Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two (41 page)

“Fine.” She passed through the doorway but stopped just
outside my room. Turning her head slightly, she cast me a sideways glance. “Did
you happen to see your grandfather while you were out there?”

I kept my expression unreadable. “
That
is something
we’ll discuss later.”

“But what did you find out?”

I shook my head. “Go inform my trainers that I’ve arrived
back safely. I’d like to hold the presentation as soon as possible.” Firmly, I
shut the door and bolted it.

Once I heard Aluce’s footsteps retreat down the hall, I
gathered my clothing and headed for the bathing quarters. When the grime and
filth of the day was cleansed from my skin, I quickly dried and dressed, my
necklace clasped around my throat throughout the process.

While I warmed myself in front of my hearth, I weaved my
still damp hair into one long, black braid. Finally, when I was presentable, I
grabbed a fresh cloak and set out into the city.

With the hood pulled over my head, most people didn’t notice
me as I made my way through Et Loedin. The few who recognized me, stopped to
clasp my hands.

“Hesper told us what you did. Thank you, Heiress!” one
person said.

“Did she also tell you how I couldn’t have done it without
her help?” I asked before moving on. “I’m forever indebted to her.”

I spotted several of my trainers assisting with a few
injured rebels and many of Indikae’s newest refugees. I listened to sky
dwellers who offered to share their homes for a time with those who needed to
heal but as the crowd grew thicker, I realized the city was quickly running out
of room. I doubted Et Loedin could accept many more people.

Pulling my cloak tighter around my shoulders, I pushed
through the throngs of confused people. I kept my head bowed but my eyes up as
I maneuvered around bodies. Lost in thought, I jumped when I felt a firm yank
on my arm.

With a yelp, I whirled around in surprise. Cole released his
grip and took a step back.

“You took my sister with you?” he asked. “You didn’t even
consider asking me to go?”

I blinked at him. “You would have tried to stop me.”

Cole ran a hand through his hair. “Didn’t Hesper? Didn’t she
tell you how dangerous it was?”

I smiled sadly. “Of course not. She trusts me, Cole. She
trusts that I already know the dangers and she trusts my decisions.”

“Aylen,” Cole whispered. He took a step toward me again, “I
could have helped if you were so determined.” He paused and drew in a
shuddering breath. “I would have wanted to be there with you. I wanted
you
to want me there.”

I dropped my eyes and gave a small shake of my head. “I’m
sorry. This isn’t the time to discuss this.” Setting my jaw, I brushed past
him. His hurt radiated through me but I kept going. Nothing mattered more than
finding Iolar at the moment.

I pushed my way deeper through the crowd and then out again
while I scanned faces and looked for the sky dweller leader. Finally, I heard
his voice bellowing out instructions not far away.

His eyes caught mine as I approached and his features
stiffened. When I reached his side, I straightened my shoulders.

“Heiress,” he said.

“Iolar, I need to request an important favor.”

“Has Aluce approved it?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Aluce is no longer in charge of my
decisions. I believe I showed that today.”

He stared hard at me for several moments. I met his gaze
unwaveringly until he finally sighed. “What’s the favor?”

“There’s a sea dweller on his way to Et Loedin. His hair
will be light colored and he’ll go by the name Sai. If your flyers come across
him, he must be safely brought here and kept under your protection, whether I’m
still in Et Loedin or not.”

Iolar’s eyebrows lifted and he opened his mouth to say
something. I put a hand up to stop him.

“I don’t want Aluce to know about this. Please, if you care
about Miranasch, do this for me.”

He closed his mouth and swallowed. “I’ll send out word.”

“Thank you.” I turned to leave but stopped mid step.
“Iolar,” I added, “so you understand the importance of this, a great deal of my
success depends on Sai’s safety. Impress this upon your flyers.”

I was gone before he could respond. I strolled away,
reassured. Pulling my cloak further over my head, once more I moved through
crowds of injured, confused people. Their emotions pricked and pulled at me and
I ached inside my chest for their struggles. Still, I focused on my Protection
Gem and hoped it would dull the sensations.

