Heart of Fire (23 page)

Sryka smiled and Fynna hiccupped.
“You are far lovelier than I expected, child. You will do nicely.”
She quickly added, “As my apprentice.”

“Thank you, Mistress Sryka.”
Jessalyne relaxed slightly. “I’m pleased to be here.”

“You will room with Fynna, who will
now leave and straighten up her chamber so that it is suitable for
human occupation.” Sryka glared at the pixie, who scuttled out the
door and down the steps.

The old woman eased herself into a
well-stuffed chair near the fire. “Ah...the heat feels good on old
bones. Come, sit, child.” She pointed a gnarled finger at a
footstool next to the chair. “Tell me your name.”

Jessalyne crouched on the low stool.
“My name is Jessalyne.”

“I expected you sooner, Jessalyne. I
requested your mother send you when you reached your tenth
year.”

“My mother passed when I was very
young. She did leave your instructions with my father but he
was...remiss in getting them to me. I apologize.”

“I must ask you a very important
question.” Sryka positioned her scratchy fingers beneath
Jessalyne’s chin.

“Yes, mistress?” The woman’s skin
was ice.

“Are you still pure?”

“Mistress?”

Sryka sighed. “Your virtue, is it
intact?”

Jessalyne cast her gaze away. “Yes,
Mistress Sryka. My virtue is secure. I’ve known no man.” Although
she longed for one. One with dark skin and star-sparked eyes and
lips warm as…she swallowed and need flooded her belly.

“Are you all right, child? You look
unwell.”

“Just tired, mistress. The traveling
has worn me out.”

Sryka nodded. “You will rest today,
then. Tomorrow your training begins.”

“Thank you, a rest would do me
good.”

“Through the door on the lower
landing you’ll find your chambers. Don’t worry about Fynna. If you
cannot bear the wretched creature, I’ll find another place for
her.”

“I’m sure she will be fine.
Tomorrow, then?”

Sryka nodded and waved her
off.

She headed down to the first
landing. She was relieved her late arrival had not cost her the
apprenticeship. She pushed the door open. “Fynna?”

The pixie swept the bare stone floor
with a worn broom. “Jessalyne!” The broom clattered to the floor,
and she clapped her hands. “It will be nice to have company.” She
looked around. “The room isn’t the best, but it’s
serviceable.”

The room was almost as large as
Sryka’s above but without any other doors. Unlike Sryka’s, this
room was nearly empty. Two straw-stuffed mattresses lay on the bare
stone floor. Between the mattresses sat a trunk covered with melted
candle stubs. A worn, double door wardrobe stood against the far
wall, across from the fireplace.

“Is this all there is?” Jessalyne
hands went to her hips.

Fynna frowned. “I’m afraid so. My
comfort isn’t really Sryka’s concern.”

“How long has it been this
way?”

“Since I been here.” Fynna plopped
onto one of the mattress. “Five years.”

Jessalyne thought of the comfort of
Valduuk’s and the luxury of the Gilded Rose. She threw her bags
onto one of the mattresses and shook her head. “This will not
do.”

Fynna jumped up. “Please, don’t say
anything to Sryka. She’ll get cross. I made that mistake when I
first got here. The house stewardess won’t help either. She won’t
even talk to me. Wretched old biddy. Mistress Wenda deserves to be
bent over with rheumatism.”

“Rheumatism?” Jessalyne thought for
a moment. “Take me to her. Let me see what I can do.”

Fynna shrugged. “Fine. Follow me.
You’ll see for yourself, I guess.”

* * *

The ferry skimmed the water, barely
disturbing the surface. The intense fog made it impossible to see
anything beyond the edge of the skiff. Ertemis imagined the fog was
what sucked up every bit of sound as well.

A single shaft of sunlight broke
through, splitting the mist cleanly. The fog pulled back like
curtains being drawn. The brilliant, sudden daylight caused him to
squint. Elysium rose out of Lythe, sparkling like a jewel in the
distance.

