Whisper of War and Storms (Heirs of Elydor #1)

Chapter 25

25

MEV

My mother was standing at the entrance of the Aetherian Gate. I could see right through it to the other side. Clara was next to her, nodding. When my mother held out her hand, I hesitated. But Mom didn’t seem upset by that. Instead, she just waited for me. I wanted to tell her to come to me, but for some reason, I couldn’t speak.

Something hit me from behind, but when I turned, no one was there. This time, I was jostled from the left side. Blinking, the portal was gone. Mom was gone.

“Go back to sleep,” a deep male voice said.

I was so tired, I listened. But soon there were other voices.

“I’d like to speak to her.”

The woman’s voice was vaguely familiar. This time, I did open my eyes. Instead of being in front of the portal, or in bed with Kael, I was cradled in his arms like a baby surrounded by people and horses, apparently all ready to leave even though it was still dark.

“How did I sleep through you carrying me down here?” I asked.

In response, Kael let me down. We were in the same alleyway beside the inn where he’d kissed me yesterday. Lyra, Rowan, Salvia, and three others who appeared to be Aetherian guards were all mounted. When I looked their way, each inclined their head, as if in deference. I smiled sleepily and adjusted the cloak I didn’t remember putting on.

“Quickly, Salvia. We must be off,” Lyra said.

“There’s no one following us?” I asked Rowan.

“We found no evidence of being followed here, but they will escort us out of town to be certain.”

Kael, predictably, didn’t seem pleased about that fact.

“Princess Mevlida?” Salvia stepped forward. “A quick word, if you please?”

“Of course,” I said, scurrying to the side where she’d separated herself from the others.

“I trust you were told of the disturbance in the Wind Crystal?”

“I was, but have to admit, I don’t know anything about this Wind Crystal.”

“Relics are an important part of our magic. Each of the clans have many of them, some more powerful than others. My role was once as Keeper of the Artifacts.”

“Back home, I was a museum curator specializing in ancient artifacts.”

That seemed to surprise her. “I suppose,” she said finally, “that is not a coincidence.”

Unsure what that meant, I waited for her to continue.

“Listen to me closely,” she said, her tone serious enough for me to lean closer and mark her words. “It is not well known precisely how your father opened the human portal or how Kael’s father closed it. There are very few with that knowledge, but I’m certain your father will explain soon enough.”

“I don’t understand,” I admitted. Her words were like a puzzle to me.

“The Wind Crystal is Aetheria’s most powerful relic. It has been many years since I’ve felt a disturbance such as this one, which I believe is significant. You can ask Lyra more about it, and Kael can tell you of the Gyorian equivalent, the Stone of Mor’Vallis. The most powerful Thalassari relic is the Tidal Pearl, but I doubt your companions will know much of it beyond rumor and conjecture.”

“We are ready to leave,” Kael said, coming to my side.

I implored Salvia to finish, but she was either reluctant to speak in front of him, or had nothing else to tell me, because she stepped back and bowed her head, as if ending our conversation.

I could not leave it at that. Her words made no sense. What was it about these relics that she wanted to tell me?

“I still do not understand,” I said, aware the remainder of our riding party was mounted.

“If I knew more, I would share it with you. Be aware of their existence and know I am here if you have any need of me.” Her slight smile was full of confidence. “None are more well-versed on the subject of Elydor’s relics than me. Not even your father.”

“Mev.” Kael was getting more impatient by the second. “We have to go.”

“Thank you,” I said to Salvia, not having any clue what I thanked her for, besides an offer of aid. I would try to work it all out later. For now, Kael was tugging me toward the others. I raised a hand to wave to Salvia, but she was gone.

“Where the heck did she go?” I asked, peering down the alleyway.

“Aetherians can be slippery,” Kael said.

“You make it sound like a slight.”

“It is.”

Frowning at him, fully awake now, I approached Stormbreaker.

“They offered an extra mount for you,” Lyra said. “But Kael declined it.”

I shot him an accusatory glare. “What if I wanted to ride by myself?”

“You are not skilled enough. Not at the pace we will be riding. Besides, Stormbreaker can bear the extra weight, so there is no reason for it.”

We would talk about agency later. In the meantime, I mounted with Kael’s assistance and was surprised when he climbed up behind me. Reaching around my waist, Kael took the reins and said, “Lean back and get some rest.”

As one would expect, the village of Zephros was empty at this time of night, whatever time it was. As we set off, I couldn’t move as freely in front, but had to admit, the feeling of security, being wrapped in Kael’s arms, wasn’t at all unpleasant.

I would tell him about my dream. Ask about the stone. Tell Kael he really needed to let me make decisions. Later. For now, I just wanted to close my eyes for another second or two.

“Mev!” Kael’s voice jarred me awake. “I need you to duck.”

Not the way I wanted to be woken up, but I did what he asked. As I lowered my head, a dark shape swooped past, barely missing me. My heart raced as I glanced up to see a shadowwing, its black feathers glinting in the early light. It flew low, its wings nearly brushing the ground before it ascended again, disappearing into the canopy of trees above us.

“I thought you said they were harmless?”

“Mostly, they are.”

Mostly. Fabulous.

“Shadowwings are seen as omens and guardians of the night by Aetherians,” he said.

Interesting. That reminded me…

“Bad news,” I said, turning my head. Kael was right there. The way he looked at me reminded me of my dream. Leaving him seemed… unthinkable. Almost as unthinkable as staying here and not going home.

“You have to pee?”

I pursed my lips together to keep from laughing. He sounded so non-Kael. So human. Even though I knew he was repeating my words, it brought him down a peg from the powerful magic-wielding prince to a regular guy.

