Leoht (BloodRunes: Book 3) (29 page)

There had been no sign of Katya, she seemed
to have simply disappeared into the wind, and Layna’s attempts to
contact her had come up empty. She would have liked the chance to
get to know her better, and hoped that once Katya found whatever
she was looking for out there, that she would return.

“There it is,” Gryffon said, pointing. He
always did spot things before her. She squinted her eyes in the
direction he was pointing and squealed in excitement. Clapping her
hands in what she knew was an extremely childish gesture, she raced
towards the door. Once she exited through it, however, she settled
into a more refined walk. Amelia had been putting her through
grueling etiquette classes and she didn’t want to be caught and
scolded. Apparently, there was a lot more to being royalty than
Layna had known. There was a lot in
life
that Layna had
never known.

By the time they had gotten the whole
procession together and Amelia was satisfied with Layna’s
appearance, the caravan had made its way to its destination. Layna
and Gryffon mounted their horses - Fly had amazingly been found
amongst the army’s horses when they were disbanded - and they made
their slow way down to the magnificent statue that they had
commissioned for the purpose. It was a giant flame extending
upwards from the earth, with three indents specially made for the
Three’s stones which had just arrived.

The ceremony to place them into the statue
marked the beginning of a program Gryffon and Layna were launching
to educate the people about the events that had transpired leading
up to their rule. They felt that it was important for the people to
know. And for the symbols of the Three to be remembered and
available to everyone. The statue would be able to be visited by
everyone, and Layna hoped that they could eventually undo some of
the damage that Nuko and his facade of the Sleeping God had
done.

Layna took her place beside Gryffon on the
dais set up for them, still not used to the prominent position she
now found herself to be. Gryffon had taken it all in stride, and
Layna didn’t know what she would do without him.

A large crowd had gathered, and Layna gazed
out across it. It held smiling faces and she beamed back at them.
The caravan stopped in front of the statue and two men jumped out
and each grabbed a side of a chest which they unloaded carefully
from the back. Layna waited impatiently for her cue from Gryffon
and then they both stepped forward in unison.

As they approached, one of the attendants
opened the chest to reveal the three stones inside. They seemed to
glow with an unearthly light and Layna’s heart warmed at the sight
of them. She lifted one gingerly out of the velvet-lined chest and
carried it reverently to the statue, setting it gently into one of
the recesses prepared for it. Gryffon set the second stone and
Layna took the third.

As she set the last stone into place, she
gasped as the rock flame suddenly turned very real and all three
stones flashed brightly. The light faded quickly, leaving the
stones completely embedded into the marble of the statue, and the
flames danced with moving colors, giving it the effect that it was
actually on fire.

-
I like it
.- Kai’s deep
voice stated into Layna’s head, filling her with joy.

-
Yes, we found
Adrastea
.-
Cliodhna answered the unspoken question.
-
She regrets not being able to speak with you
directly, Gryffon
,- Layna realized that they must be talking
with him as well. -
But she is well and asks you not
to forget your love for Layna, together you are whole
.
-
Layna felt Gryffon’s hand find her own and she squeezed it.

-
It seems as though you are
doing well in recovering from our mistake. We’d like to once again
apologize for letting Nuko run rampant for so long, and would also
like to offer you a gift.
-

-
What gift?-

-
A blessing. For your unborn
child
.- Layna’s hand flew to her stomach. She had felt as
though something were different lately, but could it be? She felt a
tingle in her midsection, and felt through the Three’s presence
that they had given their blessing.

-
We regret that now that your
crisis is over, our attention is needed elsewhere, but know that
you will be missed. Your race has always been one that has
intrigued us, and you in particular have touched each of our
hearts. Though our presence will not be direct, I hope that you
will continue to remember us as well
.
-

-
We could never forget you!-
Their
presence faded from her consciousness and Layna was alone with her
thoughts once more, but the statue remained magically animate, the
marble seeming to constantly dance with flames.

Gryffon turned to her with sparkles in his
eyes. “You’re pregnant?”

Layna shrugged and beamed at him. “I guess
so.” She rubbed her belly in awe.

“I have the perfect name for her,” Gryffon
said and Layna wondered if the Three had told him something more
than they had her, “Phoenix.”

* * *

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