Destiny: Child Of Sky (83 page)

'Taxes? Do you charge them of Rhapsody as well? What kind of an account are you keeping for her expenses, and how do you expect to be paid?"

Achmed stopped and turned, leveling a sour look at Ashe. "I would pretend you have the ability to understand, but why bother? You think you're a dragon, Ashe, but you are really just a giant leech. You're one to talk of payback. She has given you everything—what has she gotten in return? What have any of us seen as a return on our investment?

'Sooner or later you'll see her at the Cymrian Council, something she again will be responsible for calling, despite the fact that it was your bloody family's responsibility. When the arse-rags meet, you will undoubtedly be made Lord Cymrian, a role for which, I might add, you're perfect. Being worse than your grandfather would take some doing, and I don't think you have it in you. You aren't a wastrel, just a waste. You have the power to be the largest rock in history—all you have to do is fall into the pond—but you can't raise yourself to make the slightest ripple. Whatever your titles may be, don't flatter yourself to presume that you are her equal. She will outlive you, Ashe. We will all outlive you, like a blighted crop or a bad neighbor. Go away. We've already had to purify this island once." He turned and walked back to the boat.

Awareness dawned, and Ashe saw past the barbed insults to what the Fir-bolg king was really saying. “It was your way of being near her, coming here."

Achmed kept walking, but slowed his pace. “To be near her, all I'd have had to do was go with her to Tyrian. Stop assuming that everyone has the same motives you do."

'You miss her, and you came down here to be with her, in a way, didn't you?"

'What you think has no bearing on anything, Ashe. Sooner or later you will figure that out." Achmed tossed his boots into the boat as he approached it.

'You love her too, don't you?" Ashe's voice was mild, resonant with understanding.

Achmed stopped, but did not turn around. He was silent for several moments.

When he spoke his voice was dry but contained none of his usual sarcasm.

'No, Ashe; you love her too. And do you want to hear something amusing? Killing the Rakshas? She still thinks I did it for you." He climbed aboard the boat, fit the oars in the oarlocks, and rowed away out of sight.

By the time Ashe got to Tyrian, Rhapsody had already come and gone.

Oelendra was busy repairing a shield when the door to her cottage opened.

Surprise, then delight, then dismay crossed her face when Rhapsody came in, hanging her cloak and weapons at the door. Oelendra stood up to embrace her queen, relief filling her soul and allowing her to breathe freely for the first time in weeks.

'Thank the stars,“ she murmured, burying her face in the shining hair and pulling Rhapsody even tighter. "You're all right. Thank the stars."

'I have, twice daily, as usual,“ Rhapsody answered, not pulling away. "The F'dor is dead."

'I know,“ Oelendra said, drawing her over to the hearth and lowering her into the willow rocking chair she liked. "The news has spread quickly; Rial came by yesterday with word from Roland, through Bethany. No one seemed to have any word of you, however."

Rhapsody nodded, accepting the mug Oelendra held out to her. “Good. We tried to be as anonymous as possible. What was said?"

'That Lanacan Orlando was in the midst of some rites in Ryles Cedelian the basilica of Bethe Corbair, when the bell tower was struck by lightning. Poor soul, he was incinerated instantly, along with the sanctuary of the basilica."

A wry smile came to rest on the queen's face. “An amazingly lucky thing that the bell tower itself was undamaged, wouldn't you say?"

Oelendra laughed. “I would. Now, what really happened?" Rhapsody related the details of the fight as Oelendra listened raptly, nodding from time to time, or wincing when the tale warranted it. When she had finished, Oelendra put down her own mug and crossed her arms over her knees.

'Though I must admit I am thrilled to see you, why did you come back here instead of going to Elysian?"

Rhapsody shuddered inwardly at the thought. “Why would I go there? It's haunted with old memories."

'Well,“ Oelendra said awkwardly, "one of those old memories is waiting for you there in desperate fear." When Rhapsody looked puzzled, Oelendra sighed.

“Gwydion."

'Ashe is in Elysian? How do you know?"

'I saw him not long ago; the very night you went against the demon, in fact."

'What is he doing in Elysian?"

'By now I would say he is probably panicking,“ Oelendra answered. "He is waiting to see you, to assure himself that you survived the fight."

