The ogre nodded his assent and smiled.
Sitting in the back of the tent, Marzi had trouble hearing the empress. She jostled her way through the others to a spot closer to the speaker. As she approached, though, a gasp rippled through those present. The Azyrean could feel the cloak changing again. An energy coursed through the cloth and into her shoulders. She turned her head and looked down to see the cloak once again glowing. As she moved closer to Ariessa, the golden light became more vivid. The cloak was choosing its new bearer. Marzi stopped in front of the empress.
“Empress Ariessa, it appears that Maw’thryn spoke true. The cloak seems to have chosen its next bearer.” Marzi unclasped and removed the cloak from her shoulders and held it out to Ariessa.
A somewhat surprised Ariessa smiled and bowed to Marzi. The empress removed her own cloak and affixed it around Marzi’s shoulders then gently took hold of the Cloak of Truth. The assembled crowd gasped once again as it glowed even brighter in her hands. “Thank you, Marzi.”
At that moment, the scent of lilac, jasmine, and lemon filled the tent, and an emerald glow materialized next to the empress. “Welcome all of you. I see that the Cloak of Truth has chosen its new bearer. Empress Ariessa of the dark elves, it now falls to you. It brings with it a purpose. You have been selected to unite the elves. This will be a challenging task. Bringing your people together does not mean that they give up their existing lives and cultures. You must find a path to form new connections in a way that honors all.”
Valyn turned toward Marzi and continued, “Marzi, you have served the cloak well.” Valyn offered a soft laugh. “I almost referred to you as ‘my child.’ But I shall have to remember that you are no longer a child. Your deeds and countenance are those of the wisest adult. All of those present bear witness to your actions this day. And I offer my sincerest gratitude.” Valyn bowed.
Marzi blushed but was at a loss for words, so she said, “thank you” and attempted to prevent tears from flowing.
Saryn, who had been standing near the empress, stepped forward and, with a fluid motion, helped the empress adjust the Cloak of Truth and fasten the clasp at her neck.
Valyn spoke again, “And so it is done. Yet you still have much to do, so I shall leave you for the moment. My blessings upon you all.” The glow faded.
Chapter 98: Crystal Sands
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Marzi halted just inside the tent entrance. “I’ll come back later.” She turned to go.
Ariessa sat beside Arien’s cot, holding her daughter’s hand in both of hers. “No, Marzi. Please, come, sit with us.” She gestured toward a spot beside the bedding. “Arien and I were just musing, speaking of other times. Join us, please.”
“I just wanted to see how Arien was doing.” Marzi placed her hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “I haven’t seen you since….” She wasn’t sure how to refer to the incident in which Arien had been injured.
The young elven healer smiled. “I am fine. I think that my mother, along with everyone else,” she nodded in the general direction of the tent door, “is making more of this than they should.”
Marzi secretly agreed with Arien. Yes, the young woman had been hurt. But Saryn had reacted with panic. And now the empress sat beside Arien as though it were the end of her life. But her time among the elves had instilled the Azyrean with a greater sense of diplomacy. “Well, you were hurt badly. And you should take it easy. I mean, everything’s pretty much over now, so there’s not any reason for you to get up.”
Arien’s laugh came out soft and warm. “It’s kind of you to consider my welfare, Marzi, but this isn’t so much about my health.”
“Really?”
Ariessa cleared her throat. “Not completely true, but there is more at stake here.” She turned to face Marzi. “It seems that my child will soon give me a grandchild.”
Marzi stared at the empress and then at Arien. “You’re…?”
“Yes.” The young elf’s face glowed with happiness. “We had thought to wait until the affair with Dredwyn was finished before telling anyone. But events decided otherwise.”
“We? Who…?” But Marzi knew.
“Saryn. He is my husband and the father of my baby. And to everyone’s relief, it appears that our child is fine.”
It made sense now—his reaction to the injury, his constant watching over her, and even the argument they had in the Bough. “That’s wonderful.” Marzi leaned in and hugged Arien.
“It is indeed.” A new voice joined the conversation.
Marzi turned to see the source. “Lord Rintaur.” She stood and bolted to him.
He knelt and hugged her. “How wonderful to see you again, Marzi.” He looked past her toward the cot. “And you, my daughter.” His smile was beaming as he approached her. “You have made your mother and me proud… and happy beyond words.”
An odd thought occurred to Marzi. “Will you go back and live in the Bough?”
Arien’s face grew serious. “There is a bigger question to be answered. What will the relationship between the Bough and cliff elves be like? Saryn is their leader. He has a responsibility to them. But all that has happened reminds us that, whatever differences we have, all of us remain dark elves. Perhaps it is simply that some of us will live by the Silver Sea while others remain in the forest. I believe that we must strengthen the bonds between the two. How that will look, I cannot say. But I am confident that never again will we consider each other enemies. And I will certainly be at the Bough when I deliver my baby.” She looked at both of her parents as if to reassure them of that fact.
Ariessa chuckled. “To be sure. My daughter is married to the leader of the cliff elves. I feel confident that our conversations will be much more frequent and collegial. I confess that my stubbornness has been part of the problem. And I will count on my daughter and my husband to remind me of that in the years to come.”
