The Darathi Vorsi Prince (Song of the Swords Book 0) (3 page)

Chapter 3

A FINE mist curled at the edge of the road that led from the Weirren to beyond the veils. Shadows cloaked the trees, obscuring Rhoan
e’
s visibility. He strode with purpose, wanting nothing more than to leave the vier and his heartache behind. But he knew it would
n’
t be so easy. Knew the image of his mother engulfed in flames would stay with him for eternity.

He tapped the pocket that held the cynfar Verdaine had given him. H
e’
d dishonored his goddess once; he would not fail her again. If the Darennsai lived among the Fadair, he would find her. Somehow, he would right the wrong of his mothe
r’
s death. H
e’
d been a lad when he made the oath, but he was no longer an innocent. He broke a promise made to his goddess and his mother. To make amends, he must accept his fate, even if it meant living the rest of his life away from his home.

Claidholm Solais hummed in his mind, soothing notes of happier times. Memories of his childhood drifted through his thoughts. He patted the handle of his sword. A grim smile tightened his face. His pace increased, and he replayed the last conversations h
e’
d had with Verdaine, his mother, and his sister. They believed in the prophecy. If he were to find the girl and right Aelina
e’
s wrongs, he would have to believe in it as well. All of it, not just what suited him. Which meant he needed to fully read the scrolls. H
e’
d not seen them since he was a lad, still in short pants and with few cares.

A rustling of leaves brought his attention to the path before him. The road was deserted, save for a few randy hares scampering into the ferns to his left. His hand hovered above the hilt of his sword. His pace slowed, and he peered deeper into the forest.

A slight figure emerged from the trees, and Rhoane jerked his sword from its scabbard. The blade was at the intrude
r’
s throat before either had a chance to speak.

“
For Ohli
n’
s sake, Rhoane
!”
Eoghan sputtered, his eyes wide
.“
I thought you might like a mount, and this is how you repay me
?
”

Rhoane recoiled at the sound of his brothe
r’
s voice
.“
I thought you a brigand meant to rob me
.
”

“
If you are to survive the Fadair, you must not be so quick to kill
.”
Eoghan indicated the horse he was leading
.“
She is the best I could smuggle out of Fathe
r’
s stables. She is
n’
t fast or made for battle, but she will make your journey bearable until you can acquire a more fitting beast
.
”

His youngest brother, sixty seasons his junior, was sometimes far wiser than even the elders of the clan
.“
Thank you, Eoghan
.”
Rhoane gripped his brothe
r’
s arm and pulled him into a bear hug
.“
I will miss you
.
”

“
And I you, First Son of the Eleri
.”
Eoghan broke off the embrace and indicated the stuffed saddlebags
.“
You have enough nourishment to last a fortnight, longer if you set traps
.
”

Rhoane had left the Weirren within half a bell of his fathe
r’
s dismissal. H
e’
d only had time to pack a few items, food not being one of them
.“
Again, I am indebted to you
.
”

“
You can repay me by not getting killed
.
”

A second figure emerged from the forest, this time from the other side of the road. Rhoane shielded Eoghan and held his sword aloft.

“
Will you murder your only sister
?”
Carga stepped lightly onto the dirt path and lowered Rhoan
e’
s sword with her fingertips
.“
Eoghan is right. You are too quick with the sword, and not your mind
.”
She glanced nervously at the road leading to the Weirren
.“
We do not have much time. Eoghan and I will escort you to the final veil
.”
She withdrew a scroll from the folds of her gown and handed it to Rhoane
.“
I copied as many versions of the prophecy as I could. They keep us busy at the temple, but I knew you would need these. There is a complete translation in Talaith. The empress has an impressive library. You must present yourself to her as an Eleri noble anyway, you might as well make use of your time there
.
”

“
I must go to Talaith
?”
Rhoane asked
.“
Why not Haversham? Or the Summerlands
?
”

“
You will travel to all seven kingdoms, dear brother, but I feel certain you will find your Darennsai in Talaith
.
”

“
Have you had a vision
?”
Eogha
n’
s eyes sparkled like a forest pond.

“
Nay, but I cannot shake the feeling Talaith plays an important role in all our lives
.
”

They reached the final veil and paused. None of them were eager for what was to come, but Rhoane knew it was up to him to lift the last veil. Carga and Eoghan had done their part, and now he must journey alone.

“
Be safe, Rhoane
.”
Carga stretched to kiss his cheek, and he embraced his sister with a fierceness that surprised them both.

