The Borderlands (Book Two): War

by Aderyn Wood

  “And you found her then? Ness?” Rhys lent forward, his stare intense once more before he raised an eyebrow at Dale’s mother. “It seems our efforts were all in vain, Majesty.”

  Dale frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  Rhys stood, a scowl on his face, and stalked to the side. “It’s time she knew.”

  Dale turned to her mother. “Knew what?”

  The queen closed her eyes. “Please, sit down, Rhys. I agree, we must tell Dalendra about Nessa, but please. Remain calm and sit down, let’s hear the rest of my daughter’s news, then I will tell her everything she needs to know.”

  Rhys shook his head. “No, you will tell her everything, regardless of whether you think she needs to know it or not. If you don’t, I will.”

  Jaral stood. “You can’t speak to the queen like that.”

  “Sit down Ap Xilandoryl. I don’t care for anything you have to say,” Rhys said with gritted teeth.

  Dale shook her head. “What’s going on?”

  “Enough!” The queen raised her voice, and all went quiet. “Rhys. She will know all, now come sit and listen.”

  Rhys exhaled a sharp breath and stalked back to his stool, sitting heavily. Jaral followed suit.

  Her mother nodded. “Go on, daughter.”

  A roiling sickness now gripped Dale’s stomach at the thought of what secrets had been kept from her, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear them. She continued her story, telling the council members of how she found Ness. Of Ricardo’s influence and power on Earth, and how Ness had sent her back to the Borderlands but was recaptured by Ricardo in the process. She fought hard to blink back the tears.

  “And so you returned safely and Ness is still stuck with that evil bastard?” Rhys asked, his nostrils flaring.

  She’d not expected such anger from him. Stupid girl, Dale. What were you expecting, the red carpet treatment? She licked her lips. “When I returned to the Borderlands, I found myself in the mountains, and I realised I had to make my way back to Arcadia. But I was waylaid and ended up in the Forbidden Forest.”

  “The Forbidden Forest?” Jaral spoke, his frown conveying his confusion. “But how did you gain access?”

  Dale looked at her mother. “I met my father.”

  Her mother’s mouth fell open, before she smiled with fresh tears in her eyes. “I knew this day would come!” She reached out a hand and touched Dale’s shoulder. “You know what he is?”

  Dale nodded. “And what I am.”

  “What’s all this?” Sa’r Atapole looked at her, his eyebrows meeting in a frown beneath his philosopher’s cap.

  Dale lifted her chin. “It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I have finally found my power.”

  They all sat still. Sa’r Coneril raised an eyebrow in gentle cynicism. They didn’t believe her. And why should they? They’d invested too much hope in her already and only disappointment had followed. Now, they’d lost Arcadia. Dale couldn’t blame them for their lack of jubilation.

  “I seem to recall you had trouble with a simple illumination spell. Can you show us one now?” Sa’r Aethyll asked. Was that a flicker of hope in his eyes?

  Dale nodded, but a thread of doubt spiralled through her and her breath stalled in her throat. If she failed this now, she couldn’t expect them to pay her any heed. She closed her eyes, sensing the vast pool of power. It existed there like an old friend and it would never go away. She drew on it, effortlessly and gasps sounded around her. When she opened her eyes she had to blink for the ball of light she’d created was so bright it was like looking at the sun. She turned it off with a mere thought and watched as the party around the table frowned and blinked, refocusing their vision to the dull lighting in the tent.

  “She has power now. That is certainly beyond doubt.” Sa’r Aethyll said, excitement lighting his eyes.

  “But will it be enough to overcome the Unseelie? To drive them back?” Sa’r Atapole wore his usual sceptical expression, mouth downturned.

  “What about your hysbryd?” Jaral asked. “Every time I’ve visited the Emerald Tower, the prophecy has told me your power was connected to your hysbryd.”

  Dale tilted her head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Jaral frowned. “I’ve tried, but I’ve never been able to say it before.” His eyes lit up, and a smile touched his lips.

  “Dalendra,” her mother spoke. “Please go on.”

