by Krista Rose
“It doesn’t bother you?” I had asked, incredulous.
“Mu baet.” He had smiled, and cupped my face in his hands. “I have you. For once, my life is better in reality than it could ever be in rumor. Why should I care what they say?”
The words had calmed me, and his kisses had erased my doubts. But once I was alone again in my room, my anger had returned.
It’s not fair. I flung my hairbrush across the room, unsatisfied with the noise it made as it struck the stone wall. I had already thrown my gowns, my shoes, and for good measure a glass jar of bath powder, which had shattered in a lovely explosion of pale pink powder and diamond-like glass. I glared around for something else to throw. Why should they make me feel more unwelcome? I’ve done everything I can to be like them, and they still treat me like an outcast!
I picked up a vase, testing the weight of it in my hand. The roses in it looked small and fragile as I contemplated which wall I should break it against.
Someone knocked on the door, interrupting my thoughts. I snarled at it. “What?”
Lyrel opened the door, her eyes widening as she looked around at the disarray.
“Yes?”
She wisely chose not to say anything. “Kylee and Vanderys have returned,” she informed me. “I thought you might like to know.”
“Kylee?” I set the vase back on the table, my thoughts already reaching for my sister. Kylee!
What? She sounded both irritated and uncomfortable.
Where have you been? Beneath my relief, some of my anger returned. Do you know how worried I was? You didn’t tell me you were leaving, didn’t even leave a note-
I was only gone a week. I could almost feel her roll her eyes. Seriously, you’re as bad as Kryssa. I was with Vanderys. I was fine.
Kylee-
Look, if you want to yell at me, fine. But later, alright? Vanderys and I have to present the prophecy to Aleydis and Sotiris in a few minutes.
Prophecy? I repeated, then realized that Lyrel was gesturing for me to hurry. I followed her out into the hall, nearly running to keep up with her long strides. What prophecy?
The prophecy Aleydis sent Vanderys to get, to save Cedralysone. Her thoughts turned grim. I don’t think you’re going to like it.
Why not?
You’ll see. Then she shut me out.
I shook my head, and hurried to catch up with Lyrel. “Have Alyxen and the others returned, too?”
She shook her head. “No, and I’m beginning to wonder…” She didn’t finish what she had been saying, and instead headed up the stairs three at a time. I struggled to keep up, my Cedrani gown tangling with my legs.
I thought at first that she was leading me to Aleydis’ office, and was surprised when we headed away from it, walking down the opposing hallway. She opened a door and we stepped into a grand study, with wide, uncurtained windows that looked out over the whole of the Vale. Afternoon sunlight slanted through them, illuminating floor-to-ceiling bookshelves crammed with books, a heavy desk covered in scrolls and parchments, and a large table in the middle of the room, where an extravagantly-detailed map had been unrolled, revealing the whole of Ca’erdylla.
Kylee stood awkwardly to one side of the table, and I rushed forward to hug her, my anger forgotten. Despite her scowl, I could sense her pleasure at seeing me again.
“Don’t ever do that to me again,” I whispered as I threw my arms around her, ignoring the fact that she was both dirty and grimy, and smelled like the back end of a horse.
“Yeah, alright.” She pushed me away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “You’re going to get your dress dirty.”
I glanced over as Lord Rathis entered, his scowl even darker than usual as he glared at me. I wondered idly if he had lost the Court bet. “Tehk et la? Tehk et E e’var, ne Sa?””
“Manners,” Prince Sotiris murmured, but his tone was distracted, and his eyes never left the piece of parchment in his hand. Vanderys and Aleydis stood on either side of him, reading it over his shoulders. “We have received the prophecy today.”
“Prophecy?” he repeated, and held out a hand. “May I see it?”
Sotiris handed it over to him. Though I was dying of curiosity, I refused to step any closer to Lord Rathis in order to read it.
Fortunately, I did not have to, for he immediately growled and looked up. “It’s written in Vadrani common.”
