by Krista Rose
The others stared at me in horror.
Alight placed a hand on my shoulder. Her voice was soft, and she spoke slowly, gesturing with her other hand. I caught the word “city” and “knack”, but I wasn’t sure if she had said either of those words. She pointed toward the castle in the distance, and understanding filtered through me. She wanted to take the others to the city.
I nodded.
She slid her arm through mine, keeping to my right side as she spoke to the others. I wondered if she was telling them about the weakness I sometimes felt, my new tendency to topple sideways when I wasn’t paying attention.
She gestured again, and we started forward, heading down the flower-lined path toward the wondrous city of Elves.
I wondered if the others would hate it as much as I did.
ALYXEN
We followed Reyce and Aillel toward Cedralysone, leading our tired horses. The sound of the waterfall grew to a thunderous crash as we neared it. Hidden within the mist at its base was a bridge spanning the head of the river, which led us to extravagant front doors. Above them was carved an intricate symbol: a many-pointed star behind a large eye, embellished with gold-leaf and precious gems. I guessed it to be the symbol of Cedralysone, and wondered what it meant.
We entered into a great marble foyer. It was lined with alcoves where huge statues stared down at us with expressionless faces. Hanging lamps of flickering crystal light illuminated an enormous stone staircase that spiraled up through the ceiling and down through the floor, swallowing most of the space.
Standing at the foot of the stairs were two more Cedrani. One was a stranger, with dark hair and eyes that burned like violet fire as he stared at us, and the other-
“Vanderys!” Kylee raced across the hall, then seemed to remember herself at the last moment. She jerked to a stop in front of the surprised Cedrani. “I- I got us through the Madyrim, but Kryssa was taken by slavers, and we couldn’t find her, and we don’t know what to do, and-”
“Lyssen.” He smiled, but his eyes were worried as he glanced at the man beside him. “Forgive us, my lord. These are the others I told you of.”
The stranger inclined his head, his face emotionless as he looked each of us over. His eyes lingered on Lanya the longest, and something flickered behind them. “There is nothing to forgive, Valariel. This Kryssa, she is your sister?”
He addressed the question to Lanya. When she didn’t respond, I looked over at her, and found her pale as a ghost, her blue eyes nearly black as she stared at him.
Lanya. I gave her a sharp mental jab. Lanya, he’s talking to you.
“W-what? Oh. Yes.”
‘My lord’. You have to call him ‘my lord’.
“My lord,” she repeated breathlessly.
I glanced at Tanner, and rolled my eyes.
“That is very unfortunate.” The man crossed his arms and glanced at Vanderys. “We shall have to see what we can do about this.”
Vanderys bowed his head. “Yes, my lord.”
He looked back at Lanya. “I do not believe anyone has told me your name, my lady.”
She swallowed, and fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve nervously. “La-Lanya, my lord.”
Tanner was looking at her strangely, and he leaned sideways to whisper in my ear. “She’s doing that thing again.”
I looked around, realizing it was true. Aillel and Vanderys were both staring at her, their eyes starting to glaze over. Lanya, knock it off.
What?
You’re playing with everyone’s emotions. Get yourself under control.
Her cheeks flamed, but the glazed look faded from the eyes of the others. Tanner sighed gratefully.
“I am Aleydis, son of Prince Sotiris,” the man continued, oblivious to the exchange, or the change in the tension of the room. “I see you have already met Lady Aillel, and First Valariel Vanderys.”
I glanced again at the lovely girl standing with Reyce, and saw that she was careful to keep her eyes averted from Aleydis. Something about her pulled at me, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.
She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, and I realized I had been staring. My cheeks burned unexpectedly, and I looked away.
“I am sure you must be tired from your journey.” Aleydis’ eyes remained on my sister’s face. “I will leave Lady Aillel to show you to your rooms.”
It was a clear dismissal, and he turned his back on us, starting up the stairs.
“Wait!” Kylee reached out, and grabbed Vanderys’ arm before he could follow. “What about Kryssa?”
