This is what must have driven him mad, she thought. She recalled his final thoughts…or rather, emotions. The overwhelming feelings of relief, joy, and gratitude. Would anyone come to pay her the same kindness? Or would she remain here and slowly slip into insanity?
The pull to Angrääl had left her some time ago, which meant that the war was over and Darshan had won. This was the single point of light able to penetrate her grief. The people were now free and the gods released from heaven. But even the tiny smile that this thought created was quickly wiped away.
Felsafell. He would have discovered by now what she had done - and why. How hurt he must be. How angry. The broken promise of a life together once the danger had passed clawed at her heart, perhaps even more painfully than her grief over the damage her violence had caused.
When she first became aware that the Dark Knight was gone, the temptation to leave the island was almost too much to resist. But resist she must. If not, she knew that she would become the next plague on the world, just as Yanti had been when he became King Rätsterfel.
But the world would be safe if she stayed here. Not even Felsafell knew of this island, and its tiny size meant that it held no interest for humans and elves. There was very little food apart from a dozen or so coconut trees, and no fresh water. Not that she needed either to survive. But she did enjoy eating and drinking anyway, and this was another pleasure that her choice had stripped her of. Even so, she was not regretful. Jayden and Kaylia lived. And because of this, the future held hope.
She got up and walked outside. The gentle waves were lapping rhythmically upon the white sands. The orange sky of the setting sun – a scene she had so often felt to be the Creator's greatest beauty – now seemed grotesque and miserable. It was a harsh reminder that yet another day had passed by, and that another must soon be endured.
She walked the length of the island several times. The coming night always made her restless. When she was still the Oracle she would often sneak away and wander the forest north of the city for several hours. Those who knew her best constantly scolded her for going off by herself.
'You have no business being alone.' The words of Allie, her very first personal attendant, came to mind. 'There are brigands and bandits, and bears out there. The gods help me, but if something happened to you…well…I just don’t know what.'
She had watched Allie grow from a young girl to a woman, and then pass into old age. In the end it was Basanti who attended her as life drained away from her frail and withered body.
But Allie was only the first of many. She had seen scores of mortal lives turn to dust; the exact number she had long ago lost count of. Yet through it all she had remained unchanged. How fitting, she thought. Now I will be forever changed.
She took a final look at the sun disappearing beneath the horizon and returned to her shack. After lighting a candle, she sat down on a straw mat in the corner. She didn’t really need the candle to see, but staring at its flickering light was mildly soothing.
Some nights she would choose to drift off to sleep quite early. Even the nightmares could be preferable to the solitude of her waking life. But tonight the nightmares would have to wait for a while longer to torment her again.
A stiff breeze blew in through the cloth flap that covered the entrance, extinguishing the candle. Muttering with annoyance, she relit it. But another gust of wind quickly blew it out again. Sighing with irritation, Basanti threw herself down on her mat.
“My beautiful child.”
The voice was like sweet music. Basanti recognized it at once and sat up. Sitting beside her, dressed in shimmering silver robes, was Pósix. Her flawless features and loving expression instantly brought tears to Basanti’s eyes.
“Why are you crying?” she asked.
Basanti wiped her cheeks. She tried to answer, but speech had temporarily abandoned her. Instead, she threw her arms around the goddess in a desperate embrace. Her body radiated an intense heat that would have burned any mortal, but to Basanti it was like a warm blanket she could lose herself within.
“There, there,” whispered Pósix. She stroked Basanti’s hair and rocked her gently.
“I’ve been so alone,” she wept.
“I know. And you did right by coming here.” She eased Basanti back so she could look into her eyes. “Had you not, you would have certainly fallen into darkness. But all that is over now. The enemy is dead and can no longer do you harm.”
“I know,” she said. “But I am still a danger to the world.”
Pósix nodded. “Indeed you are. And one that cannot be allowed to roam freely.”
Basanti closed her eyes. “So you’ve come to kill me?”
Pósix laughed and pulled her close again. “Of course not. After all you have done for the world, what kind of reward would that be?”
“Then what is to become of me?”
Pósix stood up and offered Basanti her hand. “Come. Let us walk together.”
Basanti allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. The strength in the goddess' grasp was shocking, yet tempered. She felt as if she were a small girl being helped up by her mother.
They left the shack and began walking along the shore. Pósix’s movements were fluid and graceful beyond words, and her bare feet left no impression in the sand. Her godly flesh gave off a slight aura that melded with the light from the full moon to illuminate the way forward.
“Am I to be healed?” Basanti asked, unable to hide the desperation in her tone.
“I am sorry,” she replied. “There is no way for me to heal you. And I do not believe it would be right to do so, even if I could. The sacrifice you made must stand.”
“Then what becomes of me? I cannot leave this island as I am. And if you will not end my suffering…” Her tears returned.
