes wide and her face tense. “What is your heritage, child?”
Elena couldn’t look at her, so she focused on her hands, which she held tightly clutched in her lap. “They say my grandmother was one of the original Alraphim.” A fire lit her face and continued to the tips of her ears. “One of Anakh’s inner circle.”
Sophe gasped. “You are Alraphim?” She grabbed Elena’s chin and lifted her face. “Oh, child, no! Did anyone pursue you here? Do they know where you are?” Sophe’s voice had a sharp edge to it that sent a chill up Elena’s back.
“I-I don’t know. I entered an image in my mind, and Anakh and the others appeared. They pursued me, and I ended up at Roth Rock. I lost them in the maze of paths, I think. They weren’t there when I descended from the stone table, so I don’t think they know where I went.”
“Can the Qadhar members or the Mymara that followed you inside your mind see or hear you now?”
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t know how we got separated, but we did.”
Sophe took a deep breath. “Forgive me, Elena. I have guarded my secret for so long, I do not want to risk it being discovered now.”
“Your secret?”
Sophe frowned. “Elena, may I place my hand on your head? Will you allow me to enter your mind? Only briefly, I promise. I must know if I can speak freely with you.”
“Aren’t you already in my mind?” Elena’s hands shook as tentacles of ice spread through her body. “I feel like I am slipping into insanity again.” Then she remembered and felt for the jewel that was imbedded in her chest. It was there. She wasn’t dreaming. Elena let out a long, shaky breath.
“I understand that all too well, Elena.” When Sophe smiled, the room warmed. “The mind is a complex thing especially for a Rahima. I promise you I will tell you more after I make certain of a few things.”
What did she have to lose? “All right, I will trust you. My adai will either be very proud of me for overcoming my fear or scold me for being so foolish. Only time will tell.” Elena gave a half-hearted laugh.
“You are a brave young woman, my dear.” The tenderness in Sophe’s eyes brought tears to her own. The older woman placed her hands on the sides of Elena’s face. They were warm in spite of the coolness of the cell.
A few moments later, Sophe opened her eyes wide and stared at Elena. “I am in awe, dear one, and fear that perhaps I am only dreaming and will awaken to find that this was nothing more than my wishful thinking. I never thought I would live to see Athebria. I am humbled by the privilege.” Sophe grasped Elena’s hands and bent forward, laying her head upon them.
Elena wanted to tell her to stop, that she didn’t deserve such deference, but the words stuck in her throat.
When Sophe lifted her face again, she said, “You are indeed gifted and wonderfully blessed. I will tell you more, but it must be quickly. You cannot be found here.”
Another chill skittered up Elena’s spine. “I’m listening.”
“Elena, I too am one of the original Alraphim.”
Elena gasped and tugged her hands away from Sophe. “But … you’re Elbrion’s mother.” It felt as if someone had just stabbed her.
No, she argued with herself, Elbrion is good. His mother must be as well.
“I know that the scrolls say only the corrupted Alraphim survived, but that is not the truth. There were three dozen of us who made an agreement to scatter and go into hiding, knowing that one day we would find each other and reclaim our race. Anakh was a better huntress than we thought, however, and many were found and absorbed—at least that is what Anakh claimed.
“I was disguised as an Elrodanar when she captured and tortured me in hopes of learning about the others, but none of us knew each other’s whereabouts for that very reason. I managed to escape, but when hiding in these mountains, injured and emaciated, the Mymara found me. After nursing me back to health, they imprisoned me. Since I am not one of them and had stumbled onto their ancient city, they would not allow me to leave.
/> “When they interrogated me further, they realized who and what I was. They assured me it was for the safety of all Qabara that they held me. If they discover you have been here, they will take you captive as well. When you return, you cannot tell them. Do you understand?”
Elena nodded. Then, a frown formed. “If you are Alraphim, why can’t you use your mind to leave here in the same way I used mine to get here?”
Sophe chuckled. “Not all Alraphim are as gifted as you, Child. I have tried, and I have failed. I also have not been able to speak to anyone’s mind, even powerful Abathor. Perhaps the Mymara have placed some sort of enchantment around this cell which disables the abilities I once had. I do not know.”
