ShatterStar

by Krista Rose

  I finally cornered one Cedrani, who looked at me in terror as he stammered that he thought he had seen the Valariel heading out into the vale a few hours before. His eyes were focused on my hand; in my frustration, I had begun to spark lightning. I scowled and doused it, and stalked out of the city into the soft sunshine.

  The vale welcomed me, the glittering green and vibrant colors of the flowers so beautiful it hurt my eyes. My sense of urgency fled, and I found myself wandering, my feet taking me down worn paths and over covered bridges that spanned the clear water of the river. I did not even know where I was headed until I spotted the herd of pegasi ahead of me.

  I had always wanted a pegasus, ever since I had been small and heard stories about them. But the pictures I had seen in the books Alyxen had read to me paled in comparison to the reality: spectacular pure white horses with powerful wings twice the length of their bodies. They stared at me with docile liquid eyes, coming forward to snuffle at my hands and clothes curiously. Their coats were soft; they smelled of clean snow and fresh grass.

  One butted against me playfully, and I laughed in delight.

  “They like you.”

  I glanced over my shoulder, and my smile faded into a scowl. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  Vanderys shrugged in the familiar cat-like way that I envied. “I had things to attend to.”

  “My sister is missing,” I reminded him. “We need to rescue her.”

  He shifted, and averted his eyes. “It is not that simple, lyssen.”

  “Why not?”

  “I have been forbidden to look for her. There is something else that I must do.”

  “Forbidden?” I repeated, my jaw dropping open. “Forbidden by whom?”

  He sighed. “Lord Aleydis.”

  “The guy making gooey eyes at Lanya?”

  Vanderys winced. “He is the son of the Prince, and you should not-” He looked at me, and gave up what he was going to say. “Yes.”

  “I thought only Prince Sotiris could give you orders.”

  “Lord Aleydis will one day be the next Prince.” His face tightened momentarily. “I am a Valariel. It is my duty to serve.”

  “Well, my duty is to my sister.” I glared at him. “She almost died for me once, keeping me from being turned into a moret’ethla. I’m not going to let her get turned into a slave.”

  His eyes widened. “You- you have never told me this before, lyssen.”

  “Yeah, well, you didn’t ask before.” The curiosity in his eyes pulled at me, drawing out the reluctant words. “There was a woman in our village. The Crone. My father agreed to sell me and Alyxen to her for the drug she gave him. She planned to turn us into those things. Kryssa reached into her mind and ripped the thoughts out. Went crazy for it.”

  “And this killed the Crone?”

  “No.” I shook my head, remembering. “No, Lanya did that.”

  “Lanya? The Dommess?”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “The healer.”

  “Yes.”

  He studied me. “Your Gods are unkind to you, lyssen, to have made you suffer so much.”

  I shrugged. “We survived. That’s what matters, right? Except now slavers have Kryssa, and Brannyn’s in Fallor with the moret’ethla, and-” Tears burned my eyes, and I bit my lip, unwilling to cry in front of him.

  “Lyssen.” He sighed. “I am sorry, but I do not know what to do to help you.”

  I shook my head, looking away, and noticed for the first time the bags on the ground near his feet. I frowned, and cleared my throat. “Are you going somewhere?”

  “Yes.” He gestured to the pegasi clustered behind me. “Lord Aleydis has ordered me to seek out the Oracle at the Temple of Diona. I am leaving.”

  “What?” My stomach dropped to my toes. “You’re leaving?”

  “It is not my choice, lyssen.”

  “Why? Who’s this Oracle? Why do you have to go there? When will you be back?”

  “The Oracle of Mount Rhyule is one of the wisest people in the world. Lord Aleydis has asked me to seek his guidance. And I should be back within a few days, a week at most.”

  I looked at the city of Cedralysone, stretching into the sky behind him. “I’m going with you.”

  “What? Lyssen, no. The journey will be very dangerous, and-”

  “I don’t care.” I stuck my chin out, daring him to argue with me. “I’m going with you. Unless Lord Gooey-Eyes has forbidden that, too.”

