Everything had changed the moment he had first seen Jelena’s face and had recognized her as the girl from his dream visions. He had known then, with absolute certainty, that they were meant to be together. He must make his feelings known to her, and soon.
His parents did need consideration, though. Lord and Lady Sakehera were far more liberal than most people on the subject of human-elf intermingling, but he wondered if their tolerance would extend to marriage with a hikui. Ashinji loved and respected his parents with all his heart and held his duty to them as one of the central aspects of his life. But in this one thing, he knew he could not obey. If he could not make Jelena his wife, then he would have no wife at all. He must somehow make his parents understand.
The sun had started its slow slide below the horizon. The evening breeze picked up a few stray locks of Ashinji’s hair and whipped them across his face, tickling his nose and mouth. He turned his head slightly and spotted movement out of the corner of his eye.
His heart sank.
Approaching him on the wall walk, like an onrushing storm, came Sadaiyo.
“ So, Ashi, up hiding on the walls again, eh?” Sadaiyo flashed a grin, all teeth and no warmth.
Ashinji sighed inwardly and steeled himself against the inevitable barbs that Sadaiyo took a perverse delight in throwing at him. “I’m not hiding. I came up here to be alone and think, as you well know.”
“ Think? About what, Little Brother? Oh, I know. My wedding! That’s all anyone can think about these days, isn’t it?” Sadaiyo rested his elbows on the parapet, looking smug. “Did you know that my soon-to-be wife single-handedly took out an entire Iinaa raiding party? Single-handedly! And I’ve also heard that she can love a man to complete and utter exhaustion, then spring from bed to ride to hounds!” He cocked a sardonic eye at Ashinji. “It’s a good thing Father and Mother picked her for me rather than you. Such a woman needs a man strong enough to handle her properly. I think she’d end up sucking you dry.” He laughed and Ashinji ground his teeth, wincing as hot needles of pain shot up his arms. He looked down to see that he had bloodied his fingers gripping the parapet.
“ You’ve been spending a lot of time with that stray you brought in. I don’t blame you. She is very attractive, despite her humanish features… no, because of them, I think. It makes her so…different, so intriguing. Have you had her yet?” Ashinji went cold with fury, but Sadaiyo did not seem to notice. “Wait! This is my prissy little brother I’m talking to. Of course you haven’t,” he continued, his voice dripping sarcasm. “You know, if you don’t want her, maybe I’ll take her as my concubine.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Maybe I’ll take her anyway, even if you do want her.” His cruel smile cut like a razor.
“ Stay away from Jelena, Sadaiyo,” Ashinji replied, his voice low and dangerous.
Sadaiyo raised an eyebrow. “Struck the mark, have I? Is it possible…could it be possible that you actually have feelings for this girl, Little Brother? She’s a half-breed, you know.”
“ I am well aware of Jelena’s heritage.” Blood pounding in his ears, Ashinji fought to keep a grip on his temper, but with each heartbeat, his control slipped a tiny bit more.
“ She’s a half-breed, and she’s kinless. The only thing this girl has to give you that’s worth anything is what’s between her legs.”
Ashinji rounded on Sadaiyo, fist raised.
Sadaiyo stood cool and unflinching, his eyes daring Ashinji to strike. “Careful, Little Brother,” he said slowly.
Ashinji lowered his hand and relaxed his fingers. “Ever the charming one, aren’t you, Brother?” Ashinji spat, eyes blazing with anger and disgust. “Can’t you please just go away and leave me alone?”
Sadaiyo shrugged, a little sneer twisting his handsome mouth. “Don’t stay up here too long. You know how much Mother hates it when any of us are late for dinner.” He brushed past Ashinji and disappeared down the stairs.
When he felt certain that Sadaiyo had gone, Ashinji leaned back against the rough, unyielding stones of the wall, feeling weak and shattered.
Why do I let him do this to me? he raged silently. He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing, drawing air in and out of his lungs, until his heart, which had been racing like a runaway horse, slowed and his hands stopped shaking.
