Exiled: A Return of the Elves Novella (The Return of the Elves Book 3)

by Bethany Adams

  Inona strode through without hesitation, but Delbin found himself stopping in the doorway. Was that a tree inside the house? The building had obviously curved around the forest, but he’d thought the trees had been…outside. But straight in front of him, a staircase wound around another huge trunk. He glanced to the left, and his breath caught at the even larger tree in its own alcove.

  Eradisel.

  He’d heard of the ancient sacred tree but had never been blessed enough to see it. Oria, his home estate, was not important enough to guard one of the nine trees. But then, Oria was nothing like this. The buildings were largely stone, the estate more like castles on Earth. Was this what the rest of Moranaia looked like? He’d left before that part of his schooling.

  Inona took his hand in hers. “Would you like to visit Eradisel? There’s an altar on the other side for private communion.”

  Delbin wanted to say yes as the tree’s energy curled around him and a sense of peace washed through him. But he wanted even more to be done with the coming confrontation. “Maybe later,” he answered.

  With a nod, Inona led him past the staircase and to the right. He followed her through a winding hallway and tried not to stare at the intricate carvings decorating the walls. Gods, he could spend hours examining the forest scenes, so detailed he could see hints of animals peeking out around the trees. Why didn’t Oria look like this?

  Finally, they came to another, smaller door. A guard stood waiting, her midnight-black face impassive as she studied them. “Welcome back, Inona. I hope this is worth the rush. Lord Lyr wasn’t exactly pleased to be interrupted.”

  Inona smiled. “Trust me. He’ll want to hear my news as quickly as possible.”

  “I hope you’re right,” the guard answered. “He has been under much stress lately.”

  “I’m sorry, Kera.” Inona sighed, and Delbin glanced over in time to see her wince. “Now that you’re acting as his assistant, it must be tough on you, too.”

  Kera merely shrugged. “It will ease, as all difficult things do.”

  As the guard turned to knock on the door, Inona released Delbin’s hand and straightened. He understood why, since they were heading into a formal meeting, but the loss of contact saddened him. Don’t even think about going there with her, he reminded himself. She was a Moranaian scout, and he was likely to be banished back to Earth. His attraction had no real future.

  No matter how much he wished otherwise.

  Kera opened the door and strode through, Inona following directly behind. Delbin shoved aside his musings and trailed them into yet another stunning room. He took in the sight of the large oval study, walls full of windows and bookcases, but his gaze halted on the elf standing impassively in front of a large desk. Lyrnis Dianore, Myern of the estate of Braelyn and all the Houses branching beneath—including Oria.

  Delbin swallowed hard at the cold look on Lord Lyr’s face. His expression meant nothing, a custom for formal meetings, but a nervous lump formed in Delbin’s throat. When Kera and Inona tapped fists to chests and bowed, he followed suit out of reflex, the motion slow and awkward. Dammit, what was wrong with him? He’d met Lyr on Earth without this level of anxiety.

  But the elven lord had been dressed in Earth clothing, then, on Delbin’s home turf. Not standing on a dais in a Moranaian tunic and pants. And Delbin’s head hadn’t been pounding with hundreds of barely blocked voices.

  “Good afternoon, Myern,” Kera said. “I have brought forth Inona and her charge, the exile Delbin.”

  Lord Lyr inclined his head. “Thank you, Kera.”

  The guard bowed again and turned away. As she strode toward the door where they’d entered, she gave Delbin a quick wink. He couldn’t hold back the surprised grin that tipped his lips, but he smothered it as Lyr began speaking again.

  “I regret that I do not have the leisure to linger over our discourse,” the elven lord said, his gaze focused on Inona. “But I do trust that your family is well?”

  Delbin blinked at the unexpected question, but Inona’s voice held no surprise when she answered. “They are, Myern. As is yours?”

  A slight smile crossed Lyr’s lips. “My daughter is adjusting to life here quite well, and my new soulbonded is settling in. Even Kai is managing to stay out of trouble.”

  “Kai?” Delbin blurted.

  Inona shot an annoyed glance at him over her shoulder. His memory of Moranaian manners caught up with him, and Delbin winced. “Forgive the interruption. I’m too accustomed to Earth.”

