Souls of Aredyrah 3 - The Taking of the Dawn (34 page)

“I don’t believe you,” Falyn said.

“It’s the truth, Falyn. I swear it. You know
how the mountain spewed rock and smoke recently? The people in
Tearia were affected by it, too. That’s why Alicine and I came
back; to make sure Mother and Father were all right.”

“Father said it was Daghadar punishing the
Kiradyns for their wickedness,” Falyn insisted. “As soon as
everyone began tithing additional coin at Service, it stopped.”

“It hasn’t stopped,” Dayn said.

“But the mountains are calm now. See?” she
said, gesturing toward the range.

“Listen to me. They’re not calm. When Alicine
and I crossed between them, we saw things you couldn’t imagine.
There were molten rocks and rivers of fire, and charred trees and
mudslides. What’s happening now—the tainted wells, the dying
livestock—they’re all because of the mountain and might be signs of
something bigger to come.”

“How can you know?” Then Falyn’s hand flew to
her mouth. “Father says
you’re
causing the poison, because
you are—”

Before Dayn knew what he was doing he grabbed
her by the shoulders and shook her. “Now you listen to me. I’m not
a demon and you know it! Everything I’ve said is true. You have to
believe me.”

Falyn tried to wriggle from his grasp, but he
pulled her close, his face inches from hers. “I love you, Falyn.
You know that. Please. Come away with me. I’ll never let anyone
hurt you again.”

Falyn shoved him back. “I can’t, and if you
care about me you’ll accept it.”

Dayn shook his head. “I don’t accept it. I’ll
never accept it.”

“You have to,” she said firmly, “because I’m
not going with you.”

Dayn released a slow breath. “Very well,” he
said. “But before I leave, I ask one thing of you.”

Falyn set her chin. “Anything.”

“Kiss me."

Falyn backed away, but Dayn matched her step
for step. He reached out and yanked her into his arms, his body
pressed to hers. “Kiss me,” he breathed into her ear. “Or I swear I
will die.”

Falyn tipped her face to his, her eyes wide.
“Dayn,” she whispered. But before she could utter another word,
Dayn covered her mouth with his.

Falyn pressed her palms against his chest,
and Dayn felt sure she was about to rebuke him. But then she threw
her arms around his neck and kissed him in return.

Dayn’s heart beat wildly. He worked his mouth
from her lips to her neck, tasting her skin, breathing her scent.
Could this be happening? Please dear god, let this be
happening!

Suddenly Falyn pushed him away. Dayn reached
for her, but she held him back with a thrust of her hand.

“Stop!” she said, panting. “Stop…please.”

Dayn stared at her, shaking so hard he could
barely speak. “I—I—but—what?” he managed.

“I can’t do this, Dayn. I can’t!”

Dayn felt consumed with shame. “I have
offended you.”

“You did not offend me, Dayn. I liked it.
Very much.” Falyn’s cheeks blushed red. “It’s just that we’re not
married and we should not be touching this way.”

Dayn stared at her, realizing her lips and
neck were red with the marks his mouth had left there. Was he so
desperate to satisfy his own lust that he would sully her
reputation and risk losing her forever? He reached out and gently
took her hands in his. “Marry me,” he said.

Falyn gasped. “What? No—impossible—we’re not
of age, and according to the law—”

“The law be damned,” Dayn said. “Marry
me.”

Falyn pulled her hands from his. “It’s a sin
to take a spouse too soon; you know that.”

“According to who?”

“According to the Written Word.”

Dayn laughed. “Lies, most of it,” he
said.

Falyn’s expression darkened. “Well, if that’s
what you think, then you had best seek another wife. I’ll not be
married to a sinner!”

Dayn took her by the waist and drew her near.
“We’re all sinners,” he said. “People just pick different sins,
that’s all.” He brushed his lips across hers. “You’re my sin,
Falyn,” he whispered. “God help me, you are.”

Falyn turned her face away. “No, Dayn. I
can’t.”

A knot mushroomed in Dayn’s throat, and he
released her. “I understand. You do not want me.”

“No—I do!” Falyn grabbed his hands in hers.
“But I’m too young, and even if I weren’t, Father would never agree
to it.”

“I’ll make him agree to it.”

“You can’t. No one can. Don’t you
understand?”

“Then come away with me,” Dayn said.