  Dale bit her lip. “I am so sorry for leaving without telling you everything. But I just had to do it. I had to feel useful, and I thought I could contribute by bringing back Ness. Now, it turns out, I found my power, I learned some valuable information about our enemy.”

  “And you put Ness’s life in more danger.” Rhys said, still angry.

  Dale nodded, her eyes looking down to the floor. “Yes, I know it. But there is one more thing I have done.”

  “And what is that, daughter?” Her mother said.

  Dale looked up. “I have found my hysbryd.”

  All eyes turned to her.

  “A dragon.”

  Sa’r Aethyll blinked, while Sa’r Atapole’s mouth fell open. Dale allowed herself the slimmest flourish of satisfaction.

  30

  “Why didn’t you tell me about my father?” Dale tried to curb her disappointment, but every time she smoothed her face, the crease in her brow would return.

  “I will explain everything.” Her mother poured them each a goblet of wine and returned to her stool next to Dale.

  They were alone now. Dawn was less than a handful of hours away. The others had left to get some rest. They would reconvene before the sunrise. Her mother looked weary, and Dale was tempted to embrace her once more and tell her to get some rest herself, but she needed answers. About her father, about Ness.

  Her mother took a sip of wine and Dale did the same. Its sweetness a surprising welcome on her tongue.

  The queen cleared her throat. “After I married your father, he told me who he was.” She looked down at her goblet with tear-filled eyes. “I didn’t believe him of course. How was it possible that one of the First lived among us? Something that no one in my lifetime had ever witnessed, though it is mentioned in our myths and legends. He was different from the rest of us, but did that mean he was truly one of the First? He took me to the Forbidden Forest and commanded the shields to drop so that I could enter. He showed me how he could bring something dead back to life, just by touching it. He showed me how he could move the stars into a pattern of a flower in the night sky. He showed me many wondrous things, and I knew he spoke the truth. It wasn’t long after our marriage that the Unseelie attacked us. They came out of nowhere, their siege a complete surprise. Your father and I were out riding in the Forbidden Forest when a group of them climbed the high walls of the palace and infiltrated our defence. Not long after I learned I was pregnant with you, but at that time, my sister Farryn had a newborn babe of her own.”

  “My aunt Farryn? I didn’t know she was married.”

  Her mother shook her head. “She wasn’t, but she had a lover.”

  “Who?”

  The queen stared at her daughter with stern ice-blue eyes. “Balak.”

  “What!”

  “Yes.” She took another sip of wine. “And they were very much in love. My father had not approved their union, and perhaps now I can see why. But, I always thought of Balak as a good man. He was a firm friend to your father too. I’m more surprised than anyone to hear he was our traitor all along.”

  “Balak was friends with my father?”

  The queen nodded.

  “He never said anything. Nor did Father.” Dale stared at the table. Maps, scrolls and books filled it. At the far end, their battle plan was laid out with a map of the palace and Arcadia. The war council had come to an impasse in their discussions, no one agreeing on their next move. And that was when the queen had sent everyone to their bedrolls, “We shall continue our discussions an hour before dawn,” she’d told them, suggesting th
at with rest they would see their way forward.

  Dale frowned again. “And that’s how my grandparents were killed? When the Unseelie infiltrated the palace?”

  A fresh tear fell upon her mother’s cheek. “Yes, Mother and Father tried to stop them. My sister too, but she was still so weak from the birth of her daughter, only days prior. They retreated to the royal suite, a mistake. Ricardo cast a spell and brought down the north tower. They all died that day.”

  “Didn’t father stop it?”

  “He did, but too late. By the time we knew, Ricardo had done his worst. We drove him and his Unseelie soldiers all the way back to beyond the Verge. But my parents, my sister, and her child were dead.” The queen’s tears rolled freely as she took another sip of wine. “In any case, your father said there would be a consequence for his interference in the world of the Second. And I wonder, if now… this horde of monsters, perhaps that is the balance resetting.”

  “Action and reaction,” Dale whispered.

  Her mother nodded.

  “I’m so sorry, Mother. I’m sorry that happened to you, that you lost your family.”

