22. Euclase
After the night in the cave, it takes one more full day of walking to reach the base of the mountains. The great, frozen sea with its massive floes is quiet, much like our exhausted group. Aside from the humming from Ulla and the daily checkups with the women, most of the noise comes from the crystals and the rhythmic slap of saltwater against enormous slabs of floating ice.
It’s disorienting to come back this way after so much in my life has changed. Five months ago, I came here to escape. Now…
I look at our large group as we trudge on. The elves are fearsome women with strong features.
Assassins, Teo reminds me through our bond. He shows me scenes from the enclave. He glosses over what he had to do to get the elves’ support, but I can’t fault him.
I haven’t shown him everything either.
There is time to compare scars.
Luckily, despite the waning health of a few, no one has died on the trek. They have no carts to pull. There’s no blood on the ground or whip-wielding monsters itching for an excuse to make themselves feel powerful at a human’s expense.
Memories flash before my eyes faster than I can view them all. Everything isn’t perfect. It won’t be until Mikal is home—but it is right.
I nestle back into Teo’s bare chest, luxuriating in his suede skin’s soft, silky warmth. They offered me the other glacialmara, since Liana had already taught me to ride during our training, but Niht has the four pregnant women mounted atop the creature, and he guides it along with a rope.
Melisa walks close by Niht. A few grouse flit between them. Hers is the sole laugh that rises above us all, sometimes joined by the elvish twins, Farryn and Elanila.
We’re so close to home, I can almost smell the inside of the cave. My eyes burn when I think of Arlet or Liana. I ache to know of Svanna and Iryth. I’ve kept them far from my mind to protect myself, but now, I am free to anticipate our reuniting.
When we get back inside the cave, will you stay in my room?
Teo asks through my mind, and I bawk at his question.
Of course. Why wouldn’t I?
He’s silent. It isn’t until the cloudy passage where I’d tried to escape five months ago comes into view that he responds.
It’s been long since I’ve killed like that. You weren’t there the night of our wedding when the giants invaded. I could barely see straight. I worried I scared you.
I twist around to look up at him.
I spent years hearing spewed lies about who you and your people were and weren’t—and I once called you a monster. I was wrong. I don’t, and will never, fear you again.
His eyes look down at me, burning with emotion.
I can hardly help myself from pushing up and pressing a kiss to his soft, warm lips. The deliciousness of him makes my whole body warm.
One of the elvish women, Glyni, gags.
“To the great Nicnevin, I long for the day when I will no longer be subjected to your constant, annoying… adoration.”
Another grunts in agreement.
“No, please continue. It’s been so long since I’ve experienced a kiss where the male was well-groomed. I’ll settle just for the opportunity to watch,” Abi calls.
That makes the elves break out into uncharacteristic laughter.
I don’t miss that it’s the first time one of them has made a joke, but my joviality is staunched by a fierce raging protectiveness that stirs in my gut when I think of the Enduar men. All two hundred, give or take, will want to know these women.
Just as I turn around, Teo’s hand slides over my left buttock, which is delectably close to his thigh on the glacialmara. It’s a gentle reminder to be careful.
“There will be plenty of men who will do far more than clean their teeth for the chance to spend five minutes alone with you,” I shoot back.
It’s met with a mix of awkward interest.
As I’ve spent time healing these women, almost all of them want to meet the Enduares. A part of me worries that they hear about mates, see Teo and me, and then think that such a coupling is required of them.
Many want partners. They want freedom, to learn to read, to paint, and to sew, to be something more than breeding chattel.
Many of them, though not all, seek a family.
While I feel confident that all those who live in Enduvida will be respectful, my little home is about to proliferate—more people, and more opportunities for problems. It will be up to me to help Teo and the council find solutions.
It’s hard to trust myself enough to handle such a burden.
As we approach the clouded underpass, I look up at Teo.
“When I first came here, I was planning my escape through a passageway in the ice. It spits out into the forest that I tried to escape through later.”
He frowns at the memories.
“Was there really a passage?” he asks.
I nod. “There was, but Arlet was stuck. And then we ran out of time.”
Suddenly, the full force of the memory hits me as I picture Mikal receiving ten strikes for each lash on my back. For the tears. The anger.
Teo’s mind nudges my own, and I let him in. He holds me closer as we move through the narrow channels of ice.
