“Any you recognize?”
“Uh-huh,” she answers before her limbs loosen slightly.
Her arms are cramped from holding on tightly, but they slip from around my neck. I catch them with one hand while continuing forward with the other.
“Hey, you all right?” I ask, trying to keep my thoughts light.
“I’m sorry, Tharin. I’m so cold. I can’t feel my arms and legs,” she answers quietly.
Mellis slips behind me and grabs hold of her, keeping her head above water. I slip from her hold and take her other arm, carrying her between us as we swim to shore.
It is another ten minutes before we reach the shore where Tolan waits for us. He rushes over and takes Lily as he wraps a heavy blanket around her. He picks her up easily and heads toward the oak trees for cover as we follow close behind. The red oak opens its thela to us and immediately the single panswa lights up, heating the small room.
Tolan calls the panswa close to where he lays a trembling Lily. He quickly removes her boots and coat and then reaches for a nearby bag. I recognize the bottle of elixir that will revitalize her energy and watch as he puts it to her lips. She can’t heal herself if she doesn’t have the strength to.
Mellis and I quickly strip out of our wet clothes. I dry myself and dress in new clothes from a heavy chest; one that is in every thela designated for a time such as this. By the time I have my socks on, Tolan has a wall up to give Lily some privacy.
I sit at the table as Mellis start to brew sweet bark tea. He then pulls out bread and cheese from a food box, placing it on the table. Tolan walks over and sits across from me, a look of relief on his face.
“Were you able to get to the grotto?” I ask as I reach for the food.
“Yes, but it’s heavily guarded, courtesy of Dorlan, I’m sure.”
“Or Kolinest,” I add. “I mean, Sema and Ka did say he has been here since we were young. Probably the same time Kalis and Nameth appeared at our doorsteps.”
“So,” says Mellis, “should we assume they know of the thelas throughout the realm?”
“I’m sure they do,” I say. “But they don’t know all of them, this one included. There are thelas within each clan district that will only open to Phoris and Tolan.”
“What of Dorlan?” asks Mellis.
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “But, he is definitely not thinking of destroying the realm. The Sithide, like many others, don’t have the means to leave.”
“I’m just curious when the Sithide will finally join in,” wonders Tolan.
“Nameth was an exception; maybe Kolinest found her when she was a child and manipulated her to join in his plans,” I say. “But Dorlan? I believe once he discovered Kolinest’s true reasons for finding the doorway, he had a change of heart. He married Queen Kinia’s daughter so he has her ear, and her trust. She won’t join Kolinest’s army without Dorlan’s go ahead.”
Lily appears from behind the wall carrying her wet clothes.
“Where can I put these to dry?” she asks looking about the small room.
“We won’t be able to wait for them to dry, Lily,” I say, looking her over carefully.
The dark pants are two sizes too big and the jersey hangs on her like a short nightgown. Her wet hair is finger-combed back but at least there is color in her cheeks. She stands looking down at her jeans and shirt, the clothes she wore the first night I met her. I’m confused by the sad look on her face as she stares at them.
“So, I have to leave them behind, don’t I?” she says more to herself. She looks up at me with a small smile. “What about my coat? Will it take time for it to dry, too?”
“Your coat will be dry by the time we leave, Lily,” answers Mellis. “Come sit, I made bark tea.”
That seems to distract her from her clothes. “Bark tea? Um, that doesn’t sound very appealing.”
Mellis feigns a hurt look. “Have I ever steered you wrong, cousin? I mean, these two,” he waves his hand at Tolan and me. “Most definitely, but me? Not once, my queen. Come sit here. Honor us with your presence and I will prove to you that you have nothing to fear from the bark tea.”
Mellis pulls out a chair and she laughs at his bravado. I stand and take her clothes from her and for a moment she holds onto them, not wanting to let go. I’m perplexed, and when she realizes she still has a grip on her clothes releases them quickly.
“Sorry,” she says sheepishly. She smiles and takes Mellis’ offered seat and hot cup of bark tea. She looks at me and says, “Shouldn’t we be going?”
