Souls of Aredyrah 1 - The Fire and the Light

by Tracy A. Akers

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  Chapter 7: Revelations

  Alicine pushed through the crowd, shoving bystanders from her path in a most un-Maidenlike manner. The circlet of flowers on her head now sat askew, its long pastel ribbons flying at her back. She bumped and dodged, oblivious to the indignant grumbles that followed, but soon found herself halted by a wall of backsides bottlenecked at the exit. She cursed under her breath, something she rarely did, and bounced on tiptoes as she scanned the spot where she had last seen Dayn. The canvas flap was thrown back, and a bright triangle of sunlight shone above the dark bobbing heads beneath. Surely if he were anywhere nearby she would spot him towering above the others. That is, if she could get out of the cursed place.

  “Alicine! Alicine wait!”

  Alicine twisted toward the voice at her back and frowned. It was Falyn, elbowing her way through the crowd in her direction.

  “Where are you going?” Falyn asked upon reaching her. “Your parents are looking for you.”

  Alicine shot Falyn an impatient glare, suddenly aware of the hostility creeping into her gut at the sight of the girl. “Tell them I’m looking for Dayn,” she said coolly. She wheeled back around, shoved against the nearest back, and pushed her way between two particularly broad patrons. They growled, but she was gone before they could protest to her face.

  “What do you mean, looking for Dayn? What happened?” Falyn called as she wriggled through the throng that filled Alicine’s wake.

  “What happened?” Alicine snapped over her shoulder. “Why don’t you ask your brother that question?”

  “Ask my brother? What does he—”

  Alicine spun around and planted her hands on her hips. “What does he ever have to do with it, Falyn?”

  Falyn took a startled step back, her eyes wide, but then they resumed their normal cat-like shape. “Don’t play word games with me, Alicine,” she said. “What did Sheireadan do to Dayn?”

  “What do you care?” Alicine said. “You never cared what your brother did to him before. Why trouble yourself with it now?”

  Falyn scanned the crowd, then grabbed Alicine by the arm. “We need to talk. Privately.”

  Alicine felt herself pulled and pushed toward the stage and the makeshift curtain that hung at its side. She would have protested had she not been so startled by the urgency of Falyn’s voice and surprisingly strong grip.

  “Now, tell me what happened between Dayn and Sheireadan,” Falyn ordered.

  Alicine shrugged her arm free. “All I know is I saw them over by the exit during the ceremony. I could just see them between the break in the flap, and they were having words. I couldn’t hear them over the music, thank goodness. If I had, then everybody else would have, too, and once again Dayn would have ended up taking the brunt of it. He’s had enough of that in his lifetime, don’t you think?” She shot Falyn a penetrating glare, determined to drive her point home.

  “Of course he has. You make it sound as if I don’t . . .” Falyn glanced around. “What do you think they were talking about?”

  “I don’t know, but from the expressions on both their faces it looked bad. What was really strange was that it was Sheireadan who ran off this time, not Dayn.”

  “So why are you looking for Dayn if he wasn’t the one who ran away?”

  “Because of the way he looked at me. He didn’t have to say a word. I could see it in his face; he was leaving.”

  “You make it sound like—”

  “Like maybe he’s going away forever or something? Why do you even care, Falyn? You barely ever paid him any attention, even when . . .” Alicine paused. She knew she should not speak for her brother, but perhaps it was time it was said.

  Falyn stepped in closer. “Even when what?”

  “Even when he was trying so hard to make you like him.”

  “What?” Falyn asked, drawing the simple word out slowly. “But he never had to try. I always liked him.”

  “Too bad you never bothered to tell him.”

  “How could I? I mean, I’m not allowed.” Falyn turned her eyes to her feet, clearly shamed.

  “I don’t know why you’re not allowed, but I tell you this, you’ll never be the cause of Dayn’s grief again. Not you, not Sheireadan. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go look for my brother.”

  Alicine turned and took a step, but Falyn yanked her back. “You make this out to be all my fault. You know full well why I’m not allowed.”

