Origin (48 page)

“
I made two decisions today. I am not going to eat anything that isn’t prepared for me by Lilith. I am also not going to take any of the herbs that Malac left for me. I have become increasing fearful for myself and my child. Lilith is becoming very frightened as well. It seems as if each day she hears more and more people in the manor talking about how ill I am. They are actually speculating whether or not I will live long enough to give birth to my child. Lilith has been unable to determine who is spreading these rumors.”

Elwyn then turned to the pages where Rhianna described how she and Lilith became increasing aware that there were people in Findara that wished her harm.

“
Lilith came to my chambers last night extremely upset. She said she was standing outside the council chambers trying to pick up information, when she overheard a conversation coming from within. She said it sounded like two people, a male and a female. They were discussing the fact that the human woman and her unwanted offspring would not be around much longer. Lilith didn’t recognize who was speaking, because the voices were muffled. She was afraid she would be recognized if she stayed much longer, so she came to me so that we could talk about it and decide what to do.

Lilith and I have been unable to determine who is plotting against me. Since I have only been eating food prepared by her, I have not had any new bouts of sickness and I have gained back some of the weight I lost. I still get my meals delivered to my rooms though. I don’t want whoever is plotting against me to know that I am suspicious.

Lilith came to my rooms again tonight crying and even more frightened than she was before. She was in the kitchen late making something for me to eat and heard some of the kitchen staff saying that they heard that the new Lady wasn’t expected to live much longer. They were also saying that I wasn’t expected to live long enough for my baby to be born. I have no idea who could be spreading such evil rumors. Unfortunately I’m afraid for anyone to realize that I am getting better. Since Lilith hasn’t been able to determine the source of these rumors, neither one of us knows who to trust. Lilith and I find it strange that Malac hasn’t been by even once to see how I am doing, or to ask if his herbs are helping me sleep. I keep fighting my suspicions though, because it is difficult for me to imagine a healer who would purposely wish his patient harm.”

Elwyn then read a few entries from the diary that described the point when Rhianna felt she needed to leave the manor and seek shelter with her brother Rhys in Tarlon.

“
Lilith came to my room this evening almost frantic with worry. It took me almost an hour to get her to calm down enough to tell me what upset her so much. She was in the kitchen and heard some of the soldiers who were eating a late dinner, speaking with the kitchen staff and telling them that the word was that Azavon’s lady wasn’t expected to live until the end of the week. A few of them had been told that they might need to work to help prepare for a funeral.

It was at that point that I decided that I needed to leave Findara and find my brother, living in the village of Tarlon. I plan to ask him to shelter me until I can find a way to let Azavon know what has happened to me. I am afraid that whoever is behind the rumors won’t let me live long enough to give birth to my baby. Since I have no idea when Azavon and Ayron will return, and I am afraid to wait for them here.

I am planning to leave Findara tonight. Lilith has been secretly gathering the necessary supplies for me for the past few days. I am too afraid to wait any longer. The week is drawing to a close and if the rumors are true, an attempt will be made on my life within the next day or two. I have asked Lilith to go to Ayron as soon as he returns and tell him what happened while he was gone. I believe it will be too dangerous for her to approach Azavon directly, although I know he will be frantic when he finds me missing upon his return. I know that as soon as Ayron and Azavon know my plight, they will come to get me and bring me home. I am frightened to undertake such a long journey so late in my pregnancy, but I don’t know what else to do. There is no one else here in Findara that I can turn to”

Elwyn skipped over the entries made about Rhianna’s trip to Tarlon, her pregnancy, and Elwyn’s birth to reach the ones where Rhianna wrote of her sadness and confusion because she had not heard from her husband.

“
I just don’t understand why I haven’t heard from Azavon or Ayron yet. I was sure that when Lilith explained what happened, they would come to bring me home. I can’t imagine that they are still in Grimsfyne. They must have been frantic to find me gone. I hope that nothing happened to Lilith before she could talk to Ayron and tell them what happened to me while they were gone. This whole situation just doesn’t make any sense. Rhys is very angry right now, so I may have to wait until he calms down a bit before I can ask him to go and speak with Azavon.