'I doubt he is panicking any longer, then," Rhapsody said, taking a sip of dot mwl.

“I asked Achmed to look in on Elysian when he got back, to make sure the house and gardens were all right and such. He'll let Ashe know I survived."

'I think he would like to hear it from you,“ said Oelendra. "You should talk to him, Rhapsody."

Rhapsody choked on her drink, then coughed. "No, thank you, Oelendra, that is the last thing I need right now. I told Ashe I would see him at the Cymrian Council.

That, by the way, is why I'm here."

'The Cymrian Council?"

'Yes. It's time. I'm here in Tyrian to make preparations for being away for quite a while. If I understand the old manuscripts we found in Gwylliam's, they say the Summoner of the Council must stay within those lands from the time the Council horn is blown until the entire assemblage shows up, or the Cymrians can lose the compelling need that forces them to come."

'Yes, that is how it works."

'The gathering stage could take several months, so I need to have things in order here. I'd like to meet with you and Rial later today, if that's convenient."

'As you wish. So you're going to summon the Cymrians?"

'Well, I'm going to try,“ said Rhapsody, putting down her empty mug. She shook her head when Oelendra nodded toward the pot. "No, thank you. It was just what I needed to calm my nerves." She saw that Oelendra was examining her face; she rose quickly and turned away, walking to the window and looking out into the light of early spring.

-^

It was too late. Oelendra had seen all she needed to. She decided to tread lightly.

“You should go to Elysian first, dearest. Go see Gwydion. Let him reassure himself at least."

An ugly laugh escaped the queen. “No. He'll have to be satisfied with getting word firsthand from Achmed, Oelendra. He is not a part of my life anymore, and frankly, I have a few more weighty things on my mind right now. I think it's abominable that he would leave his new wife alone to wait in Elysian, anyway."

Oelendra coughed. “I think he would agree with that statement wholeheartedly,"

she said. “But you should see him, darling. He is waiting to give you your memories back."

Rhapsody looked at her in mild surprise. “He told you that?"

'Aye. Don't be angry with him, Rhapsody; he was very upset when I saw him."

Rhapsody looked back out the window. “I don't want those memories back, Oelendra. He told me what some of them were the last time I saw him, and I don't think I can survive any more deception and lies. Did you know that Llauron is not dead?"

'Aye, Gwydion told me. I can't say I was surprised."

'Well, believe me, I certainly was. Do you have any idea what it feels like to know that I, the woman who defended the Patriarch, called starfire down onto the Invoker, the head of the religion the people of Tyrian and I are more closely connected with, burning him alive? That the two men I have gone out of my way for more than anyone since I came to this land have used me in unspeakable ways to advance their own causes?“ Rhapsody turned finally to face her mentor, and Oelendra's heart went cold at the expression in the queen's eyes. They were glowing with green fire, flickering with angry tears. "You have no idea what this little demon hunt has cost me, Oelendra."

Oelendra rose. “I think I do."

'No, you don't" Rhapsody spat. She clutched the windowsill and tried to maintain control; she had much to get through before she could let her fear loose.

Oelendra came up behind her and took her by the shoulders. “I do know what it is like to lose someone you love with all your heart to the F'dor, Rhapsody. I know you miss Jo, but Gwydion is still here. You must allow him to give you back your memories, no matter how painful, for without them you will never be whole."

Rhapsody shook Oelendra's hands off her violently, and turned around slowly. The look of devastation in her eyes made the Lirin warrior's soul shudder.

'I will never be whole anyway, Oelendra. I can't see Ashe right now. Please, stop it.

I told him I would not see him until the Cymrian Council, and I do not intend to break my word. Now leave me in peace.“ She turned and walked to the door. "Can I expect you this afternoon?“ "Tell me,“ Oelendra said quietly. "Tell me, Rhapsody."

Rhapsody knew better than to dodge. “I can't." “Can't, or are afraid to?"

'Both."

Oelendra put her arms out silently. Rhapsody stood for a moment by the door, her hand on the latch. Then she shook her head. “Don't, Oelendra, if you comfort me I will not make it through. I have to keep going until I can safely lay it down."

