Halcyon Rising (22 page)

* * *

Over an hour passed before Rhoswen was finally allowed an audience with her father. He received her in his private study, a cozy, oak-paneled retreat lined with ancient manuscripts and priceless works of art from their decimated island homeland.

He waved her toward the chair in front of his desk, then sank into his own. For a long moment he said nothing, merely studied her with those intelligent blue eyes, but then he offered her a weary smile. “I’m glad you’re safely home, Rhoswen. I’m sorry I didn’t have the chance to tell you that before.”

Some of the tension of the day faded at his words, and she managed to smile weakly in return. At least she was blessed with one caring parent. “I’m glad to hear you still feel that way after being closeted with Mother for half an hour.”

His smile faded. “Yes, well, your mother can be a trial. But she really does have your best interests at heart.”

She gave a humorless laugh. “She hides it well.”

“I fear she’s hellbent on using this fiasco to illustrate the dangers of journeying to the Surface.” He shook his head. “If she had her way, all Surface trips would be suspended indefinitely, and all our resources would be directed toward eradicating our dependence on Surface mining and agriculture.”

“Haven’t you told her about the power grid?” she asked. “I’m afraid I had no chance to explore Old Halcyon, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’ll have to leave here eventually. Perhaps it would be best to tell everyone what is happening and stress the importance of finding a new home.”

“I don’t think it’s wise to tell too many of our people about the problem until our engineers have exhausted every possibility. I don’t want anyone to panic. Besides, you know your mother will just lobby to build an entirely new city beneath the waves, rather than strike out for the Surface.”

Rhoswen sighed, knowing he was probably right. “She acts as though I brought a frothing beast into our midst, not an intelligent, brave human being. I wish she’d take five minutes to have a conversation with him. Perhaps then she’d see how wrong she is.”

Oberon steepled his fingertips and leaned forward. “I would like to do exactly that, Rhoswen. Both as your father and as Halcyon’s leader, I’d like to speak with him and learn more about him.”

“Of course,” Rhoswen agreed, relieved to find him being so reasonable. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“It might be healthy to have an outsider in our midst. As you said, it might show some of those who are dead set against returning to the Surface that not all of those who live above are barbarians.”

“Does that mean you’ve persuaded the council to allow him to stay?”

“I really don’t see that we have a choice.” Only the faintest hint of reproof laced his voice. “I certainly don’t intend to let them jettison him, but they’re right. He knows too much to let him leave.”

She bit her lip, wondering whether or not to keep Sebastian’s reluctance to remain to herself. But she’d inherited her gift of mind-delving from her father and with his people’s safety at stake she knew he wouldn’t hesitate to use it on Sebastian. Better he should learn it from her than find out she’d hidden it from him.

“He doesn’t want to stay, Father. He was held against his will once before, and it almost destroyed him. Besides, he’s very concerned about his people’s welfare. I promised him I would be able to find an antidote for the sickness if he helped me escape Hawkesmere, and he’s anxious to get back and do what he can to help.”

“Impossible,” Oberon told her sharply. “I’d never get the council to agree to let him go.”

“What if I went with him?” The plan that had been bouncing around inside her head all day spilled out before she could stop it. “I know he would help me find out what happened to Trevelan.”

Oberon frowned. “You know I hate the idea of leaving one of our people behind, but I won’t sacrifice you in order to help Trevelan. The council voted against sending a rescue party, so that’s the end of the discussion.”

She wanted to argue more, but knew it was pointless. Well, so be it. She would rather have done this with her father’s permission and backing, but if need be, she and Sebastian would have to do it on their own.

On impulse, she got to her feet and rounded her father’s desk, giving him a fierce hug. Shows of physical affection were rare in Halcyon, and she could tell she’d surprised him by the way he tensed in her arms. But after a moment he relaxed and hugged her tightly in return.

“I love you, Father.” She kissed his smooth cheek, thinking of all the times during her youth she’d wished for this sort of intimacy. Sebastian could teach her people so much about love and kindness.