Ashinji knew with chilling certainty that if Sadaiyo learned of his depth of feeling for Jelena, he would cast wide his net of hatred to ensnare and destroy her, purely out of spite. Ashinji’s pain was like meat and drink to his brother; any chance Sadaiyo had to hurt or humiliate him seemed necessary to his nature. He craved the perverse pleasure of it and reveled in Ashinji’s refusal to fight back. Long ago, Ashinji had decided that passive resistance could be the only way to deal with his brother. He would never willingly raise a hand against Sadaiyo, who was, after all, to be Lord of Kerala one day. Blood ties were too strong, too important, and he would owe his allegiance to Sadaiyo because of them.
Ashinji would never openly fight Sadaiyo if given any other choice, but neither would he allow his brother’s hatred to poison his own spirit. Much of the time, he remained immune to it, shielded by a mental barrier he had learned to erect in childhood. But, sometimes, a small bit would get past, sliding through a chink in the wall and burning straight into his heart, as it had with Sadaiyo’s crude comments about Jelena.
He pushed himself away from the parapet and headed back down the stairs. Crossing the lower yard toward the path leading to the upper gate, he passed several guardsmen and servants. They greeted him respectfully, but he barely heard or saw them, so preoccupied was he with the possible threat his brother posed to Jelena.
Sadaiyo had every right to take a concubine if he so chose, and Jelena would be in a difficult position to refuse. Sadaiyo could not force her, but he could make life nearly impossible for her at Kerala if she turned down his offer. Ashinji knew he must find a way to protect her, but first, he must warn her of the danger she faced.
If you try to hurt Jelena, I will have no choice but to fight you, Brother, with all my strength and to the bitter end, even if it costs me everything.
He would pray to the One that it never came to that.
~~~
In a heavily warded chamber high up in Kerala Castle’s east tower, Lady Amara Sakehera put the final touches to her preparations. Carefully, she mixed several incenses together to make the special blend she used for all of her divinations. She checked to see that her scrying bowl contained the proper amount of water and that her altar was tidy. She couldn’t abide an untidy work surface.
With all in readiness, Amara sat down on folded knees before the altar and closed her eyes. She began the breathing pattern that would focus her mind and carry it into a light trance. Years of experience allowed her to quickly reach the level where she could easily access her Talent.
Connected now with her inborn magical power, she opened her eyes and carefully lit each of two beeswax candles by simply willing them into flame. Next, she kindled the incense with a thought, and breathed in the pungent smoke to further clarify her mind and sharpen her focus.
Leaning over the shallow copper basin, she gently blew upon the water’s surface and breathed out an incantation. She then gazed into the bowl as the water began to roil, slowly at first, then more quickly until a miniature whirlpool had formed at its center. Amara spoke a single Word of power, and abruptly, the water quieted and became as still and reflective as a mirror.
Images began to form, and Amara watched them flicker into focus, then fade in rapid succession. Her pulse began to race as the pictures she saw confirmed both her suspicions and her worst fears.
When, at last, the parade of images had ceased and the waters went dark, Amara sagged backward, shaken and pale. With trembling hands she extinguished the candles and doused the still-smoldering incense with a scoop of sand.
Great Goddess, help us! she cried silently, covering her face with her hands.
Amara allowed herself only the briefest
moment of self-pity. She rose to her feet and straightened her clothing. Much remained to be done. First, she needed to contact the others. The time that they all knew would come-had prayed would never come-was finally at hand.
The Key had returned.
Chapter 18
The Uncrossable Chasm
"Your progress is excellent, Jelena. I’m amazed at how much you’ve learned these last few weeks.”
Jelena raised her hand and, laughing, she begged, “Please, Ashinji…more speak…I mean, speak more slow!”
“ I’m sorry. I’ll try to slow down. But, really, you are remarkable.”
“ You are…very good teacher.”
Ashinji had suggested that today they have their language lesson in the gardens below the east wing of the castle. In a shady bower, protected from the midday sun and surrounded by a riotous profusion of flowering shrubbery, he patiently tutored Jelena in Siri-dar by reciting stories from elven mythology, then quizzed her on what she’d heard. She could answer only in Siri-dar; Ashinji supplied any word she could not come up with and corrected her grammatical mistakes as they occurred. Within the deep shade of the bower, the air felt pleasantly cool on the bare skin of Jelena’s arms and face. Like Ashinji, she wore a wraparound tunic and trousers of light cotton, hers dyed the color of the summer sky. Ashinji also wore blue, though of a darker hue, closer to peacock.