“It’s not so simple,” Falyn replied.

“But it is. Just come with me. Right now. My
family would welcome you,” he hoped, “and—”

“And then what? Do you think my father will
let me leave without so much as a fight? He would come after
us.”

“But I know a place where he will never find
us—a valley. It’s far away, and we would be safe there, safe from
him, safe from everything.”

For a moment Dayn detected a hint of longing
in her eyes. It gave him hope that he might be able to sway her.
“You would love it there,” he persisted. “I know you would. It’s
beautiful; there are meadows of flowers, and mountains that sparkle
like jewels. There’s wildlife and a sea of grasses and a sky so
vast you’ll be able to see every star in the night sky. I know we
could be happy there, Falyn. I know we could.”

“It sounds wonderful,” Falyn said. “But even
if I were to consider it…” She bit her lip. “I can’t leave without
my brother.”

“Your
brother
?” Dayn said, feeling
happiness slip from his grasp. He flung her hands from his. “You
speak to me of him
now
?”

Falyn reached out for him, but Dayn stepped
away, keeping her at arm’s length. “For as long as I can remember,”
he said, “I have loved you. You are the reason for every decision I
have ever made, for every beating I ever took!”

“I know, but I want—”

“How can I know what you want? Do you want
me, do you want freedom, or do you want your brother?”

“I want my father out of my life, Dayn; I’ll
not deny it. But Sheireadan needs me. If you and I were to leave, I
would have to find a way to take him with us. Father has been
watching him like a hawk.”

Dayn looked at her suspiciously. “Why has
your father been watching him? What has he done?”

“I—I can’t tell you. Please don’t ask me
to.”

“So what makes you think Sheireadan would
agree to come with us? He hates me.”

“He’ll come because he’ll want me to be
happy. And I’ll make sure he knows I won’t go without him. But
that’s not all that I want, Dayn.”

“What else then?"

“You.”

Dayn struggled for reassurances. All he had
ever dreamed of was temptingly close. “So if I agree to let your
brother come—”

“Then I will go with you.”

“Even if you don’t love me?”

“But I
do
love you.”

Dayn stared into her eyes. How many times had
he dreamed of her saying those words? Was it possible she had said
them, but more importantly, that she meant them?

“I love you,” she repeated.

And that was all he needed to hear.

“When can you meet me again?” he asked.

“I—I don’t know.” Falyn’s brow furrowed as
she thought on it. “In two weeks and a day it will be Father’s
rotation to visit the outlying homesteads, those most affected. A
lot of people refuse to leave their farms, but they need food and
medicine and fresh water from time to time. So the Vestry’s been
sending volunteers to help them. It takes a few days to make the
rounds.” She shook her head. “But Father always takes me and
Sheireadan with him.”

“Could you make up some kind of excuse not to
go?”

“I don’t know; I could try.”

“Then you and Sheireadan meet me here at high
sun on the fifteenth day,” he said. “If I’m not here, follow the
main road eastward…there.” He grabbed up a stick and drew a quick
map in the dirt.

“What do you mean, if you’re not here?”

“Haskel doesn’t want me near Kiradyn any more
than your father wants you in the clan lands. Right now my uncle is
with the Chieftains, heading for the Vestry meeting.”

“He’s what?”

“They have information that might convince
the Vestry to stop the executions and their demands to turn me
over. That’s the only reason I was able to slip away tonight.”

“The Chieftains will only make them angrier
by going,” Falyn said. “This is too dangerous, Dayn.”

“Not any more dangerous than staying. I’ll
try to meet you and Sheireadan here, to escort you to the clan
lands. But if I can’t make it, come on without me.” He pointed the
stick toward the map, motioning with it. “Don’t travel on the road
itself; someone might see you. Follow it, but keep to the woods,
out of sight. My uncle’s homestead is just east of the fork that
turns northward; you’ll see the fork on the right, but it’s easy to
miss, so keep an eye out. Don’t come straight to the house, though.
Hide just past the woodpile near the barn. I’ll be looking for you.
Do you think you can do that?”

Falyn nodded, but her eyes were filled with
worry.

Dayn wrapped her in his arms and pressed his
lips to hers, perhaps to seal the agreement, but then an unexpected
noise alerted him to a presence in the woods. He spun around and
saw two eyes peering at them from the foliage. Dayn stepped toward
them and recognized the face behind the eyes—Eyan!

