Souls of Aredyrah 3 - The Taking of the Dawn (30 page)

“
Right?
”

Eyan’s voice drew Dayn back. “Uh…no, Eyan.
Anyone can procreate.” But Dayn knew the statement, though easily
said, was not so easily done. He himself had once been told he
would not be allowed to marry. Sheireadan had rubbed it in his face
at the Summer Fires festival, the day Dayn had run away several
months prior. Apparently everyone had known of Dayn’s impending
bachelorhood, everyone except him, that is. Even Dayn’s own parents
knew, though they had not bothered to tell him about it. It was
that, and all the other miseries he had suffered on account of his
differences, that had prompted Dayn to leave Kirador in the first
place. At the time, he’d felt he had little choice in the matter.
But since going to Tearia and meeting his cousin Reiv, since
learning of his own heritage, experiencing his first kiss, and
ultimately wielding a sword in battle, Dayn had evolved into a
different person. No longer was he a boy who would accept a fate
imposed on him by others. He was his own master now.

He watched Eyan’s face, trying to interpret
his cousin’s response to the answer he’d just been given. But
Eyan’s attention seemed elsewhere, or maybe that in itself was the
response. His eyes were fully alight with excitement as they
watched the couples pirouette around the dance floor.
Good
,
Dayn thought.
Maybe there’ll be no more questions.

Dayn surveyed the crowd, realizing everyone’s
earlier reluctance to celebrate had dissipated. The place was
fairly well hopping with merriment now. There were so many people
on the dance floor, it was hard to follow the movements of the boy
and girl who had been the subject of Dayn’s courtship speech. He
craned his neck, searching the room for a sign of them.

Dayn followed the swirl of flouncing skirts
and colorful tunics, until at last he spotted the couple in
question. He wasn’t sure why he’d chosen to seek them out in the
first place. Perhaps it was because of the way the girl had looked
at him. Or maybe it was because for the first time in his life he’d
actually made another male jealous. Either way, as Dayn watched he
realized how very pretty the girl was. He glanced at Eyan, noting
his cousin’s eyes were realizing the same thing.

“She’s pretty, eh?” Dayn said.

“Hmmm,” Eyan said absently.

Alicine suddenly bounded up, her hands
extended. “Come on, dance with me,” she said.

Eyan and Dayn looked at each other,
grimacing.

“Uh, no thanks,” Dayn said. “Eyan and I will
just sit here and hold up the wall.”

Alicine huffed. “Very funny.” She grabbed
Eyan’s hand. “Come on, Eyan. Dance with me.”

Eyan shook his head furiously.

She tried to pull him from his seat, but only
succeeded in scraping the chair, and him with it, forward an inch
or two. “I’ll show you what to do. Come
on
!” But Eyan had
planted his heels firmly in the dirt.

“Don’t you have some other poor boy to pick
on?” Dayn said. He leaned around Eyan and eyed a slender youth
standing nearby. “How about him?” Dayn cocked a brow in the
direction of the boy. “Hey, you there,” he called out. “You’d like
to dance with my sister, right?” The boy’s face went positively
gray. He slunk along the wall and scampered out the door.

Dayn burst into laughter. “Our sentiments
exactly,” he said.

Alicine let go of Eyan’s hand and thrust her
fists to her hips. “How’s Eyan supposed to learn how to dance if he
doesn’t get out there and do it?” she demanded.

“Who says he wants to learn how to dance?”
Dayn said.

Alicine leaned toward Eyan, her hands still
planted. “Well, do you?”

Eyan frowned. “Why am I always caught in the
middle of your arguments?” he said. He stood from his chair. “Maybe
I do want to dance. Maybe I just want to dance with someone other
than my cousin!” He shoved past her and marched into the crowd.

“Well. He told
you
,” Dayn said with a
grin.

Alicine’s lips compressed into a jagged line.
“Hmmph! He’s going to make an absolute fool of himself. He doesn’t
know the first thing about asking a girl to dance, much less where
to plant his big feet.”

“Well…” Dayn nodded toward the dance floor.
“I’d say you’re wrong about the first part.”

Alicine spun to see what held Dayn’s
attention. Eyan was stepping onto the dance floor, and in the palm
of his hand were the fingers of a lovely young dance partner, the
girl in sienna.