Elysium was more magnificent than
any story his mother had ever told him. Built of washed limestone
and polished marble, soft curves dictated the architecture of the
city. Not a single hard line or sharp angle broke the seamless flow
of one building into another. Carved into the pale cliffs, a wide
serpentine staircase led down from the city to twin piers sweeping
out into the water like welcoming arms.

The ferry eased to a stop at the end
of one pier. Ertemis led Dragon off the ferry. He wondered if he
should thank the Ferryman. He turned, but the skiff already
disappeared into the fog.

Chanting and music floated in the
air. Drawn by the sounds, he stepped off the curving pier and onto
elven soil. Like a swarm of wasps, magic buzzed over his skin so
strong his teeth clenched and the muscles in his back tightened. He
rolled his shoulders, breathing deeply as the buzz lessened to a
whisper. Elysium’s allure was instantly recognizable. A sense of
well being washed over him and in that moment, his human half
retreated, bested by the vibrating power of the elven homeland. No
wonder his mother had been unable to stay away.

Ertemis ascended the stairs toward
the city and came to a landing. There an elder in pale robes stood
behind a rostrum. Three thick plaits pulled his white hair back
from his face, revealing his slanted ears. He closed the book he
leafed through and nodded at Ertemis. “You seek someone.” It was
not a question.

“Aye, my lady mother.” Distrust
knotted Ertemis’s gut. He wasn’t welcome here but, so far, no one
had stopped him.

“Her name?”

“Shaylana Elana-naya” Ertemis
thought it best to give both names. He didn’t know what she went by
after so many years.

The elder paged through the book,
looking for what, Ertemis couldn’t guess. He tried to read the
elder.

His head snapped up, eyes flaring
with light. “Your magic will not be tolerated here. Do you
understand?”

“Aye.” Ertemis rested his hand on
his sword’s hilt.

The elder went back to his book. He
read something, then looked up again.

“Ertemis Elta-naya.” Another
statement. “You will wait here until I return.” The elder moved
with a quickness Ertemis did not expect.

A carved marble bench offered the
only seat on the landing. After a short span of time, chimes rang
out. Curiosity took over. He tried to read his surroundings. A
sudden heaviness clamped down on him. It was like the fog he’d felt
in Jessalyne’s cottage but thicker, more visceral. They’d shut him
out.

He sat on the bench for what seemed
like a day. What was time to a race of near-immortals? Or perhaps
they made him wait because they could.

At last, the elder returned. A
smaller cloaked figure followed behind. Ertemis sighed. He had the
feeling they were about to tell him to leave.

The elder moved aside to let the
second elf pass. They exchanged a brief nod and the elder backed
away.

The smaller elf walked up to
Ertemis. Slender hands slipped the hood back. Luminous beryl eyes
stared up at him, edged with tears.

“Mother,” he whispered.

“Mi elta. Oh, I’ve missed you.” The
words tumbled out of her in one short ragged breath. Tears spilled
as she embraced him.

At the feel of her arms around him,
Ertemis froze. Memories flooded him. He was eight and she was
telling him to be brave and kissing his forehead and his cheeks and
her tears fell hot against his face.

He wrapped his arms around her and
hugged her back.

She glanced up, a wisp of a smile
replacing the tears. “The tashathna has granted us some time
together here. They will not allow you into the city.”

He scowled. “Why grant me entrance
at all if they’re so afraid?”

She pressed her hand against his
cheek. “They wanted to see you for themselves.” She took his hand.
“Please, sit.”

He did as she asked. His mother was
more beautiful than he remembered. “What are you called
now?”

She sat beside him, her gaze
sweeping him hungrily. “Just Elana, to most.”

Daughter. Just daughter.

“It pleases me to see my son as a
man.” She smiled a little broader. “You want something, I sense
it.”

“True. I do want something.” He
returned her smile. “How is your life?”