“Your sister’s situation will be discussed.” Aleydis’ voice echoed as he continued up the stairs. “But we have other duties that require our attention. Come, Valariel.”
“All will be well, lyssen,” Vanderys promised, and squeezed my sister’s hand before hurrying after the son of the Prince. They vanished up the staircase.
“Well, that was different,” Tanner remarked.
Kylee rounded on Lanya. “What the hell was that?” she hissed.
Lanya blinked. “What?”
“You know what.”
Aillel was staring at us. Beside her, Reyce looked confused, and more than a little lost.
Maybe we should talk about this later, I interrupted. Aloud, I said, “You know, I could really use a bath.”
Aillel smiled at me, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “If you will follow me, I will show you to your chambers.” She tugged Reyce’s hand and gestured to the stairs before starting forward.
I glanced at Tanner, wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. He shrugged, as confused as I was, and followed.
LANYA
I had stayed once in the Temple of Vanae, where decadency was considered holy and pleasures were revered. I had thought then that the room I had stayed in was the height of luxury.
I had been wrong.
The velvet curtain had been drawn back, and the sun shone through the waterfall that poured down outside the window, so that rainbows of light danced over the walls. Magic kept the room dry and cool, and dulled the sound of the falls to a melodic hum. A huge canopied bed took up one corner, draped in fine silk curtains, and a marble tub sat in another, already filled with steaming water. The air smelled of the wildflowers that were strewn across the surface.
I stripped out of my clothes and sank into the tub with a grateful moan. The water eased the aches in my tired body, and I scrubbed the dirt from my skin with a soft cloth, humming in pleasure.
The water must have been magic, for it did not grow dirty or cold, even when I lingered. I sampled from a row of crystalline bottles on a low shelf and found one that smelled of honeysuckle. It reminded me of my mother, and I sighed as I massaged it into my skin.
Kryssa, you really should try- I broke off, appalled. How had I forgotten? Fear swamped me, horror stories from my time spent with former slaves echoing in my ears. What had the slavers done to her? More importantly, who would they sell her to?
The ghost of the Darkling Prince loomed over me. A heavy weight was wrapped around my ankle, chaining me to his bed, trapping me in front of his burning eyes as he reached for me-
I shuddered, suddenly cold despite the water, and submerged myself to wash the memories away. My blood thrummed in my ears, soothing, and the panic eased.
I came up for air at last, and found a young Cedrani girl staring at me curiously. Her dark hair was braided back from her face, and delicate crystal drops hung from her pointed ears. She held several lengths of fabric in her arms, and I could see more stacked on the bed, along with several boxes.
“Lord Aleydis has sent me to tend to your needs, my lady.” Her voice was light and lovely. “I am Lyrel.”
“Lanya,” I introduced myself, rising from the water.
Lyrel looked away. I bit my lip to hide my grin; five months of public baths in Fallor had cured me of my modesty around other women. I stretched and stepped from the tub. Lyrel offered me a towel, though she kept her eyes aver
ted as I used it to dry myself.
Once I had donned clean undergarments, I allowed her to dress me. The folds of fabric turned out to be gowns, cut in the style preferred by the Cedrani: open sleeves that trailed nearly to the floor, a gently scooped neckline, and folds of soft fabric that whispered against my legs, all in a shade of blue so dark it was almost black. My grandfather’s amulet glittered at my throat, and I toyed with it as Lyrel arranged my hair, pinning it away from my face with two silver combs.
I felt like royalty, and I stared at my reflection for long moments, admiring the way the dress clung to my curves. I had hidden my feminity for years in unflattering dresses; it felt almost scandalous to indulge in it now.
Vain, a tiny voice scolded me in my mind. Perhaps I was- but was it really wrong? Vanae was the Goddess of Beauty. Wouldn’t ignoring her blessing be a greater sin?
Lyrel offered me a box, her eyes still averted. “A gift from Lord Aleydis, my lady.”