“Yes,” Sotiris agreed. “Curious, isn’t it?”
“Your Highness, I cannot read common.”
“Lady Lanya, if you would?” Aleydis gestured. “Please read it aloud for us.”
I took the parchment from Rathis when he held it out, ignoring his glower as I cleared my throat and began to read. “Only the blood of the Eldest Star’s Chosen-” my voice faltered for a moment “-will offer salvation to the Lords of the Eye, and preserve them through the return of the Starless Ones, who seek to reclaim what was lost.”
Told you that you wouldn’t like it. Kylee made a face at me. Sounds awful, doesn’t it?
“I do not like this,” Aleydis growled, almost like an echo of her thoughts. “‘The return of the Starless Ones.’ Do you think it is referring to the Cedralet?”
“Do not speak of them,” Sotiris said stiffly. “It is forbidden. You know this.”
“Sorry, Father.” But he did not look sorry. He looked worried- and angry. His eyes flashed defiantly when Sotiris looked away.
“Who are the Lords of the Eye?” I wondered, more to break the awkward silence of the room than out of any desire to know the answer.
“Foolish Vadrani,” Rathis muttered, glaring at me. “How is it you still do not know the name of our people?”
“Rathis,” Sotiris began, his voice weary and exasperated.
“No, it’s alright.” I smiled, wide and dangerous as I stared into Rathis’ eyes. “My lord obviously doesn’t have the civility taught to even the poorest of Vadrani peasants, but surely this is not his fault. Perhaps it can be blamed on the wolves who raised him.”
There was a collective indrawn breath, but I did not care. The anger I had felt for days was bubbling close to the surface, shredding my self-control.
Rathis’ face reddened as his hands curled into shaking fists at his sides. “If you were not a woman, d’Ravo-bradhan, I would strike you.”
Aleydis hissed, his eyes flashing as he started to step forward.
I tilted my chin. “Try it.” I could feel my emotions bubbling. Aleydis’ anger matched my own, but I lifted a hand to stop him. My eyes never left Rathis’ face. “You have shown me nothing but discourtesy and disrespect since I came to this city,” I continued from between clenched teeth. “I have restrained both myself and my siblings from returning the insult. But enough is enough.”
His neice is his weakness, Kylee informed me, her eyes bright and gleeful. Humiliate him, and you will break him.
The urge was strong. I could see exactly what to say: that Aillel had left to escape him, that she had fled his control because she no longer loved him. It would be a lie, of course, but it would devastate him nonetheless, and humble him. I did not owe him the truth.
But I couldn’t do it.
I swallowed my anger, pushing it back down before I could say the words I would regret, and took a deep shaking breath. “If you insult me again, Lord Rathis, I will demand Ellatris’ Honor.”
His eyes widened as the color drained from his face. Behind him, I saw Lyrel smirk. It was she who had told me of Ellatris’ Honor, when she had seen my anger at the Court’s callousness several days before. It was a ritual performed between two Cedrani using a dream-chalice, which allowed them to experience the other’s most painful memories.
Lord Rathis had a thousand years of experience on me, but I had lived with my father, killed the Crone, healed my sister’s madness, and survived the Darkling Prince, all while he had lived here in this isolated utopia. I had no doubt that I would win.
Apparently, neither did he, for he reassessed me, and his vo
ice when he spoke was filled with grudging respect. “My lady, it was not my intention to behave in such a way toward you. Please, I beg your forgiveness.”
I wanted to spit his apology in his face, but I restrained myself. “Thank you.”
You didn’t do it. Kylee sounded disappointed. I was certain for a minute you were going to let the air out of that old windbag.
I wanted to, I admitted. But it wasn’t worth it.
Just when I thought it was finally going to get interesting. She sighed dramatically.
“If we can return to the matter at hand?” Sotiris held his hand out for the prophecy, and I smoothed the crinkles from it before I gave it to him. “I am more concerned with this talk of ‘the blood of the Eldest Star’s Chosen.’ It does not bode well that we must look for a descendant of Erydian at such a time.”
