Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (23 page)

Grandme’s lined face folded into a full smile and tears glistened in her eyes. “She’s beautiful.”

At nearly three months, Emmaleen had lost the scrunched look of a newborn, and Maleena had to admit her daughter truly was a gorgeous baby. Grandme cuddled the baby close for a moment before handing her to Barden.

Mckale’s father cradled his granddaughter in his arms, a broad smile on his face and pride in his gray eyes. “She reminds me of Sonja at this age.” Emmaleen yawned, and her little eyes opened. Barden gazed down at the violet eyes. “I can certainly see her mother in her though.”

Maleena settled into a chair as Sonja happily took Emmaleen and cooed at her, while Yaden watched his new wife with a wistful expression and Kaden impatiently looked on. It felt good to be surrounded by Mckale’s family. Seeing the affection showered on her daughter made the future easier to think about.

Between Emmaleen’s family in Calladar, and her extended family in Galdrilene, her daughter wouldn’t lack for love and support. Only her mother would be missing from her life and as sad as that was, it could be easily dealt with. After all, she’d grown up without her mother. Maleena searched her memory for a picture of her own mother but only vague impressions could be found. There was no clear picture. She didn’t even remember her mother’s face.

A small pang of sadness twisted Maleena’s heart. Her own grandmother would have loved Emmaleen. The almost four years since her grandmother’s death was such a short time, yet endless when the chasm of death and birth separated the years. Perhaps, when the time came, she would be able to see her grandmother in Maiadar and tell her of her granddaughter.

Mckale’s large hand took her small one, his silver eyes worried when he leaned close and whispered, “Why do I sense so much sadness through our bond? Taela was able to get the finished weave that will end the Shadow Riders, more eggs have hatched, and our daughter is healthy and surrounded by people who love her. Shouldn’t this be a happy time?”

Maleena shoved the emotions back and smiled at him. “It is a happy a moment. However, I can’t help but feel sadness for what lies ahead. The weave can only be used when the Shadow Riders all come at us at once. There will be so much destruction between now and then.”

How easily the lies rolled off her tongue now. It was supposed to be hard to keep something from a bondmate without them knowing, and yet she had mastered the skill within moments of her discovery of what the future held. Guilt rode her shoulders like a heavy weight. Even so, it couldn’t change her mind. One day, he would understand why the future needed to be kept from him. And hopefully he would forgive her as well as Taela and Kellinar.

He brushed a strand of hair that had escaped her braid away from her face. “We will make it through and help rebuild everything afterward.”

Visions of a bloodied battlefield and the stench it carried flashed in her mind. Of the people she had killed. It made her even more wary of the coming battles.

“How long will you be staying?” Grandme asked as Kaden finally claimed his niece.

“Long enough for the ball the Council insists on having no matter how many times it’s been put off,” Mckale answered.

Maleena groaned inwardly. Why wouldn’t they let that go? There were far more important things to worry about in Calladar besides a ball—like Shadow Riders and whoever had shot Mckale. The Council of Seven thought they’d found the perpetrator, but Maleena doubted the man had acted on his own. It was far too convenient that he was dead so he couldn’t be questioned.

Mckale squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile before turning back to Grandme. “I will spend my time divided between here and Galdrilene as will Maleena. I will Slide back daily for short periods to help deal with things there, and Maleena will join me every other day.”

Grandme frowned. “What about Emmaleen?”

“She will Slide back and forth with us.”

“You can’t drag a baby back and forth like that, especially at this time of year. You will leave her with me when you both need to Slide back,” Grandme said, her tone final.

Maleena shook her head. How could she leave her daughter behind? Grandme waggled her finger as if she’d read Maleena’s thoughts. “She will be fine with me. I raised Barden and then his children after Nia died. Emmaleen will be perfectly safe, and you can Slide back at a moment’s notice.”

“I…don’t know.” Maleena didn’t want to insult the woman but wasn’t comfortable being so far away from Emmaleen.

