Avalyne Series 01: The Queen of Carleon

by Linda Thackeray

  Eden Halas.

  After fleeing Caras Anara, she and Keira had rowed all the way to the woods of Eden Halas without a pause. They arrived in the woods of Aeron’s birth during the small hours of the night and were immediately set upon by King Halion's Forest Guard. Although King Halion was known for his dislike at humans entering his borders, he put aside his natural hostility once he learned the identity of his guests. Aware that his wife considered Dare family and to some extent so did he, Arianne was welcomed to his court as kin. Even so, Eden Halas would not turn away a daughter of Lylea, High Queen of the elves.

  Syanne was thrilled to receive Arianne despite the circumstances of their arrival.

  Upon seeing the exhausted and in one instance, the injured state of their visitors, she immediately called for Celene to be taken to the Hall of Healing. Despite protests to the contrary, Celene was more affected than she liked to admit by the venom of the spider that attacked her. In an effort to placate the Lady of Gislaine, Keira volunteered to accompany her so she did not tax too greatly the patience of the elves attending her. In the end, it was the pointed reminder by Arianne that Celene would be no good to them in this quest if she were ill.

  Arianne had just made up her mind to go find Keira and Celene when a knock on the door received her invitation to enter and Queen Syanne stepped into the room.

  Arianne had met her one only a few occasions. While the elves preferred to keep to themselves, the elves of Eden Halas were particularly reclusive and did not like trespassers within their borders. Arianne knew that much of this had to do with Halion's dislike of other races. Lylea had explained to Arianne that his disdain originated from the belief that the Celestial Gods had used the elves to cleanse Avalyne during the Primordial Wars only to give it away to lesser races. Halion had lost his entire family during the conflict and considered this an affront to all that he had fought for.

  ‘How fare you this morning?’ Syanne greeted pleasantly as she took a seat in the chair next to the bed.

  Like all elves, she wore her hair long although Syanne’s was unusual because it was the colour of copper that stood in sharp contrast to her eyes blue. The queen was tall and slender, her cheekbones high and the shape of her face told Arianne, that save for his dark hair, most of Aeron’s looks had come from his mother. This was of little surprise to Arianne since Aeron had taken after Syanne in manner and disposition unlike his older brothers Hadros and Syanon who were very much their father’s sons.

  ‘I am well,’ Arianne answered smiling at the queen. ‘I felt as if I have slept for days.’

  ‘It is no wonder after fleeing from spiders and travelling cross country. That is not work for a queen, let alone a woman with child,’ Syanne spoke with a hint of reproach.

  Arianne shrugged not wishing to discuss the reasons for her journey and decided to make a change of subject instead. ‘You did not come to our celebration in Sandrine,’ she remarked.

  As soon as the comment had left her lips, Arianne felt sorry for doing so when she saw the look of guilt stealing across Syanne’s face. Clearly the queen had wanted to be there and the expression of regret made Arianne feel unkind for using it as a means of distraction.

  ‘I was needed here,’ Syanne said quietly. ‘The King felt it too dangerous for me to travel south. While we did not know about the spiders in Caras Anara, we have been dealing with the remnants of Balfure’s goblins. It has required Halion to cooperate with men of the Winter Keep and the dwarves of Iridia,’ she explained as proof of the urgency of the situation. There was no other reason why Halion would deal with them otherwise.

  Arianne suspected that Syanne did not wish to admit that Halion probably disliked the idea of his wife travelling to city ruled by men, when Aeron was already present in Sandrine and capable of representing his court. ‘Galain did make mention of that,’ Arianne answered, hoping to move past the moment, ‘he said that the goblins were being driven back to the Cinder Mountains.’

  ‘Yes,’ Syanne said brightening up a little, grateful that Arianne was not dwelling on her absence at Sandrine. ‘Syanon has taken some our best warriors to help the humans push them back farther and I think Halion will be sending Hadros to Caras Anara after your report of spiders.’

  ‘Tell him to be careful,’ Arianne warned. ‘There were many. I believe the entire village has been consumed.’