◆◆◆
“I thought I might find you out here.” Marzi slipped into the shadow cast by the trees at the oasis. The waxing moon was approaching three-quarters and illuminated the desert around them with a soft rust-colored light.
Saryn sat with his back to a tree, staring at the pool. “Hello, Marzi.”
“I talked to Arien and her mother today. They shared the wonderful news about your baby. I’m very happy for you.”
“Thank you.” Sorrow bathed his words. “I just wish….” He shook his head as his words trailed off.
But Marzi knew exactly what he was talking about. He had killed his own mother, and before she even knew about her grandchild. “I’m sorry.” She couldn’t help feeling that it was as much her fault as anyone’s. She should not have gone after Saige alone. She should have let Saryn go to her. They could have talked. It would have been okay. Maybe she should have just let Saige have the cloak. After all, it really didn’t mean that much in the end.
And suddenly Valyn was there. A soft green glow heralded her arrival, along with her scent. “You are wrong to think it was your fault, Marzi. And you, Saryn, are wrong to take this upon your shoulders. Both of you acted with kindness and humanity. Events played out as they were meant to. You must know that you could not have altered the outcome, regardless of your actions.”
Saryn shot back, “You don’t know that. If I had just—”
Valyn cut him off. “No, Saryn. I do know that. But that is not why I am here. There is someone with me who wishes to speak to the two of you.”
The spirit form of Saige appeared, a younger and worry-free Saige. Even in Valyn’s emerald glow, her eyes twinkled with what appeared to be peaceful happiness. “Hello, my dear son. And to you, Marzi, glad tidings.”
“Mother?” Saryn stood.
“Yes, my son. I am here so that you may know the truth and hold it near to your heart. You torture yourself because you think you killed me. On the contrary, you saved me. My heart had already been taken, overcome by hatred and lust for power. I did not see it coming and succumbed far too
easily. It was only by your courage and love that I am set free.”
The image focused on Marzi. “And you, my young friend. I must offer my deepest apologies for the treatment I afforded you. You came with nothing but truth and respect in your heart, and I offered treachery and deceit. And still, in the final moment, you offered yourself to help bring me back. I hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Marzi stood and bowed. “Thank you, Saige. I can tell you that there is nothing to forgive. I have nothing in my heart but sorrow for what transpired. But you make me feel better by telling me this.”
Saige nodded. “I know about my grandchild, my son. I am so proud. You have chosen well—Arien is a wonderful woman. And the two of you will have a wonderful life.”
“Mother, I… I am sorry and….” He wept.
“Be comforted, my son. Know that I love you and will be with you always and that my grandchild will be watched over and protected.” The image faded, and that of Valyn returned.
“Your mother is with me now, Saryn, and will be until the end of days. For you, however, much remains to be done in the land of the living. You are leader of the cliff elves. But you are also a dark elf, as are all of your people. Your wife is the daughter of the empress. The road ahead should be clear. The cliff elves will thrive, and you will rule with wisdom. It is my hope, though, that your connection to the Bough will never again falter.”
Chapter 99: Crystal Sands
Marzi pulled the tent flap open just enough to stick her head in. Ariessa sat at a makeshift table writing in a book. The empress looked up as the desert light invaded the dimly lit tent. “Come in, Marzi.” She gestured toward a chair as she stood and moved a wooden crate onto the seat. “Sit, please.”
“I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was just wondering if I could talk to you.”
“Of course.”
“I guess I’ll be going home soon, and, well, I was just wondering about some things.” Marzi tried to organize her thoughts. It had all seemed so simple when she’d been going over it in her head. But now that she was here with the empress, she wasn’t sure where to start. “What was it like, I mean, how did you feel when Arien came home?”
Ariessa leaned back in her chair and steepled her hands beneath her chin. “I cannot say that it was any one feeling or thought. Years of anguish and doubt converged into that one moment. But if I had to say, it would be as though the sun rose on a beautiful morning after a night of fierce storms. The darkness receded, and warmth flooded my heart.”
It felt strange to hear those words, given the coolness with which the empress had appeared to react at the time. But they were words that nonetheless heartened the young Azyrean.
The elven leader continued before Marzi had a chance to comment, “I know that you must question that. I am sure that you saw my response as unemotional or callous.” Ariessa chuckled softly. “You must remember two things, though. First, as the leader of my people, I have a responsibility to our laws and customs. That Arien is my daughter could not negate that. And, even though you could not see it, my heart was torn into shreds. The second thing to keep in mind is that different people—and cultures—have different ways of showing things. You view the world through the lens of Azyr and your home in Pangrove.”
Marzi sighed. “I know. Having met elves, humans, and ogres, I see that now… at least more than I did before. And I’m truly sorry for my actions at times as well as my unchecked words. I guess I was just a child.”
Ariessa’s gentle laugh floated in the air for a moment. “You were never just a child, Marzi. You were plucked from your home as a young girl. But you were set on a path and charged with a task that would daunt even the most seasoned adult. Most importantly, though, you have grown and learned… as have we all. The acceptance of growth and learning is the greatest tool we use in our youth to provide us with what we need later in life—knowledge and wisdom.”