It was a large pin, cleverly carved to resemble a spray of cherry blossoms. Pink and white diamonds were scattered across it, sparkling and lovely in the fading afternoon light. I touched it gently as Lyrel pinned it to the left shoulder of my dress, so that the cool silver flowers rested against my collarbone.
A bell rang somewhere, deep and sonorous, and Lyrel glanced at the window. “It’s time to join the others in the Great Hall, my lady.”
I nodded, and followed as she led me into the corridor outside my room where the others had gathered, each with their own attendant. Alyxen and Reyce had been garbed in fine white shirts and breeches and Cedrani over-robes, which draped like capes from their shoulders in shades of grey and silver. Kylee fidgeted behind them, looking nervous, and I forgot myself enough for a moment to gape at her.
“You’re wearing a dress,” I blurted.
She scowled at me, tugging on the ring on her finger. The green gown she wore was cut similar to mine, but tiny diamonds studded the inside of the sleeves and dotted the hem. Emeralds had been woven into her hair, which cascaded in dark curls to her waist.
“Marel insisted,” she muttered, and glared at the Cedrani woman next to her. Marel ignored her.
Tanner was the last to arrive, wearing an overrobe of dark red. He looked bewildered and confused, and I overheard him whisper to Alyxen as we headed toward the stairs. “This kind of thing happen to you a lot?”
My brother shrugged. “You get used to it.”
He glanced at Kylee, his mouth opening in a question.
“Say one word,” she muttered through clenched teeth, “and I will break your damn face.”
His mouth snapped shut with an audible click.
The Cedrani attendants led us to the central staircase, and we climbed up, passing floor after floor of the massive city. I glimpsed corridors filled with paintings and statues and flowers, huge doors carved in the stone to look like trees and dragons and pegasi. The more I saw, the more awed I felt.
The Great Hall was on top of the city. It was not a room, but more an open balcony, granting a stunning view of the entire vale. The side of the mountain began at the edge of the tiled floor, and the headwaters of the waterfall flowed out of it, cutting across the Hall to fall over the edge. Cedrani sat at the tables that had been placed in long rows on either side of it, leading up to a table on a dais, where a tired Cedrani on a golden throne presided. An angry-looking man sat on his left, and Aleydis, son of the Prince, sat on his right.
His eyes found mine, and I felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck me.
Lyrel and the other attendants curtsied and bowed, and motioned for us to do the same.
“Dyslan ne Dione se Vi, elden ne d’Aurelion. D’aur Llylhin vect posi Vi.” Her voice was clear and ringing as she addressed the man at the head of the table, whom I guessed to be Prince Sotiris.
“De lyss vectalys Vi vectamor.” He nodded, the silver crown on his head gleaming, before continuing in flawless common, “We welcome Diona’s youngest children to our Great Hall.”
“Say ‘thank you, Your Highness’,” Lyrel whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
I swallowed, and hoped my voice wouldn’t break. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
He gestured, and the Cedrani attendants led us over small stone bridges spanning the water to our seats, scatterered across the head table. I was seated between Aleydis and Tanner on one side of the table, and Alyxen and Reyce were seated on the other on either side of Aillel. Kylee sat at the far end between two bored-looking Cedrani, her face nearly as green as her dress. She looked as if she might bolt at any moment.
Lyrel sat behind us on a cushioned divan, arranging her skirts around her legs before picking up a lyre. Soft, soothing music drifted across the Hall, mixing with the sound of the falls. The Cedrani began to eat.
Though the food scattered before us smelled wonderful, I wondered how I was supposed to eat any of it with butterflies dancing in my stomach. Aleydis presence to my right made my skin feel too hot, and my heart beat too hard against my chest.
“The Aur-Ishket looks lovely upon you,” he murmured.
“What?” I blinked at him, confused, then realized he was speaking of the pin. I touched the diamond-studded flowers, and flushed. “Thank you. It’s a beautiful gift.”