  Surprisingly, the Myern laughed. “I get that a lot lately.”

  “I…” Delbin shook his head. “You do?”

  “More than you can imagine,” Lyr answered, his expression sobering. “You had a question about Kai?”

  Delbin shifted in place, not certain he should pry. But what the hell? He was likely to be exiled anyway. “Did you mean Kaienan? You named him as family, but he is from Oria. Allafon’s son.”

  Lyr gave a quick nod. “He recently bonded with my daughter, joining this House.”

  “Ah.” Delbin’s face heated, and suddenly he felt sixteen again. Manners for young elves had been more lax, and he’d barely begun to learn the intricacies of formal meetings when he’d been sent away. “Please forgive my forwardness, my lord.”

  Unexpectedly, the Myern relaxed, crossing his arms across his chest as he peered between Delbin and Inona. “Enough. What is this really about? An elf over three hundred years old should know how to handle a meeting like this despite being amongst humans for a century.” Lyr’s gaze settled on Delbin. “Talk.”

  Delbin’s breath huffed out at the power behind the word, a mental command ringing alongside it. He faltered, grasping desperately for energy as his shields began to crumble. He needed help fast.

  “Inona,” he gasped.

  “He’s a telepath,” she explained for him. “A strong one.”

  Pain built until his head seemed to be nothing but agony and other people’s voices. Delbin’s vision darkened, and he squeezed his palms against his temples. “Bad,” he muttered as his knees buckled. Then even awareness winked out.

  Chapter 8

  Inona darted toward Delbin, barely reaching him in time to keep him from falling onto his face. Her heart pounded in her ears as she turned him, lowering him to his back. He’d seemed to recover on their walk. To acclimate. Now this? She lifted her hand to his neck and let out a sigh at his steady pulse.

  Lyr knelt beside them. “What happened?”

  “I suspect it has to do with the energy here.” Inona turned her head to meet Lyr’s worried gaze. “When Lord Moren marked in the records that Delbin was more than three hundred, he lied. Delbin was a mere sixteen years old when he was exiled.”

  There was a heartbeat of silence as the Myern processed her words. Then his lips pinched tight and his nostrils flared. “Sixteen?”

  Inona swallowed hard, though she hadn’t been responsible for any of it. “Yes, Lord Lyr. And it seems his talents weren’t fully developed at the time. The greater magical energy of Moranaia hit him hard. He appeared to be getting better, but…”

  Cursing, Lyr sprang to his feet and began to pace. Based on the expletives he muttered under his breath, she was quite happy not to be in Moren’s position.

  Delbin groaned softly, drawing her attention, and Inona peered at his features for any sign of stirring. But his eyes remained closed and his body motionless save his shallow breaths. What could she do? For that matter, why wasn’t Lord Lyr doing anything? Her gaze flicked to the pacing Myern. It was unlike him not to take swift action.

  The door opened, and the healer, Lial, rushed through, heading straight for Delbin and Inona. Without a word, the healer knelt next to Delbin and placed hands glowing blue with power around his head. Inona sat back, crossing her legs in front of her, and watched Lial work.

  But when the glow faded and the healer looked up, Delbin still wasn’t conscious. “I’ve called Ralan,” Lial said.

  Frowning, Lyr ha
lted. “Why?”

  “I was able to heal the slight damage caused by the abrupt overload, and I can shield him from being a danger to others,” Lial explained. “But I can’t teach a telepath of this strength to control himself. He’s young, but he should know this already”

  “Indeed,” Lyr snapped. Then his gaze met Inona’s. “What do you know of this?”

  As they waited for Prince Ralan, Inona repeated what she’d learned about Delbin’s growing powers and his attempt to escape Allafon to save his family. “Lord Moren went to a great deal of trouble to hide the truth,” she finally finished.

  Jaw clenched, Lyr gave a sharp nod. She really didn’t want to be Moren.

  Lial’s eyes glinted with fury when he spoke. “Delbin should be an apprentice at this age. If I get my hands on—”

  “Not now, cousin,” Ralan said as he strode into the room.

