Dawnsinger (17 page)

Standing on legs that wobbled, Shae steadied herself against the bier and gazed at her mother’s face to commit it to memory. As she stumbled away with tears blinding her, Kai caught her elbow, and she let herself lean on him at last.

****

Kai gave Shae over to Craelin and Daelic, who waited just inside the side door at the rear of the Allerstaed. The two guardians bent toward Shae as they progressed along the short, vaulted corridor that connected to the great hall.

Formality required that the Lof Raelein’s body remain under guard, so Kai ignored his sudden urgent desire to follow and comfort Shae. Steeling himself for a long vigil, he returned to his post to perform this last, bittersweet service for Maeven.

Gazing at her still features, he searched for signs of the vibrant soul that had enlivened what was now a silent corpse. He couldn’t find them in the face before him, sunken into lines it would not have known in life. Maeven no longer inhabited this shell.

Where did she abide now? Had she already gone to Shaenn Raven
,
the land beyond the veil, or did some tenuous connection to her lifeless body remain? Perhaps her spirit kept its own vigil beside him. A tingle laddered up his spine, but he pushed the odd fancy aside. He could not let imaginings unnerve him. Wherever Maeven dwelt now, he wished her the peace life had denied her.

Images drifted to him, disjointed by the passage of time. Maeven rode, as when he’d first seen her, sidesaddle on a white charger, her long burnished hair flying about her. His young heart had roused at the sight. He smiled now, to think of the futility of his childish passion. Even if their difference in age had not separated them, Maeven’s glances were only for Timraen. They made a striking couple. Timraen’s large frame dwarfed Maeven, his fair hair bright against the muted copper of her tresses. They contrasted in other, less obvious ways, too. Timraen’s calm nature sparked at Maeven’s zest for life. In turn, his measured introspection settled her tempestuousness. Kai outgrew his childish infatuation, but never the admiration Maeven inspired.

The memory of Timraen lying wounded after taking a poisoned arrow from an unknown bow made Kai frown. Despite her grief and rage, Maeven had accepted the Sword and Scepter of Faeraven from Timraen’s hand. The rousing speech she’d given at her coronation had stilled the tongues of those who objected to a Lof Raelein ruling the alliance of Faeraven alone.

Without reserve, Kai had bent both knee and heart to Maeven’s service. Now she needed him no longer.

None can command the allegiance of a guardian of Rivenn. It must be surrendered of free will. But I do ask that you give yourself to Elcon’s service.

Kai’s mind recoiled. He had wanted to grant Maeven’s request, but caution held him back, just as it had when his father asked him to serve Whellein. In truth, Kai would rather keep his freedom and search for answers in Daeven’s disappearance. Unlike his father, he could not let go of the hope his brother might yet live. It rankled to embrace Daeven’s death with no more proof than the board from the side of a ship and the assumptions of a grizzled sea captain. He sighed now in the knowledge that, no matter how pressing, his quest for the truth of Daeven’s disappearance must wait. He knew his course now.

****

The Allerstaed could not hold all who came to honor Maeven in death. They crowded into the nave, jammed the side corridors behind the pillars, and spilled into the rear archway. Maeven, veiled now in a pall of silk gauze, her bier engulfed in great drifts of flowers offered by many hands, waited before the altar.

Kai and Craelin, in gold and green ceremonial garb, stood at opposite ends of the bier. Elcon, near the black-robed priest on the dais behind the bier, watched a procession of Kindren file by to anoint, with flowers and tears and prayers, their beloved Lof Raelein.

Shae, seated in the
quire
with the musicians, knew that Dithmar and Weilton watched over her from nearby. But for the secrets that bound her, she could take her place on the dais beside Elcon. Freaer, who played a dirge among his fellows, glanced her way, but his gaze held no pull for her today. She felt little save the sharp pain of loss.

A priest entered from an archway behind the chancel, waited until the last of the mourners passed the bier, and then took his place before the altar. His very bearing commanded quiet. “We gather this day to honor Maeven of Braeth, Raelein of Rivenn and Lof Raelein of Faeraven. She lived well and honorably.”

The priest spoke at length to describe Maeven’s early life and capture by garns, her rescue by Timraen, and her rulership of Rivenn and Faeraven. Shae tried to listen but, as weariness clouded her mind, she struggled to pull her attention from the vague pathways it wandered.

