Chapter 28
‘Today is my last day. I will see you in the Dreamworld, my dear.’
— Unsent correspondence from Paulyr Moros
Taryn
Taryn didn’t know where he was. He couldn’t feel anything, and he couldn’t tell if he was dead or not.
He didn’t know how long he had faded into this timeless oblivion, but it was agony.
His worst memories replayed in a loop, torturing him until he was numb to the pain.
It was everything he had been avoiding his entire life.
Taryn’s silver dreamform was freefalling in darkness, reaching out to grasp onto anything he could. There was no up or down here. There was no concept of time. He didn’t know if it had been days, weeks, or months in this darkness.
But something had changed. Someone had come for him. Her presence was warm, a light in his darkness. A beacon of hope.
Airess.
Taryn felt her reach out to him and send a current of electricity into his psyche. He held onto it with all he could, and–
Taryn opened his eyes and met Airess’ golden ones looking down at him in worry. Then, the mural on the dome-shaped ceiling above him. To his left was an old Human woman peering at him, her eyes crinkled with a kindness.
“So he lives,” the woman said.
Taryn was enveloped into a firm hug. “You’re alive!” Airess said, as she squeezed him harder. He soaked in her warmth, her touch, her scent. He never thought he would be able to again, and now that he was actually alive, Taryn knew he wanted to make his intentions with Airess clearer.
“We made it, Taryn,” Airess whispered. “We’re in Rune.”
His shock faded away when reality hit him. He had held on as long as he could during their journey across the ocean, expending the last tinsel of energy he had to get them close enough to Rune. He never expected to live beyond that, he just wanted Airess to have a chance to make it. To live.
Taryn thought he had died, somehow trapped in an inescapable hell that could only be created by Eryx. He had been so entrapped by his darkest thoughts, his worst memories, he had forgotten who he was. That he was a person with a body.
Until he felt her.
He melted into her embrace in that moment as he realized, somehow, it was Airess who had pulled him out of it. He had heard her voice, a sweet melody amongst the demons, and had followed it.
“Thank you,” he croaked into her neck softly, with a smile. Airess gently pulled away and tilted her head to the Human woman standing next to them.
“It wasn’t just me who saved you. Taryn, this is Ismene. She welcomed us into Rune. And… freed you of your Oathmark.”
Taryn sat up immediately. “What?”
Ismene began to pace in front of a great hearth of blush-colored flames, something he hadn’t noticed until now.
“The Oathmark’s Magick entrapped your soul. With Airess’ Magick and a blessing from the Soulfyre, you were set free. The Gods deemed you worthy of redemption. ” Ismene waved a hand toward the large hearth. “It is because of the Gods you live.”
Taryn’s body ached as he slid off the table and came to stand. He faced Ismene and inclined his head forward. “Words can’t express my gratitude for what you’ve done for me.”
Ismene smiled slightly and nodded. “You will want to save your words for the king. You both are to be escorted to the palace immediately, for review– to determine if they will accept you in Rune or not.” Ismene turned on her heel without looking back. “You don’t want to keep them waiting.”
As soon as Taryn was healed, he and Airess were escorted by the royal guard to the palace.
The humid air blasted his skin as soon as they stepped onto the street, a sensation Taryn thought he would never feel again.
A palanquin waited for them outside of the temple.
It was similar to a caravan, but there were no seats, wheels, or horses.
Just a cushioned floor to sit on enclosed by walled structure.
Ismene and Airess climbed in first, followed by Taryn.
Sheer fabric, the color of clay enclosed them.
Earthborne servants wielded the rocks beneath the palanquin, lifting them into the air and propelling them forward.
It was a surprisingly smooth ride, and Taryn watched Airess as she observed the Earthborn guards in awe.
Did Rune treat all their guests this way?
Finally, they arrived at the palace. It was just as he remembered. A white castle with several towers and terraces above, giving them a perfect view of the ocean beyond. The courtyard entrance was well-manicured, adorned with florals and palm trees.
As soon as they stepped out of the palanquin, they were immediately led into the castle.
Even in his time here, he had never been inside.
The floors were a mosaic of colored tiles favoring oranges, yellows and reds.
Art hung every few feet, all depictions of the elemental Goddess, Eliamaid.
Her raven hair covered her breasts, and she was pregnant in most paintings.
Her pregnant belly wasn’t flesh, but a blue and green depiction of the world.
The goddess held her pregnant belly–the world–in her hands.
Although Taryn didn’t pay the Gods much heed, he found himself nodding to the painting in respect anyway.
He glanced at Airess walking alongside him. Her hair and clothing were damp, just like Taryn’s. She looked so tired. He had so many questions for her. How did she enter Rune? Who was this Ismene woman, and how did she save him? But his questions, however, would have to wait.
Two large white doors opened into a grand room.
The space was entirely empty. Polished colored tiles made up the floors.
The walls were covered in gargantuan murals of each elemental symbol: Water, Air, Fyre, and Earth.
The ceiling was plated in copper, as were the two thrones at the opposite end of the room.
One throne was empty. The other throne was occupied, a Fae male sitting in it with his feet propped up.
“At last! My intruders arrive!” exclaimed the Fae male with a genuine smile, sitting up properly at their arrival. The male couldn’t have been much older than Taryn, likely in his late twenties.
It was the male’s eyes that struck Taryn first–vibrant royal blue irises with a subtle glow.
The male had rich brown skin, his biceps adorned with copper arm links that matched the copper rings in his dark, long dreads.
The male wore clothing of royal Runean fashion, a silk V-necked sleeveless vest with matching pants, his muscled chest and arms on display.
