Souls of Aredyrah 3 - The Taking of the Dawn

by Tracy A. Akers

  “It hasn’t stopped,” Dayn said.

  “But the mountains are calm now. See?” she said, gesturing toward the range.

  “Listen to me. They’re not calm. When Alicine and I crossed between them, we saw things you couldn’t imagine. There were molten rocks and rivers of fire, and charred trees and mudslides. What’s happening now—the tainted wells, the dying livestock—they’re all because of the mountain and might be signs of something bigger to come.”

  “How can you know?” Then Falyn’s hand flew to her mouth. “Father says you’re causing the poison, because you are—”

  Before Dayn knew what he was doing he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “Now you listen to me. I’m not a demon and you know it! Everything I’ve said is true. You have to believe me.”

  Falyn tried to wriggle from his grasp, but he pulled her close, his face inches from hers. “I love you, Falyn. You know that. Please. Come away with me. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”

  Falyn shoved him back. “I can’t, and if you care about me you’ll accept it.”

  Dayn shook his head. “I don’t accept it. I’ll never accept it.”

  “You have to,” she said firmly, “because I’m not going with you.”

  Dayn released a slow breath. “Very well,” he said. “But before I leave, I ask one thing of you.”

  Falyn set her chin. “Anything.”

  “Kiss me."

  Falyn backed away, but Dayn matched her step for step. He reached out and yanked her into his arms, his body pressed to hers. “Kiss me,” he breathed into her ear. “Or I swear I will die.”

  Falyn tipped her face to his, her eyes wide. “Dayn,” she whispered. But before she could utter another word, Dayn covered her mouth with his.

  Falyn pressed her palms against his chest, and Dayn felt sure she was about to rebuke him. But then she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him in return.

  Dayn’s heart beat wildly. He worked his mouth from her lips to her neck, tasting her skin, breathing her scent. Could this be happening? Please dear god, let this be happening!

  Suddenly Falyn pushed him away. Dayn reached for her, but she held him back with a thrust of her hand.

  “Stop!” she said, panting. “Stop…please.”

  Dayn stared at her, shaking so hard he could barely speak. “I—I—but—what?” he managed.

  “I can’t do this, Dayn. I can’t!”

  Dayn felt consumed with shame. “I have offended you.”

  “You did not offend me, Dayn. I liked it. Very much.” Falyn’s cheeks blushed red. “It’s just that we’re not married and we should not be touching this way.”

  Dayn stared at her, realizing her lips and neck were red with the marks his mouth had left there. Was he so desperate to satisfy his own lust that he would sully her reputation and risk losing her forever? He reached out and gently took her hands in his. “Marry me,” he said.

  Falyn gasped. “What? No—impossible—we’re not of age, and according to the law—”

  “The law be damned,” Dayn said. “Marry me.”

  Falyn pulled her hands from his. “It’s a sin to take a spouse too soon; you know that.”

  “According to who?”

  “According to the Written Word.”

  Dayn laughed. “Lies, most of it,” he said.

  Falyn’s expression darkened. “Well, if that’s what you think, then you had best seek another wife. I’ll not be married to a sinner!”

  Dayn took her by the waist and drew her near. “We’re all sinners,” he said. “People just pick different sins, that’s all.” He brushed his lips across hers. “You’re my sin, Falyn,” he whispered. “God help me, you are.”

  Falyn turned her face away. “No, Dayn. I can’t.”

  A knot mushroomed in Dayn’s throat, and he released her. “I understand. You do not want me.”

  “No—I do!” Falyn grabbed his hands in hers. “But I’m too young, and even if I weren’t, Father would never agree to it.”

  “I’ll make him agree to it.”

  “You can’t. No one can. Don’t you understand?”

  “Then come away with me,” Dayn said.

  “It’s not so simple,” Falyn replied.

  “But it is. Just come with me. Right now. My family would welcome you,” he hoped, “and—”

  “And then what? Do you think my father will let me leave without so much as a fight? He would come after us.”

  “But I know a place where he will never find us—a valley. It’s far away, and we would be safe there, safe from him, safe from everything.”

