The Whispering

  “But why? I thought this whole thing was about Ziri?”

  “The young Lithi warrior was a chance opportunity for Ka’sith. Your capture has always been her goal. Your brother, Prince Harlu, is the one behind all of this.”

  “He’s not my brother and he’s no prince,” I reply shortly.

  Mirnuk cocks his head and says, “But he is your brother and he is the son of Senestra, which makes him also a prince. Someone should have told you that, or you should have figured it out yourself.”

  “Okay, fine,” I reply. “Where is Ziri?”

  “There is an area in this park no one goes near. It is nothing the humans can see or hear, but a sense of evil subconsciously turns people away. Even the animals that dwell here stay clear of it. Prince Tolan will be able to find it, if he calls upon the elements.”

  “Can’t you take us?” I ask.

  “I cannot allow you to go to meet such evil,” he replies quietly.

  “You can’t stop me, Mirnuk. You can either get me there safely, or I’ll go without you and you’ll feel guilty if I don’t make it there alive.”

  The troll sits for a moment in silence weighing my words. Then he says, “You are not what they have said about you, my queen.” He pauses and then sighs heavily, “All right, I will take you.”

  “Thank you, Mirnuk.” Without thinking, I step up to him and hug him, my arms barely wrapping around his massive neck. When I pull back, the troll seems embarrassed, but he smiles and nods.

  “Perhaps we should let your prince in,” he says, rising from his chair. Facing a doorway I had not noticed before, he lifts his hand toward it. Suddenly, Tharin, Tolan and Alorn fall through the doorway, and land on the cobbled floor soaking wet.

  They are instantly on their feet, weapons ready, but before they move to attack I step in front of Mirnuk. Tharin, with his blazing sword before him, looks at me. “Are you all right, did he hurt you?”

  I shake my head. He hesitates another moment staring at Mirnuk, before he relaxes and slips his blade back into his coat. I watch as Tolan does the same with his chains, but Alorn’s blades are still in his hands.

  Tharin moves toward me and slowly pulls me to his side. I realize how much I like the feeling of being protected by him. I allow the feeling of his closeness balance my senses and I feel safe again. Reluctantly, I step away and turn to the Kupnaliia.

  “Tharin, this is Mirnuk. He’s going to help us find Ziri,” I say.

  Tharin nods to the troll, who offers him a brief nod in return, but his eyes return to Alorn and the warrior’s blades.

  “Alorn, meet Mirnuk of the Kupnaliia. He is a First. There is only him and his two brothers left of his people.”

  I’m betting on Alorn’s respect for the Firsts, and it pays off. The warrior’s blades disappear and he nods at the troll. Tolan steps toward Mirnuk with eager respect.

  “I am Tolan, brother to Prince Tharin,” he says as he offers his arm to Mirnuk.

  Mirnuk takes the twin’s arm in return respect. “I have heard you are more than the brother to the future king of Velesi, Prince Tolan. If what I have heard is true, then I welcome the future king of the Willow Clan.”

  “He didn’t give me the same greeting,” says Tharin quietly in my head.

  “I noticed that,” replies Alorn.

  Once Mirnuk and Tolan are done with their greeting, the troll turns to Tharin. “I have agreed to take you to where Ka’sith is located. There is too much evil there and I may not be able to resist her calling, even with the laurel removed.”

  Tharin nods, “I understand.”

  He moves closer to Mirnuk and I move to stand next to Alorn as Tolan takes his time to investigate the items in Mirnuk’s home. I realize Tharin is speaking to the troll privately. I guess I will have to wait until we are alone to know what their plans are.

  Alone. Somehow the idea of being alone with Tharin pulls at me, a familiar twitch every time I think of him half naked at our clearing. And, of course, with the beautiful thought, the ugly one follows right behind it. That pang of jealously tugs at me as the vision of Tharin naked in bed with Kalis rushes back. I really need to learn how to keep the rewind button from stopping at the same station in my head. That scene is not only becoming irritating, but tiresome, too.

  As if reading my thoughts, Tharin turns to me and produces that half grin of his that sends every thought scattering. I think I’m blushing, damn it. I feel a nudge at my shoulder from behind and I turn as Alorn steps up beside me.