On a happier note, I know that my husband will instantly fall in love with our little Elwyn. She is so beautiful and resembles him in many ways.... Oh where are they and why hasn’t my husband come to take me home?”

Elwyn then skipped over to Rhianna’s last entry.

“
I know now that I will not live much longer. I feel so bad for Rhys. He is losing everyone he loves. I am getting too weak to write in this diary but am leaving some instructions behind for when I die. Rhys, I would ask that you please go to Findara and speak with Ayron and Azavon to let them know what has happened to me. Tell my husband about our precious little girl and tell him to shower her with love every day of his life. Ask my brother-in-law Ayron to protect little Elwyn and to show her how to take care of herself. I have the feeling that my daughter will be very much like her uncle. I have instructed Rhys to give Gemma to Elwyn as soon as she is old enough to learn to care for her and I have instructed Gemma to watch over her while she grows and protect her with her life.

When Elwyn grows up, please make sure that she has my pendant and this diary as gifts from her mother. And make sure that she knows that I loved her with my whole heart, and that the only regret I have is that I will not be there to watch her grow up.”

Elwyn had tears in her eyes as she read Rhianna’s last entry. It was written to her. In it Rhianna told her what a good man her father was and how anxious she was that they comfort one another after she was gone. Rhianna’s last words were to request that Elwyn made sure that her father knew just how much she loved them both.

Both Ayron and Kierra were silent for a time after she finished reading the last few entries. Elwyn could see that Ayron was also fighting back tears. She knew that they were both picturing how different things might have been, had Ayron or Azavon had any idea what happened so long ago. Instead they arrived back in Findara to be told that Rhianna was so unhappy she took her own life.

After a few moments Kierra began to dissect what they knew of the facts. At this point, possible suspects from the royal family were Lady Azriel, Lady Alysan, Gelmir, and Daeglin. The most likely suspects from the Council of Elders were Daeglin, Lady Azriel, Safriel, and Kahril. After reading the diary, they had to include Malac, who was still the elder healer in Findara and was also an elf. In addition, they also had to conclude that there were at least two people involved in the conspiracy because of the conversation that Lilith overheard outside the council chambers. Another huge question in all of their minds was Lilith. Rhianna hadn’t stated if she was a human or elf. Neither Ayron nor Kierra knew her. The critical questions were: What happened to Lilith? Why hadn’t she come forth? And, where was she now?

The three of them were exhausted by the time they finished discussing the possibilities. They all felt as if they needed some rest and time away from the many questions that, at this point, had no answers. They agreed to get together the next day and try to determine a plan of action. Ayron and Elwyn recognized that Kierra was expending a tremendous amount of energy keeping all of this information blocked from the other drakenhawks. Kierra did say that she was also linked with Gemma during their conversations so that Gemma could help keep the news from spreading among the morden.

Before she withdrew from their minds, Kierra made the suggestion that she speak with Lady Silvenna about both the situation with Elwyn and the plot they’d uncovered. She wasn’t a suspect and knew more about most of the possible suspects than anyone else in Findara. Kierra felt that she might also have some wisdom to offer about how to break all this to Azavon. Ayron wholeheartedly agreed with her, and Elwyn chose to bow to their wisdom.

When she was alone trying to fall asleep, Elwyn hoped that whatever destiny lay ahead of her was worth all of the sacrifices that were being made on her behalf. She knew, without any doubt, that she would have a huge debt to pay to the people and the companions that had nurtured her, protected her, and willingly sacrificed their lives so that she would live.

E
lwyn woke up to a sharp rap on her door and Ayron’s gruff voice letting her know that breakfast was ready downstairs in the common room of the inn. He told her, in between Keroc’s enthusiastic chirps and whistles, that they would be waiting for her at a table near the fireplace. Elwyn giggled as she tossed back the warm blankets. She had given up trying to outdo Ayron when it came to getting up in the mornings. He seemed to take great pride in being the first awake and starting the first preparations of the day. She sometimes wondered if he just liked the time alone, to think and dream. She had been the same way while living with Rhys.

