by Lisa Rector
“Really now!” Rhianu exclaimed. “You’re so childish.” But she laughed in spite of herself. Sometimes he did act like a three-year-old.
Einion splashed water in her direction. “Come in. The water’s freezing.”
Rhianu knew he wasn’t feeling any of the cold.
“Oh.” She rolled her eyes. A swim would feel good. She glanced around at the men setting up camp. “What about your men? What am I supposed to swim in?”
“Your undershirt,” Einion stated matter-of-factly. “They won’t stare. I promise.”
“That’s well enough for you, isn’t it?” She hesitated, debating. Would the old Rhianu strip down to her undergarments in front of a king to swim in a lake?
Yes, came a voice in her head.
She groaned. Thanks, Aerona.
You’re welcome, she replied.
When Einion ducked underwater again, Rhianu took the opportunity to strip off her clothes. She pulled up her riding tunic and revealed the long, cream-colored chemise lining underneath. Once it became wet, it would not conceal much. She wriggled out of her leather riding pants. Those would not be fun to wear wet. She stood on the shore in nothing but her thin shirt reaching to her knees.
Wow, he could hold his breath a long time.
She pulled down the hem of her chemise. No more hesitation! Rhianu pushed her light from her core and into her extremities, warming herself before diving into the water.
She surfaced next to Einion and spat water into his face. Laughing, he dove away. Her clothes clung to her body. She was right—her chemise didn’t hide much. She might as well be swimming naked. The surface of the water did provide distortion as long as it moved. Rhianu dove, slipping through the refreshing water as gracefully as a seal.
In front of her, under the water, Einion turned and looked at her. All of his features—his toned chest muscles and his strong arms—could be seen clearer under the water than through the surface of the water. If she could see him, then he could see…
Rhianu’s bubble of protest spluttered to the surface before her. Einion followed her.
“You can see right through my clothes under the water!” Rhianu yelled.
“Sorry, I won’t look again. It did catch me off guard.”
An absolutely comical grin rounded his cheeks.
“Oh!” Rhianu splashed him in the face. “You’re devious.”
Einion held his hands up. “I intended for you to enjoy a swim. You are enjoying it, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
They splashed around while Rhianu kept a short distance away from Einion, hoping it improved her modesty. Both a trifle competitive, they raced across the pool. Rhianu smirked when she realized she matched Einion in speed. She even beat him more than once.
A dragon dropped out of the sky and landed with a splash, forcing a wave over Rhianu and Einion. Rhianu wiped the water from her face and blinked up at Trahaearn floating on the surface.
“Thought you’d go for a swim without me?” Obvious hurt filled Trahaearn’s voice.
Einion swam over to him and rubbed his neck. “Sorry, Brother.”
Trahaearn’s hurt disappeared in an instant. Next thing Rhianu knew, Einion climbed onto Trahaearn’s foreclaw and balanced there until Trahaearn launched him into the air. Einion whooped as he pulled his legs into his chest and bombed the water.
The guards in the camp stopped to watch. Rhianu swam to the other side of Trahaearn to prevent them from seeing through her wet clothes. She moaned. The stars only knew what they thought of her risqué behavior.
Einion climbed onto Trahaearn again and looked down at Rhianu in the water. “Rhianu, do you recall any stories of the sea-maidens?” His wet hair dripped down his body to his pants, which were plastered to his thighs. Einion climbed into the saddle and gazed at her treading water. “You must be part sea-maiden. I can think of no other origin for your distinctive red hair. What do you make of it, Trahaearn?”
“Must have an ancestor, definitely.”
“What are you talking about? You’re teasing me right?” Rhianu asked.
“Nope,” Einion said.
“That’s a story. They’re not real,” Rhianu said.
“How would you know? You can’t remember. Trahaearn, do you think she has fins under the water?”
“Einion, stop. You know I don’t.” Slight annoyance at this teasing tripped out with her words.