“ Now, tell me what you remember about the story of the twin brothers Aje and Rei,” Ashinji gently commanded.
Jelena squirmed a little on the smooth wooden bench. Ashinji had told her that story several days ago, and she didn’t know if she could summon up all of the details. Clearing her throat, she began.
“ Aje and Rei were brothers of great…rivalry. Whatever one had, so other brother must possess. Aje… had possession of… owned magical flying horse, called Ashoya. Rei desired Ashoya and vowed to…remove from, no, steal Ashoya from Aje. So, in deep of night, Rei entered place where Ashoya was and jumped on Ashoya and rode him away.”
“ How did Rei get close enough to Ashoya? This was a magical horse, after all,” Ashinji prompted, smiling in encouragement. Jelena’s heart skipped a beat.
“ Rei…himself dressed in clothes belonging to twin Aje, so Ashoya saw his master’s clothes, and thought Rei was Aje.” Jelena paused for a moment to think, then continued. “So, Rei rode Ashoya many days north to lands of the trolls…where he hid with the troll king, who was his friend…and…there was cave made of ice…and that is all I remember!” Jelena let out a whoosh of air and playfully crossed her eyes.
Ashinji burst out laughing. “That was very, very good!” he exclaimed. “You made only a few minor grammar mistakes, but all of the words were correct, and your pronunciation is getting much better. I fully expect you’ll be speaking fluent Siri-dar by midsummer.”
“ With heavy Soldaran accent!”
“ Well, yes, that will take time to disappear, but…” The sound of the castle’s big brass bell, signaling the hour, interrupted. “That’s enough for today. It’s time I got back.” Ashinji sighed, and his face, so cheerful and animated a moment ago, became solemn, and the light in his eyes faded.
Jelena tentatively laid a hand upon his sun-browned forearm, unsure as to how he would react. “What is wrong, Ashinji?” she asked softly. To her surprise and secret delight, he covered her hand with his.
“ Jelena, there is something I must tell you,” he said, swiveling his upper body so that he faced her. “I think you know that my older brother will be married soon-in three days, to be precise. I won’t be able to spend much time with you after today, and I will very much miss your company. My brother Sadaiyo is…he’s someone you want to stay as far away from as possible. That shouldn’t be too difficult, since you are living in the barracks now. However, when you start your duties as my father’s messenger, you will have reason to be at the castle more often.”
Jelena shivered in response to the fear for her that she saw in Ashinji’s eyes.
“ Promise me you’ll watch out for yourself where my brother is concerned, Jelena. Whatever you do, don’t be alone with him.” A lock of Ashinji’s honey-gold hair had fallen down across his forehead, and Jelena struggled against the urge to reach up and brush it away from his face.
She swallowed hard. The perfume of the flowers and Ashinji’s closeness together conspired to made her dizzy. “I can care for myself, Ashinji, but…I promise I will do as you say.” She didn’t tell him she had already decided to avoid Sadaiyo. “Your brother, Ashinji…What is it I must fear?” she asked.
Ashinji stood up, pulling Jelena with him. He did not answer her question, but instead, clasped her hand in his and began walking back towards the upper gate. Jelena kept pace beside him, and both remained silent until they reached the barracks.
“ Remember the story of Aje and Rei, Jelena,” Ashinji said quietly. He squeezed her fingers, then turned away.
Jelena stood at the foot of the barracks stairs and watched as Ashinji walked back toward the castle. He turned around once and waved, just before disappearing through the upper gate. Jelena raised her hand and waved back, wanting very much to run after him.
She thought about Ashinji’s last words. The cautionary tale of the dueling twins served as a warning against the dangers of sibling rivalry spun out of control. Jelena knew from other comments Ashinji had made that he and his older brother did not get along. Could Ashinji’s reference to the story of Aje and Rei mean that he had feelings for her, his brother knew it, and therefore desired her for himself?