As soon as she finished dressing and donning the hat to hide her hair from view, Elwyn hurried down the stairs to the common room, sat down across from her uncle, and looked in disbelief at the huge platter of food sitting on the table.

“When are your other soldiers joining us, uncle? For surely it would take an army to eat all of the food on this table.”

She looked at Ayron in amazement as he sheepishly told her that he had ordered them the best breakfast that the inn had to offer. It was obvious that the innkeeper’s wife took him very seriously. There were steaks, thick slices of ham, roasted potatoes and squash, some sort of thin bread with honey, thick fluffy biscuits, lots of eggs, a variety of fruit, and even some cheeses.

“There is no way that we can eat all of this food. I hope that the innkeeper’s wife doesn’t feel insulted when people that come here don’t eat everything on their platters.”

“Ah, don’t worry little one, we can pack up the leftovers and eat them for lunch while we travel today,” Ayron said with a broad grin. “At least you won’t have to hunt for our lunch.”

“This food is enough for lunch and dinner,” she replied shaking her head. “I still say that traveling with you could make a person too heavy for a morden to carry.”

“Well then, problem solved. If the morden refused to carry the person, all the walking they would be forced to do would cause them to lose weight again,” Ayron said laughing.

Elwyn was shocked at what a good mood her uncle was in. He sat at the table and laughed and joked with both her and Keroc, who disagreed that there was too much food to eat. While they sat eating, Elwyn heard from Toruk, who continued to report that the drakenhawks had not detected any threats. She let him know that she was happy with his news and that she and Ayron would be leaving the village within the hour. As they were getting up to leave, it occurred to her that, perhaps Ayron’s mood was improving because he was getting closer to home. He, like she, kept most things to himself; she would never know, unless he chose to share the reasons with her.

The innkeeper packed up the food that was left from their breakfast and told them, with a big grin, that his wife had added some more slices of ham and a few more steaks to the basket as well. Ayron handed her the basket of food and had her wait outside in the shadows while he went and got the morden. Elwyn was a bit puzzled by this and as they were leaving the village, asked him about it.

“Both Azavon and I have been to this village, left our morden at the stable, and stayed at that inn. I don’t know if anyone here would know what those deep violet eyes of yours mean, but I didn’t want to take any chances. We have all worked too hard to keep your identity a secret, to have it come out now because we got sloppy.”

“I guess that makes good sense. I sometimes forget about my eyes. I keep thinking it is all about my hair.”

“I think it is more about not letting people put the pieces together. We are getting closer to Findara now. There is only one more village before we reach the city. The closer we get, the more the villagers and travelers we meet will know about the royal family and how our eye color is unique to us. All other elves have either green or blue eyes.”

“I’ll make sure to keep my head down as much as possible. If anyone approaches us though, I’ll depend upon you to answer any questions.”

They rode along in companionable silence for a while, just enjoying the bright sunshine and mild temperatures. The rain that fell the night before left everything appearing fresh and smelling sweet. Elwyn almost giggled as she looked over at Keroc riding along on the pommel of Raffe’s saddle. He seemed to be bobbing his head up and down to the rhythm of the morden’s hooves. It was amazing to her that she had become so comfortable with her little group of companions. After a short while, Ayron interrupted her pleasant thoughts with a rather startling question.

“Elwyn, you have come to realize that you are heir to the throne of Silvendil, haven’t you?”

“Actually, I have been trying not to think about it. I am like you and don’t want to rule anything. I have always liked being off by myself in the woods, Ayron. I believe that I would find life as a ruler like living as a prisoner in a clear cell, with my every move and action watched and evaluated. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to rule an entire land and having their every move either dictated by politics or duty. That is certainly not why I agreed to go and meet my father,” Elwyn said vehemently.