Sundered

by Bethany Adams

  Meli snapped out a short phrase in her native tongue, and the ambassador let go. Rubbing at her arm, Meli approached, and the guards around Lyr shifted restlessly. He lifted his hand. “Stand down.” To Kai, Lyr sent, “They are seeking aid for Alfheim.”

  Without a word, Kai sheathed his blade and stepped back beside Arlyn. After looking between the two of them, Arlyn put away her own weapons. “Alfheim?” Kai asked. “No wonder I can’t understand them. Arrogant bastards have avoided us for millennia.”

  Lyr almost smiled at his friend’s blunt but accurate statement. Before he could answer, Meli addressed him, though she glanced uneasily at the circle of guards who still protected him. “Is there some place we may stay while petitioning for aid? If you have some small bit of land we might camp on, we would be grateful. Especially if there is hunting.”

  He wanted to demand that she stay in his home, close enough for him to see, but prudence warred with desire. They knew little about this group, and their arrival was suspiciously close to the latest attack on the estate. For all he knew, the connection he felt to her was a ruse. Until he knew for sure, it was best he choose where they stayed very carefully.

  An increasing sense of urgency ripped at Kien’s insides. Another failed assassin had returned, this one half human and half Dökkálfar. How had Beckett been detected? The cloak he wore was designed to slip through Moranaian shielding, and he was skilled enough with iron to work magic around and even through it. But somehow they had still known.

  Worse, his brother Ralan’s disappearance from the human world made it clear that he had returned to Moranaia with his daughter. Kien’s entire purpose in setting up the energy poisoning—killing the girl and possibly Ralan—was now moot. It was only a matter of time until Ralan became king. Their father stood little chance of survival now.

  There is no future in which you will be king. Resign yourself.

  Damned seers. First, Kien’s great aunt had tried to manipulate him into believing he could never rule. Then, she’d prophesied that the first of the king’s children to have a child with an outworld female would be the next in line. As Teyark rarely fancied women, that left Ralan as the most likely candidate.

  Another fucking seer.

  Why could no one else understand that a seer should not rule? Kien would never blindly trust those who glanced into the future and worked to alter it. Such power led to evil. Hadn’t his aunt conspired to promote another of her kind to the throne? Too bad for her. Kien would make his own future.

  He’d have to focus more energy on capturing the portal. After his exile, it had been spelled to prevent his return, but at least two of his troop of half-bloods could reverse the spell if they could only take control of the portal for long enough. The energy poisoning could wait. There would be grumbling, but Kien didn’t mind a little dismemberment if he needed to be convincing. The atrocities a seer would bring about as king could not be allowed.

  Lyr finally decided to place the newcomers in the guest tower built around one of the trees between the barracks and his study. Their intentions might prove sinister, but he couldn’t deny hospitality to visiting diplomats. Besides, if they were connected to the attacks, it would be best to keep them close.

  Close and under constant surveillance.

  He led the group up the stairs circling the guard tower until they connected to the covered walkway that linked to the guest suite entrance. Lyr could just spot the guard in the branches that hung over his study, ready to report any suspicious activity. A necessary precaution of late.

  With the estate built around and sometimes on trees, their guest rooms were scattered enough that the group’s placement wouldn’t seem to be a slight. In fact, having a guest tower to themselves might appease the elder diplomat’s obvious sense of superiority, and it would be easier for Lial to heal the two attendants most affected by the crossing. Lyr worried most about the small, pale female still hugging herself and moaning. If Lial couldn’t help her, they would have to send for a full-fledged mind healer.

  Lyr showed them the latch to the door, carved like the tower to match the bark of the tree, and then ushered them inside. The room curved gently around the trunk of the tree, each living section divided by steps as the structure spiraled around. Downward and to the right was a small table for taking meals, while upward and to the left was a sitting and relaxation area. Above that was a library as well as six separate sleeping rooms.

  Careful to maintain a polite expression, he gestured to the room. “This is the only entrance, and a guard will be stationed at the walkway to ensure your safety.”

