The Temple of Ardyn

by Tameri Etherton

She sensed Rhoane’s ShantiMari beneath her touch. He’d placed the oath on Marissa that Taryn heard in the temple. To the end, her sister had tried to destroy them. Taryn shook her head at the futility of Marissa’s actions.

  She embraced the anger that flowed through her, funneling it into Marissa’s corpse. Every moment of anguish Taryn suffered at the hands of her sister, she forced into her power. Heat blazed up her arm and she squeezed her eyes shut.

  She called on all her ShantiMari, begging mercy from the gods and goddesses, her immortal parents. Whether she sought to absolve Marissa or find forgiveness for herself, Taryn wasn’t sure. All her pain, her anger, the confusion and mistrust she’d gathered over the past season, she released into the flames that burned her hands, but left no mark.

  When at last the heat subsided, Taryn opened her eyes to see the destruction she caused. All that was left of her sister was a thick coating of ash. She produced a jar and funneled every last mote of ash into it before sliding the coffin closed. For good measure, she placed several wards over the lid to prevent anyone from discovering the princess had been taken. As an afterthought, she wove a delicate thread of Mari through the wards so that if anyone did open it, they would see a likeness of Marissa in perpetual slumber. Then she left the crypt for good.

  A gentle breeze whipped Taryn’s hair around her face when she stepped up onto the wall that surrounded a terrace overlooking the sea. She uncapped the jar, saying a prayer for her sister’s immortal soul. “May you find the peace in death that eluded you in life.” She upended the jar and the ashes were caught by the wind, scattering out across the ocean.

  “It did not have to end this way.” Rhoane stood a few feet from her. “I followed you to the crypt.”

  She threw the jar over the cliff, waiting until she heard the crash of pottery on the rocks below. “Whoever created the Shadow Assassin is skilled in the Black Arts and has access to court. Marissa caused enough pain in life. I can’t let her be used against us ever again. This is the only way I can be certain of that.”

  “What she did to me—to us—she deserves nothing less.” Rhoane sat beside her. “Marissa is gone, but the threat remains.”

  “Zakael.” Taryn leaned against him, sorrow burrowing in her chest because nothing would ever be the same. “He won’t soon forgive me for what happened at the temple. The battle is yet to begin, I fear.”

  “But not tonight.” He took her hand, pulling her up beside him.

  “We’ll be okay, won’t we?” Suddenly she was aware of his scent and the curve of his mouth as he smiled.

  “Better than okay. We will be together as we were meant to be. Fly with me.”

  They leapt off the wall, transforming into their dragon shapes in mid-air. Taryn let out a cry that seared the sky and Rhoane followed suit. Kaida ran along the wall, barking and jumping until they were far from shore. They dove and spiraled together as if dancing through the air.

  They passed over the oceans and lands as they had in her dream. When she saw the Narthvier, she knew where Rhoane was leading them. They shook off their dragon forms before touching the uppermost branches of the Weirren.

  “Why did you not tell me you could transform into a darathi vorsi?”

  “I did not know. A rune appeared one day and then a short while later I felt compelled to become the great beast. It was then I found you drifting over the sea as a magnificent silver darathi vorsi.”

  She held her hand to his, their runes sparking against the night sky. “We still need Ohlin’s bond to be complete.” His fingers curled over hers. “Are you certain, Rhoane? These past few moonturns have not been pleasant for either of us.”

  “True, but we are as one, are we not?” She opened her mouth to argue and he pressed his lips to hers. “We both had doubts, yes, but we had faith, yes? We had hope.”

  “Yes, hope. Faith, trust, and—” She sat up, a thrill igniting her senses. “Glitter.” She folded her fingers into a fist and opened them to reveal a mound of sparkling crystal shards. “We are capable of anything, you and I. But we are stronger together. Before anything else is spoken, before we even consider completing our bonding, there is something you must know.”

  The intensity of his stare unnerved her and she gripped the crystals for reassurance. “I do not possess the trinity, Rhoane.” He started to argue and she continued, cutting him off. “When the phantom touched my soul, he did not stain me with his Black Shanti—he unlocked my own Black powers.”