  ‘How terrible,’ Syanne winced in horror and it was easy to see how this queen could have defied her husband to give shelter to a helpless human babe left in the care of a dying nurse. Once again, Arianne found herself thinking that Aeron’s compassionate nature was inherited from his mother.

  ‘Yes,’ Arianne nodded in agreement and then asked, ‘How is Celene? Do I need to apologise for her?’ A flicker of mischief crossed her face as she tried to move away from such grim talk.

  Syanne laughed shortly and shook her head, ‘Perhaps a little. She is exceedingly stubborn. I thought Dare was difficult to treat, she might even exceed his obstinacy.’

  ‘That would not surprise me,’ Arianne giggled, picturing in her mind’s eyes the consternation Celene would have probably caused amongst the elven physicians in the Hall of Healing. ‘She is a good friend and has already saved my life once on this quest.’

  ‘I do not doubt that,’ Syanne retorted, ‘she believed she was ready to travel last night.’

  That sounded like Celene and Arianne had to admire the Angarad’s optimism even if somewhat unrealistic. ‘She would think that,’ Arianne shook her head in resignation because Celene’s stubbornness could sometimes override her good sense.

  ‘Fortunately after our healers treated her wounds, they gave her something to sleep for her benefit as well as theirs,’ the queen laughed and then added, ‘However; your other companion is up and about. There is something about her that is most unusual. I am not certain what it is but I sense darkness and pain.’

  ‘It would not surprise me,’ Arianne admitted because even Lylea sensed it. One could not survive the torture of the Disciples and the taint of the burrowers without some scars left behind. ‘Rest assured, she is someone who can be trusted.’

  ‘I know,’ Syanne smiled, ‘we were certain that any companion of yours had to be worthy of your friendship and this Green she speaks of seems to be very enchanting.’

  ‘It is,’ Arianne smiled, pleased that Keira had made a good impression. ‘The woods of the Green are old. I believe they may be even older than the woods of Eden Ardhen. They say that the trees are haunted by ancient spirits from the time of Enphilim and they protect the folk of the Green.’

  ‘How fascinating,’ Syanne remarked. ‘She is the same one who protected Dare from the Disciples, is she not?’ The queen ventured a guess, having been told the tale by her adopted son years before.

  ‘Dare owes her his life,’ Arianne confirmed. ‘It was Keira who refused to give him up to Balfure. She endured the burrowers to keep him safe.’

  ‘That is what we sensed then,’ Syanne mused before declaring as if she was making a royal proclamation. ‘She will always be welcomed here. In fact, you must all stay with us for a few days and allow the Lady of Gislaine to heal before you set off on your journey again.’

  Arianne hesitated because she knew as soon as Celene felt able, the Lady of Gislaine would be eager to travel. Indeed, Arianne herself was conscious of time and knew that they needed to leave as soon as possible. As much as Arianne would have like to have taken advantage of Syanne’s hospitality, the threat to her child overrode all other considerations. Furthermore, she suspected that if King Halion knew of her quest, he would react in just the same manner as Dare. The King of Eden Halas would not let her leave this place without warriors to protect her and Arianne's mission needed to continue within its shroud of secrecy.

  ‘If I know Celene, she will think herself ready to leave as soon as she awakens,’ Arianne stated, hoping to avoid giving away anything unnecessarily. ‘We will stay a day and then we must be off.’

  ‘Ari
anne,’ Syanne reached for her hand and squeezed it, ‘I can tell by what you are trying not to say that there is urgency to this journey of yours that you wish to keep silent. That is your right and I will not press you but do not be premature in your desire to leave. The venom of the syphi is nothing to take lightly. She needs rest.’

  Arianne was torn because Syanne was right. Celene did need to rest but they had such a long journey ahead of them and so little time. In the end, she chose to confide in Syanne because she was not just the Queen of Eden Halas but Dare’s adopted mother. She would trust that Syanne would understand her need for secrecy and her reasons for haste.

  ‘We ride to confront an enemy who seeks to bring forth Mael,’ Arianne finally revealed.