  All but Ameliar and Pol stared at him blankly, the rest still unable to understand. Ameliar looked back down the walkway with a frown. “A guard for our safety? Do you mean that we are prisoners?”

  “Of course not.” Only very well-watched. “We’ve had some difficulty of late, and I would see you protected. In addition, the guard can provide you an escort so you don’t get lost. Braelyn can be a difficult estate to navigate.”

  The glint in her eyes told him that she saw through his efforts at diplomacy, but she offered no protest. Considering their sudden appearance, the security was not unreasonable. Even one so obviously young would understand that. She merely nodded and turned to explain to the others while Pol stood grinning.

  Lyr couldn’t imagine how this one had been included in the group. His bright hair burned like a beacon amid his pale, blond companions, but his buoyant demeanor stood out the most. How was he unfazed by the Veil when the others were clearly exhausted? Lyr would have to ensure his guards watched Pol the most.

  As Meli explained the situation to her companions, the ambassador’s face pinched tight. She barked a few words at Meli that he couldn’t understand. The young woman’s entire body tensed. Her answering words were low, but it sounded like she might be defending herself from blame. Why the elder treated Meli with such malice was not yet known to him, but protective urges filled him like a living thing. Despite his uncertainty of the truth of their bond, the draw to her was unmistakable.

  He’d need to be on guard against that.

  “Lady Ameliar, please assure your leader that these are among the best accommodations on the estate. We favor smaller dwellings that fit into the environment. Not even the king’s palace rises like the stone spires of Alfheim’s fame.”

  “Lady? No, no—I am not a lady. Just Meli.” Her fingers plucked at the pouch hanging from her belt. “You mention our stone spires. Have you visited Alfheim? You seem…familiar.”

  Mistrust was difficult to maintain as he looked into her confused eyes, blue like the pale flowers that dotted the fields in the spring. She spoke with such hesitation and revealed her nerves so readily that it was obvious she had no experience dealing with these types of situations. “I have only read about your land in our histories. Have you traveled on Earth?”

  “Oh, no. I have never left Alfheim. Until now, at least. I just finished my schooling.”

  Lyr nodded, his suspicions confirmed. Elves appeared young for centuries, but mannerisms often exposed the youngest among them. Meli was likely no more than thirty, an unusual choice for a diplomatic party—but too old to be Aimee reborn. “Perhaps later we can discuss this odd recognition. First, I must verify my schedule and determine when I will be available to receive the ambassador’s petition. Please convey to her that I will send a message soon with this information.”

  Meli inclined her head. “Of course, my lord.”

  Though his every instinct screamed at him to stay with her—or better yet, take her away with him—Lyr forced himself to nod and turn away. Forced his feet to move him toward his ever-present duty to his people.

  Chapter 8

  Lyr meant to head to his study once he’d descended to the ground, but he found himself in the garden instead. His steps slowed as guilt welled up. He had a great deal of work to do, and he’d told Meli that he would arrange a meeting. But Lial would check on the newcomers soon, anyway, so Ly
r could afford a few moments’ peace before consulting his schedule. At least what passed for peace these days.

  Resolved to take what time he could, Lyr sped up to a fast walk. He darted along a small path that wound down by the stream meandering across the back of the estate. At first, a low stone wall separated the trail from the water, but it was more decorative than a true barrier. Built by his grandmother, if he remembered correctly. The stone was so worn by the millennia that only magic maintained its current state.

  He followed the stream until the sound of children’s laughter blended with the gentle gurgling. To the right, where the trees opened into a meadow, Eri and Iren chased one another around the soft green grass. His heart gave a little lurch. While neither child resembled Arlyn, he still ached to see their unfettered joy. Had Arlyn once looked so happy and carefree during the years he’d missed? The lost time cut into his soul.

  His daughter might have forgiven him for not returning to check on Aimee, but he didn’t think he’d ever forgive himself.

  “They’ve become so close in such a short time. Is that normal for elven children?”

