He was well armed, and yet he felt oddly unprotected. Vulnerable in a way he had never experienced before.
As if she knew he was approaching, Rayne turned. She smiled at him, and then her smile faded away. He supposed his own expression did not invite grins or winks or flirtatious banter. If that was what Rayne wanted from a man, then he would be leaving her here. His stomach flipped over at the very idea.
“May I have a word?” he asked, his voice a touch too sharp.
“Of course.” With her short hair and the cosmetics which had been sparsely and finely applied, Rayne’s eyes looked larger than ever. They looked deeper, darker, more magical. They were the kind of eyes that could suck a man in if he allowed it.
The emperor did not move away from Rayne’s side, as one might expect in such a situation. Lyr gave the man a dismissive bow. The emperor ignored that broad hint. Was this new ruler a blind fool or an interfering scoundrel who had designs on a woman who did not belong to him?
Rayne turned to the emperor and placed a familiar hand on his arm. “It’s all right. Lyr and I need to talk, I suppose.”
“This is a celebration,” Emperor Jahn responded. “Your friend does not look at all festive.”
Rayne gave the man a smile which was too intimate for Lyr’s liking. “Festive or not, I would like a moment. Please.”
At the softly spoken please, the emperor nodded and turned away to offer his attentions to the woman he called Cousin Ariana.
“You look lovely,” Lyr said to Rayne as Ariana and the emperor walked away. No, he did not flirt and woo, but that didn’t mean he had to jump directly to the matter at hand. Besides, he spoke only the truth. She did look lovely, more lovely than he had imagined any woman could.
“Would you like to dance?” Rayne offered her hand, and Lyr knew he was supposed to take it. Soothing music filled the room, music without missed notes or the squeal of improperly played instruments.
“I don’t dance. Sorry.”
“Oh.” Her arm lowered slowly, and he could tell by the slight pucker of her lips and the cut of her eyes that she was disappointed.
Instead of dwelling on her obvious disenchantment, he plowed forward. “I have come to ask you what plans you might have, now that Ciro is dead and the demon is no longer a danger.”
“In truth, I have no plans.”
It was an honest enough answer, one which thankfully left him the opportunity to issue an invitation. “You are welcome to travel with me to Tryfyn. The Circle of Bacwyr is home to many fine wizards who would be happy to instruct you and assist you in discovering and developing all your talents.”
“That’s very kind of you. Devlyn... I mean, Emperor Jahn, has made a similar offer.”
Lyr’s jaw went hard. His teeth clenched. What did Rayne expect of him? Was he supposed to get down on his knees and beg her to stay with him? Was he supposed to vie with an emperor for her attentions? Many women played games with the men in their lives, he knew from observation. He had never expected that Rayne was of that type.
“What do you want?” he asked simply.
She hesitated, and then she said, “Honestly, Lyr, I don’t know.”
There had been many occasions when she’d sworn that she loved him, but the situations had been different from the one they now found themselves in. They had not known how much time they had left on this earth, whether or not they would succeed, whether or not anyone had a future. They had barreled forward as if each day was their last, and in truth it might’ve been. Now there was no rush.
They had all the time in the world.
“I leave for Tryfyn in the morning,” he said without emotion. “If you decide what you want before then, let me know.” With that he turned away, and as he walked away from Rayne he knew his mother had been right. He’d never had to fight for anything, and he didn’t know precisely how. Was Rayne worth fighting for? Of course she was. He had no need to worry or to rush. She was young. He was young. There was no longer any need for haste. If she did not ask if she could travel with him to Tryfyn, he would return to Arthes in the spring, and perhaps then...
Before Lyr reached the doorway, his feet grew heavy. So did his heart. Perhaps there was no need for haste, but months of waiting meant months of his life spent wasted—without Rayne in it. He did not want to leave her here. He did not even want to spend another night without her beside him. The past few days had been torturous, and he was actually considering leaving her here until spring?
His mother had been right. Everything in life he cared about had come to him too easily, without sweat, without effort. His gift made defeat in battle all but impossible. That magical gift, combined with a lifetime of honing his skills as a swordsman, made failure almost impossible. Until now. Now, when it mattered more than ever before.
At the doorway Lyr stopped and turned to watch as Emperor Jahn moved once again to Rayne’s side. He knew what he had to do... and he also knew his swords would not help him tonight.
***
Rayne smiled at the emperor, but it wasn’t easy. “You were wrong, it seems.”
“If you had followed my plan precisely, all would be as you wish it to be.”
“I couldn’t bring myself to lie to Lyr and tell him you’d asked me to be your... your...”
“Mistress, concubine, lover,” Devlyn supplied when she stumbled. “If you had taken my advice, your Prince of Swords would not have walked away from you so easily.”
“I don’t want him with a lie,” Rayne whispered.
She simply wanted to know that Lyr loved her, that he chose her... that he would fight for her if necessary. Not to save her life, but to claim her heart. It did not seem too much to ask for.
“You must’ve said something right,” Devlyn said with a half-smile. “He’s coming back.”
