The Whispering (24 page)

I don
’t know what to do.  I feel helpless because I know he is right, and yet I run through several possibilities in my head for something, anything, that can save him.  He brings me back to the moment when he goes into a fit of coughing and spittle of blood appears around his mouth and nose.  Walem moves around Ka and gently wipes the blood away.  He returns to his spot after the king thankfully waves him away.

“
Father, I have to know about Dorlan,”
I whisper for his thoughts only.

He looks at me with eyes full of sadness and guilt. 
“He is innocent, Tharin.  I sent him to the Sithide and in return his sisters died as the result of that decision.  He knew nothing of their deaths and of what happened to Alorn until much later.  But when he did, I forbade him to retaliate and made him swear to secrecy his mission I set upon him.  Only my brothers and I know the truth.”

I feel his mind grow weary and I pull back. 
Whatever his reason, they were his and for the sake of Velesi, I am certain. 

Finally, t
he king looks around the room and sees us gathered at his bedside. 

“
I am a king above kings for I am abundant with the love of five sons who will live and carry my legacy.  I go to meet Lea’ith, she has waited long enough; and I will see your sister, E’leiana and brother, Phoris.  We will wait the long centuries before you join us.”

He turns to me,
asking, “You will take care of them won’t you, Tharin?  I leave them and the fate of our people in your hands and the hands of your queen.  Be a good king...both of you,” he adds, clasping Tolan’s hand tightly. “And our people will follow you to the end.”

He looks at Ka and as if alerted by an invisible nudge, Ka rises.  He spreads his arms above the bed and begins to pray in the ancient tongue.  I did not have to see my father pass, as I felt his
energy leave him through the hand I clasp tightly.  The moment his spirit slips to the other side, Ziri rises from our father’s body, drops to the floor and throws himself at me.  I grab him in a fierce hug afraid he would slip from me too.  I look at Tolan through tears I can’t seem to control and watch him rise to embrace Mellis, who still has his hand on the king’s foot.  I wait for Alorn to escape as he usually does in moments like this, but instead, he moves to the bed and sits next to Mellis.  He wraps an arm around Mellis and lets his younger cousin cry onto his shoulder, wrapped within Tolan’s embrace.

None of us notice when Ka finishes and quietly declares,
“The king is dead, long live the king.”

~ * ~

Chapter Twenty-Three

~ Lily ~

I continue to stand at the double doors even after Ka closed them.  My heart aches for Tharin and I want to rush in to hold each one of them and share their pain; to comfort them and let them know I am here if they need me.  It isn’t until familiar hands grab hold of my shoulders and gently pull me away from the doors.  Marilyn.  I turn to her and she hugs me tightly.

“
I’ve missed you,” she says, leaning back and tilting her head until I finally look at her.  “I guess we have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

“
I know,” I answer quietly, still thinking of Tharin and the guys locked in the room.  Thankfully, Marilyn lets it drop as she hugs me again.

“
Never mind, we’ll have time later.  Julia has filled me in somewhat,” she says, and then hesitates.   “So,” she continues, “you’re getting married?  And to a prince of all people.  When did you start dating?”

I
let out a short laugh.  “It kind of just happened, Marilyn.  But I’ve met my mom and spoke with my brother.  I haven’t found my dad yet, but...”  I steal a glance at Dalim.  “I’m sure he’ll show up soon.”

Marilyn snakes a loose lock
of hair behind my ear, a thing she has done often enough and smiles.

“
Okay, Lily.  When you’re ready, we’ll sit and talk all about it.” 

She kisses my forehead before guiding me back to the sofa where Julia stands waiting.  I rush to her and we embrace, sharing in our helplessness to be with the elves we love.  As we sit, Dalim moves to
the opposite sofa and, to my surprise, Marilyn sits beside him.  She takes his hand, comforting him.  The look on her face as she watches the battle weary guard lost in his grief shows more than condolences.  I find it strange as I have never seen Marilyn give any man a second thought.  Did something happen between the two of them in Perth?

Julia wipes at her tears before saying,
“Are you okay?”

I nod, snifflin
g.  “Yeah.  You?”

She also nods, saying,
“It’s strange.  I’m sad the king is gone, but I really hurt for Tolan.  I just want to hold him and make it all go away.  I’ve never felt like this before – I don’t like it.”  She pauses for a moment before turning to me.  “Can I ask you something?”

“
Yeah, of course.”

