Dark of Winter: A Between the Worlds novel

by Morgan Daimler

  “My whole life is there,” Allie said, struggling for calm. “And my husbands. I’m not going to leave them.”

  “If this is about fulfilling whatever contract you have with them, I’m sure we can work something out,” Ameralleia said.

  “It’s not,” Allie said, trying to keep her eyes on the entire group. “And we don’t have time to debate this. The Queen’s Guard is coming this way and you need to leave.”

  Her mother’s eyes narrowed, “The Queen’s Guard? Why?”

  “There’s a dangerous water Fey in the river here, that’s why we came around the way we did instead of heading straight across.”

  “Dangerous enough to merit the Queen’s Guard?”

  “I was told it’s called a Pesht,” Allie said, watching as both of the elven woman tensed and looked back in the direction of the river. Adarius blinked uncertainly.

  Brinnessiya stepped closer, alarmed, “A Pesht is nothing to trifle with.”

  “I’m aware of that,” Ameralleia said calmly, although Allie could feel her mother’s concern. “How do you know all this Laine? Did the native Fey tell you?”

  Oh crap, Allie thought, suddenly the center of attention. Put on the spot her mind went blank and she couldn’t think of any clever diversion. “No, they call the Pesht something else in their own language, and they don’t know about the Queen’s Guard coming.”

  “So how do you know about it?” her mother pressed, giving her a calculating look now.

  Oh screw it, Allie thought suddenly tired of everything. This is already like the worst kept secret anyway, and what else can I use to convince her not to force me to go with her? She licked her lips, feeling the cold bite of the air against the moisture. “I know because one of my husbands, the one in the Elven Guard, told me through a psychic bond we have that allows us to speak to each other when we choose to.”

  Ameralleia blinked slowly at her, but before she could frame a response to that Allie kept talking, “And we have that bond Mother because I’m not just a human empath, I’m a Bahvanshee and I’ve bound him to myself. Which is why I can’t stay with you, because I need to be back there, with them. Where I belong.”

  If the situation wasn’t so serious she would have laughed because as soon as the word ‘Bahvanshee’ was out of her mouth the trow stepped back in unison, fear radiating from them. The same trow who had happily murdered their own kind a few days earlier were afraid of her. And so it seems she thought cynically is my brother. Indeed Adarius had also edged back, eyeing her now as if she were a poisonous snake. Little did they know, of course, and she’d never admit, that she couldn’t do anything offensive with her abilities.

  Her mother, and her mother’s mage, though stood their ground looking at Allie thoughtfully. Into the dragging silence her mother finally spoke, “I had not realized.”

  “I know,” Allie said, her own feelings softening. “How could you have known?”

  “And the Light Court tolerates this?”

  “It’s not public knowledge, although some do know,” Allie said, trying to be honest but also cryptic. She didn’t want to give anyone a weapon to use against her, but she also didn’t want to imply it was widely known when it wasn’t and risk it somehow getting out. “Mother, I cannot go back with you. I can’t. I belong where I am.”

  “Things change,” Ameralleia said softly, and Allie wasn’t entirely sure what she meant.

  “It’s dangerous for you to delay here,” Allie said. “The Queen’s Guard could arrive at any time. I could probably protect you from the Elven Guard, but not the Queen’s Guard. Please, you need to go while you can.”

  Ameralleia stepped closer, closing the distance between them and reached out slowly pulling Allie into a loose embrace. It was the first time her mother had really touched her, beyond a light caress here or there, since they had seen each other again. Allie found herself relaxing against her will, folding into her mother’s arms as she had so many times as a small child. She felt her mother’s wistfulness and longing, and her own arms came up to return the embrace. Before she could stop herself she said, “Don’t be sad Mother this isn’t goodbye forever.”

  Her mother laughed, the sound heavy, “I came here expecting to find my little child that I left only a few decades ago and instead I see woman grown and carrying my first grandchild. It’s a hard thing to accept. But I am pleased to see you so strong Laine.”

