Origin (51 page)

“However, he added, it is also the one that requires the most work on our part, because while our morden can understand what we say and how we’re feeling, they don’t enter our minds to interact with us. As a result, we need to rely on our instincts and our feelings to interact with them.”

“Why don’t they enter our minds like the drakenhawks do, uncle? We know they interact with the drakenhawks, sharing pictures and feelings.”

I wish I could answer that Elwyn, but to date, no one knows the answer to that. I guess we will each have to honor either their choice, or their inability to relate to us that way.”

“Oh great, another mystery!”

“Do you think that you would be open to having a life-bond with a drakenhawk? It would certainly make it easier for us to protect you when you are in places where Gemma is unable to be with you. Keroc says that Gemma is hoping you will consider it and I hope that you will as well.”

“Truthfully, I don’t know that I’m the kind of person who could handle someone in my head all the time. It is one thing in these dire circumstances, but when the crisis is over... I don’t have anything in particular that I am trying to hide, but there might be things that I either don’t want or feel ready to share. I’m just not sure that I would be happy with the transparency you say exists between you. It is obvious that Gemma already knows more about me than I wish, but at least Gemma doesn’t talk about it in my head. I’m not sure that I’m ready to life-bond with a drakenhawk, uncle.”

“Another positive about life-bonding with a drakenhawk is that she will act as the link between you and Gemma. She can enter each of your minds and interact with you through your thoughts and images. Since Gemma was life-bonded with your mother; she knew her better than anyone except perhaps Azavon. I’m sure there are questions that you have about your mother that only Gemma knows the answers to. A drakenhawk can provide you with the answers to those questions, if she is life-bonded to you.”

“When do you and Kierra think I should form this life-bond? This is all happening so quickly that I am not sure just how I feel about any of it.”

“Unfortunately, these are far from normal circumstances. Due to the danger that you are in, there is just not the time to allow you to get used to the idea over time. We think that you should life-bond with a drakenhawk as soon as or just before we reach Findara. I know that it is rushing things for you, but we both think it is the best way to protect you once you are in Findara. Gemma can’t always be with you there, but a drakenhawk could.”

“I don’t know Ayron, but I promise that I will think about it,” Elwyn said as she got up and began to clean their small dishes in the nearby pond.

“One advantage of life-bonding for you will be that your mind won’t be constantly bombarded by other drakenhawks. They will all have to request permission from your companion to contact you and if you wish, she can block them from your mind and be the only one you interact with. You may find that your life is actually a lot quieter,” he said laughing and pointing to Keroc perched up in a nearby tree.

“I would never want Keroc to feel that he couldn’t contact me whenever he wishes. We have developed a special bond between us.”

“That’s ok, after listening to Kierra speak about her feelings for her youngest son, I don’t think she’d have the heart to punish him for breaking the rules. He might just get a good dressing down from time to time and a lecture or two on restraint, which he can definitely use.”

Both Ayron and Elwyn were both flooded with feeling of indignation followed by warmth and love. Having finished their meal, they continued riding toward Sylreth. The afternoon was cool, but Elwyn enjoyed basked in the warmth of the sun as she rode, taking in the beauty of her adopted land. Toruk checked in from time to time, but had nothing much to report. They rode in companionable silence, each lost in thought. The afternoon slowly turned into evening. The sounds of the insects and birds provided them with a symphony of music as they continued traveling along the road. As they drew close to the village, the moon and the stars illuminated the cultivated fields that lay around its outskirts. The different pattern of their crops reminded Elwyn of the quilts that Clayre loved to sew in her spare time. In the distance they could see lights; faintly at first, then growing brighter as they approached. Elwyn was shocked when Sylreth came into view.

It was, without a doubt, the largest village she’d ever seen. Many of the buildings looked huge to her. Some of them even had two levels and a few had a third. She stood motionless in the shadows trying to drink it all in, as Ayron walked the morden over to the stable. As they entered the inn, her amazement grew. Elwyn was positive that it was the busiest place she’d ever seen. There were more people in the common room of the inn, than came to market day in her village. Her overwhelming curiosity warred with her desire to follow her uncle’s caution about keeping her eyes averted, so that no one would see their color.

