Dawnsinger (14 page)

At the outer chamber door, he admitted Elcon with a bow. Shae brushed past him, looking much as she had in her early days when chided for some mischief. Despite his irritation, his heart softened. He understood well enough the part of her that could not settle to routine. Truth to tell, he found its echo within himself. How could he fault her when she’d experienced the freedoms of neglect since her early days? He wished, not for the first time, that Mother could have brought herself to give Shae the benefit of the same affection she lavished on Katera.

Shae warmed herself at the aromatic draetenn fire. On the wall above her, flames pirouetted in wall-mounted lamps, courted by stray drafts. In the changing light, the colors of the tapestry above the mantel, which told of the ancient pilgrimage from Anden Raven, deepened and its figures took on life.

Kai remembered his manners. “Lof Frael, I understand you have already met Shae, my sister.”

Elcon removed his cloak. “We met yesterday in the garden when we both stepped out to seek an interlude of peace and beauty.” He took Shae’s hand in a courtly gesture. “I’m sure I saw more of beauty than did she.”

She extricated her hand. “The Lof Frael was—”

“Charming?” Elcon’s eyes glittered. “Chivalrous? Intriguing?”

“Kind.”

“There you have it.” Elcon spoke in heavy tones, but he smiled. “I was kind.”

Kai returned a fleeting smile, and then indicated the door to the inner chamber, which stood ajar. “The Lof Raelein looks for you both.”

Maeven waited within, upright against her cushions, hands clasped before her. She smiled in greeting.

Elcon bent and embraced his mother. When he straightened he kept her hand. “I am glad to find you so well.”

Maeven extended her other hand to Shae, and Kai smiled at the picture they made. Maeven
had shed the heaviness of illness and now appeared well and whole, if weak. He pushed away the thought that, earlier, in the harshness of daylight spilling through the window, her bloom of recovered health had seemed less true.

At Maeven’s invitation, Shae perched on one of the bedside chairs. “Did you rest well last night?”

Maeven’s eyes glowed. “I did indeed. I have not rested so well in a long time.”

Shae dimpled. “I worried I overtaxed you yesterday with my eagerness to hear your tales.”

“I counted it joy. And you? How have you occupied yourself while I rested?”

A blush colored Shae’s cheek. “I kept to my rooms but then stole away to the gardens, where I met Lof Frael Elcon.”

Kai gave her a stern look tempered by mercy, for at least she had not hidden the truth in lies. Elcon laughed outright.

Maeven sent Elcon a reproving look and shook her head at Shae. “I can see that those committed to protect you cannot find the job easy. Sweet child, you must take more care for my sake.”

Shae had the grace to look abashed. “I’m sorry.” Her gaze included Kai in her apology. “I didn’t understand the dangers until the Lof Frael warned me of them. Nevertheless, I should have used more caution.”

Kai spread his hands. “I’m afraid Shae has had too much of her own way at Whellein.”

Maeven’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “We can hope that time and wisdom will remedy such a lack.”

Shae murmured something in response, looking far more demure than Kai had thought possible. Perhaps the time spent at Torindan would prove the tonic she needed.

Maeven’s smile reached her lips. “I’m glad, anyway, that you and Elcon had the chance to meet.”

“As am I.” Elcon took a seat beside Shae. “Had I known Shae resided there, I would have found more time to visit Whellein.”

“Yes.” Maeven spoke in a distracted voice as she glanced at Kai and then back to Shae.

Kai gave her a sharp look, hoping her mind did not stray again into paths of its own, but her voice, when she spoke, was lucid. “Tell me of the garden at shadowfall. I long to wander such paths of beauty again.”

Shae’s face lit with quiet intensity. “I pray you shall.”

Kai withdrew to the window embrasure and stopped listening to their words. Shae’s voice rose and fell to mingle with Elcon’s deeper tones and Maeven’s murmurs. When silence fell it roused him.

‘Will you play and sing?” Maeven asked him.

He took up the lute in the embrasure, one probably left by Freaer. By the fading light from the window behind him, he bent to pluck the instrument into tune.

Maeven answered his look of inquiry. “I would have
DawnSinger’s Lament.”

His head came up at her choice, but he bent to strum the lute, and then sang the ancient words.

