‘Intuition is a difficult thing to ignore,’ Keira commented. ‘Sometimes a place feels right, even if there is no sense to it.’
‘Agreed,’ he threw her a sidelong glance. ‘That is why my intuition tells me there is more to you than meets the eye. There is something about you that is unfamiliar and odd. If you were not with Arianne, we would not have allowed you into the Veil.’
Keira stiffened and shot a look at the king, wondering how she ought to respond. ‘I am sorry for your discomfort. You are not the first elf to react this way. I’ve been told its because of the burrowers. It left something inside me that is dark and seems to bother only you elves.’
‘Indeed,’ he eyes her suspiciously, not entirely convinced. ‘No matter, you are here and Arianne trusts you. I will put my faith in the Queen of Carleon if not you. In any case, I would know what is the reason for Arianne’s journey. Dare and I may disagree on many things but even I know he would not send his wife without an appropriate escort on a journey that has so far yielded peril.’
To lie to him seemed extremely discourteous after the hospitality shown to them but telling him the truth was breaking Arianne’s confidence. Arianne’s quest needed to continue for all their sakes. ‘It is not my place to say why Arianne chooses to travel. If you need an answer, you will need to ask her.’
Halion frowned but did not appear all that surprised by her answer. ‘You do her a disservice by keeping her secret. It is not safe for an elf maid especially one who is Queen of Carleon to be wandering about the wilds with only two women as her companions.’
‘One of those women fought at Astaroth,’ Keira reminded, ignoring the derision in his tone, ‘surely that’s safe enough.’
‘I mean no offense to the Lady of Gislaine but I would be remiss in my duty to her mother if I did not inquire why Arianne is so far from home. Balfure was not the only evil in Avalyne. There are far meaner things that creep in the deep places of the earth and some closer than we think. The destruction of one terrible being can sometimes is usually followed by another eager to take his place.’
‘Do you know of another?’ She probed wondering if the king had intelligence that he was keeping to himself.
Halion smiled faintly as if he knew what she was about but admitted nothing, unwilling to part with anything unless there was there was an equal exchange to be made. ‘Not exactly but if your lady intends to travel the wilderness alone, she should beware of what lurks in the shadows or,’ he stared at her pointedly, ‘in the light.’
*******
Celene had never met Aeron's brother Hadros but she had heard enough of him to know that she would not much like him when she met him. Her suspicion was proven correct when he stepped in her room in the Hall of Healing after Arianne had left and she had sent one of the elf maids trying to tend her wounds after her clothes instead.
‘I am told that you wish your clothes so that you can depart,’ he remarked as he eyed her trying to get out of bed. Upon seeing him, Celene retreated back to bed convinced that he would only try to stop her if she continued her present course.
Like Halion, his hair was dark and it hung about his shoulders either loose or in a braid. His features were not as fine as Aeron's and to her he seemed older, though it was difficult to say for certain with elves. His tone however was patronizing and that immediately brought out the worst in Celene.
‘Only when I am forced to stay in bed over injuries that are inconsequential to me,’ she retorted, waiting impatiently for her clothes to arrive. At the present, she was clad in a simple white shift and felt all the more self-conscious for it.
‘You are still injured. You should rest,’ he pointed out, standing by the door with his arms folded. His gaze was one of reproach, like she was a child and upon further thought Celene supposed she was in comparison to him but she did not like being reminded of it.
‘I was injured,’ she corrected him, ‘but I am well now and I need no other treatment. What healing I required after Eden Halas will take place on route, I do not need to be in a bed for that.’
‘You are travelling with Arianne,’ Hadras stated firmly. ‘She requires protection from what lies in the wilds of your world. If you are her only protection then you endanger her by your stubbornness.’
Celene bristled at the accusation. She did not like this elf nor the assumption he made that she would place her own needs above that of Arianne’s. ‘As I am a guest in your father's kingdom, I will try not to take offense by that remark.’
Hadras showed no repentance at her statement.
‘I merely state the obvious,’ he said haughtily. ‘If anything befalls the Queen while she indulges in this foolishness then we will all suffer. Does that not warrant you behaving sensibly?’
‘I am behaving sensibly,’ she retorted with some petulance and knew there was a kernel of truth in his words, however, she was not about to admit defeat just yet. ‘I will leave nothing to chance when it comes to Arianne or her baby’s safety. I am injured yes, but the one to best judge how I will be capable of tolerating those wounds is me, not you.’
‘This will not do,’ Hadras looked at her coldly. ‘She should have a proper escort, not a…’ he faltered when he saw that he was about to say something unforgivable.
‘A woman?’ She accused and then realised that was not what he intended to say. Not woman, she thought, eyes narrowing as she understood. Human.
‘Hadras,’ Arianne’s voice filled the room and they both turned to see the Queen of Carleon returning to the room with Celene’s travelling clothes in her arm. ‘I think that will be all.’
‘I was….’
‘I am well aware of what you were doing,’ Arianne replied with such glacial hardness to her voice that it was easy to believe she was a queen. ‘I thank you for your concern and bid you to leave us, Celene and I have much to discuss.’
