Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice

by Robynn Sheahan

  “Do you like it?” Wilo stood just inside the lavish room.

  “It’s beautiful.” Erynn tried to maintain a smile. Fatigue, cold, and hunger were taking their toll.

  “If you feel like it, come down tomorrow and I’ll give you a tour. I’ll have your meal sent up. About sixty timnents?” With that, Wilo stepped back into the hall and closed the door.

  Jaer strode deeper into the space. “I told her it was too much. But she insisted.”

  Erynn stepped forward, staring out at the storm, her hands on the back of the couch. The material under her fingertips was soft. “Right now, I really don’t care.”

  “Stay here a moment. I will be right back.” Jaer disappeared into the bedroom, stripping out of his heavy coat as he went.

  Erynn unfastened her jacket and slowly peeled off the thick sleeves. She stared down at the couch.

  I could just lie here. Take a quick nap.

  A sum of sensory input had a hypnotizing effect. Fire popped and snapped in the hearth. The blaze radiated gentle warmth and a pale glow. Wind sighed outside. Ice ticked against the glass with an irregular tempo. Blowing flakes flitted and swooped in a cloud-gray sky of late afternoon.

  Erynn jumped when Jaer tugged the jacket from her grasp.

  He smiled and took her hand. “Come in here. I have a hot bath ready for you.”

  Bath?

  She followed Jaer through an extravagant bedroom paneled with the same polished red-gold wood into a spacious bathroom tiled in greens and browns. Muted lighting gave the space a calming atmosphere. Extending across the right wall was a large oval tub filled with steaming water and topped with rich scented foam.

  Erynn grinned up at Jaer. It had been a long time since she’d experienced the luxury of a bath. Living at the academy and in a dorm room for the past few months hadn’t given her this opportunity or the occasion.

  “Take all the time you want.” Jaer smiled and backed out of the room, closing the door.

  She stripped out of the jumpsuit, her t-shirt, and underwear. She stepped into the tub. The water was warm, nearly hot. It took her a moment to settle in to the heat. Erynn sank to her chin and closed her eyes. The flowery scented foam filled in around her. She gathered the bubbles with her palms and scooped them across the surface, breathing in the sweet fragrance.

  When the ache of cold began to leave her bones, Erynn submerged her head, wetting her hair. She stayed beneath in the warmth until her lungs screamed for air. She sat up and wiped water from her eyes. A body wash and shampoo sat in a corner of the tiled ledge around the tub. Erynn scrubbed her hair twice before washing the rest of her and dropping back into the water to her chin.

  Her stomach growled. She frowned and tried to ignore the protests of hunger.

  I’m finally warm.

  Now that she was no longer freezing, her stomach demanded attention. Erynn pushed out of the tub, releasing the water. A large thick towel waited on a warming rack. She wrapped it around her from head to toe. On a counter next to a double sink lay a pile of neatly folded clothes. Erynn towel-dried her hair and dressed in a plush long-sleeved shirt and baggy pants. She pulled on a pair of slipper-socks and turned toward the mirror.

  The four thin scars were an angry red across the fair skin of her face. They ran from just above her left ear to the tip of her chin. Syrana’s salve was gone, lost with the transport.

  Maybe Wilo has something here I can use.

  She would ask. Tomorrow.

  Erynn let her hair fall. The curls covered most of the damage. She opened the door. The bedroom was empty. She moved through the open door and into the main room. The aroma of food caused her stomach to growl again.

  Jaer had changed into his black tunic and quilted pants. He stood in profile, staring out the window, watching the storm. His long dark hair was pulled back in a silver clasp at his neck. His beard and mustache appeared recently trimmed. He turned when she entered. “Do you feel like eating something? I requested your favorite.” He grinned. “Cearach, with the red berries and sliced nuts.”

  She patted her stomach and smiled back. “Yes. The achcear. That sounds perfect.” This play of words—“cearach” from Korin and “achcear” from Arranon, both with the same meaning— further broke any lingering barrier.

