Lachlei by M. H. Bonham

nor had he been to the High Council.
    Fools! she thought. They didn’t sense what she and Rhyn sensed. Perhaps if Rhyn would speak to the High Council, they would understand the urgency. She looked up and saw Rhyn looking down on her. She climbed the tower stairs that led to the wall walk. As she approached Rhyn, she saw that he was lost in thought.
    “Rhyn!” she called.
    The North Marches Chi’lan turned to her, a concerned look on his face. “You’ve been to the High Council.”
    Lachlei nodded. “They won’t give me the troops to meet the Silren at North Marches.”
    “What does that leave you with?”
    “My own Chi’lan — two thousand total,” Lachlei said. “It’s not enough.”
    Rhyn frowned. “No, it’s not,” he agreed. He knew that the Laddel were Ni’yah’s to command, but how many would remain to be seen. Laddel, Ni’yah’s son, would be obliged to his father, but even Laddel would have his limits. Without the full force of the Lochvaur , the Laddel would not be willing to give their entire army to stop Areyn. It would be too late by the time the Lochvaur entered the fight. “What if the Silren obtain the Elesil’s aid?”
    Lachlei shook her head. “The Elesil are traditionally allied with the Silren . If they enter the fray, we’ll be overwhelmed without aid from our allies. But the Laddel are some distance away and the Haell allegiance is tenuous at best.”
    Then, let us hope Ni’yah does his work, Rhyn’athel thought darkly. If I have to intervene, this could escalate…
    Lachlei studied Rhyn’s face curiously. “What of the Lochvaur surrounding North Marches?”
    Rhyn hesitated. “There are maybe a few thousand. Of those, a few hundred warriors.”
    “That’s a few hundred we don’t have now.” She fell silent, her face pensive.
     “Something is wrong.”
    Lachlei shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
    “No, it’s something,” Rhyn paused. He brushed her thoughts and frowned. “Laewynd threatened your crown?”
    “It’s nothing,” Lachlei said.
    “No,” he replied, feeling his anger rise. “Laewynd threatened you with a challenger, didn’t he?”
    She took a deep breath. “Yes.”
    Rhyn frowned. His link with the Web of Wyrd was tenuous in his new form. Even so, he could see that it was changing because of his very presence. “I don’t know what’s exactly ahead,” he said. “But I can promise you none of your Chi’lan will challenge you. Nor will I.”
    “That is some comfort, I suppose.” Lachlei’s smile was forced. “What will you do now that you have no home to return to?”
     “The land is burnt, the people dead, and there is nothing for me. I must seek the demon that killed them.”
    “Then, our paths still cross,” she murmured. “I was hoping that perhaps you would consider joining my Chi’lan ,” she said. “We need warriors, Rhyn.” She met his gaze. “ I need warriors. You’re first-blood, and that’s a rare commodity nowadays.”
    Rhyn stared for a long moment, amazed at his luck. “I would be honored,” he said.
    “Then, stand beside me tonight at coronation,” she said. “If I fail, I would have you challenge the victor. I don’t know who Laewynd may put up to challenge me, but he will be nothing more than a puppet.”
    Rhyn shook his head. “No, Lachlei, you won’t fail.”
    “Laewynd reminded me that I haven’t seen battle in years — against a battle-hardened warrior, I may fall. You are the only Chi’lan I’ve seen who is worthy enough for the throne.”
    “I can’t accept.”
    She took his hands and once again, Rhyn felt the charge run through him. “Please, Rhyn, I know you’re a first-blood and I know you have a Sword of Power. Cahal told me how you’ve defeated Tamar.”
    Rhyn looked into her eyes and felt his resolve slip away. How could a woman weaken the determination of the most powerful god in the Nine Worlds? “I accept, Lachlei,” he heard himself say. “But you will not