Mist billows around us. His presence calms the raging torment. It’s something to be marveled at, truly, that I could know him for such little time and still feel entirely owned by his soul. We belong to each other.
I love him.
As soon as we clear the glacial ice, we hear the clash of swords and an ugly hiss in the distance.
I look back at our group and see the leader of the elves, Ayla, and her alce crane to look beyond us.
Teo curses, and we hurry forward to see several of the Enduar hunters fighting off three of the cold creatures that attacked us before.
My stomach drops. Not again.
“Did they make it into the cave?” I ask my mate.
He shakes his head. “I do not know. We’ve not been here in weeks.”
Behind us, one of the elves lets out their wild, yelping cries. Ayla, Farryn, and Elanila rush forward barely squeezing past us as we clear the ice.
“Hold!” Teo calls to the Enduar hunters. I don’t recognize either of them, but I am sure he does.
They wait, watching the elves as the heads of the cold ones are lobbed off in clean strikes, followed by a thorough slicing of the bodies. It takes no time for the creatures to be steaming bodies on the chilly snow.
We fly over on the glacialmaras and stop just in front of the group. The Enduares point their weapons at the elves, who bare their teeth in turn. It’s a lot of growling and snarling, which is understandable, given the altercation after my wedding.
“Is everything all right inside?” I ask the hunters as soon as we are close enough to be heard.
One of the hunters looks up at me, and it turns out I do know him.
Joso, with his enormous body, thick arms, and cave-cub happy smile. His face lights up at the sound of my voice.
“My King and Queen,” he bows deeply, showcasing his armored tail. “All is well. We have just been on watch, attentive to your return home.”
Something in my chest squeezes.
“Tell your little guards to stand down,” Ayla says down at the men. Her alce raises one enormous foot and stamps it in the snow. Particles of ice float up around its massive legs and cling to its thick fur.
“The elves are friends,” Teo says, affirming her words.
Weapons are sheathed, and the hunters turn to the gilded door. The red veins swirling out of the entrance no longer appear like blood to me.
They sing.
“You did not tell us that you had a problem with these creatures,” Ayla says as mechanisms on the door begin to click and twist.
Teo draws closer. “You know what they are?”
Ayla nods once.
“In our legends, we have a monster called the baobhan sith, but that honor is only given to women wronged by men. I think.” Her green eyes trail back to the black stains of blood in the snow. “These are called the vaimpír, which are the children of the demon Abhartach and the goddess Nicnevin.”
I pause.
“Who is Nicnevin?” My mind swims as I remember the witches who tortured me spoke of her.
“Our goddess. Doro’s indifferent consort,” Ayla says simply.
“I have read of Abhartach—he is a god bound long ago,” Teo nods.
“Yes. He was to be bound for ten thousand years,” Ayla confirms.
“How long ago was that?” Ra”Salore asks.
Ayla chuckles. “Who knows? And to be honest, I have enough to worry about with mortals. Let the gods sort out their problems.”
With that, the door to Enduvida swings open, and a chill passes over my skin as Rahda is nudged toward the entrance.
It’s the air that hits me first. The smell of sulfur and Enduar cooking.
It’s spicy, hearty, and, oh gods, warm. In the distance, the pumps that keep the temperature even work methodically. No sweeter sound has ever reached my ears, I swear it.
The rest of the cave is quiet. Everyone should be sleeping safely and soundly. My awareness shifts back to the humans, and I can almost hear some of the women’s breathing change as they walk in.
I slide off Rahda, and Teo follows. He follows alongside me anyway, not minding my deviation from leading the group.
“Welcome to Enduvida,” I say repeatedly as they pass by.
Teo nods and holds onto the crystal wraith’s reins.
“Ladies, please follow Niht. He will take you to a place where we can eat. Then we will work on distributing supplies and beds,” My husband calls as we push into the cave so the bear can pass.
Niht heads to the front of the line, walking with Glyni, and he grins at everyone he passes. He’s such a joyful, kind man.
The reactions are as varied as the women’s. Some look around fearfully, while others are caught up in every beautiful detail and carving. I smile.
Just wait until they see the crystals. The Ardorflame.
Just wait until you see them again, my star.
Teo speaks in my mind, and I look at him with the most vulnerable smile I’ve given anyone in a very long time.
Ulla passes by us and shares a smile, as well.
I reach out and take her hand.
“Welcome home,” she says in Enduar.
