Authors: Rhiannon Paille
Surrender (11 page)
10-The Witches
The servant girl, who had introduced herself as Melianna, returned hours later when Kaliel had settled into her quarters. It was a tower room in the west wing, circular, a green embroidered rug stretching to the edges of the room, leaving a thin strip of stone bare. To the left was a chest that opened to reveal various compartments. Kaliel put the birthstone in one of the hidden drawers for safekeeping. The rest of the room was typical: a bureau sat to the right side, the wide bed in the center, the nightstand beside it. There was nothing else but a cloak stand.
“Lady Atara is ready to see you,” Melianna said with a knock at the door. She never crossed the threshold, patiently waiting in the hallway.
Kaliel emerged, her hair tied up in a ribbon for a change, her ivory dress traded for the green flowing one she had worn the day after she saw the Great Oak.
“You look pretty,” she said as she led Kaliel to the lower west wing. Even when Kaliel lived in Evennses she knew the joined quarters of the Lord and Lady were across from the balcony that hung over the Grand Hall. When they reached the door Kaliel noticed a shimmer-like glow to it that made her nervous. “Lady Atara is very kind. You shouldn’t be afraid,” Melianna said. She knocked on the door and waited while it swung inwards. “Farewell,” she chirped as she left Kaliel to her own devices.
Kaliel gulped as she crossed the threshold into the room. A soft scent tickled her senses and she breathed it in.
Lavender,
she thought with triumph. If Lady Atara had plans to resume her study of herbs, she was confident she could impress. She passed the small atrium and followed the soft glow of the candles. Burgundy throw pillows were arranged around the room in various patterns for sitting. On the left was a fireplace, to the back was an altar, and on the right was a bureau.
Kaliel noticed immediately the room was bereft of a bed, but she assumed the lady didn’t sleep there. She felt an odd sense of calm wash over her as Lady Atara turned from the bureau and looked her over.
“Brilliant,” Atara whispered.
Kaliel found herself speechless, her tongue caught somewhere in her throat. She shook her head and stammered on her words. “Greetings.”
Atara raised an eyebrow. “Desaunius warned me of this. Daydreaming again?”
Kaliel flushed as she dropped her eyes to the ground. She shook her head, unsure what to say.
“Come, please have a seat.” Atara gestured to a cluster of pillows in the far corner and Kaliel reluctantly sat. She bit her lip as her eyes met Atara’s. They were a beautiful hazel.
“Do you know why you’re here?” Atara asked.
Kaliel nodded. “It’s what the Great Oak said.”
“Yes, exactly. Do you understand the parable?” Her eyes filled with compassion and curiosity.
Kaliel hugged her knees to her chest. “It had to be wrong,” she mumbled, thinking of the weed that sprouted at the tree’s feet in Evennses. It was easier to believe there was a mistake than believe she would bloom into anything, much less a flower or a weed, than take the Great Oak’s words as truth.
“Excuse me?” Atara asked. She sounded offended.
Kaliel gulped. “I mean, I’m not special. I’m not destined for greatness, or a chosen one, or anything. I’ve always been shy.”
Atara let out a short laugh. “You do not see what the Great Oak sees in you.”
Kaliel shook her head.
“Do you distrust its wisdom?”
Kaliel continued to shake her head. She didn’t know what to think being in the presence of Lady Atara. The woman was so different than Desaunius it was unnerving. Her direct questions and piercing gaze caught Kaliel off guard. Atara wasn’t scrutinizing her, she was wondering at her. That didn’t calm Kaliel at all. “No,” she said immediately. “I distrust … myself.”
“We will work on that. You can trust me, Kaliel. I’m only here to help you with your abilities.”
Kaliel looked up from her knees, panic triturating through her. “Abilities?”
“Things you can do that the other kinfolk cannot. Have you had any experiences like that?”