Eoghan wrapped his gangly arms around the two and held firm
.“
I will miss our adventures
.
”

“
As will I
.”
Rhoane rested his chin atop his younger brothe
r’
s head
.“
I will miss everything about the vier and our lives. Nothing will ever be the same
.
”

“
Perhaps that is for the best
,”
Carga murmured
.“
The Eleri are dying. Most only have one child; some none at all. Mother and Father were anomalies with four
.”

Rhoane tightened his grip, not wanting to let go. Not just yet.

“
The Darennsai is not the destroyer of our race. She is the harbinger of something new and enlightening. She will bring peace to Aelinae and usher in a new way of life for everyone
.
”

Eoghan blinked twice and shook his head
.“
I saw her
.
”

“
Who? The Darennsai? Where is she
?”
Carg
a’
s breathless words tumbled out.

“
No, my life mate
.”
A tremble started in Eogha
n’
s legs and continued until his entire body shook.

“
What did you see
?”
Rhoane steadied his brother, but the lad continued to quake
.“
Who is your life mate
?
”

“
A vision. Perfection made in womanly form
.
”

Carga slapped her younger brothe
r’
s wrist and chuckled nervously
.“
You ass. Are you trying to frighten us with your contrived convulsing
?
”

Eogha
n’
s trembling continued despite his jovial tone
.“
Of course. I could not let Rhoane have all the fun, now could I
?”
He stepped away from his older brother and did not meet his eyes.

Rhoane chuckled at the supposed quip, but Eoghan was
n’
t one for dramatics. He believed his brother did have a vision and was frightened by its intensity. The desire to stay longer with his two closest confidants was powerful, but lingering would only delay the inevitable
.“
If there are no more revelations to be made, perhaps I should be on my way
?
”

They said their good-byes with well-wishes whispered and many extended embraces shared.

“
Go now. I do not wish for you to see me through the veil
,”
Rhoane commanded, his voice heavy with emotion. He waited until the
y’
d walked along the path and could no longer be seen before he turned to the final veil and said the words that would allow him entry into the lands of the Fadair.

Although Rhoane was sheanna, he did not bear the taint others had in their exile. That small distinction did nothing to make the shame any less. He felt every sensation as if it were a torch held too close to his skin. In time, he would learn to control the agony, but for this morning, when he had to leave his family and beloved forest for a world he did
n’
t know and was
n’
t sure he was welcome in, the pain was nearly unbearable.

Rhoane stood at the edge of trees that marked the boundary of the Narthvier and took a deep breath.

His first step onto Fadair soil was, well, unremarkable. Unsure what h
e’
d expected, Rhoane stepped lightly across the glen, testing his weight against the soil. Nothing swallowed him whole, nor did monsters arrive to ravage him. The sky looked much the same as it had in the vier, but not obscured by leaves. The glens had no trees, and he was unrelentingly exposed in the wide-open land. That much space should have terrified him, but he found it strangely compelling.

For the better part of two bells, he left his mare to graze on the long grasses and investigated the tiny pockets of life that existed outside the forest. The same critters found in the vier scurried beneath bushes. Rodents of no particular interest made nests and burrows while birds darted across the cloudless sky.

The expanse of openness sprawled in every direction, and for a moment, terror seized him. He had no idea which way to travel first. From his childhood tutors, he recalled vague recollections of Aelina
e’
s kingdoms. The Summerlands in the far south, past Talaith. The Ullans to the east, Artaghs to the southwest, Danuri on the western coast, Caer Idris to the north of Danuri, and the blue-skinned warrior women on an island somewhere in the Southern Seas.

Rhoane turned away from the southeast toward Ulla. At least they were more civilized, if only just. He patted the mar
e’
s neck. Talaith would have to wait a few moonturns. He needed a sturdier mount who could handle all of the riding h
e’
d be doing. The mare Eoghan smuggled out of their fathe
r’
s stables was too gentle and he feared would
n’
t handle the rigorous pace.

Once he reached Ull
a’
s border, it became clear trading his mare was
n’
t going to be as easy as h
e’
d hoped. His welcome into the desert kingdom came in the form of masked riders who circled him, their scythes held high, their calls more like carlix screeches. Rhoane slowed his mount and took in the dark eyes that peeked through black fabric. Male or female, he could
n’
t tell, but their weapons looked deadly enough.

“
You are not welcome, Aelan
,”
one of the riders shouted at him
.“
Leave now
.
”