“Long ago and once before,

In another homeland,

A Contender waged war,

In a bloody demand.

Misbegotten of Meriwen,

Son of Rivenn but not heir,

Birthed in forgotten dreams,

Lord of Darkness, Lord of Air,

The Contender fell,

But not by might—

Kunrat’s loss

Would end the fight—

Within Virtue’s Fire

By Lof Yuel’s Breath

At the Well of Light,

In the Cave of Death.

The Contender fell

‘Til the wane of Rivenn,

For when released,

He will bring division.

He will gather armies

And bring forth war

Devouring Elderland

Forevermore.

Unless Son of Rivenn

Wed Maid of Braeth

To birth a daughter

Of overcoming faith.

Daughter of Rivenn,

Daughter most fair

Bring forth the DawnKing

Through Kunrat’s air

In the Cave of Death

At the Well of Light

By Lof Yuel’s Breath

Within Virtue’s Flame.

For when the DayStar shines

While discord darkens Elderland,

Hearken to the signs

And rest within Lof Yuel’s hand.”

The plaintive strains thinned and passed out of hearing. Kai set aside the lute.

Maeven held herself in stillness, hands clasped together against the red-gold counterpane.

Elcon spoke. “Hearing that ballad makes me sad, for it speaks of prophecy unfulfilled.”

“No, my son. It speaks of promise.”

He stirred. “Forgive me, Mother, but Braeth Hold has fallen to ruin. Only the smallfolk known as the
Feiann
dwell in the smallwood of
Syllid Mueric
that surrounds the hold. It’s no longer possible to fulfill Prophecy. Even if I would, I could not wed a maid of Braeth and bring forth a daughter.”

“True enough.” Maeven held out a hand to Shae. “But hope lives in your sister.”

12

Betrayal

Shae stared at Maeven.
What
had she said?

Elcon drew in a breath on a hiss. “But I have no sister.”

Sorrow shadowed Maeven’s face, and she looked to Kai, although, from the expression on his face, he already knew her tale. “I gave birth to your sister long ago, Elcon. She died in birthing, or so Timraen and I said. We had to preserve our daughter’s safety—and Elderland’s. We knew she would one day fulfill Prophecy—
if she lived
.

“We could not ignore the signs—the Contender of Prophecy had escaped from
Lohen Keil
, the Well of Light, to hide at Torindan. Having cheated death by fell arts, he would do anything, it seemed, to also cheat Prophecy. He made several attempts on my life during my pregnancy, always without revealing himself. We knew he lived among us. Timraen searched, but could not discover the traitor in our midst, so I kept to my chambers under constant guard until my daughter’s birth.”

As she looked at Shae, moisture glistened in Maeven’s eyes. “We sent you away the day you were born.” Her tears spilled. “How my arms ached to hold my baby.”

Maeven’s face set in stern lines, and her voice grew brisk. “You almost didn’t survive our efforts to protect you. The guards who accompanied you on your journey met an ambush. None survived the skirmish save Kai, who was little more than a child himself. Your wet nurse died shielding you with her body. After the attack, Kai took you on to Whellein, where he placed you in his mother’s arms.

“Raelein Aeleanor had just given birth to Katera, and so she passed you off as her true daughter’s twin. Those who attended Katera’s birth kept your secret well. No one in Elderland suspected that a daughter of the House of Rivenn lived. For a time, even Timraen and I did not know, for we thought you perished in the ambush…”

She grew silent for so long Shae thought Maeven’s mind must have wandered. But then she stirred. “Kai returned with the news you lived. We gave it about that he saw you torn apart by wolves in the aftermath of the ambush.”

Maeven sighed. “I wish I could have known you better. I longed for you, as every mother longs for her child. But I had to release you to another’s care. I could not even visit you as I wished, for I dared not draw undue attention to Whellein, for your sake. I should not have brought you here even now, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave this world without seeing you again.”

Shae’s thoughts turned inward. Kai’s protectiveness toward her, her quick bond with Maeven, and the reserve Aeleanor had shown Shae alone of her children all had new meaning. Even the sense of calling that haunted her made sense in light of her true identity.