Kaliel sighed, thinking back to her childhood. Every occurrence was something no other kinfolk had experienced. Her mind traced over the flowers and the conversations with the trees, and the merfolk. She scowled. Why was Pux still in Evennses if he could manipulate nature? That was unique. Atara continued to eye her and Kaliel knew she had to answer.
“Yes, I have experienced things like that.”
“It will help me more if you would explain.”
Kaliel straightened and smoothed out her dress and avoided eye contact. She wanted to answer truthfully, but she also wanted to keep her secrets, like her best friend and his abilities. “I have trouble remembering things,” she said, hoping she had expertly diverted her elder’s attention.
Atara narrowed her eyes and shifted her position on the pillow. “What do the trees think?”
Kaliel scoffed without realizing it. “They are too cheeky sometimes, they call me names and they think I’m a fool.” She glanced at Atara, who wore a knowing grin, and clapped her hands over her mouth. She wanted to stuff the words back into her mouth.
“And do you not think that makes you special?”
“It makes me different, and swimming with the merfolk gets me in trouble.” The words just came out. She covered her mouth again, willing herself to stay strong, to keep something to herself. Being kinfolk made it impossible to lie but there were always ways around telling the whole truth.
“The merfolk?” Atara repeated; her voice pitchy and uneven.
Kaliel shot her a sideways glance. “Yes …” she said slowly, carefully monitoring her words.
“How did you—?”
“With my thoughts?” Kaliel tried, tension coiling her muscles. She hoped the merfolk at the waterfall hadn’t left, too. She wished Atara wouldn’t ask her more about them.
Astonishment crossed Atara’s face. She nodded and stood. “Right. We will begin our study of meditation tomorrow.” She seemed to force a smile on her face.
Kaliel felt the tension thicken as the meeting came to an end. She followed Lady Atara to the door. “Did I do something wrong?”
Atara’s expression warmed. “No, not at all. You are very special, Kaliel, remember that.”
“Thank you,” she mumbled as she exited the room.
• • •
Kaliel found herself alone in the corridor, crystal torches illuminating the burgundy carpet. She tried to find her way back to her quarters. Melianna had given her a full tour, but it wasn’t as simple in practice as it was in theory. She passed the lavatory and saw the continuous marble floor stretch across the Grand Hall. The fountain loomed in the distance and she realized where she was.
As she passed the archway into the room she heard a whisper. Her heart raced, startled by the subtle noise. She treaded across the floor towards the staircase and heard it again. She paused; it was coming from the lower east wing. She furrowed her brow and crossed the floor, passing another archway and went down a long corridor towards an unknown part of the castle. Melianna hadn’t toured there.
The whispers grew as she neared the door. A thin strip of light cascaded across the floor, showing off the cream-colored carpet. She stopped and listened for the whisper again.
“You are still missing something for the brew.”
“We can do without it.”
“Begin the incantation.”
Kaliel’s breath caught in her throat as the whispers formed words. Fear pricked at her insides as she tried to pull herself away, but the door swung open.
She froze as she took in the three women inside. They all had long hair, black, brown and blonde. The blonde one wore a blue dress, the one with black hair had a black dress, and the one with brown hair had a white dress. There were strings and strings of beads hanging from their necks, and each one of them had wrinkles around their eyes. They turned to stare at her, their sharp gazes digging into her.
“Look at what we have here,” the one in black said.
“A trespasser,” the one in blue replied.
Kaliel took a step away from the door. “I …”
“Don’t be rude, standing in doorways. Come in,” the one in black said.
Kaliel felt her feet move without her permission as she entered the room. The door shut behind her and she suddenly felt claustrophobic. She ran her hands along the folds of her dress, trying to calm her nerves.
“Are you sure you want to play this game?” the one in blue said as she inspected the girl.
“What game?” Kaliel asked.
She smiled. “None of your concern, child.”
Kaliel looked at the floor, unsure what to say next. She desperately wanted to retrace her steps, choose to go to her quarters and stay away from the east wing. She understood all too well why Melianna had avoided it.
The women exchanged wary looks between themselves. “Why did you come here?” the one in black asked; her eyes hard.