Ayron made arrangements with the innkeeper and quickly whisked her up some stairs to their rooms. He stayed with her until her tub had been filled and her dinner delivered, so that he could interact with the staff. He told her to freshen up, eat, and wait for his return, in about two hours. Elwyn was relieved when he left the room. She was still feeling very overwhelmed and just wanted to spend some time alone. That was what she was afraid of missing the most if she life-bonded with a drakenhawk. She enjoyed her alone time.

Elwyn took a leisurely bath, washed her hair with the sweet smelling soap they provided. She then ate dinner, taking time to enjoy the thick slices of meat and the potatoes covered with a generous portion of rich gravy. After she was finished, she poured herself another mug of strong hot tea, sat cross-legged on her comfortable bed, and waited for her uncle to return. While she waited, she thought about the conversation she had with Ayron at lunch about life-bonds. There was a part of her that could easily see the benefits in being open and honest with all of the people she interacted with. Unfortunately life had taught her that being so transparent with others often resulted in ridicule, judgment, and rejection. Perhaps it was different with the companions, but that didn’t make it any easier to enter into. If life-bonding with a drakenhawk was that important, she would have to find a way to find some freedom from the baggage of her painful past.

About two hours after he left, Ayron returned to join Elwyn in her room. The two of them waited patiently for Kierra. Elwyn’s room had a table and two chairs so they both sat down with some paper, quills, and ink to prepare for this evening’s meeting. They passed the time by writing down questions they felt were important to address. At times, the silence in the room was almost palatable. Neither Elwyn nor Ayron were much in the mood to talk. Her fears at entering, yet another place where she knew people were, even now, plotting to kill her, were both numerous and incredibly strong. He was struggling with the guilt of taking his niece, who had already been through tremendous suffering and grief, into a place that was full of unknown danger. That guilt and the responsibility he felt to keep her safe were quickly weighing him down and sapping all of his energy. He felt as if he’d aged fifty seasons in the past two weeks.

They both suddenly felt Kierra’s joyful presence entering their minds. It was as if the sun rose chasing away a sky full of dark clouds. She greeted them, expressing her delight at being with them again. She explained that she’d spent most of the day with Lady Silvenna. After she convinced Lady Silvenna that she was not going mad because she was hearing the drakenhawk queen’s voice in her head, they enjoyed many hours together discussing the situation.

“First, I bring you both greetings from Lady Silvenna of Silvendil. Elwyn, she asked me to convey to you the joy she feels in knowing that she has, not only a great granddaughter, but such a special one at that. She is looking forward to spending time with you and sharing the history of the elven people. She hopes that it will help you to embrace your dual heritage.

And Ayron, Your grandmother said to tell you not to keep beating yourself up for all the things that you had no ability to foresee or change. She said to tell you that she loves you and is proud to call you her grandson.

Lady Silvenna recognizes that you are both in a time of great trial, but wants you to know that you are not alone and will shortly be strengthened by others who will lend their support. So, and I quote;
“don’t try to solve the problems all by yourselves.”

Kierra could sense the level of stress going down in Ayron, as well as in Elwyn. She felt that it would be best for them all if she started at the beginning and moved forward through the list of issues they discussed the previous evening. She started with the biggest one on Ayron’s list. Telling Azavon about Elwyn’s existence and helping him deal with the fact that he’d been lied to about what happened to Rhianna those many seasons ago.

“Lady Silvenna has volunteered to be the one to speak with Azavon and to help him both deal with the news, and not go and immediately try to uncover the villains. She agrees that it should be done in person and that it would be too difficult to do it second hand through companions.

She has already sent him a note telling him that she needs several hours of his time tomorrow to discuss an issue of utmost importance to the kingdom. I am planning to connect with Lady Silvenna and Azavon’s drakenhawk, Torjon, during the time that the discussions are taking place. I will need to help Torjon to stay calm, because any reactions from him will be felt by Azavon.