  Lyr actually jumped when Arlyn interrupted his musings, so caught off guard was he by her sudden appearance. Few could sneak up on him, intentionally or not. “I think children everywhere are much the same. They know few constraints, unlike their elders.”

  “So true.” Arlyn smiled at the two a moment longer. “I’m sorry to bother you when you’re so lost in thought, but I was looking over the reports you wanted me to handle when the mirror in your study chimed.”

  He turned back towards the manor, though it was the last place he wanted to be. “Clechtan.”

  “Is this a bad thing?”

  Seeing the steps Arlyn had to take to keep up, he slowed. “Probably. That mirror is my connection to a few other realms of elves and fae. I’m guessing it’s yet another group wanting something from me.”

  “Why didn’t the group that just arrived contact you in advance if there’s a way to? It seems rude to just show up.”

  “I don’t have a link to the Ljósálfar. They split from Earth long before we did, and they believe themselves to be near godhood. Even if they deigned to acknowledge their relation to our kind, they certainly cared nothing for keeping contact. Nobody that I know of has heard from them in the millennia since we left Earth.”

  “Near godhood?” Arlyn asked, surprise in her voice. “The one you spoke to didn’t come across like that. I couldn’t understand her, but her hesitation was obvious. She looked like she wanted to sink into the ground.”

  “She is quite young. Younger than you, perhaps. It is odd indeed for someone of her age to be in an expedition like this.” Wanting to watch his daughter’s expression, Lyr halted her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I don’t suppose you noticed anything different about her? Maybe something familiar?”

  Arlyn’s mouth pursed. “Now that you mention it, yes. I’m sure I’ve never met her, though.”

  Chest squeezing, he looked away. “Arlyn, I…I feel a soulbond link with her.”

  The only sound for a long moment was the distant giggling of the children. When Lyr dared to meet his daughter’s eyes, he was alarmed by the tears gathered there. Was she upset that he might have found someone besides her mother? Then, she stunned him by launching herself into his arms, a laugh slipping out as she hugged him. When she pulled back, her face shone with joy.

  “I thought you said that you wouldn’t get another chance. Gods, how wonderful!”

  “Slow down, Arlyn,” Lyr said, though he couldn’t help but smile at her unexpected enthusiasm. “Such happiness is still far from certain. For one thing, I haven’t heard of anyone gaining another bonded after losing the first. There are a few rare bondings with three or four partners, but that isn’t the same. I’m not certain I should trust this feeling.”

  Arlyn shook her head. “The soulbond is sort of hard to mistake.”

  “I’ve learned to take nothing for granted.” He sobered at the thought, and the smile slipped from his face. “There’s no guarantee that she’ll have any interest in me, and bonding isn’t required. There’s hardly a penalty for not joining, save losing something rare. As I am not as impetuous as Kai, I refuse to bond first and ask later. Though I must admit that the method is tempting.”

  Grinning, Arlyn gave him a teasing shove. “Hey!”

  The casual affection caught at him, pinching his heart in a different way than his earlier grief. He might have missed her childhood, but he had the chance to get close to her now. Now and for centuries to come. “You can tell him I said so.”

  “You know I will,” Arlyn answered with a laugh. “But let’s go. The mirror won’t answer itself. Better go see about this latest crisis.”

  They entered into the back hallway, and Lyr’s mood soured further at the sight of the door to the library. The same library where his mother had fallen, taking his traitorous captain with her. Even after a month, he could not bear to go in. The healer had already moved her—saved her—by the time Lyr had made it back to the estate, but he could still picture her crumpled on the stone floor. The room was a perpetual reminder of how she’d suffered for his lack of attention. Only the gods knew how long it would be before he could reenter it without his stomach lurching.

  Guessing his feelings, Arlyn squeezed his arm as they passed, the gesture warming him. But he merely sped up, still unwilling to release the depth of his pain. He couldn’t burden her with that, not when she and the others needed him to be strong. If he recovered quickly enough, they would never know his weakness.