  He winced again. “No, not precisely, but-”

  “Then it’s settled. Give me ten minutes to get my things.”

  He threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine. But hurry. I cannot guarantee Lord Aleydis will not try to stop you if he knows what you plan.”

  I grinned at him, and took off at a run.

  LANYA

  My dresses were missing.

  I searched frantically through the piles of silks and fabrics that had been left in my room, tore apart my bedding, emptied my bags onto the floor. It did not matter- the clothes I had brought into Cedralysone were gone.

  Lyrel entered my room, her eyes wide as she looked around. “My lady?”

  “Where are they?” I demanded. “Where are my dresses?”

  “What-”

  “The one I was wearing yesterday, and the ones in my bags! Where are they?”

  She flinched, my rising temper obviously frightening her, though her emotions were conflicting, too calm for the fear on her face. “L-Lord Aleydis said to burn them, my lady. He- he thought-”

  “He said what?” I glared, and threw a crystal bottle against a wall. It shattered, filling the air with the scent of lavender. “Where is he?”

  “He- he’s in his study, my lady. But you can’t-”

  “Take me to him.”

  “My lady-”

  “Now.”

  She swallowed and nodded. “Y- yes, my lady.” She bowed and headed for the door. “This way.”

  Her emotions were curiously detached, but I was too angry to care. My temper built, rage pounding against my temples as I followed her through the halls and up the stairs to a small corridor near the back of the mountain. She knocked on a plain, unadorned door, and opened it without waiting for a response.

  I had a fleeting impression of the study beyond the door. A large desk sat beneath a window looking out over the mountains; a portrait of a lovely Cedrani woman hung above the fireplace, smiling down on the room; and the other wall was occupied by shelves of books above a small couch. Delicate glass ornaments decorated the mantel and several shelves, adding color to the otherwise ordinary room.

  Aleydis was rising from the desk, his eyes hot and angry as he glared at Lyrel. “What is the meaning of-” Then he saw me, and his words broke off. “Lady Lanya?”

  “My lord.” I curtsied, ignoring the clenching feeling in my stomach as he looked at me.

  “What are you doing here? I did not think-”

  “Did you order my dresses to be burned?”

  “The rags you were wearing yesterday?” He stared at me, confused. “Yes, of course. I assumed-”

  “Why would you do that?” I exploded, the pain I felt making my words come out harsher than I intended. “Those were my mother’s dresses! They were the only thing I had left of her, and you- you-”

  His face paled, his eyes widening. “Dione, mu fellgra. My lady, forgive me, I did not mean-” He glanced behind me to where Lyrel stood in the doorway. “Et yl shas ra mortis? Tehk kentalor et Vi?”

  “Mor.” She trembled, her fear abruptly real. “Mor. Mu fellgra, mu d’Ravo.”

  He shook his head. “It is my fault,” he said, returning to common. He looked at me, his face stricken. “My lady, please, forgive me. I did not mean-”

  Tears were burning my eyes, my breath hitching in my chest. Aleydis shooed Lyrel from the room, closing the door before leading me to the couch. I sank onto it, and he sat beside me, his expression concerned as he
pulled me into his arms.

  I buried my face in his chest and sobbed. Aleydis held me without speaking until, after long minutes, my weeping finally eased. I leaned away from him, self-conscious. He handed me a handkerchief, and I used it to wipe my eyes, foolishly wondering how terrible I looked.

  “I’m sorry,” I managed. “It’s stupid to cry over a dress. It’s just-”

  “I understand.” He gestured to the portrait, and the glass objects. “I lost my mother, too. These things were hers. If I lost them-” His eyes were dark as he looked at me. “I am sorry, my lady. I would never have hurt you intentionally.”

  I swallowed against a fresh wave of tears.

  “Can you ever forgive me?”

  Shame radiated from him, now that I could feel again past my own pain. I looked away from the anguish in his eyes. “Of course, my lord. It was an accident.”

  “Aleydis. Please, at least when we’re alone, call me Aleydis.”

