Heirs of War, Crown of Flames

by Mara Valderran

  “And people are still doing this? I mean, all these festivals?” Zelene asked with disbelief.

  Adelphi seemed puzzled by the question. “Yes. Why wouldn't they?”

  Tate answered for her. “I think she means because of the war, Mother.”

  Zelene leaned forward, her auburn hair spilling over her shoulders. “I know you guys have probably already covered this, but shouldn't we be focusing more on the war and Cahira and less on what parties may or may not be thrown?”

  “Actually,” Rhaya said reluctantly and shot a wary glance to Adelphi, “we haven't really talked about the war at all. I've been wondering why it hasn't come up yet.”

  “The Duillaine Banair want you to learn about the worlds before we talk about the war,” Tate answered and then scowled defensively at his mother's reproachful look. “What? They have a right to know.”

  Adelphi sat back in her chair. “What would you like to know?”

  “How do they fight?” Zelene asked automatically, ignoring Rhaya's disapproval at the question. “On Dhara, they have weapons and bombs, but somehow I doubt that's all there is to it here.”

  Adelphi nodded at her reasoning. “You're correct. There is the use of weapons, though not like what you are used to on Dhara. There are no guns here, for one. Bombs are possible, but not in the way you would think. It is actually more common to use air coupled with another element in such a way as to create a bomb-like effect than to have an actual physical bomb.”

  “Why use weapons if people can use magic?” Rhaya mused. It wasn't a subject she had given much thought to, but she couldn't see how someone would choose to swing a sword around when they could just send fireballs at people.

  “Because not everyone is matched in talent and skill,” Adelphi answered. “As Duillaine Ainnir, you have more power than anyone else in all the worlds. The same can usually be said of the Duillaine Banair but even they are outmatched by the power the five of you have. Other people don't have that much command over the elements. There are those that have more than usual and those people are usually chosen to go into a specific field. For example, Bianca has more command than usual over Earth and so she is one of the most skilled healers in Anscombe aside from Sylvanna and Terrena. It is why she has risen to paion at such a young age. She could have just as easily joined the army and used her connection to Earth in a more violent way and risen to the ranks of commander just as quickly.”

  “So soldiers are usually more talented than your everyday Joe?” Rhaya clarified.

  “Not necessarily. Those that can't as easily use the elements as weapons opt for swords and the like. And every soldier carries one anyway. You have to remember that our relationship with the elements is a give and take sort of relationship. We are able to take from them but as we use them, they also take from us. Most people can do simple tasks like lighting torches or even infusing them with power so that they stay lit.”

  “Kinda like charming an object,” Tate explained at their confused looks. “Using symbols to put a spell on it to constantly stay connected with fire.”

  “But to do more requires more power, and more of you,” Adelphi continued. “So, if you are face to face with an enemy, it might be more prudent to use a blade rather than tiring yourself out early in the battle by wielding an element against them.”

  “But that's not how the Cahirans work, is it?” Zelene sat forward, her tone grim. “Isauria said that Kellen is big on the magic torture.”

  Rhaya nodded her agreement, hesitant to elaborate. “Izzy told me about what she did to Nandalia, back when she thought it was just a story. It wasn't pretty. And Kellen didn't seem to tire out that easily.”

  Adelphi seemed reluctant to talk about this. The look on her face was as though the very subject of the Cahirans left a bad taste in her mouth. “The Cahirans do have a certain…style in their fighting. From what I understand, they are fans of slow pain. As for Kellen, well . . . ” she paused and exhaled slowly, “her strength is not common amongst those outside of the bloodline of the Duillaine Banair.”

  “Shouldn't we be learning more about them and how they fight? I mean, since we're apparently destined to fight them ourselves one day.” Zelene stared pointedly at Adelphi. “Isn't that what you're supposed to be teaching us about?”

  Adelphi's gaze darkened. “I teach you what the Duillaine instruct me to teach you, Zelene, and I can assure you that none of it will have to do with fighting. You are politicians, not warriors. Your job is to bring peace to the worlds, not lay waste to them. You might see these festivals and engagements as pointless, but you aren't looking at the bigger picture. That is why Tate and I are here. To help you understand the bigger picture. Now, enough talk of wars.” She picked a book up from the pile on the table. “Back to saoires.”

  ***

  Raemann cast a cursory glance around, careful to make sure that they were alone as he and Varrick stood in the hallway outside the classroom. He was surprised to find Varrick there, since Zelene had spent more time hiding in the shadows than actually attending lessons. He wasn't sure what sparked the change in the mule-headed girl, but he automatically credited it to Varrick since Arland had been gone for some time now.

  “So,” Raemann said when he was certain that no one would see them step out of line, “fancy seeing you here again.”

  Varrick rolled his eyes though his stance was still stern. “You really can't stand the quiet, can you?”

  “It drives me nuts,” Raemann said, an exaggerated groan in his words. “Zelene seems to be on better behavior than normal.”

  “You obviously don't pay much attention to her.”

  Raemann nodded knowingly, a delighted glint in his light blue eyes. “You still think she's up to something.”

