Heirs of War, Crown of Flames

by Mara Valderran

  “Sorry,” Ariana mumbled. She stretched her arms above her, feeling the stiffness of her muscles from being in bed for so long, and mulled over what she wanted to say. “I'll just make some guesses and let you tell me if I'm right or wrong.” She paused and the old woman nodded. “Okay, Miss . . . um . . . ” She tilted her head to the side, inspecting the old crone. “I'm sorry. I don't know what to call you.”

  “I have many names,” the old woman responded cryptically and placed both hands on the cane before her. “You may call me Luna for now.”

  “Okay,” Ariana drew out the word to make it clear how odd she thought it was. Shaking off the thought, she decided to get down to business. “You can help us get to Anscombe somehow.”

  “I can send you there myself, with my magic. Or,” she inched closer, a devilish glint in her eyes. “I can send you back to Dhara. Someplace where neither side will ever find you again.”

  Ariana stared at her hands wistfully. She missed her parents and missed her friends. She would give anything to just wake up and have this be one giant nightmare. But she knew by now that this wasn't the case at all. There was no turning back, and she knew in her bones that she had to help defeat the Cahirans. Kellen had brutally murdered Jonathon and Anne, and for what? Because they had helped them? They were kind and innocent people that had nothing to do with the war between Cahira and Estridia, and yet she had still seen fit to have them killed. Ariana knew now that if she didn't stop her now, no one else would ever be able to. And Kellen had to be stopped.

  “No,” Ariana said with finality. “I would like for you to send us to Anscombe.”

  Luna lifted her face with approval. “Good choice, young Duillaine Ainnir. You have proven yourself to be wise. But I cannot send your friend with you. I can only send you.”

  “I would have to leave Alec behind?” Ariana stared at the door he had left through, wishing he would reappear. If she left him and returned to Anscombe on her own, he might find his way there too. Or Kellen might find him first, and she knew what would happen to him then. She shuddered at the thought. “I can't. It has to be both of us or neither of us.”

  Again, the woman looked at her with satisfaction. “And compassionate as well. You will make a fine leader once you arrive in Anscombe.”

  “I won't be a leader when I get there,” Ariana corrected her. “Alec told me that the way it works is the Duillaine Banair die or retire or whatever and we fill in their places after we get older.”

  “You are wrong. The people are leaderless right now. They need a strong voice, one with power that will not only guide them but one that will also hear them,” Luna explained. “You will do much and change much before the Prophecy is fulfilled. Your sisters in power are already beginning their journeys in this. You are the key to it all.”

  “What do you—” Ariana stopped, catching herself. “I would like you to tell me what you know about the Prophecy.”

  “That is something I cannot grant you,” the Babiaga said gravely. “I know much, but there is little of it that I can tell. It is for you to find out on your own.” She hobbled over to a chest at the foot of the bed. She opened it slowly and carefully, shielding its contents from the young girl. She pulled out a plain dagger in a leather sheath. “I will give you the supplies you need for your journey, and point you in the right direction, but I require a promise from you.”

  “There's always fine print,” Ariana muttered before gesturing for Luna to continue.

  “This is my gift to you,” Luna said, handing her the blade. “I require that you keep it on you always, as a reminder of your vow to always keep Alec close to your heart and by your side. And you must protect him.”

  Ariana's eyebrows shot up. “I thought protecting was his job.” Her stomach sank when realization dawned on her. “You mean from Kellen.” She swallowed back her fear at this implication. “She's going to find us again before the end.”

  “Yes.” The crone held the knife forward, emphasizing the desire for Ariana to take it from her, which she hesitantly did. “But she is not all that Alec needs to be protected from. You must guard his true identity, even after you discover it.”

  Ariana frowned in confusion. “He's already told me what he is. He's a Cyneward.”

  “There is more to his story than he is telling. But when he does tell, you must truly listen and keep in mind that you already know his heart and that does not change. You must keep him safe from those that would do him harm because of who he is, even after you arrive at Anscombe.”