By the time I made it back to the guest lodging, I was out
of breath and heated from the struggle. I stumbled back into my room with a
sigh and decided I’d find Aluce after another short rest. As I shut the door
behind me, I was unprepared for the crippling grief that poured into me. My
knees buckled and I fell to the ground, shaking.

I turned my gaze to the person waiting in the chair by the
cold hearth. She stared at me through sunken, red rimmed eyes, her head stooped
under her burden. Her clothing was rumpled and dirty and in her hands she
clutched a shredded piece of parchment.

I didn’t need to fully connect to my Empathy Gem to
understand. There was only one thing that could affect my mother this way.

For a moment, I believed if I didn’t move she couldn’t tell
me. If she never said the words, could it still be true? I stared back at her,
motionless, begging her with my silence to not speak.

She must have read something in my expression. She stood on
unsteady legs and crept toward me. She held her arms out, leaving them open for
me to fall into. Still, I didn’t move.

When she knelt in front of me, her knees pressing against
the rough, cold floor, she left her arms open even while tears rained down her
cheeks. I counted them dripping from her eyes, one after another, until I
realized I’d lost count of hers as my own began to flow.

Something crumbled inside of me. I collapsed against her and
she folded me in her embrace. I felt her cheek press against the top of my head
and her shuddering sobs shook my body.

“He’s gone,” she whispered. I cringed and closed my eyes as
she tightened her arms around me. With her voice breaking on the words, she
confirmed what I already knew. “Your father died in battle.”

“Are you injured?” the voice asked. Gentle fingers touched
my shoulder and a long skirt brushed the ground in front of me. The owner of
the voice crouched down and moved her hand to my forehead. “You’re not
feverish. Where is your pain?”

I blinked against the fog clouding my vision. When my eyes
focused, I found her face. Her eyes were blue, like Aylen’s. And they were kind.
I had seen so few pairs of kind eyes since I’d arrived in Miranasch that I held
my breath in wonder for a moment.

“You’re covered in blood and dirt, but then so is mostly
everyone. I can’t mend your injury if you won’t tell me where to find it.”

With a groan, I pushed myself off the cold ground until I
was on my knees. Tereg’s sword still lay nearby. I ran a hand through my filthy
hair in confusion but doubled over coughing a second later. Thirst clawed at my
throat. The girl pressed a water skin to my lips and I furiously gulped back
the liquid until I could breathe again.

When she lifted her eyebrows I shook my head.

“I must have lost consciousness but I don’t think I have any
serious injuries.” I glanced around as I spoke, taking in my surroundings. I’d
wandered for a while in search of a path that would set me on the road to
Benduin. I didn’t appear to have gone far before I must have collapsed in
exhaustion. Luckily, it looked as though I’d chosen a fairly safe place.

For the first time, I realized night had fallen. A few
people milled about with torches, searching the streets for the injured or
slain. I listened for the rumble of battle but only heard the soft whispers of
tired, sad voices.

“Have we won?” I asked. “Is it over?”

The girl smiled. “I didn’t see for myself but I hear the Gem
Heiress finished it. The king’s army retreated and we are safe.”

“The Gem Heiress,” I repeated.

When I said nothing more, she moved to stand. “Before I
leave you then, is there anything you need?”

I remembered Haji and Lirig. They still didn’t know what had
happened to me. Or to Tereg. Both would be worried, and they deserved to hear
from me. But I wasn’t ready to see them. I didn’t have the courage tell them
what I’d done. Not yet.

“I have two friends,” I told the girl. “Sea dwellers from an
underwater city.” Her eyes grew wide at this but I didn’t hesitate. “The man
was injured. His name is Lirig. They’ll be looking for me but I can’t stay. I
have to reach Et Loedin.”

“Flyers have stopped taking people to Et Loedin or Benduin.
Both are already filled with refugees who arrived before the battle began.
Those who aren’t injured are asked to stay in Indikae and help repair the
city.”

I reached inside my vest for the token I’d been given. “But
I have a message I need to deliver. I was given a coin. A flyer gave it to me.”
I patted the fabric but felt nothing. Panicked, I yanked off my vest and
slipped my fingers into the pocket. My skin brushed against the parchment still
rolled and safe, but as I dug deeper, I felt a small rip in the bottom of the
fabric. The coin was gone.

