Archer of the Lake Page 14

  ***

  It was dangerous to leave the house, Feraan knew, but when he sensed someone searching relentlessly for him, he decided it would be best to meet Luewyn at the college grounds again. ?At least the wards there would protect him, and it was better than Luewyn discovering his home. ?He left at night, when he was sure Caelfel was deeply asleep, making it easier to escape his house and brave the streets of Sal'Sumarathar.

  "So you came," Luewyn breathed, standing from her desk. ?She went to retrieve something from the far side of the room.

  "And what do you want with me?" Feraan asked from the doorway.

  "I am leaving Sal'Sumarathar. ?My job is finished, so I thought you might like to have this." ?She handed him a small, ivory chest with a silver clasp. ?When he held it, Feraan felt the soft thrum of auric energy-Caelfel's aura.

  "Why?" he demanded suddenly suspicious.

  Luewyn's answering smile was sweetly malevolent. ?"Uthruil agreed to give it back. ?Taking it was only a warning."

  "You have never been so generous before. ?What more than that?"

  "The box is small, and her aura is trapped. ?Open it, and it will kill her, unless she is wearing the amulet Eviat had modified specifically to contain her aura."

  At this, Feraan visibly stiffened. ?There was a flash of teeth as Luewyn's smile widened.

  "But you know you cannot take off the amulet. ?The poison from your accident can never leave your body without that extinct flower from Amasel. ?That amulet is the only thing keeping you alive. ?Uthruil knows this and agrees to return her aura."

  "So he told you what poison they used for me."

  "Uthruil described it as lead in your blood that would freeze your veins. ?I wish I could see it kill you." ?Luewyn closed her eyes in mock ecstasy.

  "Thank you, sister. ?You have been remarkably kind."

  Luewyn's eyes flew open. ?"Do you care for the she-elf? ?Do you love her?"

  Feraan didn't answer.

  "You can't love anything without killing it. ?Look at your greyling friend. ?The same will happen to her," Luewyn hissed, turning her back to him.

  Feraan moved to leave, and Luewyn called back to him.

  "I have seen the Blind Seer, and she has a message for you," Luewyn said in her deceptively pleasant voice.

  Feraan paused at this. ?"The Blind Seer is no concern of mine."

  "Sibylla feels otherwise. ?She says you've procrastinated too long in your task. ?There is a force in the desert that moves against you."

  Feraan ground his teeth together from frustration. ?Damn the Blind Seer. ?Out of spite, he remarked to his sister, "Your princeling screamed like a child when he died."

  Luewyn froze, and Feraan could see her shaking fists. ?She looked at him from over her shoulder. ?"Her aura is beautiful-shimmering, green, and innocent. ?Yours is black with all the souls you've murdered. ?The Seer tells me Caelfel Gyssedlues will join the rest."

  11. Moonlight

  Caelfel grew restless in the days that followed. ?She found it increasingly difficult to occupy herself and often ended up wandering the length of the garden. ?The days turned imperceptibly warmer, until after a week had passed, Caelfel remembered the fast approaching Spring Festival.

  Being seventy-six, Caelfel had never seen a Spring Festival but she recalled the celebrated event from her parents' fondly narrated memories. ?Elves flocked from any and all of the cities to take part. ?Caelfel and her mother had spent the past few months designing her dress, and the thought sent a dull pain throbbing within her chest. ?She had not seen her parents since Sir Kennyratear's death. ?They must have worried or fretted over her absence, but Feraan would not even allow Caelfel to see them. ?He insisted it would not be necessary, that they would know she was safe. ?Caelfel didn't see how.

  "Don't worry about them," Feraan repeated. ?Caelfel would sigh wearily, shrinking back into her seat and wondering if she would waste the rest of her days at Feraan's house. ?When she would ask him this, Feraan would only say, "Not forever. ?It isn't time yet." ?He always refused to elaborate what he was waiting for.