  For a moment Dayn detected a hint of longing in her eyes. It gave him hope that he might be able to sway her. “You would love it there,” he persisted. “I know you would. It’s beautiful; there are meadows of flowers, and mountains that sparkle like jewels. There’s wildlife and a sea of grasses and a sky so vast you’ll be able to see every star in the night sky. I know we could be happy there, Falyn. I know we could.”

  “It sounds wonderful,” Falyn said. “But even if I were to consider it…” She bit her lip. “I can’t leave without my brother.”

  “Your brother?” Dayn said, feeling happiness slip from his grasp. He flung her hands from his. “You speak to me of him now?”

  Falyn reached out for him, but Dayn stepped away, keeping her at arm’s length. “For as long as I can remember,” he said, “I have loved you. You are the reason for every decision I have ever made, for every beating I ever took!”

  “I know, but I want—”

  “How can I know what you want? Do you want me, do you want freedom, or do you want your brother?”

  “I want my father out of my life, Dayn; I’ll not deny it. But Sheireadan needs me. If you and I were to leave, I would have to find a way to take him with us. Father has been watching him like a hawk.”

  Dayn looked at her suspiciously. “Why has your father been watching him? What has he done?”

  “I—I can’t tell you. Please don’t ask me to.”

  “So what makes you think Sheireadan would agree to come with us? He hates me.”

  “He’ll come because he’ll want me to be happy. And I’ll make sure he knows I won’t go without him. But that’s not all that I want, Dayn.”

  “What else then?"

  “You.”

  Dayn struggled for reassurances. All he had ever dreamed of was temptingly close. “So if I agree to let your brother come—”

  “Then I will go with you.”

  “Even if you don’t love me?”

  “But I do love you.”

  Dayn stared into her eyes. How many times had he dreamed of her saying those words? Was it possible she had said them, but more importantly, that she meant them?

  “I love you,” she repeated.

  And that was all he needed to hear.

  “When can you meet me again?” he asked.

  “I—I don’t know.” Falyn’s brow furrowed as she thought on it. “In two weeks and a day it will be Father’s rotation to visit the outlying homesteads, those most affected. A lot of people refuse to leave their farms, but they need food and medicine and fresh water from time to time. So the Vestry’s been sending volunteers to help them. It takes a few days to make the rounds.” She shook her head. “But Father always takes me and Sheireadan with him.”

  “Could you make up some kind of excuse not to go?”

  “I don’t know; I could try.”

  “Then you and Sheireadan meet me here at high sun on the fifteenth day,” he said. “If I’m not here, follow the main road eastward…there.” He grabbed up a stick and drew a quick map in the dirt.

  “What do you mean, if you’re not here?”

  “Haskel doesn’t want me near Kiradyn any more than your father wants you in the clan lands. Right now my uncle is with the Chieftains, heading for the Vestry meeting.”

  “He’s what?”

  “They have information that might convince t
he Vestry to stop the executions and their demands to turn me over. That’s the only reason I was able to slip away tonight.”

  “The Chieftains will only make them angrier by going,” Falyn said. “This is too dangerous, Dayn.”

  “Not any more dangerous than staying. I’ll try to meet you and Sheireadan here, to escort you to the clan lands. But if I can’t make it, come on without me.” He pointed the stick toward the map, motioning with it. “Don’t travel on the road itself; someone might see you. Follow it, but keep to the woods, out of sight. My uncle’s homestead is just east of the fork that turns northward; you’ll see the fork on the right, but it’s easy to miss, so keep an eye out. Don’t come straight to the house, though. Hide just past the woodpile near the barn. I’ll be looking for you. Do you think you can do that?”

  Falyn nodded, but her eyes were filled with worry.

  Dayn wrapped her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers, perhaps to seal the agreement, but then an unexpected noise alerted him to a presence in the woods. He spun around and saw two eyes peering at them from the foliage. Dayn stepped toward them and recognized the face behind the eyes—Eyan!

