The Shattered Sylph (26 page)

“What’s happened, Ril?”

He surveyed their surroundings and sighed—almost regretfully, she thought. “A queen has ascended,” he told her. “All of the sylphs here belong to her hive.” His mouth twisted. “Except me.”

Her eyes widened. “They wouldn’t attack you for that, would they?”

“I would,” he admitted.

The battlers surrounded them, staring, and Lizzy held Ril to her tightly, glowering up at them in fear. “Don’t you hurt him!” she cried.

“The queen has forbidden it,” said a battler numbered 32. “She said we were to bring you both to her unharmed.”

“Who’s the queen?” Lizzy asked, only a little relieved.

“Eapha,” Ril said wearily. “Thanks to your father.”

“What? Eapha? How?”

He didn’t reply.

The battlers surrounded them, lifting both her and Ril and carrying them outside. Lizzy saw the entrance to her prison as she was carried past it. The door had been ripped out, along with most of the frame. Those from the circle returned to the harem and their women there, and more than a few concubines joined the procession that made its way to the surface.

It was still night, but the sky was nearly as bright as day, lit by fire sylphs celebrating their freedom. Air sylphs darted everywhere, dancing madly, while fountains made of water sylphs and mountains formed by earth sylphs exulted similarly. Lizzy had never seen so many sylphs! The sky was full of them, as were the streets, and there were people everywhere, too, staring in amazement or terror.

Battlers flew and roared among the crowds, bellowing from time to time and sweeping down to attack. People were everywhere, many of them freed slaves, others looking so poor that the feeders seemed rich by comparison. Anyone who’d ever been cruel to a sylph seemed to be paying for it now, and Lizzy could see the arena crumbling in the distance, the battlers tearing it apart, while earth sylphs swallowed the remains into the ground. Overhead, carried by hundreds of other battlers, the floating island she’d spotted on her first day here was moving toward the ocean, picking up speed as it went. The battlers carried the massive island out over deep water and dropped it, and Lizzy could nearly hear the screams as it fell. She jerked her head away, not wanting to see more.

Lizzy was encased in the mantle of one battler, Ril borne by another. Frightened, she sat inside the sylph who carried her, arms around her drawn-up knees, hoping they weren’t about to cast her into the ocean as well. Instead
she was carried toward the desert, stopping where a broken-down old wall marked the edge of the city. She was set upon the sand there, and found herself facing a small collection of ragged huts and campfires. Thousands of sylphs surrounded the huts, shimmering in the darkness.

Three huge battlers guarded the way. Lizzy was urged forward, though, Ril limping at her side. He was exhausted, but he looked at the battlers calmly and held her hand. Even so, she could tell he was afraid. He didn’t belong here. He never had, but now he was in real danger.

People surrounded the nearest campfire, most of them eyeing the battlers in terror. Several disengaged, one running ahead of the others, and Lizzy recognized Eapha immediately, though she wore a man’s linen shirt that fell to her knees. The brunette embraced her, crying and uncaring of all the blood, and Lizzy hugged her back, sharing the woman’s joy and amazement.

“You’re alive!” Eapha drew back and indicated the blood with concern. “Are you hurt? Healer!” she shouted, and a sylph in the shape of a beautiful woman stepped out of the crowd. She considered Lizzy critically, then Ril.

“Can you heal him?” Lizzy asked. The sylph consulted Eapha, who nodded, and so the healer laid her hand upon him. Ril sighed audibly, and Lizzy had to giggle at the sound of his relief.

“Lizzy…”

She turned at the voice, and Eapha stepped back with a smile. Her father stood only a few feet away, his fists clenched at his sides.

Lizzy’s eyes filled with tears. “Daddy!” she screamed, and threw herself into his arms. He hugged her tightly, nearly breaking her ribs, and wept against her shoulder.

Ril stepped close, his eyes clearer now that he was healed but still somewhat nervous. Leon reached for him, pulling him into the embrace as well. For a long moment, Lizzy wanted nothing more.

