Son of Ereubus (37 page)

“I can’t get the image out of my head — what she must be enduring. Garren, they are still aware of what’s going on around them. They are still conscious. Every time he touches her … she can’t even close her eyes to escape it. I can’t …” She lowered her head again and he could no longer help himself.

He pulled her into his arms. “Micah, the boy who helped you in Eidolon — I swore that if I were allowed to keep my life I would go back for him. I fear for his life, just as you fear for Sara’s. I don’t know how, but we will find a way to bring Sara back here. As soon as I get a chance, I’ll speak with your brother.”

“But what of her soul? Will she re — ”

Garren clenched his jaw. It wasn’t a question he wanted to answer. “It’s never been done, but because I was the one who took her soul, I may be able to restore it.”

She surprised him by taking his hand in hers. “Then there’s hope.”

He placed his other hand over hers and rubbed her wrist where he’d grabbed her in the cell. “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

She shook her head. “My pride maybe, but my wrist is fine. I knew you were being untruthful. I just didn’t fully understand why.”

“And how were you able to tell?”

She held her mouth in a tight line as he finished his question. “Wouldn’t you like to know? You’ll have to earn that next kiss, Garren. And considering that you had to save my life for the last one, I’d say you have your work cut out for you.”

He smirked. “Indeed.”

Roahn came to stand beside them and started to rest a hand on Garren’s shoulder, but clutched it to his breast instead. His features turned in pain and he cleared his throat. “I adored Indeara and it’s her life and love for you that’s saved you. Please, don’t ask anything else of me. I have nothing left to give.”

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY
-E
IGHT

JUST THE BEGINNING

B

ronach sat in his chair in the library, the Book of Life open before him. He’d had no need to attend the execution, for he could watch words appear on the pages, as if penned by an unseen hand, recording everything as it happened. His presence there would have been for naught, since the covenant forbade him from interfering with the due consequences of Garren’s actions. He couldn’t have stopped it had he wanted to.

But what Azrian didn’t know was that Bronach had already been told by the seventh Laionai, who had foreseen it, that Garren would be pardoned.

A draft swept through the room, flipping the pages of the book. Bronach glanced up to see the light from the candle flicker, casting shadows across what might have been the darkest mistake he’d ever made.

And so, with the covenant in place, Irial and Èanna were sent to the created realms; Irial born into the cursed lineage of the Ereubinians, Èanna born into the blameless blood of the Adorians. Unaware of who they really are, or of the weight that rests upon the outcome of their lives, they will come face to face as strangers in the mortal world.

He could hear the sounds of preparations being made to accommodate the crowd that would gather for Michael’s address that evening. The elders had decreed the age of guardians had come to an end. They felt secure behind the divide, but Michael was right. This wasn’t the end of anything.

“It is just the beginning.”

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY
-N
INE

A FAMILIARITY

A

riana saw Michael braced against the wall with one hand on his forehead.

“Is it Garren that concerns you?”

“There are things that have happened in the past with some of our people that are not such simple matters to forgive. Adoria as a whole has fought for so long for righteousness’ sake, that what is for the good of all is what’s held with highest regard. This is not true for those who have spent much of their lifetime in Middengard. They weren’t born of man, but their souls are accustomed to his ways.”

“You’re referring to the Braeden, but something in your tone tells me that you’re thinking of someone specifically. Is it Duncan?”

Michael nodded. “He lost a wife and a stepdaughter, the latter at Garren’s hands.”

Ariana felt her stomach turn again. She had mixed emotions. Her heart felt one way, but her reason and experiences told her something completely different. “That’s why they are not coming tonight? Is Jareth coming?”

“Yes on both counts. Jareth may be part human, but he has been raised in this realm. It’s not in his character to dishonor me by going against my wishes. The Braeden may never be able to accept Garren. I almost, even despite my recent change in perception, have a difficult time trusting that what I have been shown to be true is true. This is my burden to bear. Please, don’t worry yourself about it. I’ll deal with Duncan.”