  “No,” Varrick said as he shifted his gray gaze to his comrade, “I know she's up to something. I'm just not sure she knows what it is yet.”

  Raemann bobbed his head, the light playing off of his golden curls as they bounced. “Rhaya is too. Have you noticed how they keep meeting in secret over the past few days?”

  “Of course I have. Have you been able to get close enough to hear what they say?”

  “No, not without being obvious. I let Rhaya see me following her in the shadows sometimes but I don't think even she'd appreciate how we really watch them. Out of curiosity, how do you do it?”

  “Squirrels. You?”

  “Birds,” he said as his fellow warrior shook his dark head with a chuckle. “I love how it feels to fly. Just have to make sure you don’t grab a messenger pigeon. That can get awkward. Well, at least that explains why we haven't been overlapping. They've been together so much lately that I thought we would.”

  “What do you think they're up to?”

  Raemann shoved his hands in the pockets of his black tunic with a shrug. “Could be any number of things, really. Neither one of them seem particularly happy with the way things have been going around here. They haven't exactly adapted to the culture well.”

  “It's got to be Ariana.”

  “Why? Because you want it to be?”

  Varrick glowered at him, even though Raemann had a point. “No, because Zelene keeps sneaking around the leigheas. She's been eavesdropping a lot lately, ever since she overheard them talking about what the boy said about the area he and Ariana are in.”

  “She's going to get herself caught if she keeps that up,” Raemann warned with seriousness. “She's already treading thin ice with the Duillaine Banair as it is.”

  “I've been trying to find a way to talk to her about that, but it isn't easy.”

  “Nor is it something you should risk,” he warned.

  “You're one to talk. You've been playing your little games with Rhaya since you got here regardless of how much her father hates you. At least Arland likes me.”

  “And Arland is nowhere to be found right now,” Raemann reminded him. “We both know that you are on much thinner ice than I am, just as your ward is. If anything, your frie
ndship with Arland only serves to work against you. You need to be cautious.”

  Varrick ran a hand over his short dark hair. “I have to do something, Rae.”

  “No,” Raemann corrected him with promise, “you don't.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means you have more friends here than just Arland,” he responded with raised brows. “Or did I imagine all the fun the three of us had on Dhara?”

  “Too bad we can't hit the tavern here,” Varrick commented with a sly glint in his eyes.

  “Don't I know it. Anyway, I think we should do something about Ariana and if you're right, we can use the girls to help us do that.”

  Varrick stared at him in disbelief. “You're kidding. We aren't taking them anywhere near Kellen—”

  “No, no,” Raemann said, waving away his protests. “They can get us the information we need to find Ariana. And then we can go after her. Together.”

  “We can't leave the girls here unprotected.”

  “We won't,” Raemann assured him as he gestured to the walls around them. “They'll be here and they'll be safer than if they go after her themselves. If we have to, we'll lock them in a room together and ask Kenward to watch out for them.”

  “You think he would do it?”

  Raemann spread out his hands. “He won't have a choice if we lock Terrena in there with them.”

  Varrick grinned in response. “I like the way you think, my friend.”

  ***

  Rhaya leaned against the table she had been working at for hours, hoping to block it from Tate’s view and laying on her best innocent eyes ever. She hadn't expected to run into him in the library, or for him to be so interested in her reasons for being there.

  “You want to learn more about the worlds?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Rhaya answered with more enthusiasm than necessary, hearing the skepticism in his tone. Couldn't a girl visit a massive library without ulterior motives? Okay, well, she did have ulterior motives, but she also had a deep appreciation for books and was in awe of how many this library held. “I mean, we are going to be rulers of them one day. I figure I might as well learn about them.”

  “And you thought you might start with a geography lesson.” He glanced at the other books on the table. “And lessons on defensive magic and runes?”

  She walked around the table she had set up at, her fingers tracing the edge of the map she’d just found. “Just trying to get the lay of the land,” she said slowly and unconvincingly. “Or lands, I guess.”

  He shook his head with a laugh and dropped his arms. “You know,” he said, pointing at her, “for someone who can tell when someone's lying, you're pretty terrible at it yourself. What's going on?”

  She clapped her hands around her head in frustration. “I know! I suck at this whole being covert thing. Raemann and I always had such an honest relationship, I mean even though technically he was lying to me and keeping things from me my entire life, but that didn't matter because I knew he was doing it. And he knew that I knew, so it was an open sort of dishonesty even though it was still dishonest. You know?”

  “You know, I think I understood that completely.” He shook off the confusion as he steered their conversation back to the point. “Look, it's pretty obvious to me that you're up to something. And I have a pretty good feeling Zelene's behind it. You know, if she's so intent to be the teenage rebel out of your bunch, she might want to give subtlety a try every now and then.”

  “Are we that obvious?”

  “When Zelene starts actually doing what she's told and showing up for lessons, there must be something up. Couple that with the questions she asked today and you sitting here pouring over maps— that means you two are definitely up to something.” He squared his shoulders and continued. “I can help.”

  Rhaya's already large eyes widened further. She crossed around the table to stand in front of him. “You would help us? Just like that?”