And then the words found their way out. “I was just wondering what it will be like, I mean, what my mother and father will feel when I come home.”
“As a mother I can tell you they will be beyond words with joy. And when they learn of your deeds, which I am certain they will, they will be proud of you and your brother.”
But there was something else bothering Marzi, something she had been reluctant to give voice to. “It will be good to see them….”
“But?”
And so there it was. There was indeed a but. Ariessa picked up on it. Of course, she would… she didn’t miss much. “It’s hard to know how to say this, but I’m not sure that Pangrove is really my home anymore.”
Ariessa reached out and laid her hand on Marzi’s arm. “I know. I can feel the turmoil in you even as we sit here. Maybe you are trying too hard. Perhaps taking a step back might help. Pangrove is your home. Your parents are your family, and I am certain that they love you fiercely. But where is it written that you may have only one home, and where is it written that you may not expand how you define family? And this I promise you, Marzi, you are fiercely loved by the dark elves of the Twilight Bough, as well as by the frost elves and the cliff elves. You might think of yourself as a young Azyrean girl, but I see also a young dark elf woman in you. You are defined more by what is in your heart than the blood that runs in your veins. And now and forever you will be one of us. Always remember, Marzi, that home is where your heart resides.”
A tear found its way down Marzi’s cheek. She had so wanted to hear this. “I don’t want to think about never being able to see you again.”
The empress again laughed, this time with a tinkling that reminded Marzi of Valyn, and her own mother’s crystal wind chimes back in Pangrove. “And what makes you think that you will not see us again? The moonbeams will behave in the same way they always have, except that now you know where they go. And when you ride that emerald beam, you will arrive in a familiar place inhabited by dear friends.” Ariessa grew serious. “The world has changed, Marzi. No longer are we bound to our lands as we were for the past two hundred years. No longer are we isolated only with our own race. In fact, I am led to question what role race will even play in the future. Ryshara and the young human captain have chosen each other. Their children will be both human and elf. Jarek and the young human woman will likewise make a life together—a human and an Azyrean. What will their children be like? Race is not as important as is the love that binds us together as inhabitants of the same world.”
Marzi hadn’t thought about any of this. Marriage and children, those were adult things. But it warmed her heart to think of all people not being so different, well, being different but the same. She almost burst out laughing as she thought about Tovi and how her young brother had taken a liking to Ellemareth. The world had changed.
◆◆◆
Marzi considered Tovi’s question for a moment. How long had it been? “I guess we’ve been gone more than a year, maybe two. But I don’t know if a year means the same thing here that it means back home. For Mom and Dad, it might have been like fifty years or something. Or maybe just a few days.”
The two of them sat at their customary place beneath the tovar nut trees at the side of an oasis pond. The full moon rose over the desert in the eastern sky. A gentle wind cooled the baked sands, and the sounds of insects filled the gaps in conversation.
Her brother remained quiet for a moment before speaking. “That’s weird.” His voice was soft and uncertain. “Do you think they’ll even remember us?”
Marzi laughed aloud. “Of course, they will. We’re their only children. You know that. They’re going to be thrilled to see us. Just wait and see.”
But Tovi didn’t answer. He stared, seemingly transfixed, at the rising moon.
“Aren’t you happy to be going home?”
The young boy shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. But….” The insect sounds once again took over.
“But what?”
He turned to face her. “You’ve got friends that you can talk to a
t home. You go riding beams and stuff. The only thing I can do is tag along, and you don’t even like me doing that.”
Marzi put her hand on his shoulder. “I promise you, Tovi, you can come beam hopping with me any time. And my friends are really your friends, too.”
“It’s not the same.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like, when I came here, Klunk and I got to be friends—just the two of us. He picked me and I picked him. And then Klik picked me as a friend and so did River. And Growl was with us. But back home, I’m just there because I’m your brother. You have to like me.”
She wanted to argue, but she understood what he was saying. Marzi felt the pain of loss—leaving her friends in the Bough. And as hard as that was, at least she had friends in Pangrove as well. Tovi was going to leave the only true friends he’d ever known. “But you know how to get back here, right? All you have to do is jump on a blue beam.”
“What if the beam keeper fixes things so that there won’t ever be any more colored moonbeams?”
Marzi smiled. “Then I suspect that Myhrren, Valyn, and Aristan can fix it. After all, they owe us, right?”
Even in the moonlight, she could see her brother’s face brighten. “Yeah. That’s right, they do owe us. And I can come back here and see Klunk any time I want. And I could even go to the elf place and see them, you know, Ellemareth and the others.”
“But first, we have to go home. Mom and Dad are worried about us.”
“What are we going to tell them? You think they’ll believe everything that’s happened here?”
Marzi wondered, will they? “Something tells me that, when we get back, everything will have changed. The world will be different. We know where the colored beams go now. There’s no reason why other Azyreans can’t visit here, too. And the ogres, elves, and humans can visit us.”
Beneath a Desert Moon Page 33