  Back to ToC

  Chapter 27: Grounded

  Eyan burst through the double-doors of the barn, Dayn sprinting after him. “Stop!” Dayn shouted. But it was too late. Eyan disappeared over the edge of the hayloft, taking the ladder with him.

  “Eyan! Get down here,” Dayn yelled.

  No response.

  “I swear, if you don’t get down here I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” Alicine asked. She was standing in the doorway at his back, clothed in her nightgown, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and a lantern clutched in her hand.

  “This is none of your concern,” Dayn said over his shoulder. “Go back to bed.”

  Alicine huffed. “I’ll do no such thing. What are you carrying on about?”

  “Nothing. It’s between me and Eyan, that’s all.”

  Alicine looked at him suspiciously. “Why are you getting home so late? Your face is as red as a beet and you’re panting like you’ve been in a race.”

  “Nothing. I told you—”

  “Tell her,” Eyan said from the loft. “If it’s nothin’, then tell her.”

  Dayn and Alicine tilted their faces upward. Eyan was leaning over the edge of the loft, staring down at them through the lamplight.

  Dayn hurriedly scanned the barn. No one else appeared to be there, but if a discussion was to be made, it had to be a private one.

  “I’ll tell her, but only if you let us come up,” Dayn said.

  “What’ll ye do to me if I do?”

  “I just want to talk,” Dayn said impatiently. “It’s not like I’m going to hit you or something.”

  Eyan was quiet for a moment, then he eased the ladder over the side. As its legs hit the dirt, Dayn grabbed hold of the rungs and climbed up.

  “Thanks so much,” Alicine grumbled as she struggled up behind him, the lantern still in her hand.

  Dayn stormed toward Eyan, who was now retreating into the corner.

  “What did you see?” Dayn demanded.

  “Ye know what I saw,” Eyan retorted.

  “You say it like I was doing something wrong!”

  “What are you talking about?” Alicine asked, shaking bits of hay from the hem of her nightgown.

  “He went to see Falyn,” Eyan said.

  “What? When?”

  “Sshhh! I saw her tonight,” Dayn said. “At the Well of Wishes.”

  “Father said you’re not to see her,” Eyan said. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “I don’t care!” Dayn said. “It was worth the risk.”

  “No, Dayn. It wasn’t,” Alicine said.

  “Yes. It was,” Dayn insisted.

  “You had no right to go there.”

  Dayn steadied his voice. “I had every right. Falyn and I love each other. We have every right to see each other.”

  “That doesn’t make it right,” Alicine said.

  Dayn felt anger rise in his throat. “Listen, it was our choice, our risk—no one else’s.”

  Eyan stepped toward him. “This isn’t just about you and Falyn,” he said.

  “He’s right, Dayn,” Alicine said. “It’s about all of us. If Lorcan were to find out, it could be just the excuse he needs to turn on us once and for all. And tonight of all nights, with our uncles and the Chieftains going to meet with the Vestry. What were you thinking Dayn?”

  Dayn’s mind scrambled, then regained its determination. Maybe he hadn’t been thinking clearly at first, but if there was one thing in this world he’d risk anything for it was Falyn. And now that she had agreed to leave with him, nothing else mattered.

  “Regardless of whether or not you approve,” he said, “it’s done.” He glared at Eyan, daring him to say more.

  But Eyan glared right back. “Tell Alicine about the plans.”

  “What plans?” Dayn asked.

  “The ones ye were drawin’ in the dirt.”

  “Those weren’t plans, those were—”

  “You’re lying,” Alicine said, shock in her voice. “I thought you didn’t know how to lie. Guess I was wrong.”

  Dayn opened his mouth to speak, but the unexpected sound of horses’ hooves was suddenly heard thundering toward the house. The three of them looked at each other with surprise, then scurried toward the ladder. The Chieftains couldn’t be back from the meeting so soon, could they?

  They descended and hurried toward the door, but as they drew near, it was clear the party of Chieftains had returned, and from the lather on their horses, they had ridden hard.

  Dayn, Alicine, and Eyan hustled toward the house as the last of the men disappeared inside. The moment Dayn entered through the door, he realized the tension in the room was thick. The men were assembling around the kitchen table, some taking their places on benches, others pacing the floor.

