He froze. “Mother?”
“Darrick?” The word came out a croak. “Is that really you?”
Moving carefully, he went to her and with as gentle a movement as he was capable, lifted her in his arms. Frail, she seemed only skin and bones. She weighed next to nothing.
“I’m going to get you out of here now, mother.” He wrapped his cloak around her, shielding her from view.
Sorrow in her eyes, Alanna held the way open as he strode from the tent.
Rage and pity warred within him. His proud mother had been reduced to this broken woman. Someone would pay, this he swore. Someone would pay mightily.
Moving as fast as they dared, they retraced their steps. By this hour many of the men lay snoring, though a goodly few still swiveled down mead.
Once again they escaped detection and made it to the edge of the valley.
“Which way?” Alanna seemed puzzled. Without the fires to light their way, the darkness was absolute. Even the silver sliver of moonlight provided little help. The soft glow of Alanna’s skin was their only source of illumination.
“We must climb up there.” He pointed in the general direction. With his mother so still and fragile in his arms, Darrick worried she might not survive the coming ordeal.
Alanna must have had similar thoughts. Tenderly she peeled back the cloak from Lady’s Rowena’s face.
“How do you fare?”
No answer. His mother’s eyes were closed, though the rise and fall of her chest showed she still breathed.
“I would try to heal her.”
“Heal her?” Darrick stared hard at Alanna. “Do you have enough power?”
“Whether I do or don’t matters not. I must try to help her. I fear she will die if I do not.” She placed her hand on Rowena’s forehead and began to move her lips soundlessly.
He saw a flare where her hand touched his mother. Felt the hum of her magic. Then, as Alanna swayed, he watched as his mother slowly opened her eyes.
“I--.” Her gaze lingered on Darrick’s face. “Where am I?”
“You are safe. Alanna has done her best to heal you.”
The older woman swallowed. “I feel… better.” She turned her head to look at Alanna. “So now you have returned.” Her voice gathered strength like the winter wind that whispers ahead of the storm.
Alanna nodded. “I have.”
A weak smile came to Rowena’s face. “Do you mean to finally honor the promise that you made? The betrothal? My son has suffered much since you disappeared.”
Even now, unconcerned with her own pain and suffering, she worried for her son.
“The betrothal… I--” Alanna swallowed, then raised her gaze to Darrick’s.
“`Tis time I knew as well.” Though his heart pounded fierce in his chest, Darrick was glad his voice sounded steady and calm. “When all this is over, do you plan for us to wed?”
“Darrick, I--”
A eruption of air from above interrupted her. No natural gust of wind, this could only be a magical attack of some sort. Instantly, Darrick motioned Alanna to get down, crouching low with his mother held close beneath him.
“What is it?” Alanna took his hand. At her touch, he felt the strength of her power, bringing to her the soft warmth he remembered of old.
A sound – the rush of mighty wings, told him what kind of threat they faced.
“The dragon,” he said grimly. “The dragon has returned.”
“We’ll fight it together.” Alanna raised her other hand and he saw a flash of metal. Her ceremonial dagger.
Sheltered under him, Lady Rowena gave a weak cry. “Wait. Please don’t hurt Ladde. The dragon is not our enemy. I was there when he was brought to life. He is but one small boy’s pet.”
Alanna froze, her hand still clutched in his. “Small boy?” She leaned close, the forgotten dagger pointed into the dirt. “Is his name Caradoc?”
But the effort had apparently been too much for Rowena. Her eyes had closed and she’d slipped into unconsciousness.
The gust of heat came again. A huge, black shadow blotted out the sliver of moon.
The beast circled above them.
“I see it.” Alanna’s voice trembled, though not from fear. Darrick wondered if she expected to see her son riding upon the monster’s back.
The earth trembled as the dragon landed.
“Darrick?” Geoffrey’s voice. “`Tis Sarina and I, come to the rescue.”
After the first initial shock, Darrick felt a burst of joy so intense he could only laugh out loud. “We are here. And we have Lady Rowena.”