Einion dove toward her in the water. She turned her face away from the splash and screamed when something clamped around her ankles. She jerked her foot away, striking a solid object in the process.
When Einion surfaced, his hand flew to his nose.
Blood streamed down his face.
“Woman! You didn’t have to kick me in the face. You broke my nose.” But Einion wasn’t angry. He was actually laughing.
“Oooo, sorry.” Rhianu grimaced at the blood. “Why’s this funny? I broke your nose!”
He pinched his nose hard and spoke with a nasal voice. “My fault. Just playing around.” As blood ran down his hand, the water thinned it, creating the illusion of more blood. “It’ll stop. Hey, are you hungry?”
“Your nose…” Her chest constricted. She broke his nose, and he brushed it off as nothing!
“It’s fine, see.” He released his hold. The bleeding had stopped. “It was an accident. No harm done. Besides, you forget how an emrys works. It’s already healed.”
He swam to the shore and scattered the guards on the beach so Rhianu could slip out and dry off in privacy.
She looked at Trahaearn, who shrugged his enormous, dragon shoulders and said, “Don’t ask me. I’ve been in that guy’s head for years, and I still don’t understand him—tough egg to crack.” With that, he stretched his huge wings and rose out of the water.
Rhianu shrugged as well. You would think he hurts himself every day with how cavalier he is.
He’s not going to undermine his masculinity, Aerona said.
Oh no, not Einion. Rhianu snickered. Not the Einion who opened up to her and shared his innermost feelings with her. Thinking of the abilities of the emrys, Rhianu supposed that with the ability to heal others, emrys could heal themselves just as fast. Was I ever able to heal myself?
You didn’t have that ability. As a Dark Emrys, you had no light to heal yourself or anyone. Your mother did that for you after a battle, Aerona said.
Rhianu swam to the shore. Why would I give up such a gift to become the Vessel? What was I thinking?
You were thinking of the advantages that came with being the Vessel.
Advantages like murder?
Advantages like… having a whole country bow to you and follow your every command.
Well, that makes up for all the deaths then, Rhianu growled.
Glancing back to the camp, Rhianu watched Einion talk with his guards, completely at ease. His injury didn’t seem to affect his mood or his inner light. Sighing, Rhianu dried herself off and dressed. I have so much to learn about this light.
***
Rhianu woke from a constant nudging at her shoulder. Hearing a subtle shh, she rolled over and peered into Einion’s dimpled smile, evident in the fire’s low-burning embers.
“Is everything all right? What time is it?” she asked.
“Middle of the night. Everything’s fine, but I wanted you to see something.” Einion grabbed her hand and practically dragged her to a sitting position and to her feet. “Come over to the lake.”
His urgent whisper chilled her spine. The guard still slept except for those standing watch. “Don’t you ever sleep?”
“I slept some, but I knew what we’d find later in the night.” He pulled her to the beach’s edge.
Her toes curled around large pebbles on the shore. No breeze stirred the cool night air. Before her, the stars in the night sky shone clearly, and Rhianu made out the patterns of the star pictures on the lake’s perfect, mirror surface. Looking straight ahead, she thought nothing else existed in the world but the
stars in the sky, as if she stood in a sphere of glass.
“Beautiful,” she murmured under her breath.
“Wait, that’s not all. Observe the water. Over there near the far shore.”
Rhianu focused her eyes, squinting into the darkness. She held her breath but exhaled when she saw a tiny boat, no longer than two feet, on the water. “What is that?” she whispered.
“Watch.” Einion held her hand with his warm fingers entwined in hers.
A miniature figure in the boat appeared, no, two figures, like tacky gnomes the mortals decorated their gardens with. They rowed into the middle of the water.
“Don’t make a sound, or you’ll scare them off,” Einion said.
The little creatures in the boat each cast a fine fishing line without a sinker or any bait. The thread floated on the water’s surface with a slight shimmer.