  ‘Mael!’ Syanne gasped and then fell silent as if speaking his name was liable to summon the dark god into the room with them there and then. ‘And Dare sent you out alone to deal with this menace?’

  She had the tone of a mother who just discovered her son had done something inordinately stupid against all the tenets of his upbringing.

  ‘Dare does not know or rather he did not when I left,’ Arianne quickly explained before her husband earned himself a cuff the next time his adopted mother saw him. ‘My lady, you cannot tell the King why we are here. You know your husband as well as I know mine, he will not let us leave here alone, if at all, for such a perilous quest. If I am not allowed to complete it myself, Avalyne will fall into darkness again and Dare will almost certainly be destroyed by the consequences.’

  ‘But why...’ Syanne protested, unable to imagine any danger that would warrant Dare's exclusion at the cost of the wife he loved above all else.

  ‘The enemy seeks to fill the baby with the spirit of Mael. He intends that Mael shall be resurrected as the heir of Carleon.’

  ‘By the Gods...’ the older woman whispered, unable to imagine anything more monstrous plan. ‘How much time do you have?’ She asked once she recovered her composure.

  ‘I must reach him in two full moons or his plan will come to pass. My mother has told me that while I carry the baby, the Enemy cannot harm me. However, if Dare were to confront him, he will be killed without hesitation.’

  Arianne went onto reveal what she had learned from Lylea and Tamsyn about the Enemy's design and why it was so necessary to go on ahead and keep her journey a secret. If Dare rode out after her, the Enemy would believe that the king had most likely learned of the plan and had left his wife at home to deal with the threat himself. Their advantage lay in the fact that the Enemy did not know that it was Arianne herself who was coming to face him.

  ‘This is a dangerous course,’ Syanne said after Arianne had finished her tale. ‘I cannot help but fear for you and I would still prefer that that you embarked upon this with an escort of warriors if not Dare himself.’

  ‘But he could be killed,’ Arianne pointed out. As much as she loved Syanne for thinking so much about her, she wanted Dare to have no part in her quest, not if his life could be lost as a result.

  ‘I know,’ Syanne sighted heavily. ‘However, I am accustomed to him placing himself in danger. I cannot say the same for you.’

  ‘I will be fine,’ Arianne assured her, ‘once Celene is on her feet we will continue and Celene has proven to be an able protector. We have a long way to go to cross the Frozen Mountains.’

  ‘The Frozen Mountains?’ Syanne looked at her worried. ‘In your condition?’

  ‘I will be able to manage,’ Arianne said firmly. ‘I have to.’

  ‘Those mountains are cursed,’ Syanne frowned, her anxiousness for Arianne’s welfare compounded now she knew where the young queen of Carleon was headed. ‘There have been many dark tales spoken of it.’

  ‘What sort of tales?’ Arianne asked, wondering if she really wanted to know. It was not as if anything that Syanne told her would change her mind to go there.

  ‘Stories of travellers crossing those mountains disappearing, never to return.’ Syanne stated. ‘Something dwells there that feeds on the flesh of elf or men. Do you really want to risk the danger?’

  ‘I am already in danger,’ Arianne returned, ‘and I grow more so the longer I am kept from completing my quest. I have no choice my Queen. My son’s life hangs in the balance.’

  Syanne let out a deflated sigh and resolved to say nothing more because it was clear Arianne was not going to be deterred from her course. In her place, Syanne did not know if she would act any differently. There was nothing she would not do to protect her children and she could not expect Arianne to do any less.

  ‘The Queen of Eden Halas is at your service Queen of Carleon,’ she said finally. ‘Whatever you need, we will provide it if we are able.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Arianne embraced her warmly, grateful for Syanne’s help.

  Whether she would think herself capable of facing whatever lay in wait for her at the Frozen Mountains, when she finally arrived was another matter entirely.

  *******

  Syanne was correct, Celene was eager to leave by the time Arianne finally found her at the Hall of Healing.

  ‘I hear you have endeared yourself to the healers,’ Arianne chuckled.

