Lorelei, on the other hand, often looked like a creature of the night. Her mahogony hair hung about her shoulders in a mass of tangles due to her mad dash from Clever Camden’s office. Her own eyes were like two obsidian orbs. She did share similar facial features with her sister though. They both had slender pointed ears and small noses. However, Freya’s lips were thinner with a sculpted quality while Lorelei’s were sultrier.
“How did your trial go?” Freya asked.
Lorelei’s shoulders slumped as her heart sank. “Not so well.”
“Oh, well, hopefully you can catch up with the other trials.” Freya’s smile held a hint of smugness.
Lorelei let out a huff of breath in a bitter laugh. “That hasn’t worked out for me in the past few years.”
Arryn took Lorelei’s hand and pressed a soft kiss on the top. “I have every faith that this will be your year to advance.”
Lorelei smiled at him, her heart lifting. “It’s good to see you. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” He squeezed her hand.
“Let’s not talk about my Trials anymore. Let’s go celebrate your arrival.” Lorelei glanced at Freya. “Care to join us?”
Freya brushed a lock of her golden hair away from her face. “No. I think I will do some studying before my own Trials.”
“Ah, yes. This is your year to advance to Magus, isn’t it?” Arryn asked. “Graduating in three years. That’s rather impressive.”
Lorelei glanced away as Freya beamed at Arryn’s complement. Her stomach twisted. It wasn’t like Freya didn’t deserve the praise she was given. After all, she excelled at everything. But then, while everyone else saw the sweetness and smiles, Lorelei often glimpsed another side of Freya with the underhanded digs at Lorelei’s apparent incompetence.
Lorelei tugged Arryn’s shirt. “Shall we walk to the dining hall for lunch?”
“Sure.” Arryn gave Freya a parting smile. “I’m sure we’ll see you later.”
Arryn held out his elbow and Lorelei rested her hand in the crook of his arm. Lorelei gave Freya a small wave as they walked off. Arryn led her through another path of the garden leading to the Grand Hall, a large building with two gleaming white towers.
“When are you going to ship off?” Lorelei asked.
“Next week,” Arryn said, pausing just before reaching the Grand Hall to look at her. “So, I can only stay here for a few days.”
Lorelei patted his arm. “Then we’ll make the most of it. I can’t believe you’ll be joining the Empire’s military.”
“It shouldn’t be much of a surprise. After all, my House controls a major portion of the navy.”
“Yes, but I never thought it was something you wanted.”
He let out a soft sigh. “Well, sometimes we must do what is expected of us.”
“That’s something I’m pretty aware of,” Lorelei muttered.
“You’re worried about your Trials?” Arryn asked.
Lorelei glanced at him with a smile. “I’ll figure something out.”
He stopped and took her into his arms. “I’ll be on tour for two years. Once it’s done, we can begin our engagement. Your father will be pleased with my position.”
“Father would already be happy seeing our families unite.”
“True.” He drew in a long breath. “However, I want to have something to show besides my House name. So, you’ll wait for me?”
“Of course.” She smiled up at him. “What is two years to centuries of happiness?”
“What if you find another?” he asked with a frown. “I’ve seen the way other boys look at you. Especially when you are on stage performing.”
“They don’t matter. You’re all I’ve ever wanted since I was fourteen.” She brought his lips to hers and gave him a soft sweet kiss.
The song of a guitar floated on the air coming from the Grand Hall. Lorelei’s head tilted in the direction of the music and her heart lifted. She turned back to Arryn with a grin.
“Come on,” she said, tugging his arm. “I think that’s Ilia ap Lugus. She’s one of the first circle Lyrist initiates. She’s really good.”
They broke free of the hedge-covered path and stepped into a cobblestoned courtyard that led to a large set of marble steps. On the steps sat a sidhe girl strumming a guitar. Her golden hair had fallen around her neck as her head was bent while she paid attention to the notes she played. It contrasted against the nut brown of her skin. As she lifted her head and began to sing, her clear contralto sent shivers down Lorelei’s spine.