“They have to wait for the water to become still again. Watch.” Einion tightened his fingers, and her stomach swirled from the intensity of his grip. A quiet awe slipped beneath her skin and tingled her arms.
As soon as the water became still, the creatures in the boat reeled the line in. Not a movement or a tug on the line signaled they had caught anything. As the thread rose out of the water, a light winked on the end.
“What is that, Einion?”
The little gnomes held up a jar and shook the line, knocking the light into the container.
“Star Fishers. Only on such a night as this, when the sky is cloudless and the water is still, can stars be caught on their silken threads. The water must not move or they won’t capture the light.”
“You must be joking. They’re not catching stars.” Rhianu gaped at him.
“Am I? Observe. They throw the line again.”
The Star Fishers threw in the line, and when the water became still they reeled in another light. They opened the jar and shook the line again.
“What do they do with the light?” Rhianu asked.
“Spread hope.”
“No, seriously.”
“You don’t think I’m serious, do you? Am I one big laugh to you?” Einion looked hurt, though the pressure on her hand never slackened.
“See, even when you’re asking me a serious question you give me that goofy, fake face, and I know you’re teasing me,” Rhianu said—
A little too loudly.
Einion moved, clamping his hand over her mouth. He stood behind her and pressed her back against his chest while his other arm crossed her waist. Her pulse quickened in response to Einion’s intimate touch, and she stiffened.
“They heard you,” he whispered into her ear. His tickling breath thawed Rhianu’s posture, allowing her to soften against Einion’s body. They watched in silence as the boat slowly disappeared without even rowing back to the shore.
“Sorry,” she muttered under his hand. Oh, have mercy! She could hear only her heartbeat in her ears. The drumming triggered a dull ache at the base of her skull. Rhianu groaned. The headaches always came whenever she was most content, like a reminder of her vile past set to ruin her peace—a callous beacon. She knew it was her master’s essence.
Einion released her, but not before Rhianu felt a flush of heat from his skin. Had he mistook her groan? She didn’t perceive whatever rush of feeling he had. She wished she had been paying more attention.
“The Star Fishers take their catch and go into the towns, creeping into your house at night, searching for those who have lost hope,” Einion said. “When they find someone, they open their jar and dump one little star onto the tip of the person’s nose and tap it thrice. The hope of the star is absorbed into the individual, who wakes the next morning and feels that hope. It stays with him the rest of his life.”
“I don’t believe you.” They sat on the beach, gazing out over the water. Rhianu rubbed at her neck, willing the squeezing tension to release. “How do you know this is true? Have you seen it?”
“No, but others tell tales of lost hope, only to have it restored after waking with a sudden feeling that life will be all right.”
“Were you also being serious about the sea-maidens?”
Einion laughed, “Partly, yes. It would explain the outrageously bright red hair.”
Rhianu yawned and clapped her hands over her mouth.
“Back to bed.” Pulling her to her feet, Einion led her to her bedroll and waited until Rhianu settled. He turned away, but backtracked, squatting down next to her and whispering in her ear. “By the way, Rhianu, to make things fair, I’ll swim naked next time.”
Einion rose and walked away without another word. Sleep made a sudden escape, and Rhianu lay there wide-eyed, looking up at the blank canvas above her head. I knew he could see through my clothes! He is so underhanded.
Relax. He likes you. This is good for the plan. Maybe you should bump up the romance.
Drop that thought. Rhianu rolled over on her side and wished devious prospects out of her head.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DIFFICULTIES
Rhianu found herself in one of Hyledd’s sewing shop, picking out fabrics and ribbons with Ellena and discussing floral combinations. Her wedding quickly approached, and Ellena invited Rhianu to Lord Aeron’s estate to help her with the preparations.
“I shall have to think about it,” Rhianu said.
“You can spare time away from His Majesty for a few weeks. His eye won’t fall on any other lady in your absence,” Ellena teased.
“What do you mean?” Rhianu asked.
