Sign of the Throne: Book One in the Solas Beir Trilogy (31 page)

Abby searched the crowd for the Buchans and found them standing proudly near the dais. Riordan seemed
stunned and amazed, like he was trying to wrap his mind around the strange diversity of mythical creatures populating the room, creatures who seemed just as welcome in Caislucis as any of the beings who looked human.

Cassandra looked ecstatic when she caught sight of Abby, healed. She reached down and tapped Ciaran’s shoulder, pointing to Abby. The little boy looked up and waved at Abby, jumping up and down with excitement. Abby shot him a grin and a wink, and Ciaran grinned back. Siobhan waved too, standing between her parents, holding her father’s hand. Rowan ignored Abby completely. He was busy, reaching for a plump, toga-clad faery. The violet-colored sprite looked up just in time to see a chubby toddler hand coming his way, and took that as a cue to find another location from which to watch the coronation.

Abby searched for other faces she knew. “Where’s Nysa?” she whispered to David as they approached the dais.

“She hasn’t arrived yet, but don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” David whispered back.

David led Abby and Jon up the steps of the dais to stand beside the ceremonial table next to Eulalia, who took Abby’s hand in hers.

“Hello, Abby,” Eulalia said, smiling. “Thank you for returning my son to me—for returning the Solas Beir to all of us.”

Abby nodded. She couldn’t speak—she was so happy that tears were coming to her eyes, so she just smiled.

Jon distracted her. “I think we’re dead,” he whispered
. “With all the white and that pretty angel lady, this
has
to be heaven.” He smiled flirtatiously at Erela, who ignored him and turned away to speak with a fellow council member. “Or not. Ouch.”

Abby giggled and wiped her eyes. Jon never changed, and she loved that about him.

David stood before the dais, and Obelia began the coronation ceremony, her voice ringing clear and strong in the towering hall. “The Solas Beir has returned!”

With this proclamation, cheers erupted from the audience. It took several moments before everyone quieted down enough for her to continue.

“Yes, my friends—today we rejoice as one, celebrating this victory,” Obelia said. “With our voices, we give our thanks for the Solas Beir’s safe return, and we ask for him to be a blessed and wise leader for our people. May he grow in knowledge and power. We do not fail to acknowledge those who were lost in this world and beyond in the effort to bring the first son of our people home—they will always be remembered and honored. Nor do we forget those with us today who delivered him to us.” The councilwoman bowed to Abby and Jon and then bowed to the Buchan family. The audience began cheering again. Obelia smiled, then raised her hands to quiet the crowd. She beckoned to David. “David Corbin—step forward and kneel.”

David walked up the steps to kneel in front of Obelia on the dais. She took his hands in hers. “David Corbin, so named in the human world, born to Cai Terenmare as Artan, son
of Ardal, the Great Bear King—do you promise to represent the Light, to protect your people against the Darkness, and to use your throne and your power for the benefit of your people as long as you shall rule?”

David nodded. “I promise.”

Obelia turned to Eulalia. “The diadem and the Sign of the Throne, please.” The queen approached the ceremonial table and handed the diadem to Obelia, who placed it on David’s head. “Then, as head of the council, I crown you Solas Beir, with this diadem as representation of your authority. Her Majesty, Queen Eulalia, entrusts you with the Sign of the Throne as a symbol of the Light.”

Eulalia smiled and placed the silver nautilus in David’s hands. He nodded, smiling back at his mother.

Obelia smiled as well. “Now, rise, Solas Beir. May your rule be wise and long, and may there ever be peace in your kingdom.”

As David rose, he felt warmth emanate from the sigil of the Solas Beir, which glowed bright blue. He could feel the warmth transferring to his body,
and it was powerful and strong. He turned to his people, holding the Sign of the Throne out to them. He bowed, and the room again erupted in cheers and applause. Tiny faeries flitted above, setting off bursts of golden light that looked like sparkling fireworks.

David turned back to Obelia to grasp her hands in thanks, and then did the same to Cael, giving him the Sign of the Throne to return to the safety of the vault. He held his mother and kissed her cheek. Then, putting his arms around Abby and Jon, he led them down to greet the Buchans and to begin the festivities.

A magnificent feast was held in the banquet room next to the great hall, and there was music and dancing. Jon looked pleased to find that he was seated next to a pretty mermaid, and Riordan entered into a deep conversation on the properties of portals and parallel worlds with Gorman, the Caislucis historian. Cassandra and the children were treated to animated stories from Fergal, who danced on top of the table.

David, holding his mother’s and Abby’s hands, walked around the room, greeting each person in attendance. Eventually, all the introductions were made, and David and Abby were able to sit down and enjoy the meal.

“I think the Autumn Ball pales a bit in comparison to this,” Abby whispered, blotting the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin.

“Just a bit,” David replied, placing his napkin on top of his empty plate. He took her hand. “Come with me—there’s something I want to show you.”

Abby looked around the room. “Won’t we be missed?”

“We won’t be too long.” David rose, pulling her after him, and walked discreetly toward a doorway leading to the courtyard.

The courtyard was built in a shape that was familiar to both David and Abby. Among the ivory pavers were silver tiles marking the curve of a logarithmic spiral.

David noticed Abby’s interest in the layout of the tiles. “It’s a giant nautilus shell, a larger rendition of the Sign of the Throne,” he said. “You have an amazing view of it from your balcony.”

“Oh, it’s
beautiful,” Abby said. She was smiling, but she didn’t sound impressed. “Is that what you wanted to show me?”

He grinned and pulled her into his arms. “Not at all. Do you trust me?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Then wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight.”

“Okaaay.” Abby did as he asked.