The hug seemed to go on forever, followed by exhaustion and finally slumber, in a building filled with silk and marble that was more opulent than anything she’d ever imagined. Lizzy now sat on the side of the bed, stroking Ril’s hair as he continued to sleep, his face relaxed as he lay on his side, turned toward her. He’d drained himself beyond comprehension, nearly dying, all for her. Lizzy smiled as she ran her hand along his hair again, glad that he was safe.

Well, almost safe. She glared out the window at the shadow of yet another passing battler. The building was surrounded by them, and she had no doubt that they wanted very much to tear Ril to bits. If Eapha’s orders hadn’t held them back, Lizzy would have shielded him with her body.

She sighed, resting her hand against Ril’s cheek. He turned slightly toward it, mumbling something unintelligible, and she wondered both what he was dreaming and if he was walking through someone else’s dream. There wasn’t any reason to assume so, she supposed, given that she and her father were both awake.

A faint knock sounded on the door, and it opened to admit her father. He moved quietly, seeing Ril was still asleep, and shut the door behind him without a sound.

Lizzy was suddenly nervous. Before, they’d all just been so hysterically happy to be reunited. She still couldn’t imagine exactly what her father and Ril had gone through
to save her, and gratitude made it tough for her to swallow. At the same time, she felt a wholly new shyness. When she left home, she’d been a naive little girl. Today, she was the confirmed lover of his battle sylph. She didn’t know how her father felt about that. But if he disapproved, she wouldn’t agree to stay away from Ril—she knew
that
much.

Her father approached, his newly gifted sandals making a soft sound upon the marble floor. He wasn’t dressed in travel-stained clothes anymore, just as she had given up her translucent dress. Thin, expensive linen garbed them both, and she noted briefly that her father looked good in white. A moment later, she felt shy again and hated it because she loved him so much.

Leon gazed at his daughter and then at Ril. When Lizzy gulped audibly, he shot her what could have been an amused look and crooked his finger, moving to the window where they wouldn’t disturb Ril. Feeling like a little girl about to be punished for eating too many sweets, she followed.

He stopped at the window, motioning to the clouds of battlers drifting angrily outside. “We’ll have to leave as soon as we can,” he said. “They’re getting restless.”

“Yes,” Lizzy agreed. It would probably have been okay if Ril were any other kind of sylph, but as it was, he wanted to fight as much as they did.

“Yes,” her father repeated with a sigh. He looked tired. While she was resting with Ril, he’d spent his time training Eapha in the myriad things she’d have to know as queen. From the look in his eyes, he hadn’t been as successful as he’d hoped, though no one could expect much in a day. Lizzy just hoped that her friend had the innate character necessary to be a good leader. Certain qualities would never have been encouraged in a slave.

Another battler floated by, glaring. Leon and Lizzy watched him pass and then regarded each other.

“Daddy,” Lizzy said. “I…Ril and I—”

He raised a hand. “Stop.” He closed his eyes tightly for a second, clearly emotional, and Lizzy heard Ril stir behind her. Her father opened his eyes again, his expression sardonic. “I’ve had time to think. I didn’t expect you to end up with Ril. If I’d thought of it, I probably would have ordered him never to touch you.”

Lizzy’s eyes widened, her heart pounding.

Leon sighed. “A father’s prerogative…and it would have been wrong.” His hand cupped her cheek with as much love as she’d earlier cupped Ril’s. “I love you, and I love Ril. I always have, though it took a while longer to realize it with him, miserable bird that he was.” Despite herself, Lizzy smiled. She didn’t speak, though, afraid to ruin her father’s confession.

“I loved you while you were still in your mother’s womb,” he continued, “from the moment she told me you were coming. And I know that Ril loves you. Even with everything I did to him, how I overwhelmed him with my orders, he still loved you despite it. I couldn’t even touch that in him. So how can I think to stand in your way?” He smiled a little sadly before adding, “Just don’t expect me to get in the way of your mother’s reaction.”

Lizzy giggled, feeling better even as she tried not to think what her mother would say. “Daddy, I really do love him.”

“I know you do. I always knew that.” He gripped her shoulder. “And you’ll be good for him. Just never let yourself forget the power you have. He can’t disobey even an unthinking order.”

“I know,” she whispered, though she wondered what he was getting at. She’d never abuse Ril. Lunging forward, she took her father in her arms. He hugged her back so
tightly that her ribs creaked, and it felt wonderful. Her father had come for her, just as she’d believed.