“Elys the bard was traveling through the plains…Clad in silks and a guitar upon his back,” Ilia sang. “Which held a magical tune…To make the rivers bend and the earth move…To make the fire blaze and the wind roar.”
If only Lorelei had a magical guitar that could help control the elements. She would never need to worry about the trials.
She tugged on Arryn’s hand and led him to a stone bench near the steps.
“Upon a great adventure Elys was bound…That Greatest Empress to him gave…To walk the halls of a citadel bound in shadows and night…To stop the General whose form twisted to Fomorian.”
Lorelei shivered. The Fomorians were faerie who’d been corrupted by the Miasma. The Empress had saved who she could, but some had been too far gone. For those, only death would stop them. She hadn’t done it alone. Her subjects, from the commoners to the Great Houses of the Elphyne Empire, had all been willing to lend their aid to stop the Fomorians.
“Held in high regard this General once was…By sidhe and common faerie alike…But treachery stole into the night,” Ilia continued. “And turned the general from ally to foe most fierce…Into his madness his people followed…Until his entire legion threatened all.”
It sounded like this general had once served the Empress before falling to the Miasma. Lorelei sighed as she trailed her finger along the stone. So many had been lost during that age centuries ago. Fomorians still lingered even now, so much that many faerie didn’t travel to the lost places for fear of falling to them, unless they were trained at universities such as the Aimsir. For the most part, the Houses stuck to the Elphyne Empire. Few braved trying to stake a claim on the Northern Lands, the great continent to the East, or the Star Islands of the West.
“No troops could penetrate the stone wall…Of that Citadel of Night,” Ilia sang. “So Elys came alone with guitar in hand…He was welcomed to the throne…His new home, the General said and bade him to play.”
This bard must have been brave to be able to face this Fomorian General alone. Or he trusted the power of his magical guitar.
“As his fingers strummed the string of his guitar…The ground began to rumble…And shook the walls…The earth fell beneath the citadel…Plunging all inside to forgotten depths.” Ilia’s words drifted on the air.
As Ilia’s fingers strummed the last few chords, an idea churned in the back of Lorelei’s mind. All tales started with a bit of truth. Perhaps she could find how much truth was to this particular tale. If she could get her hands on such an instrument, then perhaps her problems with the trials could be solved.
2
Lorelei nibbled on a piece of bread as she stared across the dining hall. The round tables were filled with students and visitors alike, chatting over plates filled with steaming roast. Several of the professors sat in their places at the long table to the left side of the hall in front of a large bay window. However, Lorelei’s focus was on Ilia who sat with a group of first circle initiates.
Ilia had created a song over a legend; she had to know more about it. Had she already visited the citadel? First and Second Circle Initiates were allowed to spend time traveling across the Elphyne Empire for world experience. Had the guitar been found already? Lorelei’s stomach sank at the thought. She needed that guitar. As far as she could see, something like it was her only chance of passing and staying in at the Aimsir. What would become of her if she was expelled?
“Are you even listening to me?” A
rryn touched her arm, jerking her from her musings.
She glanced at him. “I’m sorry. I was lost in my thoughts for a moment.”
“That’s happened a lot today.” He ran his hand over her forearm. “Is this about your Trials?”
Lorelei reached for her half full glass of wine and drained it in one gulp. “Today was a major failure. I could have set fire to the entire class if not for Camden. All because of those stupid visions.”
“You’ll get through it,” Arryn said. “And even if you don’t, what is another year?”
She rested her hand over his and sighed. “It’s direr than just failing. Don’t tell Freya. I don’t want to deal with her taunts, but if I don’t pass, they’re going to expel me. And worse… they’re going to talk to my parents about my condition. They think I’m crazy.”
He frowned. “You have been dealing with the dreams for a long time. Have you ever thought to find someone to help you? Perhaps the Elemental Order?”
“Not you too.”
He raised his hands. “It’s just a suggestion.”
