Tears of War (69 page)

Authors: A. D. Trosper

Tags: #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Epic, #Sword & Sorcery

Maleena sent a wave of gratitude to the silver.
“Then we will do what we must do to ensure the lives of the others.”

Mckale and Tellnox would live; they would be there to raise the baby. Tears stung Maleena’s eyes as she pulled her hand back from the glass smooth surface of the lake, allowing her magic to dissipate. She swallowed the sorrow she felt, knowing Mckale would sense it and leaned back just as the sun broke the eastern horizon.

The unfinished weave… there was only one way to get it.

“Maleena?” Mckale’s gentle voice reached through the horror of the images as he knelt on one knee next to her. “What did you see? I feel your grief, is there no hope at all?”

She rested one hand on her large belly and took a couple of deep breaths to help steady her emotions and focus her energy on cleansing her heart of the lingering sadness brought on by the images, thankful Mckale could only read her emotions and not her thoughts. The images she’d seen would be forever burned into her mind.

Maleena looked into Mckale’s eyes. “There is hope. It is small and still everything won’t end happily for everyone, but its hope nonetheless.”

He ran his hand down the side of her face, gently brushing her hair back. “How will it end? What will happen?”

She shook her head and laid her palm on his cheek. “I have no way of knowing for sure, my love. The lake only shows what could be, what might happen in the future. It gives no solid answers. That is why Emallya said it was so dangerous. Too many people forgot that it only offers maybes.” Maleena didn’t plan to tell him that she had gone through all of the possible maybes the lake had to offer. It would do no good. The future would be what it would be.

Maleena placed her hand in Mckale’s. “Help me up; it grows uncomfortable to sit here for too long.”

Mckale’s large, strong hands helped her gain her feet. Her ever expanding belly made getting up from the ground difficult. She placed her hands on the small of her back and arched slightly to stretch. “I need to speak with Kellinar and Taela.”

“They are still in New Sharren. I think they feel if they keep busy enough with helping to build and resettle the Mallay people there, then they won’t have to think about Anevay.” Mckale frowned. “Why do you need to speak with them? And do you think you should be going that far at this point?”

A deep pang of sadness struck her heart at the mention of Anevay. Only two months had passed and she still found herself ready to ask her lost friend something only to remember she was now in Maiadar. Just as the pain of losing Emallya and Bardeck had yet to ease, she still felt the loss of Anevay. “I must talk with them because Anevay’s unfinished weave is the only hope I found.”

Mckale shook his head. “Taela already tried to figure out what Anevay was creating and has been unable to.”

She snorted. “Taela spent less than an hour in the records room. She didn’t really try and we won’t know for sure until she does.”

“As you said, the ability to read the book doesn’t equate to creating new weaves. That was Anevay’s talent alone.”

“I know.” Maleena nodded. “Still, I have to talk with them. Taela can try again—really try. She and Kellinar are going to have to face the loss of Anevay eventually. The rest of us have.” She sighed and glanced at the glass smooth surface of the lake. “If she can’t finish what Anevay began, there might be another way to get the rest of the weave. But it will be a huge risk to them both.”

“What way?”

“I’m not sure it can even be done yet. I will have to speak with Taela first. Until then, I’m not entirely sure of all the possibilities.”

“Fine. If you must talk in circles then you must. Sometimes you sound like Emallya with these enigmatic explanations.” Mckale shook his head. “We will go to the border, tomorrow.”

Maleena frowned at him. “No, I will go now.”

“Maleena, please. You need to rest more now. This alone,” he motioned toward the lake, “has drained your energy enough. If you want to argue about it, then I will speak with Nydara. See how fast you get to the border without a dragon.”

Nydara huffed a rumble of agreement. Maleena shot a glare at the silver, knowing the dragon would take Mckale’s side. “Alright, tomorrow then.”

She turned and walked toward the silver dragon. Mckale would have to help her into the saddle again. It seemed grace and ease of movement would continue to be a thing of the past until the baby was born. With a sigh she stopped next to Nydara and looked up at the saddle. Even with the second, lower stirrup added to this side, there was no way she could reach that with her belly in the way.

With mirth in his eyes, Mckale stepped to her side and held out a hand. “My lady.” He bowed slightly.

Maleena laughed. “You are really enjoying my lack of mobility aren’t you?”

“Of course, it means our child grows well and healthy. Besides, you look beautiful pregnant.” He bent and brushed a kiss across her lips.

She shook her head and rubbed a hand over her belly, feeling the baby kick strong. Now if only the child would quit propping his or her foot in Maleena’s ribs at night, she might get some sleep one of these days. She sent a mock glare at Mckale. “Don’t lie, Mckale. I look like a bloated cow. My stomach makes me wider than I am tall.”

Mckale threw his head back and roared with laughter; the deep timbre of it floating across the still and silent lake. When he regained control of himself, he looked at her with warm amusement dancing in his silver eyes. “You hardly look like that, my lady. I remember my mother’s belly getting much larger than yours when she was pregnant with Sonja.”

Maleena waved away the comment. “From what you have said, your mother was almost as tall as Sonja. I highly doubt a large, pregnant stomach made her look as unwieldy as I do.”

He chuckled softly. “You can look into my mind and see that I’m not lying. You are beautiful like this.”

She rolled her eyes and chose to ignore that comment. He very well may think she looked beautiful, but she didn’t feel it. She felt huge and uncomfortable. “Let’s get back to Galdrilene since you insist that I rest. Tomorrow I have to speak with Taela. If what I’m thinking is possible, there will be much to prepare for.”

Born in Kansas, I spent a lot of my childhood moving around. I’ve lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Washington State (around Seattle), and southern California. I had many great adventures growing up. Right now I reside in Kansas again with my husband of 19 years, my three children, assorted cats, and my wonderful dogs Roxie and Abby. One of these days I will escape the plains and make my way back to my beloved Pacific Northwest.

I’ve been an avid lover of fantasy since I was a young child. Dragons, elves, fairies, dwarves, and other denizens of the fantasy world as well as magic have always fascinated me. As I grew up, I developed an interest in vampires, zombies and my interests branched out to take in paranormal and urban fantasy.

I don’t have any special writing credits to my name other than a wildly active imagination and the ability to form that imagination into written stories. Beyond writing and reading, I also have a deep love of neat stairways, doors, doorways, and gates. I’m also convinced chocolate is a food group.

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