“Sarina?” Alanna stood, sheathing her dagger. “How fare you?”
“I am well. Or will be, once I climb down from this beast.” They heard a scraping sound, then the soft thud of Sarina’s feet hitting the ground. She came forward, emerging from the darkness to envelope Alanna in a hug.
Geoffrey too, though because Darrick still held his mother, could only clasp an arm across his shoulders.
“What of my son?” Alanna asked, frustration plain in her voice. “Where is Caradoc?”
Stepping back from Darrick, Geoffrey’s expression was hidden by the darkness. His tone however, hid none of his anger or worry.
“Gorsedd has him,” he said. “I have seen your son and he is well. But Gorsedd came for him and Caradoc bade us ride the dragon to find you.”
“You let that man take him?” The icy fury of a princess of Rune was not to be taken lightly. “How could you?”
“Alanna,” Sarina said. “Gorsedd’s power has grown to unbelievable strength. Caradoc himself bade us to hide.”
“He is but a child. You should have--”
“Listen to me. If we’d tried to fight him, Gorsedd would easily have slain us. Caradoc might be only five, but even he knows the legend speaks true. It will take pairs of pairs joined together to fight Gorsedd.”
“I hear truth in their words.” Darrick wished he could touch Alanna, but his arms were full. “The time of the battle draws near. We must get to Ellette.”
“Then we will find Caradoc?” Alanna’s anger still resonated with enough force to raise the hair on his arms.
“Yes. Then we’ll get you back your son. I hope we can figure out the legend’s meaning. Only then do I believe we will stand a chance against Gorsedd.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Wynne and her army of glittering Fae waited, watching with impassive faces as the dragon landed in front of them.
Immediately, Alanna looked for Ellette. The little girl saw her first and came running with her arms outstretched. Alanna scooped her up with a fierce hug, noticing for the first time the child’s faint glow.
“She is part Fae,” Wynne said, indicating her own shining skin. “Thus the magic finds her.”
Alanna held Ellette tight. “If this plan of Gorsedd’s brings us power, how can he hope to defeat us?”
Wynne waved her hand at the valley below. “Humans. He must plan to use sheer numbers.”
“What of his magic?” Sarina stepped forward.
“He cannot be any stronger than we. And there are more of us.”
Sarina glanced at Alanna. Sorrow darkened her blue eyes to black. “But what if Gorsedd is stronger? What if he draws power from the earth?”
“As do we.”
“What if he draws power from other sources.” Again that sidelong glance, making Alanna’s stomach clench.
“If you mean he uses Caradoc, I have worried on that score myself,” Alanna said. She began to rock Ellette back and forth, needing some way to dispel her nervous energy.
“Not just Caradoc. Other Fae. Maybe even us. The closer we draw to Tynwald Hill and to Caradoc, the more power we have. What if that’s what he hopes for?”
Wynne’s serene expression changed to one of horror. “What are you saying?”
Biting her lip Sarina looked at her feet.
Alanna answered for her. “I think she might be right. Maybe this was all part of Gors
edd’s plan and we’ve simply played into his hands.” She indicated the assembled Fae force. “If he has found a way to do such a thing, with so many Fae to draw from, Gorsedd will be unstoppable.”
In typical Fae fashion, those assembled did not erupt into loud arguments or discussions. The glittering army simply vanished.
“They have gone back to Rune,” Wynne said. “For now. As absurd as your theory sounds, it has the ring of truth.”
Gently, Darrick laid his mother on the ground. Still wrapped in his cloak, the Lady Rowena did not move.
“She yet lives.” Darrick answered her unspoken question. He looked at Wynne. “Can you heal her?”
“We can try.” The white-haired seer waved her hand over Rowena’s body. “I will send her back to Rune.”
“Do what you must. I would see my mother healed.”
Wynne nodded then spoke three words. Lady Rowena vanished.
“My thanks to you as well,” Alanna said. “Darrick’s mother and I have much to discuss when this is over.”
Darrick slipped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, grateful for his warmth.