Kaliel shuffled back and forth. “I heard your whispers,” she muttered.
The one in black let out a squeal and clapped. The one in white continued to stir the brew and Kaliel inhaled the heady scent. It made her dizzy. The one in black composed herself as the one in blue moved towards the witching wall on the opposite end of the room. “You could be very useful to us,” she said.
Kaliel glanced behind her at the door. “I could?” Her insides felt like sand, her mouth dry.
The one in blue turned back from the witching wall, carrying something in her hands. She shot a warning glance at the one in black. “Pardon our manners,” she said coolly. “I’m Shimma, and this is Kuruny and Kazza.” She indicated the woman in black as Kuruny.
Kaliel let out a sigh as she stared into the oceans that created Shimma’s eyes. Even with the wrinkles that circled them, she was beautiful.
“Come now, where are your manners, trespasser? Who are you?” Kuruny said.
“I’m Kaliel of Evennses,” she mumbled, her hands clasped behind her back.
Kuruny smiled. “You’re Atara’s new apprentice.” She spat out the word “apprentice” like it was a bad thing.
“Aye.”
Shimma glanced at Kuruny, and without another word grabbed Kaliel’s arm and pushed up the sleeve of her green dress. She whipped out a needle and began inspecting the area she would puncture. Kaliel’s eyes went wide as she tried to pull her arm away, but Shimma was stronger than her.
“It’s better not to struggle while she takes your blood,” Kazza said, her voice full of disdain.
Kaliel felt like a sheet of ice. Her pulse quickened as she struggled against Shimma. “Why do you want that?” she asked; her voice thin and airy.
Kuruny shrugged. “For the brew. You’re a virgin.”
Kaliel had never heard of magic like this; it was foreign and frightening to her. She watched helplessly as Shimma turned her arm over and inspected it closely, holding the needle above her.
“Her veins are so faint,” Shimma said with a scowl.
Kazza shook her head. “Use an athame. Must you always be so sterile?”
Kaliel let out a scream as Shimma poked her here and there, but no blood oozed out of the wounds. It pinched and made Kaliel feel like she could melt into a puddle.
Kuruny shot a warning glance at Kazza and the older sister turned from the cauldron and grabbed the athame. Before she returned there was a loud bang and the door swung open with a gust of wind, Lord Istar filling the doorway.
“You will stay out of the affairs of Avristar, so help me!” he roared at Kuruny as she shrunk away.
Shimma dropped the needle and apparatus on the floor and scurried into the corner.
Kaliel’s arm dropped to her side and she rubbed it, trying to sooth the pain. She darted behind Lord Istar and waited.
“We caused the girl no harm,” Kazza said as she approached with the knife in hand.
Istar glowered at her. “And what is the knife for?”
Kazza smirked at him and cut her own hand, holding it over the cauldron and letting her blood drip into the brew. She smirked. “Blood.”
Istar’s cold blue eyes blazed at her. “You will leave Kaliel alone. She is not your business.” He put a hand out and the liquid inside the cauldron evaporated, causing both Kazza and Kuruny to let out a protested cry. He slammed the door shut and turned to Kaliel.
“Are you well?” he asked, his voice only slightly gentler.
Kaliel nodded, and stood straight. Istar stalked towards the west wing. She followed, his long strides making it hard to keep up.
“Who were those women?” she asked when they were far enough away.
“My daughters. They returned from the Lands of Men, and they no longer follow the traditions of Avristar. They call themselves ‘witches.’”
“Oh,” Kaliel said quietly as they passed the crystal fountain and found the staircase to the west.
Istar looked her in the eyes. “I advise you not to speak with them again.”
“Will they hurt me?”
Istar nodded, and she shuddered. “They know no difference between sacred and profane.”
Kaliel nodded. “I understand.” In truth, she was more afraid than ever. Orlondir wasn’t providing any comfort; it was becoming a dangerous land to her, laced in mystery.