  She stepped back her hand reaching down to lightly touch Allie’s abdomen, and Allie answered the one thing her mother had not asked, “I’m carrying a son mother, and I’m glad for it. I don’t have time to explain but I wanted a boy.”

  Her mother looked up surprised, but said only, “I am glad that you got what you wanted then. Life is rarely so kind.”

  “You should go,” Allie said again, “Please. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Ameralleia smiled, a genuine smile, “And you my darling have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”

  She stepped back, her gaze lingering on Allie, then turned and signaled the others. They regrouped and disappeared into the woods, leaving Allie alone again.

  When Allie was sure they were gone she slumped to the ground and cried until there weren’t any tears left.

  *************************

  Jess had just finished bringing in more firewood when he heard movement from the back of the cave. Looking over he saw Tashlin sitting up slowly, blinking hard. He hastily put down the firewood next to the fire and spoke mentally to Bleidd, “Gadreene, could you find something easy for Tashlin to eat please? He’s finally woken.”

  Bleidd who had been sitting and reading near the entrance, quickly put his book away, “Certainly. Any sign of Brynneth waking?”

  “Not yet, but I will check on him again as soon as I see to Tashlin,’ Jess thought back, reaching Tashlin’s side. The dark haired elf looked up as he approached, glancing out past him towards the forest. “Jessilaen. Have I lost much of the day? I am feeling considerably better but quite hungry.”

  “The fight with the Pesht was yesterday,” Jess said gently. “You have slept all of yesterday away and much of today.”

  “Indeed?” Tashlin said, looking stunned.

  Jess turned and took the food Bleidd had brought over, a small bowl of porridge. He set it down next to Tashlin, bound by etiquette not to hand it directly to the other elf. Tashlin looked gratefully at the food, however he didn’t move to pick it up. “Have we a latrine set up?”

  “Ah, of course,” Jess said, keeping his face neutral. “We’ve set up an area for that just outside and in the tree line. I can help you.”

  “I believe I can manage,” Tashlin said, getting to his feet slowly but without any obvious difficulty.

  Jess nodded, pleased to see the returned health of his newest squad member. “As you will.”

  Bleidd’s eyes followed Tashlin as he walked and the mage casually made his way over to the cave mouth, subtly keeping an eye on the younger elf without broadcasting the fact. Jess couldn’t hide his smile seeing that although he was wise enough not to comment. Instead he moved over to Brynneth who was still in a deep trance, motionless. He peeled back the bandages covering the puncture on his shoulder and was pleased to see that the wound was much improved. Still he had hoped that Bryn would have woken by now. He was very worried for his friend, but all he could do now was hope that either the healer would wake on his own or the Queen’s Guard would arrive and have a healer with them who could help.

  He stood, sighing and moved back to the fire, adding wood without thought. Bleidd walked over to join him, “I should think Allie will be here soon if all has gone well with her.”

  “We could reach out and ask her,” Jess said, reluctant to do so.

  “We could,” Bleidd agreed, making no move to do it himself. Tashlin returned and went back to his bed to eat, looking pale but steady.

  Jess sighed again, then stepped out across the barrier that protected the front of the cave, “I am go
ing to see if I can get us any fresh game. I have had my fill of dried meat I think and if we are to be here another night I’d rather eat something hot.”

  Bleidd nodded, “I will keep an eye on things here. I might suggest not going too far though in case we have any company.”

  Jess gave one brisk nod then moved off, the old snow crunching under his boots. He moved easily down the slight hill that led up to the caves and into the woods. He had said he was going hunting and he meant it, yet at first his mind wandered, and he let himself simply relax into the natural world around him. He ghosted through the trees not thinking but letting his feet set their own path, careful only to avoid the river.

  So much had happened in the last few days and he had spent his time wrapped up in thought, contemplating all the worries and details of events. Now he simply walked. The trees around him swayed slightly in a light breeze, the air cold but not freezing. Birds sang and flew from branch to branch, oblivious to his turmoil.