  “I know no such thing,” Alicine said.

  “Yes, you do. You know it’s my father. That it’s all the fathers. You know they’re afraid of Dayn fraternizing with their daughters. You’ve heard the talk. There’s no way you couldn’t have.”

  “That sort of talk is too ridiculous to be taken seriously,” Alicine said.

  “Listen, Alicine, I know it’s hard, but you need to take it seriously. Most people have a part in them that tolerates Dayn, but it’s the fear of him that stays utmost on their minds. He’s not a child anymore. He’ll soon be of the age to court, and folks aren’t going to risk him fathering more of his kind. Can’t you understand that?”

  Alicine clenched her shaking hands at her side. She would have knocked the girl into the dirt right then and there had her heart not reminded her that Falyn was only telling the truth.

  “I’ve heard the gossip,” Alicine said, “but after hearing it most of my life, I’ve learned to ignore it.”

  “Well, maybe this time you shouldn’t have ignored it,” Falyn said.

  Alicine folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

  “You can act all high and mighty if you want, Alicine, but isn’t it possible you just wanted it to go away? That you didn’t want it interfering with your life anymore? Didn’t you feel some sense of relief when Dayn avoided town these past several months? Wasn’t it nice not to have to worry about him for a change?”

  “How dare you say that to me.”

  “You think I don’t know how it is? You think I don’t know what it’s like to live in the shadow of a brother’s reputation? Turning a blind eye will do you no good. Trust me, I know.”

  “You’re one to talk about turning a blind eye, Falyn. I don’t recall ever seeing you stand up to Sheireadan. Where were you all those times he was beating up my brother?”

  “If I’d defended Dayn it would have only made things worse for him. I couldn’t bear to see him hurt any more than he already was. If I’d defended him, Father would have found out, then he would have suspected that . . . You know Father is a member of the Vestry.”

  “A word from you to your father, just a word might have—”

  “You don’t have to live with the man, Alicine. You have no idea what it’s like. Why didn’t your father ever go to mine about it, or to any of the other fathers for that matter? Why didn’t anyone? Why didn’t you? I don’t recall hearing you complain about the talk recently. Maybe you were too busy with your Summer Maiden ambitions to be bothered.”

  Alicine gasped, stung by the words.

  “You knew it would come to this,” Falyn said, eyeing Alicine’s stricken face. “That one day Dayn would be forced to realize he’ll never fit in, no matter how hard he tries. That people will always say he’s—”

  “Don’t you dare say it!”

  “That he’s a demon. You know that’s what they say.”

  “And what do you say, Falyn?”

  Falyn glanced around, then bent her head close to Alicine’s ear. “I say he’s the nicest boy I ever met,” she whispered. “Even though I’m not supposed to say it.”

  “But you’re saying it now.”

  “Yes, I’m saying it now. But only to you. The truth is, I like Dayn. I’ve always liked him. Very much.” Pink rushed to Falyn’s cheeks, revealing more than her words had said.

  Alicine stared for a stupefied moment then sputtered, “You mean . . . you . . . care for him?”

  “Sshhhh! Please, this is between us.”

  “He doesn’
t know?”

  “Of course not! I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t tell anyone.”

  “So why did you risk speaking with him this morning? What made you so brave all of a sudden?”

  “I hadn’t seen him in so long. I couldn’t help it. I thought since you were with him it might go unnoticed. I had to see him, but now this has happened and all because of me.”

  Alicine studied Falyn’s pained expression, and for the first time realized that Dayn wasn’t the only one suffering. “I’m sorry, Falyn. I’m just scared. What if something happens to him?”

  Falyn grabbed Alicine’s hand in hers. “We’ll find him. Come on.”

  They rushed toward the exit and made their way out into the blinding daylight. They didn’t expect to find Dayn quickly, but it was clear that word of him had spread throughout the crowd. Patches of twittering patrons dotted the grounds, voices all aflutter with the latest gossip about the strange white-haired boy. Eyes, some dancing with delight, others dark and threatening, turned in their direction. Swells of excited voices rose and fell. “Dayn . . . demon . . . attacked . . .” Words Alicine could hear all too clearly now. She and Falyn froze in their tracks, aware of the stares now aimed in their direction.