  He motioned to the dining nook, seating her so she could see the main room and look out the windows. Afternoon had shifted to evening. Jaer went to the small kitchen and removed two plates from the oven, setting one down in front of her. He returned to the tiny refrigerator and brought a glass of kree with lots of ice for Erynn. He carried a bottle of beoir for himself to the table. He tipped his head. “Is there something you would rather have to drink?”

  Erynn couldn’t stop grinning. “No. Thank you. This is great.”

  Dinner was quiet. Jaer didn’t ask questions. Erynn knew him well enough. He would wait for her to talk. This silence between them was comfortable, not awkward.

  “Tam is anxious to see you. She is a good friend.” He took a large bite, chewed, and swallowed. “Sean is fine.” He was quiet again, focusing on his meal. “Tiar spends most of his free time in Tamaagra with Roni. They say Roni can be transferred to the base and put under Nev’s care soon.”

  Erynn discerned an undertone of contempt when Jaer said Nev. She dropped her fork. It clattered on her empty plate. “No!” Her breath shuddered in. “I mean, she should stay where she is. You know—because of the storm.”

  Jaer’s eyes darkened. His forehead creased. “That is not what you mean.”

  Erynn sighed and bit at her lower lip. “I ignored my gut when it came to Mikal. That was a mistake.”

  Mikal, Tam, and Sean had been her only friends at academy. She hadn’t liked Mikal. His mannerisms, his personality, everything about him affected her on a deep visceral level. Worse, she had ignored these warnings. Mikal turned out to be an alien agent. One of many sent to Korin to infiltrate both governments in an attempt to take over her worlds. He had befriended Erynn, hoping to get close to her politically powerful father. Ultimately, Mikal betrayed her.

  She watched Jaer, knowing that what she was about to say wouldn’t be easy. “Nev was nice.” She grimaced. “Kind to me and gentle. I sensed nothing to warn me away from him…at first.”

  Jaer’s fingers fisted on the table.

  Erynn reached out and laid her hand over his. “He was a friend. I never felt anything more toward him. I understood his intentions were not the same.” She took in a breath and released it slowly through parted lips. “Nev changed. He started pushing me subtly to make a choice. There was never a choice to make.” She squeezed Jaer’s hand, now relaxed under her fingers. “I learned from Tine that Dhoran had assumed the identity—taken the body—of a byan. That was when I realized once again that I had ignored my gut feeling.”

  Erynn glanced around the room, her gaze fixing on the fire in the hearth. “Is Dhoran inhabiting Nev’s body?” She shook her head. “I don’t know for sure. I didn’t get a clear view of him in the transition station before I jumped in and landed at the chamber to the portal of fire.” Erynn tipped her head, frowning. “But it feels like a possibility. There is something off about Nev.”

  Jaer remained quiet, listening. He was holding his breath. His hand trembled under hers.

  He has no idea what I’m talking about.

  She turned her attention to Jaer. His eyes were closed, his jaw set with tense muscles bunching and releasing. “Hey.” Erynn shook his hand. “Breathe. I can explain. But not right now. I’m tired. I need to work this out before I try to tell you, so it doesn’t sound so impossible. Besides, I had help from very unlikely sources—some you may not believe.”

  Jaer nodded and opened his eyes. “You should get some sleep. We will have time to talk later.” He turned his hand, grasping hers, and stood up. He led her down into the main room past the couch. A pillow and blankets were stacked at one end.

  I didn’t see those there earlier. But I was focused on Jaer.
/>   “What are those for?” Erynn stopped and stared down at the pile of bedding.

  “I did not know…” Jaer frowned, shuffling his feet. “If you want the bed to

  yourself—”

  “I want you with me. Like that night in the forest. Like that time in your quarters. Just to hold you close while we sleep.” She stepped forward and reached her arms around the solid essence of him. With her head against his powerful chest, she breathed in his spicy scent.

  He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. “Kipa. I love you. More than you will ever know.”

  “Oh, I know.”

  He chuckled. “Good.”

  They continued into the bedroom. The storm raged in the night beyond the wide windows.

  Erynn climbed under the blankets while Jaer went to the bathroom, changing out of his tunic and pants.

  Jaer slipped in next to her, wrapped one arm around her, and lightly traced the four long scars on Erynn’s cheek. He kissed each one, putting his hand under her chin to raise her lips to his.