“Erydian?” I blinked, confused. “I thought the Eldest Star referred to Diona.”
“Diona is the Goddess of the Stars.” Rathis’ voice was patient, though he still wore a frown. “Her daughter Erydian became the Goddess of the Winter Star, sometimes called the Eldest Star.” Then he shook his head. “It is impossible to say where her descendents might be, Your Highness. The Vadrani do not keep accurate records of their lineage.”
Sotiris sighed. “I shall have to meditate on this, and assess if it is worth our time to search for the lost descendents of Erydian. I will pray for Diona’s guidance to translate the words of her Oracle.”
I realized it was a dismissal as Aleydis and Vanderys bowed and filed out of the room, and Kylee and I dropped hasty curtsies before rushing to catch up with them. I glanced back as we joined them in the hall to see Lord Rathis murmuring something to Sotiris before Lyrel shut the door behind us.
And over and over, the word chosen echoed in my thoughts, filling my heart with dread.
LANYA
Cedralysone
Aleydis dragged me away from the others as soon as we left his father’s study. Kylee mumbled something about bruises and a bath, and so, though I was anxious to find out where she had been, I allowed myself to be led away from her, and out of the city.
He brought me to a secluded garden a good distance from Cedralysone, where the only sound was the distant roar of the waterfall and the droning of bees flitting from flower to flower amid the cherry trees that surrounded us. Pink blossoms fell through the air like a soft, sweet-smelling rain.
Everytime I thought I had seen all that Cedralysone had to offer, I found some new wonder to take my breath away.
Aleydis, however, seemed oblivious to the beauty. His eyes were dark and serious as he looked at me. “Tell me.”
Something in his gaze made me nervous. I fidgeted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mu baet.” His voice was full of strained patience. “You are a terrible liar.”
I flushed.
“You know something,” he continued, stepping closer to me. “Every time the word ‘chosen’ was spoken, you paled, or bit your lip, like you’re doing now.”
I stopped. My heart hammered against my chest as I backed away from him. The back of my knees struck a marble bench, and I sat down, hard.
He dropped to his knees in front of me. “Mu ethra, please. You must tell me what you know. It could save my people. If you know who the chosen is…”
My breath backed up in my lungs. Had any good ever come from anyone knowing that we were chosen? Reyce had told me once that being chosen meant the awful things that happened to us were to prepare us to be the Gods’ weapons- but truly, was it worth all that had happened just to be special?
“Mu baet?”
I stared up at him, defeated. If there was even a chance that something good could come from telling him, I could not keep it from him. “It’s me.”
He froze. “You?”
“Well, maybe.” I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know about being the descendent of Erydian or anything like that. But our mother believed we were chosen, and died for it. She said she had a vision.” It sounded ridiculous to say it aloud to someone other than my siblings, and I dropped my gaze. “I’m probably wrong.”
“But if you are a descendent of Erydian…” His eyes were wide. “Do you know what that means?”
“No.”
He grinned at me, his eyes bright and joyous. “It means your blood is the blood of a goddess, more precious than even royal blood.”
“Wha-?”
He grabbed me and kissed me fiercely. “Don’t you see, mu ethra? You have given me the answer to everything!”
“The answer?” I repeated, still dazzled from his kiss. “What answer?”
But he didn’t hear me, his eyes gleaming as he stared past me, toward the city. “E torr yemuret eta’yl.”
“What?”
He blinked as if finally remembering my presence, and kissed my forehead in reassurance. “Nothing, mu baet.” He took my hands, and kissed me again. “Would you wait for me here? I will return for you in a few hours.”
“I don’t-”
“Please?”
My will crumbled. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” He gave me another kiss, stealing my breath before he stood. “I’ll be back for you this evening. I’ll send Lyrel to keep you company.” Then he was gone, walking away with long strides that ate up the ground.
