Wielder of Tiren (The Raven Chronicles Book 3) (10 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

“
V
e vill not be able to reach the cave and return before dark,” Y’Dürkie kept her tone even. “I do not know vho vaits for us, but I hope they vill not mind overnight visitors.”

              Arwenna led the way to the stables. “I hope you’re right.” She quietly asked a groom to saddle two horses for them. “Hauk doesn’t summon me often. We’ve gone beyond that. For him to do this, and through one of Lexi’s worshippers, is odd.”

              “Arvenna, nothink about our lives has been anythink but odd for more than twenty years. Vhy vould you think it vould begin to change now?”

              Sighing, she smiled at her oldest friend. “I shouldn’t. Nothing about this has ever been even remotely normal.” She paused as the horses were led out. Placing one hand on the pommel, she waited to mount. “Liam, I know you’re there. You might as well stop trying to sneak.”

              Turning her head, she saw her son walk out from an alcove. “I won’t let you go alone, Mom.”

              Arwenna walked over to him. “Liam, you have to. I have Y’Dürkie with me. And we were summoned, not you.” She held up a hand before he could voice a protest. “I know, you promised your father. But that doesn’t factor into this.” Reaching out, she took his hand in hers. “There’s only three of us who can Wield Tiren. Two of us have to deal with whatever your Grandfather deems necessary. Hala is the only other one. And Tiren told her she’d come back to one who had Wielded her before. Would you leave Hala here, unguarded?”

              Liam no longer looked her in the face, the conflict playing across his features. “I promised him, though,” he whispered.

              “I know. And I promise I will come back from this trip. The danger isn’t where I’m going, but here. Your sister and Kial are knee deep in it. And Senyan’s going to try and get to Hala next. I know it. Stay. Help Hugh keep his daughter safe.” She let go of his hand and turned back to the horses. Y’Dürkie waited, her composure speaking volumes. She’d ask questions, but when they were alone.

              Mounting her horse, Arwenna looked back at Liam as she took the reins from the groom. “Keep her safe, Liam. Find the dagger. I doubt we’ll see Kial or Sera again until Senyan’s ready for us to. But he won’t harm them until he has Tiren. Of that, I’m certain.”

              She put her heels to the sides of her horse, urging him forward.

              They rode in silence until they were outside the remains of the wall that once surrounded the city. “I do not know vhy,” Y’Dürkie muttered, “but I am glad the valls at least vere not repaired.”

              Arwenna looked ahead to the plain. The cave was hidden from view of the city, nestled between rocks in the hills in front of them. The plain, once nothing more than scrub brush and rocks, now showed signs of life. Tendrils of smoke rose from the scattering of homesteads surrounded by tilled ground and growing crops. “I hope they don’t get caught in the crossfire. This land needs to be put to use, not left untended like it was before.”

              “If ve keep our var to the city this time, they vill survive.” Conviction rang from her voice.

              “I didn’t start the war. We weren’t the ones
who tore
apart Tanisal to begin with.”

              “This is true, Arvenna. But you vill have to be the one to finish it.”

              Arwenna didn’t answer. There wasn’t a need to. Y’Dürkie, Ramberti, Liam. They were all right. She had to end this war. Even if she wasn’t able to learn why it started in the first place.

              ‘How vas it you vere able to convince Liam to stay?”

              Arwenna smiled. “I pulled out my best weapon. Hala.”

              Y’Dürkie’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand. How is my daughter a veapon?”

              “Liam’s smitten with her. And she’s the only one still in the city that Tiren has let Wield her before. I simply persuaded him
that Hala was in far more danger right now than I was.”

              The red braid swung a bit as Y’Dürkie shifted in her saddle. “I had not considered Liam as a possible mate for my daughter, Arvenna.”

              “Y’Dürkie, have you considered
any
members of the Clan as possible mates for her?”

              “No, I did not. I did not see her as old enough for such a pairink. Liam is calm, vell trained in his craft. His honor is above
question. I vill allow it.” She smiled at Arwenna. “It is up to Hala, of course. Hugh vill argue, but ve vill vin if she feels he is yummy enough for
her.”

              They veered to the left, leaving the cart path, and made their way through some of the unfarmed land. The cave entrance wasn’t far now. The huge boulder that hid the pathway was just ahead of them. The hiss of Y’Dürkie’s sword leaving the scabbard reached her ears. Looking to her right, she watched her friend prepare herself for possible battle. “Ve do not know for certain, Arvenna. I vill not be caught off guard.”