“
What happened while you guys were out there?  When Tolan arrived I thought he was Tharin.  I mean he acted like Tharin and his hair and facial expressions were all Tharin.  But when he rushed over and tried to…to kiss me, I almost knocked his head off.  And then he says, ‘oh, I forgot’ and next thing I know he’s Tolan.”

I blink at her and ask,
“He didn’t tell you?”

“
No,” she replies, “he didn’t have time.  Ka came out and pulled him, Alorn and Mellis into the room.  Ziri has been in there since we arrived and hasn’t move from his dad’s side.” 

“
They switched places,” I say.  “They felt Tolan and I should be separated, you know, him being the Summoner and me being the one who can open the doorway using the key.”

“
Um, what would that have accomplished?” she asks confused.  “I mean, you and Tharin would have been caught; and if they discovered he wasn’t Tolan they would have just killed him.”

“
They would have forced us to marry first,” I say, “and then they would have killed him.”

She pauses again, asking hesitantly,
“So, he’s…he’s gone, the king?”

I quietly nod, unable to say it out loud. 

“So, what’s going to happen now?  Everything seems to be happening so fast.”

“I don’t know, Julia, but I know we’re deep in it.” 

Remembering the caves,
I take her hands, forcing her to look me in the eye.

“
Julia, you should know Frank and Chris are here.”

She slowly pulls away, fear rising within her eyes
.  “Lily, no…” it is barely a whisper as she shakes her head trying to escape my hold.

“
Listen to me,” I whisper harshly, not wanting to alert Marilyn. “You need to pull yourself together.  What if we do run into them?  Do you think Tolan is just going to stand by?  If you don’t start thinking of how to face them, Tolan could get hurt.  Or they will use you to get to me.”

That seems to penetrate through her fear
.  “Tolan…hurt…get to you…what are you talking about?”

“
We know Harlu is responsible for Frank and Chris ending up in Perth,” I remind her.  “Their only connection to me is you.  You need to be ready, Jules.”

“
What are you saying, that you want me to take them out?”

“
No, that’s not what I’m saying...”

“
That’s exactly what you’re saying.  It’s okay for you to talk; you got an entire realm protecting you.  I can’t take Frank, and you think Chris is not going to get what he wants?”

Julia
’s breathing is coming fast as it always did when she used to think she was in trouble with Frank.  Just the thought of getting into the ring with Frank makes her physically sick.

I
rub her hands, trying to calm her down.  I glance at Marilyn and Dalim who are staring at us curiously. 

“
Look at me,” I snap and she does as I say.  “That’s not what I’m saying, but look at you.  We’re just talking about them and you’re freaking out.  All I’m saying is that you have to be ready, be prepared about what you’re going to do when we run into them.  You can’t freeze up or go into panic mode.”

Breathing hard, she stares at me accusingly
.  “So you do want me to fight?”

“
No, Julia,” I answer.  “I want you to run.”

“
Excuse me,” greets a young elf who looks about fourteen, fifteen.  “Your presence is requested, my queen.”  He bows awkwardly and moves aside for me to get up.

I lean over to look past
him to a small group gathered near a door to a separate room, all of them staring back at me.  I look at Julia but her mind is elsewhere. 

I shake her knee until she looks at me
.  “I’ll be back.”

I continue to
stare at her until she finally smiles, although nervously, and nods.  I’m torn between staying with her and leaving to see who wants me.  By the looks of those gathered around the room, it must be someone important.

“
I need a favor,” I ask, startling her.

“
Um, yeah, sure,” she replies, shaking her head back to the moment.

“
Something’s happening.  If Tharin comes out before I do, come and get me,” I whisper.

I watch Julia take a deep
, settling breath as I get up and turn to the young elf.  He stares at me as if in a trance.

“
Are you okay?” I ask.

He nods and then quickly turns, not waiting to see if I would follow.

I make my way to the room and watch as the small crowd moves aside so I can enter.  I look at each solemn, but curious, face as I pass and every one of them has a resemblance to the Lunar line.  Are they first cousins, distant cousins, aunts, uncles...nieces and nephews?  I know of Tharin and Tolan’s sister, and of course, Ziri, but what of Alorn, Mellis and Phoris?  Wait, Alorn has a brother, the assassin, that much I know, but does he have more?

I step into the room
and someone closes the door quietly behind me.  There are only three people here.  One I recognize as Mellis’ father but I can’t recall his name...Colsea, I think.  He was their trainer since they were boys, the First Greaneth to the king, I mean the past king.  The man standing next to him I have never seen before. He is tall and of slender build, and he is dressed like Alorn and Mellis but doesn’t look like a fighter or a warrior.  Instead, he looks like a musician or an artist.  He has his hand on the shoulder of a woman sitting in a chair in front of him.

