The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) (2 page)

“
Rhoane
,”
Carga interrupted his thoughts
,“
you need to do this. I have read Verdain
e’
s prophecy. I know there is turmoil brewing beneath the surface of our world. The Eleri are not immune to the devastation the Fadair will cause
.”
She paused, a crease markingher brow
.“
Never in my wildest imaginings did I consider the prophecy was about you. Why did you not tell me before now
?
”

“
I did not want it to be true
.
”

“
You have read the prophecy, yes
?
”

He looked away, not wanting to meet her accusing stare
.“
I have skimmed it
.
”

“
Rhoane, this is serious. You cannot deny your place in our future. If the woman who can save us, save all of Aelinae, is a Fadair, so be it
.
”

“
No
!”
Rhoane slammed his mug on the desk. Grhom sloshed over his papers
.“
Why would Verdaine punish me? Punish all Eleri
?
”

“
Oh, my sweet brother. You have been listening to Bressal and Father. Eleri are special, yes, but we are not above any creatures on this terrarae
.
”

He ran his hands through his hair, intentionally loosening several braids. Carga tsk-tsked him and began to tighten the mess. He knew his sister well. Sh
e’
d never been able to keep her fingers still if there was a braid needing repair. He was
n’
t ashamed to admit, on more than one occasion, h
e’
d used the ruse to divert her anger.

Her fingers laced his tresses with expert precision. The familiar tug and smoothing calmed his racing heart, cleared his mind.

“
I do not understand why a goddess needs a prophecy
.”
It was something h
e’
d pondered many times over the seasons. Certainly gods knew the future.

“
It is not technically Verdain
e’
s
,”
Carga began. The crispness to her tone set him on alert
.“
The young woman who uttered the words was an ill-educated farm girl living near Lake Eion
.”
When Rhoane jerked to look at her, she tugged hard on his braid, and he bit back the scornful comment
.“
Yes, an Aelan. She went into a trance, which frightened the dickens out of her father, and babbled about the destruction of Aelinae. Her father, not much better educated than she, called for the town cleric, who happened to be visiting a neighboring farm. He was able to scribble down every word
.
”

“
How fortuitous for them
,”
Rhoane drawled as Carga finished her work and sat on the edge of a chair, arms folded across her chest
.“
Has it ever occurred to you they made it up
?
”

“
Yes, it has. In fact, it occurred to several people. Until five other instances all across Aelinae were discovered where a young maiden went into a trance, said nearly word for word the same thing, and then fell over dead
.
”

“
They all died
?
”

“
Yes. They call it Verdain
e’
s prophecy because each girl said Verdain
e’
s name. No other gods or goddesses were mentioned. Only our goddess
.
”

“
How terrible for the young women
.”
Rhoane had never heard that part of the tale. H
e’
d believed all this time Verdaine wrote the prophecy
.“
I suppose that changes things
.
”

“
Does this mean you accept what must be done
?”
a lyrical voice questioned from behind him.

Rhoane and Carga shared a look of surprise and turned to greet Verdaine. Carga curtseyed nearly to the floor, while Rhoane stood to bow low, as was expected.

“
Welcome, Holy One. We are honored by your presence
.
”

Verdaine floated toward them. Her rust, olive, and golden hair hovered around her shoulders like a frame of forest
.“
I have come to fetch you, my young apprentice. When I did not find you in your rooms, I followed the sound of your voice. This conversation has been most stimulating
.
”

Heat flared up Rhoan
e’
s neck. Was Verdaine here to force him into honoring his oath? Certainly she would make him leave his home as sh
e’
d made Carga agree to leave her people.

Verdaine swept her fingertips across his cheek and calm flowed through his veins
.“
I will not force you to do anything. You will know when it is time to leave the Narthvier
.
”

He instinctively shut his thoughts off from the goddess and her lips lifted in a smile. At least while he was able, he would have control of his life
.“
Will you come for me then, too
?
”

A sword appeared in her hand. Its long blade glowed white with ancient power that pulsed against his own ShantiMari. The dragon-scaled hilt fanned into a cross guard with intricately etched vines and designs unlike any h
e’
d ever seen. A second, smaller guard flared to pointed ends. The blad
e—
lithe, elegant, and letha
l—
stretched to a point. Words in a script he could
n’
t read wound their way up its polished surface.

“
This will tell you when it is time. Take it, Rhoane
.
”

“
I cannot
,”
he said
.“
This is a blade worthy of a god. No mortal should carry such a work of art
.
”

Verdaine placed the sword in his hands. A smile further illuminated her beauty
.“
He was made by your Artagh brothers after they left the vier. My father commissioned he be made for me, to fight in the Great War, but I could
n’
t bring myself to use it. When I refused, my father told me to keep him safe, that someday I would have need of him again. Not for myself, but for the one who would come from the terrarae
.
”

Rhoane gripped the hilt hard, trying his best not to let the immense power of the sword overwhelm him. A song played in his mind. A joyful tune of remembrance. The sword welcomed him. No, it remembered him. Eyes wide, he glanced to his goddess.