              “There’s really no need for that, Weasel,” Krilln’s voice called out.

              Looking up, Arwenna saw the Aeshor peek over the top of the boulder. “My daughter’s missing, Krilln. I see a need.”

              They rounded the boulder and brought the horses up to a stop. Dismounting, they looped the reins around some brush. “They aren’t going anywhere, Daughter. They will be here when you come back tomorrow.” Krilln nestled his small body into a crevice between two stones.

              “He is up there,” he nodded up the path leading to the cave. “He and the one who wanted to talk to you.”

              Arwenna looked back at Y’Dürkie, “Keep it out,” she pointed to the long sword. Gathering her skirts, she began to make her way up the small incline.

              The cave itself wasn’t high up, but it was deep. The entrance, more of a small doorway than a gaping hole, emanated a faint green light. Slowing her pace, she let go of the fabric as they reached the ledge. She needed her hands free, just in case.

              “There is no need, Daughter. All is well.” Hauk’s deep voice drifted out of the entrance. “I know, Y’Dürkie will not stand down until she sees it for herself. But I am here. This is no trap.”

              Hauk stepped out from the entrance, leaning on one rough stone side. The glow faded in the early evening sun. “Come inside. She has much to tell you and grows impatient.” He reached a hand out to Arwenna.

              “This isn’t a good time for a family get together, Father,” Arwenna chided him. “Senyan’s got Sera. I have to find her and I don’t need you or Lexi interfering.”

              “Lexi isn’t the one who needs to talk to you, Daughter.” He led her into the cave. “Someone else, far more ancient than even myself. Whose stake in these matters goes back even farther.”

              Arwenna stopped for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the dimness of the room. Two torches sat in rings in the wall, waiting. A golden glow shone deeper in the cavern. “She is down there, Daughter. The one who would speak with you both. I must remain here.” He lowered himself into a chair.

              She looked at her father, puzzled. “Who commands a god?” she whispered.

              He smiled at her, his gray beard dancing briefly. “One that saw the birth of the gods.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

S
enyan listened to Kial’s speech, his attempt to put together his plan. The boy was intelligent, he saw that now. And strong. Not physically, but in spirit. If things were not as they had to be, he might even like him. The magic stirred within him, just below the surface. There was no way he could’ve known any of that otherwise. He’d kept his own counsel over the years, never sharing his dreams, his plans. None but one linked to him through birth could k
now that much detail. Kial didn’t know why he knew what he did. The confusion was written all over the boy’s face. And that told Senyan he didn’t know power when it reached out and called him.

              “You are clever, I give you that.” He kept his tone neutral. “Only there’s
a few things you didn’t quite hit on.”

              He could see the fear in the girl’s eyes rise again. That would be her downfall. Even for all the things Arwenna had been through, she didn’t give into fear. Her daughter, however, would be consumed by it.

              He rose, knowing he still had their attention. The pair
was so
predictable. He could use that. Would use that. “You see, I don’t plan to kill Sera at all.” Hope sprung up on both faces. “You, of course, will have to die. There’s no way around it. I spent far too much time researching, planning, for you to live.”

              A door swung open, and they all watched as Curtis came in, followed by four armed men. “Ah, Curtis. You’re just in time. Or should I call you ‘Your Majesty’?”

              Curtis’ face flushed with anger. “Ramberti wears the crown. For now.”

              “Is everything ready for our guests?”

              He nodded once. “Yes.”

              Senyan turned his attention back to the pair on the couch. “It’s been great fun, but I’m afraid we have to move you to less comfortable accommodations. We have work to do and can’t watch you constantly. I’m sure you understand.”

              With a single flick of his finger, the men moved to the pair and began to haul them off the couch. Sera screamed, and Kial began to fight back. The cacophony of noise went on for a few minutes as both resisted. Senyan turned his back, reaching for the decanter of wine and refilled his glass as the tussling continued. Sera’s high pitched screams made him bristle. She wasn’t using the little magic she did have in her panic. Shame. He’d hoped Arwenna’s daughter would’ve been more like her mother.

              “Stop. Now,” he commanded.

              Stepping around a toppled table, he stood between them. Each
was being
held by two guards. Kial’s bottom lip was split open, and he still strained against his captors. Sera, disheveled and whimpering, all but falling in fear. But not quite.