I grin as I choke up. It’s been good to hear her and listen to her gentle, kind humming once more. She’s been so helpful in tending to the women as we traveled.
“I’m going to the clock tower,” she says. “Everyone will want to be awake for this.”
“Do you think it will be too much for them?” I ask, jerking my head in the direction of the women.
Ulla considers it for a second.
“I don’t anticipate any wild events, and it will be good to have the extra hands to help them get settled into places to sleep.”
“Very well,” Teo says, and she heads out.
Finally, the line of thirty women, flanked by Joso and the other hunter I don’t recognize, ends. Chiding myself for not knowing everyone’s name yet, I nod at them.
Joso comes over, his eyes wide.
“This is… incredible.” He breathes, while his companion follows the women all the way down the tunnels and into the cave. The one male slave who we brought back comes in as well.
“They aren’t just here to be mates,” I say quickly, protectively.
He nods. “Of course not. But we’ve never freed so many slaves, not even on our best stealing raids from the giants’ trading caravans.”
Mention of the giants suppresses my mood like putting a wet cloth over a candle flame. The gnawing feeling in my gut reminds me that not all is finished, and we are not free. There is still a war brewing. Perhaps the fighting in the feasting hall has slowed things down and forged enemies between those who were seeking alliances, but maybe…
I remember King Arion’s words about Arlet and killing every last person in the tunnel. My heart picks up into a gallop, and I take Teo’s hand, pulling him into the cave with me. As soon as we exit the tunnel, the full grandiosity of Enduvida rams into me and steals my breath.
Weeks away had altered my memories, and I had a difficult time clinging to what was real, but seeing this is… indescribable. The lights hanging above, the forges in the distance, the mushrooms. The houses.
I curse when I see one of them still in the midst of being rebuilt. It must’ve been destroyed when the giants captured me. My fault. Then I turn to look at the palace’s golden walls. I take a deep breath while I look at the focusing crystal and the way it carries the red pulsing light of the Ardorflame.
How could I have forgotten so much?
A new voice enters my mind, one that belongs to neither Teo nor myself.
You’ve returned,the old feminine voice intones. It reverberates through my bones with a melodic rumble, like the distant echo of mountains shifting.
I suck in a deep breath. And who are you?
I am the one who lies beneath. Drathorinna, as you call me.
My skin pebbles and a shock sparks across my spine. Each word is packed with the weight of eons of time spent in observation. When Liana brought me to the heart of the mountain to meet her, I was terrified and awestruck by the mother of glacialmaras. She was easily the size of three houses, and her dozens of scales looked like reflective prisms. Liana had explained that she would only choose fuegorra readers to ride her.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I think, Why do you speak to me now? Do you wish me to visit you?
Your absense has caused a disturbance in my harmony. I am pleased you returned, though I feel the footsteps of many newcomers. Care for them.
But—
Peace, human. I will call you when it is time.
The human women are already crossing the bridge, with Ra’Salore leading them to Hammerhead Hall. They gaze at the lava far below the bridge and step carefully. Sadly, the enormous crystal wraith doesn’t respond to my further attempts at communication.
I jump when the clock sounds. It plays a different tune than it usually does at the changing of the early morning hours. It’s ringing and insistent, and it only takes a few minutes for some people to start stumbling out of their houses.
Thoughts of the crystal dragon fade quickly while my vision is filled with a blur of faces and surprised chatter that melds with nervous whispers.
I spot Luiz and Neela as they hurry out, the Enduar woman towering over her human mate, but they soon disappear in a sea of blue bodies. Verl, the metal bender approaches, then Siya, mate to the crystal singer. Dozens of others come, and I search through my broken mind for each name.
I remember more than I think. Faol, Keoi, Iryth, and then, my smile stretches wide when I see Svanna.
She parts through the group, throwing her arms around Teo in a bone-crushing hug.
“My King,” she says, clearly holding back her misty eyes, and then she looks down at me with her bright grin. “My Queen.” She dips her head. “I am fucking delighted to see you both.”
My smile practically cracks my face in half as I pull her into a hug. Each action says something different.
Forgive me for trying to escape.
Forgive me for trying to poison your king.
I’m so sorry I couldn’t have done more to save Dyrn.
I wish the giants had never come to take me.
Then I see Iryth and their child, Sama. I promise to help rebuild the damaged houses. Soon, they edge away from me, making room for more of the crowd.