  But the thought of the Spring Festival raised Caelfel's spirits. ?She thought of the dress Sylaera had made for her and the stories her parents often told, detailing the glittering lights of firefaeries and the heady odor of gin and honey wine what would waft through the trees. ?It was supposedly a romantic night, a magical night that would be unforgettable. The event was so sacred even the criminals of Honey Water were permitted to join in its revelry without fear of retribution.

  It would be her first festival, and she thought endlessly of attending with Feraan. ?The thought was enough to make her blush faintly as she summoned the courage to ask Feraan about the festival.

  "We should go to the Spring Festival," she tried arguing one day. ?"Everyone is allowed to attend, even suspected criminals. ?We can't be harmed there."

  But all Feraan would do was shake his head. ?"It is too dangerous. ?I won't risk it."

  She placed a pleading hand on his arm. ?"When was the last time you had visited the festival? It is only held once every hundred years."

  He gave her an odd look at the question. ?"I don't see where that matters. ?The whole of Sal'Sumarathar will be there," he pointed out to her.

  "Yes, and I can see my parents and my friends." ?Her mind flashed to Garvanna, and Caelfel deliberated on the irony of considering Garvanna a friend.

  Feraan looked away from her begging eyes. ?"I'm sorry, Hen. ?I can't agree to it. ?I promise you, soon, you may be able to leave."

  She felt herself grow impatient but Caelfel was too reticent to show him her temper, so she took it elsewhere. ?Attempting to get as far away from him as possible, she locked herself in his bedroom where she slept. ?She sat with her knees drawn up to her face, and as she pushed her hair back and chewed on her lip in frustration, a dangerous idea came to her. ?This plan took shape in her mind as she eyed the door cagily, and when it was fully formed, her head fell against his pillow. ?She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, disappointed that Feraan's scent was fading.

  Then she counted the days and waited.

  She waited until the day of the Spring Festival, the first day of spring. ?She bid her time until Feraan wandered off to his secret basement for a time, and then she snuck away.

  It was before dusk, and the sun was still fiery orange in the sky. ?She avoided going into Sal'Sumarathar, making her way home through the forest by following the river. ?She entered the house through her parent's garden, easing herself quietly through the doorway. ?The house was still, and Caelfel wondered where her parents were. ?The house appeared completely deserted, and a short search of the rooms proved this to be so.

  She went into her dark bedroom and opened her wardrobe. ?The dress she and her mother had worked on all year hung from the center. ?Caelfel touched the light, iridescent material of the jagged edged skirt. ?She had admired the dress for weeks since her mother had finished it, and it was just as beautiful as she remembered.

  She washed herself in the bathing fountain, letting her wet hair fall loose and dripping down her back as she brushed it out. ?Putting on the dress was slightly more difficult now that she was alone. ?Tying the corset was the worst, especially when the sleeves fell off the shoulder, but she managed to fix it right. ?The hemline of the skirt fell above her knees, and the crescent moon amulet Feraan had made for her rested above the bustline.

  Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Caelfel fidgeted, all previous excitement replaced by nervousness. ?She wasn't sure who she would see or what she would do at the festival, though she wanted nothing more than for Feraan to attend with her. ?She wondered if he had noticed her absence by now, if it would even trouble him. ?She imagined he would come looking for her, and they would find each other at the festival. ?But that was an unlikely fantasy, so she drove it from her mind.

  Pushing down her skirts once more, she left the house, reminding herself she would be safe at the festival. ?There was nothing Markis or the Council co
uld do to her there.

  She joined the long lines of elves streaming toward Sal'Sumarathar's plaza and Caelfel was amazed by the number of elves that lived in the area. ?While most elves tended to keep to themselves, nearly all would attend the Spring Festival.

  Except for Feraan, of course.

  "Caelfel!"

  She turned to meet the shrill cry and found herself with a mouthful of copper hair as Garvanna embraced her. ?Then the embrace was over, and Garvanna stepped back to show Caelfel her cross expression. ?Caelfel knew Garvanna could not wait to scold Caelfel for her absence but Caelfel looked around uneasily and tapped a finger to her lips. ?Garvanna received the message and kept her silence. ?She slipped her arm through Caelfel's, and they made their way to the festival.

