Second Stone (9 page)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

After the perpetual darkness that had been her recent reality, the flickering lantern light came as a harsh assault to fragile eyes. Emariya fluttered her eyelids, working to acclimate to the light. The room around her started to shift into focus. Her gaze locked with the intense gray eyes hovering only a few inches above her face.

Emariya swallowed, trying to soothe her scratchy, dry throat. Forcing her muscles to remember how to function, she lifted her hand to brush Torian’s hair out of his eyes where it had tumbled over his forehead. She wanted so much to just touch his face, to smooth away the worry as he peered down at her. Her hand jerked and refused to lift all the way. Glancing down, she saw that her wrist was bound to Torian’s by a braided cord of straw.

“You’re still here,” she managed to croak out.

A wounded look crossed his face before being replaced by a determined set of his jaw. “If you want, I’ll go. I just had to see you wake first.” He stood and started to unbind his wrist.

Without considering what she was doing, Emariya used all her strength to tug on her bound wrist, catching Torian by surprise. Losing his balance, he toppled down toward her.

Her eyes flashed. For a moment, neither of them moved. She gave him a little half smile and then said, “Still want to leave me?”

“Never,” he whispered breathlessly just before his lips crushed hers. Her heart swelled as she reached up and touched his face, running her thumb along his jaw.

Somewhere behind Torian, someone cleared their throat.

As he started to pull away, Emariya noticed her strange surroundings for the first time. Instead of their camp, she was in someone’s house. Albeit a tiny house.

Torian unbound her wrist, but kept her hand clasped firmly in his. He sat back on the bed beside Emariya, affording her a broader view of the two people standing behind him. She glanced to Torian for reassurance. Squinting back at the couple, she thought they looked vaguely familiar.

“My locket!” she cried out, pointing at the woman. “You’re the woman in my locket. Are you—?”

“Your mother’s mother. Alara Roth,” the woman finished for her. Tentatively, she stepped closer to the bed, where she crouched at Emariya’s side. Torian released her hand, but Emariya shrank away from the woman’s offered palm. Was her grandmother like her mother?

Torian’s solid arm slipped around her shoulders, pulling her nearly into his lap. His lips were at her ear, whispering. “You’re safe here. They…they just helped save your life. Without their help—” His voice cracked and he abandoned his statement, but his touch said it all.

Patient but hopeful eyes peered back at her as Emariya lifted her gaze to meet her grandmother’s. “Pleased to meet you,” Emariya mumbled.

“I think I’ll get some air, let you visit for a bit.” Torian smiled and stood. He took a casual step toward the door, but his eyes lingered on her for an extra moment.

“No!” Emariya reached out, trying to cling to his arm, but caught only air. Panic shot through her and she shoved back the blankets to try and stand. Scrambling to her feet, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her and she had to lean back.

Torian was instantly at her side. “It’s all right, Riya, I won’t go if you don’t want me to.”

Relaxing only slightly, she nodded.

“Don’t get yourself so worked up, dear. You need to rest,” Alara scolded.

Once she was sure Torian wasn’t going to try and leave her alone, Emariya let her gaze drift to the man who’d so far been silent. As their eyes met, he stepped forward.

His voice was gravelly, rough and filled with unbridled emotion. “You are so much more than your mother.”

Tears pooled in her eyes and spilled over. Her entire life, she’d been told how like her mother she was. After learning of her mother’s misguided participation in her brother’s plans, she didn’t want to be anything like her. She was determined that she wouldn’t let her own anger make her jaded.

Torian studied her intently. “Are you really all right?”

Summoning her most reassuring smile, she nodded. “I think so. But could I perhaps have some water?” Her throat felt gritty, as if she’d swallowed dry corn kernels.

“Of course, my dear. In fact,” Alara said, glancing between the other man and Torian, “if you like, we could fill the washbasin. I could help you clean up and perhaps get you into a fresh gown. And I’m sure you must be starving. Would that be all right?”

Swallowing her nerves, Emariya agreed. As much as she didn’t want to be away from Torian for even a moment, fresh clothes and hot food sounded too good to pass up.