Rayne began to turn to see if the emperor was telling the truth or not, but he stopped her with firm hands on her shoulders. “Do not turn to watch,” he whispered. “Don’t allow him to realize that you stand here impatiently awaiting his return.”
She smiled up at her friend and placed a hand on his arm. “I thank you for everything, but there will be no more false faces or less-than-honest words between me and the man I love. I know you mean well, but that cannot be my way.”
Devlyn gave her a dismayed shake of the head as he released his hold. “You two are perfectly suited. Noble to a fault, both of you.”
“Thank you.”
“It was not a compliment,” the emperor muttered as Rayne turned about to see that Lyr was indeed striding toward her again. The expression on his face was no more relaxed, no more filled with love or affection, than it had been when he’d left her standing here.
And then he moved close enough for her to see the fire in his eyes.
When he reached her, he did not so much as slow down or look at the emperor who stood so close. With grace and without any visible doubt, he dropped to one knee before her.
“Come with me,” he said, his voice even and strong. “I don’t want to spend another minute of my life without you in it.”
Rayne’s heart caught in her throat, and she found herself surprised speechless. What had happened to bring about this change? A moment ago Lyr had very willingly walked away from her, and now...
“The Earth Goddess is going to remain here,” Devlyn interjected. Rayne tried to subtly shoo her friend away, but he either didn’t see the restrained motion or else he ignored her. She suspected the latter.
“No, she’s not.” Lyr caught her eye and held it. “Unless that’s what she truly wants. All her life she’s been told how to live, what to say and do, and even what to think. She’ll have no more of that. I would never keep from her that which she most desires. The decision is hers, not mine and certainly not yours. What do you want, Rayne?”
“I told you minutes ago, I don’t know,” she said and then she caught her breath and blurted. “But that’s not entirely true. I know very well what I want, I just don’t know
if it’s possible.”
Lyr took her hand, and for a moment Rayne waited for the others in the room to go still, she waited for him to use his gift to separate them from the rest of the world, to cut them off from all those who watched and listened. That didn’t happen.
“I know what I want,” he said without hesitation. “I want you. It’s that simple, Rayne.”
She remembered her mother’s words, as well as Lyr’s assertion that he had no heart to give. “Will you give me the keeping of your heart?”
“You already have it.”
Devlyn, blast him, had to interfere again. “If you think I will allow you to ride off to Tryfyn with my Earth Goddess...”
Very smoothly, Lyr drew a short bladed sword and pointed the tip at the emperor. He did not rise or take his eyes from her, even as sentinels moved in to protect their ruler. People who were close enough to see the threatening move gasped. Ariana uttered a disgusted, “Lyr!” The music stopped, inexpertly and with a screeching of a shrill wind instrument.
Devlyn held the soldiers off with a lift of his hand. “You dare to threaten me?” Rayne wondered if the others heard the hint of teasing in his voice.
“Yes,” Lyr answered.
“Draw blood and there will be war.”
“Then I suggest you back away and leave us be. This does not concern you.”
Devlyn raised his eyebrows slightly. “Would you go to war over a woman, Prince of Swords?”
“If that woman is Rayne, yes,” he responded. “Yes, I would.”
Out of the corner of her eye Rayne saw Lyr’s cousins and their men headed this way. Ariana did not looked pleased, but a smile touched Keelia’s golden eyes and the corners of her mouth. That good humor eased Rayne’s fears. Judging by the Anwyn Queen’s expression, all would be well tonight.
Devlyn backed away, a smug smile on his face. Others in the immediate vicinity looked concerned, but the new emperor dismissed what some might’ve considered a threat. Even the cousins, the other two warriors called by the Prophesy of the Firstborn, halted their rush to Lyr’s side.
He stood and sheathed his sword. “Tell me now, Rayne, what do you want?”
“I want all of you, heart and soul and body.”
“That you have.”
She wanted no more secrets between them. “I want the baby I carry inside me now, and in the years to come I want more.”
For the first time on this long evening, Lyr smiled at her. “Baby?”
Rayne nodded her head.
She had forgotten that others were listening, until Lyr’s mother said, “Stars above, I’m going to be a grandmother.”
“Marry me,” Lyr said, his voice lowered. He sounded so confident it was possible no one but her heard the uncertainty.
Rayne smiled. “Yes.”
“Now.”
She laughed. “Now?”
“Can’t the emperor perform the ceremony?”
“You don’t even like him,” Rayne whispered.
“If he marries us, I will make myself like him well enough.”
Devlyn looked to Sian for guidance. “Is it allowed?” Sian nodded once, which was enough.
The emperor raised his voice. “I admire this woman extraordinarily well, and I’m uncertain about handing her over to a Tryfynian cretin who would dare to threaten me with a sword, at my own party, no less.”
“If I’d wanted to harm you, you wouldn’t be speaking at this moment,” Lyr said confidently.
“Yes, yes, I’m sure that’s true,” Devlyn said dismissively. “Still, I wouldn’t be doing my duty if I handed one of my most precious subjects over to a foreigner who might not care for her properly. I must conduct a proper interrogation to assure myself that you are worthy.”