David held her close
, and they began to rise into the sky. Abby’s grasp on him tightened as the courtyard below grew smaller. “Oh my…”

“Are you scared?” he asked. They hovered, twenty feet off the ground.

“No—are you kidding? This is incredible!” Abby gasped. “Eulalia mentioned this might be one of your powers, but…how did you know you could do this? Did this happen while I was asleep?”

“No,” David replied. “It was during the ceremony, when the Sign of the Throne started glowing—suddenly I just knew I could fly.”

“Wow,” she breathed.

He nodded. “Yeah. Pretty cool.”

“I wonder what other powers you’ll have,” Abby said. “Anything else you’ve noticed since the ceremony?”

“Well
, you’re just a tad impatient, aren’t you? I
was
pretty impressed with myself,” David said, “until you said that.”

“Sorry,” Abby
apologized. “I’m very excited.”

He laughed. “I’m rather thrilled myself. Okay, hold on tight. I’m going higher, over the turrets. I don’t want to drop you.”

“I don’t want you to drop me either,” Abby said, tightening her grip.

He kissed her nose. “Then don’t let go.” He pulled her closer as he flew higher, gaining speed.

They rocketed up and over the spiraling towers of Caislucis, past the edge of the cliff on which the castle was perched, soaring over the water toward a small island just off the shore. The island was mostly rock, but there was a flat space at the top that was home to lush grass and a lone shade tree covered in tiny white flowers that smelled like honeysuckle. David slowed himself, drifting downward to land softly on the grass.

Once on solid ground, he loosened his grasp on Abby and kissed her. They sat down and admired the castle from a distance. They were surrounded by the rhythmic sound of waves.

“That was amazing.” Abby snuggled close to David, sitting with her back against his chest.

David wrapped his arms around her. “Thanks. I aim to please.”

“Yes, you do,” she replied, tilting her head back to kiss his jaw. She looked up into the craggy branches of the tree. “It’s so beautiful here.”

“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? Had I known how wonderful this place is, I never would have doubted that I should come.”

“You doubted?” Abby twisted around to look at his face.

“Well, yes,” he admitted. “Knowing that those things killed my parents, that they almost killed you…I just couldn’t fathom living in a world that spawned creatures like that.” He looked down at the grass, as if he were avoiding her probing gaze.

“What changed your mind?”

“I…I’m still in shock about my parents, to be honest,” David
replied. “I can’t believe they’re gone. I can’t even grieve yet—it’s that unreal. Moira too, I suppose. Or at least, the Moira I thought I knew. After all that happened, I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to be Solas Beir. But then I realized if I were, I might be able to prevent something like that from happening again, be able to protect people I love. It helped that you recovered so quickly—you really can’t imagine how worried I was. So I guess in spite of everything that is so messed up, there are good things in this world, and you being alive is proof of that.” He paused, looking up and staring into her eyes. “Abby, I want to ask you something.”

“Sure. Anything.”

“Will you stay here with me?” He played with a strand of her hair, and she felt his fingers brush against the bare skin of her shoulder. She leaned into his touch. “I know it’s a lot to ask—you have your family back there.”

Abby’s eyes widened in realization. “My family! They must be so worried—Jon’s mom, too.” With all that had happened, she hadn’t even thought about her parents and what they must be thinking. She tried to remember how long she had been gone. Far too long for them not to be worried sick.

“I’m sorry—you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.” He let the strand slip through his fingers and he looked away. “I shouldn’t have asked you that—it’s not fair to ask you to abandon your life to stay here with me.”

Abby took his face in her hands. “No, don’t apologize. I
want
to stay with you.” She looked into his eyes. “Don’t you know that I’m madly in love with you?”

“Really?” he asked, staring back at her.

She nodded. “Yes, really.”

He grinned. “I love you too, Abby.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He crushed her to him, his hands in her hair, and kissed her back. When he let her go, he gave her a sweet smile. Then he pulled her into the crook of his arm, and they lay back on the grass with her head on his chest.

“I’m glad you said yes about staying with me.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I really need you in my life.”

“I need you too.” She looked up at him. “But I do need to go back, just for a while, so my mom and dad know what happened. Do you think my family would be able to come here, if they wanted?”

“Of course. And you’re right—we do need to get you home soon so they know you’re okay. Riordan and Cassandra are going back too. Riordan will be inheriting the old mansion, and he and Cassandra have agreed to be the guardians of the portal.”

“Really? After everything that’s happened? I would think they would be running far, far away to keep their kids safe from the Shadows,” Abby said.

“I don’t know that there is anywhere they
could
go to hide from the Shadows. I think that’s why they’re being proactive about this.”

Abby shivered, remembering how close they had come to being dinner for a writhing mass of Kruorumbrae. “I guess I can understand that. Do you think my family is vulnerable? Will the Shadows come for them?”

David looked down at her and pulled her tightly against him. His warmth stopped the cold fear seeping into her blood. “I don’t know, Abby. But we should definitely warn them. They would be welcome to stay in the safety of the castle. Jon and his mother too.”

“You’ve become friends with him.”

“More or less. We’re trying to be,” David stated. “We’ve come to an understanding, at least. I guess we bonded watching you recover from your injuries—neither of us wanted to lose you. I get the feeling he might still be a little bit in love with you, but he’s been pretty cool about you and me so far.”

“That’s good. He’s my oldest and best friend,” Abby shared. “I need him in my life as much as I need you, even if it’s in a different way. I can’t imagine having to choose one of you over the other.”

“I would never ask you to do that. Besides, he was there to protect you when I couldn’t. Granted, that was entirely
your
fault, but—”