Once the washbasin had been filled, Torian gave her hand a quick squeeze and headed outside with her grandfather to check on his horse. As she stood up, dizziness rushed through her head and for a moment terror gripped her, leaving her afraid that she was falling back into her mother’s darkness. Alara’s firm touch under her elbow steadied her, and Emariya gave her grandmother an appreciative smile.

Emariya hadn’t realized just how weak she’d become. Each of her muscles protested, screaming with the strain of sudden use. She had to fight to choke back her anger, furious at being reduced to the role of a feeble, helpless child. The warm water soothed away some of her temper as it washed away the dirt and grime. Once she was clean, her grandmother rummaged around before holding up a simple blue dress.

“I’m sure it’s nothing compared to what you are used to, but it’s clean,” Alara offered, holding out the gown while chewing her lip. She wouldn’t meet Emariya’s eyes. “It belonged to your mother, once.”

Grasping the woman’s hands instead of the gown, Emariya smiled as their eyes connected.

Only the hope in Alara’s face kept Emariya from politely declining the gown. She was sure Torian must have brought one of her own in his pack. She wanted nothing of her mother’s ever again. But to decline would have dimmed the warm light radiating in her grandmother’s smile. She could fill a need for her just this once, couldn’t she? And perhaps a need in herself, too. Not a need to be like her mother—she’d had enough of that for a lifetime—but a need to be mothered.

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” She pretended not to notice the tears collecting in the older woman’s eyes. The gown truly was beautiful. A deep, sapphire blue, it matched Emariya’s eyes perfectly. The elegant sleeves were crisscrossed with delicate silver embroidery that resembled a net. The same pattern was displayed near the neck, as well. There was no mistaking that the gown had been created for a daughter of Sheas.

Leaning on her grandmother as necessary for support, Emariya dressed as quickly as she was able, and then let herself be guided to a chair at the table. Her grandmother began to soothe all the tangles out of her hair with gentle hands.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone to take care of,” Alara whispered. “Your mother—she never liked to sit still long enough for me to do her hair. She was a happy child, though. Mostly, anyway.”

“It was her.” Emotion welled in her throat, threatening to close it off. For so long she’d clung to her imaginary notions of who her mother would have been. She’d craved any little tidbit, wishing she could know her and feeling cheated out of having a real, complete family. She’d woken up today, feeling the emptiness of losing that glorified image of her mother, only to find family she’d never thought she would see. Irreconcilable feelings of grief at her loss and gratitude at her good fortune fought for the forefront of her mind.

“I know,” Alara patted her shoulder. “Kahl—your grandfather, that is—he spoke with his mother. She told us.”

“I think I saw her,” Emariya exclaimed. “She came; Mother was frightened of her, I think.”

Alara laughed. “Most of us have been frightened of her at some point or another. Carah was a force to be reckoned with. The locket you mentioned—it used to be hers.” Alara gave a tiny shudder. “Roth women are some of the most impetuous, passionate women one could ever meet.”

Just then, the door creaked open and Kahl stepped in, Torian behind him. They paused in the doorway, stamping the snow off their boots. Kahl grunted. “As if you are much better,” he said with a twinkle in his Roth blue eyes.

“Well, I had to be to catch your eye. You wouldn’t have had much use for a meek little mouse, now would you?” As Alara threw her hair back over her shoulder in mock indignation, Emariya could see the beauty she’d once been.

Kahl smiled back at Torian. “The Three help you, son,” he cautioned him, “this one’s from a long line of hardheaded women.”

“Well, while we’re at it, I’ve a fair share of my father’s lack of patience,” Emariya added. “You sure you can handle it?” She leveled her eyes at Torian.

His eyes danced as he crossed the room. Taking her by the hand, he pulled her to her feet, supporting her. “Absolutely, my
Acimastrea
.”

Emariya’s cheeks flushed as she leaned into him, letting his familiar heady scent surround her.

“I am sorry,” he whispered.

“I know. But enough of that. There’s too much I need to tell you to waste time on apologies. It was my mother all along.” She glanced hesitantly at Alara and Kahl. How would her grandparents handle hearing what their daughter had been up to?

Kahl sank down to a seat at the table as Torian nodded. “Yes, that’s what your grandfather said. She was keeping you from waking up.”