  In the span of two long breaths, Rhoane’s expression ranged from incredulity to confusion to denial to understanding, and finally acceptance. “Yes, yes that makes sense. The trinity is too confining. You must not be limited.” He shook as he reached out to place his hand over hers, covering the glittering shards. Their runes illuminated and rose from their skin, flared rays brightened the space. “Do not see this as a defect, mi carae, but as a part of your whole perfection.”

  His lips rested against hers and warmth traveled to the place inside where the chill lingered. A shadow at the corner of her eye flickered and winked out. She opened her mouth fully, taking in Rhoane’s heat, his power, his healing.

  ShantiMari swirled in shades of pink to crimson with suppressed passion. Taryn withdrew from the kiss with heady reluctance.

  “Are you ready to complete our bonding?”

  “Now? It cannot wait?”

  “It can, but trust me, you do not want it to.” Rhoane’s grin was answer enough. She transported them through the stars to Dal Tara, where Brandt and all of the gods and goddesses of Aelinae waited.

  Rhoane blinked several times before covering his eyes against the brilliance of the gods. Taryn turned to him, her Glamour a radiant kaleidoscope of color shimmering beneath her skin. “Now what do you see?” she teased, reminding him of the first time she saw Nadra in the cavern.

  “It is—overwhelming.”

  “You get used to it. Squint, it helps.”

  The gods wavered into recognizable forms and approached the couple. Brandt followed a step behind.

  “Ohlin wishes to bond us, if this is what you truly want. Once he places his bonds, they are absolute and forever. Nothing and no one can ever unravel them. Are you sure you choose this path?” Taryn asked, her voice wavering the tiniest bit.

  A little half-smile tugged at his lips. “I have wanted nothing else my entire life.”

  Ohlin stepped forward, chanting the ancient words of binding that would complete their union. He wrapped a multi-hued cord of power around their wrists, searing it into their skin. Taryn grimaced against the pain and stared in awe as Rhoane’s skin rippled from his elbow to his fingertips with tiny moss-colored dragon scales. Silver frills flared out from her arm and then sank back into her skin. Their runes shifted and reoriented themselves, leaving several more ghost tattoos embedded against their Glamour.

  When Rhoane lifted his hand away, a solid crystal dropped from their grip. Taryn bent to retrieve it, her attention momentarily captured by tiny buds sprouting from Rhoane’s fingertips. A second later, they were gone. In place of her own hand, a galaxy of stars swirled and winked out, leaving her once more flesh and bone.

  Brandt set the crystal into her palm and placed Rhoane’s hand over hers. “Guard this well.” He pressed against them until the crystal cut into her skin and she flinched. When he released their hands, the crystal had vanished.

  “Where did it go?” Taryn flipped her hand back and forth, looking for a new rune or anything to indicate its existence.

  Brandt tapped them on their chests. “In here. You created the dust from nothing and one day you’ll have need of it again. But for now, keep it safe.”

  Taryn groaned and rolled her eyes. “Not you, too? Riddles? I am so bloody sick of riddles!”

  Brandt chuckled and pulled her into a bear hug. “If I told you it was a planet you created, would you believe me?” he whispered and she jerked back to study his face. “I didn’t think so.” He gave a saucy wink and cluck to her chin before
stepping aside.

  Verdaine approached and placed a golden circlet upon Taryn’s brow. A distinguished darathi vorsi head studded with topaz eyes and a larger gemstone above, the jewels burned with a fire in their depths. Once the metal touched her skin, an awareness tickled the depths of her memory and she looked at Verdaine in surprise. The goddess gave a slight nod and a wink before stepping in front of Rhoane. On him, she set a golden circlet studded with several oblong jewels in various colors. The same curious fire burned in the depths of the gems on his circlet as well.

  “What—?” Taryn began, but Verdaine shushed her.

  “Listen to Nadra. Quiet your heart.”

  Ohlin and Nadra took their hands in theirs, saying in unison, “Taryn and Rhoane, you are no longer. Darennsai, daughter of the sky, and Surtentse, son of the terrarae, return to your people and lead them to peace.”

  One moment they were standing on Dal Tara and the next they were back in the bower. Rhoane shook his head, flexing his marked hand. “Would you care to explain what that was all about?”

  “It is their form of entertainment. You get used to it after a while. We could discuss the capriciousness of the gods, or we could make our own entertainment,” Taryn said with a sly smile.

  “I thought you would never ask.”

  They spent the night in their bower, solidifying their bonds over and over again with only the stars for a blanket.