Alicine’s mouth dropped. “That’s Olwyn,
Uaine’s niece.”

“Uaine, as in
Chieftain
Uaine?”

“Yes,” Alicine replied. She smirked. “Well,
Quillan won’t be happy to see this. Serves him right.”

“Quillan? You mean the boy she was dancing
with before?”

“Yes. He’s fairly well smitten with her, you
know.”

“Uh-huh…” Dayn rose from his seat to take a
better look. “So that’s Olwyn, eh? I wonder how Eyan got her to
dance with him.”

“He got his backside out of the chair for a
start.” Alicine grinned. “And now that your backside’s out of the
chair—”

Dayn plopped back into the seat and crossed
his arms. “Nice attempt.”

Alicine turned her attention back to the
dance floor, biting her lip as she watched Eyan clumsily navigate
the dance steps. But Dayn didn’t think Eyan was as worried about
how he looked as Alicine was. His cousin frequently stepped in the
wrong direction, then would practically run Olwyn over trying to
get it right. But he always apologized to her, and then she would
laugh. Fortunately, she did not seem to hold his awkwardness
against him and would patiently demonstrate the step again and
again until he knew what to do.

“He’s making a fool of himself,” Alicine
repeated. “An absolute fool.”

“No he’s not,” Dayn said. “He’s doing fine,
sort of.”

Alicine snorted. “Right. Well, let’s see how
fast Olwyn runs out the door when the music stops.” Alicine
redirected her attention. Standing on tiptoes, she gave a quick
wave to a girl across the way. “I’m going to say hello to Gwynna,”
she announced, and skipped off, leaving Dayn to himself.

Dayn growled inwardly. The only reason he’d
come to this cursed party was to look after Eyan. Now his cousin
was off dancing with some Chieftain’s daughter, and he himself was
sitting there feeling like a ninny, as usual. It was then that
Dayn’s gaze landed on the refreshment table. A plate of food and a
mug of cider sounded good; it would give his hands something to do
besides hide under his armpits. But as he looked in that direction,
he realized the Sandright girl’s former dance partner was standing
by it, watching Eyan intently.

Dayn turned his gaze to Eyan and Olwyn,
trying to determine whether or not they were doing anything
inappropriate. Their dancing seemed innocent enough, he thought;
Eyan’s skills were certainly no threat. But the way the Crest boy
stared at him…

“Dayn?”

Dayn rose at the unexpected greeting.
“Eileis!” he said, and gave her a respectful bow.

“My boy, how glad I am to see you,” she said,
embracing him. She glanced around and lowered her voice. “May we
speak, Dayn? Privately?”

Dayn glanced at Eyan, who was still dancing,
then at the refreshment table. The boy from the Crests was no
longer there.

“Of course,” Dayn replied. “Outside?”

Eileis nodded and headed for the door. Dayn
followed.

They stepped out and into the cool night air.
Dayn filled his lungs, realizing how hot and stuffy the barn had
been. The sky was canopied with a kaleidoscope of stars, and the
surrounding area smelled fresh and clean and perfumed with the
scent of pine needles and campfires.

Eileis motioned Dayn to follow. “Your
family’s at the dance, or off visiting,” she said over her
shoulder. “The house is the safest place to go.”

Dayn began to feel uneasy. What was so
important that it needed this much secrecy?

They stepped onto the porch and Dayn opened
the door for Eileis. She entered and quickly surveyed the room.
“Good,” she said. “No one’s here.”

“Let me get you something to drink,” Dayn
said, closing the door behind them.

“No need; no time.” Eileis reached into the
side-seam pocket of her skirt and pulled out a folded piece of
parchment. She pressed it into his hand. “For you,” she said.

“What is it?” he asked. The parchment
appeared to have been hastily folded, but someone had at least
taken the time to seal it with a blob of wax.

“It’s a letter, from Falyn,” Eileis said.

Dayn felt a surge of energy. “Falyn?”

“Yes. But no one’s to know I gave it to you,
you hear?”

“Where—where’d you get it? I mean, when did
she give it to you?”

“She was at my place when Haskel arrived.
Poor child; she’d come to see if I could intervene on behalf of her
brother. Lorcan’s been particularly harsh on the boy lately. Falyn
has reason to fear for his life.”

