across the Maegrad Ceid—so distant I’ve not ventured much that direction.”
“Your mother came but seldom.”
“I’ve traveled a corner of Whellein. I remember great mountains and flats crowded with gnarlwoods and kabas and cut by a rushing weild.” He frowned. “It seemed a good, simple land.”
“And Rivenn is not?”
He tilted his head. “Rivenn is complicated and difficult—but also wonderful.”
She gave no response, not wanting to call him back from whatever vistas of memory he wandered. Birdsong filled the silence between them until Elcon at last stirred. “Kai must show you more of Rivenn than Torindan Hold. How long do you stay?”
She shook her head and bent to trail a hand in silken water. With a glimpse of silver, a fish darted to the surface, then dove again as ripples sparkled across the pool’s surface. “I don’t know when I’ll return to Whellein. Your mother summoned me to comfort her last days.”
He looked away. “In that case, may your stay be lengthy.”
She watched a flurry of white elder petals from a limb arching overhead cascade into the pool. “I join my wish with yours.”
“’If wishes be true, what claim have we to glory?’ After quoting the ancient saying Elcon gave a wry smile. “This day, the Lof Raelein passed to me the Sword of Rivenn and the Scepter of Faeraven. Rulership now rests on me.”
“Then I spoke amiss. I should have called you Lof Shraen Elcon.”
“You name my position, but not my title until my coronation.” His silence sketched what he failed to say—that his coronation would take place after his mother’s funeral.
A finger of wind ran along Shae’s collarbone and made her shiver. “Lof Raelein Maeven seems much improved.”
He inclined his head. “She does, but I should return to her. I slipped away for a time only.”
“I’ll accompany you, if I may.”
“Yes, come with me. You should not seek the garden alone. It may seem safe within the walls of Torindan, but welkes can venture this far west and may even slip past the archers who keep watch. There’s no danger now, since they seek their roosts by twilight, but welke attacks are not our only reason for caution.” The obscure remark and his shadowed expression reminded her just how far from home she’d come.
“You warn me, yet risk yourself freely.” The words came without thought, and she wished she could take them back.
Elcon’s expression warned her she went too far, but then he laughed. “Well spoken, Shae of Whellein. I should heed my own words and use more caution. In truth, I sought nature’s solace to escape duties I should embrace.” He turned. “ Look at the sky.”
She watched with him the fiery death of day.
Night blackened the sky, lighting moon and stars and turning shadows purple. They walked beneath blackened strongwoods where starflowers glowed with pale light and released a heady fragrance. From somewhere near a night bird gave its lament, long and low.
10
Storm and Fury
A burst of sound and a flurry of movement mingled with the tang of smoke and spices to invade Shae’s senses as she entered the great hall. Flames leapt in the hall’s three fireplaces. Torches flared and flickered against the stone walls. Velvet hangings covered tall, arched windows against the night. Servants scurried to serve those who made merry at over-laden strongwood tables. The dissonance of instruments being tuned in the minstrel’s gallery rose above the din.
Kai cut a swath through the crowd to a table where several guardians lounged. Shae, trailing behind, jumped at a touch on her arm. She glanced down. Freaer’s eyes, shaded into darkened pools, snared hers. She shifted to step away, but he caught her arm. Her heart kicked up a beat, and a tingle of discomfort ran down her spine. She tried to pull free, but his fingers tightened.
He spoke, but the noise swallowed his words. She bent forward, and his breath caressed her ear. “Your
“Your mother came but seldom.”
“I’ve traveled a corner of Whellein. I remember great mountains and flats crowded with gnarlwoods and kabas and cut by a rushing weild.” He frowned. “It seemed a good, simple land.”
“And Rivenn is not?”
He tilted his head. “Rivenn is complicated and difficult—but also wonderful.”
She gave no response, not wanting to call him back from whatever vistas of memory he wandered. Birdsong filled the silence between them until Elcon at last stirred. “Kai must show you more of Rivenn than Torindan Hold. How long do you stay?”
She shook her head and bent to trail a hand in silken water. With a glimpse of silver, a fish darted to the surface, then dove again as ripples sparkled across the pool’s surface. “I don’t know when I’ll return to Whellein. Your mother summoned me to comfort her last days.”
He looked away. “In that case, may your stay be lengthy.”
She watched a flurry of white elder petals from a limb arching overhead cascade into the pool. “I join my wish with yours.”
“’If wishes be true, what claim have we to glory?’ After quoting the ancient saying Elcon gave a wry smile. “This day, the Lof Raelein passed to me the Sword of Rivenn and the Scepter of Faeraven. Rulership now rests on me.”
“Then I spoke amiss. I should have called you Lof Shraen Elcon.”
“You name my position, but not my title until my coronation.” His silence sketched what he failed to say—that his coronation would take place after his mother’s funeral.
A finger of wind ran along Shae’s collarbone and made her shiver. “Lof Raelein Maeven seems much improved.”
He inclined his head. “She does, but I should return to her. I slipped away for a time only.”
“I’ll accompany you, if I may.”
“Yes, come with me. You should not seek the garden alone. It may seem safe within the walls of Torindan, but welkes can venture this far west and may even slip past the archers who keep watch. There’s no danger now, since they seek their roosts by twilight, but welke attacks are not our only reason for caution.” The obscure remark and his shadowed expression reminded her just how far from home she’d come.
“You warn me, yet risk yourself freely.” The words came without thought, and she wished she could take them back.
Elcon’s expression warned her she went too far, but then he laughed. “Well spoken, Shae of Whellein. I should heed my own words and use more caution. In truth, I sought nature’s solace to escape duties I should embrace.” He turned. “ Look at the sky.”
She watched with him the fiery death of day.
Night blackened the sky, lighting moon and stars and turning shadows purple. They walked beneath blackened strongwoods where starflowers glowed with pale light and released a heady fragrance. From somewhere near a night bird gave its lament, long and low.
10
Storm and Fury
A burst of sound and a flurry of movement mingled with the tang of smoke and spices to invade Shae’s senses as she entered the great hall. Flames leapt in the hall’s three fireplaces. Torches flared and flickered against the stone walls. Velvet hangings covered tall, arched windows against the night. Servants scurried to serve those who made merry at over-laden strongwood tables. The dissonance of instruments being tuned in the minstrel’s gallery rose above the din.
Kai cut a swath through the crowd to a table where several guardians lounged. Shae, trailing behind, jumped at a touch on her arm. She glanced down. Freaer’s eyes, shaded into darkened pools, snared hers. She shifted to step away, but he caught her arm. Her heart kicked up a beat, and a tingle of discomfort ran down her spine. She tried to pull free, but his fingers tightened.
He spoke, but the noise swallowed his words. She bent forward, and his breath caressed her ear. “Your
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