  Tate nodded and leaned against the table as he relaxed his stance. “Kyle was a good guy. He always looked out for Zelene. If she thinks she knows a way to find him, the least I can do is help point the search in the right direction.”

  She sat on the table beside him and mulled over the earnest brown eyes staring at her. She had agreed to keep their plan a secret, but how much harm could really come from involving the treior? She hadn't known Tate long, but she trusted him. And she knew that he cared about Ariana since they were so close back in Dhara. Anytime her name was brought up in front of him, she could sense his genuine worry for her, as well as the longing to do something to help.

  “We're not looking for Kyle,” she confessed, carefully gauging his reaction as she continued. “We're trying to find Ariana so Varrick can go after her.”

  He turned around to face her warily. “What do you mean you're trying to find her? Isn't she on Cahira?”

  “Turns out she isn't. Sylvanna confirmed it. But she doesn't know that we know. And Sylvanna definitely doesn’t know that we're trying to figure out where she is ourselves.”

  “Why are you? I mean, aren't the Duillaine Banair doing that?”

  Rhaya began scratching at the wood with her fingernail, still avoiding eye contact. “Would you believe me if I told you that they already have the information they need to start looking for her but aren't?”

  “I'm sure they have their reasons if they haven't made a move yet. Things are a lot more complicated with the Prophecy and the politics of it all. Do you really think they'd just leave her to the Cahirans?”

  “No. Yes. I don't know,” she grumbled. “All I know is they have the exact same information I do but you don't see any of them here searching through maps. I don't know why, but they aren't. And we need to find her, Tate. It's not about the Prophecy at this point. She's family and people are trying to hurt her. We have to do what we can to find her, even if it means going against the Duillaine Banair.”

  “I knew you girls would stir up trouble once you got here.” He leaned in with a wink when her face started to fall with disappointment. “The best kind, of course. Sign me up.”

  She brightened significantly, happy that she hadn't misjudged him. “Really?”

  He gave her a look that spoke volumes more than the one syllable he replied with. “Duh.” He smiled and continued. “Look, she's my best friend. I want to find her just as badly as you do. If we can find out where she's being held, the Duillaine Banair will have to act. Just tell me how I can help.”

  She hopped down from the table and turned back to the map. “If I give you a description of a world, like the geographic layout, do you think you can find it?”

  “It might take some time, but I can try.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ariana and Alec continued their journey in brooding silence for days. Ariana was clearly still worried about Zelene, but Alec didn’t know what he could do to make that better. There was no way he could go back and try to rescue Zelene—if she was even there. Either way, he couldn’t risk Ariana. He wouldn’t.

  They made camp not too far from the riverbank. Alec knew that they didn't really need to follow the river so closely, but it was convenient and he enjoyed the sound of the water rushing over the rocks. It was soothing.

  He spread their blankets out next to one another and Ariana plopped down on hers. She pulled her knees to her chest and stared forward, lost in her troubled thoughts. Alec sat down next to her and put his hand on her back.

  “Driving yourself crazy won’t help Zelene, or you.”

  “I know,” she said with a sigh. “There’s really nothing I can do, is there? I’m supposed to be some badass, but Kellen proved that theory wrong. I want to be brave and go save Zelene, but I’m scared. I’m not brave at all.”

  “You’re being too hard on yourself, Ariana. We don’t even know if Kellen has Zelene.”

  “You don't even know that it's your twin that you're seeing.”

  Ariana threw her hands in the air. “Who else could it
be, Alec? I feel a connection to her. She's the only one that makes sense.”

  “Ariana,” he said quietly, “you don't even know if what you saw was real. Be honest. It could have been a dream.”

  Her face fell. “You think these visions are all in my head.”

  “I didn't say that—”

  “Except you just did.”

  “Look, the point is that Zelene is not your responsibility. If the Cyneward you share is so incompetent as to let both of his wards fall into enemy hands, there's nothing I can do.”

  “What's a Cyneward?”

  “Enough questions,” he said and flexed his jaw, trying to calm down. “Even if Kellen does have Zelene, we can’t help her.”

  “Can’t, or won’t? Because it feels more like the latter.” She stood up and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Look, I’m not saying we go back. I don’t know what I’m saying. I just know that I want her to be okay. I want to help her somehow. Someone has to do something, right? I mean, if Kellen kills my sister, then all hope is lost. You helped me to understand that. We have to look at the big picture.”

  “I don't care about the big picture,” he shouted. He shook his head sadly and moved to stand before her, cradling her face in his hands. “I care about you. About getting you back to Anscombe safe.” He released her and stepped away. “You can't ask me to lead you back to Kellen. I won't do it.”

  She watched him with disbelief. “You'd let her die?”

  “If it means keeping you safe, yes.”

  “But the Prophecy—”

  “For all we know, the Prophecy calls for her death,” he snapped impatiently.

  “Or mine,” she said softly.

  Her words cut through him, the idea burning a hole through his chest. “Don’t say that.”

  “You can’t protect me from all of this, Alec. Do us both a favor and stop trying. You said yourself that things were going to change when we get to Anscombe.”

  “Ariana—”

  “If you’re going to hunt, you should go now. It’s getting late.”