Hadras appeared as if he wanted to respond but since much of his conversation with Celene had been heard by Arianne, there was little he could but to withdraw. It was just as well for Arianne did not think that Celene would have been able to restrain her displeasure much longer.
Keira brushed past Hadros at the door as he was leaving. The elf gave her a look of distaste as he passed that made Keira wonder how Aeron had managed to be so different from his father and brother.
‘What was that about?’ She asked, stepping into the room and noting the tension.
‘Just Hadros being a dolt,’ Celene snorted flashing them a look of annoyance.
‘Somehow, I'm not surprised,’ Keira shrugged and then declared, ‘I think we need to leave sooner rather than later. The king wants to know here you're going and I don't think he much liked it when I refused to tell him.’
‘They all know that Dare would not simply let me leave Carleon when I am with child, at least not without what they consider a proper escort.’ Arianne sighed, recalling Syanne's reaction to her news.
‘Well they're not wrong there but I have a feeling if they find out what we're really about, they're not going to be too happy to let you leave alone.’ Keira stated this as a certainty.
It was concerns for Celene's welfare that kept them here and it was unfair burden to put on the Lady of Gislaine. Arianne's fear for her babe did not make her forget how Celene had saved both their lives and she did not wish to aggravate Celene's injury by leaving prematurely. ‘You need at least a further day's rest.’
‘I shall be fine,’ Celene assured her even though Arianne was right. Despite her bravado in front of Hadros, her shoulder ached and she could not lift her sword until it healed better. ‘Once we're away from here, we can camp at the foot of the Baffin before we cross it and I can rest then. While I do not blame them for their concern, their insistence to know may do more harm than good. We do not know by what means the Enemy's agent keeps watch over you. If he does not know we have left Sandrine, then we must press that advantage.’
‘I know,’ Arianne nodded in full agreement. ‘You must forgive Ha
dras and the King,’ she explained as Keira helped Celene dress. ‘They believe that the world is a dangerous place for elves and no place is safe for us except behind the Veil. I sometimes think that if Halion had this way, we would all withdraw behind it and never emerge again.’
‘I suppose,’ Celene shrugged as she sat on the bed and pulled up her breeches with one hand. ‘I see now why Aeron describes his family so little.’
‘I don't think they're so bad,’ Keira retorted helping Celene remove the shift she was wearing. ‘I think they're just over protective. Be fair, they're not behaving any differently than Dare or anyone else at Sandrine would. It is unusual for a queen to be travelling the way you are. It wouldn't be right if they didn't ask questions.’
To that Arianne could not disagree. She noted the injury on Celene’s shoulder as she slipped on her shirt. ‘Are you certain that you are fit to continue?’
‘I am fine,’ Celene assured her. ‘I am not about to singlehandedly fight Balfure or an army of Berserkers but I am certainly fit to ride. I can heal on the way.’
‘I will trust you on that,’ Arianne stared at her critically. ‘With everything else that is happening to me of late, the last thing I would require is for you to drop dead from exhaustion or some other malaise because of your stubbornness to aid me in this quest.’
‘If it soothes you somewhat, I will not drop dead, I will faint gracefully from exhaustion.’
Keira rolled her eyes and shook her head at Celene's obvious stubbornness but had decided to give up trying to argue with the warrior of Angarad.
‘Thank you,’ Arianne retorted sharing Keira's resignation as Celene grinned. ‘That gives me a world of comfort.’
*******
Despite the ambivalence of her husband, Syanne had been true to her word and furnished Arianne and her companions with fresh horses and supplies for their journey northward. At their farewell, both Halion and Hadras had been present, voicing their reservations about this mysterious journey that Arianne was taking with such scant protection into the wilds of Avalyne. Fortunately, Syanne was able to exert what influence she had over her husband and the trio were allowed to go on their way without further interference.
Nevertheless, Arianne however, was sad to say goodbye to Syanne for she suspected it would be some time before they were able to see each other again. If her quest was successful and the baby was born unmolested by the Enemy’s machinations, then she would be bound to Sandrine indefinitely and it was unlikely that Syanne would be allowed to visit. Arianne was convinced that Syanne would very much like to see her adopted grandchild even if her husband would never acknowledge the baby as that.
One day, the elves of Eden Halas would retreat behind the Veil and Arianne suspected they would never again emerge from it.
CHAPTER NINE
THE BLIZZARD
After leaving the woods of Eden Halas, they approached the Baffin Range, the great mountain divide that ran along the eastern border of Angarad, past Barrenjuck Green before finally coming to an end at Eden Taryn. It took almost a week of continuous travel to reach the mountains but fortunately for them, it was a journey without incident and there was ample opportunity to take in the sight of magnificent range as they approached it.
For many thousands of years, the Baffin offered protection to the peoples of Angarad, the Green and the coastal Lenkworthian finishing villages from invaders who found the mountain too much of a hurdle to overcome. Once they reached the foot of the range, they turned onto the Baffin Road which flanked the western side of mountain from Cereine to Angarad. Turning southwards, they followed it until they reached the Splinter, a narrow pass used by travellers to avoid the long journey to Angarad by cutting across the mountain.