“Then I must help you. Flee with me.”
“I would not put you in such danger, my dear. If I escape, they will not only hunt me but you as well. I cannot risk the life of Athebria. You are too valuable. If you are lost, all is lost. If I remain here, it harms no one.”
“Except Elbrion,” Elena said, holding Sophe’s gaze. “It would break his heart—again. How would I face him if I left you behind?”
Footsteps sounded in the distance.
“Oh no, someone is coming.” Sophe jumped to her feet. “You must leave now. Hurry.”
“I can’t, not without you.”
“You must, or you risk both our lives.”
Elena rose, her heart heavy, and followed Sophe to the cell door.
“Tell Elbrion I love him and have thought of him every day since I left him—in private. Do not let the others know. It is too dangerous. We cannot risk Anakh discovering that I am here. The Mymara think they are powerful enough to protect me; they are not.” She gave Elena a quick embrace. “I am grateful to have met you, and I hope we see each other again,” she whispered. “Now go.”
But before she could push through the bars, a shadow crossed the threshold. Keys jangled, and Elena dashed toward the corner of the room, out of sight of the jailer. Now what?
“Become a part of the wall,” Sophe whispered.
“I-I don’t know how.” Elena’s frantic thoughts turned to Terzhel. How she wished she’d asked him how he did it.
A key scraped in the lock. Tumblers turned. Elena’s heart pounded in her chest. Sophe stepped in front of the door. “I am not hungry. You may take the food away.”
Fabric swished and swished again. Elena pictured the Mymara using her hands to communicate. Then, metal clanged. She shrank into the corner, wishing she could make herself invisible. Hinges creaked and groaned as the cell door pushed inward. Sophe stumbled back with a desperate glance toward the corner.
Elena remembered there was a cell on the other side of that wall. She pressed her hands against the cold stone and shoved—too hard. Off balance, she tumbled forward onto her knees and smacked her forehead on the stone floor. Her brain slammed against her skull. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. The sound of the impact echoed in the empty cell, a herd of Ilqazar to her ears. Pushing herself upright, Elena held her breath and listened. Sophe was talking non-stop to her jailer, hopefully enough to cover the noise she had made.
Elena rubbed her throbbing forehead and waited until she heard the clang of Sophie’s cell door being closed and the scuff of the jailer’s shoes as she made her way down the corridor before venturing out of the cell. Elena clung to the wall as she inched toward Sophe’s room to say goodbye.
Sophe let out a relieved breath when she saw Elena. Around the bars of the cell, they gripped hands.
“We’ll find a way to free you,” Elena promised, though she had no idea how.
“No. Do not come back. Just be safe, dear one. And give my love to Elbrion.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Now go. And don’t look back,” Sophe said.
With a lump in her throat, Elena turned away. The jailer had come from her right, so she turned to the left, walking uphill in the dark corridor, afraid to call forth any light and give herself away. She trailed her hand along the right wall, knowing that the entrance to the cavern would be on that side.
A hundred pounding heartbeats later, a burst of cool air rushed past her, and she knew she’d found the cavern. Only what would she do now? She didn’t want to go back to the stone table atop Roth Rock and risk being discovered by Anakh and the others, but how else could she return?
This is my mind. A sudden confidence filled her. Elena pressed her hand against the jewel on her chest, closed her eyes, and envisioned Elbrion. She focused on her love for him and let her heart lead.
“Sheyshon?”
A beautiful word! Spoken by a beloved voice.
“Ada!” She leapt into Elbrion’s embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing with relief. He gave her a powerful squeeze.
“Thank Qho’el you are safe!”
“Take me out of here, Ada” she whispered in his ear. “I have something important to tell you.”
~
Elbrion had needed no further explanation. He sensed the panic in Elena and felt Yaelmargon cast a ward around her inner world. The master must have sensed something as well. The girl seemed especially terrified of the Mymara upon their return to the council chamber.
After a brief explanation to the Qadhar, Elbrion nodded to Celdorn and Silvandir, and the group rose to escort Elena to some place more private.