  Inona’s breath stuttered as the prince advanced. She’d seen him from a distance after he’d arrived on the estate, but she’d never met him in person. He’d been rumored as kind, if a bit arrogant, yet she couldn’t help feeling a little intimidated as his gaze raked across her and down to Delbin.

  Lyr’s eyes narrowed. “Moren—”

  “Did us a boon,” Ralan interrupted again. As he sank to his knees, he glanced back at Inona. “Gathering Kien’s blood was well done.”

  Inona shivered against a sudden chill. “How did you…?” Then she remembered his other talent. “I’m sorry. I forgot you are a seer.”

  The prince chuckled. “That’s a rarity.”

  Before she could answer, Ralan’s focus shifted to Delbin. Energy built in the room, but the pressure was gentle, like a gathering rain. No one spoke as several moments slid past. Then Delbin opened his eyes.

  With a jerk, he bolted upright, his hands going to his temples. But he lowered them almost at once. “What…?”

  Inona smiled, and as the tension eased from Delbin’s shoulders, she found her own anxiety lessening. “You overloaded again,” she said.

  Blinking, he glanced at Lial and then Ralan. “Who are you?”

  “He’s the healer.” A wicked grin crossed Ralan’s face. “And me? I’m your new master.”

  Delbin’s heart slammed hard. “Master?”

  The man laughed.

  “Good Gods, Ralan,” Lyr said. “Stop playing around.”

  Ralan? The prince? He’d left Moranaia a few centuries ago, hadn’t he? Delbin rubbed his hand across his forehead and prayed his head would clear. “Don’t you live on Earth?”

  “Not anymore,” the prince answered, the humor fading from his expression. “And forgive my play on words. I couldn’t resist. Master is the technical term for the person in charge of an apprentice, after all.”

  “Apprentice?” Dammit, what was wrong with him? His thoughts were fuzzy even though his mind was clear. No more voices—not even the whispers he’d grown accustomed to on Earth. Why was it harder to think in silence? “Not sure how that’s going to work. Once you find out what I’ve done with my talents during my exile, I’m certain to be banished again.”

  A corner of Ralan’s lips quirked. “Believe me, I did far worse.”

  “Is that so?” Lyr asked.

  “I didn’t hurt anyone,” Ralan retorted with a shrug. “Much.”

  Confused, Delbin glanced at Inona. She smiled. “I don’t think you’re being re-banished.”

  “I hadn’t had time to consider it,” Lyr said. “But it appears Prince Ralan has decided for us.”

  For a moment, Delbin could only sit in shock, his gaze flicking between Lyr and the prince. It couldn’t be that easy. A century of deception forgiven with little debate? For that matter, did he want to stay? All those years dreaming of Moranaia, and now that he was here, he could barely function. He didn’t even know if he still had family.

  Before anything else, he had to find out.

  “Could you tell me…” Delbin took a bracing breath. “Do you know what happened to my brother? Inona said she’d heard nothing of him.”

  “There was nothing about a brother in your records.” Lyr’s lips pursed in thought. Then he frowned. “Wait. Your family name is Rayac. For some reason, that sounds familiar, but I… Ah, clechtan.”

  Time seemed to slow as Delbin prepared to ask what he didn’t want to recognize. But he had to know. “What is it?”

  “There was a Tenic Rayac among the list of those killed during the final confrontation with Allafon.” Lyr’s face softened with pained sympathy. “He was…not on our side.”

  His brother on Allafon’s side? Delbin’s hands tightened into fists. “Not possible.”

  The Myern’s nostril’s flared. “You believe I would lie about such a thing?”

  “No, but you must be mistaken.” Chest growing tight, Delbin shoved himself to his feet. He wavered as dizziness hit, and Inona reached out to steady him. But he couldn’t look at her. “I left Moranaia to save him. My mother would have told him that. Why would he have betrayed us?”

  “It seems we have much to ask Moren,” Lyr answered sharply. “But I assure you I am not mistaken. I tend to remember the names of those who try to kill me.”

  Moren had visited Earth more than once in the last century to ensure Delbin’s safety. Wouldn’t he have given some hint? But Lord Lyr was by all accounts an intelligent and fair person. He didn’t have a reputation for repeating falsehoods, and what reason would he have to do so? Though Delbin’s stomach lurched with guilt, he found himself leaning toward belief. Against his own brother.