  She needed no coaxing. Soft static swirled in the dark. “I love you, Jaer.”

  He chuckled. “I know.” He snuggled closer and breathed deeply.

  “This is better, now that I don’t smell like a wet maejen.”

  Jaer chuffed. “Erynn, I would not care if you smelled of bonthar.”

  Erynn pushed back and gazed at his dark form. “You saved my life. Again.”

  Jaer pulled her into him. “We, the maejen and I, have an agreement.”

  “An agreement?”

  “Yes.” He sighed and settled into the bed. “We have agreed not to keep score.”

  A blast rocked the building. Windows shuddered, and a roar like an explosion shook the sturdy log-frame walls. Erynn’s dream melded with the rumble and boom of the storm.

  She was in the medical bay of the alien ship. Children huddled around her, crying. Their tear-streaked frightened faces stared up at her out of the gloomy red emergency lighting. Well-placed explosives detonated, ripping through screeching metal on other decks of the ship. The air was thick with dark rancid smoke. Cace appeared through the haze at the main hall leading to the Medical Unit. He motioned for her to follow him. Erynn couldn’t go to him surrounded by hundreds of bodies pressed against her. Like a dream within a dream, they disappeared in the choking smoke. Their cries faded, and the push of the combined weight no longer compressed her. The children were gone. She was alone at the far end of the unit, next to the lift that would carry her to freedom. Erynn ran toward Cace. He called, but his voice couldn’t reach her. Flames shot from the corridor with a sickening whump and engulfed him.

  Erynn pushed out of Jaer’s arms and jumped from the bed.

  Jaer followed. “Erynn. Stop,” he whispered, his tone calm. He reached out, took her shoulders, and leaned into her. “It is okay.”

  Her body shook. “We have to get out. The ship—it’s being destroyed. Cace? I can’t hear you…What?” She frowned and rubbed at her forehead. “No. Wait.” She gazed into the soft outline of Jaer’s face, not Cace’s, not Faylen’s. Jaer’s dark eyes shimmered in the dancing flames from the hearth. “Jaer.” She glanced around Cale’s lodge, a snowstorm outside the wide windows. The fire crackled and wrapped long orange fingers over what remained of the logs. A pale glow and warmth radiated through the room. Jaer’s skin shone a golden bronze. The muscles in his chest stood out in the dim light.

  Erynn pulled air into her lungs. “Sorry.”

  Wind slammed the outside wall and assaulted the windows. It roared through the trees with a screaming vengeance.

  Her gaze whipped toward the glass. Morning had come, but the light from the sun barely penetrated the storm-dark sky.

  Jaer smoothed her hair and ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “Come back to bed. You should try to get some more sleep.”

  She chuckled. “Like that’s going to happen. Sleep? Through this?” She nodded toward the storm.

  In punctuation to her words, another gust rattled the building and sent snow tapping against the glass, seeking entrance.

  Erynn stiffened. “Wait. Tiar? Sean?” She hurried to the window. “Why would they risk flying in this storm?”

  “Erynn, you are still dreaming. Tiar and Sean are not here. Cace is safe with his mother at the base.” Jaer moved to stand behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and enveloped her in his heat and spicy scent.

  “No. I’m not dreaming.” She pointed. “There.”

  The fiery twin blaze of an Interceptor’s exhaust split the gray day and burnished the frenzied snowflakes with an orange shimmer. Another fighter followed the first. Engines whined as the two ships settled into the snow. The storm swirled with a wild rage around them.

  For Erynn, it seemed as if time alone with Jaer in this beautiful place, the gale raging outside, was too much to hope for.

  There must be vital news. Could it be Dhoran? Has he shown himself? Does he inhabit Nev’s body? Has the war between the realms begun? No, it’s Cace! He’s found something. Something that couldn’t wait.

  A loud pounding began at the outer door to their suite.

  Jaer sighed and let go of Erynn, walking reluctantly to the door. His disappointment at the loss of their time together washed over her.

  Wilo stood in the hall, a dark blue sweater pulled over her sleeping clothes. Her short hair was disheveled. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Jaer. You and Erynn need to come to the main room.” She pushed a bundle of clothing toward Jaer. “These should fit Erynn. I was going to let her pick her own, but…” Wilo sighed. “There’s trouble.”