  He came around a boulder and found himself face to face with Allie. They both started and jerked back, as if neither had expected to see the other. Then Allie was in his arms, wrapping herself around him, her son – their son - a hardness between them. He leaned his head down, pressing his face into her hair, inhaling the scent of her. A tension deep inside that he hadn’t even been aware of eased and he let out a long slow breath.

  Eventually she pulled back a little, smiling tentatively at him, “Are you alright?”

  He thought of his wounded leg, which wasn’t paining him at all today, and the fact that he was walking easily and without any limp. His eyes searched hers, getting lost in their blue, and he remembered how worried she was about manipulating him with her abilities, her fear of hurting him. And he made a decision. “I am well enough my heart, and much better now that you are here.”

  He looked past her, at the empty woods, “Where are the others? You said you were traveling with another elf and one of the native Fey.”

  “I was, but we parted ways,” she said leaning into him again to rest her head against his chest.

  Jess frowned, unhappy that the Dark Court agent had slipped away again, then he reached down to tilt her head up, “How far did you travel alone?”

  She rolled her eyes at him, “Honestly Jess, first you’re worried because I’m traveling with someone you don’t trust now you’re worried about the fact I traveled a bit alone?”

  He shook his head slightly his frown shifting to a wry smile, “I suppose I was just worried in general.”

  “Well, here I am,” she said stepping back and holding out her arms to show him that she was fine. “I escaped on my own, I negotiated a guide by myself, and I made it all the way here safely. So maybe you can worry a little less about me in the future?”

  “You managed far better than we did, for all of it. But I doubt I will ever worry less for you.”

  She laughed, the sound lifting his heart. “I don’t know how I should feel about that, I mean if this doesn’t prove my competency to rescue myself, then I don’t know what will.”

  “I don’t doubt your competency my love,” he said, looking at her fondly and reaching out to take her hand. “We had better go join the others though and share the news of your success.”

  “I suppose it’s not a total success yet since we’re still in the Wilds,” Allie said, sighing and gripping his hand tightly, “but as long as I’m back with you – and Bleidd – I’m happy enough to call it a victory.

  They walked back the way Jess had come, retracing his path easily until they reached the cliff face. Jess found himself suddenly optimistic about everything; the Queen’s Guard would arrive and evacuate them, they would be brought to the Outpost and then allowed to return home. Despite it all things had fallen out in their favor and he found that he didn’t even begrudge the escape of the Dark Court agent, since he had been reassured that there was no further threat there.

  Allie stopped abruptly her hand pulling free of his. He stopped then as well, looking from her shocked face to where her eyes were going – and saw Bleidd in uniform standing in front of the cave they’d been staying in.

  “Wait, what?” she said, her mouth falling open.

  Bleidd shifted uncomfortably, stepping towards them, his hand reflexively touching his badge, “Allie, I can explain-“

  “What is this?” she said, looking from one to the other. “You joined the Guard?”

  “It was the only way I’d be allowed to help search for you,” Bleidd said stepping closer. To Jess’s surprise Allie stepped back, her head up, eye’s wide.

  “So you chose a permanent solution to a temporary problem?” she said, sounding genuinely hurt. “And neither of you told me? When did this happen? And no one told me these last few days?”

  “Allie,” Jess began, agitated as always by her distress, but Bleidd held up a hand and stopped him.

  “I understand why you’re upset about this,” he said stepping up to her; this time she held her ground but she didn’t look happy about it. Jess started to worry about what might happen if Bleidd pushed her too hard when she was already upset. The last time he’d done that it had ended very badly for all of them. “And perhaps we should have told you sooner. Try to understand our point of view though, you were a prisoner first and it would have served no purpose to tell you at that point. Later when we found out you’d escaped and were making your way here it seemed ill advised to distract you.”

  She took a long slow breath. “So this happened right at the beginning?”