“What will you do if there is a battle here?” Grandme said.

“Slide her back to Galdrilene and leave her in the care of Marda.”

“So this Marda can do a better job than me?”

Maleena smoothed a wrinkle in her pants. “No, but she will be safer in Galdrilene with Marda than she would be here during a battle.”

“I’m not denying that. However, if you can leave her there and come back here to face a battle, then you can leave her here when there is no battle.” Grandme gave a sharp nod as if that settled everything.

Maleena sighed. “All right, if there appears to be no danger here and we won’t be gone long, I will leave her with you.”

Grandme took Emmaleen back and cradled her close. “Of course you will. Besides, with the snow piled up, no armies will be moving. Even Kojen raids drop to nothing in the winters up here. I doubt Shadow Riders are going to want to fly in this cold either.”

Mckale shook his head, and Maleena read his thoughts about not being able to win when it came to Grandme. She had to admit, he was right. The old woman was stubborn and determined.

“What news is there of Calladar?” Mckale asked, his question directed at his father and brother.

“Things have been quiet these past few months,” Barden said with a wary sort of relief in his expression. “Only minor attacks by Shadow Dragons and Kojen along the border through the fall. The weapons masters sent from Galdrilene have been hard at work directing the building of the launchers. The well-crafted plans they brought with them have been invaluable. The first one was just completed yesterday, the other should be soon. The Border Guards are learning to aim the thing now.”

The launcher, a weapon retrieved from the War of Fire, resembled a giant slingshot with weights to increase the speed of release. Loaded with a cross between a large spear and an arrow, the three foot barbed tip had a weave worked into it by Earth mages. It would easily penetrate the breastplates of a Shadow Dragon’s scales. Learning to aim and release at a moving target was not an easy task. Maleena didn’t envy the men who would fire the weapons. Lives of the innocent would ride on their ability to learn it well.

“They are using practice bolts now are they not?”
Nydara sent.
“If so, Tellnox and I will be more than happy to provide them with flying targets to work with.”

Maleena looked at Barden. “Nydara wants to know if they are using practice bolts in the launcher.”

“Of course, they have no wish to damage the tips made by the mages, nor do they wish to see anyone harmed in a misfire while they learn. Why?”

“Nydara and Tellnox have offered themselves as target practice for the men.”

Barden’s eyes widened, a look of horror in them. “We can’t shoot at them.”

“Your men can’t learn to hit a flying target if they don’t have one to aim at.” Maleena smiled gently to ease his fears. “I assure you, the wooden-tipped practice bolts haven’t a hope of harming the dragons.”

Kaden’s face was pensive for a moment before he nodded. “That would actually be quite helpful if they truly don’t mind.”

“They wouldn’t have offered if they minded,” Mckale assured him.

“I suppose that settles one issue.” Barden’s brows drew down and it was clear to Maleena he didn’t like the idea at all.

“There is more than one issue?” Mckale glanced between his father and brother. “What else has happened?”

Barden let out a long sigh and rubbed a hand over his face. “Young people are disappearing. It’s happened often enough that I have forbidden Sonja from going anywhere alone. Station doesn’t seem to matter either. The latest disappearance was the daughter of one of the Council members. She is only fourteen years of age.”

Maleena glanced at Emmaleen, her chest constricting at the thought of losing her daughter. She wouldn’t wish the loss of a child on anyone. Especially since she had a good idea where that child had gone. “You still have a traitor in your midst. One who was willing to kill Mckale. One who is willing to funnel new servants to the Kormai.”

Sonja gasped. “The Kormai?”

“Servants in the Kormai are often killed, a steady flow of new are needed.” Mckale’s voice was devoid of emotion though Maleena felt the anger rolling off him. “We need to find who is siding with the Shadow Riders.”

“The ball will have many in attendance,” Maleena said. “It will be a good place to start. I will search while we are there.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Kaden sent her a worried look, the memories of the day Mckale was nearly killed so loud in his mind Maleena couldn’t help but see them.