  They came upon the site of the night's festivities, and the sight of it all made Caelfel momentarily forget her anxiety. ?There were firefaeries in glass spheres, floating and dancing while casting a warm orange light upon all those near. ?Spyder silk braided into thick cords and dyed bright colors swayed from trees, glowing with muted lights whenever a glass orb passed. ?The music on the reedy elvish instruments was delicate and deliberate. ?Then, there was great amounts of food on large silver and bronze platters-steaming soups and crisp vegetables decked with spices, ripe, pomaceous fruits and mushrooms. ?The mushrooms were always served with gin or wine-red, white, or spiced. ?Mulled wine and honey wine. ?Members of the Council served mushrooms as the entering elves filed in queue for their turn at the Great Fountain where their feet would be customarily washed before being allowed admittance into the Festival.

  Garvanna pulled Caelfel along when it was their turn at the Great Fountain. ?The water in the fountain was warm to the touch and scented with rose petals and lavender. ?Caelfel made swirls in the water with her feet and watched the ripples gently rolling all across the surface. ?She focused on them and kept her attention away from the tittering elves around her. ?But Garvanna could not keep her silence forever.

  "What happened?" she whispered urgently.

  Caelfel turned to the she-elf who had strangely become her friend. ?Garvanna was wearing a red dress that matched her strong cheekbones nicely. ?Garvanna's sleeves were off-the-shoulder too, but they fell down the length of her waist, splitting at the shoulder. ?"Did you hear about Sir Kennyratear?" Caelfel asked, though immediately regretting it. ?The Spring Festival was a time of revelry, so she did not want to think or grieve for her old professor.

  Garvanna nodded slowly, though Caelfel wasn't sure if she knew the entire story. ?Caelfel promised Garvanna to detail the entire incident later. Garvanna insisted, "Where have you been?"

  At this, Caelfel could not meet Garvanna's eyes, and she felt a slight blush reach her cheeks. ?Mercifully, their turn at the Great Fountain was over before Caelfel had a chance to answer.

  Garvanna led them to a secluded corner of the festival, next to the circle of musicians, but not before Caelfel grabbed a handful of mushrooms for herself. ?As she nibbled, Caelfel found the music relaxing. ?"Explain yourself," Garvanna demanded.

  "I don't want to talk about what happened with Sir Kennyratear now," Caelfel told her.

  "But where have you been? ?Your parents, Thoroth, and I have been looking for you."

  "I was safe."

  "Safe where?" she challenged sharply.

  Caelfel glanced around uneasily to see if anyone was listening. ?When she was satisfied that they were alone, Caelfel admitted in a low voice, "I was with Feraan."

  The look of horror that followed on Garvanna's face was predictable, but then her eyes skewed into a look of suspicion that Caelfel did not understand. ?"Did you?"

  "Did I what?" Caelfel asked, losing her patience.

  Garvanna looked her over some more and found some unspoken answer that satisfied her. ?She shook her head. ?"I doubt that you have."

  "I don't know what you mean," Caelfel said, crossing her arms.

  "But it all matters naught now," Garvanna said, brushing herself off. ?"Your parents will be glad to see you, and you will never have to see him again."

  There was something about the casual indifference to her tone that made Caelfel's face fall, and disappointment seeded in her stomach. ?Garvanna did not overlook the reaction, and her face twisted up again. ?"You will miss him?" she asked in disbelief.

  "Perhaps I will," Caelfel defended.

  Garvanna laughed. ?"Then you are positively mad."

  Caelfel said nothing. ?Conversation began gradually filling the plaza. ?Some elves began dancing, and the pace of the music quickened.

  Garvanna stood up from her seat. ?"I'm going to find Thoroth. ?He will want to see you."

  Caelfel nodded and watched her leave, content to listen to the music and stare at a nearby cluster of firefaeries.

  "Normally they live in a volcano," interrupted a voice some moments later.

  Caelfel stood suddenly to see Markis approaching her.

  "What?" she asked, feeling her heart race with fear as she remembered the night in the forest.