  “Keep it together, cousin,” he says. I know his thoughts are only for me as I watch Tharin turn back to the troll.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about…cousin,” I reply, a bit irritated.

  “Right,” he shoots back. “If you blush every time your betrothed looks at you, you’ll give your enemies fuel to use against you.”

  I turn to look up at the warrior; he has a point. I will need to be better at not showing my emotions but save them for when Tharin and I are alone. Alone. The twitch hits me again and I find that I like it.

  Once Tharin and Mirnuk are done with their conversation, Tharin turns to me. He offers his hand and pulls me to him. “We’re leaving now. Are you ready?” he asks.

  He holds me tight and the mere nearness of him makes me forget our surroundings; the smell of him is seriously intoxicating. I lay my ear against his chest seeking the sound of his heartbeat and for a moment I am lost in its rhythm. I sigh in resignation. He makes it really hard for me to find reasons to be pissed at him. He nuzzles my hair and quickly plants a kiss on top of my head.

  Alone. I have never wanted more to be alone with Tharin as I do now.

  I turn to Mirnuk, “I’m ready.”

  Mirnuk spreads his huge arms back and with a force of his strength he claps his hands. The result is like the crack of thunder and I cover my ears, burying my face into Tharin’s shoulder. When it is quiet again, I turn my head slowly to look at the troll and find we are standing on an empty playground island.

  “Lily!” Julia calls out, a pissed off look on her face.

  She and Mellis are on the park side and I watch as she rushes across the bridge. I move away from Tharin to meet her half way. She hugs me fiercely and then pushes me back, her hands roughly gripping my shoulders.

  “I don’t give a damn what kind of serpent is in you, don’t you ever do that again,” she says with quiet menace, giving my shoulders a shake for good measure.

  “Okay, okay…I’m sorry. It all happened so quickly,” I try to explain, but Julia isn’t finished.

  “And if you ever pull that crap on me again and leave me asleep while you take off I swear it, Lily, I will kick your ass. Do you hear me?”

  Again I nod. “I promise. Sorry, okay?”

  With a final shake she lets her hands drop. Behind her Mellis gives me a hard look.

  “Not cool, cousin,” he says, trying to sound hard. “Do you know what I went through when Julia came to and went completely hysterical?”

  Julia turns to him, frowning. “I wasn’t hysterical.”

  “Uh, yes you were,” he says simply.

  “No, I wasn’t,” argues Julia.

  I try to cut in. “I know, I’m sorry,” I say, but they ignore me as they continue discussing whether Julia was hysterical or not.

  their argument STOPS when the others approach with Mirnuk towering behind them. Julia stares at him with wide eyes, checking him out from head to toe. Mellis, however, moves past the others, walking right up to Mirnuk.

  He puts his arm out in greeting and it disappears in the massive hand of the troll. “I’ve never met a troll before. I mean, I have, but I’m always too busy trying to fight my way past them and they really aren’t the talkative type. Except the usual ‘Me eat you little elf’ thing. I’m Mellis.”

  Mirnuk raises a brow, and then a wry smile spreads across his face as he yanks Mellis inches from his face. “Me Mirnuk, me eat you now little elf.”

  “Ah,” stutters
Mellis, looking behind him at Tharin, Tolan and Alorn. “Please tell Mr. Mirnuk that I’m with you.”

  Alorn folds his arms, glancing first at the twins before addressing Mellis. “He knows you’re with us, cousin. You’re the sacrifice.”

  “I’m the what?” squeaks Mellis.

  Tolan rubs at his chin, “That was the deal. He takes us to Ka’sith and we give him you for dinner.”

  “Ha-ha, very funny,” replies Mellis, trying not to panic. He looks at Tharin and his older cousin takes pity on him.

  “Enough,” says Tharin, already moving toward the park end of the bridge. “We’re wasting time and for all we know the Ange may already be here.”

  Mirnuk releases Mellis and follows Tharin, Alorn immediately after him. Tolan takes my arm, an amused look on his face as he passes Mellis. He leads me forward, ignoring Julia who stares at me with a hooded glance. I catch her eye and she turns from me as Mellis comes up behind her. He leans down and whispers something to her. It only takes a second before Julia is laughing and Tolan stiffens beside me.