“So what do we do?” He kissed her cheek. “Do you have any ideas?”
Alanna closed her eyes. “When all that’s bright and shining has dulled and faded, pairs of pairs must join and bind. For when ancient evil from below rises, a soul torn asunder must be made whole. Poet and nobility, of both worlds and of neither, only then can such power be restored.”
“The riddle of legend.” Wynne’s voice contained a thread of excitement. “Over the centuries, long have the wisest among us puzzled over its meaning.”
“Ancient evil from below.” Geoffrey stepped forward, gathering Sarina in his arms. “Sounds a lot like hell to me.”
“There are worse things than the Christian hell.”
“A soul torn asunder.” Musing out loud, Alanna ignored Geoffrey’s frown. She breathed in Ellette’s sweet scent and repeated the words. “A soul torn asunder. What does that mean?”
Wynne answered. “Long have scholars believed the pairs of pairs were soul mates who had been separated. Together, each is half of one soul.”
Alanna nodded.
“One you called me soul-half.” Darrick’s voice rumbled near her ear. “Having lived so long without you, I believe you spoke true.”
“How many pairs?” Sarina spoke from within the circle of Geoffrey’s arms. “I believe Geoffrey Tadhg and I make another.”
Pairs of Pairs. Soul-halves. Even as she thought it, Alanna knew this was the answer to part of the legend’s riddle. A soul torn asunder made whole.
“If Alanna and I are one pair, and Geoffrey and Sarina another, then Caradoc and Ellette must be the third,” Darrick said.
Wynne still looked grave. “One part of the verse still nags at me. “When all that’s bright and shining has dulled and faded.”
“That is in reverse.” Sarina held up her arm, so that all might see the glow of her skin. “We were dull and faded, but now that our power has found us, we are bright and shining.”
“But for how long?” Geoffrey’s expression was dark. “How long will it last?”
“I’ve had enough.” Moving out of Darrick’s embrace, Alanna looked up at Tynwald Hill and the four fires, still burning. “I want my son. Whatever else happens, we will deal with it later. My little boy needs me. We must find Caradoc. Now.”
Without waiting to see if the others followed her, Alanna took off, Ellette’s arms wrapped securely around her neck.
“Where are you going?” Sarina called after her. “Tynwald Hill is that way.”
“I plan to skirt the edges of the army.” Enough said. Either they followed or they did not. If necessary, she would find Caradoc herself and bring him to safety. She had Ellette, the other half of her son’s particular pair. Hopefully that would be enough.
“Do you even have a plan?” With his long-legged stride, Darrick easily caught her. Sarina and Geoffrey hurried to catch up.
“Surely you don’t think you can simply storm in there by yourself and take your son with force?”
“I’m not by myself. I have Ellette.”
“You have all of us,” he corrected. “But that is not enough. We are greatly outnumbered.”
Alanna glanced back over her shoulder. “Some small part of me hoped Wynne and the Fae force would accompany us.”
“Now is not the time for battles between armies.” Wynne’s voice, though she was not visible. “This war will be fought by soul-halves, by pairs of pairs. My blessing goes with you.”
A light breeze stirred Alanna’s hair and she knew Wynne had gone.
“Back to Rune.” Sarina’s voice echoed her thoughts. “They will come if we have need them.”
“How will they know?” Long cloak flowing behind him, Geoffrey looked both fierce and more at ease than Alanna had ever seen him. At home in his own skin for the first time.
“They will know.”
Only Darrick had fallen silent, shortening his stride so he would not outpace them. Finally, he stopped before them.
“Wait. There is a faster way to reach the top of the hill.” He looked at Geoffrey, who inclined his head in a quick nod. “We have a dragon. Why not use the beast to circumvent the guards that are sure to be posted?”
“Gorsedd and Morfran will never expect that.” In her excitement Sarina let her hood fall, her countenance radiant.
“Cloak yourself.” Alanna’s order was automatic. On the ridge the gigantic dragon still waited, curled up and sleeping like a pet cat.