In the meantime, Celene continued to be mindful of her injuries and though it had been difficult for her to ride during the first hours of their departure from Eden Halas, the lady of Gislaine bore it nonetheless. Both Keira and Arianne was aware of her attempts to hide her weariness and Arianne often feigned needing rest herself so they had an excuse to stop when they saw Celene needed it. Meanwhile Keira had taken to ensuring that they were well cared for when they did stop and camp, taking over the duties for cooking and ensuring that both women took care of themselves. Arianne rather loved her for this.
It was almost nightfall when they finally reached the Splinter and all three women were exhausted from being in a saddle for almost the entire day. No one disagreed with one another when the suggestion was brought forth of making camp that night. They ate around the warm fire, wondering how far they would have to continue tomorrow in order to reach the pass that would take them through the mountains. Little was said of the quest, though all of them were thinking constantly of it.
Arianne’s thoughts were mostly preoccupied with Dare and how he would have taken the news of her departure. No doubt, Lylea would have explained things once he discovered her gone but Arianne was certain that he would not understand. It did not help that she missed him terribly and each day apart made her long for her king. It was foolishness, this pining for him. It was not as if they had never been apart before. Prior to their marriage, he was always travelling from place to place and his time with her only came in between his adventures
Arianne’s melancholy did not only originate from her missing Dare, she wished she could be like any woman enjoying the experience of impending motherhood. She should have been happily dreaming of all the promise a baby would bring to their lives. Yet, all she felt instead, was this terrible weight pressing down on her soul that demanded her completion of her quest or it would cost her everything she held dear. It was not fair.
Celene’s worries differed from Arianne’s. What Ronen felt about her leaving, Celene would find out when she saw him after the quest was done. She was too practical to torture herself with how her beloved might behave in this situation. Her concerns were larger than this, especially with the full moon in the sky when they finally camped at the foot of the Baffin. It was almost two weeks since they departed Sandrine. It would take another week to reach Angarad after crossing the Baffin. If they had been on foot, the journey would have taken even longer.
As Celene calculated the days, she knew that time was against them. She was adamant about leaving Eden Halas because she knew that they could not afford to waste even one day if they intended to reach the Enemy before it was too late. It was a long journey to the Frozen Mountains, to say nothing about descending into Mael’s Pit to reach Sanhael, if it still existed.
Keira worries were not about their journey but about what Arianne would do if she thought they were going to fail in their quest. As it was, the woman from the Green debated whether or not she should tell what had been discussed when they were travelling the Yantra. The thought of what Arianne herself would do to prevent a second darkness from befalling the land concerned her. Arianne’s fierce desire to protect those she loved might force her to act irrationally. Was it possible that might mean ending her life?
And would Celene stop her?
That was a possibility the Keira did not wish to entertain at this moment. Yet she was certain even if Arianne never said it to her directly, it was a course the queen would take if the situation gave her no alternative. Keira knew that Arianne might be strong enough to make such a sacrifice but what she did not know was whether or not Celene would stand by and let her friend do this terrible deed.
******
The raging wind in her ears and the sudden chill on her skin awoke Arianne from her sleep.
The night before had shown them a canopy of stars ahead, a sure indicator that the day following it would be clear and good for travel. Yet when she opened her eyes and stared briefly at the sky, she saw grey clouds that allowed no sunshine to pass through the thick cloak. The wind was whistling in her ears and she saw the trees covering the Baffin sway, bending to its will with each breath of the gale. Arianne sat up and saw Keira and Celene already awake, packing their things away in order to begin thei
r travel or at the very least, seek shelter away form the tempest.
Arianne looked up at the top of the mountain and saw the higher reaches of it covered in sheets of snow. The wind was gently chipping away at its volume and she understood in an instant why the others were so determined to get moving. If this storm were to grow any worse, it might conceivably precipitate an avalanche that would bury the passage way in snow and force them to take the longer route. However, as she rose to her feet in order to help with their quick departure, Arianne sensed something ominous. It was the same feeling she had experienced in Caras Anara, although there the danger had been more overt and did not require elven senses to detect.
‘There’s some stew left,’ Keira motioned to the pot on the fire place as she rolled up a blanket.
‘You should have awakened me,’ Arianne replied as she sat up properly.
‘Nonsense, you need your rest more than any of us,’ she said with a smile. ‘Come on, eat up and then we’ll get going.’
‘That snow is going to come down soon,’ Celene added. ‘We need to make for the Splinter or else we shall have to go around it.’
Arianne nodded but there was something in the air that made her uneasy and as she rolled up her bedding, she swept her gaze across the mountain top, feeling a chill running through her that was more than just the cold.
‘There is something not right about all this,’ she declared as she went to the pot and scooped out some of the food.
‘What do you mean?’ Celene stopped what she was doing and stared at Arianne.
‘I do not know,’ Arianne explained in between bites. She ate quickly because once they were travelling the chance to get a hot meal would be scant.
‘It is a storm,’ Keira declared shifting glances between Arianne and Celene, ‘it is unfortunate but storms are a part of life. They happen.’ She sounded as if she were trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
Avalyne Series 01: The Queen of Carleon Page 13