“Hey.” At the sound, Lizzy pulled back enough to see Ril sitting up in bed, his hair tousled. He rubbed his eyes with the edge of his palm and eyed them both. “What’s going on?”

Lizzy’s father didn’t answer. His grip tightened on her for a moment and he said, “I have some work to do with Eapha still, until the ship is ready to take us home. But there’s something more important I have to do first. Remember what I told you about the power you have.”

“What…?” Lizzy started, but her father pulled away and walked toward Ril, who was eyeing him dubiously. She was left by the window, cast in the shadow of another passing battler.

Ril gazed up at his master. He’d always been aware of the man, at first reluctantly, and later as a source of familiarity and comfort. Now that Leon had taken absolute control, giving him his freedom by removing it, Ril looked at him with complete surrender and it felt good. He didn’t have to think or worry; Leon would take care of everything. He only had to fight when necessary, to protect both his master and his master’s daughter Lizzy. Though he loved Lizzy for herself, too, didn’t he?

Leon reached down, holding Ril’s chin with a grip that was firm but not harsh. Those blue eyes drilled into him, grabbing his will far more tightly and holding it.

“Ril,” Leon said. “I am your master. Say it.”

“You are my master,” Ril repeated with absolute conviction.

“I own you. You are mine, completely.”

“I am yours.” So good. It felt so good.

Leon breathed a little sigh—one so soft that even standing only a few feet away, Lizzy wouldn’t hear. Ril felt a bit of selfish regret in him, a sorrow about having to share, and a determination to do so anyway, all gone in a heartbeat. “Ril, I release you.”

Ril tried to jerk away. Normally strong enough to shatter stone, his movements now held no strength. He wanted to scream. No! He didn’t want to go back to the way he’d been, vulnerable to the orders of anyone who’d imprinted him with their pattern. But Leon and Lizzy knew that of course. They knew how much at risk he was. They’d protect him from everyone else. And yet…wouldn’t it be better to stay in this safe place where he could be a simple tool? That’s all he was. That’s all he was supposed to be, and it was easier, so very much easier. But even as something deep inside screamed yes, something else shrieked no, for there was no room for Lizzy. There was no room for himself.

Leon was relentless. “I give you your freedom, Ril,” he said. Lizzy stepped forward, opening her mouth to say something, but he waved her into silence. “I give you the right to make your own choices.”

The bonds wound through the pattern of Ril’s soul loosened. They didn’t go away completely. After all, Leon was still his master and always would be. Ril would always obey him, just as he would every master. To break that kind of bond entirely would destroy him, since it would destroy the most fundamental part of him, the very thing which made him a battler. Still, he felt his freedom return, and as it did, he welcomed it.

Exhaling loudly, he closed his eyes and he felt himself return. He hadn’t realized how far he’d truly traveled away from himself, and he felt gratitude that Leon had. And despite all of the man’s own feelings and need for Ril
in his life, Leon had chosen to give him back control. It was a sacrifice.

Thanks,
he sent.

The man smiled and let go of his chin, stepping to one side so that Lizzy could hurry up and make sure that he was all right. Not that it was necessary. He was. Ril was as happy as he’d ever been.

Eapha was staying in a mansion that had once belonged to a lesser noble not ranked highly enough to live on the emperor’s floating island. His lack of status hadn’t saved him, though. The entire male upper class of Meridal was gone—Leon didn’t know where and he thought it best not to inquire. He didn’t know either where the former lady of the house had gone, but she certainly wasn’t protesting Eapha’s presence.

He found the new queen in a gallery with huge windows that allowed in light and the view of a garden that would never have survived the desert without sylphs. Art that reached from the floor to the vaulted ceiling decorated the walls, scenes from a way of life now utterly destroyed. It was up to this woman to decide what kind of society would be the replacement.

Eapha was surrounded by her friends, the ten women who’d been part of the secret circle in the harem. All were dressed in sumptuous if thin fabrics and sat on pillows they’d gathered onto the floor despite the furniture. They were giggling madly. Leon watched them gossip and laugh, and he shook his head. These women were having a social gathering, not planning the future of a kingdom. A battler stood in the background, but Leon ignored him.