“
Claidholm Solais was forged for my use
,”
she said
,“
but he was never truly mine. You are the only master this sword will know
.
”

“
Kleeve Solish
?”
Rhoane wrapped his lips around the strange name.

“
Claidholm Solais. His name is derived from the old tongue. Listen well to his words. He will guide you to find the Darennsai. She will be known by her own sword, Ynyd Eirathnacht
.
”

“
The sword your father made for Daknys
,”
Carga offered
.“
No one has seen it since Rykoto was imprisoned. Many believe he destroyed the weapon during the fighting
.
”

Verdain
e’
s laughter was like the tinkling of small bells on a summe
r’
s breeze
.“
Ynyd Eirathnacht is not missing. She is safely guarded. When the time has come, Nadra will present her to the Darennsai
.
”

“
Nadra
,”
Carga said dreamily
,“
Mother Goddess and consort to our Great Father Ohlin. I would love to one day meet them
.
”

“
And you shall, child
.”
Verdaine touched Carg
a’
s cheek
.“
You shall
.”
She returned hergaze to Rhoane
.“
This sword and Ynyd Eirathnacht are made of godsteel. You cannot destroy them. Not by fire, nor ShantiMari. The only way these two swords can be damaged is if they are used against each other in battle. They were made for peace, but must be united as one
.
”

Rhoane held the sword close to his face and inspected the scrolling words
.“
What does it say
?
”

“
That is for you to discover. I will only tell you thi
s—
if you and the Darennsai are not united as well, she will fail
.
”

“
May I
?”
Carga held her hand out for the sword.

Rhoane cast a glance to Verdaine. At her nod, he gently placed the weapon upon Carga’s palm. The glow diminished until the metal was cool and grey.

“
Claidholm Solais, protect my brother as he journeys forth. Be as a guide to him when he is lost, a friend to him when he is lonely, and always, a reminder to him what he means not just to the Eleri, but to all of Aelinae
.”
The sword flared anew; its brightness flooded his room with multihued streaks of light
.“
Claidholm Solais, Sword of Light
.”
She breathed the final words upon the blade, and the rainbow dimmed to dull grey once more. Carga placed his fingers firmly around the hilt. Their power mingled with Claidholm Solai
s’
s. Light, Dark, and Eleri fused as one.

“
Thank you
,”
he whispered, and she grinned cheekily at him.

“
You will be needing this as well
,”
Verdaine said. A delicate silver chain with an unusual charm dangled from her fingertips
.“
This cynfar is for the Darennsai. A talisman, of sorts
.
”

Rhoane took the pendant from his goddess and placed it in a drawer without looking too closely at the design. He still was
n’
t sure he would honor his oath and leave the Narthvier.

A fancy sword was
n’
t enough to convince him a Fadair woman was worth the sacrifice.

Chapter 2

SIX moonturns passed before Rhoane thought about the pendant. He trained each day with his sword, learning the songs the sword sang, but was no closer to understanding their meaning. It was a fine Harvest morning shortly after his birthing day when he found the cynfar in his drawer, tucked into a corner amid the cruft of adolescent importance.

His fingertips brushed the silver, and a jolt of power thrummed straight to his heart. He snatched his fingers from the offending metal and blew on them as if burned. When no blisters formed, he used the tip of his dagger to draw the necklace from its hiding place. A large diamond glittered from the center of a laurel wreath, and several smaller gems dotted a circle above the wreat
h’
s leaves. With his exhale, the leaves fluttered and he stared, mesmerized. The diamond winked in the light and in its depths he saw a sphere, blue and green with wisps of white. He blinked and the vision disappeared, leaving the gem as unremarkable as an acorn.

It is time, Rhoane
.
Verdain
e’
s voice whispered through the room on a gentle breeze.

“
No
,”
Rhoane argued
.“
I cannot leave the vier. Mother needs me, and Bressal is nowhere near ready to rule. I must stay
.
”

Silence answered him.

He pushed the pendant to the back of the drawer and slammed it shut. He was
n’
t ready to leave. Not yet. If ever.

He grabbed his sword and strode to the inner courtyard, where his mother sat with her ladies-in-waiting, including Janeira, a warrior who had caught the eye of his brother. When Rhoane approached, Aislinn rose to greet him, but he stormed past without saying so much as hello.

“
Prince Rhoane
.”
Those two words froze his hurried pace
.“
What vexes you, my darling
?
”

“
I cannot do it, Mother
.”
He refused to look at her, to see the disappointment yet again in her eyes
.“
You need me. The vier needs me. This is my home, my people. I am their prince, their future king. How can I rule if I am off chasing a myth
?”
He grasped at his tattered reality, knowing his words were false. He was never meant to rule, never meant to sit on the Weirren Throne. He knew it in the marrow of his being, yet he still rejected his fate
.“
I was a child when I made that oath. I do not want to disappoint you or Verdaine, but I cannot leave
.
”

“
You can, and you must. We have discussed this
.
”

“
Mother, you are not being fair. Why me? Why not Bressal or Eoghan
?
”

“
You will do as told
.”
Pale blue veins rose on her forehead, a warning of her growing anger. His mother rarely lost her temper, and even then she was in control. Rhoane took a step backward, and his mother shook her head
.“
You will not run from me, boy. You were given this honor by our goddess. You not only disrespect her with your infantile whining, but you disrespect all Eleri
.”
White flames danced along her arms and trailed from her long, ebony hair.