“Oh, surely you’ve noticed how he dotes on you. He can’t keep his eyes off you when you’re in the same room.”
Rhianu’s face burned. “That’s not the reason why—”
“Oh, sure it’s not.” Ellena gave her a wink and turned back to the fabric swatches.
Rhianu smoothed the ribbon between her fingers. She felt more and more confusion as she spent the morning hours with Einion. She enjoyed every waking smile and touch and confession of his overly worried soul. They needed each other, and at the same time, Rhianu betrayed Einion with the Dark Master’s mission always at the front of her mind. The dream of her mother had opened her eyes to the reality of who she was, and no trip to the lake, no matter how pleasant, could erase that.
But Einion looked at Rhianu for reassurance, and she needed his understanding about her lost memories. He didn’t pry or question anymore to learn about her past. Einion accepted her for who she was in the present. Such acceptance Rhianu could not allow for herself. They joked with each other, their relationship falling into a zone of comfort and honesty Rhianu had never experienced—to her knowledge. He encouraged her to use her light and not to let the darkness overwhelm her.
Did he dote on her?
On more than one occasion, Einion grabbed her hand and held it in his as they talked—as Einion mostly talked—and sometimes Rhianu leaned her head against his shoulder with his arm around her. They always were intimate with each other in this way, but somewhere inside, her rational side screamed caution. Her flashes of vision revealed a nature outside her current persona, and as the days moved on, Rhianu became more torn between who she was now and who she portrayed in her visions.
Ellena held up a white lace. “What do you think of this one for the bodice?”
Rhianu nodded her head, not really seeing the fabric. “Gorgeous.”
Ellena waved her hand in front of Rhianu. “You must be smitten. You’re all doe-eyed.”
Rhianu shrugged her off and dropped her gaze to her feet.
She knew one truth for sure. She had captured Einion’s trust. She was supposed to follow through with the plan and fulfill her master’s desires. Aerona urged her to carry out the mission so they could return to Morvith, but agony consumed Rhianu. Einion had become her friend, and she was happy. She was light, just as Einion had said before their trip.
I know you’re confused now, Aerona said. I feel for you, but you’ll only hate yourself once your memories return and you know who you really are. Reme
mber your determination. You want to throw your success in the face of that gloating High Emrys, and lay waste to these realms.
Rhianu blanched. I’m not sure I can do that.
It’s because of your compassion for this king. He doesn’t need you anymore. He has moved smoothly into his role. So smoothly that you don’t even know how he holds your heart!
He does not hold my heart!
Yes, he does! You’ll see. Soon he’ll take what he wants and throw you aside. Remember what Caedryn did to you!
Enough! You’re never to speak his name. How dare you!
I’m sorry, Rhianu, but you need to hear the truth. You know how men are. They want only one thing, and they will use anything and anyone to achieve what they desire.
No, you’re wrong. Einion is not like that.
Remember the Betrayer.
Ellena hooked her arm through Rhianu’s, and they left the shop to head back to the palace. “All right, Miss Daydreamer. Let’s return you to the palace and into His Majesty’s presence so he can set your head straight. I shudder to think what you’d do without him.”
Oh, if Ellena only knew.
***
Einion tossed and turned in his bed. Sleep had completely eluded him. Every time he closed his eyes, a flame of red hair burned behind his eyelids. His fingers curled in the bed sheets as he thought about how it comforted him to hold Rhianu’s hand. He realized a truth from the lake trip. He liked Rhianu. But her beauty made him nervous, and he couldn’t escape the warnings in his mind.
Different dark power.
Falling into the same needy pattern as Catrin and him.
The image of Rhianu’s wet chemise clinging to her skin.
Lust.
Darkness.
And the feelings from her nightmare. By Deian’s Light, she had been frightened—desolate. Whatever she had encountered had been powerful enough to reach its fingers through her dream and scorch her throat. The dark mark in her mind was more powerful than he could ever imagine.