I hug and kiss all I see.
Well wishes for everyone are shared, and questioning glances are cast at the new women, but no one wants to scare the humans. Blessings and whispered prayers are offered up around us as someone starts to sing.
The sound tingles my skin. I hold the melody close to my heart, hoping that they can hear the words that beat out of my skin.
Forgive me, please.
It’s too much.
It isn’t enough.
A large, shadowing person makes his way through the crowd, pushing another short red head.
“Arlet!” I practically squeak. She throws her arms around me.
How can a heart hold this much joy when tomorrow is not guaranteed?
She pulls back and gives me an inquisitive, serious look. I know what she means. She wants to know about Mikal. I swallow hard and shake my head.
Her eyes grow wide, and her face slackens.
“But he’s alive?”
I nod.
“Por los dioses, Este. Lo lamento mucho,?1” she says against my cheek as she hugs me tighter.
Things between her and me had been so strange before I’d left. She and I used to be the closest of friends, and now… a divide between us lingers.
Perhaps, in my mission to prove myself as a queen, I can also repair the relationship between us.
“What have you been doing while I’ve been gone?” I ask, glancing up at Vann as he tries very hard not to look down at us.
I remember the tension between them.
“Weaving. Weaving a lot, which now I see will be very useful. There’s an excess of furs that will need to be sewn and stitched for all the newcomers.” She eyes all the women with disbelief. “Gods, there are so many. How did you do it?”
I let out a breath.
“I didn’t. Not really. There was a slave who attended to me. I would tell her about Enduvida, and she would tell the women. Rholker had just sent more than usual to the breeding pens because…” I trail off—because he wants his army to slaughter Enduvida so he can bring in more slaves. He won’t stop until he’s hacked away every valuable mineral and metal from our mountain home.
My heart starts to pound once again, but Arlet doesn’t seem to notice.
“All thirty come from the breeding pens?” she asks, breathless.
I nod. “There are four who are pregnant.”
Her eyebrows raise again, and she looks at the Enduares.
“We can trust the Enduares. I know it… but the women will need extra care.”
I look to the side, studying one of the humans as they walk past.
“Not all of them. Some are quite eager to run right away from Zlosa and into the arms of an adoring Enduar, but I don’t know if they all intend to stay once they are healed. The elves have already promised to take some back to the Sisterhood’s Enclave.”
Arlet nods, not at all appearing confused. “Yes, I overhead Vann and some of the others talking about where King Teo was heading.”
The mention of Vann has me glancing up once again.
“Have you found a mate while I was gone?” It has been her greatest desire since we arrived here.
She smiles, somewhat sadly. “I have found someone, but we are not mated.”
I look up at Vann once more, more suspicious than ever, except when her arms go wide, it’s not him who steps in.
It’s Joso.
I blink.
“Oh.”
Joso looks at her with pure adoration, and Vann looks at the Enduar like he’d enjoy peeling off his fingernails.
“I’m happy for you,” I say, feeling strangely disappointed as Vann turns back to Teo.
“I will gather the rest of the Council,” Vann mutters before he walks off.
I continue to talk to Arlet and Joso, learning that he started to bring her small gifts that he would find while hunting in the caves. He was, after all, famous for taking down the cave bears.
“Isn’t that just adorable?” Arlet says, looking at me expectantly, but all I can do is smile.
How can I tell her that I wanted her to settle in with Vann while I was gone? My mouth opens just as a new figure comes up. One whom I could hear long before I could see.
“Estela, the wise woman in training. You have been neglecting your lessons,” Mother Liana says with a mock stern voice.
If I thought that my heart couldn’t take any more pure felicity, I was wrong.
“It is hard to practice when my teacher and I only had a few lessons before a madman kidnapped me.” She smiles and something in me eases. With no one else, I could make such a morbid joke. I hold up my hand where Teo’s ring sits. “Besides, I only had these tiny gems on my jewelry.”
Teo reenters the moment. “I would hardly call any of those gems tiny.”
Liana raises a pierced eyebrow. “Well, I would hardly call them large. You’ll have to do better next time. Wise women need large stones with extra power.”
Then she pulls me into a hug. She hasn’t ever been the most physically affectionate, but there is a distinct maternal grasp to her as she leans in to whisper, “Welcome home, my child.”