  Chapter 31

  TIAR AND SEAN CAME THROUGH the outer doors with a gust of icy wind, stomping their boots and brushing snow from their heavy jumpsuits. They pushed into the main room from the interior entrance.

  Erynn watched them from where she stood by the warm fire. Her senses were open, but not reading their emotions.

  Are they blocking me? Can they do that?

  Most of the lodge’s guests were also present, their attention split between Erynn and the new arrivals. There were no quiet conversations among them this morning. Silence covered a growing swell of fear. Violence carried out on Dhoran’s command had escalated across Arranon. News of attacks reached even this remote area. Their anxiety of a possible crisis rushed over Erynn. She narrowed her exposure, tugged at the sleeves of the sweater she wore, and smiled at Tiar and Sean.

  Sean engulfed her in a hug. “You okay?” he asked in a low voice.

  “I’m fine. Great. What’s going on?” She pulled out of Sean’s hug and stared into his deep-green eyes. “What was so important that you would risk flying in this weather?”

  “Oh, I’m good too. Thanks for asking.” Sean grinned.

  Her arms tightened around him. “I’m sorry, Sean. But I know if you and Tiar flew here through that,” she tossed her head toward the storm and whispered, “something bad has happened.”

  “Right to the point then.” Sean’s smile faded. “Cace—”

  Erynn stiffened. Her thoughts ran with the possibilities.

  Did Nev…No. It’s not Nev. He’s Dhoran. Did Dhoran hurt Cace because he can translate the plates?

  Erynn didn’t give Sean a chance to finish. Her voice trembled. “Cace? Is he—”

  “Cace just needs to talk to you.” Sean brushed curls from her eyes.

  “About the plates from Deanaim.” Tiar glanced around the room. He slipped out of the heavy coat he wore over his flight suit and nodded at Jaer.

  Jaer returned Tiar’s nod.

  Tiar shook his jacket before folding it over his arm. Flying droplets of melted snow hissed when they contacted the hot stones of the hearth.

  “What?” Erynn nearly shouted in her impatience for Tiar to continue.

  Several of the locals standing around jumped.

  Tiar glanced at the assembled group and then back to Erynn. “Cace will explain.”

  “He�
�s here?” Erynn stared toward the outer doors.

  Sean peeled out of his dripping jacket. “No, Erynn. We brought communication equipment so you and Cace…well, so Cace can tell you what he’s translated from the plates.”

  Erynn shook her head. “Like the gear Aven and I took to Deanaim?”

  Sean grinned. “We’re not that far from the base. Had it not been for the storm, we probably could have reached you on the equipment that’s here. Cale’s made sure it’s high tech and serviced regularly.”

  “So tell me, then—what’s so vital?” Erynn glared from Sean to Tiar.

  The outer door banged open, followed by three snow-cloaked forms carrying wrapped boxes.

  Wilo opened the inner door. “Take them to the office,” she instructed.

  Tiar fell in step behind. “Neither Sean nor I can explain as well as Cace. There’s no use in going over this twice.” He shrugged. “Besides, we don’t know all that Cace has uncovered. When we left, he hadn’t finished yet.” Tiar disappeared into the gloom beyond the smooth wooden counter and through a door at the rear of the small space.

  Erynn stared at Jaer. “Do you know what this is about?”

  Jaer frowned. “No. So we should go find out.” He gestured for Erynn to follow Tiar into the now brightly lighted back office.

  Cace hurried through dim corridors teeming with people on their way to duty stations or to quarters after their shifts ended. Unable to sleep or to stop pacing their small rooms, he’d convinced his mom to let him return to the Science Unit. He was close to unlocking a complete translation of the wooden tablets from Deanaim. The short time he’d been given the previous evening was not enough. Today, before long, he would have the proof he needed. More importantly, he would know the secrets to stop Dhoran’s bid for domination. If allowed to follow through, Dhoran’s plan could annihilate Arranon and Korin. The balance between Arranon’s two realms—the surface and the underworld—and even the stability connecting Arranon and Korin were at stake.