“Maleena can handle it.” Mckale’s silver eyes held hers, and she smiled slightly at him. “She is stronger than you give her credit for, Kaden.”

Beyond the walls of the house, Nydara and Tellnox raised their voices in a bugle of welcome. Barden and Kaden both glanced at Mckale. “What’s going on?”

“You have a chance to meet more dragons and riders.”

Maleena stood and smiled. “Belynn and her red dragon, Farynn, have joined us as well as Brock and his gold, Olen.”

“Why so many?” Sonja frowned.

“After what happened to Mckale, we decided it’s best to have more than just two Dragon Riders in any one location. As much as we can manage it anyway with our limited numbers.”

Kaden nodded. “It makes sense. I still wish I knew who betrayed us. I don’t care to relive them hurting Mckale or you again if I can help it.”

“I’m sure all will come to light in due time,” Maleena said as her plan for the ball began to form in her mind.

A knock at the door announced Belynn’s and Brock’s arrival at the house. While Kaden let them in, Barden asked, “When have they decided to have the ball now?”

“Within the week. They’re hoping if they have it quickly this time nothing will interrupt it,” Mckale said then nodded in welcome to Belynn and Brock, making introductions. Sonja and Yaden brought in chairs from the dining table so everyone could sit.

Grandme rocked Emmaleen slowly as the infant fell asleep in her arms. “Will you be staying here as well?”

Belynn pushed her short blonde hair away from her face and knelt to pet the dog. “That is up to you. We can find another place or just stay with our dragons. There are several caves in that dormant volcano north of Gateway that the dragons prefer to sleep in when they can. It isn’t too far.”

“Nonsense, you are both welcome here. We have the room.” Barden waved them toward the extra chairs. Mola followed Belynn across the room and sat with her chin in the woman’s lap.

Maleena raised an eyebrow. “You have attracted a friend it would seem.”

Belynn’s smile reached her hazel eyes. “I’ve always had a soft spot for dogs, and I think they all know it. I haven’t met a dog yet I couldn’t befriend.”

“You have the accent of Boromar but not the braid,” Barden said.

She laughed. “Many people beyond the borders of Boromar and Galdrilene have noticed the same thing. I have no right to the braid. I never finished training. I left at twelve.”

Barden nodded. “Interesting, I didn’t know training had to be completed before the braid could be worn. How is it that Maleena can wear the same style of braid?”

“She’s not from Boromar and so can wear her hair however she likes.”

“You are a Guardian of Galdrilene, you can wear your hair however you like as well,” Maleena said.

Belynn shrugged and continued to pet the dog. “Maybe, but I’m not comfortable with doing so.”

Barden turned to Brock. “And you have no problem working side-by-side with Belynn? I don’t want any bad blood between Kanther and Boromar to spill over in my home.”

“Ye have nothin’ to worry about.” Brock smiled through his full beard. “The war ‘tween Kanther and Boromar tis dyin’ out anyway in the face o’ Shadow Dragons. And even if it wasn’t that’s between Kanther and Boromar, and has no place in Galdrilene or among riders.”

“I’m glad to hear it. There is enough strife in the world without nations battling each other over land,” Barden said.

“Di’shan Taela and the Spirit mages o’ the Tower o’ Spirit have taken a hand in endin’ the war. I imagine it won’t be long before tis all settled.”

“Amariel, the Mage Councilor for the Tower of Spirit, is helping Taela oversee negotiations for the treaty,” Maleena said as she took the sleeping babe back.

Grandme stood and motioned Sonja toward the kitchen. “With as many people as we have here, we better start the mid-day meal now.”

Maleena followed them to the kitchen, a deep sense of peace seeping into her. This house felt safe from the building war beyond its walls, and she hoped the destruction that hovered on the horizon somehow missed this one place. Perhaps it was selfish to think that way, given how many others were likely to lose everything, but she didn’t care.