“I love you, too,” he replied softly. “Very much.”

Blinking back a fresh rush of tears, she reluctantly let him go. All of the pain and fear she’d experienced on the Surface had been worth it, for this one moment alone. And she knew that, no matter what happened, she would never hold those she cared about at arm’s length again.

Oberon cleared his throat as she backed away. “Rest well, Rhoswen. I’ll visit with your Sebastian in the morning.”

“Rest well, Father. Good night.”

Trevelan stood alone on a cliff overlooking the Irish Sea, staring broodingly at the storm-tossed surf which crashed against the tiny islet where he’d left the submersible.

He was too late. Rhoswen and
The Dolphin
were long gone.

She’d abandoned him to his fate, left him to be beaten to death in Hawkesmere’s dungeons. Her incomprehensible betrayal still stunned him.

Nothing she’d done made any sense. He couldn’t understand how she’d fallen under Sebastian’s spell so completely, when Trevelan had been trying for years to make her feel something, anything, for him.

Since the moment they’d Surfaced, everything had gone wrong. Even his escape had been fraught with danger and wrong choices.

By the time he’d trudged his way across the bailey into the safety of Titania’s tower, he’d been so tired and broken he’d collapsed in an exhausted heap. He’d recuperated for a few days, taken advantage of Sebastian’s food, bed and medicines, and soaked his lashed, battered body in the hot springs.

When he awoke to the commotion of Lord Simon’s men returning in the courtyard below, he knew he’d tarried too long. His escape would soon be noted and then they’d start looking for him.

He’d already discovered the way into Old Halcyon, but making his way through those dark tunnels without a lightstick had been terrifying. Finally, out of food and desperate to escape the dark, he’d Surfaced from the wrong tunnel and found himself dozens of miles from the sea.

Though most of his injuries had healed, weakness still plagued him, and his broken ribs pained him with each breath. The swim from the beach to the islet had nearly killed him and the thought of the return trip had made him wonder if it wouldn’t be easier just to quit fighting and allow himself to sink beneath the waves forever.

Somehow he’d found the strength to pull himself to shore, because deep in his heart, he still held out hope that someone cared enough about him to return. He could not bear to think of living the rest of his life in this dreadful place, so far from everything he knew.

He was so cold. The icy wind buffeted him, numbing him from the outside in. The chill sank its icy talons into his very heart, and he wondered if he’d ever be warm again. Even in the caves, the dampness had seemed inescapable.

With a sigh, he turned away. Remaining here would be an exercise in futility.

He had to face the fact that he was never going home. He needed to make some sort of plan for the future, find some way to make the rest of his life matter, but he couldn’t even imagine what that might be.

In fact, when he thought of the future, only one bright spot beckoned — Miranda.

The beautiful, gifted healer had been a friend to him during his darkest days. She’d cared for him after Lord Simon had beaten him nearly to death, touching him with those gentle hands, speaking to him with her lovely, lilting voice.

Miranda had replaced Rhoswen in his dreams, in his very heart, if truth be told, though he knew it was ridiculous. He hardly knew the girl, had only exchanged a handful of words with her. Still, she was the only person in this godforsaken place who’d given him the least bit of kindness.

His greatest fear was that Lord Simon would discover she’d helped him escape.

* * *

A week after Sebastian’s arrival in Halcyon, a messenger arrived in sick bay, announcing that Oberon had requested Sebastian’s presence in the council chambers. Rhoswen had warned him he was to be summoned, but Sebastian could not control his apprehension.

Though eager to meet the man who was not only his beloved’s father, but the leader of this magical place, he feared disappointing Rhoswen. He hoped he could convince Oberon that although he was not as learned as the people of Halcyon, he was no savage, either.