Back to ToC

C
hapter 27: Grounded

E
yan burst through
the double-doors of the barn, Dayn sprinting after him. “Stop!”
Dayn shouted. But it was too late. Eyan disappeared over the edge
of the hayloft, taking the ladder with him.

“Eyan! Get down here,” Dayn yelled.

No response.

“I swear, if you don’t get down here
I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Alicine asked. She was
standing in the doorway at his back, clothed in her nightgown, a
shawl wrapped around her shoulders and a lantern clutched in her
hand.

“This is none of your concern,” Dayn said
over his shoulder. “Go back to bed.”

Alicine huffed. “I’ll do no such thing. What
are you carrying on about?”

“Nothing. It’s between me and Eyan, that’s
all.”

Alicine looked at him suspiciously. “Why are
you getting home so late? Your face is as red as a beet and you’re
panting like you’ve been in a race.”

“Nothing. I told you—”

“Tell her,” Eyan said from the loft. “If it’s
nothin’, then tell her.”

Dayn and Alicine tilted their faces upward.
Eyan was leaning over the edge of the loft, staring down at them
through the lamplight.

Dayn hurriedly scanned the barn. No one else
appeared to be there, but if a discussion was to be made, it had to
be a private one.

“I’ll tell her, but only if you let us come
up,” Dayn said.

“What’ll ye do to me if I do?”

“I just want to talk,” Dayn said impatiently.
“It’s not like I’m going to hit you or something.”

Eyan was quiet for a moment, then he eased
the ladder over the side. As its legs hit the dirt, Dayn grabbed
hold of the rungs and climbed up.

“Thanks so much,” Alicine grumbled as she
struggled up behind him, the lantern still in her hand.

Dayn stormed toward Eyan, who was now
retreating into the corner.

“What did you see?” Dayn demanded.

“Ye know what I saw,” Eyan retorted.

“You say it like I was doing something
wrong!”

“What are you talking about?” Alicine asked,
shaking bits of hay from the hem of her nightgown.

“He went to see Falyn,” Eyan said.

“What? When?”

“Sshhh! I saw her tonight,” Dayn said. “At
the Well of Wishes.”

“Father said you’re not to see her,” Eyan
said. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I don’t care!” Dayn said. “It was worth the
risk.”

“No, Dayn. It wasn’t,” Alicine said.

“Yes. It was,” Dayn insisted.

“You had no right to go there.”

Dayn steadied his voice. “I had every right.
Falyn and I love each other. We have every right to see each
other.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” Alicine
said.

Dayn felt anger rise in his throat. “Listen,
it was
our
choice, our risk—no one else’s.”

Eyan stepped toward him. “This isn’t just
about you and Falyn,” he said.

“He’s right, Dayn,” Alicine said. “It’s about
all of us. If Lorcan were to find out, it could be just the excuse
he needs to turn on us once and for all. And tonight of all nights,
with our uncles and the Chieftains going to meet with the Vestry.
What were you thinking Dayn?”

Dayn’s mind scrambled, then regained its
determination. Maybe he hadn’t been thinking clearly at first, but
if there was one thing in this world he’d risk anything for it was
Falyn. And now that she had agreed to leave with him, nothing else
mattered.

“Regardless of whether or not you approve,”
he said, “it’s done.” He glared at Eyan, daring him to say
more.

But Eyan glared right back. “Tell Alicine
about the plans.”

“What plans?” Dayn asked.

“The ones ye were drawin’ in the dirt.”

“Those weren’t plans, those were—”

“You’re lying,” Alicine said, shock in her
voice. “I thought you didn’t know how to lie. Guess I was
wrong.”

Dayn opened his mouth to speak, but the
unexpected sound of horses’ hooves was suddenly heard thundering
toward the house. The three of them looked at each other with
surprise, then scurried toward the ladder. The Chieftains couldn’t
be back from the meeting so soon, could they?

They descended and hurried toward the door,
but as they drew near, it was clear the party of Chieftains had
returned, and from the lather on their horses, they had ridden
hard.

Dayn, Alicine, and Eyan hustled toward the
house as the last of the men disappeared inside. The moment Dayn
entered through the door, he realized the tension in the room was
thick. The men were assembling around the kitchen table, some
taking their places on benches, others pacing the floor.