Kind of. Kael could never actually be regular. And that was the problem. He was starting to feel like more of a friend than enemy, my growing feelings for him as undeniable as the chemistry between us.

“I can hold it a little bit.” Although dense forest surrounded us, it was clear we rode uphill. “What do you know about the Stone of Mor’Vallis?”

At that moment, Lyra looked back at us. The other riders were gone. Only she and Rowan remained.

Are you well? she whispered to me.

I am surprisingly comfortable. Ask me again in a few hours, and I’ll probably have a different answer.

“Why do you ask?”

Ask?

Oh. The stone. I paused for the briefest of moments. This was King Balthor’s son. But it was also the one who risked his father’s wrath not taking me to Gyoria. And the one who looked at me with the kind of adoration a woman only dreams about. I either trusted him, or I didn’t.

“It was what Salvia wanted to talk to me about. She said the Wind Crystal’s disturbance was unusual and then told me of all the relics in Elydor, and that each clan has one equally as powerful. She mentioned the Stone of Mor’Vallis and some Thalassari pearl.”

“The Tidal Pearl. Like the Wind Crystal, none truly know its full power, only that each is a very valuable relic. Rumors about each of them have served as conversational fuel for as many years as I’ve been alive.”

“The Stone too?”

When Kael didn’t immediately answer, I knew he was measuring his words, just as I’d done. Holding my breath, I waited. It did little good to fully trust him if Kael did not reciprocate.

“For many, yes. But not for me. I am one of a very few who know much about the Stone of Mor’Vallis’s powers.”

Would that be it? I sat up in his arms, as much as I was able.

Trust me, Kael. Please.

I wish I could whisper to him, too.

“For most,” he said, navigating Stormbreaker around an animal that looked very much like a raccoon, though God knew what mystical properties it had as the thing scurried away rather quickly. “The Stone of Mor’Vallis does nothing more than intensify the holder’s abilities. Legend would have us believe it was responsible for all of the streams and rivers in Elydor. Some say each was the result of its holder separating the ground, either on purpose or accidentally, but I doubt that is true.”

Before he could continue, Rowan and Lyra slowed. When they navigated off our path, the pine-scented air alive around us, I hoped against hope it was to rest and water the horses. Because I really did need to pee now. But instead of following them, Kael stopped and called for our companions to go ahead.

“This is for your ears alone, Mevlida.”

I couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he’d called me that. His tone, the softness to it, was unlike him. Kael’s glimpses of gentleness, from a man that was hard in every other way, nearly brought tears to my eyes. He claimed we were still enemies, but times like this made me doubt it was still true.

“The Stone of Mor’Vallis was molded by the ancients who first harnessed magic in Elydor. It was initially used to balance the overwhelming power of its early users by draining their magical energy when in prolonged contact with the skin.”

“Wow. I could see why that’s kept on the DL.” At his expression, I added, “The down-low. It just means, kept quiet. Seems like it could be pretty dangerous in the wrong hands.”

“Extremely. Especially since that magical energy includes immortality.”

“Wait, what?”

“Precisely. The stone is capable of stripping away immortality, but eventually, if used incorrectly or for too extended a period, it will kill you. Only the most skilled Gyorians can wield it. There are legends of Elydorians who became mortal. My father says they are not tales but true stories of the Stone of Mor’Vallis being used in such a way.”

Elydorians who became mortal. Holy shit.

“How could something like that be kept a secret?”

“It’s not a secret among kings and queens and their families. But none who know the truth have thus far parted with the knowledge.”

“So like, a handful of people know about this?”

“Of Gyorians, yes. And only one Aetherian, that we know of.”

“Me?” As soon as I said it, I realized Kael’s use of “we” probably meant someone else.

“Two, including you.”

Somehow, he didn’t have to tell me.

“My father.”

“Aye. Your father. He used it to open the portal. I suspect Salvia and others like her, who make ancient relics their life’s work, might know as well, but I cannot confirm it.”

None are more well-versed on the subject of Elydor’s relics than me. Not even your father.

“She knows. I’m certain of it,” I said, offhandedly. “Thank you for sharing that information with me,” I said, deciding to push him, “but you hold back still. Why?”

“Hold back how, princess?”

As if he didn’t know the answer. “Don’t play coy with me.” At his confused expression, I re-phrased it. “You know exactly how. Must I challenge you for every kiss?”

“My clan?—”

“Yeah, I know. They depend on you. Got it.”

His eyes narrowed. “I am already risking much, not bringing you to my father.”

“Try falling through a wall into a world you didn’t know existed,” I said, becoming irritated. “Only to be kidnapped before learning you aren’t actually fully human, and demi-immortal, with the power to read others’ minds and, oh yeah, wield air.” I finished my speech with a swish of my hand, the movement blowing said air between us like a light breeze. It really was getting easier and easier to do that.

“I have lived for hundreds of years, Mev. And never have I wanted to kiss a woman more than I do you. Surely you realize that? Last eve, when you were in that tub…”

“What? Say it, Kael. What did you want? And why didn’t you take it?”

I wasn’t sure about pushing someone like him to the limit, but I knew I wanted to. Push him there, and over it. If only he would relinquish control for three seconds.

Without warning, he reached up and grabbed my head, as if about to pull me toward him.

“We have company,” Lyra called out in front of us.

Just like that, the moment was over. Kael spurred Stormbreaker forward. As we came upon a small riding party, I was less concerned with any potential danger, and more interested in replaying in my mind everything Kael had shared with me. Obviously, his loyalties were still torn. Part of me was disappointed, but part of me understood. Family dynamics were complicated.

No one knew the fact better than me.