“We wait for Alorn.” I watch her face and note her blank stare. She nods without saying anything else and takes a sip from the sweet tea.
“Oh my God, Mellis, this is so good. This is bark tea?” she asks, taking a longer sip.
“I’m a great cook, Lily. You should try my cup of water when you get a chance. I use the finest ingredients,” replies Mellis with a wink.
“Alorn should be here soon,” offers Tolan.
Lily turns to him. “How does he know where we are?”
“I sent a message sphere to the cave opening. It’s hidden, a cover inlay only we know about,” replies Mellis.
Lily nods, steals a glance at me and takes another sip.
I think back to my conversation with Dorlan and recall him saying he would catch up with Alorn. I get up and reach for my coat.
“Tharin,” calls Tolan, stopping me. “What did Dorlan mean about the attack at the park?”
I put on my coat as I explain. “The skirmish at the park was a setup to get to you. You’re the only one who knows the summoning to open the doorway to Eirrell.” There is a question on his lips but before he can ask, I continue. “Nameth may have been at your practices, but not during the summoning practices; Madeas wouldn’t allow it. She didn’t know the summoning; otherwise they would have found the opening and only come after Lily.”
Tolan leans forward, placing his elbows on the table and lacing his fingers under his chin.
“Tharin, they sent her to us to be killed? She was sacrificed so the doors to the UnderRealm could be open?”
“I don’t understand,” says Lily, confused. “How did she open them?”
“She served as the catalyst to open all doorways, including the one to the UnderRealm,” I explain. “Kolinest had her close the doorways and it was Harlu's job to keep us occupied while trying to take Tolan. It was Nameth's energy that closed the doors, so when Tolan took her life the energy that tied her to the doorways caused a release, a blast that re-opened the doorways, including the UnderRealm. It was brief, but long enough to release a small army of demons. Some of those demons may have escaped into other realms, including Pathen.”
“And it had to be Tolan who had to kill her,” adds Mellis somberly.
I nod, looking at my brother. “They knew what would happen. Only a Summoner can pull a calling from a Caller. Tolan didn’t realize it at the time, but that’s exactly what he did when he snapped Nameth’s neck. I suspect they also hoped that the blast would've shown them the location of the doorway to Eirrell. It didn’t.”
“So they don’t know where the doorway is?” asks Lily.
Tolan reaches into his pocket and pulls out the Junsper stone. “If they did then why would the Mother have Glynnis bring this to me? No, I don’t think they found it but we have to assume they believe I know the way.”
“Do you?” asks Mellis.
“No, but this is supposed to tell me,” answers Tolan as he slides the stone flower to the center of the table.
Lily leans over to take a better look. She suddenly takes the stone, giving it an even closer look.
“What is it, Lily? “ I ask.
“Tharin, don’t you recognize it?” She holds out the stone, first to me and then Tolan. “Don’t either of you recognize the shape of the stone? It’s the flower in your mother’s garden, the purple ones. They’re all over the archway into your mother's garden; the ones that smell like jasmine.”
&nbs
p; Tolan grabs it from her and examines it. “Of course, the garden is a gateway to Malainisi and a pathway to all the clans.”
The old stories our mother used to tell us when we were young comes back to me.
“Remember the story Mother told us of the Unnamed Sidhe?” I ask Tolan.
Mellis shakes his head. “We’ve all heard of it, Tharin. What’s it got to do with the doorway?”
I run my hand through my hair as I recall what she said. “There was something she once told us that wasn’t in any of the other stories of him. It was something about how he came to the Willow clan.”
“Wouldn’t that mean the gateway would be at the Willow?” asks Lily.
“No.” I turn to Tolan. “He came through the garden. Think about it. She once told us he came through her garden. He may not have found Tileanith at the Willow, but it’s where he found her since.”
Tolan stands and starts to pace. “So the doorway is in mother’s garden. Then one of the paths to any of the clans can be the doorway to Eirrell.”