It will also be easier for me to tell you about Azavon’s reaction to the information, if I am able to experience it through Lady Silvenna and Torjon. I would ask that you both stay available tomorrow during the discussions, in case Lady Silvenna or I need to ask for more information or need help answering questions. It occurred to me while I was speaking with Lady Silvenna, that we all may be answering questions for a very long time.”

Kierra then explained to them that she conveyed to Lady Silvenna the events of the past two weeks.

“Lady Silvenna is anxious to hear all the details of our journey so that she can help us to assess the potential danger to Elwyn, and possibly be of assistance in ferreting out the traitors. She is also happy to hear that her friend Rhys is coming back again to Findara and is looking forward to seeing him again. Having heard about Clayre, she is hoping that Clayre might want to join her in working to find cures for the various poisons that the Salissians are currently using, especially those on their weapons.

She is also anxious to speak with you, Elwyn, about your experiences in Wheryn. She told me that while she was aware of the existence of the werecats, she knows very little about them. She was angered and horrified to learn what the Salissians had done to Kren and has a very bad feeling about what is going on in the Wheryn as well.

Lady Silvenna thinks that, for the survival of the werecats and the protection of Silvendil, Azavon should agree to initiate an investigation immediately, and also be willing to offer help to the werecats any way he can.”

Kierra finished her list of topics by discussing the most difficult topic of all; how to insure Elwyn’s safety in Findara. Kierra said that she promised Lady Silvenna to convey her thoughts on the subject.

“She believes that no one except Azavon should be told of Elwyn’s existence or planned arrival. I am in agreement with that and plan to convince Torjon and Raven to restrain Azavon so he waits until Elwyn is in the meadow directly in front of the manor house before riding out to greet her.

Lady Silvenna also feels that Ayron and my drakenhawk guard should stay far enough back so that they can see if anyone is observing the meeting between father and daughter. She believes that, if someone else is there to observe Elwyn’s arrival, we can get the evidence to prove that there is a direct tie between Salissia, Avrelan, and the traitors in Findara. After all, how would anyone else know about the meeting, unless they were aware of Elwyn’s existence and the failed attempts to assassinate her?”

Kierra also told Ayron and Elwyn that Lady Silvenna felt that he needed to initiate an investigation immediately upon his return to determine; who the traitors in Findara are, who their spies are, who is buried in Rhianna’s grave; and what happened to Lilith. Kierra added that Lady Silvenna also felt that, until the truth of the matter was determined, that Elwyn should; share Lady Silvenna’s suite of rooms, eat only food prepared by her own hand, and make sure that she is never without a trusted escort. Kierra also said that Lady Silvenna suggested that it would be in Elwyn’s best interest to life-bond with a drakenhawk before she entered Findara, even though Kierra had explained the reasons for Elwyn’s reluctance to do so.

The three of them talked about Lady Silvenna’s advice long into the night. Ayron felt that, for the most part, her counsel was wise. He did feel though that it was going to be a much more difficult task than they all realized. Ayron knew that he was quickly going to become most people’s worst enemy; either insulting the innocent or creating paranoia among the guilty. He knew that it couldn’t be helped, but that didn’t mean he was looking forward to it either. Kierra and Gemma, on the other hand, had to deal with the possibility that some of the companions were complicit in the situation, making them not only guilty, but traitors to their own belief structures. Kierra explained to Ayron and Elwyn that she and Gemma might need some help in figuring out how the thoughts of any companions to the traitors had been shielded from them.

Elwyn let Ayron and Kierra know that she was still very overwhelmed and that in addition to all of the items on the list, she had to find her peace with creating a life-bond before she felt prepared, and meeting a stranger who would want to form a father-daughter relationship with her. Rhys was the only father she had ever known and she felt unwilling and unable to deal with another person in that role right now. She added that she was happy they would have to stay in Sylreth at least another day so that she could spend some time processing everything that was happening to her.