“Well, goodnight then,” Istar said. He took off towards the lower east wing and Kaliel slumped on the stairs.
* * *
11-The Waterfall
Part of her wanted to crawl under the covers and attempt to sleep, but she was afraid of nightmares. She was also afraid the witches would come into her room and try again.
She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She felt the familiar restlessness in her bones. The waters—they were the only thing that calmed her. The stone castle was so unfeeling compared to the forests she had lived in her entire life. Her heartbeat thrummed as she closed her eyes and remembered the waterfall. As much as she fought to avoid it, there was no use. She had to see if the merfolk were there. A muddle of knots rested in her as she thought of Krishani. The wait to Samhain was too long, especially if there was only a slim chance he would come.
She ducked through the archway and into the courtyard. It was breathtaking with the moon casting light on the ivy plants crawling over the stone and statues. She quickened her pace and pushed open the gate. Closing it behind her, she hopped over the moat, smiling to herself as she breathed in the night air.
The path was longer than she remembered, winding and twisting through the forest. Her insides shook as she took careful steps.
It’s just a waterfall,
she told herself as she heard the rush in the distance. Butterflies crawled in her stomach as she turned the final corner.
It was better than the first time she had seen it. She drifted towards the pond, its surface littered with ripples and foam. She knelt and squinted. She never questioned the light illuminating the pond, but in the darkness, it was mystifying. She watched as one of the creatures swam along the stony floor, its finned head and webbed hands pushing water out of its way. She breathed a sigh of relief. Not all of them had left. She reached up to untie the ribbon in her hair. Even if she couldn’t see Krishani again she wanted to swim with them.
“What are you doing here?” someone snapped, their voice deep and uncomforting.
Kaliel shrieked as she turned to face whoever it was, her eyes wide and her heart faltering. She lost her balance as she came to her feet and felt herself careening into the pond. Her eyes found the bushes and the mountain; they seemed to find everything but the person confronting her. Her arms flailed as she braced herself for the ungraceful splash.
Arms surround her waist and pulled her away from the pond, her feet gliding several inches above the stone. She closed her eyes as her feet hit the ground and the arms relaxed around her. Her face flushed with heat and she felt like an idiot for being so foolish. Really, she was going to swim in the pond anyway. This just interrupted everything. The arms left her entirely and she opened her eyes only to find herself confused.
“I’m sorry, Elder, I couldn’t sleep,” she said, staring at the cloaked being.
He chortled softly, his back turned, his breathing heavy. “I’m still not an elder, not quite.”
Kaliel froze. That voice was familiar, melancholy and smooth with confidence at the same time. It was her turn to whip around and bury her face in her hands. Her stomach did a flip-flop, making her pulse reverberate in her ears. She wanted to run, but she felt paralyzed.
“Krishani?” she scarcely whispered, hoping she was wrong, hoping this was someone else.
Anyone but him.
“Kaliel,” he said. It was Krishani.
She heard him slide the hood off his cloak and as she turned to face him, she caught his eyes on her, raking over her green dress.
Kaliel stared at him, her heart pounding so hard her ribs ached, her cheeks warm. She tried to hide her blush, but it was impossible. She glanced at the ground to avoid staring into his mismatched eyes.
“I’m such a fool,” she muttered to herself, unable to control how she felt around him. Why was he there, anyway? She wanted the ground to swallow her whole, but she also wanted him to run his fingers along her skin. She covered her face, fighting so many urges to touch him it was impossible to think.
“Sorry I scared you,” he said, awkwardly running a hand through his hair. He looked at the waterfall and she followed his gaze. Kaliel dared a glance at his profile and died inside, remembering the last time they were at the waterfall, the last thing he said to her. She crossed her arms and tried to find her strength. When he looked back at her she dropped her arms and gritted her teeth.
“I had a bad day,” she said, trying to justify herself.
Krishani scowled. “What happened?”
“I met the witches.” She tried not to think about what they had done.