  She shook her head. “No, daughter. It is I who must apologise to you.”

  Dale squinted. “Ness?”

  Her mother took a slow deep breath, then flicked her head up, tears scattering. “I knew she was trapped. I knew Ricardo had her imprisoned on Earth.”

  Dale’s nostrils flared, anger suddenly bubbling up and making her heart beat in a hard rhythm. “You knew?” She gritted her teeth. “How many times did I ask you? A dozen times? Fifty? And you knew all that time? You lied to me?”

  “Dalendra. I had no choice.”

  “No choice? You knew Ness was suffering, but you did nothing.” Dale’s anger bloomed with a life of its own. She stood, kicking the stool out, and Ricardo’s words filling her head. “It’s your policy, isn’t it, Mother? When people are suffering, do nothing. Is that why we’ve done nothing to help those suffering on Earth?”

  “Dalendra.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  The queen put her goblet down, her lips quivering, hand shaking. “It was what Ness wanted. Not long after you returned, I managed to make contact with her. I entered into a deep trance for three full days and I made a solid connection. She told me she was being treated well by Ricardo, and that we had nothing to fear. That she would attempt to find out more about Ricardo’s mission, and she made me promise, no matter how sad you grew, no matter how angry, I wasn’t to tell you I’d found her. She made me promise.”

  Dale shook her head. “Why would she do that?”

  “Because she wanted to protect you. And so did I. If you knew about Ness you would try to save her, and Ricardo would trap you. Well, perhaps I should have told you after all.” Her mother stood and reached for Dale. “Come here, please.”

  Dale pursed her lips but took her mother’s hand.

  “I’m sorry, daughter. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was doing the right thing for the Earthens too. If you think we should act there, we will. But first, we need to stick together if we’re to save Arcadia, save the palace, and save Ness.”

  Dale hugged her mother tight, tears filling her eyes. “I know. I’m sorry too.”

  Outside the breeze had changed, and an ice-cold wind blew in from the north. The war council had filed in to the white tent an hour before dawn, along with the sorcerers.

  Dale looked at Agathina with a nervous smile.

  Agathina rushed to her and embraced her tight. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

  Dale hitched a breath. “I’m sorry, Ag—”

  “No, there’s no need for that.” Agathina stepped back, holding Dale’s hands. “We were silly little girls.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “It’s good to see you, my friend.”

  Dale smiled and breathed a heavy sigh. “It’s so wonderful to see you too.”

  “Princess!” Troidan walked over and bowed. “I hear you have a mighty hysbryd. Interested in a swap for a stubborn-assed donkey?”

  Dale laughed. “You wouldn’t give Bolo up, would you?”

  “No,” Troidan admitted. “But don’t tell him I said that.”

  “Councillors, sorcerers. After much meditation, I have a plan that may just bring us victory.” The queen stood in her battle gear, a rare sight. She wore a pale leather cuirass, a white cape fell at the back from the shoulders. In battle, she would don her winged helm and matching gauntlets, but now her fair hair ran freely in waves down her back. She caught their attention as she pointed to the map of Arcadia.

  The assembled company sat in a tight circle around the table, listening to their queen. “It is no mistake the palace and the city are surrounded by the river. As we know its magical waters will help to protect us, killing, instantly, any Unseelie who touch it. We need to use that as a strategic defence. And it is my hope to use it for offense once the battle commences.”

  “You still think they will strike this morning, Majesty?” Sa’r Atapole asked. His small eyes were puffy, deep lines etched his face. Like everyone else, he was exhausted. “After all their revelling last night, you believe they’ll attack today?”

  “It is we who shall attack them, Sa’r. It’s time for us to take charge of this war. We will dictate to them when we battle and when we do not. Let us hope they are all sick on our wine and ale. It will work to our advantage.”

  “Tell us, M’Lady.” Sa’r Coneril was also ready for battle; his hair recently plaited in a tight tail. His hand grasped his sword hilt. “Tell us of your plans.”

