The Drifting (8 page)

It only takes a second for Tolan to take
it
all
in
before moving on.  “So, Tharin marrying Lily and the
talks about an impending war have
nothing to do with his attack that night?”

“No.  It was
greed and then
pure lust on Falsad’s end.  However, the tie between the clans would put a crimp in Eathos’ plans. 
His plan is to divide and conquer. 
All of
it
…the skirmish along the clan borders, the civil unrest among the lower regions and talks of war is a
ll
part of his plan
…a
distraction of his true motives
, destroying Velesi
.  And to do that he needs the key, he needs
the Manui Stone and he needs
Lily.  Falsad
almost ruined it for Eathos
because he wanted her for himself.”

My vision from the Binding of Lucas lecherously kissing her neck comes to mind.  I know now that it wasn’t Lucas I was seeing, but Falsad. 
“I’ll kill him,” I say under my breath.

“Okay, it
i
s talk like that that will get her killed.  You are the future
king
of the Oak Clan and to the Velesi realm
, start acting like it
.”

I stare at the old man before me
,
not sure what to say.  Finally, I
raised my elbows onto the table, my hands to my head
.  I realize I can
now
move, but the desire to attack the Ancient is no longer in me.  I feel chastise and
I’m
unsure what to do next.  Finally, “
Can we trust him, Tolan?”

“Yes.  We can trust him, but I would ask to be able to contact Lily,”
replies Tolan.

“Can he do that?”

“I believe so.
  Look around us, brother.  We’
re in the kavi tree.  It would take more than a few minute
s
for Phoris to do the summoning to such as the kavi.  We appeared in mere seconds.  Even
F
ather would have had a hard time quieting Julia’s snoring
without healing her completely
.  That
in
itself is a feat.  Yes, I do believe he can.”

“It’s true, Prince Tharin,” says Ka unexpectedly.  “I can allow you and Lily to communicate, even with such distance between you.”  Tolan and I stare at the old man.  No one can interrupt our communication unless they are invited in.  Somehow, Ka
is
able to bypass our private conversation as easily as he bypassed our shield earlier.

“But first, you must give me your word that y
ou will return to the
Oak
Tower
.  Once you’ve
relay the news to
everyone that Lily is dead, you
..
.”

“Lily’s dead?” It was barely above a whisper, but the shock in Julia’s voice took the air out of the room.  Tolan is up instantly and moves toward her bed.  She’s sitting up on one arm,
a
hand at her chest.  I can see her breathing coming quick and short, her eyes
telling of her shock and disbelief
.  She moves away from Tolan as far as the wall behind her will allow, shaking her head at him.

“Julia, it’s not what you think,” comforts Tolan.

It’s at this moment that I know what I have to do.  Standing, I stop my brother in his tracks by saying, “Yes, Julia, she is.  I am sorry.” 

Tolan turns to me questioningly, momentarily confused. 
“We have to make her believe it
’s
true, Tolan.  Eathos must see
real
grief from Lily’s only friend.  Julia will understand once this is over and we explain why we have done this.”
  I watch my brother’s face harden and see the look of
betrayal
knowing what he would be putting Julia through.  He
gives me a curt nod
and turns back to Julia.

By now Julia is
sitting up
against the wall, she looks about her for a way to escape.  I give Ka a hard look,
pissed
that he has forced m
e to put Julia through the worst
kind of pain I can think of
–
the pain of losing a loved one.

Before Tolan reaches
her, Julia let
s out
an
anguished
cry
that spears through me.  As Tolan pulls her to him,
she struggles against him, the branch bed swaying with her movements.  She doesn’t say a word, doesn’t cry, but continues to fight Tolan. 
I turn away
and leave Tolan to comfort her
, not able to watch any longer.

My back toward
Ka, I say only for him,
“I hope your
plan follows through
,
or you won’t have just me to deal with.  You will have my father to contend
to
, and not to mention,”
I turn to glance over at Tolan now rocking
a listless
Julia,
“a very pissed
-
off friend to the queen of Velesi.”

I
c
atch Ka’s eye.  He briefly glances over at
the
bed area and with a heavy sigh
says
,
“Fair enough.  But you must convince Ethos of her death, or all is lost.  He has powerful allies in the UnderRealm
.  He will call upon all of them to get to the princess if he believes she’s alive and unprotected.
And, Tharin, it will be Kabba he will send
after
her.”

I nod and state,
“I will let Lily know of our plans.”

“No.  The less she knows the better.  Sema
and Ziri
will gi
ve her what she needs to know.
” 
He puts his hand up, quieting me before I can remark about leaving her with Ziri.

“Put your petty jealousy aside, Tharin. You have gone through the Binding with Lily, and even if you didn’t, trust her.  And trust me.  Ziri will not lay a hand on her unless she provokes him.”

I plop down o
n the seat.  Great,
Lily was raised in
Pathen, the realm
of man, she won’t tolerate any bullying. 
And trust him
? 
I hardly know him, but it doesn’t seem I have much of a choice. 
I sigh at the thought.  Reluctantly
,
I agree
s
he
might
be better off with his wife and Ziri
…for now
. 

“I want to speak with her,”
I demand.

Ka gives me a raised brow and I feel my back stiffen once again.  Biting my tongue, I relax into my seat and with some effort and great reluctance, I ask with sarcastic humbleness,
“Please, oh great Ancient One, let me speak with my betrothed.”

~ * ~

Chapter Five

~ Lily ~

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting in the dark.  For as long as I’ve been sitting here, no more taps came at the door.  I guess Sema is leaving it up to me
on when I’m ready
to come out and talk with her.  She said we had much to discuss.  There’s more here than I can figure out, I just don’t know where to start.  She
also
said they took me to save my life.  If I am in danger than wouldn’t I be safer with Tharin at the
Oak
Tower
? 

I think of Julia
,
and the memory of her screaming for me almost brings me to tears.  I choke it back, however, and stare at the door missing my friend desperately.  At least she’s with Tolan and
I’m comforted in knowing
that he would never let anything happen to her.  I just hope my not being there
doesn’t break
her.  I remember the many talks Marilyn and I had about Julia
when her mom disappeared
. 
Julia withdrew from everyone…everyone but me
.  I think
of my friend, pray she’s okay
and that Tolan is doing everything to assure her that he and Tharin will find me.

I snap out of my depressing thoughts. 
I have to try and make it back to Julia, and then continue my search for Lucas.  I look around me
–
I won’t find any answers sitting here. 
I’m off the bed and at the door within seconds.  Taking a deep breath I open it. 

“Ah, Lily
, y
ou’ve finally decided to join us.  I hope you’re hun
gry.  I’ve made your favorite, c
hicken pasta with zucchini and mushrooms, just the way you like it.”  The old woman is in the process of dishing me a plate.  I’ve given up on how the elves always seem to know when I would show up. 

She indicates the table set for three, and I move toward it as the aroma of sautéed chicken seasoned in marjoram fills the room.
   The delicious scent causes my mouth to water at the same time my stomach growls loudly.  I catch at my stomach trying to keep the grumbling down, but the smell of food pulls me toward the table without any resistance.  The silverware and glasses have been set, and I watch as Sema tops the white porcelain plate
with food
.  The table is covered with a lace cloth and the
chairs are painted white
.  The table is beautifully set, including the large bouquet of spring flowers in
a crystal decanter set in
the cente
r.  I think about that.  Is it s
pring her
e
in Velesi? When Tharin came for me
it
was the
beginning
of summer
in
San Diego
.