“Or,” adds Mellis thoughtfully, “there’s a direct path to the doorway to get to Eirrell.” He looks up at me. “So, do we go now and get it done?”
“No. We have to get to the Willow to see Father first. Not only that, I need to get Lily back to the Willow and have father or Ka marry us.”
“Then we should leave now.”
Everyone turns to the front room to see Alorn standing in the shadows. He quietly moves into the light and Lily gasps, standing quickly in reaction to Alorn’s condition. Although he is soaked, there are globs of mud and debris splattered all over him. He is covered with cuts and bruises accompanied by a broken arrow shaft protruding from his shoulder.
Bloodied and exhausted he looks at Lily first and then me.
“You’re right cousin,” he says. “We need to get you two married. The sooner the better.”
Mellis catches Alorn as he collapses to his knees, unconscious.
~ * ~
Chapter Twenty-One
~ Lily ~
Tharin sits quietly in the corner, watching me heal Alorn who is still out. Some of the cuts are deep and brutal; a few were superficial and have healed quickly. It is the large bump on his head that worries me the most. I worked on it first but the wound is so severe I’m surprised he could have taken a step after he got hit.
When I first reached in to see how much damage there is a shield blocks me from going any farther than his bruised and swollen surface. At one point, Alorn grabs at my wrist, his eyes opened, but unfocused and distant. Tharin is at my side instantly, grabbing hold of Alorn’s wrist but I stop him. I wave him back as I gently coax Alorn to relax and let go. When his eyes focused on me, his entire body relaxes and he is out again.
I shake my head. “I don’t understand it Tharin, why can’t I heal his head wound? The burn on your stomach was ten times worse, yet I healed that.”
“It’s a protection ward that was placed on all of us when we were barely out of our cribs. My uncle Madeas summoned a protection ward on our heads when we kept getting knocked out by a simple blow. We kept sticking our heads out when we should’ve been taking cover. It’s still with us. That was how powerful a Summoner he was. All of us, including Ziri are protected. If we get hit hard enough, the ward blocks all other energy as it starts its healing process, which takes time. How’s his shoulder?”
I had to cut Alorn’s jersey to get to the wound. I pull it back now to show Tharin.
“Nothing vital was hit and it’s healing. It’ll leave a scar but it will completely close by tomorrow,” I answer. I open his jersey further and trace the many scars the warrior elf carries, including the one from the poisoning at Crowfoot Mountain.
I lay my hand on Alorn’s chest feeling his heart beat and I sigh with relief knowing he will be okay. Tharin takes my hand from Alorn’s chest and puts it to his lips. I feel a thrill go up my arm when he continues to kiss the back of my hand while staring into my eyes.
Finally he lets go and whispers, “Thank you.”
Instantly I am in his arms, kissing him before getting my arms around his neck. I love the feel of his strength as he wraps his arms around my waist and how he pulls me up to him. I love how solid his body feels and I oh-so love his lips. He revives me and makes me feel safe, alive, wanted and needed at the same time. He is my elixir. That’s right – he makes me feel and sound like a cliché...and I don’t care.
Tharin relaxes his hold and I slide back down until my feet are on the floor. He holds me tenderly as I lay my head on his chest listening to the strong beating of his heart – my heart. I open my eyes to see Alorn lying unconscious next to us and I gently pull away from Tharin. Looking up at him I realize he is the only one who can make me feel this way.
“You all right?” he asks softly, rubbing my cheek with his thumb.
“Yeah, I am,” I answer. I look at Alorn again. “I guess we’re not leaving until morning.”
“We’ll leave as soon as he’s up,” he replies, looking down at his cousin. “He’s self healing now and fast, thanks to you.”
He smiles and takes my hand. “Come on. You need some rest before we move again. Tolan can take over from here.”
I lay on the sofa in the front room, snuggling under Tharin’s coat, breathing in his scent. Mellis sits in an armchair near me, stretches out his legs, yawns and within seconds falls asleep. Tharin and Tolan remain at the table talking softly and their low voices lull me under.