“His life?” For a moment Dayn wasn’t sure
whether or not he cared. Sheireadan had caused him so much misery
over the years, it was hard to feel any sympathy for him. But then
Dayn recalled the bruises on Sheireadan’s back and how Lorcan had
treated him and Falyn that night at the springs. It was then that
he realized if Sheireadan was suffering, then Falyn was, too. And
that he would not tolerate.

“I’ll kill Lorcan with my bare hands,” he
said. “I swear I will.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Eileis scolded.
“The man’s dangerous. You stay away from him.” She eyed his hands
that were now curled into fists. “Do you intend to crumple it
before you’ve even read it?” she asked.

Dayn looked down. “No,” he said. “Of course
not.” He relaxed his grip. “So what did you do?”

“About Sheireadan you mean?” Eileis shook her
head. “Not much I could do. Your uncle said it was urgent that I
came to the Gathering, so I came.”

“What about Falyn?” Dayn asked.

“She went home, of course, but before she
left she scribbled this note to you.”

“What does it say?”

The Spirit Keeper scoffed. “I didn’t
read
it, boy. I don’t go round reading other people’s
letters.”

“Why all the secrecy, then?”

“Your uncle didn’t want me to give it to you.
Said it was too dangerous. He knows how you feel about the girl. He
thought giving it to you might tempt you to see her again, and
he’ll have none of that.”

“Well it’s not his decision,” Dayn said.

“Your uncle’s right in this, Dayn. Lorcan’ll
see you dead before he allows you to go near his daughter
again.”

“Then why’d you give me this if you don’t
think I should see her. Why give me hope then snatch it away?”

“I didn’t give you the letter to give you
hope
boy. Falyn told me it was to thank you for helping her
and her brother that night at the springs. I saw no reason to deny
her the courtesy. But if it’s gonna get you all riled up and fill
your skull with pig-headed notions, then you can just hand it
back.”

Dayn stared at the note, fingering the wax
that sealed it. “No, you’re right. I know I can’t see her. No sense
wishing for things I can’t have, right?” He ran his finger under
the wax and flicked it open. But as he read the brief message, his
pulse quickened, for her words held more than simple gratitude. She
wanted to meet him at the Well of Wishes. Her father would be
attending a Vestry meeting, she said, and she could slip away then
and—

“Dayn?”

He looked up. “As you said…a thank you.” He
paused in thought, then said, “How many days ago did she give you
this?”

“Why?”

“She says there’s to be a Vestry
meeting.”

“Yes. There’s been one called for tomorrow
night,” Eileis said. “Does she say anything else?”

“Just that I should stay as far from Kiradyn
as possible. Do you think the meeting is about me?”

Eileis stroked her chin. “Hard to say. But
knowing you confronted Lorcan at the springs…”

“Well it was time he was confronted!” Dayn
said.

“Perhaps, but that doesn’t mean you had to go
and stir the pot when you did!”

“That was two weeks ago. Why would they be
calling it now? I mean, it seems if it were about me, they would
have ordered it sooner.”

“Maybe they’re beginning to see the incident
between the two of you as more than just an altercation.”

“What do you mean?”

“Much has been happening in Kirador lately,
Dayn. Things that have stirred up fear and finger pointing. The
awakening of the mountain was the first, but since then crops have
been withering and livestock’s been dying. And people are getting
sick.” She shook her head. “An entire family was found dead in
their home just last week. No wounds, no sign of illness or trauma;
just dead.”

“The lady at the plenum tonight mentioned
something similar about the clan lands,” Dayn said. “About strange
things happening with the wildlife and wells and such.”

“That’s right. What’s happening to the clans
is happening to the folks around Kiradyn too. We might want to
strike before the iron gets any hotter. The meeting tomorrow night
might be the perfect time.”

“What are you saying—that you and the
Chieftains might go to the Vestry meeting?”

“Yes. This evidence you spoke of earlier, is
it enough to convince the Chieftains to go?”

“It should be.”

“Then in the morning we’ll tell them about
the meeting. If the evidence is as valid as you say it is, I have
no doubt the Plenum of Four will want to meet with the Vestry.”

“Then I’m going with them,” Dayn said.

“That you’ll
not
do,” Eileis
ordered.

“But I know things that could help
explain.”

Eileis eyed him darkly. “Now you listen to
me, boy. I may have said fingers are pointing, but in truth it’s
become much more than that. There have been executions.”