The priest called for others to acknowledge Maeven, and Elcon stepped forward. “She never faltered in her duty.”

Others spoke also, but Shae heard little of what they said. Elcon’s words preoccupied her wholly, for they seemed the sum of Maeven’s existence. Whether it had been right or wrong for her to send Shae away at birth no longer mattered. Maeven had, at great cost, done what she thought was right.

In a sudden silence, the priest signaled Shae, and she went forward to join her mother’s body before the altar. But the small exertion made her head swim, and she swallowed against a dry throat as she waited for the chamber to stop tilting.

You will sing my death song.
Promise me this.

She couldn’t remember the words.

Why had she thought she could do this? She should have asked Maeven to release her from her promise.

But then, as her heart pounded, a soft touch soothed her mind.

She met Elcon’s sea-green gaze across their mother’s bier—and understood. Here, then, was the other soul that had touched hers with peace in the night.

She drew breath and sang, trembling with the effort. The ancient song, the mael lido, said to provide a soul’s safe passage to Lof Yuel, eddied through the Allerstaed. The melody climbed in pitch, and then fell to conclude on a sustained low note. Shae bowed her head.

I have longed to call you daughter.

****

“Come in and bolt the door. We have dark matters to discuss,”

Kai obeyed Elcon’s instructions and leaned against the strongwood door as he glanced about. He wasn’t surprised to see most of the faces grouped around Elcon’s meeting table.

“Would that we could take time to mourn my mother before addressing matters of state. We don’t have that luxury. The blame for the wingabeast riders attacking Norwood and Westerland has been laid by the Elder at my door. All trade with them has ceased.” Elcon sighed. “And now I hear rumors of discord within Faeraven itself.”

In the silence that followed Elcon’s announcement, a strain from
DawnSinger’s Lament
sang in Kai’s memory:
The Contender fell ’til the wane of Rivenn, for then released, he will bring division. He will gather armies and bring forth war to devour Elderland forevermore…

“The time for heroism has come.”

As Kai looked into Elcon’s face and saw Timraen’s son, Elcon paused to look at each of them in turn.

“I have chosen all of you to guard and guide Shae of Whellein on a journey of great urgency and peril. I count upon you to lay down your lives, if needed, in her aid. Make preparations now, but in secret. Tell no one, except to provide an excuse to cover your absence. Shae’s life, and your own, depends on secrecy and stealth. You will depart in a matter of days for
Maeg Waer
, the forsaken mountain where Caerric Daeft lies.”

Aerlic tilted his head. “What business can a maid have in the Cave of Death?”

Eathnor gave a low whistle. “Is there no other way?”

Dorann, if possible, became even more still.

Guaron’s chair thudded as he sat forward, his hair lifting in a straw-colored halo. “No one has ever returned from Caerric Daeft!”

Besides Kai, only Craelin did not react. Kai guessed Elcon would have already told him the secret of Shae’s identity. His stomach knotted at the thought. He knew he could trust Craelin with Shae’s life, but a secret told can never be untold.

“I ask that you freely give your service.” Elcon’s voice rang out as the protests died down. “I would have you set both hand and heart to this task. It will not succeed unless you do. The very fabric of life for all Elderland rests upon this journey.”

Silence followed, so thick it pressed the ears, as those about the table exchanged glances.

Elcon waited in silence.

Craelin stood. “You have my service.”

Aerlic pushed back his chair and stood. “Tomorrow I pledge fealty to my new Lof Shraen. I will follow your wishes with all my heart.”

“I don’t know your purposes, Lof Frael.” Eathnor rose with lithe grace. “But I trust you.”

Dorann stood beside his brother.

Guaron pressed a finger to the cleft in his chin, slanted a look at Elcon, and then stood. “You’ll need me to tend the wingabeasts.”

Kai, standing with the others, stated the truth. “I will protect Shae with my life.”

****

Whispers hissed, on the edge of hearing.

“Who’s there?” Shae peered into the shadows behind her, the lamp she carried faint in the cavernous darkness. Something scuttled away just out of range, but when she turned her head, nothing showed itself. A shriek rent the air, then fell into echoes.… Her lamp flickered. Something caught in her hair but freed itself with a piercing whistle. Small creatures ran across her slippered feet.

She raised the lamp high and peered into the dimness.