  They were in a room not to dissimilar to the one Arianne had spent the night except this one provided a spectacular vista of the forest with its tall, wide trees that resembled pillars holding up the sky. The Yantra river seemed to flow with less fury, as if it were meandering past them stealthily for fear of waking up the sleeping giants. The trees revealed the spread of elven community with platforms and steps constructed at midsection, far from the ground but not quite reaching the peaks.

  ‘They fret too much’ Celene frowned even though the poultice applied to her shoulder was pleasantly soothing. She would never admit it though. ‘In that they have in common with the human healers.’

  ‘Human healers would have tossed you out the door by now. Elves fortunately have more patience,’ Keira declared as she stepped into the room behind them.

  ‘You will be happy to know that they consider even you more pigheaded than Dare,’ Arianne said sweetly.

  Keira uttered a short laugh at that. ‘Well that's quite a feat. You should be very proud.’

  Celene gruffed and eased back into her bed, taking a deep breath of the aromatic air of the Hall of Healing. She was the only occupant at present which accounted for why the elven healers were all agog with excitement at having a patient to tend to. Still, she was not so stubborn that she did not recognise the care they had given her. For someone who was poisoned by a spider's venom, she had slept well from the incense they had burning in her room which left the scent of cinnamon in the air and lulled her into a pleasant sleep.

  ‘I should be ready to travel in a day,’ Celene assured them both. ‘I just need today to let my shoulder recover.’

  ‘We will see,’ Arianne said, committing to nothing.

  ‘We cannot afford to wait,’ Celene pointed out not about to be talked into lingering longer.

  ‘No we can't but you still need your rest,’ Keira threw in, ‘you need to protect us and you're in no fit state to do so at the moment. This is as much for your benefit as it ours.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Arianne said. ‘Another day will not make any difference. Celene, my need is urgent but I will not have you kill yourself on my account. Take the time to rest and we will be off again.’

  The Lady of Gislaine despised being fretted upon by healers, no matter how injured she was. Most of her injuries often took place during combat and she abhorred being reminded that she had been bested in battle by having others fuss over her injuries. The only good thing that had ever come out of her visit to one of these places was Ronen.

  What chaffed her even more was the fact that after all those years hearing Dare talk of Eden Halas, she was finally within its borders to see for herself but was unable to because she was confined to this bed.

  ‘Fine, fine,’ Celene conceded defeat. ‘I will stay here if there is no other alternative but I ca
nnot promise to be pleasant.’

  *******

  With Arianne in counsel with the King and Queen of Eden Halas, Keira took the opportunity to wander through the forest city of Eden Halas. Unlike Eden Taryn, this city was not constructed in recent years. Eden Halas had stood for thousands of years and it showed in the magnificent architecture of the city. Keira observed the ancient carvings of stone and wood that adorned the place as she moved through its winding open air corridors. It was a shame that Tully wasn’t here. He would enjoy this.

  She stood at the railing of a balcony and peered into the spectacular view of the forest, taking a deep breath of the woody scent and the faint trace of wild flowers she could detect in it.

  ‘How are you enjoying our city?’ She heard someone step onto the balcony behind her.

  Keira glanced over her shoulder and saw that it was King Halion who they had met briefly the night before. While he had Aeron's dark hair, his features were more severe than his beautiful youngest son. He was very much the king and he wore he wore a tunic of blue silk and a long coat that had gold trim. A gold band adorned his head.

  ‘It is beautiful, my Lord.’ Keira answered, reminding herself to mind her words. This was not Dare who appreciated being addressed the same was when he was a wanderer. This was an elf who had been king for thousands of years. ‘A true marvel, ‘ she complimented.

  He took up position next to her and stared into his city, a small smile of pride crossing his lips as he surveyed the landscape. ‘When I first came, there was nothing, just the trees. I had not intended to stay. I was travelling south and just so happened to stop here for rest but once I did...’ he peered past the railing to a particular spot next to the river, a place that seemed to have more sun that most due to a break in the canopy overhead. The clearing was small but the extra sunlight allowed the bloom of white flowers across the short grass. ‘I stood right there and looked out into the forest and knew this was the place to build a home.’