  “When we reached the illegal crossing you were taken through, there was…an issue,” Bleidd said slowly. “Mariniessa is only a master mage and didn’t have the skill to open the way through, and I didn’t have the legal permission. And beyond that I wasn’t going to be allowed to go any further. It was untenable. This was the means that allowed us to cross immediately and for me to continue, but more than that Allie don’t you see? With this I have been fully redeemed. I have regained my place in society. No more directing taxis and trying to pick up extra money wherever I can. No more wondering what honor I give to you as your husband, what I can offer your child. I have fully regained my place, Allie, all of it.”

  Jess watched Allie’s face during this speech trying to extend his senses to feel what she was feeling. He had suspected that Bleidd’s motivation ultimately rested in his own desire to raise himself up to his former place as much or even more than his desire to save Allie. The two motivations went together this time so he could not fault the other elf, but it was obvious that Allie was aware of it as well and that it hurt her. Her eyes searched Bleidd’s face as Jess stood helplessly to the side unsure this time how to mediate between them.

  Bleidd stepped closer, his face pleading, for the first time looking uncertain. It was an oddly out of place expression on the usually cocky elf. Allie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then drew him into an embrace. “I don’t want to fight about this right now, and obviously it can’t be changed. Let’s just be glad we’ve found each other again, and focus on getting all of us out of Fairy and back home.”

  Bleidd relaxed, as Jess himself had earlier in a similar position, and leaned down to rest his cheek on the top of her head. Allie’s face though was still stiff and unhappy, and Jess hoped that Bleidd realized she had not accepted the situation just because she was choosing not to argue about it now. Their reunion was cut short by the sound of many pairs of feet moving towards them, and they all turned – Allie pulling away and back – as the Queen’s Guard moved into view.

  Allie took one look at the rows of marching armed warriors and retreated to the cave, muttering something about seeing how Brynneth was. Jess kept himself still although he couldn’t deny a part of him wished he could join her. The Queen’s Guard were a fearsome sight, bristling with weapons and grim faced.

  The marching elves stopped at the bottom of the hill and their commander continued on. Jess and Bleidd walked forward and about halfway down the small slope met
the Queen’s commander. The woman nodded briskly, just short of bowing. “Commander Selviniaya, clan Leighis, battalion 3, Queen’s Guard. We were given to understand you have wounded?”

  Jess returned the nod, making sure he matched her movement exactly. “Commander Jessilaen, clan Firinne, Crannuaine Outpost, Elven Guard. Yes we had a healer assigned to our squad; he was severely injured in the initial attack. We retreated here and he has been in a trance, healing himself.”

  Commander Selviniaya turned and signaled the ranks behind her. Another soldier broke ranks and joined them, her expression serious. “This is one of our healers, Reialenial. She will assist you in any way she can. We were also told that you were in the middle of a search and rescue when this occurred?”

  “We were, yes, but that situation has been resolved,” Jess said simply.

  Selviniaya cocked an eyebrow curiously but she wouldn’t be crass enough to question him. Instead she said, “Then it appears our only remaining purpose is to dispose of the Pesht, if indeed that is what you have found. I am not questioning your word of course only whether the creature was indeed a Pesht or perhaps some other similar being.”

  Jess inclined his head slightly, midway between a nod and a shrug: a neutral gesture of acknowledgement. In truth he was offended at the implication that they may have misidentified the creature, but he was hardly in a position to say so. “Time will reveal the truth of the matter. If it pleases you commander I will send our mage to guide you to the site where we encountered the creature, and I will show your healer where our wounded squad member is.”

  “That is acceptable,” the Queen’s commander said.

  “Thank you so much,” Bleidd said drily in his mind. “She will certainly be interesting to work with.”

  “I trust you’ll manage,” Jess thought quickly not wanting an awkward amount of time to pass. “How should I introduce you?”

  He relayed Bleidd’s response as it was given to him, allowing him no time to process what he was saying, “This is our mage Bleidd, clan Draighean, Crannuiane Outpost, Elven Guard.”