Tears come once more. And they are welcome as I survey her sleeping gown, which she came out in unashamedly. It’s positively covered in glowing stones, and her long white hair is unbound. She notices me looking.
“I’m old. I’m allowed to be scandalous.”
Teo barks out a laugh. “Gods. Come, mi amor?2. Arlet and Neela can help care for the humans for a few hours. We must discuss everything that has happened.”
My breath hitches, but I oblige my mate, and we start to walk away toward the palace. I continue to turn around until I can no longer see the crowd once more. The rest of the climb up the steps starts to feel uncomfortable as my still-damaged memories are prodded at.
Everything is perfect.
Almost.
When I think of Mikal in the caves, the only memories I have are of him holed up in a storage room with a dozen other humans while Keksej and I met with the Enduares about diamonds. He had just been whipped, and he was covered in bandages. Then… he was taken away and I was left here.
When I was in Zlosa, I really believed I’d be able to find him and bring him back. I wanted him to see Enduvida like this. Full of people helping each other, mushrooms glowing, and crystals glinting.
He deserves to see how wonderful it is.
I beg myself not to let a few small imperfections spoil everything else that can happen today, and I squeeze Teo’s hand. It is warm and grounding, and it makes the curling acid in my belly abate—if not for a few moments.
I find the other council members waiting in the expanse with the large, bioluminescent fountain and the glowing mushrooms. I see Svanna, Ulla, Vann, Ra”Salore, Lothar, and Fira. Fira greets me with a nod, and Vann passes Teo a shirt.
“I thought you’d appreciate this,” he murmurs as my gaze returns to Lothar.
He looks ill, but at least he is alive. A memory flickers of him outside my door the night they took me.
I thank Endu and Grutabela that he wasn’t killed.
“Why haven’t you gone in?” Teo asks, eyeing the still-closed door to the throne room.
Ulla and Fira furrow their brows, and Vann says, “We were waiting for you. The throne room hasn’t been used since you left.”
Teo places a hand over his heart, conveying that this action meant more than I understood in their customs. I follow close behind as Teo presses the button that causes the stone to rumble as it slides away.
He gestures for me to enter first, but I quickly realize that the space isn’t empty. Atop the crumbling stone throne is an elf with short, wavy hair. His piercing green eyes find mine from across the room as one foot is kicked over the armrest.
There is no movement to stand when he sees us.
“Who the hell are you?” I demand.
He smiles.
“You must be the human Enduar queen. A pleasure to meet you.”
Ulla pushes to my side and gasps.
The sound makes his electric eyes pass over to her, and his smile curves upward a little more.
“Hello, my dear. Glad to see you haven’t gotten yourself killed by standing in front of any sharp objects.”
“This is Thorne,” Teo says almost irritatedly to me. “He’s the most trusted assassin of Mrath, leader of the Sisterhood of Bhaldraithe. She’s Arion’s sister.” Teo crosses over to him, and Thorne watches with an almost bored expression.
“Get off my wife’s throne,” he growls.
Velvety butterfly wings brush against my ribcage and heart.
My throne?
Yes.
I smile nervously, wondering if this display is a good idea—if I even deserve it—as Thorne begrudgingly gets up.
“Very well. But allow me to pay respects to the most lovely queen I’ve ever seen.”
He brushes across the room as I narrow my eyes. “I’m likely one of the only queens you know.”
Laughter, like the rustle of trees through branches, fills the room.
“Perceptive.” He drops to one knee before me and takes my hand. “It is still an honor to finally meet one. May your reign inspire a new wave of equality throughout the land. I tire of kingdoms and their boring, megalomaniac, power-hungry ways. I’ve been beseeching the gods and goddesses to give me a vengeful female to soak the land with blood for a change.”
“Ignore him,” Ulla says decidedly, despite how excited she had looked upon first entering the room.
He stands and places a hand over his heart.
“I’m wounded. Come now, don’t tell me you haven’t thought of a hundred more creative ways to slice up a man than whatever High Lord Cleaver has decided to do.” He jerks a thumb toward Vann, who scowls in return.
Ulla cocks her head to the side, and Thorne bites his lip.
“Tell me, how would you kill me?” he asks, pushing her further.
Her eyes narrow. “Are you… flirting with me?”
Thorne grins just as Teo says, “Enough. We have more important matters to discuss.”
The elf frowns and turns around, flourishing his hands. “Very well. I suppose we should get started.”