Ellette raised her head. “Ladde.” She clapped her hands and smiled. “Ladde.”
“Caradoc sent him.” Geoffrey spoke quietly. “He named him Ladde.”
This more than anything else, decided her. “Then by all means let’s return for Ladde. We will ride the dragon and use Caradoc’s pet to find my son.”
The beast raised his head as they approached it, regarding them with unblinking, sleepy eyes. They climbed aboard, Alanna’s feet slipping on the shimmering scales. When they launched into the air, Ladde made the ascent effortless. They flew threw the air towards the four bonfires, and Alanna knew they’d made the right choice. The dragon was Caradoc’s, a creation of his burgeoning magic. Now the beast would fly home, back towards his master.
She wondered if Caradoc could call his pet to him.
Over the top of the army they flew. The closer they drew to the hill, the more power Alanna felt fill her. Her blood sang with the might of it, and the delicious warmth of strong magic heated her skin. Now she knew without doubt they would be victorious – they had the legend on their side after all, and who could hope to stop them now that they were vigorous and strong?
“So we are as we once were.” Musing out loud, Alanna held her hand out before her, noting the golden luminosity.
“I feel like I could fly,” Sarina said. Her soft glow had brightened to a glimmering radiance. Even Ladde glowed softly, proving once and for all that he was a creature of the fae.
Bright and shining.
“Not dull and faded.” Darrick echoed her thoughts. That part of the riddle haunted her, for she knew not what it meant.
Ladde landed with a soft thud at the base of the hill. Alanna froze. Listening.
On the crest of the wind she heard it. A child’s voice, strong and yet full of an awful, aching want.
“Mama.”
She gasped. Grabbing Darrick’s arm, she trembled. “Caradoc. My baby.”
He frowned. “What?”
“Did you not hear him? Caradoc called out to me.” She looked at Sarina. “What about you? Did you hear that?”
Slowly, Sarina shook her head. “I hear only the wind.”
“Mama. I want my mama.”
“Caradoc!” Looking wildly about, Alanna slid from the dragon, hitting the ground hard. “Mama’s coming.” Without waiting for the others, she took off running, leaping the stone steps two at a time.
As
she neared the first bonfire, a burst of pain struck her. She doubled over, fighting, fighting. Only by concentrating, by focusing on the urgency of her son’s call, was she able to beat back the force and push herself upright.
Instantly it struck again. Blackness threatened, enveloping her, seeking to dim her glow.
“I am here.” Darrick voice, beside her. He touched her arm and the darkness faded. “I am with you.”
“As am I.” Sarina.
“And I.” Geoffrey.
Pairs of Pairs.
“Gorsedd seeks to strip our power from us. Link hands.” Clasping Darrick firmly with her left, she blindly held out her other hand. Sarina took it, and black became gray.
“Together we can stand against him.”
“How has he become so strong?” Geoffrey asked.
“He drinks from others souls.” Where this answer came from, Alanna didn’t know. But as she spoke the words, she knew they were true. “He drains their life essence, converting it to magic.”
Drawing on her son’s power as catalyst? Goddess, she prayed not.
They reached the third level. Like the other bonfires, this one too burned unattended. The flames flickered and danced in the gusty wind.
“One more level to go. I suspect we will find them at the top,” Darrick said. Leading the way, they began to climb.
Halfway, the hiss of the wind became a howl. The words it carried became a screech. “Maaaaamaaaaaa.”
Her heart constricted. “Caradoc. He calls to me.”
“Don’t panic.” Darrick soothed. “It must be a trick, an illusion. If Caradoc could call to you, he would have done so before now.”
This made sense. Unless Caradoc called for his mother because Gorsedd tortured him. Impotent rage made her growl low in her throat. She’d rip out Gorsedd’s eyes with her bare fingers if he laid one hand on her boy.
At the top the air current blew at gale force. They staggered up and over. At first glance the grassy plateau appeared deserted. No armies or human warriors stood guard here.
“Tynwald Hill,” Geoffrey said. There was reverence in his voice. “Even I can feel the power here.”
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