  “The river’s four bridges are currently sealed through my spell. But, if I’m to play a larger part in the battle to come, I will need four sorcerers to take one each and hold the seals in place. I’ll need my energy for my own set of spells.”

  “I will take a bridge,” Agathina volunteered immediately.

  “As will I,” Jaral offered.

  The queen nodded. “Agathina, you’re to take the east bridge, Jaral, the south. Hentiel and Samblar I want you to take the north and the west.”

  Hentiel nodded, so do did Samblar though his shoulders slouched. Dale smirked. No doubt, the young sorcerer preferred to be in the thick of it to release the fireballs he loved so much. And, no doubt, her mother wanted to protect the palace from wayward magic as much as possible.

  “We want to pinpoint our attack so that we can do as much damage to individual Unseelie, and as little damage to the city. We shall focus our battle here at the south bridge. That’s why I want you there, Jaral. The seal on that bridge will have to be opened and closed as we strike. It will take much concentration to keep casting the spell.”

  “I can do it, Your Majesty.” Jaral placed a hand on his heart in his typical flamboyant fashion. The gesture made Dale smile.

  “Sa’r Coneril, the fighting must occur on the bridge itself. We will send small groups of soldiers to meet the Unseelie. How many do you think we should send for each strike?”

  The Combat Master chewed a lip. “I’d say five. It will be slow. What if their dead are brought back to life? We could be battling on that bridge for aeons.”

  The queen lifted her chin. “Not if they are cast into the river. The water will take them for eternity. No magic will bring the fallen back.”

  Sa’r Coneril smiled. “Aye, it’s a good plan. It will be an exhausting fight for the soldiers, but they will have ample time to recover. In such close quarters, I’d say we’d have the advantage too. The Unseelie aren’t the smartest swordsmen.”

  “And Ma’r Sivylla,” the queen said.

  “Yes, Majesty,” Sivylla replied.

  “We’ll need your healers close to the bridge to tend to the injured.”

  “Of course.”

  “And what of Ricardo?” Sa’r Aethyll asked. “And what of the princess? She has her power now, aren’t we going to finally use it?”

  The queen glanced at Dale. “Of course, and I will get to my daughter’s role. B
ut first, the other sorcerers. I need you to remain here, beyond the south bridge. You will keep an eye on Jaral, Agathina, Hentiel and Samblar. If they tire you are to replace them and give them time to recover. There is no knowing how long this will take. It is likely they will need rest. Remain alert. Any Unseelie who make it through to our side of the river must be dealt with.”

  “So we’re to do nothing but be a contingency?” Rhys asked, anger still burned in his eyes.

  The queen nodded. “Those are my orders.”

  Rhys’s nostrils flared and when Dale observed his aura, she noted the swirls of red and orange that confirmed his fury.

  “My daughter and her hysbryd will fight from within the enemy lines, above the city. Picking them off with accurate dragon fire and instilling fear and panic. This should draw Ricardo out and enable me to face him.”

  “He is strong, Majesty,” Sa’r Aethyll said. “Much stronger than any foe we’ve faced. I fear it maybe too much for you alone.”

  “I fear as much, also, Sa’r, and that is why my daughter will stand by me. Together we shall defeat them. All of them, including Ricardo.”

  “Well,” Sa'r Aethyll said as he stroked his beard. “It is a plan. Dawn is nigh. For what it’s worth, I think we have a good chance. Princess, I’d like to know your thoughts.”

  Dale chewed her lip. Yes, it was a good plan but one part of it niggled at her consciousness. “I’d prefer to make them flee, rather than trapping them within to kill them all. We should rather drive them back to the Underlands, back where they came from beyond the Verge.”

  Frowns and sidelong glances greeted her.

  Rhys laughed humourlessly. “This makes no sense. We have a chance to deal with them, once and for all, and you want to save our enemy’s hides?”

  “Consider the balance,” Dale replied. “If we kill them all, the balance will be called into action and we will face a consequence.”

  “We’ve already faced consequences. We’ve seen our friends and family die in this war while some were on a madman’s quest; we’ve faced death every day, Princess. No, it is us who are owed something. And Unseelie Deaths will pay the debt.”