  I nudge Tolan’s arm and he glances down at me. I point at my temple and he sighs.

  “I don’t want to talk about it, Lily.”

  “Are you really marrying a Sidhe princess?” I ask, ignoring him.

  He frowns down at me, “What are you talking about? What princess?”

  “You know, the one you’re supposed to marry now that you’ll be the future king of the Willow?”

  He shakes his head in confusion and stares ahead. “There’s no princess, Sidhe or otherwise, that I plan to marry, Lily. Just Julia. It’s always been Julia. Where did she get a stupid idea like that?”

  I think about it for a second and remember. “From Cili.” A hard look comes over his face. “I’m sorry, Tolan, I told her it was probably all lies, but we weren’t sure.”

  I go on to explain Julia’s reason for pushing him away and I feel the anger seep from him, now understanding her actions. We both glance back at Julia who arches a brow at us with a dubious look. Mellis imitates her expression as only Mellis can. We turn from them, quickening our pace to keep up with the others in front of us.

  “I think,” I say slowly, “you should be having a private conversation with her.”

  He is quiet for a moment and then says, “I tell you what. I will make things clear with Julia and you give Tharin the chance to explain about that night with Kalis.”

  I look at him, startled. “He told you?”

  He raises a brow. “He told all of us. Ziri and I found out when we returned from the Willow, but yes, we all know.”

  Oh, for crying out – what the hell. I stare at Tolan and he shrugs a shoulder as he fades back to Julia’s side. I feel a nudge and turn to find Mellis smiling down at me, the forever twinkle in his eyes.

  “Oh, shut up,” I say, frowning. He doesn’t say a word, just chuckles gleefully at my expense.

  When Mirnuk first took me, it was late afternoon; it is now dark out and the tree line looks both ominous and beautiful. I take a deep breath and make my way to Tharin’s side, startling him when I take his hand. He leans down and kisses me lightly on the lips and my head goes fuzzy.

  He pulls away and says quietly, “I would never hurt you, it’s important that you know that.”

  “Yes, Tharin,” I whisper back.

  He squeezes my hand and the expected vision of that night comes back. This time the pain is dull and somehow insignificant, no longer causing my chest to ache. I release a breath, and with it, the staleness of that night of Tharin and Kalis. And just like that, I can breathe again.

  ~ * ~

  Chapter Eight

  ~ Tharin ~

  It is a strange feeling to have someone in your life that spins you out of control one minute and then balances you out the next. I hold onto Lily’s hand as if by keeping it secured in my own creates a shield around us from the outside world. I take this time to speak with my betrothed of what I believe will always be a thin layer of doubt between us. At least as far as Lily is concerned.

  “Lily,” I start slowly. “About that night, with Kalis, believe me when I say that nothing happened.” She nods, quietly walking alongside me.

  “So many things happened that night, Tharin,” she says distantly.

  “Yes, that’s true. But I only want to talk about what happened with Kalis,” I answer.

  She shrugs a shoulder and keeps her eyes forward. I am about to go into the entire night when I feel the familiar warning at the back of my skull. Suddenly, the weight of time running out hits me again. Mirnuk glances back at me and I nod. The Kupnaliia takes lead and we follow him deeper into the wooded area heading north. Mirnuk’s movements are agile and I am surprised to feel very little vibration from his steps.

  I reach out to Alorn and Mellis, who are now moving along each side of our group hidden within the trees. Once connected and making sure they haven’t come across anything Ange-like, I send my senses ahead. Although I find no immediate danger, the further north we walk, the heavier the night becomes and the less noise from the night creatures I hear. I feel Lily tense and she becomes quiet and withdrawn. I know she’s now trying to keep the callings of despair and fear from the nearby trees at bay. I give her hand a gentle squeeze and when she looks up at me I see the concern in her eyes.

  “Tolan,” I call.

  “Yes, Tharin?” he replies, a little off put. He and Julia have been walking behind us lost in their own conversation. For the past hour it seems they have drifted further apart. I don’t know what is going on with them, but I need Tolan to stay focused on the task at hand.