              He knelt before her. “What you don’t understand, Sera, is that you will be given several gifts. The same ones your mother gave me.” He grasped her chin in his hand, forcing her to face him. He wanted to see her eyes, know her fear, when he pronounced her fate.

              “The ones that bound me to a familiar that whispered in my ear all day and all night. The ones that tore apart my insides, making me dependent on the magic of my master to simply live. Only when you are as she made me, slowly losing your mind to something you can’t even begin to comprehend, will you see your mother again. And I’m not going to be the one to kill them. You are. Only when you’ve slaughtered your brother. Your best friend. Everyone in your family. Only then will I unleash you on her.”

              The terror reflected in the girl’s gray eyes grew. She tried to speak, but no sound came out of her mouth. He twisted her head to the side and leaned in closer to her ear. Whispering, he said, “And then I’ll bring them all back to life so you can do it again.”

              He released her and rose, turning to Kial. “You were right about the dagger, though. I need it to kill you. And one of you two will tell me where it is, eventually.”

              The
boy spat at
him. “Never. And if you lay one finger on her, I’ll…”

              “You’ll what? You see, you’re in no position to bargain for much. You will tell me, for one simple reason. You don’t want her to be hurt.” He looked at Curtis. “Why don’t you help her out, my friend? She looks like she’s about to faint.”

              Curtis grinned, slowly removing a small dagger from his boot. “Must be the heat of the room, Senyan.” He walked over to Sera. “Tell me, child. Did your mother ever tell you about my son? Or his appetites?” He slid the dagger between the fabric of her bodice and the lacings. “He didn’t understand one thing. And I do. Raping someone isn’t the way to break them. It’s the anticipation of the act that causes the most damage.” With a swift motion, he sliced the lacings apart.

              Sera crumbled in tears, the guards supporting her. “Enough!” Kial screamed.

              “See? I know you both are going to go with these gentlemen now, and not give them a moment of trouble. Curtis and I have things to attend to. But we’ll come check on you soon enough.”

              Senyan waved a hand, directing the guards to remove the pair. Walking back to the table, he picked up his glass of wine. Staring at the fire, he smiled. As soon as they told him where the dagger was, once he had it in his hands and it was his to Wield, then he could begin his revenge. If
Arwenna wasn’t
going to kill him, he’d make sure every single person she cared about died.

Chapter Twenty-Three

A
rwenna took a deep breath. The air in the cavern fresher than she expected. None of the earthy dampness she remembered. Certainly not what she knew it should be like. For all the times she and her companions had traversed cave systems, searching for either something or someone, it never smelled this fresh.

              “I do not like this, Arvenna,” her friend whispered. “The air is not right.”

              “There could be any number of reasons, Y’Dürkie. It could be an aftereffect of Tiren cleansing the land after the war. It could be a new channel has opened up in the rock, making the air circulate better. I don’t think it’s anything…” her voice trailed off as they rounded a bend.

              Before them lay a lake. The clear water sparking with more gems and gold than her mind could comprehend. The wealth of the world, reflecting the light from surrounding bonfires and encircled by exposed veins of quartz and silver shone in the crystal clear depths.

              “This vas not here before, Arvenna.” Awe tinged Y’Dürkie’s voice.

              “Had it been, there’s no way Barek would’ve left much of it behind,” she said, agreeing. Arwenna raised her head, pulling her gaze from the vast treasure below. “Only one thing keeps a hoard this big,” she kept her voice low. “Something tells me this is who we’re to meet.”

              She scanned the beach closest to them, spying a wooden table with two benches. She put a hand on her companion’s arm, pointing to the area. Deliberately, she made her way down to the area. The soft dirt of the cavern gave way to carved stone steps. As they drew nearer, the tabletop shimmered. Platters of steaming food appeared, followed by pitchers. The condensation running down the sides of the metal containers telling her the contents were most likely cold.

              She drew even with the bench. Three place settings manifested. Two on this side, one on the other. “For our host, I would assume,” she muttered. Arwenna glanced to her right. The wall boasted two sconces, perfect for the torches they carried, on either side of an alcove. Inside, beds and blankets waited.

              “It vould seem ve are expected to spend the night,” Y’Dürkie’s voice broke the silence. “I do not know if this is a good idea, Arvenna. To sleep near a dragon hoard is not somethink I vould think is good.”

