The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) (16 page)

Instead of showing anguish, Lliandra had beamed
.“
We should not mourn the loss of the child
,”
she instructed those gathered in her room
,“
but celebrate the fact I am not barren
.
”

Only the empress could find a way to turn a devastating situation into something to cause joy. Faelar
a’
s anger at her sovereign melted a bit that night. Her reticence at seeing Baehlon also diminished. If she were to live at the Crystal Palace, she would have to see him, and Micah. She needed to put aside her feelings and do what was best for everyone.

A fortnight after Lliandra gave birth, Valterys, Overlord of the West, Lord of the Dark, arrived for a visit. The moment he entered Lliandr
a’
s lavish sitting room, Faelara knew there was something special about this man. Her empress acted contrary to her usually controlled self, giggling too much and fidgeting with her jewels constantly.

The overlord brought his son Zakael, a clever lad with striking grey eyes and a shock of black hair. With him, too, came his cousin, Duke Anje. If Lliandra acted childishly infatuated with the overlord, her sister Gwyneira acted the exact opposite. Her attraction to the duke was almost contrite.

When it was time for the overlord and his son to leave, the duke stayed. Faelara was certain Lliandra would try to claim the man for her own, but he was too far gone in love with Gwyneira for the empress to have a chance. The princess and duke were married the following summer, with a son born nine moonturns later. Lliandra made the duke protector of Paderau and sent her sister to live with him in the expansive palace there.

Then Lliandra began her search for the father of her next child. She found a handsome noble of high regard, and he dutifully gave Lliandra a child.

Princess Marissa was born on a clear morning during Wintertide. Her rosy cheeks warmed the hearts of all those present for her birth. Lliandra beamed to finally have an heir. When Nadra appeared with the sword and Marissa screamed when her palm was placed upon the pommel, Lliandr
a’
s disappointment was hidden behind a tight smile.

And so Talaith celebrated the birth of the princess. Heir to the Light Throne, Marissa was guarded night and day. The best tutors were found for her, and the most skilled mages taught her how to weave her ShantiMari. Esna, Mariss
a’
s father, enjoyed a comfortable life at the Crystal Palace. He fathered a son with Lliandra and suffered through two miscarriages with her. When Marissa was five seasons old, he was caught trying to poison the empress. His execution was swift and never spoken of by Lliandra again. The boy, three at the time of his fathe
r’
s death, was given to Esn
a’
s sister to raise. Both were banished from Lliandr
a’
s court.

That summer, the overlord and his son visited again. Faelara watched the sun return to her empres
s’
s heart, and she knew. This was the man who would fulfill the prophecy. She recalled a conversation sh
e’
d had with Rhoane in a crowded Summerlands marketplace many seasons earlier and wondered whether h
e’
d always known it would be Valterys.

She glanced to where Rhoane leaned casually against the wall, at ease in the palace now that Lliandra no longer pursued him. He caught her eye and grinne
d—
a sloppy, roguish grin she suspected had broken more than one woma
n’
s heart. H
e’
d grown into a fine man over the course of their friendship. Although he continued to disappear for moonturns at a time, often with Baehlon in tow, he always returned mostly unharmed.

What
?
The gentle thought brushed her mind.

You knew, did
n’
t you
?
She cast a quick glance at Valterys, who was making a show of kissing Lliandr
a’
s fingers.

Rhoane shrugged in answer.

Infuriating man!

Zakael, Valtery
s’
s son, now twenty seasons and even more handsome, stood to the side, looking bored at the antics of his lovesick father. Yes, Faelara realized, Valterys was equally attracted to Lliandra.

Marissa followed Zakael everywhere. He tolerated her presence, but only just. She was a child and he on the cusp of adulthood. He kept his visits short, but each time he came to Talaith, the princess was drawn to him like fleas to a mongrel.

For ten seasons, Valterys courted Lliandra. He divided his time between Caer Idris and Talaith, spending many moonturns with the empress during the Light Celebrations each Wintertide and again during the summer. When finally the empress announced she was with child, the entire kingdom celebrated. Even those who did
n’
t know about the prophecy knew this child was special. Born of both Light and Dark. Never in the history of Aelinae had a child been born to two rulers of opposing kingdoms.

It was a new beginning.