“My dear,” Pósix replied tenderly. “I did not say that you would continue to suffer. And I will not leave you as you are. But when you killed, you changed the very nature of what you are. When all those years ago you asked me to heal your brother, I told you that I was not permitted to do so. And though I did not lie, I did not fully understand the reasons.”
Basanti halted. Vivid memories of pleading for Yanti’s spirit to be healed raced through her head. It was the only time she had ever shown anger toward the goddess, and the only time she had seriously considered abandoning her duties.
“Gerath instructed me that I was to leave Yanti as he was,” Pósix explained. “He said that I did not possess the power to heal him. I had thought he meant that it would take a combination of our powers to accomplish it, but I was wrong. Once Yanti’s spirit was altered, death was his only release. Gerath declared that Yanti still had a role to play, and therefore was not to be harmed.” She took Basanti’s hands. “I now see that his wisdom came not from his own mind, but from the Creator herself.”
She gave Basanti's hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry that you had to see what your brother became. I know you loved him dearly. But take comfort in the knowledge that now the door to heaven has been re-opened, his spirit resides with us…and he is happy.”
Basanti lowered her head and smiled. “Thank you.”
They continued to walk.
“So what happens now?”
“Thanks to Darshan’s courage and self-sacrifice, the world is free and the gods are no longer needed – though often I wonder if we ever were. The elves and the humans will now make a new life as one people.”
Basanti’s mouth twisted into a doubtful expression.
Pósix laughed softly and nodded. “I know. They are two stubborn races who are resistant to change. And the change will be fraught with obstacles. But in the end, I trust that they will find their way. Whatever happens, they will no longer need to fear our interference. We will become what we were always meant to be…shepherds of the spirits. The mortal world is no longer ours to wander.”
“And what about Darshan?” she asked. “Is he dead?”
“Darshan was born to serve a si
ngle purpose.” Pósix's voice was distant and reflective. “And now that purpose is complete. In the end, he knew what must happen and faced his destiny with the valor befitting of a god.” She gave Basanti a sideways grin. “But you should not concern yourself with Darshan. He lives on within the memories and legends of all the people he saved. His name will be in songs as long as mortals roam the earth.”
Pósix stopped walking and placed her hands on Basanti’s shoulders. “And now it is time for you to receive your reward. You have served me and the people of this world for countless centuries, never asking anything for yourself. You have forsaken your heart’s desire so that the hope of all mortals would be saved. For these reasons, and for many more, you have my eternal gratitude. But now your work has ended and it is time for you to live again.” Pósix glanced over to her right, a playful grin on her face.
Basanti's eyes followed her gaze. She caught her breath sharply. There, to her delighted amazement, standing ankle deep in the water, was the tall, muscular form of Felsafell. With the moonlight reflecting off his smooth ebony skin and silver hair, never before had he looked more beautiful to her. She wanted to run to him, but Pósix held her fast.
“When you touch his hand,” the goddess explained. “You will once again be mortal.”
Basanti felt a flash of fear at her words. “Mortal? You mean…”
“I mean you will be as you once were...human. Frail, but free.” Pósix stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. “But you will not be alone. Felsafell has also earned his reward. The moment you touch him, the two of you will be irrevocably joined.” She could see that Basanti was confused. “He will become mortal as well. It was the only reward he asked for…and I was happy to give it.”
“But I thought the first born could never become mortal.”
“Never before has a first born’s spirit been bonded to that of a human,” she replied. “He will share your mortality. And when the time comes to leave this world, you will both find your peace in heaven.”
Basanti was speechless.
Pósix kissed her tear-soaked cheek. “Now go to him. You have waited long enough.”
Basanti looked again at Felsafell. No longer was he the tall imposing figure of a first born. He was now the young flaxen-haired human she had first met in the forest thousands of years ago; the one who had taken her by the hand and led her to safety. His bright smile was conveying all the love he held in his heart for her. She turned back to Pósix, but the goddess had vanished.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Basanti broke into a dead run. Felsafell did likewise. He swept her into his arms, spinning her around and kissing her with complete abandon. As soon as their flesh touched, they both felt their spirits meld as one. They were no longer alone within themselves.
“I can feel you,” she said, laughing joyfully.
“And I you,” he replied. He kissed her yet again, then looked down at his new form and frowned. “It would seem that I am to be human in body, as well as spirit.”
Basanti cupped his face and smiled. “You will always look the same to me – beautiful.”
Felsafell laughed. “And at least we won’t draw attention to ourselves. We can go wherever we will, unnoticed.”
“And where shall we go first?” she asked.
Felsafell pointed down the shore to a small boat. “First, we should leave this wretched island. Then…well…I have never been across the Abyss. We could start there.”
“Sounds exciting,” she replied.
Hand in hand they walked to the boat. Basanti remembered how she had envied the bond the elves shared. Now she knew it was all she had imagined…and so much more. She could feel Felsafell's love and commitment; it went deeper than she could ever have fathomed. Together they pushed the craft into the sea and Felsafell raised the small sail. She sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder while he steered the boat north toward the mainland.