“It is meant as an apology for my earlier behavior.” A hint of a smile crossed his lips. “I had many concerns on my mind when you first arrived, but it was not my intent to be rude.”
“You weren’t, my lord,” I reassured him, and wished my cheeks would stop burning.
“Still, it is my hope to make up for my lack of welcome. Tell me, how do you find Cedralysone so far, my lady?”
I looked out over the vale, golden now in the light of the setting sun. “It’s magnificent, my lord. A paradise.”
“I am pleased that you find it so. Perhaps tomorrow you would allow me the pleasure of showing it to you.”
I glanced back at him, my ears burning. “I- I would like that, I think. My lord.”
“Lanya.” Tanner’s whisper in my ear was strained. “You’re leaking.”
I gulped, and reeled in my emotions. Tanner relaxed beside me, but Aleydis’ eyes continued to burn on my face. His lips tilted a little higher as my blushed darkened.
“Cedralysone is filled with many wonders,” Aleydis continued, unaware of Tanner’s comment, “though I am sure they will all pale beside you.”
I had no response, and stared at him helplessly, trapped in his gaze.
“Your flirting is going to kill me, isn’t it?” Tanner muttered.
I kicked him under the table, but the spell was broken. Prince Sotiris asked Aleydis a question in their musical tongue, and he turned away to answer it. I sighed, realizing at last how famished I was, and began to eat.
ALYXEN
“We need to talk.”
I blinked as Tanner let himself into my room, my vision blurry with exhaustion. “Can it wait until morning?”
“I don’t think so.” He looked over his shoulder warily before walking toward me. “Does this place feel wrong to you?”
I sank onto the edge of the bed and rubbed my face. “What do you mean?”
“Everything. The city, Aleydis, the other Cedrani. Something feels off.”
I yawned to mask my own misgivings. “They aren’t human, Tanner. They really are different than us, even if they look similar.”
“I’m not being a racist, Alyxen. I’m concerned.”
“I know.” I sighed, and rubbed my face again. “You talk to Lanya?”
He snorted. “She hasn’t stopped ogling Aleydis since we got here. You could hit her with a brick right now and it would take her a week to feel the pain.”
“Yeah, I noticed that.”
He peered out my window up at the rising moon. “I think we should get what we came for and get out of here.”
“What about Reyce? Aillel says there’s months of recovery ahead of him. And Kryssa-”
“Your grandfather is a heale
r,” he pointed out. “He can take care of Reyce. I don’t think these people have any intention of helping Kryssa, or us, for that matter. So let’s get the information on the Temple of the Burned as fast as possible so we can leave.”
I nodded reluctantly, and flopped onto my back on the bed. “Alright. But can we do it tomorrow?”
“Yeah.” He was still staring out my window, toward the diminishing moon. His eyes looked sad and lost.
I thought of Felice, and shivered. “Tanner?”
“Yeah?”
“Go to bed.”
“Yeah.” He stared at the moon for another moment, then turned away. “Good night, Alyxen.”
“Good night,” I murmured, and fell asleep before he had even closed the door.
REYCE
I woke in the middle of the night, shuddering and shaking, remembered terror locked in my throat. I swallowed, over and over, stuttering noises emerging from my mouth instead of the prayer I meant to say.
The darkness of my room pressed in against me, and I whimpered, clutching the blankets to my chest. I could almost see it, a black shape against the shadows, reaching for me-
Golden light flooded into me, chasing away the nightmare and easing my fear. I could not understand the words Lanya tried to send to me, but I could feel their intent: peace.
I sighed, and fell back asleep.
KYLEE
23 Davael 578A.F.
Cedralysone
Vanderys was avoiding me.
He hadn’t been in the Great Hall the night before for dinner, and Marel had only stared at me when I asked her about it. When I had repeated the question to her in the morning, she avoided my gaze, and told me the Valariel was “very busy”.
I refused to wear the dress she had urged on me, and prowled the halls of Cedralysone defiantly in my boyish clothing. I questioned everyone I saw about Vanderys’ location; no one knew where he was.