  “My apologies, brother, for the interruption, but do you sense anything other than the permeated despair from the trees around us?”

  I watch as he lifts his head, pulling his thoughts from Julia. She looks from him to me. I nod at her, sending a quick command and without question she moves forward, keeping pace with Lily. Together, they walk ahead of us. Lily, meanwhile, continues to keep her concentration on pushing the despair back.

  “We must be nearing Ka’sith’s den. Do you feel it, Tharin?” asks Tolan, still scanning ahead.

  “I felt it about a half mile back. You’re slipping, brother.”

  Tolan sighs, looking at Julia. “She’s giving me a headache. I can’t seem to talk any sense to her.”

  “Then perhaps you should stop talking and just show her,” I say.

  “Yeah, you’re one to talk.” But I can already hear his mind working out a plan for his Julia.

  I sense the presence a split second after Mirnuk; and the evil coming from it affects the troll’s thoughts and actions. I can feel his inner battle to stay in control and keep the change from happening. Mirnuk’s instinct to protect Lily is immediate and he stands before her, his arm keeping her back.

  The change is sudden. He is no longer the Kupnaliia in his man form but is now the cursed monstrous beast. His troll transformation is as terrifying as it was when we first met him at the playground. He turns his eyes on me letting me know he is still Mirnuk and the change was by choice and not from any evil in this dark place.

  I give the command. Alorn and Mellis move in immediately to cover our backs. Tolan moves to my side, his energy already placing a protective shield around us. Whatever the presence is, its focus is mainly on Lily. I can feel its pull on her and I have no idea how to break it.

  The landscape transformation happens quickly as the healthy trees of the park disappear. The small grove is full of twisted, dead and blackened trees; their branches either reaching up pleading for redemption or pulled downward lost in a sea of black ashes emitting a foul stench. I glance upward and see no stars, only a sky empty and dark like the ground we are standing on.

  The dresi moves toward us as if floating on black mist. Her movements slow and seductive, and from the darkness appears a pale face of undeniable beauty, marred only by the evil that emits from her. Her silver white hair spills down her back to merge with the mist as if one
. The eyes of silver with specs of sapphire lock onto Lily with a mixture of curiosity and hatred. Blood red lips are the only color on her pale face. She is tall and lithe, and despite the thin bark sheath that is as black as the trees around us it cannot hide the paleness of her skin underneath. From her chest to her head a thin silver snake wraps around her in constant motion, its double head peeking from each side of her neck like floating earrings. Standing before us is the dryad witch – Ka’sith.

  Tazo appears in my hand, as do the weapons of my brother and cousins. I hear a low growl coming from Mirnuk and I feel his feet plant into the ashen earth.

  “Lilianethia,” purrs Ka’sith, now staring at Lily with a predatory look in her eyes. “I knew your great ancestor, Tileanith, the Sidhe whore. You are the spitting image of her.”

  Lily steps forward from behind Mirnuk, remaining quiet.

  “Come child,” she calls to Lily, offering her hand, her chin tilted up. She wasn’t asking.

  “Bullshit,” replies Julia from behind me. She moves to stand next to Lily, her blades at ready. Tolan must have returned them to her.

  Mirnuk growls deeply, his stance becoming more threatening. The witch allows him a cursory glance and says, “Mirnuk, it is good to see you again. How’s your head?”

  Mirnuk readies to charge the witch, but I step in front of him, facing her.

  “She’s not going anywhere with you. I have come for my brother, witch,” I say, Tazo blazing brighter.

  Ka’sith focuses her eyes on me and offers me a crooked grin. “You are not welcomed here Prince Tharin of the Oak Clan. This has nothing to do with you.”

  “You have a Lunar Prince of the Oak Clan,” I answer quietly. “It has everything to do with me. This is your last chance,” I warn. “Give him to me and live.”

  Her laughter rings throughout the dead grove, tinged with madness and evil. “You are not in Velesi, prince. Here, I rule and all is at my command. Come for my head if you like, but know I will take your life and the lives of those with you.”

  “You can try,” I reply and immediately we shift our stances, ready for an attack – but none come. Instead, Lily places a hand on my arm, causing me to look at her.