  “You have my word.” Ariana pursed her lips at the loops that warning had taken. “I hope someone along the way has told you how creepy and annoying this whole omnipotent crap is. I mean, if you're going to be all knowing, does that have to mean you're all vague too?” She realized that she formed it as a question and immediately backtracked. “That wasn't a question aimed at you so it doesn't count! I hope,” she added weakly. “Sorry.”

  “It is fine,” Luna said and heaved a sigh. “Alec, you may come in now.” At Ariana's surprised look, she clarified. “He has been listening outside the door for the entirety of our conversation. I believe I will go for a walk and give you two some time to talk.”

  “Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop?” Ariana remarked when he walked sheepishly through the door with a pail of water in hand, glaring at Luna as she passed him.

  He brought the water over and sat it down in front of her with some force. “I told you not to make any deals with her.”

  “She offered supplies and to point us in the right direction,” she said. “What was I supposed to do?”

  “You should have waited for me! You should have listened to me for a change,” he shouted. He opened his mouth to speak again but closed it with an aggravated groan and took a few steps away. He ran his hands over his face in frustration and turned back around to her. “You have no idea what she might have just set in motion.”

  “Relax, Alec. All she wants me to do is guard your secrets.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “And seeing as how there's apparently a lot more of them that you haven't told me, I don't see how that can be a problem.”

  “See? There,” he pointed to her scowling face, “that mistrust. That could be the whole point of her little deal. You should have waited for me before you made any promises. Or took any weapons she offered.”

  Ariana stared down at the knife in her hand and shrugged. “I've been thrown into the middle of a war, Alec. I think it's pretty naive to think that I'm never going to have to decide between my life and someone else's; that I'm never going to have to actually kill someone.”

  He crossed the room and took her hands. “You won't. That's what I'm here for, Ariana. To be your sword when you need it.”

  She jerked her hands away from him, offended by his lack of confidence in her. “I'm not some princess that needs to be sheltered. I can take care of myself.”

  “Then why didn't you take her up on her offer? To send you alone to Anscombe? If you don't need me, then why didn't you go?”

  “I do need you. I always need you. But right now I need you to trust me too. Can you do that?”

  “That isn’t in question, Ariana. I am, as ever, yours to command.” He glared at the doorway, as if expecting that Luna was right outside. “It’s her I don’t trust.”

  Ariana nodded, knowing he probably had good reason. But right now they needed help. Especially if the Duillaine weren’t coming for her after all.

  ***

  Zelene had thought really long and hard about ignoring Solanna's summons. Since their confrontation, the Duillaine had kept their distance, which was just how Zelene liked it. Still, Solanna wasn't so bad one-on-one, which was pretty much the only reason Zelene accepted the invitation for afternoon tea. Sitting across from Solanna as she poured their beverages, Zelene started to regret that decision.

  “There's no need for concern, Zelene,” Solanna assured her and handed her a cup of tea. “It isn't poisoned, and I hav
e no intention of bringing up what transpired between you and Sylvanna, even to voice my . . . disapproval,” she said with a wink.

  Zelene grinned, understanding the sarcasm in the word. Sarcasm was definitely a language Zelene understood. “Gotcha. So, just some niece bonding time then?”

  “No,” Solanna hesitated. “The truth is, I'm worried about you.”

  “I'm fine. I feel fine, I feel better than I have my entire life really, and I think I'm getting the hang of this magic thing. Nothing to worry about,” Zelene said and rose from her chair. “Nice chatting with you.”

  “Sit down, Zelene.” Solanna's voice was calm but stern. “I have reason to be worried about you. Something you said when arguing with us over the Tainted. You said every person deserves to have someone fighting for them.”

  “So? Are you going to tell me I’m wrong? Because if this is just about you lecturing me on how the Tainted should be treated, you might as well call it now. You aren’t going to be able to change my mind.”

  “I don’t plan on trying. I was more concerned with the exact phrasing you used. Did you think of it on your own, or is that something you’ve heard?”

  Zelene shrugged. “It's something someone said to me recently.”