  Alicine clenched the fabric of her skirt to keep her hands from trembling. In the distance she could see Sheireadan, his face contorted and his arms gesturing in the air. The crowd of spectators around him oohed and awed, entranced by the animated, and no doubt exaggerated, tale he was spinning. Sheireadan looked at Alicine and mouthed an indecipherable comment. He pointed a shaky finger in her direction and all heads turned. Clearly Sheireadan’s encounter with Dayn had involved more than just hurt feelings.

  “My god, Dayn,” Alicine whispered. “What did you do?” She and Falyn looked at each other, their mouths agape.

  “Alicine!” a voice called.

  Alicine’s heart leaped. It was her mother, calling for her through the bustling crowd at her back.

  “Alicine!”

  “Here, mother! Here!” She turned and rushed toward her mother’s voice, then threw herself into her arms.

  “Child, what is it?” Morna asked. “Are you all right? Where’s your brother?”

  “I don’t know where he is, Mother, and people are saying things. I don’t know exactly, but I think he’s run away.”

  “Run away?” Morna exclaimed. “But he was just watching you get crowned, wasn’t he? Didn’t you see him?”

  “No, Mother, he didn’t see me get crowned. Sheireadan came and—”

  Morna stiffened. “Sheireadan?” She glanced toward the boy ranting in the background, then took Alicine by the shoulders and stared into her face. “What happened, Alicine? What did Sheireadan do? Tell me!”

  “I—I’m not sure. It was hard to tell from where I was. But Dayn looked strange, like he was going to hit Sheireadan or something. He didn’t, but Sheireadan ran off anyway.”

  “Dayn looked strange? How? How did he look strange?”

  “I don’t know, his face, twisted or something. Like he was someone else, not himself. But I told you, I couldn’t see it all that well.”

  “You say Sheireadan ran away. That doesn’t sound like him.”

  “I think Dayn’s left the festival, Mother. He looked at me odd, then waved goodbye. The next thing I knew he was gone, but there was no way I could stop him. I was up on that stupid stage.” Alicine yanked the circlet off of her head and threw it to the ground. “I never should have made him come today.”

  “There’s no time for laying blame,” Morna said. “We have to find him. But first we must find your father.” She ushered Alicine in front of her, then briefly turned to address Falyn. “Falyn dear,” she said, “you’d best be getting back to your family. Everything will be fine. You’ll see.”

  Falyn nodded, then said, “Alicine, if you see, I mean, when you see Dayn, please tell him—”

  “Don’t worry,” Alicine said, “you’ll see him soon, I promise. Then you can tell him yourself.” She smiled, and Falyn smiled back.

  Alicine and Morna made their way through the crowd as swiftly as they could, casually greeting pedestrians so as not to draw unwanted attention.

  “There’s your father!” Morna said, pointing in his direction.

  Gorman could be seen storming toward them, his face ashen. He reached them in an instant and grabbed them both by their elbows, then spun them in the opposite direction. “We’re leaving. Now,” he said and pushed them forward.

  “But Father, what about Dayn?” Alicine asked.

  “I don’t think Dayn’s here,” Gorman said.

  “But, where—” Morna started to say.

  “No questions. Just get to the wagon.” Gorman guided them between two tents, away from the crowded main corridor, and toward the hill beyond.

  “But where are we going? Do you think he’s headed home?”

  “We’re going to see Eileis,” Gorman said.

  “Isn’t Eileis here at the festival?” Morna asked.

  “No. She took ill and went home.” Gorman continued to usher them toward the cluster of wagons.

  Morna rushed to keep pace. “But if she’s ill, should we bother her?”

  “Good god, woman! Dayn knows! We have to find him!”

  Morna let out a startled cry but was not allowed to break stride. “He knows?” she cried. “He knows?”

  “Knows what?” Alicine asked. But there was no reply. “Knows what?”