  "The firefaeries, they live in a volcano, specifically Mount Ormr, the one near Yamalvon. ?I caught them myself for the Festival." ?He smiled, his face turning smug. ?Caelfel thought he looked considerably different without his silver paint.

  "Oh," was all she could say. ?He sat down on the stone bench she had previously occupied and gestured for her to join him. ?She didn't. ?Seeing this, he changed the subject.

  "I'm quite impressed with your endeavors from the other night. ?You eluded me rather well."

  "You can't do anything to me here," she told him firmly, though it took an extraordinary effort to stop her knees from shaking.

  His eyes raked the length of her dress. ?"I would not dream of doing anything to harm you."

  She clenched her hands at her sides and said nothing.

  Markis stood. ?"I see you as my equal. ?It would be a pity to see anything happen to the Master Huntress." ?He looked her over again and stepped closer, reaching for her face with two fingers. ?"I wonder, has something happened to your aura?"

  Caelfel took an equal step back, clutching at Feraan's amulet. ?"Don't you know?" she hissed.

  He lowered his hand and tilted his head. ?"It is such a pity to deform a beautiful creature such as yourself. ?Our auras met when I activated yours. ?Imagine the essence of our life forces touching. ?I had hoped our relationship would progress beyond that."

  Before Caelfel could fully express her disgust, they were interrupted by an enormous wave of laughter that rippled through the crowd of elves that Uthruil now spoke to, standing above them on top of the plaza platform. ?Caelfel assumed he had recited a joke that Markis had distracted her from. ?Uthruil continued when it had quieted, "Begin the Festival."

  The music took a livelier form and the cheering elves began dancing to it. ?Caelfel watched them dolefully for a moment before Markis suddenly stepped in front of her.

  "Do you feel like dancing, Miss Caelfel?" he asked.

  She loved dancing but not with Markis. ?He seemed to sense her rejection.

  "How about a fortune reading, then?" ?Without waiting for an answer, Markis took her by the crook of her elbow and led her to a low table where a priestess sat with her incense and her basin. ?When she saw the two of them approaching, she smiled, showing the dark lines of makeup on her face that marked her as a vessel of the gods.

  "I'm apprenticed to an oracle and know the ways of foresight. ?Who shall be first?"

  "Just her, thank you," said Markis, pushing Caelfel to sit on the ground. ?The priestess blinked at her and continued smiling.

  "Beautiful as Elewyr herself," the priestess commented.

  Caelfel did not respond. ?Her neck prickled ominously as she felt Markis standing closely behind. ?She was not certain how she remained with him when she could think of nothing other than getting away.

  "How about a card reading?" he asked. ?

  The priestess flashed her smile to Markis. ?"Of course."

  She presente
d a deck of paper cards with ancient runes painted on them that Caelfel recognized as Daemona ones. ?Primal Daemona runes at that, the language of the Ormr Masters, an ancient race that supposedly lived before the elves. ?The priestess held the cards before her.

  "Select three cards, my dear."

  Caelfel reached for the deck, hesitated, and then chose three cards at random. ?She gave them back to the priestess without looking and took a deep breath. ?The sharp scents of the priestess made her head sick.

  The priestess revealed the first. ?On it was an elf with a bow and a hood that concealed his face.

  "The Ranger. ?Something or someone has been pursuing you." ?The priestess cocked an eyebrow between the two of them. ?"Has this mysterious pursuer been successful?" asked the priestess. ?Markis chuckled above her, and it sounded closer than Caelfel realized.

  "In a manner of speaking," Markis replied. ?His answer made Caelfel's face warm with an uncomfortable heat. ?She longed to be away.

  The second card was turned, and the image of two ravens sitting on a stick made the priestess frown. ?"Twin Crows with the Wand. ?A traitor lurks near you, waiting to strike with death. ?Not very appropriate for the Festival. ?Let's try the third one-"

  "I would rather not," Caelfel said as she tried standing. ?Markis pushed her shoulder back down.