“Okay.”

He turned to walk back to the dining hall, saying below his breath, “I’ll see you shortly.”

She could feel the distress that Michael was trying so unsuccessfully to hide. She hoped Jareth would be able to provide him with some comfort or insight that she couldn’t.

She came to the room that had been readied for Garren, and paused to brace her palms against the door frame. Her conversation had reminded her of home, what she’d once known as home. She still suffered vivid recurrences in her mind of the day Palingard had fallen. She regretted her last conversation with Bella. Her hand curled into a tight fist as she remembered dropping the cloak in spite to the ground. She had no idea what she’d say to Garren now that they were alone again. She lowered her head and exhaled. His voice caught her off guard.

“I’ll leave you alone, if that’s what you wish.”

She turned to see Garren standing in the darkened refuge of a large beam that supported the hall. When he stepped into the light, she noted that he’d changed clothes. He looked so different, she almost didn’t recognize him. No longer clothed in black, he wore brown, brushed suede pants and a light cream shirt. A cloak of the same color hung over his shoulders. The silver clasps on his clothing glinted in the light from the torch that hung on the wall.

“No … I’m not — ”

“Ariana, I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re uncomfortable right now. I don’t want to be any more of a burden to you than I’ve already been.”

Ariana leaned her back against the door. “I was thinking about Palingard.” An expression of sincere regret fell over his face and she rushed to stop him from speaking it aloud. “I said things to loved ones that I can’t take back, Garren. You aren’t the only one capable of making mistakes. I was also thinking about my brother. He has a lot weighing on him and it frustrates me that I cannot help him bear it.”

“That feels like a lifetime ago.”

She could hear the helplessness in his voice; she could see it in his eyes. They appeared much darker in the shadows of the hall, where he now stood, compared to what she’d seen earlier on the platform.

“Why didn’t you kill me?”

Stepping closer, Garren looked as though he was about to reach out to her, but held his arms against his chest instead. “I don’t think that I can explain it. Something caught me. It was almost like being awakened from a heavy sleep, as if seeing your face stirred something in me that had long slumbered.”

“A familiarity,” she whispered.

He nodded. “Yes, if there were but a thing deeper. It revealed everything in a light that I knew nothing of, stripped me of all the things I’d once called truth.”

“When did you learn of your mother?”

“Tadraem, our High Priest — the man who raised me — told me right before Micah killed him.” A grave expression darkened his eyes further. “Do you have any idea what you risked coming into that sanctuary?”

“No less than what you risked with your intent to take me to Adoria’s border. Michael told me that’s what you were about to do when they arrived.” Garren opened his mouth, an incredulous look on his face, but she stopped him before he could disagree. “But, I’ll admit, there is much about your world that I don’t know — only what I’ve read from Adoria’s history books. I have so many questions.”

“Perhaps you could show me your world first. I’ve seen enough darkness to last me the rest of my life. There’s nothing in my past worth salvaging.”

“You aren’t comfortable with tonight are you?”

“Would you be?”

“I suppose not. Are you still willing to go?”

He nodded his head. “I won’t do anything to disappoint Michael and he’s asked that I be there.” He reached for her hand as if he expected her to refuse the gesture.

She grinned as she took his hand but wasn’t about to give him too much assurance. “You won’t receive the reaction you’re expecting. Not from those who’ll be present tonight.” She started to lead him toward the dining hall.

“It’s the ones without wings who concern me most.”

“The Braeden. You knew of their existence?”

“Yes, but we weren’t sure how they came to be. Were they born without wings?”

“No, their wings are removed at birth. They’re taken from their families in infancy — there are two houses — The Iidolis, where Michael was trained, and the Aidolis, where the Braeden were raised.”

“Michael and his men were also schooled away from their families?”