“King Roznarr Tozya, I present to you Airess Haeleth of the Judla province in Luciena.” Ismene gestured a hand to Taryn. “This male goes by Taryn Seas, an orphan of Rune, my king.”
Taryn’s chest burned at Ismene’s reminder of his origins.
This male was the now-grown prince–King–he had heard about during his time here.
Taryn recalled seeing Roznarr when he was a young male, always close to his father during any public event.
Roznarr was only a teenager at the time.
Even back then he was always polite, never failing to interact with the commoners in town.
Roznarr was a prodigy among the Fae, well known for his rare ability to wield all four elements.
Looking at Roznarr now, Taryn could see there was a change within the male. Perhaps the weight of ruling crafted him into someone more bold, more power hungry. There was a glint of greed within the king’s eyes, Taryn could see it even beneath his supposed friendliness.
Taryn hadn’t known Rune’s former king had passed, his son now taking his place. Granted, there was a lot he didn’t know by being cut off from society in Luciena.
King Roznarr surveyed them both carefully before locking eyes with Taryn, those blue eyes flicking slightly to Taryn’s elemental earring.
The king clasped his ring-adorned fingers together.
“What an interesting pair to show up on Rune’s beaches.
Tell me, how did you break through the ward?
Last I recalled, Luciena had it sealed off a decade ago. ”
Taryn and Airess glanced at each other, the look between them conveying a silent message that they both had no idea what this King was talking about.
“We simply…passed through, my King.” Taryn said first, taking a step forward. There was a stubbornness in Taryn that didn’t want to address this male as King, but he stifled it. “We had no knowledge it even existed. We fled the country and encountered it.”
Ismene leaned down and whispered something into the king’s ear. Taryn only heard a few words with his hearing, catching the words suspect and like you. King Roznarr’s brows creased as she retreated, thrumming his fingers on the chair arm.
“We have not received refugees from your country in a decade. As unexpected as it was, Rune will not turn down those in need today. We will accept you as our humble guests,” the king announced, face animating as he stood.
“You will be shown to your quarters for the time being. Perhaps we should throw a feast for our guests!”
The king snapped his fingers at one of the attendants. “Arrange it at once for tomorrow morning. We must give these people time to rest after such a long journey. I look forward to hearing of your travels.”
And with that, the pair was escorted out of the room.
Confused, Taryn followed closely behind Airess as they walked out of the palace, leaving as quickly as they came. They were led down a path through what seemed to be the palace gardens. The path led to a smaller looking home.
“The king has instructed you both to stay in the palace guest house for the time being,” An attendant said, “Right this way.”
Guest house was an understatement. It wasn’t small by any means. It was large–almost as large as the Guild manor back in Lonskeep. The servant pushed open the rounded wooden doors and guided them inside.
The house was finely decorated with ornate rugs and plush furniture, all favoring the colors orange and yellow.
The doorknobs and handles were brass, as were the cups sitting next to a complimentary barcart.
They walked right into the living space of the house: two large couches on one side and a grand table that could fit twelve on the other.
The large outdoor balcony across from them let in copious amounts of natural light.
“The house is equipped with several bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. Dinner will be served later tonight, so please get settled. Tomorrow morning we will arrive to get you both prepped and ready for a meal with the king and Queen Dowager.”
The Queen Dowager? Taryn hadn’t expected to be greeted with such hospitality, especially a private audience with the king and Queen Dowager.
The attendant left, and Taryn and Airess were left standing in the common room alone. When the door closed behind the last attendant, Taryn finally turned to look at her.
“That was entirely too easy.”
“Wasn’t it?” Airess asked in agreement, beginning to pace as she usually did when she had a lot on her mind. “I never expected to end up sleeping in a royal guesthouse tonight. How could they just accept us so easily?”
“I’m not sure. Something feels… off. I can’t put my finger on it,” Taryn said, scanning the room. “Fortunately for them, I’m too fucking tired to care.”
Taryn stalked over to the bar cart and swiped a bottle of whiskey and a cloth. His stab wound still throbbed with pain, but he would live. It wasn’t the first time he had a wound of this severity.
“Let me see it,” Airess demanded. Taryn sighed and strode up to her, but she softly pushed his chest backwards, forcing him to sit on the couch.
She peeled his shirt up, and Tary grimaced as the fabric was ripped away from his healing flesh.
Pain mixed with pleasure at her touch, and flashbacks of their kiss at the inn flooded his mind.
Airess grabbed the whiskey from his hands and poured the liquid into the cloth. She looked at him, silently asking for permission to continue.
Taryn nodded.
The alcohol stung as it made contact, but it was nothing compared to her fingers touching his body. He inhaled sharply, not from the pain, but to compose himself. A single touch from her made him dizzy.
If they were standing upright, he would have fallen to his knees.
His eyes trailed her every move as she cleaned the wound in agonizing silence. When she was done, she poured the whiskey into two glasses and handed one over to him. Airess slumped on the couch next to him, no doubt from exhaustion.
“Well, Taryn. I’ll allow you the honors.” Airess commented, raising her glass in the air.
Taryn grinned. He raised his glass as well. “To finally making it to Rune, despite all odds.”
“To making it to Rune.” Airess nodded. “A month and a half ago I was to be the future queen of Luciena. Now I’m halfway across the world, free, and somehow ended up meeting a sarcastic bastard along the way. Who knew?”
“The Gods knew,” Taryn said as he took a sip of the whiskey, bringing his lips to the glass rim.
Airess lifted her cup, a subtle smile on her lips. It was a look he committed to memory.
She nodded, eyes twinkling. “The Gods knew.”