Lorelei crossed her arms. “Mother would find it an embarrassment and Freya would say that I’m not as brave as a Moura should be.”
House Moura was one of the ten Great Noble Houses that had a voice in the Quorum. During her rule, the Empress created the Quorum to give the Houses a voice. Each head of the House was a member. When the Empress retreated from the public and then disappeared, the Quorum continued to rule in her stead. House Moura was known for its bravery after Lady Moura who fought the Miasma at the Empress’s side.
“You’re the bravest sidhe I know,” Arryn said with a chuckle. “Well, more reckless. Like that time you tried to commandeer one of your father’s ships to go chasing after pirates.”
Lorelei grinned. “It would have worked if that captain hadn’t told Father.”
Arryn cleared his throat. “As for Freya, maybe you should be the one to extend a hand to her. She’s not as bad as you think.”
Lorelei’s shoulders slumped. “She’s gotten to you too. Don’t believe the facade. She may seem sweet, but her tongue is as sharp as my rapier.”
“The two of you seemed to get along when we were younger.”
“That all changed when I joined the Aimsir. She’d become a completely different person then. I think all the praise she receives goes to her head.”
“Well, you can be the better person and show kindness.”
Lorelei raised a finger up. “Did I say anything snide earlier? No, I was polite.”
With a sigh, Arryn stood. “I’ll leave it between you then. It’s just that the three of us grew up together. We used to be really close. This rift between you is weird.”
“Maybe you should talk to her about it,” Lorelei said. “I don’t know why she acts like this to me.”
“I will, but I think you should too.”
“I have.” Lorelei poured more wine in her glass. “When I ask her, she claims I’m an embarrassment to the family. She really sounds like Mother. Can we not talk about this anymore?”
“All right. How about we retire to my room and make up for lost time?” He held his hand out to her.
A delicious tingle spread through Lorelei. During their time apart, she’d had to make due with her imagination. As she opened her mouth to accept, Ilia stood up and picked up her bag. With the Trials happening, this might be the best time to ask to Ilia about the citadel.
“You go ahead,” Lorelei said. “I have someone I need to speak to. I’ll join you very shortly.”
“Fine,” he sighed. “Then bring some wine to make up for it.”
“Only the best.” Lorelei stood up and wrapped her arms around, bringing his lips down to hers for a kiss.
Arryn’s arms tightened around her as his hand rested on her hips. With a grin he pulled back, pinching her ass as he did so. She let out a small giggle as she stepped away and watched him saunter toward the double doors leading to the Grand Hall.
Lorelei turned her attention to Ilia. She was heading to the double doors that lead to the side garden. Lorelei glanced between Ilia and Arryn and bit her lip. As great as the promise of a few nights with him was, she needed to do this.
“Forgive me, Arryn,” she muttered under her breath as she followed behind Ilia.
She caught Ilia at the doors. Ilia looked at her with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile.
“Ah, Lorelei,” Ilia said. “Looking for a breath of air as well?”
“Actually, would you mind if I walk with you?”
“Of course.”
Lorelei shut the door behind them and fell into step beside Ilia as they began to walk the path. Rose bushes in a rainbow of colors lined this portion of the garden, filling the evening with their sweet scent. Ilia paused at a cluster of red flowers, humming as she bent down to inhale.
“I like to visit here often,” she said. “I find the peace and beauty replenishes my Aether.”
Aether. The fifth element that fueled all magic. It was believed everything contained Aether. It was easy to channel, but one could drain themselves quickly. Most found the simplest way to recharge themselves was to do the things that brought them joy.
“I heard your performance outside the Grand Hall earlier today,” Lorelei said. “It was beautiful.”
Ilia chuckled. “Thank you, but it’s still rough. I think I need a better ending verse. It feels incomplete.”
“Is it for one of the Trials?”
“Not exactly,” Ilia said. “On top of the trials, we First Circle Initiates must complete a thesis on a subject. Lyrists, of course, must create a ballad. Mine is on the Citadel of Night.”