Chapter 14

SCREAMS rent the summer air. Empress Lliandra thrashed upon the birthing bed, her face a torrent of pain. Rhoane fidgeted behind the modesty screen, where he and the others waited. Some waited for the birth of a new princess, another heir to solidify Lliandr
a’
s throne. Others waited for the birth of a prince, a link to the Obsidian Throne that would cement peace between the two kingdoms.

Rhoane cared little for a prince or another heir for the empress. He waited for the one foretold by Verdaine. The one who is and who is not. The Darennsai of his people.

His life mate.

His downfall.

Another cry, louder than the others and filled with anguish beyond pain, tore through his thoughts. He chanced a glance around the partition and saw the nursemaid shake her head. Lliandra sobbed as she turned from the sickening blue corpse of her infant son. The lifeless thing was placed in a basket to the side of the room, away from the empress. A thin blanket covered their hopes and dreams.

Rhoane stared at the unmoving basket. His mind whirled in a tempest. How could Verdaine have it wrong? Surely the gods knew the future? She would
n’
t have made him swear an oath if she were unsure. H
e’
d lost more than his people for the unborn child. H
e’
d lost his mother, his kingdom, and his homeland, taking the shame of being sheanna for the sake of Aelina
e’
s future.

A future that now looked bleaker than ever. Peace would never be restored. Balance never regained. A malignant force wormed its way beneath the terrarae. H
e’
d seen traces of the blackness too many times to discount the threat. H
e’
d been certain this child, born of Valterys and Lliandra, the Lord of the Dark and the Lady of Light, would be his Darennsai.

The past twenty-five seasons had been spent preparing for her arrival. H
e’
d done what Faisal asked and become more than a spy, more than an assassin. H
e’
d murdered men and gathered information. H
e’
d traveled to every corner of Aelinae searching, studying, believing. And now those beliefs were in tatters. Lliandra had miscarried befor
e—
perhaps she and Valterys could have another child. But in his gut, Rhoane knew it wa
s
thi
s
pregnancy
.
Thi
s
child. There would
n’
t be a second chance.

“
Your Majesty, there is another
!
”

The birthing woma
n’
s shout startled Rhoane. Another child. A twin. His gaze slid over the basket once more. Remorse for the dead infant tucked itself inside his heart.

Lliandra sobbed harder, her face a purplish mess of concentration and agony. The nurse pushed and prodded until a tiny pink body slithered into her hands. She held the newborn aloft and declared
,“
A princess
!
”

Relief, raw and scorching, swept over Rhoane. Something foreign bloomed in his chest and pinched his heart, unlocking what h
e’
d painstakingly hidden away
.
Hope.

Nadra stepped from where sh
e’
d been hovering just beside the bed. A sword appeared in her hand and a collective gasp silenced the room.

“
No
,”
Lliandra whispered
,“
not my daughter. Please. Not again. I cannot bear it
.
”

“
You know the prophecy as well as I. It must be done, if we are to be certain
.
”

The nursemaid held the princess against her bosom, unsure what to do.

Nadra’s sword glowed white with ancient power. Claidholm Solais answered in kind, emanating power within the ornate scabbard Rhoane wore low on his hips. Rhoane absently hushed his weapon, keeping a trained eye on the other blade.

Nadra held Ynyd Eirathnacht, the sword Daknys had wielded in the Great War. The same sword that helped seal away her lover and betrayer, Rykoto. A sword embellished with two dragons.

“
Bring the child to me
,”
Nadra commanded, and the nursemaid trembled as she pushed the tiny babe toward the goddess.

Lliandra lurched forward to snatch the princess
.“
Let me hold her once before you ruin all our lives
.”
She breathed in the newborn, like a grierbas marking the scent of her young.

“
Brandt
,”
Nadra called, and the high priest stepped around the gathered nobles to take the infant
.“
Place her right palm against the blade
.
”

Brandt did as told, gingerly holding the tiny pink hand out toward the sword. When the infan
t’
s palm touched the metal, a light brighter than the sun blazed forth and the sword erupted in song. Those in the room covered their ears, but not Rhoane. He stood motionless and listened.

Although cut off from the ancients, he thought he heard their murmuring in his mind. The sword sang of a day when peace would blanket Aelinae and at last the land would be united as it was meant to be from the start. A peculiar rustling tickled his thoughts, like leathery wings unfurling in the wind. A voice, older than the terrarae and full of sorrow, whispered in his mind.