“They didn’t hurt you, did they?” Krishani’s expression softened into concern. He took a step towards her, his frame towering over her. He looked down and she tilted her head up to meet his eyes. It made her melt. “I mean, if they did something, I would …”
Kaliel wrapped her arms around herself, unable to be that close to him without wanting something more. She moved towards the stone incline, silently begging him to follow. “They scared me.” She glanced back at him, curious. “What are you doing here?”
Krishani looked at the ground and shuffled his feet. “I’ve been here for awhile now.”
“Oh.” Awkward silence hung between them.
“Lord Istar thought it would be better if I trained with him here.”
Kaliel sighed and avoided his gaze. It made her feel transparent. She wanted to sink into the pond and forget everything. She blinked. “Lady Atara summoned me, because of the Great Oak.” She looked at him, but his expression was unreadable. “Because of what the Great Oak said.”
Krishani moved towards her and brushed the loose hairs off her face. “So you’re here to stay?”
Kaliel nodded, stifling the moan in her throat. A single touch and she was undone. He caught her hand and squeezed it as he pulled her up the stone incline and stopped behind the falls. She untangled her sweaty palm from his and faced him, her heart thudding. His closeness was everything she had wanted when she was in Evennses, and now he was here she didn’t know how to act. She thought of what Desaunius had said: what did she know about love? “I didn’t expect to see you again.”
Krishani took a sharp breath and slid his hands into hers. “I never expected to meet you the first time,” he whispered.
She tucked her hands under her arms. She looked at the falls, the weight of a thousand dreams of him pressing on her. She didn’t know what he was feeling, if it was the same, or different, or if she was just a silly girl he had met a year and a half ago at a place he considered sacred.
“Why
did
we meet?” she asked.
Krishani looked uncomfortable. She wanted him to kiss her, but was afraid of how he might react if she made the first move.
“Because we did,” he answered gently as her eyes met his. She relaxed at the answer. He took her hand in his and led her into the cave. He shrugged off his cloak and laid it on the grass.
Kaliel sat beside him and looked at the falls. She loved how close he was, but everything seemed different. The way he looked at her wasn’t so conflicted anymore. Last time it was like she was the only one feeling nervous and scared. Now he looked the same.
“What did the witches do to you?” he asked after a long silence.
Kaliel glanced at him, his blue and green eyes still visible in the dark. They were intense, deeply penetrating her senses. “Um, one of them pricked me,” she said, try to distract herself from the hypnotic trance she was slipping into.
Krishani carefully slid his hand into hers and placed their clasped hands on his knee. He looked at her with a small smile while she tried not to blush. “Where?”
She swallowed hard and tried not to choke on her own saliva. She coughed involuntarily and shook her head. “Um, the arm you’re holding.”
Krishani pushed the loose fabric of her sleeve up and ran his fingers along the inside of her forearm. His touch drove her crazy, the subtleness, the rush.
“You mean here?” he asked as he brought her arm to his lips and brushed them across the spot. She shivered. She should have reminded him he was a Brother of Amersil, but seeing him was so unexpected.
“Aye,” she whispered, pulling her hand out of his grasp and shrugging the sleeve over her arm. “It feels fine now.” She hugged her knees and rested her chin against them. She would marry the land, he would marry the land. There was nothing for her to hold onto. She had to believe the butterflies in her stomach, the shortness of breath and the clammy palms would go away.
“Sorry I scared you,” he said.
Kaliel pressed her lips to her knees, hoping she could hold in her emotions. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Silence hung between them for awhile. He shifted on the cloak, the black tunic he wore shifting with him. He stretched his legs out, and Kaliel looked at his shin-high boots and breeches. He stole a glance at her turtle shell. “What are you afraid of?”
Kaliel stood. “Happy endings.” She didn’t know how else to explain it. She had contemplated the parable so many times it was exhausting. It didn’t matter which path she took—neither of them seemed very appealing. She let the mist soak her sleeves and stick to her skin. She heard Krishani behind her before he ran his hand down her back making shivers run up her spine. He stayed there, a foot away, and she wished he would move closer, envelope her in his arms. He wasn’t supposed to talk to her. This had to be wrong. What would the brotherhood think?