Lorelei let out a breath. “Did it actually exist? And all that about the bard and his magical guitar is true?”
Ilia tilted her head. “It’s supposed to be, yes.”
“Have you ever been to this citadel?”
“Well, no.” Ilia glanced at the ground. “I’ve poured over the few dozen books that survived the coming of the Miasma and I feel confident I have found most of the story behind it.”
Lorelei sighed. Much of the history before the coming of the Miasma didn’t survive. Whole cities were lost to the deadly illness that either killed the faerie outright, or twisted them into mad monsters. If it had not been for the Empress, all of Threshold would have fallen. The Aimsir and a few other scholars had worked hard to find and preserve what history was left, but it was very little. The Elemental Order preached the coming of the Empress and her endeavors afterward. If they had accounts of Threshold beforehand, they kept them to themselves.
“This happened during the time of the Miasma, right?” Lorelei stared at Ilia intently. “Were you able to find its location?”
Ilia crossed her arms and gazed at Lorelei with narrowed eyes. “Why are you so interested?”
“I would like the go there,” Lorelei said. “I’ve yet to travel and I think this would be a good opportunity for both of us. You could add a whole level of authenticity to your ballad.”
“And you?”
Lorelei sighed, staring at the bushes. “Honestly, I’m at my wits end over my Trials and I think having some real-world experience may help.”
That and getting that guitar. She kept that part to herself.
“It’s highly dangerous,” Ilia said. “No one has been there since it fell. There could still be Fomorians wandering around.
Lorelei bit her lip. Fomorians would make this trip dangerous. The Aimsir did allow its Initiates to travel to dangerous places in preparation for when they graduated. After all, not all Magi could obtain positions in the Great Houses. Most would either join the military or become part of specialized guilds that explored the forgotten lands of Threshold. The excursions had to be approved by the Aimsir which took weeks most of the time, even longer when it involved the possibility of Fomorians. Those were weeks Lorelei didn’t have.
“I doubt the Fomorians would have stayed there if they still exist. Wouldn’t they
have moved on or something?” Lorelei said. “Besides, a little danger can help prepare us for when we graduate.”
Ilia shook her head, raising an eyebrow at Lorelei. “You can’t be serious.”
“Look, this could be a way for you to go above and beyond. Maybe even be the thing that would allow you to graduate as Illume.
A spark lit in Ilia’s eyes and Lorelei knew the hardest part of this battle was done. First Circle Initiates from all the schools of magic competed for high ranking upon graduation. Ilia was one of the top ones as was Lorelei’s sister Freya. The top of the graduates was known as the Illume and had their choice of positions in the Empire.
Ilia let out a sigh and stared at the buses. “Trials are all during this month. We wouldn’t have much time. It’s weeks away in the heart of the Elphyne Empire, after all. If we’d had more time to prepare.”
“So, you do know where it is?” Lorelei pressed.
“Well, yes. It is supposed to be in a ravine a day’s travel from the town of Vindius.”
Lorelei stared up at the sky as her mind went over the maps she’d studied of the Elphyne Empire. “Vindius is to the northeast, near the Madagar mountains, right?”
“Yes,” Ilia said. “A week’s travel by ship at the very least. Then we’d have to travel in land for another week.”
Lorelei bit the inside of her cheek. Ilia was right. The Aimsir took up an island off the Eastern coast of the Empire while Vindius was closer to the center of the Empire.
Lorelei rubbed her chin. “Maybe we can talk one of the initiates specializing in dimension magic to open a portal for us.”
Ilia let out a gasp, her eyes widening. She gripped Lorelei’s arm with excitement. “I think I know who can help.”
A smile curled on Lorelei’s lips. “So, you’re willing to try?”
“It would help with my ballad. I might even be able to beat your sister for Illume at graduation,” Ilia said. “But we need to do this soon. Tonight, if I can arrange it.”
Lorelei bit the inside of her cheek. Arryn was only able to visit for the next two days and he was waiting for her. What would he do if she disappeared?
Nocturne Page 2