              Arwenna slid her torch into a ring. “It doesn’t matter. We are invited. Whatever lives here has need of us. And I don’t think that can be fulfilled if we’re dead.”

              She unclasped her gray traveling cloak and draped it across the foot of one of the beds. “Dinner is waiting on us. I don’t know when our host will appear, but a place is set for them. Take off your cloak and leave your sword here. I doubt they’ve brought us here to die.”

              Arwenna could see her companion’s hesitation to go unarmed play across her face, but followed the suggestion. The idea of dinner with a dragon made her own mind reel. They were beasts of legend, thought to be long gone from the world. The only one she’d ever seen, or the closest to it, was the skeleton in the cave back in Oranji. That one still lived, and wanted to talk with her, was something she couldn’t quite comprehend.

              A dark shadow passed across the wall of the alcove, blocking out the light from the lake. Y’Dürkie reached for the sword lying across one bed. “Don’t. Leave it. I will not insult our host in that way.” Arwenna commanded.

              “I do not like not havink a vay to defend you.”

              “The Daughter of Hauk is not in need of defending. Not from me, Weasel.” A female voice called out. The tone was soft, but the cavern echoed and amplified it.

              Arwenna turned slowly, her eyes searching the upper reaches of the cave. Only, the space was empty.

              “I am here, Daughter.” The voice laughed.

              Adjusting her gaze, she saw the figure near the table. About her height, and human in form. But she wasn’t.

              Scales replaced skin under the simple dress, shimmering in a constantly shifting rainbow of colors. The creature’s long black hair hung loose, framing a familiar looking face. One Arwenna had not seen in a very long time.

              “Mama?” Her voice caught in her throat. This couldn’t be. She stared at the figure, not quite human, not quite dragon.

              “No, I’m not Lyssa. Hauk suggested this form, though. He thought it would be easier for you to relate to.” Her gaze shifted to Y’Dürkie, “And less likely that one would try to run a sword through my gullet.”

              “Who are you, then?”

              Their host motioned to the table. “Come, sit. We will eat first. There is much that needs to be said.”

              Arwenna walked over to the table and lowered herself onto the bench. Y’Dürkie sat to her left. “What shall we call you?”

              Reaching for a pitcher, she replied, “I have many names. Lyssa will suffice, if it makes you feel comfortable. When you’ve been alive as long as I have, you tend to care more of what is in the heart of a person than what they call you.”

              “You are Nannan, the Mother of All,” Y’Dürkie’s voice was filled with awe and reverence.

              The woman smiled, “Yes, Weasel. That I am.” She picked up a platter and began to serve herself. “I’m glad to hear at least one Clan remembers me.”

              “Ve do not forget Nannan. Ve remember you on feast days, veddings, and vhen ve die.”

              Nannan looked at her, “And D’Mitta is proud of you. You lead the clan well. And remain loyal to your friends. This is a good thing.”

              “Nannan, why are we here? I almost didn’t come when Krilln summoned us. Things in Tanisal are not well. My daughter…”

              “Your daughter is in the hands of a madman. Yes, I know. That’s why I told Hauk to send for you. There are things you’ve guessed, others you haven’t. To defeat him, you cannot go back there blind. You must know the truth of everything.” She ate a few bites of food. “The story is long, and we don’t have time to waste. For now, though, she is safe. Be confident in that. Any harm he may do to her now will not be lasting. Not yet.” She paused. “He means to scare her, weaken her resolve. But she will not be harmed until he has Hala’s dagger. He needs Tiren. And that’s your advantage.”

              “I know that much. But I don’t know why. Or what metal Joss gave to Liam that became the blade itself.” She absently chewed on a bit of bread. Her body reveled in the taste, making her realize she was far hungrier than she thought.

              “It’s not that simple to answer, Arwenna. Back when this world was new, I began with dragons. They were beautiful, majestic, a reflection of my own self. This was my first mistake. They were solitary creatures, not social ones. Given to jealousy and envy. They began to slaughter each other. Initially, I made the Gods and Goddesses in an effort to end the dragon wars. Only they, too, were flawed. Few cared about love, compassion, or intelligence. They wanted to control, dominate. A select few began to consort with the dragons in the worst way. That’s what led to the demon race. All they wanted was to overtake the world, gain power and dominion over everything.”