Dressed in the strange, yet extremely comfortable, pale blue shirt and trousers that seemed to be the standard garb for both the men and women of Halcyon, he followed the messenger through the city toward the council chamber. He was still a bit weak on his feet, but Kaylee had deemed him ready for the trip, and he was glad to find his strength returning so quickly.

He’d had no chance to explore the marvelous city since he had arrived, and the messenger had obviously been instructed not to let him do so now. The route they took kept him mainly inside, down long, plain hallways with multiple doors opening on either side.

Still, he looked around eagerly, taking in as much of his surroundings as he could. Even Halcyon’s hallways were a miracle of structure and engineering, with high, vaulted ceilings and glass doorways.

When they finally reached the government building, the messenger left Sebastian in an antechamber while he went to fetch his leader. Sebastian sat in a comfortable chair near a window, fighting the urge to pace. He would not allow Rhoswen’s father to see how nervous the prospect of this meeting made him.

Half an hour passed before Oberon finally deigned to put in an appearance. Sebastian knew the intent had been to rattle him, but he forced himself to meet the other man with naught but a pleasant smile.

The leader of Halcyon bore a stunning resemblance to Trevelan, though his perfectly formed features did not bear the marks of Simon’s interrogation, and he was a bit older. Now that he thought about it, all the people of Halcyon looked nearly identical. All slim, blond and flawless. Sebastian felt very out of place with his overblown muscles and dark coloring.

“’Tis a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” he said in Latin, holding out his hand. “Rhoswen speaks highly of you.”

Oberon shook his proffered hand gingerly, as though Sebastian might soil him in some way. Still, Sebastian kept the smile on his face.

“My daughter speaks highly of you, also. I’ve summoned you here to see the reason.”

Sebastian was momentarily thrown off guard by the man’s candor, but in the next moment decided he was relieved. Far better to get what needed to be said out on the table in front of them with no game playing. “I do not question her high regard. I am merely grateful that she sees something worthwhile in me.”

“I fear she cares too much,” the other man said, his concern obvious. “The passion in her eyes when she speaks of you is not common in this place. I do not like to see it in her.”

“I would give my life for her, sir.”

Oberon’s gaze drifted to Sebastian’s shoulder. “You almost did. A fact that has kept me from jettisoning you out of Halcyon and leaving you to the abyss.”

Sebastian swallowed, but said nothing.

Oberon strode to the window and looked out at the city below. “I find myself in a most difficult situation. Most of my council fears and despises everything having to do with the Surface. But like my daughter, I believe there is some good in your people. That if guided subtly, you have a chance at enlightenment.”

“I have spent my entire life in the search for knowledge,” Sebastian answered, but even as he spoke, he felt a sharp probe of his mind.

The bastard delved him, but with none of Rhoswen’s subtlety. The layers of his brain were ripped apart, his darkest secrets laid bare. He could barely restrain himself from crying out in pain and despair.

Not again. And especially not by this stranger, this man he had wanted so desperately to impress. Oberon would never allow him near his daughter once he saw Sebastian’s horrific past.

“And yet, you were once a warrior.” Oberon seemed confused by what he had found, but not angry or disgusted. “I sense many dichotomies in you, young man. But my daughter is right; you have a good heart.” He frowned. “You also love my daughter with a passion I cannot believe can be healthy for either of you.”

Sebastian pressed one hand to his head, still reeling from Oberon’s intrusion. Were his feelings for Rhoswen really so easy to read? He had hardly even admitted his love for her to himself. “You should not have entered my mind without permission. I would have allowed it, had you only asked.”

Oberon waved a dismissive hand. “Rhoswen told me you wanted to return to your home, but having seen the conditions under which you left, I find it remarkable that you would risk your very life to return and offer your people aid. They will not thank you for it, I fear. In fact, your brother might finish you off before you have the chance to explain why you’ve returned.”

Sebastian clenched his hands into impotent fists. “I must try, sir. I could never stay here, in such splendid comfort, knowing that everyone I have ever known or cared for has died an agonizing death.”