She clung to the cool, dry hand of her mother, and a tear fell from her cheek to bathe their clasped hands. “This is too cruel, learning of this now. You might have told me sooner! Did you think I couldn’t keep my own secret?”

Maeven frowned. “What kind of life would you have lived, always looking over your shoulder? I wanted you to grow up without fear.”

“Shae—” Elcon touched her shoulder, but she pulled away.

Tilting her chin, she met Kai’s gaze. “And you! How could you pass yourself off as my brother when all the time you knew—” She broke off, unable to speak the horrible truth. They didn’t belong to one another at all. Her entire life had been a lie. The room swung, and she put out a hand as Kai stepped forward.

He caught her, his arms steadying her. “Stop it, Shae.”

“These burdens fall to those who serve a throne and a people, my child.” Maeven’s voice throbbed with sudden passion. “How I have longed to call you my child.”

Shae turned in Kai’s arms.

Tears rolled down Maeven’s sorrow-creased face. “Will you forgive me for sending you away, my daughter? I never meant to hurt you.”

Elcon folded his arms. “Why do you ask Shae’s forgiveness? You didn’t abandon her but acted as a true mother.”

Maeven’s eyes widened. “How can you speak with such grace? I kept your sister from you.”

“You did what you had to do.”

Shae looked away from Elcon’s unflinching gaze. She couldn’t mistake his message. She ground her teeth. His life had changed little. If he had been the one whose life was devastated, would he be so quick to excuse Maeven?

And yet, Maeven had finally told the truth. Could Shae live with herself if she allowed her to go to the grave with words of anger between them?

Shae stepped out of Kai’s arms. She had no right to lean on him ever again. “I don’t fault you.” Even as she spoke the words, she knew them as false, spoken from pity rather than mercy. But she wouldn’t take them back, not with Maeven’s face alight with joy.

“I ask but one thing more—” Maeven’s voice thinned.

“You tire yourself.” Elcon spoke with swift concern.

“I have already promised to sing your death song. Is there something more?” Shae couldn’t keep a hint of reproach from her voice.

Elcon sent her a disapproving look, and then bent over Maeven. “Rest now, and perhaps a death song won’t soon be needed.”

“It’s not of the mael lido that I speak. But rather I ask your promise, Shaenalyn, Raena of Rivenn, that you will travel to Lohen Keil, the Well of Light, and by your song release the DawnKing into Elderland.”

“Who is this DawnKing?” Shae asked.

“The identity of
Shraen Brael,
King of the Dawn, remains unknown.” Kai spoke from beside her, although she hadn’t heard him move closer. “Some say Kunrat waits to rise from Lohen Keil where he fell with the Contender long ago, but no one knows for certain. We only know from Prophecy that if a daughter of Rivenn and Braeth sings Kunrat’s song at Lohen Keil before the DayStar completes its arc of the sky, the DawnKing will enter Elderland to save it. But if she fails in this, Elderland will fall to the Contender.”

Shae felt like a small leaf blown about in a maelstrom. “It seems I have no real choice in the matter. But even if I go to Lohen Keil, I’ve never even heard Kunrat’s song.” Her words fell like drops of rain into darkened pools.

“I wish I could guide you.” Kai’s voice soothed her. “But Kunrat’s song has been lost in time.”

The room seemed airless. “How can I sing a song not known?”

Kai’s gray gaze held hers. “Trust Lof Yuel to provide the song.”

****

“Kai, come near.”

When he glimpsed Maeven’s white face, concern touched Kai, but he knew she would find no peace until whatever new matter pressed her mind had settled.

“You pledged yourself to Timraen’s service in your early life, and to mine at his death.” Maeven’s lips barely moved as she spoke. “You have served well as both a friend and servant. I have already released the Scepter and Sword to Elcon. I now release you from your service to me.
Hear me!
” She stilled his protest. “I release you. If I could command the allegiance of a guardian of Rivenn
,
I would do so, but I cannot. I can only ask you to pledge fealty to Elcon.”

The time of decision had come sooner than Kai anticipated. An image of his father rose in his mind’s eye, and his thoughts clamored so loudly he could barely think. He lifted Maeven’s hand for his kiss, but he would not speak to appease her. “I will consider your wishes.”

“I have no doubt you will make your choice with wisdom.”