  “Yes, my l- Aleydis.” I blushed, and wondered how many different emotions I could feel in only a few minutes. My heart felt as if it were being wrung like wet laundry.

  I looked toward the window that Aleydis had been staring at when I entered, then frowned. It still showed mountains, but these seemed different: dark brown, and covered with thick forests of pines. I squinted at the shapes weaving between them.

  “Is- is that-”

  “My Valariel and your younger sister? Yes.” He made a face at the window. “Vanderys forgot to tell me she would be accompanying him.”

  “But- but she didn’t tell me she was leaving.” My stomach dropped away. “How could she leave without telling me?”

  “It is my thought that she hopes to find your other sister.” His brows drew together. “I pray she does not distract my Valariel from his mission.”

  “What mission?”

  He started to speak, then looked at me. His head tilted. “Perhaps I should show you, then you might understand better.” He stood, and offered me a hand. “If it pleases you.”

  I took his hand, allowing him to help me to my feet. He tucked the hand in his arm, and led me out of his office and down the corridor.

  “Cedralysone is my home, and one day it will be my responsibility. When my father returns to the stars, it will be my duty to protect my people.”

  We started down the stairs. I held my skirt carefully to avoid tripping on it, shooting glances at Aleydis whenever I could manage.

  “It is hard to make the difficult decisions,” he continued, his voice soft. “To decide to protect my people over helping others is not a choice I make lightly. But in order to help others, we must first survive.”

  “Survive?” I repeated, glancing around at the impressive main hall. “I don’t understand.”

  “You will see.” We had reached the front doors of Cedralysone, but, rather than heading out into the vale as I had expected, he continued down the stairs beneath the city. “Come.”

  It grew dark as the light above us faded, but Aleydis held out his hand and summoned a flame to illuminate our path. It was a magic I was used to, but I still clung to his arm, nervous and uncertain of where he was leading me. The carved walls shifted to natural stone, the stairs growing slick with moss.

  A faint light shone ahead of us, reflecting off the walls. The air grew sweet and clean, and I could hear water splashing somewhere out of sight.

  The stairs at last ended. Aleydis guided me around a corner, and my jaw dropped open in wonder.

  Floating in the center of the room was a giant crystal, pulsating with violet light. Flowers grew around it, their heads bobbing in the sweet air, and behind it flowed a small waterfall, trickling over rounded stones into a clear pool. Moss carpeted the floor.

  Beneath it all was a faint hum, echoing in my ears like a distant song I had heard once before.

  “The Aurelion,” Aleydis murmured. “Our star, and the heart of Cedralysone.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes.” I turned, and found him staring at me. “It is.”

  I swallowed.

  He took my hand and drew me toward the Aurelion. My skin burned where he touched me, my feet barely seeming to touch the floor.

  “Here.” He pressed my hand against the star. “Can you see?”

  It took a moment for me to focus, but I finally saw what he was referring to: a black shadow beneath the jagged crystal surface, like poison floating in a glass of violet liquid. My heart tightened in my chest. “What- what is it?”

  “Death.” His voice was quiet and sad. “The death of our star.”

  TANNER

  “What do you mean, they won’t let us in?” I glared at Aillel, my hands curling into fists at my side. “Why not?”

  She lifted her hands, soothing, but her eyes were worried as she glanced over her shoulder. The two Cedrani guards that stood on either side of the library doors stared at us impassively. Reyce stood to one side, confused by the anger and worry in our voices.

  “Not here,” she murmured, urging Alyxen and me back down the hall. “Come.”

  She led us down a series of corridors. I was quickly lost, the massive galleries all blending together, until we finally ascended up a short flight of stairs and emerged in a small tower. I stared out the open windows, but the beauty of the vale did not inspire awe today. I glared at it as Aillel carefully closed the door behind us.

  “What is going on?” I demanded.

  “Lord Aleydis has forbidden use of the library,” she said, taking a seat on a marble bench. “No Vadrani are allowed to enter.”

  “Vadrani?” I frowned. “You mean us?”

  “Humans. Yes.”

  “Why not?”