  AS HE brooded on the Obsidian Throne, King Zakael turned his gaze to the east. An all too familiar shudder of excitement ran through him when he thought of his true queen.

  Marissa reached too high, wanting more than his throne. Her desire to sit at the side of Rykoto was easily dealt with, but Kaldaar—that was a problem. The increasing interest she showed in resurrecting the banished god became more than a nuisance.

  Zakael sneered at the head of the fallen Overlord, encased in crystal and resting atop a cushion to the right of his massive chair. Disbelief and enmity shone in the misty depths of his father’s eyes. The poor sod. He had no one to blame but himself. Neither he nor Marissa saw the potential right in front of them, instead looking to exiled and imprisoned gods for their immortality.

  At least Zakael had made certain Valterys would never rule Aelinae, and Taryn had helped. In the single moment when he’d impaled Valterys upon his sword, she’d met his gaze and he knew. Knew in the core of his being that she understood his need. Without a moment of hesitation on her part, she made certain Valterys could never prevent them from ruling together.

  All those moonturns ago when he’d first met her in the cavern, he sensed she was special. Then, when he studied her at Gaarendahl, and more recently when she was bound in the forest and trying valiantly not to give in to his charms, he perceived in her the same blackness that drove him. Their desires were one.

  He stretched his mind toward the east and spoke an oath. Someday Taryn Galendrin, and all her power, would be his.

  Glossary of Terms

  Aelan (Ay-lan) ~ Any person born of Aelinaen descent. These are usually men and women descended from the Elder Gods: Nadra, Ohlin, Daknys, Rykoto, and Kaldaar. In modern times, Aelan refers to those not of another race.

  Aelinae (Ay-lynn-ay) ~ A world created by Nadra and Ohlin. It is disk-shaped with waterfalls at the edge of the world, and volcanoes beneath it.

  Aelinaen(s) (Ay-lynn-ee-an) ~ Of or having to do with Aelan culture.

  Aergan (Air-gahn) ~ An ancient, valuable ore found in only a few places on Aelinae.

  Air Faerie ~ Winged Faeries who call on the elements of air for power.

  Anklam (Ahnk-lahm) ~ A city on the coast, south of Talaith.

  Artagh (R-tah-g) ~ Related to the Eleri, Artaghs lack the Eleri Glamour, as well as the sophistication of the ancient race. They are rumored to be the best at making weapons and working with metals, especially the fabled Godsteel found only in the Haversham Mountains. Outsiders are often distrusted and it’s rare to find Artaghs far from their caves.

  Black Arts ~ A twisted version of ShantiMari that binds one’s soul forever to the banished god, Kaldaar. Practitioners can be either male or female, but females become barren once they invoke the Oath of Fealty. Because of this, they are viewed as Brothers alongside the men.

  Black Brotherhood ~ The oldest, most secret religion in Aelinae’s history. Much of the Brotherhood is unknown to any except those who are counted among the members. Once a practitioner is invited to join the Brotherhood, they are challenged to a series of tests, many of which require virginal sacrifices. See also Vessel. Membership is often passed from one family member to another, but the terms must be satisfied before being accepted. Those who do not satisfy the requirements, or are not deemed worthy are destroyed.

  Black ShantiandBlack ShantiMari ~ See also Black Arts. This form of ShantiMari uses chaos to fuel its power. External and internal sources give practitioners their strength. They pull their power from the world around them, or the inner conflict people try to conceal. The use of Black ShantiMari is shunned by the Light and Dark, but there are those who have found a way to manipulate the strands of light and shadow into a woven tapestry of devastation that cannot be traced. These are Masters that even the Black Brotherhood fear.

  Caer Idris (Care Ee-dris) ~ The ancestral home of The Overlord of the West. Currently, Valterys, Lord of the Dark sits on the Obsidian Throne.

  Carlix ~ A sleek, winged feline who makes her home in the mountains known as the Spine of Ohlin. One of the first creatures to inhabit the planet of Aelinae. Often referred to for their flexibility and quick responses, the number of people who have actually seen a carlix is few.

  Celyn Eryri (See-lynn Air-ee) ~ The mountain home of the Empress of Talaith. It is here the Light Celebrations take place every Wintertide.