Lamreth jumped to his feet and blocked them. “She cannot leave. Something happened in there, and she needs to explain to the council. This is not a game,” the Xiander snapped.
Silvandir lowered his head and muscled past Lamreth, guiding Elena toward the exit, while Mikaelin hurriedly escorted Vionessa and the baby to join them.
“Elena has already told you that she cannot disclose what happened. To do so would risk her life and the life of another,” Elbrion countered. “That should be sufficient for now. She has free choice, as does any other that enters this chamber. You will not take that from her.” Elbrion took a deep breath and pushed down the fire rising in him. It would not do to erupt here. His job was to protect Elena and her child, not create further trouble.
“We will speak with her and see what can be told,” Elbrion conceded.
Lamreth stepped aside, but Elbrion saw fury in his eyes. “You are as obstinate as your mother.” The Xiander growled it so softly no one else heard.
Elbrion took his words as the highest praise.
Chapter 55
“My mother? You are certain?”
Elena had waited only until they had dropped off Mikaelin and Vionessa with the baby at their cottage and hurried over to her adai’s home before blurting out the news, unable to contain it any longer. “Ada, she looked just like you. And … and I knew; I just knew. I can’t explain why or how.” She quickly closed the door behind them.
Elbrion staggered back and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs. His light flickered in an odd rhythm. “My mother …”
“She warned me not to speak of this in front of the others. If the Mymara found out that I had been there or that we know she is there, they might … Well, I don’t know what they might do in order to protect their secret.”
“So Nurema knew my mother lived, and she never told the council.”
Celdorn sat on the arm of the chair and laid his hand on Elbrion’s shoulder. “She’s the queen, the rightful ruler of the Shalamhar. How could they be so brazen?”
“Why would they not trust the council?” Elbrion asked.
“Your mother said they imprisoned her because she’d found their secret domain, but she told me they think they’re protecting her and Qabara by keeping her hidden.” Her adai exchanged puzzled looks. “And I agree. I think they may be hiding her because of who she is—what she is. And they may have been right to do so.”
“What do you mean by ‘what she is’?” The confusion in Elbrion’s eyes unsettled Elena. He was her strength, her emotional rock, but at the moment he looked lost, wounded. Elena felt his ache in her own heart. All the years he’d been deprived
of with his family, his mother. And apparently, he didn’t know about her heritage.
Elena looked down, unable to hold his gaze. “She told me that she is one of the original Alraphim Guardians.”
The silence in the room pounded in Elena’s ears. She looked up to find her adai and Silvandir staring at her, mouths agape.
Elbrion’s gaze shifted inward, and his brow furrowed. “Alraphim?” His light flickered.
“Are you certain that was what she said, little one?” Celdorn asked. “Are you sure it was she and not an imposter?”
Elena blinked. “I-I don’t know. How would I know?” She thought back through their encounter. “The ring! Sophe recognized the ring. She said Anakh had taken her jewels when they tor—” She glanced at Elbrion. “When they captured her.”
“It is all right, Sheyshon. I know she was tortured. Markhum gave us a full account.” He sighed. “So she recognized the ring. Did she say anything else that would identify her?”
“She asked about your father and if your sister was now queen. I told her I didn’t know what happened to them. She seemed surprised no queen or king had succeeded her.” Elena gazed at Elbrion. “Ada, I believed her. Something brought us together. I asked Qho’el to guide me. I begged for truth.”
Elbrion stared out the window, a faint smile on his lips. “So my mother was one of the original Guardians. That would explain many things ... her power, her wisdom.” He looked at Celdorn. “How did Anakh learn who she was?”
Celdorn shook his head. “Someone must have reasoned it out. Someone who knew her well, who knew the lore.” He scowled. “Someone who wanted to take her place.”
“Were there any women on the council when you mother was abducted?” Silvandir asked.
“Six.”
“Where are they now?”
“Hezema and Weeda both died during the war. Yuna, Chuney, and Lyda were captured along with my mother, Markhum, and five others. Yuna and Markhum were the only ones to return.” Elbrion’s frown deepened.