              She took a long sip from her cup before continuing. “That’s when I thought of making the races of man. Elves, humans, dwarves, and the rest. My thought was to have the Gods and Goddesses oversee these races, nurture them. I banished the demons and made it so there would be no more. Save if they designated a Son or Daughter, like you yourself is marked, Arwenna. That seemed to work. For a while.”

              “Then what happened?”

              “Corse, Trieste, and Tiren happened. I never foresaw the lengths Corse would go to because of his obsession with Tiren. That he’d go begging to demons, hoping to force her to love him. Or that he’d curse his own brother to the life of a dragon.”

              “But he did.”

              Nannan nodded, “Yes, he did. All of a sudden, the worse of the demons began to wreak havoc on the world. Jealousy and hatred overcame love and acceptance. The earth itself—” she gestured to the cave surrounding them, “—began to change. The races of man began to hate again, covet that which belonged to others. When Corse cursed his brother, he did so with so much magic and vengeance that the stars themselves trembled from his rage.”

              “The curse went beyond turning Trieste into a dragon, forever keeping him and Tiren from being truly together. And, when Corse realized Tiren wasn’t going to love him even after she couldn’t be with Trieste, he became even more consumed by jealousy. He couldn’t stand his brother having a life with the woman they both loved. Tiren told him, right before she died, that she and Trieste had twins. And that they were hidden from him. He started wars over nothing in hopes that one of your ancestors would die, killing the bloodline off. When that didn’t happen, he went to the demon that twisted his mind with power and begged for more help.”

              “Mialee.”

              “Yes. He begged her to help him, make it so he could father a child. One that would be a vessel of his power, with the intelligence to ferret out where the descendants of Tiren and Trieste were hiding. While his parents called him Lu’Thare, Corse and Mialee always knew that was not his true name. Only when he truly embraced who he was, what he was, would that come out.”

              “Senyan’s a demigod like me, then?”

              “Yes, Daughter. Hauk realized a year or so after he was born that something was wrong. That Corse was changing the game. You were his counter. It takes a demigod to take on another. There is no way another mortal, one without divine blood, can end this now. When he met Lyssa, he knew who she was descended from. And that his daughter would be the only way to end this.”

              “What am I, then?” Arwenna’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Am I nothing but another tool of the Gods?”

              Nannan’s hand reached across the table, resting on her own. The scales were smooth, warm, but not comforting.

              “No, Arwenna. You are so much more than that. Hauk and Lyssa genuinely loved each other. On a level much like Trieste and Tiren. Even her death has not lessened that love. You were conceived for a purpose, yes.
But out of love. Senyan wasn’t. He is the tool, not you.” She sighed. “Only
so is his son. Mialee gave up on him after you rebuilt him and Joss removed the curse. Corse was gone, defeated. She saw a broken man, flawed. But one that could give her the Son she would be able to mold from infancy.”

“Only now she is dead,” Y’Dürkie cut in. “And all of the power she and Corse had is in limbo.”

“This all started because one person chose jealousy and hate when their love was rejected. The only way to end it is for love to conquer hate once and for all.” The dragon sat back. “This is what I intended for this world.”

Arwenna stared at her plate, her mind racing. “Joss gave Liam a chunk of metal. That’s what he used to make Hala’s dagger. I know he got it from the cave back in Oranji, the one where Trieste’s skeleton remains. What is it?”

“Your husband was trying to piece this together for the last few years, Arwenna. Do not be upset that he didn’t share what he learned with you. Many of us told him not to tell you. Because we hoped we could solve it on our own. You’d gone through so much already…”

“Will everyone please stop treating me like I’m some damn dish that’s about to break!” Arwenna exploded in anger. “If this is the job I was born to do, then let me do it! Stop coddling me and getting in my way! I asked a question. Answer it!” She slammed her fist onto the table.

She took in the shocked looks on Y’Dürkie and Nannan’s faces, but didn’t care. She was too angry.

“That was no metal, Arwenna. It was the remains of Trieste’s heart. Now that he and Tiren are together again, you will be able to end this. Once and for all.”

“When you find that dagger, put it into Senyan’s heart. Trieste and Tiren will die along with him. I’ll rain fire upon the city. There won’t be anything left but ash. And this will all be done with. But,”—she locked eyes with Arwenna—“you must find the dagger before Senyan. It takes a demigod to truly Wield the power it holds. Should Senyan get it before you do, he will sacrifice his son. The power will return to him. And even I don’t have enough magic in me to stop him before he destroys the world.”