  “I said no questions,” Gorman barked as he steered them through the maze of rigs.

  “There!” He let go his grip on their arms and took off in a dead run, abandoning them entirely. Upon reaching the wagon, he leaned over the side and fumbled around, tossing blankets, bags of sundries, and baskets of food aside. Pulling out Dayn’s jacket, he smiled and held it up as if it were a prize.

  “He hasn’t been here,” he said. His face looked cautiously hopeful. “See? His coat, it’s still here. Surely the boy would not plan a trek to the mountains without his coat.” He scanned the hillside and the festival grounds below.

  “Gorman, you know Dayn always forgets his coat,” Morna said.

  Gorman’s face fell. He looked into the wagon at the bags of lunch and bottles of water still sitting within it. “Get in the wagon. Now.”

  Alicine lifted her skirt and scrambled into the back, tripping over the supplies scattered about. Morna hurriedly took her place up front, while Gorman leapt into the driver’s seat and snapped the reins. The horse leaped forward, jerking the wagon as well as its passengers up the bumpy hillside toward the road. Alicine clung to her perch for one precarious moment, then slid off and lowered herself to her knees. She grabbed the side of the wagon and hung on.

  The Spirit Keeper did not live far from the festival grounds, and they soon arrived at her tiny dwelling located at the edge of the forest. Gorman barely waited for the horse to come to a complete halt before he jumped from the wagon and ran around it to help Morna down. His hands shook as he held them out to his equally shaky wife.

  Alicine rose from the lopsided pile of sundries in the back and stepped toward the end of the wagon’s bed.

  “No, Alicine, you stay,” Gorman said.

  “But, Father . . .”

  “You heard me. No arguments.”

  Alicine scowled and crossed her arms, glaring at her parents’ backs as they raced toward the house of the Spirit Keeper.

  Gorman leapt over the single plank step that led to the porch and rushed to the door. He banged his fist upon it. “Eileis!” he shouted. “Eileis, open up!” He pounded again more feverishly. “I know you’re in there woman! Open this door!” But he didn’t wait for a response and kicked the door open with his foot.

  Alicine could hear her mother’s gasp even from the wagon. But her mother was not the only one shocked by Gorman’s sudden irrational behavior. Alicine had seen him angry on more than one occasion—he was famous for his temper—but never like this. Then she realized it wasn�
��t anger, it was fear, and she had never seen her father afraid of anything.

  Alicine shaded her eyes from the sun and scanned the hut and the surrounding area. There was no indication the woman was home, no smoke from the chimney, no sounds other than the tinkle and clank of chimes fighting against the wind. Even the windows were shuttered. Alicine’s trepidation was suddenly replaced by aggravation. Eileis probably wasn’t even home. They should be back at the festival looking for Dayn, not wasting their time here.

  She jumped off the wagon, her legs trembling, and took a step toward the house. Nervous butterflies battled against the walls of her stomach, but she tamed them back. Her father had ordered her to stay, and she knew better than to disobey, but she also knew she could not stand by and do nothing.

  She made her way to the side of the house nearest the wagon, careful not to be seen from the open door, and crept toward the window along its wall. Positioning herself beside it, she scanned the path that led back to the wagon. She would need a quick route of escape should her parents decide to leave. She leaned her head toward the window. The shutter was pulled closed but it was, as were most things around the place, hung crookedly, which left a tiny space perfect for spying. Closing one eye, Alicine peered through the crack with the other.

  Eileis’s entire house was one great room without walls or partitions to obstruct Alicine’s view. It was dim inside, only a few lit candles scattered here and there, but she could see the Spirit Keeper clearly. The woman was sitting cross-legged on a mat in the center of the room and before her was Gorman, on his knees and pleading.

  “Please, Eileis, you must help us,” he said. “Dayn revealed himself at the festival. He—”

  Eileis lifted a hand and silenced him. “Dayn has revealed nothing,” she said. “He has always shown us his true self. Can you say the same?”

  Gorman looked at Morna, who now knelt beside him, and shook his head.