  “Who?”

  “I don't know, actually. She's never told me her name and she sort of just pops up. She’s not one of the Tainted, but I think she is a servant. I always see her down in the kitchens or laundry rooms.”

  “Like when you went to visit your father?”

  “Yeah,” Zelene answered, not liking the way Solanna asked her these questions. “Did you see her? I mean, I'm assuming you were using your gift or whatever. Do you know who she is?”

  Solanna scooted her chair closer and took Zelene's hand in hers. “I was watching. I told you I check in on you periodically since you've started your disappearing act, and that day I was especially concerned for you. I was scared that seeing the worst side of us, you might try to run away again.”

  “So what's the big deal? You're freaking me out here.”

  “Zelene,” she said slowly, “you appeared to be talking to yourself. There was no one else in the room with you and your father.”

  “She was in the hallway,” Zelene argued shakily, somehow knowing she was wrong.

  Solanna shook her head, confirming Zelene's fears. “No, my sweet, there was no one there at all. And this is not the only time I've seen you talking to yourself.”

  Zelene sat back in her chair. Of all the things she thought Solanna might want to talk to her about, this wasn’t anywhere near her radar. Talking to herself? It wasn’t possible. She knew the woman had been there with her each time. And yet, she couldn’t think of a single time that anyone else had interacted with the woman or even acknowledged her presence. “You think I'm going crazy or something? Hallucinating?”

  “No.” Solanna's gaze lowered. “What you said to us . . . it's the same thing Nandalia used to say. Word for word. She used to make the same argument for the Cynewards.”

  Zelene shook her head, refusing to let the puzzle pieces fall into place even as the last one appeared behind Solanna. The woman wore the same simple green dress and a sad smile. Zelene threw herself out of her chair, looking at Nandalia like the ghost she understood her now to be. “No, this isn't real. You aren’t real. You’re not her. It's just a hallucination. It has to be . . . ”

  Solanna turned to the area Zelene stared at and her shoulders slumped in disappointment. She shifted her focus back to her niece. “Zelene, you saw Isauria. That's how you knew she was dead before. You saw her. It makes sense.”

  “No,” Zelene shouted and ran out of the room, leaving her aunt and her ghost-mother behind. She headed for her room, not caring if they followed, and locked herself in her bathroom. She sank down to the floor, burying her face in her knees and refusing to look up for fear of what she might see.

  ***

  Ellowyn dropped the stack of books she’d been putting away, startled as Zelene burst through the doors, went straight to the bathroom, and locked herself in. She ran over and knocked on the door lightly.

  “Zelene? Is everything all right?”

  “I'm afraid Zelene has just realized what her gift is,” Solanna explained from behind her.

  Ellowyn spun around, clutching her chest and wishing the Duillaine would wear some sort of bell around their necks. “What do you mean?”

  Solanna sat down at the table, idly shifting the place setting around. “Her gift to see the dead, which I'm sure you must have figured out by now.”

  Ellowyn started to argue but clamped down on the lies. In truth, she'd noticed that Zelene had a habit of talking to herself when no one was looking, and Ellowyn still remembered how Zelene had seen Isauria's ghost before, when she had died momentarily over a month ago. “I suspected,” she admitted.

  Solanna nodded. “I've seen you watching her from a distance, when I've been watching.” She stood up and walked over, softening when she saw Ellowyn flinch back. She placed a hand on the young maid's shoulder. “You don't need to fear me, dear. I'm proud of Zelene for standing up for you. I believe Sylvanna is the only one you have to worry about, and please believe me when I say that I am trying to keep her temper in check.”

  Ellowyn melted with relief. “Thank you.” She turned back to the locked door. “Why is Zelene so upset? Who is that she's been talking to?”

  Solanna knelt down and began to pick up the books Ellowyn had abandoned before answering. “Nandalia. My sister and her mother.”

  Ellowyn joined her on the floor and they continued cleaning up the mess in silence. Then, she asked, “How long has Zelene been seeing her?”