I must have fallen asleep because when I open my eyes again Tharin is kneeling beside me; Tolan and Mellis are gone.
“Is everything okay?” I start to rise, but he holds me in place.
“You’re such a suspicious woman,” he jokes softly. “We’re just stepping out for a minute.”
“Why, what’s happened?” I ask alarmed. I try to rise but he places his hand on my shoulder.
“Lily, it’s all right. We want to scout the area before heading out, that’s all. I just didn’t want you to wake up and go into panic mode. Go back to sleep.”
I catch his hand when he reaches for my face. “Promise me. Promise me you’ll come back.”
“I’m always with you, Lily,” he says, giving me that smile that stops my breathing.
I frown at him. “I mean it, Tharin. Don’t make me come after you.”
He chuckles. “Go to sleep crazy woman.”
He kisses my forehead and then gives me a quick kiss on the lips. I try to pull him closer, but he takes hold of my wrist stopping me as he pulls away.
“I’ll be back. I promise.”
I let him go. I lie back down and pull his coat over my shoulders and try to fall asleep again. It is easier than I think as I go out, but I force my heavy lids to open again when I hear voices. Tharin and Tolan are standing at the center of the room talking softly but stop when I raise my head.
“Tharin?” I call in a sleepy voice.
Tolan moves to my side and whispers, “It’s nothing, go to sleep, Lily.”
“Wha...” I try to shake the cobwebs.
“You’re exhausted,” he says. “Sleep, we’ll be leaving soon enough.”
He removes his hand and for some reason I thank Tharin. My last thought before going under is that he came back as he promised.
I awake to find Tharin’s coat has been replaced with a heavy blanket. A slow panic starts to rise when I realize the room is empty. It takes me a minute before remembering Tharin saying he and Tolan would be out scouting. They must still be out. I get up and look for Mellis but find him also gone, but on the table is a pot of hot sweet bark tea. The aroma dances softly around the room and fills me with revitalized energy. I retrieve a cup and look at the room Alorn is in. Not a sound, not even snoring, comes from the closed area and I decide I should check on him first.
I enter the room surprised to find in the corner a dimly lit panswa. Alorn is sitting on the bed with a fresh jersey in his hands. He looks at me, nods and lifts his arms over his head to get
the jersey on. He stops, grunting with pain. Without thinking, I walk over to him, reaching up and helping to get the jersey over his large arms.
“Why are you up?” I ask, stepping back to allow him to pull the jersey over his solid torso. I try not to look, seriously I try, but like his cousin his masculinity is overwhelming. I take another step back.
“I’m all right, Lily,” he answers quietly as he grabs for some socks.
“You were seriously hurt last night, Alorn. You should rest until the others get back.”
“I know you think so, but I’m okay,” he says with a small smile. He stops, socks in hand and locks eyes with me. “Thank you for saving me…again.”
I shrug, not sure what to say, so I stand and wait as he goes back to putting his socks on.
Feeling a little awkward I put out my hand, without touching him, and search his energy for any wounds that may still need healing. Alorn catches my wrist and gently pulls me closer, startling me. I automatically resist his hold, my breath caught in my throat.
His hold is solid but his touch is gentle as he says, “You need not worry, Lily.”
I nod, getting the sense that his words mean more than just telling me he is okay. I’m unable to break his gaze and for a long moment we remain quiet. And once again I am hit with déjà vu. The dream at the caves…the passionate…
Alorn breaks the moment by letting go and reaching for his boots.
“Tolan is here,” he says quietly.
I realize I am breathing hard and I catch my breath before turning toward the door as Tolan appears. He smiles, looks at Alorn and then back at me. I can see his eyes scrutinizing my heated face and there is no way he can miss me trying to calm my breathing. A look of perplexity comes over him but he schools his face quickly as he walks into the room. He waves his hand to the corner and the panswa brightens.
“Looks like you’re able to move,” he says to Alorn.
The way he speaks and how he’s standing with a hard look on his face is so like Tharin that both Alorn and I just stare at him. Alorn doesn’t say anything but nods and goes back to dressing.