  Cockleberry ~ A yellowish fruit that grows in glens and meadows throughout Aelinae. With a taste similar to blackberries, cockleberries are often used in pies and tasty treats.

  Crystal Court ~ The accepted nickname for the court of the Empress of Talaith.

  Crystal Palace ~ The accepted nickname for the palace in Talaith where the Empress rules. It’s fabled walls are made from a thin layer of rock clear enough to see through, yet unable to be penetrated by weapons or ShantiMari. No one knows who built the great palace, or where the stone came from.

  Cynfar (Sin-far) ~ The Eleri name for a talisman given to someone. Usually a pendant, it can also be a bracelet, earrings, or even a small stone. It must be kept close to the recipient for maximum benefit, hence the use of jewelry.

  Dal Ferran (Dahl Fair-en) ~ The fiery pits of hell beneath Aelinae’s surface.

  Dal Tara (Dahl Tar-a) ~ A celestial resting place for the Gods and those they deem worthy. It is located in the second quadrant of the Meirdia Nebula.

  Danuri ~ A Province located in the West. The second largest city to Caer Idris, Danuri is widely known for their wine and ale making skills.

  Danurian ~ Anyone of Danuri descent.

  Darennsai (Dar-en-sigh) ~ An ancient title given to Taryn by the Eleri. Most don’t know the true meaning of the word, thinking of it as nothing more than an honorific bestowed upon her by the Goddess Verdaine. Only a few know the word means, Daughter of the Sky. Less an oath than a promise that one day Taryn will sit at the side of Verdaine, as a goddess in her own right. The Eleri reject this idea.

  Dark ~ The part of ShantiMari that is derived from the sun. Only men are skilled in the ways of the Dark, except for the anomaly. To have Dark powers does not automatically make one bad, or evil. There are many men who use their Dark Shanti for good.

  Dark Master ~ A highly skilled practitioner of Dark ShantiMari.

  Dark Shanti ~ The male side of ShantiMari.

  Darathi Vorsi(Dah-rahth-ee Vor-see) ~ Aside from the carlix,darathi vorsi are the oldest creatures on Aelinae. Several thousand seasons ago they disappeared from the planet, but the Eleri hold the belief that one day they will return.

  Delante (Day-lan-t) ~ A dance performed with a grou
p of people.

  Dreem ~ A whisky-like drink that ladies don’t usually partake of.

  Drerfox ~ Cousin to the fox, a drerfox is bigger, with fangs coated with poison. Their coats shimmer in the sunlight, blending them into the background, making them difficult to see during the day.

  The East ~ A geographical location on the map indicating all lands, properties, kingdoms, etc east of the Spine of Ohlin. Includes the Narthvier, Ulla, Talaith, and the marshes near Kaldaar’s Stones.

  Eirielle (Air-ee-elle) ~ The one of prophecy. Said to be the destroyer or the savior of Aelinae, depending on which prophecy you read. Only one Eirielle is ever said to be created, but that doesn’t stop those of the Light and Dark from trying to make one. The Eirielle is rumored to possess all the strands of ShantiMari: Light, Dark, Eleri, and Black. Although, the last is only known to the Brotherhood.

  Eiriellean Prophecy ~ A collection of prophecies that record various oracles’ visions and ramblings about the Eirielle. Throughout history, there have been those that decried the prophecies, and those that touted them as truth. Nearly everyone fears either version coming to pass.

  Elennish (Elle-enn-ish) ~ The oldest language on Aelinae still spoken in the East and West.

  Eleri(Ee-ler-ee) ~ A mysterious clan of elf-like men and women who live in the Narthvier. They stay within the borders of their forest and don’t like outsiders coming on their land. The Eleri share a collective conscious, in that they can call on the wisdom of past and future Eleri in times of duress. The oldest race on Aelinae, they and thedarathi vorsishare a common bond. Thought to be caretakers of the beasts, when thedarathi vorsi disappeared, it was a time of great mourning for the Eleri.

  Fadair (Fah-d-air) ~ The name Eleri have given to anyone not Eleri. It is meant to be used as a way to signify someone not of Eleri descent, but often it is used as a disparaging slur against non-Eleri.

  Faerie Cakes ~ Small cakes light in texture, but filling. Made with sponge cake and jam, these are Taryn’s favorite. Don’t ever leave a plate sitting around or she’ll eat them all.