  She hesitated, then gestured at the benches. Reyce sat beside her, and Alyxen and I took one across from them. “Has it been explained to you why we built our city here?”

  “Because it’s beautiful?” Alyxen guessed.

  “When the Goddess Diona created the mortal races, she gave each of them gifts, and to the Cedrani, she gave Stars. We built Cedralysone above ours. The Star protects us, keeps us from growing sick or old. It lengthens our lives, gives strength to our magics, keep our valley safe and beautiful. When we are injured, all we have to do is touch it, and our wounds are healed. We call it the Aurelion.” She hesitated, and glanced at Reyce. “And it is dying.”

  “Dying?” I blinked. “How can a star be dying?”

  “I don’t know. It happened around the same time Reyce arrived in Cedralysone. Lord Aleydis-” She hesitated again. “Well, we are uncertain what to think. We are afraid. Without the Aurelion…” She shuddered.

  “What?” Alyxen leaned forward, his eyes intent. “What happens if you don’t have a star?”

  “We become like the Cedradin,” she whispered, her eyes wide and frightened.

  Alyxen and I looked at each other blankly. “Sorry, the who?”

  She sighed. “The Cedradin. You have been told that there are five Great Houses of the Cedrani, yes?”

  I hadn’t been told any such thing, but I saw no reason to tell her that. “Yes.”

  “There were once six. The Cedradin were the greatest of our Houses: powerful, strong, fearless. Glorious. Songs were sung of them, even in your common tongue.” She bit her lip, and looked out over the vale. “And then they betrayed us, betrayed themselves. They destroyed their Star.”

  “Why would they do that?” Alyxen asked at the same moment I blurted, “What happened to them?”

  “They were cut off from the other Houses, exiled for their betrayal. The tried to start a war, crazed by the destruction of their Star, mad and violent without its protection. We defeated them. And then, they vanished.” She swallowed. “It is thought they became Dahkbayst.”

  “What?”

  She gestured, frustrated. “What is your word for it? Creatures? Monsters?”

  I shook my head. “But what does all this have to do with us not being allowed in the library?”

  “Because,�
�� Alyxen said slowly, realization dawning on his face, “they think Reyce killed their star.”

  “What?” I gaped at the slender boy sitting beside Aillel. He gave me a tentative smile, his blue eyes uncertain. “You’re joking.”

  Aillel twisted her fingers. “Sadly, no.”

  “But he’s thirteen.” I remembered my conversation in the inn with Kryssa and Lanya, their hesitation telling me of Reyce. I pushed it aside. “He’s a child. How could a child kill a star?”

  “That is uncertain. But Lord Aleydis has forbidden anyone he does not trust from entering into the library until a cure is found.”

  Alyxen tilted his head. “Does he trust you?”

  “Well, yes, but-”

  “That’s great!” I saw the brilliance of Alyxen’s idea immediately. “You can do it for us!”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “We needed to get into the library to find out the location of the Temple of the Burned,” I rushed on, ignoring her bewildered stare. “An angel told me that if we found the Temple, I would be able to recover Felice’s soul. If I can, then maybe-” The words sealed off in my throat, too painful to say. Maybe I can save her.

  Aillel stared at me. “Who is Felice?”

  “She’s our cousin,” Alyxen answered when he realized I couldn’t. “Tanner was going to marry her, except she became a Vampyre instead.”

  “Oh.” She blinked, then looked at me with soft eyes. “Oh.”

  I jerked a shoulder. “I need to find the Temple. That’s all that matters now.”

  Aillel looked us over, her expression torn. At last, she seemed to come to a decision, and nodded. “Alright, I will help you.”

  “That easy?”

  “I… have my reasons.” Her eyes shifted away. “But I do not know what I am looking for.”

  “That’s the easy part.” I grinned. “After all, how many books on the Elder Gods can you possibly have?”

  BRANNYN

  24 Davael 578A.F.

  Rose Manor, outside of Fallor

  “Amandine, please, be reasonable! The dark of the moon is in a week! Won’t you even consider moving into the town?”