“Our father was Braeden, so Michael couldn’t have been. Traditional Adorian fighters are usually the children of Adorians like my father, though that’s not always the case. Jareth is the child of one of the elders. Michael never knew our mother and was never told where Father was when he was away.”

“Where is your mother now?”

“She was killed in Palingard, years ago.”

“I’m sorry.” He squeezed her hand.

“It was a long time ago. As my brother has said, you can’t undo what’s been done.”

“You are a lot like him, you know.”

She smiled. “I wish that he and I had known each other when we were younger.” She laughed. “I’ve been told that we act alike on more than one occasion, which amuses me, because I don’t think we could be any more different. I always felt too serious in Palingard, and yet here I feel so undignified, almost foolish. Sara would never believe that I’d ever be accused of such a thing …” Her voice trailed off as she thought of her friend.

Garren must have sensed her discomfort. He stopped walking, and stepped out in front of her, taking her by the shoulders. “We will save her. If I do nothing else to redeem myself, it will be that much that’s accomplished.”

C
HAPTER
F
ORTY

NO MERE LORD

A

iden rushed through the castle. His stomach still felt curdled with the rancid stench of the Ordakais’ breath. They had breathed hot and heavy in his face and the mere sight of them had made him tremble. Had they free will, they would have been much more terrifying than the Moriors, simply for their likeness to children. He reached the doors to his chambers and smiled as he entered.

She was curled up on the floor in the far corner of the room. He had no interest in having to travel back out among the humans every time he wanted her in his presence.

The room was dimly lit. He walked over to her and leaned down to see if she was asleep. He could tell by her breathing that she was. Grabbing her by the arm, he pulled her to her feet. Slamming her hard against the wall, he began to laugh.

“You seem quite cold. Such a shame that you cannot go of your own accord and put on a cloak.” He mocked her, making his body falsely tremble as he gripped his fingers around her arm, bearing down hard into her flesh. “I’m proud of you for pointing out such a foul being. That girl had no business being here. If it weren’t for you, she might have lived. You have served me well,
wife
.” He thought it humorous that perhaps she’d at one time had ridiculous notions of a real marriage. Humans were such pathetic creatures.

As he released her arm and left her standing against the wall, he took long strides, dramatically, around the room. “I will tell you this, you should be incredibly grateful to me. I’ve now saved your life on two occasions. Had you not been chosen as my beautiful bride, had you not been specially picked for me, then you would be dead along with the rest of those who were taken from your village.” He rushed upon her and ran his hands up her bare thighs, then higher. He could just imagine the repulsion that screamed inside of her.

Laughing, he reached around her neck and loosened the ties that held the bare sheath she wore and it slipped to the floor. “I’m really not in the mood for company tonight, but seeing that you are already here and so eager for my advances, I suppose I cannot deny you such things.” He took her again by the arms and threw her to the bed, then leaned down over her.

“What are you thinking in there?” Sara didn’t respond, which infuriated him. “Answer me!”

Her eyes welled with tears and he sat up, horrified. He reached a hand back and brought it hard against her face. “You will not display such sentiments in my presence. Do you understand me?” Upon her subsequent lack of an answer, he grabbed her chin in his hand and shook her. “Did you not hear me?”

“Yes, my Lord,” she whispered.

He sighed and said under his breath, “To you, I am no mere Lord. I am a God, and this night, you are blessed to worship me.” He started to unbuckle his belt and saw something flash in her eyes. For a brief moment he thought he might have recognized it as anger, when he thought twice, and realized that it couldn’t have been. He must be imagining things.

When he was finished, he stepped back off of the bed and stretched. He pointed toward the corner where she’d been when he had returned. “Out of my bed. You disgust me.” She rose, the discomfort in her leg obvious. As she started to struggle, he reached over and pulled hard on her shoulder, hurling her away from him. “Stand against the wall.” He walked over toward a basin of water that sat beside a large wardrobe, chilled from the air. The night had grown cold, and Sara’s body reacted violently to the now-frigid temperature.