  “War,” Nort muttered. He glanced around the room and noticed Seela staring at him from a chair by the fireplace. Ben was asleep in her arms.

  “Ye’d best take the boy to the wagon,” he said to her. “No need of him hearin’ any o’ this.” Seela rose, and with Ben still cradled slipped out the door.

  Uaine eyed the others. “It doesn’t have to come to war,” he said. “Surely a compromise can be made.”

  “Nay,” Brenainn said. “Tis war they want. And I fer one am willin’ to give ‘em what they want.”

  Uaine laughed sarcastically. “What they want is Dayn,” he said. “Are you willing to give them that?”

  “What did they say?” Dayn asked.

  Haskel stepped toward him. He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Not to worry, boy. No one has a mind to turn ye over.”

  “They still believe it’s you that’s causin’ all the problems,” Peadar said from the table bench. “A demon’s to blame. Might as well be you.”

  “So they still want me because they think I’m a demon,” he said, but in truth he felt somewhat relieved. At least the Vestry’s reason had nothing to do with Falyn.

  “So what’s this all mean then?” Vania asked, setting mugs of hot tea on the table. She looked around. “Where’re Eileis and Ionhar?”

  “Ionhar and a couple of his men took Eileis home to help her pack,” Haskel said. “She’s not safe in Kiradyn anymore. The Vestry as much as said so.”

  “But she’s their spiritual leader!”

  Brenainn snorted. “Not anymore she ‘en.”

  “Then why didn’t you bring her back with ye?” Vania asked. “What if the Vestry followed her home?”

  “We tried to tell her,” Haskel said, “but she’d have nothin’ of it. Said she had some things she couldn’t leave behind.” Haskel raised his palms in preparation for the argument he knew was coming. “I know…I know. But she insisted. When we told her we’d wait, she about took our heads. Ordered us to head back to warn the clans. Said she wouldn’t be long.”

  “Don�
�� worry, lass,” Brenainn said. “Ionhar and his men’ll look after her.”

  “So what else did the Vestry say?” Vania asked.

  “Only that there’d be war if we didn’t turn the boy over to ‘em,” Haskel said.

  “But didn’t you explain about the drawings,” Alicine said, “and Tearia, and the Transcendors, and—”

  “The fools wouldn’t listen,” Brenainn replied. “We were barely allowed t’ speak a word before they called us blaspheemers and threw us out!”

  “Threw you out?” Dayn eyeballed the assortment of more-than-adequate weapons at the Chieftains’ belts. “How is that even possible?”

  “They were ready for us,” Peadar said. “Like they knew we were comin’.”

  Dayn eased his eyes toward Alicine and Eyan.

  “Tell them,” Alicine mouthed silently.

  Dayn frowned and shook his head. She and Eyan could think what they wanted, but he knew the truth—Falyn would never betray him like that.

  Alicine stepped to Dayn’s side. “Tell them,” she whispered. “Or I will.”

  “You wouldn’t,” Dayn whispered back.

  Alicine gripped his arm. “These people are risking war for you. Don’t you think they deserve all the facts?”

  Dayn noticed that Eyan was glaring at him, the message in his eyes clear: if Dayn or Alicine didn’t say something to the Chieftains, then Eyan would. Dayn ground his teeth, realizing he had little choice. Either he told the men in his own words, or they would be told by someone who could put their own spin on it.

  “I have something to say,” Dayn announced stiffly. But no one seemed to notice; they were all caught up in discussions of their own. “I said I have something to say,” he said more loudly.

  The room stilled.

  “I met with Falyn tonight.”

  Voices erupted in shock, Haskel’s most of all. “Ye did what?” he bellowed.

  “We met at the Well of Wishes,” Dayn said.

  Haskel turned toward Vania. “I told Eileis not to give him that fool letter!”

  Vania waved him off with a sweep of her hand. “Wasn’t your decision to make,” she said.

  “Of course it was my decision to make! Now look what’s happened.”