“My life is…good. My needs are met.”
She twisted her hands. “Every day I regret what I did to you. You
deserved better. I was weak and young. I’m so sorry.”

He took both her hands in one of
his. “Don’t be sorry. You did what you thought best. The Legion
gave me a place in the world and a way to earn my keep.”

“You are kind, even if you’re not
truthful.” Tears still twinkled in her eyes as she reached up to
cup his face between her hands. “You’ve grown into a handsome man.
Have you a wife? Sons of your own?”

He looked away, turning his face out
of her hands. “Mother, you know what I am. Women seek me for other
things, but not to wed.”

She tipped her head. “But there is
love in your heart. I feel it. Love and sorrow.” She put her hand
to her mouth. “She’s why you’re here, isn’t she?”

“I am not...in love.” He spat the
word out. “That is a weak human emotion. Weakness has no place in
my life.”

“Love knows no race. You can’t deny
what your heart feels. You miss her.” She put her hand on his arm.
“You doubt her feelings for you.”

He pulled away and stood, facing
Lythe. “She’s an innocent and very gifted, a firemage in training.
Fair beyond words...” He shook his head. “She deserves better than
what I can give.”

“And you’re the one to decide this?
You sound defeated from the start. If you went to battle that way,
how long would you survive? Tell her how you feel.”

Ertemis turned to face her. “This
isn’t a battle. If it were, I would know what needs doing.” Anger
crept into his voice. “The Legion raised me and you expect me to
know how to speak sweet words to a beautiful woman above my
station?” He threw his hands up. “I am lost.”

She reached up and took his hands,
pulling him back down beside her. “If you love her, isn’t it worth
finding out if she loves you in return? And you do love her, so
don’t tell me differently.”

He dropped his head into his hands.
“Aye, I love her.” His answer was muffled through his fingers. “I’m
sick with it.”

“I think those words would be
enough. Speak your heart to her, dash the consequences. Find her
and do it at once. If she’s as beautiful as you say, some man will
win her heart soon enough.”

Ertemis looked into her eyes. “She’s
not the only reason I’m here.” His voice went gravely serious. “I
want the name of my father. I’ve waited long enough.”

The color drained from her face. “I
can’t give you that.” She looked away. “Leave him be, son. He isn’t
the wicked man you think he is. You don’t know what passed between
us. Both sides paid.

“Why won’t you tell me? Why protect
him? I’m your son. Don’t I deserve to know?”

She stared at the ground. “He’s an
old man by now, if he even still lives. Please, let him
be.”

“Why? Why do you hold this from me?”
He pounded his fist on the bench between them.

She turned to look at him, her jaw
set. “I loved him and he loved me and we talked about making a life
together, when...when things became different. Then I realized you
grew in my belly and I panicked, fearing it would ruin everything
and so, I fled.”

“I don’t understand what you’re
talking about.”

“I was in Shaldar City as part of
the Council sent to broker an alliance between Elysium and Shaldar.
When I disappeared, the elves blamed King Maelthorn for the
misdeeds of his court. In return, he blamed the elves for fouling
the proceedings apurpose. Any hope for an alliance crumbled under
the accusations.

“Shaldar lost the wisdom and
strength of the elves and we...” Her voice lowered. “We are more
isolated than ever. Our bloodlines are so weak, many chose not to
bear children instead of losing them in birth.”

“I didn’t realize the elves suffered
but that’s not my concern. I already knew my father was in Shaldar
City. What I want is a name.” Ertemis’s hand sought the hilt of his
sword. He would find his father somehow. Then he would
pay.

“The desire for vengeance seeps out
of you like water from a cracked bowl. I cannot allow you to harm
the man I love. Try to understand.”

Chimes rang out again and she stood.
“Our time is gone. I won’t say goodbye, only tu’layan fa
naltha.”

“You really think we’ll meet again?
I doubt the elders will admit me twice.”

“I see you haven’t lost the
language.” She smiled. “I expect an invitation when you wed your
firemage.”