“Interrogation?” Rayne tried to get the emperor’s attention and call a halt to his foolishness, but she was ignored.
“Do you love her?” Devlyn asked.
“Madly,” Lyr responded without hesitation.
“Will you treasure her as she was meant to be treasured?”
“Yes.”
“Will you dance with her if she wishes it?”
“If she will teach me, yes.”
“Will you...”
Lyr held onto Rayne tightly as he waved one hand to bring time for all others to a standstill. “I wanted to do this in front of everyone, to be open and honest and to put everything I am before you and all these people. But by my way of thinking, some things should be just for us,” he said. “I love you. I can’t imagine spending a single day of my life without you in it. Something good came out of this horrible war with Ciro, because it led me to you. I love you,” he said again.
“I love you, too.”
“Tell your friend to speed things up, if you don’t mind. We have better things to do tonight than provide entertainment for his coronation festivities.”
Time began again, and all continued on as if it had never been interrupted.
“... see to her safety in all...” Devlyn continued.
“M’lord,” Rayne said, interrupting the emperor in mid-sentence. “Lyr will care for me well, I assure you. Can the ceremony proceed?”
“Now?” Devlyn asked.
Rayne smiled at Lyr. “Yes, at this very moment, if you please.”
“A wedding to mark new beginnings!” an unseen reveler said with glee, raising a sword high in the still ballroom.
“To peace,” another said, raising yet another sword.
“To new life,” Ariana said. So her toast would be in keeping with the others, she smoothly snatched a sword from a nearby sentinel, and with a grin she raised it into the air.
“To the new emperor!” a tipsy minister cried, raising a small dagger above his head. A few—including Devlyn himself—laughed at the pathetic blade which was lifted among the swords.
It seemed everyone had an idea of what should be celebrated here tonight, and one at a time they called out their hopes and dreams and joys. Peace, babies, family, loyalty... all were saluted in preface to her marriage.
Lyr drew his long sword and looked Rayne in the eye. “To love,” he said, and though his words were loud enough for all to hear, she knew they were meant for her ears alone.
She drew the short sword Lyr wore at his side and raised it high, gently touching the blade against his. “To love.”
Epilogue
Not long after Emperor Jahn took his place in the palace, a prisoner locked in a cell on Level Twelve gave birth to a little girl. Though the baby came early and was very small, she was extraordinarily pretty. Diella—or perhaps Lilia—died shortly after delivering her child into the world. Right before she passed, she named the little girl Ksana.
Knowing that Diella had been involved with Ciro and the Isen Demon, the parentage of the child came into question. Young as she was, the baby bore a striking resemblance to the deceased fair-haired prince. There were those who wished to do away with the baby girl, as it was possible she was not entirely human. But of course, it’s difficult to see evil in a child, so Ksana was taken by a kind woman who could never see darkness in a newborn’s face. Sophie Fyne Varden.
When Isadora revealed to her youngest sister that the Ksana flower which grew in Tryfyn was beautiful but deadly, Sophie insisted on changing the baby’s name. She honored the mother’s wish in naming the girl for a flower, but she chose one which was sweet and touched with good magic. Linara.
Sophie and Kane adopted Linara, knowing well that she might be very different from their own children. The years to come might not be easy, but Linara was Arik’s granddaughter, and Sophie still had very fond memories of the former rebel and emperor. Besides, she believed with all her heart that love could conquer anything, even the blood of a demon.
She had expected to travel for home with no one but her husband and a wet nurse for company. That would’ve suited her just fine, but Isadora and her husband Lucan decided to travel to the Southern Province and visit for a short while. Sophie did not say so, bu
t she knew her sister wanted to keep an eye on Linara to see that the baby grew and behaved as a baby should. It would be good to spend more time with Isadora, time when they did not have a curse or a prophesy or a momentous task at hand.
As she and her traveling party left the palace heading for home Sophie asked her husband—only once—“What if there are more like her?”
Kane did not respond, but she knew what he was thinking. Maybe there were more children like Linara, but that was a problem for another day.
This day was fine, and there was no room for borrowed troubles which might or might not come to pass. Sophie, Juliet, and Isadora would all become grandmothers in the coming year, and that was cause for celebration.
Yes, all was well. Ariana and Sian were settled in the palace, at least for now. Sebestyen’s sons would need their assistance for a while longer. There had been a time when Sophie had hated the imperial palace, but the palace did not feel as dark as it once had, in spite of what had happened there in the past year. Love in abundance had returned light to a place which had once been dark. Ariana and Sian and their child would be happy there, until the time came for them to make their life elsewhere.
Keelia and Joryn were on their way back to the Mountains of the North, where they would marry in The City. They would work to bring their people together, and they’d have children who would be both Anwyn and Caradon. Joryn very much wished to find his friend Druson along the way, and Keelia assured him that they would. Or rather, Druson would find them. To bring Caradon and Anwyn together, they would need the man who was now called Grandfather, a man who possessed the knowledge of the ancients. Juliet and Ryn traveled in that direction, too, but as usual they had taken off alone. That was their way. It suited them.
Children of the Sun Page 77