I sat in the garden, confused and dazed. What had just happened?
“Well, that was enlightening.”
I jerked, turning around as Lyrel melted out of the trees behind me. Her expression was contemplative, her brows drawn together thoughtfully.
I frowned at her. “Were you spying on us?”
“Occupational hazard.” She shrugged. Her blonde hair glinted like gold in the sunlight. “I knew you had a secret, as Aleydis did. It seemed easier to follow you than to make you tell me a second time.”
I made a face at her.
She ignored me. “What I still do not understand is why he would leave you here so soon after proposing to you.”
“He didn’t propose to me.” I felt as if Kylee had struck me with her lightning. “Did he?”
“Blood of a goddess, more precious even than royal blood? What did you think he was saying?”
“No, I- he-” Confusion whirled within me. Did he actually want to marry me? But then, why had he left?
“I would lay a wager that he is going to tell his father that you are a descendent of Erydian.” Lyrel grinned. “That must be what the prophecy meant by ‘the blood of the Eldest Star will preserve us’. He is planning to ask you to marry him.”
“I- I thought he just did.”
“Officially.”
“Oh.” My voice sounded very small.
“I wonder what he meant by ‘I can fix everything’,” she mused, her expression contemplative. She stroked the dagger at her hip as she thought.
“When did he say that?”
“At the end. The Y’ken’ohl? He said ‘I can fix everything’, and then-”
A brilliant flash interrupted us, blinding and intense and forceful, as if we had been struck by a windstorm made of light. I heard Lyrel shout as I cried out, afraid-
Something landed heavily on top of me, driving the air from my lungs as forced me from the bench onto the ground.
TANNER
Cedralysone
The light faded, the book snapping shut in my hands. I groaned, feeling battered, and immediately checked that the jar in my hands had made the trip intact. Felice’s soul glimmered behind the unharmed glass, and I sighed in relief.
“Get… off… me,” grunted a familiar voice.
I scrambled back, dropping the book onto soft, green grass as Lanya sat up and reached for her hair. I was in a small clearing ringed by cherry trees and benches, the air cool and sweet and so different from the Temple I had just left that I couldn’t help but stare around, gaping.
Lanya froze, her blue eyes widening as she recognized me. “Tanner?”
“Ahh.” I gr
oaned, my knees throbbing as I tried to sit up. “I really don’t recommend travel by book. It’s fast and effective, but the landing leaves a little something to be desired.”
She looked around, her brows drawing together. “Where’s Alyxen? And Aillel? I thought they were with you.”
“They are. They’re right-” I turned, but there was no one behind me. I looked around desperately, my heart dropping into my boots. Alyxen and Aillel weren’t there. “Oh, no.”
Someone grabbed my hair, yanking my head back roughly and pressing a blade to my throat. I swallowed as it bit into my skin, and felt a trickle of warmth spread down my neck.
“Where is Aillel?” Lyrel demanded, her voice low and dangerous, and completely at odds with the shy demeanor she had displayed before I’d left. “What have you done with her?”
“The gargoyles,” I managed, and cursed myself for not moving fast enough. My stomach clenched in painful knots. “The- the fal’en. He let go of the book to save me. They- they must-”
“Must what?” Her grip on my hair tightened, and my eyes watered. “Where are they?”
“The Abyss,” I whispered.
The blade fell away from my throat.
“A-Abyss?” Lanya repeated, her face paling. “What- what is-”
“The space between worlds.” Lyrel stepped around me, her black armor gleaming in the sunlight.
I blinked at her. “Did I miss something? You look different.”
She ignored me, and bent to pick up the book from the grass before I could stop her. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at it, and carefully set it down again. “Where did you get this?”
“Alyxen found it.” I wiped the blood from my throat. “He said it was singing to him. And then we were in the Temple of the Burned.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How long do you think you’ve been gone?”
“I don’t know.” I looked up at the bright blue sky, trying to guess what time it might be. “Maybe a day?”