“Happy endings?” he whispered. He sounded both unsure and nervous. “What do you mean?”
“What if someone comes?” She was worried Lord Istar would burst through the trees and find them in this compromising awkwardness. It seemed more taboo than practically drowning in the lake.
Krishani let out a breath. “Nobody ever comes here.”
Kaliel closed her eyes. “
You
come here.”
Krishani took a step forward and she could feel the heat radiating off him. “All the time.”
She didn’t answer, instead listening to the sound of the falls. Moonlight glinted off the flecks of water. She thought about the orb of ice he created for her. She hadn’t been able to do anything close to that awesome.
“What are you thinking?” he asked again.
She closed her eyes and felt her energy shift; like it had the day she went to the Great Oak. Heat rushed through her as she leaned back, trying to feel him, but not trying to force it if it wasn’t what he wanted. It was clear to her he cared, but she was so worried about whether or not she should let him.
“My parable,” she whispered.
He went rigid, his hand sliding down her upper forearm. “What did the Oak say to you?”
She shook her head. “Never mind, I have to figure it out. Both paths seem so dreary.”
“You seem too sweet to have a bad parable.”
She didn’t want to talk about the nightmares of the Flames, the parable, the fact the Brotherhood would disapprove of him touching her. It felt so natural; the last few moons had been lonely without him. She couldn’t explain what she felt, but she couldn’t watch him marry the land and leave the island.
“But I do,” she said. She drew her hands instinctively to her chest, her elbows digging into her ribs. He dropped his hand as she turned, and buried her face in his chest. He reluctantly ran his hands through her hair, letting them rest on the small of her back.
“I thought about you every day,” he said as she pressed her cheek into his tunic.
She smiled against his shirt. “And I thought about you.”
“Promise me something?” He wasn’t holding her, not really, their bodies weren’t pressed together and the inches between them made Kaliel feel cold.
“What?”
“You’ll find a happy ending.”
“What if I can’t?”
He pulled back and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Promise me you will.” His eyes met hers and his jaw dropped. His hand paused, cupping her face in his palm. He held her gaze, her heart beating hard. Before she had time to answer, he pressed his lips against hers. She didn’t expect him to do that and it was better than she imagined. She came to life under him, kissing him back with unyielding passion that made him pull away to catch his breath.
Kaliel’s sadness drained away as he broke from her lips and then cupped her face with both hands and kissed her again, pressing the length of his body against her. His kisses made her feel light and giddy, like she could float into the sky. She slid her hands up his chest and looped them around his neck. There was swimming in the lake and losing her breath and then there was this. Being out of breath with him was like drowning in a sea of happiness. He could keep her prisoner forever and she’d never complain. He pulled away again, and wound his arms around her waist, trapping her against him. His lips found hers again, rough and inexperienced, but strong and satisfying.
She opened her mouth and his tongue grazed hers, warmth spreading from her heart to the rest of her body, making her tingle. She smiled against his lips.
“I missed you.” She tried to steady her breathing.
Krishani shook his head and put his hands on either side of her face. “This is all I want. This and nothing else, ever.” His mouth covered hers again. He pressed himself against her and she sighed. It felt like she had known him her entire life and even longer, if
longer
even existed.
Images appeared behind her eyelids—the shape of a boy and a girl wearing gaudy crowns on their heads. They were painted into parchment, but they were blurry. She was too elated by Krishani and his lips on hers to record the images, but they seemed familiar.
And then everything changed. Krishani pushed his lips against hers one last time and she felt the shift in her energy dissipate. It was as though all the joy evaporated, replaced by intense fear. She pushed him away and tried to understand the pounding in her heart that made her want to break in half.
Bloom the weed of temptation.
He looked confused and shocked. Without a word, she turned and fled towards the Elmare Castle.
* * *