  The priestess flipped the third card, the one that represented her future. ?Caelfel averted her eyes, holding a superstitious feeling that she should not know her future before it happened. ?She managed to slip from Markis's grip just as she heard the priestess identify the subject of the card.

  "It's the Wolf!" the priestess called behind her, but Caelfel pressed forward, determined not to look back.

  She pushed past thrusting elbows and swaying shoulders, looking for Garvanna and getting away from Markis. ?She stumbled through a small gap of elves and happened upon another elf altogether. ?Thoroth had caught her by the elbow before she could fall. ?He laughed at her without any trace of the frown Garvanna would reserve for her, and Caelfel found herself genuinely smiling back.

  She let him take her hand, and he swept her away with the dance. ?They circled other elves until they ended up at the bar that held the gin, wine, and other spirits. ?Caelfel, determined to have a nice time, drank the worth of several glasses while Thoroth chatted amicably away. ?By her third glass, Garvanna appeared next to Thoroth. ?She cast a strange look at Caelfel before pulling Thoroth away for herself. ?Caelfel glowered at being left alone. ?Being inebriated did not cure loneliness.

  She reached for her half-finished glass and brought it to her lips, only belatedly registering that the previously golden liquid should not be the deep red that it was now. ?The taste was fruity, and the heady liqueur traced a fiery path down her throat and seemed to blossom in her core. ?It brought a strange tingling, yearning to her fingertips. ?Caelfel turned to see Markis standing beside her, and to her immense surprise, it wasn't an unwelcome sight.

  He smirked, holding out his hand for her to dance.

  And she didn't know why, but her body accepted the invitation.

  Markis had hands only for her, and she felt them against her waist and against her shoulders. ?She leaned into his touch and moved with his lead. ?His caresses only made her crave for more, and she found herself swaying to the same rhythm other elves around them were moving. ?She tilted her head against his neck and squinted at him through heavy eyelids. ?Markis was not unattractive, particularly without his silver paint. ?Markis was strong and dangerous and he held her hips with a sure grip while she flirtatiously rustled with the hem of her skirt.

  His hand followed hers, and she had it brush against her thigh. ?His other hand trailed against her waist. ?She turned her head to see Markis's hand glowing red and she felt it tracing a line to the small of her back, playing with the ties of her corset. ?The red light burned in her eyes, and she felt a primal craving burn inside of her.

  It was then that she was pried away from Markis. ?Caelfel protested, struggling against this new elf even when, after looking up, she saw it was Feraan. ?The redness inside her still burned for Markis even while Feraan looked her over coolly. ?She ached for the Chief Executor, but Feraan held fast, tethering her in place by the waist. ?Feraan leaned toward her until his lips were only a hair's breadth away from hers and he whispered something urgently against her mouth, eyes closed in concentration.

  "What?" Caelfel breathed, rather confused.

  His eyes flew open and he pressed his mouth to hers. ?Caelfel protested at first, resisting Feraan's touch but eventually the memory of Markis's caresses was overpowered by the sensation of Feraan's lips on her own. ?She hungrily responded in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pulled herself closer to him. ?Only Feraan wasn't kissing her. ?It felt as though he was sucking the very air out of her lungs, but he was drawing something more than that. ?When he broke away, Caelfel was left gasping for air, and Feraan stumbled away in a fit of coughing. ?

  Dazed, Caelfel blinked at him, following him through the crowd. ?She reached him in time to see Feraan spitting up what looked to be black bile. ?When he had recovered, he turned to look at her. ?A number of conflicting emotions ran through her too quickly to reconcile so she elected to remain silent.

  "I realize getting drunk is one of the festival's appeals, but did you have to get yourself poisoned?" he asked, having some difficulty catching his breath.

  "Poisoned?" she repeated.

  "More like charmed or bewitched, but as much a poison as any fatal drug." ?He wiped his mouth, giving her a sideways smirk. ?

  He had probably just saved her then, she realized. ?She felt fatigue, but the burning desire for Markis had completely left her, fortunately. ?She looked Feraan over with a new interest.

  "Thank you," she said slowly, but her head still swam with drink. ?She obviously needed more.