“I lost it,” I moaned as I glanced back at her. The concern
in her face reassured me a little. “My message is for the Gem Heiress. She
needs to see it immediately. It’s meant for her eyes only.”

“I’m not sure anyone will be willing to take you to Et
Loedin without proof that what you say is true.”

“I’ll walk. I’ll set out for Benduin and see if someone
there will help me the rest of the way.”

She shook her head. “The trail is difficult and the snow is
deep. It could take you two days in this kind of weather.”

“Then I need to start right away. If you see my friends,
tell them where I’ve gone. I’ll be back for them as soon as I’m able.” I yanked
my vest on over my soiled shirt and reached for Tereg’s sword. I managed to
stand though my legs shook beneath me.

“You need supplies,” the girl reminded me. “Food and water
at least.”

I motioned toward the swords and grimaced. “This is all I
salvaged from what I brought with me into the battle. I had a pack but I lost it
while I fought.” I didn’t mention the knife still hiding in my boot. I didn’t
see what difference it would make.

She bit her lip and scanned the area quickly. “Wait here,”
she instructed. “I can’t give you much, but I may be able to help.” Before I
could reply, she darted away, her water skin in tow.

I didn’t wait too long before she found me again, this time
with a small pack. “It’s not much,” she apologized. “Some food, water, and a
blanket. Find the purple berries on the thorny bushes. Those you can eat, but
anything else you find on the trail will likely poison you.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I told her, accepting the
little bag of supplies.

“If what you say is true. . .” her voice trailed off.

“It is,” I vowed.

She nodded. “Go then. Follow this road until you reach the
saw mill. Past it, the trail will lead up the mountain. Eventually it will take
you to Benduin.”

I sheathed my sword and clasped her hand in gratitude. She
gave me a shaky smile and that last bit of kindness spurred me on. Alone, I
turned to face the final stretch of my journey.

It was late at night when Aluce came to my room again. I
recognized her solid knock on my door but I didn’t move from the warmth of my
bed. I buried my head deeper under the blankets at the sound of my name on her
lips. Her tone was softer than the last time she’d spoken to me but it didn’t
matter.

I closed my eyes and let darkness overtake me.

I woke early the next morning to the sounds of wood being
arranged in my fireplace. I peered over the edge of my blanket and was grateful
to see only my mother. Her hair was loose down her back and her clothes were
rumpled, as though she’d slept in them.

“There’s much to do, Aylen,” she whispered. The ache in her
voice stirred the stillness in the room. 

“How did it happen?” I asked through parched lips. I’d wept
through most of the night and now felt withered and brittle as bone.

With a sigh, she settled into one of the chairs and rested
her chin in the palm of one hand. She kept her eyes on the newly lit flames as
they devoured the logs. “I was told his Healing Gem had died before he did.
There weren’t many to spare and the one he had was likely weak.”

“But he’s . . .” my voice broke when I realized I’d spoken
as though he still lived. With a sob, I changed my words. “He was so strong! He
was one of the best fighters. . .”

“There are rumors that he sacrificed himself for someone.
But the details are few.” Her voice wavered.

I remembered what his plans had been after the battle. The
information! “What was your brother’s message for me?”

She turned her head and looked at me with sad, tired eyes.
“We don’t know. I received word he was discovered and killed by King Shir. I’m
not sure if he managed to meet with your father in time.” She took a sharp
breath before she managed to continue. “It seems we are always a step behind
the king and this time it cost us dearly.” A tear slid down her cheek. She
didn’t try to wipe it away.

Pushing back the blankets, I slid out of the bed. My toes
curled against the ice cold floor but I tucked them under my skirts once I was
settled on one of the cushioned seats near the hearth.

“I may have an idea of what the message was,” I said. “I met
King Shir and learned a few things during my time with him.” My mother’s eyes
snapped to my face, haunted, hopeful. I winced but continued. “There’s much I
need to tell you and Aluce. There are so many decisions to be made. Quickly.”