  “If it’s true, the bastard Moren lied to me,” Delbin said. “Just a few years ago, he told me my family was fine.”

  Averted gazes and resounding silence rammed the truth home.

  His heartbeat thumped a frantic pace in his ears, and his vision went hazy. Gods, he still remembered the first time he’d held his baby brother. Those chubby cheeks and that new baby smell. He’d been willing to do anything for Tenic. He had done anything. He’d sacrificed friendships, education, reputation—his entire world. All for nothing.

  Fury overtook reason, and power shot from Delbin like the fist he wanted to smash into a wall.

  Only to slam into a shield not his own, a bubble of energy placed around him by someone else. The magic rebounded with a soft crack, and Delbin stumbled back at the return punch. Stifling a curse, he rubbed at his aching head. But he’d deserved it. He could cause others real pain by forcing his thoughts and emotions into their minds, and it didn’t matter if it was intentional or not. He would still be responsible.

  Delbin took a deep breath and forced down the worst of his turmoil. Sometime soon, he’d find a private place to free his emotions and let loose his rage. Instead, he turned to face the source of the new shield surrounding him.

  Ralan smirked again. “Best shield ever for teaching control.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to be your apprentice,” Delbin said.

  The prince shrugged. “You’ll be free of me sooner than you realize.”

  An odd note in Ralan’s tone had Delbin peering at him, but if there’d been some cryptic meaning beneath the statement, there was no sign of it on Ralan’s face. “You think I’ll be a quick study?” Delbin finally asked.

  This time, the prince’s smile held no hint of teasing. “You’ll have to be.”

  Delbin wanted to ask for clarification, but he knew better. Seers were enigmatic for a reason, and there were some things he’d rather not know. “I guess we’ll find out.”

  “Well, it’ll have to be without me,” the healer said. “I’ve other work to do.”

  Delbin’s mouth fell open as the healer spun away and marched from the room without another word. He’d heard of bad bedside manner, but damn. Delbin glanced around the room, but none of the others appeared shocked. Maybe this was normal behavior? He couldn’t remember much about the elderly healer at Oria.

  Inona placed a hand on his forearm, and for a moment, a hint of her feelings slipped through his shield
ing again. Not just attraction this time but also protectiveness. His eyes shot to hers, but he saw no sign of such feelings there. Was he mistaken, or was her reaction to him simply not something she intended to pursue? Too bad he didn’t have time right now to find out.

  “Don’t worry about Lial,” she said. “He’s been crankier than usual lately.”

  “We’ve all had cause,” Lyr said. Then he straightened. “I’m not sure what Inona told you about Allafon’s betrayal, but we’ve all dodged death more than once. And it all goes back to Kien. He controlled Allafon for quite some time in an attempt to get me out of the way.”

  Inona’s fingers tightened on Delbin’s arm as she turned to the Myern. “Forgive me for failing to capture him,” she said.

  Lyr shook his head. “You were not equipped for such a mission.”

  “It’s for me to do,” Ralan said, his voice going harsh. “And only me.”

  There was a hint of something—a thought or feeling—that hit Delbin with the prince’s words, but it dangled just out of reach. Like a memory he couldn’t quite grasp. But Delbin couldn’t help the pique of curiosity. Was Ralan hiding something about Kien? From the hard glint in Ralan’s gaze, Delbin decided it was another thing he didn’t want to know.

  There was already enough he needed to clarify.

  “I’d like to know my status here. If you think only you should confront Kien, why bring me on as an apprentice?” A memory of his baby brother, laughing in their mother’s arms, filled Delbin’s mind and brought a lump to his throat. His fists clenched. “I have plenty of my own reasons to go after Kien.”

  “Control your power,” Ralan bit out as Delbin’s anger surged. “We’ll discuss this later.”

  Lyr crossed his arms. “Hiding stuff again?”

  Ralan gave Lyr an irritated glance. “It’s a matter of timing. And to answer what Delbin really wants to know… We’ll stay here until his magic is stabilized. Then he’ll return to Earth.”