We will be here, our princ
e—
waiting, watching. You are our last hope.

Rhoane stilled, willing the others to quiet so he might hear more, but the voice was gone, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth
.
Remorse
.
He knew that taste well. Had honed it like an aged wine until it became palatable
.
Hope
.
The voice had said he was their last hope. But who was he, and who were they? What did they wait for?

He patted his pocket, where the cynfar Verdaine had crafted for the Darennsai rested. All their hopes were as young and fragile as the infant princess, who stared in wide-eyed fascination at the sword.

“
Please
.”
Lliandra sobbed quietly
.“
Let her stay here. I promise I will raise her to be fair and without bias
.
”

“
You know I cannot do that
.”
Nadr
a’
s musical voice undercut the words of the swor
d’
s song
.“
This child is the Eirielle and must be raised away from your or the other ruler
s’
influence. It is the only way. We discussed this, my daughter
.
”

“
That was when I thought the child would be a boy and you would take him far from Valterys
.
”

“
Even so. We must protect Aelina
e’
s future. It is the only way
.
”

“
Will I at least be able to visit her
?”
The empres
s’
s face contorted into a mask of rage and incredulity.

Nadra motioned to the nursemaid, who swaddled the princess in a fine woolen blanket
.“
No, my darling. You must never try to find her, lest your enemies learn of her existence. Everyone in this room will be compelled to forget the princess was born. When Valterys arrives tomorrow morning, he will find only his son. It is the only way I can protect her. Protect Aelinae
.
”

“
At least let me see my niece before you send her away
.”
Duchess Gwyneira, so similar in coloring to her older sister but vastly different in temperament, took the infant from the nursemaid and bent low to whisper in her ear
,“
Fear not, little one. We are with you always. Though you may not see us, or hear us, we are in your heart. Remember this: there can be no Light without Dark, and no darkness without light. When you return to us, you will be our sun and moon, our stars and shadows. You will be Aelinae
.
”

“
What are you telling her? Give me my daughter
.”
Lliandra held her hands out to take the baby, and Gwyneira obliged, but not before she placed her lips upon the little princes
s’
s.

As she bent to give the child to her sister, she grimaced and placed a hand on her swollen belly
.“
Gods be willing, there might be need of the nursemaids once more tonight
.
”

Nadra placed a protective hand over Gwyneir
a’
s
.“
Nay, my love, your child will be born in two days hence. He is excited to be so near his cousin
.
”

“
He
?”
Gwyneira cast a sly glance at her husband, Duke Anje
.“
And you swore it was a daughter
.
”

Anje winked at his wife
.“
I said I welcomed a child, male or female. Either would be equally loved
.
”

“
Yes, and you also said you wanted a daughter to spoil
.
”

“
It is time
,”
Nadra interrupted, indicating to Brandt that he should take the baby.

“
But why Father
?”
Faelara asked
.“
Why not Myrddin? H
e’
s older than all of us and almost as powerful as the empress. Surely he would be the best caregiver for the child
.
”

“
Myrddin and I have discussed this
,”
Nadra began
,“
and i
t’
s been decided Brandt is better suited to raising a child on his own. Myrddin, as you know, has no offspring, and although his powers are great, his paternal skills are not
.”
The last was said with a smile warm enough to brighten the leaden skies.

“
It is only for a few seasons
,”
Myrddin added
.“
You will see your father again before you know it
.
”

A tear streaked down Faelar
a’
s cheek, and she sniffed
.“
Yes, I know.
I’
m being quite selfish, and I apologize. Do
n’
t do anything foolish, Father. Bring the princess home safely
.”
She stood on tiptoe to kiss the high priest
.“
I love you
.
”

“
And I you, my dearest
.”
Brandt hugged the child to his chest and wrapped his other arm around his only daughter
.“
I will think of you every day
.
”

“
Rhoane
,”
Nadra said
,“
you will accompany Brandt
.
”

“
It will be my honor
.”
Rhoane bowed low to Lliandra, then to the others in the room. Voices rose in a chatter of dismay. Lliandr
a’
s sobs were stifled beneath requests for one last cuddle, one final kiss, but Nadra ignored all of them.

As Rhoane left the birthing chamber with Brandt, he heard Nadra whisper
,“
You shall forget this child. Erase her from your mind so she can be safe
.
”