For weeks, Jelena had stubbornly refused to even entertain the idea that she and Ashinji could have any kind of relationship beyond that of friends, and at first, nothing in his behavior indicated that he did not feel the same. But lately, she had detected a subtle shift in his attitude, and she’d begun to wonder if Magnes had been right all along. The way Ashinji looked at her now seemed different. She could feel a definite heightening of tension whenever they were together, and it seemed as though he wished to be as close to her as he could without actually taking her into his arms.
The thought that Ashinji might be in love with her deeply troubled Jelena, for she had some inkling as to what the cost would be to him should he openly declare his love. He could not freely choose his own mate, and even if he could, she knew that his family would deem her completely unsuitable. A marriage between them, even if legal, would be his ruination.
After losing sight of Ashinji, Jelena turned and slowly climbed the squeaky wooden stairs up to the barracks. A raucous chorus of catcalls greeted her as she entered the common room. Aneko, and Kerala Castle’s youngest guardswoman Kami, lounged at the long oak table, the remains of a meal before them.
“ I see that Lord Ashinji has escorted Jelena home again! Whatever does this mean, eh?” Kami called out in a teasing voice.
“ I think it means that our new friend has definitely caught the eye of our handsome young lord,” Aneko answered. “Come sit with us Jelena. There is still some chicken left if you are hungry.” The older woman waved Jelena over and indicated that she should sit beside her, then added, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lord Ashinji so taken with a girl before…Here, have some beer.” She filled up a clay mug from the pitcher at her elbow and offered it to Jelena, then topped off her own mug.
“ Ai, Goddess, but you’re lucky, Jelena,” Kami sighed. She rested her chin in her hands, her girlish face wistful. “I wish Lord Ashinji would notice me… Those eyes! I could get lost in them forever.”
Aneko snorted derisively. “Whatever happened to ‘Oh, I’m sooo in love with Gendan! He’s the only man for me!’ eh?”
Kami stuck her tongue out at her friend. “Just because I wish Lord Ashinji would notice me doesn’t mean I don’t love Gendan. I’m not married yet, you know! I’ll bet Lord Ashinji is as good in bed as he looks out of it. Jelena, you might be the only one of us lucky enough to find out.” Kami winked, her hazel eyes sparkling lasciviously, and Jelena felt her
cheeks ignite with embarrassment.
“ Lord Ashinji and I are friends only,” Jelena protested. “How could we ever be anything else?” She tugged self-consciously at a stray coil of hair.
“ Don’t say that, Jelena,” Kami responded sadly.
“ The girl’s right, you know.” A new voice spoke from the doorway. “She and our lord’s son shouldn’t even be friends, really. It’s not proper, her being a hikui and all.”
All three women looked toward the door as the speaker entered the room.
“ Why do you have to be that way, Anda?” Kami retorted angrily.
“ I don’t know what you mean, Kami,” Anda replied primly. “I’m just saying that Lord Ashinji should know better than to go all starry-eyed over a hikui.”
Anda served as a guardswoman, like Aneko and Kami. The bed that Jelena now slept in had once been hers until she had married a fellow guardsman and had moved out of the barracks. She and her husband had a small cottage of their own now on the castle grounds nearby, but Anda still came around often to visit her comrades.
“ Lord Ashinji is wise enough to listen to his own heart,” Aneko said quietly, pouring a mug of beer for the newcomer.
Anda lowered herself carefully down on the bench beside Kami and sighed gratefully. “Goddess’ tits, but it feels good to sit,” she said, rubbing her swollen belly. The young guardswoman, in the final weeks of her first pregnancy, wore a haggard expression, clearly approaching the limits of her endurance. “Ooh, I’ll be glad when this baby is out of me! If it wasn’t so much fun making them, I’d never have another,” she groaned, running a hand through her close-cropped, chestnut hair.
“ It shouldn’t matter that Jelena is a hikui, Anda,” Kami insisted hotly.
“ Of course it should! Lord Ashinji is okui. He’s high-born and pure and should be with his own kind.” Anda reached for a chicken leg. “I’m sorry if I’ve hurt your feelings, Jelena,” she said around a mouthful of meat. “But you, of all people, should know I’m right.”
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