'Then tell me from over there.“ Oelendra went back to the fire and sat in her rocking chair, and pointed to a small wooden desk chair by the window. "Tell me as if you are giving me a scouting report. Or like you're planning the spring festival, or as though you're updating me on plans for the children.“ The queen's face turned white. "Sit down, Rhapsody," Oelendra said gently, but firmly.

Numbly, Rhapsody sat. Oelendra waited patiently, and in silence.

Finally Rhapsody looked down into her lap, and squeezed her hands together until the blood left her knuckles. “There is a possibility that I am pregnant," she said hollowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Oelendra let her breath out quietly. She hid her smile, knowing what joy the news would bring to Gwydion, and how thrilled Rhapsody would be once she knew the truth. She just needed to overcome the misconception that her husband was wed to another. “All the more reason to tell him, darling," she said sensibly. “He has a right to know."

'It's not his."

Oelendra was thunderstruck, but outwardly all she did was blink. “Oh? Who is the father, then?"

Rhapsody raised her eyes slowly and locked her gaze onto Oelendra's. “The F'dor."

It was now her turn to watch her friend begin to shake uncontrollably. “I'm sorry, Oelendra. You wanted to know."

Oelendra rose from her chair and paced before the fireplace, trying to keep Rhapsody from seeing her face. When she had a modicum of control back she came to the queen and crouched down before her, taking her hands.

'Explain, Rhapsody. What's going on?"

Rhapsody looked away. “I wish I knew for certain. The demon was able to speak to me from inside; Achmed and Grunthor couldn't hear him. He told me that the Rakshas had taken Ashe's place, and had—had—planted his seed inside me. He knew about a night when—when it could have happened. He knew a great many things he shouldn't have, Oelendra; and when he spoke the word that made the seed begin to grow, I could feel it. He said that it had steeped a long time in his blood, so now it was demonic, not human like the others."

'You're taking his word for all this?"

'No, not absolutely,“ Rhapsody answered quietly. "But, as I said, it's hard to discount when he knows things that would be difficult to guess at."

'But not impossible?"

She considered. “No, I suppose not. But I have been nauseous and in pain ever since."

'That could be nerves, or fear, or both. I know I have felt that way myself."

Rhapsody was on the verge of losing her temper. “Yes, Oelendra, it could be. It could also be that I am in the process of being the vehicle by which the F'dor returns to the Earth." She stood and went to the coat peg, retrieving her cloak.

Oelendra could not watch her. “Is it really possible, Rhapsody? Demons are expert liars. F'dor can take the smallest shred of the truth and build it into something terrifying, playing on your deepest fears. Could he have convinced you of this despite its impossibility?"

Rhapsody belted her sword, and came back to where Oelendra still crouched down, and bent beside her, resting her hand on the warrior's cheek. Oelendra turned after a moment and looked into her eyes, and cringed at what she saw there.

'I know you don't want to believe this, but it is definitely possible,“ Rhapsody said softly. "In fact, the more I reflect on it, the more I think it is likely. But it doesn't matter, Oelendra. I can't know the answer to it now. I can't, because if it is true, I won't be able to go on. So help me, please, as you always have.

'I need to get through the Council, and finish what we've started with the reunification and healing of the Cymrians. Before that, I have to be certain Tyrian is in good hands, which is where you can help. And when those two things are accomplished, I will seek out the truth. But I can assure you of the truth of one thing, Oelendra, on my word and my soul: if it is true, if I am carrying this demonic child, it will not be born. It will not revisit itself on this land. I will die first. I have already arranged it. Now, I'll see you with Rial later. Thank you for the dot mwl." She kissed the older woman and stood, walking to the door.

“Rhapsody?"

She turned to see the ancient warrior staring out the window. “Yes?" Oelendra did not blink, looking into the distance. “I love you as if you were my own daughter. I wish you were, more than you could ever know. Look after yourself."

Rhapsody watched her for a moment, then left as quietly as she had come in.

With the knowledge that Tyrian was in good hands, Rhapsody headed northeast on her way to the Bolglands. The earth around her was beginning to stretch in the relief of the thaw that was coming, tufts of frozen grass and ground emerging here and there. The trees of the forests and the fields were starting to send forth tiny precursor buds heralding the new leaves that would arrive with spring, and the hardiest early snowdrops were blooming everywhere.