Alara busied herself with hanging a pot on the hearth while Emariya began to explain. “No, it’s more than that. She has been helping Reeve all along. In fact, I think she sent Khane to Reeve in the first place.”

Behind Emariya, Alara clattered a pot loudly as she muttered something under her breath.

Kahl sighed. “She did always think that binding the Stones was the answer.”

“But why?” Torian asked.

“It was a combination of things, I think. We sent her brother away because he was headstrong and impetuous, even more so than most of us. Had he gotten his way, he would have brought us to war with Thalmas and Eltar both. But Valencia, she was kind. A thoroughly sweet child. Don’t get me wrong, she was passionate, and lively, but she always tried to make everyone happy. From the very start, she understood people. She knew how to get people to do exactly what she wanted.

“The servants would fall over themselves to make her happy. And she always had an uncanny ability to understand the true nature of people. Suitors lined up and she turned them away with hardly a second look. She knew most of them only wanted the status of marrying her. Whoever she took for a husband would have one day helped lead Sheas, you see. She took her choice very seriously. She was born to lead, and she never expected anything less.

“She wanted to find a worthy match for herself, someone who could stand beside her and lead. It was her vision that someday Sheas might lead all of The Three Corners back to prosperity.

“Then, one day, she fell in love.

“My sister Celiah’s husband, Rees Hendel, invited his cousin to visit Sheas Harbor.”

Emariya’s eyes grew wide at the mention of Rees.

Kahl continued his story.“I don’t know for sure that Rees expected Valencia to fall in love with Reid.”

Suddenly, Emariya was pretty sure why her brother was named Reeve: her mother had been honoring her first love. A sick feeling twisted in her stomach as she realized that her mother had once loved someone other than her father.

“But whether he planned it or it simply happened, the result was the same. They were to be married, but as luck would have it, it never happened. Alrec came home, crying of Eltar pushing past the Borderlands into Sheas, demanding we drive them back and take their lands, too.

“Most of us brushed it aside. It really wasn’t a big concern. We’d been embattled for ages with Thalmas; we couldn’t split our focus to Eltar. I don’t know exactly what he told him, but Alrec convinced Reid and a few of the other boys that there was glory to be had. They set out, determined to make names for themselves against the smaller, weaker Eltar. Instead, they only earned gravestones.”

Emariya gasped. So many had died so needlessly in her world’s broken history. When would it end? Apparently that had been her mother’s reaction, as well.

“Valencia was heartbroken, but she wasn’t one to wallow. She vowed that the fighting would stop. She set her sights on Eltar and went before the Great Council. I imagine she intended to seduce Oren from the start, but from what we’ve heard, she didn’t have much trouble.”

Sympathy for her father mingled with her growing anger toward her mother. Valencia had known Oren, another Stone, wouldn’t be able to resist her. Somehow, her mother had learned of the pull. “The pull of the Stones,” Emariya said. “It would have made it easy.” She tried to ignore the exhaustion clouding her mind. She’d been sleeping for what felt like ages—she shouldn’t be so tired. Not to mention she was afraid that if she slept again, she might not wake.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean,” Kahl said, taking a drink from the flask Alara had set before him on the table.

“It’s hard to explain.” Emariya graced Torian with a private smile. “But for us, it’s like an undeniable pull. Like finding half of yourself waiting for you inside someone else. I don’t think we could manage to not be together.”

Torian returned her smile. “From what Emariya has heard, that’s how it was for her parents, as well.”

“And how it will most likely be for Reeve and Terin,” Emariya added sadly. Torian’s eyes darkened as he looked away.

“I had no idea. Her letters told us how happy she was that she had found another to love, but she didn’t explain the pull of the Stones.” Alara set steaming bowls of soup in front of them. The sweet, spicy aroma made Emariya’s empty stomach flip in anticipation.

She swallowed a delicious spoonful before continuing, “Mother wanted peace no matter what, from what she told me. After Russell killed her, she only became more determined. She said the only hope for our world was for the Stones to be bound and The Corners united. She said that while she once hoped we could unite peacefully, she’d given up on that. With her guidance, Reeve is going to take it by force.”

“Oh, dear Stones.” Alara sat at the table next to her husband.