Eyes gleamed back at her, accompanied by the sound of laughter.

“Stop!”
She rushed down the stairs, but her foot found no purchase, and she lurched forward. She tried to cry out, but only croaked. Tears slid down her cheeks. Flames shot upward from a great chasm, bending toward her.

A whisper breathed through the air.
“Walk in the light, Shae. Trust…”

She came to herself with a jerk and lay still as her heartbeats slowed.
Only a dream.
Such dreams troubled her often of late.

She’d earlier dismissed Laela, the servant Elcon had provided her, and had fallen asleep without drawing the bed curtains or window hangings. Light now penetrated the window at the edges of its shutters and glinted in bars across the wooden floorboards.

Something in the quality of that light called her to the window. She threw open the shutters and gasped.

Low in the dawn sky over Torindan hung an orb of surpassing brightness. Shae shielded her eyes and stepped back.

This could only be Brael Shadd, the DayStar of Prophecy.

15

Coronation

“Elcon, son of Timraen, son of Shaelcon, son of Talan, son of Kunrat, son of Aelfric, son of Rivenn, receive the Circlet of Rivenn.
”
The priest lowered the ancient circlet of bejeweled gold to Elcon’s head.

Kai shifted to see better from within the ranks of the guardians of Rivenn waiting beneath the great clerestory window arches.

Elcon, arrayed in blue and gold ceremonial dress, rose from his knees and faced his people.

“A new shraen rises over Rivenn.” Kai barely caught the priest’s announcement in the crowd’s uproar.

When the tumult ebbed, the priest laid a scabbard in Elcon’s hands. “Elcon, Shraen
of Rivenn, receive the Sword of Rivenn.”

Elcon unsheathed the famed weapon, forged for Rivenn in the Viadrel
,
the Flames of Virtue at Lohen Keil. He raised the sword, and as it gleamed along its length, Kai almost fancied the blade lit with fire at Elcon’s touch.

As the applause faded, Elcon kissed and sheathed the great sword.

“Elcon, Shraen
of Rivenn, receive the Scepter of Faeraven.” Rubies, diamonds, and emeralds glittered against the glint of gold as the staff passed into Elcon’s hands. When he turned back to his people, gasps came at its beauty. Elcon raised the scepter, and its jewels winked in many colors beneath a rampant gryphon clutching a star-sapphire orb.

“Worthy Kindren, receive Shraen Elcon of Rivenn, Lof Shraen of Faeraven,” the priest pronounced. Another wave of applause and cheering, more fervent than the first, broke over the crowd and deafened Kai.

The guardians, clad in surcoats of green and gold, their banners ablaze with the unfurling rose of Rivenn and the rampant gryphon of Faeraven, advanced by regiment and bent their knees in a unified pledge of fealty to Elcon.

Kai waited his turn, putting from his mind the unhappiness his choice would cause. Like Craelin and Weilton, he would face Elcon alone. When at last Elcon called his name, he walked across the shape of a gryphon laid into the floor and climbed the steps to the platform. Kai bowed before Elcon, who stood at its center on an inlaid unfurling rose.

“Do you, Kai of Whellein, give your fealty to Elcon of Rivenn, Lof Shraen of Faeraven?” The priest intoned the inquiry.

“I give it and will keep it with all my heart.” Kai gave the ceremonial answer and knelt before his new Lof Shraen. He’d not anticipated the relief that now eased his burden of sorrow. He hoped his parents would come to understand the choice he’d made. The new Lof Shraen, as an untried youth, already faced opposition in certain quarters. He needed the benefit of Kai’s experience. Besides, Kai couldn’t bring himself to abandon Shae with the fate of Elderland resting in her hands. He would remain at Torindan in the hope of helping her.

“Rise.”

Kai obeyed and squared his shoulders.

Elcon extended a sword by its hilt. “This sword
can defend both flesh and spirit, and it can guide the lost to safety by its light. Shaelcon wielded Whyst
in many conquests of garns, for it was forged to glow at their approach. Timraen recovered this, his father’s sword,
at the rout of Pilaer, but it has rested until now. Take it and carry it in my service.”

Kai’s throat tightened as his hand closed over cold steel. He hoisted the sword, enjoying its balanced weight, and a cheer went up. Kai faced the crowd, but his smile faltered.