Upon seeing his arrival, Eapha rose and joined him, though the women immediately chorused for her not to
go. She managed to shake them off nonetheless, and she paced beside him toward a quieter end of the gallery. The battler followed at a distance, his dislike of any man near his queen palpable.

“How are you doing?” Leon asked.

Eapha shrugged, trying to look casual. She bit her bottom lip, though, betraying her nervousness. Leon didn’t blame her.

“I’m okay,” she admitted. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of this. It’s so…overwhelming.”

“It will be,” he agreed. “And it’ll get worse. You have a lot to do.”

She gazed at him desperately, her hands clasped together against her belly. The other women called out, shouting for her to come back and join the card game they were starting. Eapha eyed them, so Leon started to speak.

One last time, he told her what a leader needed to do—what to watch for, what to expect, how one couldn’t expect everything, and how to handle uncertainty. He told her about economics, about warfare, about politics and choosing advisors. He told her about the weaknesses of humans and of sylphs. He told her about their strengths as well. She stared at him throughout, listening, and the sun passed overhead. The room never grew too hot, kept cool by air sylphs who hadn’t given up their duties despite gaining their freedom.

It was a lot to throw at her, more than he’d given to Solie in a year when she first started to learn, but there was no other choice. Eapha had to become more than she’d ever dreamed. For the sake of her country, he hoped she succeeded.

The air ship that would take them home, a wind schooner named
Racing Dawn
, was ready to leave two days
later. It had been a long wait, but the trip back would be faster than the journey here—and in most ways they were all quite ready to go. Even if they’d wanted to stay, the tension among Meridal’s battlers forbade it. To have a strange battler in the confines of their hive, no matter how trusted by their queen, was too much of a strain on battler instinct. Both Eapha’s hive and Ril himself felt the stress.

Leon regretted not having more time. He might have stayed for months, to help Eapha get her feet under her, to train her the way he had Solie, but he couldn’t let his family leave without him. Not after everything he’d done to get them back. Besides, he’d promised Betha they would all return together. What he hadn’t told Eapha, she would have to learn on her own. Still, with five thousand sylphs to do the work and over seven hundred battlers to protect her, he was pretty sure she’d survive any beginner’s mistakes.

“I never imagined any of this happening,” the exconcubine confided to Lizzy as they stood on top of one of the tallest buildings in the city. Their air ship was moored there, manned by one of the oldest and strongest of Meridal’s sylphs. Her newly chosen master traveled with her, the most sympathetic of the feeders she’d once fed from, his tongue restored by a healer.

Most of the sylphs had discovered that their feeders made much better masters than the men who’d first bound them. The majority of those masters had died, anyway, when the floating island plunged into the ocean. Where it was dropped, the waters had been deep enough that the entire thing sank, taking the majority of the miserable nobility with it and leaving a huge gap in power that Eapha now filled whether she wanted to or not.

“I don’t think Solie did either,” Lizzy admitted. She wore a silken dress, the material flowing softly around her body but thankfully not translucent. “She figured it out eventually.”

Eapha sighed and looked over her shoulder at Tooie. Like most battlers, he’d assumed a truly attractive form, though Lizzy still preferred Ril. Tooie smiled at them both, giving them room even as he stood guard. He still didn’t talk much, but that was normal for a sylph. Humans were much more chatty.

“Hopefully I’ll be so lucky,” the new queen said.

“You will,” Lizzy assured her.

Her father thought there was fighting yet to come, probably against the other kingdoms in this part of the world. But surely he’d told Eapha that. Certainly he would have told Tooie. Either way, he’d made sure they would all stay in touch. The few days they waited for
Racing Dawn
, while Eapha was taking lessons and arranging the ship for their return, he’d spent a large amount of time drafting an alliance between Meridal and Sylph Valley. Lizzy hadn’t seen the details, and she doubted Eapha fully understood what she’d signed, but Lizzy was sure the new queen hadn’t been cheated. Even if Leon Petrule were the type, the fifty-three battlers of Sylph Valley would have no chance against Eapha’s seven hundred, and he was smart enough to know they’d figure out any double-dealings.