He bent on one knee, head bowed
.“
I am sorry, Mother. Please, do not be upset. I will do as you ask
.”

His false, placating words did nothing. Her rage grew until she was covered in flames. Aislin
n’
s power tugged at his own as she attempted to take what was not hers. Claidholm Solais sang a song of healing, but the queen was too far gone, her anger too rampant. Rhoane caressed the hilt of his weapon, unsure of how to stop his mother. This behavior was unlike the queen. A dangerous thought echoed through his mind. With a start, he realized the song was not meant for his mother, but for him.

“
What is happening here
?”
King Stephan burst through a door, bellowing to those in the courtyard. When he saw his wife engulfed in the deadly flames, he threw a blanket of his own ShantiMari over her. The flames snapped against his power, dissolving his threads to ash.

Aislinn held out her hand to her husband
.“
This is for the best. It must be done
.”
Her voice lowered to a hush
.“
Husband, mi carae, you have my heart, always
.”
She raised her head toward the sky and stole Claidholm Solai
s’
s power to her.

“
Mother, do not do this
!”
The sword jerked against Rhoan
e’
s grip and he clenched his fist protectively around the hilt. He fought to stem the flood of light that infused his mother, but it was as if Claidholm Solais and the queen were determined in their efforts. As if the
y’
d planned it almos
t…
No. Rhoane would
n’
t let the thought settle in his mind. Could
n’
t allow himself to believe such a terrible lie.

Aislinn screamed one ghastly, agonizing cry before she collapsed to the ground.

Stephan raced to her side and cradled her unmoving body against his. Tears streamed over his cheeks to drip onto his wif
e’
s pale face. The ladies-in-waiting twittered to one another, unsure of what the
y’
d witnessed. They, too, sobbed.

Rhoane stood alone in the courtyard, grief making a statue of him. He neither cried nor wailed nor spoke. If this was a dream, he wanted it to end. But the nightmare was only just beginning.

Verdaine materialized in a haze of crimson, green, and gold. She spoke a few words to the Eleri king before she cradled the queen in her arms
.“
I will take her to Dal Tara, where she will reside with the other gods
.”
Verdain
e’
s glare cut Rhoan
e’
s heart
.“
Do not let her death be in vain
.
”

His goddess rose slowly, and Rhoane mouthed the words
,“
I am sorry
.”
To Verdaine or to his mother, he was
n’
t sure. If only h
e’
d obeyed and done what they asked, his mother would be alive.

The last he saw of the women was nothing more than a spark of light against the verdant leaves of the Weirren.

King Stepha
n’
s chest heaved with his heavy breaths, and Rhoane braced himself for an outburst. Yet it did not come. What his father did say burned deeper than any accusation could.

“
You are not to blame, my First Son. This horrific accident was not of your doing, nor of your mothe
r’
s
.”
His father paused. His brow made deep furrows in his usually smooth skin
.“
But you must leave the Narthvier this very day
.”

“
She begged me, Father, but I did not listen. She told me it was time, but I was not ready. Despite your words, I will carry the shame of Mothe
r’
s death until my own
.
”

His father eased Rhoan
e’
s sword from his clasped fingers
.“
I am sorry
,”
he whispered as he wound his so
n’
s hair around his fist
.“
Verdaine demands it
.
”

With one slice of the blade, Rhoan
e’
s long, silky hair was shorn.

The ladies gasped. A few covered their facesand wept anew. Janeira advanced on her king
.“
My liege, it was not the princ
e’
s fault. The queen, she raged, but your son did nothing to provoke the tragedy
.
”

“
Stay out of this, youngling. You know nothing of which you speak. Rhoane is sheanna and will live among the Fadair until such a time as he is fit to return
.”
The entire time he spoke, Stepha
n’
s steady gaze never left Rhoan
e’
s.

“
This is not how it is done
,”
Janeira argued
.“
To become sheanna, there must be a council. He must be presented before the court so all will know his shame, but there is no fault here
.
”

Stephan finally turned away from Rhoane, and a chill swept between them
.“
There is no shame present. No fault he must atone for. But Rhoane must be sheanna and leave the vier
.
”

“
Why, Your Majesty? Why cast him out
?
”

“
Because
,”
Stepha
n’
s low voice cracked on the next words
,“
he i
s
di diendum de la Darathi Vorsi di nobliesse Prienta
r
.
”

He spoke in the language of the ancients, a dialect only a few Eleri understood, and even fewer could read or speak.

Janeira bent to one knee, her head bowed in supplication
.“
Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness
.
”

Tears stung the backs of his eyes, but Rhoane would not disgrace himself further. His father had placed an even greater burden upon him. One he was not certain he deserved or could bear.

His father had named him the Darathi Vorsi Prince.