“A thought just occurred to me,” she said. “As we have become mortal, we will need to provide for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I have no gold or silver. And now that I am no longer the Oracle…not even my tent to sleep in.”
Felsafell burst into laughter. “Yes. Many things will be different. But you needn’t worry. The same thought occurred to me after I spoke to Pósix.” He pointed to a box sitting beside the mast.
Basanti reached over and opened it. Inside were hundreds of gold coins.
“Where did you get these?” she asked.
“I may be human now,” he said, a roguish grin appearing. “But I have lived long enough to know where the ancient treasures of the world are buried.”
Basanti nearly rolled over with over laughing. “Then I hope you bought some food. For the first time in thousands of years…I’m famished.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A year and a half had passed by since King Lousis returned triumphantly to Althetas. The people had greeted him with a festival, the like of which had never been seen before. For nearly a week the city had been in a state of continuous celebration.
Now once again, Althetas had cause for joy. Today would see the departure of the old king and the coronation of his heir. But this was no ordinary event – if a coronation could ever be considered ordinary. No longer would the lands of the west be divided. For today would see the coronation of the first High King of the Western States.
“Are you all right?”
The sound of Selena's voice snapped Lousis from his trance. He was staring out of the window over the city, smiling as he recalled the memories of his youth. He rubbed his hands together. He could feel the scars of war on every inch of his flesh. Old and battered, he thought.
“I’m fine,” he replied, placing an arm around his wife and kissing the top of her head.
“Good. Because after today, I plan for us to take a very long holiday. And it wouldn’t do if you are ill. Particularly once we’re at sea.”
“Are you sure you want to take such a long journey?” he asked. “There are plenty of places to visit that are much closer.”
“And decline Mohanisi’s invitation? I wouldn’t think of it. Besides, I want to go while I still have the energy to make such a trip.”
Lousis chuckled. “Then I am at your command, my queen. We go where your heart desires.”
There was a knock at the door and Jacob entered.
“Shouldn’t you be preparing for the coronation?” asked Lousis.
“I’ve done all I can do,” he replied. “And I’m tired of servants fussing over me. Father would have...”
He stopped in mid-sentence as he saw the pain in his grandmother’s eyes at the mention of her son. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I wasn't thinking.”
Selena forced a smile. “There is no reason to apologize. Your father would be so very proud of you. And yes. He would be having no end of fun at your expense right now. He was not a man who enjoyed being pampered and fussed over either. It’s good to remember him at times like this. It’s just that I…” She swallowed hard and stifled her tears. “I never had the chance to say goodbye. Not really. When he left Valshara, it didn’t occur to me that he might not return. That was foolish of me.”
“With the door to heaven now open,” said Lousis. “He is in the arms of the gods. And I believe he hears your words and knows how much you love him.”
Selena saw a glimmer of pain on Jacob's face. “Now I am the one who needs forgiveness,” she said. “You lost both mother and father to the evil of Angrääl.”
“Yes,” he replied. “But it is as King Lousis said. Thanks to Darshan, they are both safe and at peace. And I know that one day we will all be together again.”
Selena nodded, then kissed his cheek. “But enough sad talk. Today is a day for happiness.”
“Indeed,” agreed Lousis.
“There are a few hours left before I need to get dressed,” said Jacob. “Grandmother tells me that you have a secret supply of elf brandy hidden away somewhere,
courtesy of Lord Chiron.”
Lousis cast an accusing yet lighthearted glance at Selena. “Your grandmother was not supposed to know about that.” He sighed and nodded. “But she’s right. I do. Though I’m not sure how wise it is for you to be drinking just before your coronation.”
Jacob gave a wry grin. “I don’t see how I can get through it otherwise,” he countered.
Lousis chuckled. “It was the same with me. I was so nervous, I very nearly emptied my stomach when they placed the crown on my head. Come. A few small sips should set you to rights.”
He retrieved the brandy and poured each of them a glass. With the sweet scent filling the room, Lousis found his mind wandering again.
“Has there been word from the north?” Jacob asked him.
Selena had to nudge her husband before he responded. “No. At least, nothing to be concerned over. With the Reborn King dead, his armies have completely disbanded and the soldiers returned to their homes.”
“I heard that the elves have sent a delegation to Kratis to learn the secret of their explosive bolts,” Jacob said.
“If you ask me,” Selena interjected, “they should leave that particular horror a mystery.”
Lousis took her hand and nodded in agreement. “Yes. This world has seen enough destruction. But such matters are no longer my concern.” He looked at Jacob. “It is for you and the new leaders of this world to decide what is best. My time is done.”
“I do wish Darshan was still among us,” Jacob remarked. “He would be such a great help.”
“He gave his last full measure of life in the desert,” said Selena. “But his memory and deeds will continue to guide us, I think.”
“As will all those who fought and died,” added Lousis.
There was a long pause. Jacob then raised his glass. “May their spirits guide us forever.”
The Reborn King (Book Six) Page 34