  Arlyn stopped him just before they entered his study. “I’m working with Selia on the wards, so I can’t stay. I was wondering, though…if a priest of Arneen can sever a soulbond, could they also help you with your questions about this potential bond? Maybe they have record of this happening before.”

  “An excellent idea.” He tossed a look over his shoulder as he opened the door. “Most of the priests here take care of Eradisel, so their training is centered on the sacred tree. But there is an enclave not far from here. When we have finished with the Neor and now our new guests, I will have to see what I can find out.”

  Then she left Lyr to the task he dreaded.

  In front of the tall windows behind his desk sat a large mirror on a delicate peresten frame. Because of the way it reflected the windows on the opposite side, most visitors didn’t notice it—Arlyn had almost knocked it over once. Yet it was one of the most important items in the room. The first Myern of Braelyn had traveled back and forth between Earth and the other races of elves and fae to set up links, allowing the Moranaians to communicate with their once-close kin. Over the forty thousand years since, each Myern had added more links as needed. One little mirror connected so much.

  Lyr stepped up to his reflection in the glass and frowned for a moment at the dark circles beneath his eyes, a sure sign that his energy was running low. His body and his energy stores no longer seemed to fully regenerate since the injury. If he didn’t speak with Lial about it soon, the healer was going to kill him. But the communication he was about to initiate was of more immediate urgency. Any weakness would be noted, and he could not allow that. With a wave and another expenditure of energy, he cloaked himself in a simple glamour. It would do for a mirror conference.

  He ran his fingers down the cool metal frame, the swirls reminiscent of the Veil. Lyr found the spell he needed, hooked his own energy into it, and pulled back. The mirror flickered with images as he sought the most recent attempt at communication. When he settled on the cold face of Meren, Seelie lord and general pain in the ass, Lyr groaned aloud. Kai’s last mission to the Seelie court had been to negotiate with this particular Sidhe, and it had not gone well.

  Many of those the human myths referred to as Sidhe lived under the rule of the original Tuatha de Danann or among the courts of the Seelie and Unseelie with other types of fae. The Sidhe hills of the Tuatha were scattered and insular, but the co
urts were large and active. Yet no matter where they lived, the Sidhe were bound by the oath of their ancestors—they were to stay underground while the humans ruled the surface, the price of a war they’d lost. Magic had forged a world for them in the underrealm, beneath the earth and a dimension barely removed. Over time, most of them had come to prefer it.

  Meren, however, was more than eager to return to surface Earth to find the solution to the poisoned energies. He’d first approached Lyr over a year before for aid since the Moranaians’ departure from Earth had happened prior to the oath that had formed the underhills. Meren had hoped that Lyr’s scouts, able to work more openly, might discover something on the surface that would force the Sidhe to break their ancient oath. Based on the assassination attempts Kai had faced while visiting the Seelie court, at least some of the other Sidhe were against the idea.

  With a sigh, Lyr reactivated the linking spell and prepared for a formal discussion. The surface of the mirror turned bright blue, the waiting pattern for the Sidhe lord. Lyr expected a long delay, but the blue background faded almost instantly to reveal Meren’s pinched face, the visible tension a surprise. Though the pale-haired Sidhe was a thousand years older than Lyr, he didn’t look it. Only a slight weariness around the eyes gave some clue.

  “I bid good day to you, Callian Myern i Lyrnis Dianore nai Braelyn, eighteenth in line to the throne of Moranaia and Chief Ambassador to the Seelie court of Queen Lera. Thank you for your quick response. I do hope all is well for home and kin.”

  Lyr knew better than to fall for that bit of bait. Lord Meren cared less for Lyr’s well-being and more for any weakness that could be exposed. “Good day to you, too, Lord Meren of the Seelie court. All here reside in good health and peace, a state I wish for your own House. To what do I owe the pleasure of our speaking?”

  The Sidhe lord went straight to the point. “The queen received word that one of our colonies, Neor, has fallen. Queen Lera is quite distressed to hear that her subordinate came to you instead of our court.”