I recognize the family resemblance immediately.  This is Tharin
’s aunt, Alorn’s mother, and King Thilthen’s only sister.  She is striking, regal and with warm eyes rimmed with swollen redness from a recent cry.  Her hair is cut in a bob and, surprisingly, is not blonde like her brothers.  Red bangs hang just above her eyebrows with light green eyes feathered with thick lashes.  Her face is youthful looking, with clear flawless skin, and her petite size surprises me as everyone else in Tharin’s family seem to be over six feet tall.

I knew one day I would meet Tharin
’s aunt, I just didn’t expect it to be on this day.  I also imagined she would be dressed in big beautiful gowns, diamonds and gold jewelry placed ostentatiously around her neck, fingers and wrists.  Instead, she is dressed in black slacks and a pretty white top, with flowing sleeves.  Her shoes are soft ballerina flats and the only jewelry she has on is a gold ring with the biggest sapphire stone I have ever seen.  She holds onto the hand of the man standing behind her, who I am guessing is her husband, Alorn’s father.

When she sees me, she quickly gets up and with hands extended rushes over to me.

“Lily, thank you so much for coming,” she greets.  She gives me a warm hug before leading me back to the table.

Mellis
’ dad pulls a chair out for me and I nod my thanks as I sit.  Alorn’s mom sits back in her seat, and her husband places his hand back on her shoulder.  For a moment, no one says a word as they stare at me – assessing me silently.

“
I am Bi’irea,” she introduces, “and this is my husband, Lodus.  We are Alorn’s parents.”

“
I know, it’s nice to meet you,” I answer awkwardly, not sure what to say to Alorn’s parents.

“
I’m sorry you have to go through all of this on your wedding day,” she apologizes. 

I blink at her
blankly.  Wedding day?   

“
Excuse me?” I ask, leaning in.

She shakes her head, flustered as she says,
“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that.  And we had plans for a wedding befitting a queen back at the Oak Tower.  But my brother has told me of the urgency to have you and Tharin wed immediately.” 

She stops and cocks her
head at me.  “You look surprised, Lily.  I was told you were aware of what is happening.”

“
Um, yes,” I stutter.  “I am aware, it’s just that with everything going on it slipped my mind.”  I force up a smile, hoping she doesn’t notice my reluctance.

Bi
’irea leans back and looks to her husband and brother.  “Perhaps you can give us a moment?” she asks politely.

The men bow and
take their leave.  When he reaches the door, Colsea stops and turns to me.  “When my queen is done here, I have something for you.  Call me when you are finished.”

He bows to me again and then leaves.  A nervousness I
haven’t felt in a long time comes over me and suddenly I feel sick.  There was something in the way he said ‘something’.  I almost jump out of my chair when Bi’irea takes hold of my hand.

“
Relax child, it is only us here now.  Tell me what worries you?”

“
Do you have the time?” I ask, with a nervous laugh.  “Sorry.  There’s a lot going on and I’m just trying to keep up.”

“
Understandable.  Right, back to the point of this meeting – your wedding.  Unfortunately, your wedding dress was left behind at the tower.  I took it upon myself to have a dress from your mother’s closet to be used for your wedding.  I hope that’s okay with you?”

I am speechless, so I just nod and she continues.

“I got your measurements from Tharin before he left to bring you back.  All of Senestra’s dresses were too long and a bit loose for you so based on what I learned from him, I made some adjustments. “

“
You didn’t take my mom’s wedding dress apart, did you?” I ask, not happy that she would touch something that would be so important to my mom.

“
Ah, Senestra didn’t have a wedding dress.  She married your father when they were out scouting one morning.  My brother was with them and under the moon and stars Thilthen presided over their wedding, as they wanted.  She married John wearing old boots, worn pants and a jersey.  She told me it was the most beautiful day of her life.”

I smile, knowing it was exactly how
my mom would have wanted it.

“
Anyway, I did find an elegant gown worn by the past queens of the Willow.  Wait here,” she says, getting up.

I watch her disappear behind
a wall, leaving me alone.  I look around the room and find it hard to believe my father used these suites.  Unlike the suites at the oak, the walls here are of a soft and light wood.  The furniture is also made of the same light wood but not large or bulky.  Everything about this room and the others I have gone through are all about simplicity, elegance and openness.  In this room there is only the table and four chairs, including the one I am sitting in, along with a sectional sofa with a coffee table and a buffet along the wall.  The walls are bare except for the far wall where a huge collage hangs.