  “I don't know. A few weeks, maybe? That's when I first noticed her talking to herself, and she's only mentioned the woman. I don't know why she's only seeing Nandalia, but she is.”

  “I do.” Ellowyn stood up and took the books from Solanna's arms. “She wants her mother, like anyone who is afraid and overwhelmed does. Her father has been missing, her mother is dead, one sister is running for her life while the other risks her life to watch over her, her brother is constantly on errands to help the troubled lands where he can, and her aunts have been acting more like rulers than family,” she summed up. “No offense. She's lonely and scared. Zelene might not act like it, but she is. Everything about this place and what she's supposed to do and what's happening with Ariana . . . it all terrifies her. It's a lot to take in, and she has no one to guide her.”

  Solanna nodded with a pained expression. “You're right. Nandalia must be so disappointed in me. She lost her life trying to get the girls back, and now that they are here…I do nothing. That's all the Duillaine ever do. Nothing.” She shook her head. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't be burdening you with my problems.” She clasped Ellowyn's hands. “I'm glad Zelene has you. I don't think she'll want to speak to me, so I leave her to you. Thank you, Ellowyn.”

  Ellowyn stood rooted in the same spot after Solanna left, stunned by the recent events. Not only was Solanna the second Duillaine to surprise her with their warmth recently, but now Ellowyn’s fears about Zelene were confirmed. She shook off her shock and pulled a chair closer to the bathroom door, getting comfortable while she waited for Zelene to come out.

  ***

  An hour later, Zelene had still not emerged from her bathroom. She listened to her aunt explain everything to Ellowyn, but still couldn’t believe it herself. She stayed curled up against the wall with her head hidden in her arms, ignoring everything around her. Her mother stood over her, begging Zelene to look at her, and Ellowyn was outside the door begging her to come out. Eventually, Zelene decided on the latter, if only to have some sort of distraction from her mother’s ghost.

  Ellowyn immediately leapt from her chair, sending it clattering to the ground, and rushed over. “Are you all right?”

  “I just found out that I'm being haunted by the spirit of my dead mother, Ell,” Zelene remarked dryly. “I think I'm a few Ghost Whi
sperer episodes beyond okay.”

  “You didn’t recognize her?”

  Zelene stared at her dubiously. “She sent me away when I was a baby and she died before I got back, so no. I didn’t recognize the mother I’d never seen before.”

  Ellowyn pointed behind her to the hallway. “But you’ve seen her portrait. You pass by it all the time.”

  Zelene clamped her mouth shut, knowing Ellowyn had a point. “I guess I never really look at it.”

  “So, it's true? Your gift is . . . well . . . ”

  “I see dead people, yeah,” Zelene said with an eye roll, thinking it figured. She could see her mother standing near out of the corner of her eye, but she refused to acknowledge her just yet. She had spent her time locked away in the bathroom trying to come to terms with this revelation but she now worried she had left her den of thought prematurely. “Yup. It's great. Just great. Terrena has super healing powers, Rhaya's an empath, Isauria can do some sort of astral projection thing, and me? I'm the creepy kid that can see dead people.”

  “Are you sure? Maybe Solanna is mistaken.”

  Zelene crossed her arms over her flushed chest as the color spread to her cheeks. “Tell me something, Ellowyn. Do you see anyone else in the room with us right now?”

  Ellowyn spun around quickly, expecting to find someone behind her. “No . . . should I?”

  Nandalia stepped forward, her hands outstretched pleadingly. “Zelene, please, let me explain . . . ”

  “No,” Zelene pointed her finger at the woman. “You don't get to explain. You had plenty of chances to explain who you really were or to even just say 'Hey, you can see me even though I'm dead. That's nifty!' but you never said anything.”

  “Are you talking to her now?” Ellowyn asked uncertainly as she glanced around.

  “No, Ell,” Zelene retorted sarcastically. “I'm arguing with myself. Of course I am!” She clamped her hands over her face and let out an irritated scream. “I'm sorry. I'm just . . . ”