The Whispering (17 page)

“
It has nothing to do with my soul, Sidhe traitor.  Tharin killed someone I loved and cared about.  I will have my revenge.”

He
smirks, raising a brow at her.  “Really?  Even after his death you still pursued Tharin, still tried to get him to return to you.  It’s only after he spurned you that you finally came back to the fold.”  He turns fully on her.  “I wonder what he would say if he knew you’ve been tied to the Ange since childhood?  That you were planted in the tower for the sole purpose of making him fall in love with you?  And for a while you had him, didn’t you, Kalis?  And all it took to break your hold on him was a Halfling.”

“
Watch your mouth, traitorous dog.  I don’t care as much as you think I do about your role in this game.  I have no problem killing you.”  Her lips curve up into a sensual smile, but her eyes tell him she is dead serious.

In a blink of an eye,
Dorlan has Kalis captured in his arms.  “You're no match for me – don’t make threats you can’t keep.”

“
I know your secret, Dorlan,” she says, using her body to get the upper hand in their embrace.  “But unlike your brother, I have no emotional ties preventing me from going through with my ‘threat’,” she purrs.  Although Dorlan has her trapped, it is Kalis who is holding him in place as she wraps her arms around his neck.  Dorlan takes her in a rough kiss and it is several minutes before they come up for air.

“
You have bewitched me,” says Dorlan in a harsh tone.

Kalis smiles, one I know too well
, and pushes away from him.

“
If you want me Sidhe traitor then do as you promised.” She gives him a sensual look, distorted only by a snarled lip. “I want that little bitch.”

It takes everything I have to stay in control
knowing who Kalis is talking about.  So, everything we shared before Lily was all a lie.  I should have known.  Suddenly, little signs that I would have noticed if I wasn’t so blinded by her charms flash in my mind. 

“Mellis?”
No answer. 
“Mellis,”
I call sternly, knowing he is still in the tree next to me.

“
Oh, sorry, cousin.  I was gouging my eyes out from what I just witnessed, but then I realized it’s now embedded in my brain.  You wouldn’t happen to have a suggestion on how to scrub the image out, do you? Short of killing myself, that is.”

I sigh patiently
. 
“As soon as the coast is clear, take Glynnis back to the others,”

“
Not a problem, as long as I don’t have to keep watching this crap,”
he replies.

“
Take the others back to the tower; and whatever you do, don’t let Lily out of your sight,”
I order.

“
You got it, fearless leader.  Umm,”
he hesitates, “
what should I say when your wifey-to-be asks where you are?”

I
’m surprised to find I’m at a loss for a response.  I have never had to answer to anyone before. 

“Tell her the truth.”
 

“
Seriously?  You want me to tell Lily that instead of going back to her you decided to chase after Kalis?”
he says, his thought lined with amusement.

It is a good thing he is in another tree. 
“Mellis, you will tell her the truth; that we came across the Ange and we’re following them to find out where they’re located.”

“
Perhaps I should go,”
offers Alorn.

“
No, I need you with me,”
I instruct. 

“
Morlo,” calls Harlu from below, “take the lead and find the girl.  Be careful, she’s not what she seems; a chosen one of the Mother herself.  Get the relic and then kill her.”

I look down at Glynnis, still
passed out in my arms.  Her clothes fit her snugly, if she is hiding something it isn’t anything I can see.  What I do see is a bruise at her temple, near the hairline.  I gently move her hair aside to get a better look; and there, hidden under her hair is a large lump mixed with sweat and dried blood.  This explains her erratic movements from earlier.

I refocus on the group below.  Morlo takes the demons and orcs south, the direction Glynnis was heading.  Harlu and Aureinia
head north, with Dorlan and Kalis following close behind.  And that is where we will be going, too.

I wait another ten minutes before releasing Alorn and Mellis from their hiding place with a short command.  We meet at the bottom, just a few feet from where
Dorlan and Kalis stood.  I hand Glynnis over to Mellis and his face twists into sadness as he looks at her.  He holds her close, nods and then disappears without a word.

“
Milina’s death still hangs heavily over him,” says Alorn.

I nod as I watch after our youngest cousin.  He has come through this far unscathed, but he will make it through to the end of his journey with a few battle scars.  We all will.

I turn to the warrior elf.  “You ready?”

He nods and faces the direction
Harlu and Aureinia took.  I hesitate.

Alorn turns back
to me with a perplexed look.  “What?”

“
Kalis said I killed someone she loved.” 

“
You heard what Dorlan said, Tharin.  She has been with the Ange a long time.  She’s a liar and we can’t trust any memory we have of her.”

I nod somberly. 
I’m not so worried about Kalis, but the fact I killed someone and not know who it is bothers me.

“
Let’s go,” I say, not wanting to think on it any longer.  “The sooner we move the sooner I can return to Lily.”

Alorn nods and we speed forward after Harlu and the others. 

“Alorn,”
I call as we flit through the trees, closing in on our targets.

“
Yes, Tharin?”

“
If you see an opening, take him out.”

I don
’t have to say who, we both know who the real threat to Lily is.  Harlu. 

I feel Alorn
’s silent agreement; the thought of taking Harlu out reinforces our resolve and we continue without further communication.  That is, until a call for help rings out through the jungle, stopping us dead in our tracks.  Damn it.  What is she doing here?

~ * ~

Chapter Seventeen

~ Lily ~

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I ask, not sure I heard Mellis right.

“
Tharin isn’t here because he and Alorn have gone after Harlu in an attempt to find out where they’re hiding,” repeats Mellis.

I look at Julia, who shrug
s.  Tolan shakes his head, not giving me any clue how to respond.  I glance over at Ziri who is now up, but still weak from the poison.  He doesn’t notice me or anyone else as he sits next to Glynnis, watching her sleep.  Tolan attended to her earlier while I spoke with Mellis.

“
And you said there are demons running all over Velesi?” I ask for the second time, still trying to understand Tharin’s reason to rush Alorn and himself into danger.

“
Yes.”

“
And it looks like the demons, at least from what you tell me, are following Harlu’s orders?” I ask, stepping forward.

“
Yes,” replies Mellis, not moving.

“I see.  I mean, I get it; we need to know where they are, but why go off with just the two of them?  We could’ve helped.”

“
No,” says Tolan.  “Something like this calls for stealth.  It will take less time with just the two of them then it would if we all went.  It’s not the first time Tharin and Alorn have done this, Lily.”

“
Sure, of course.  But demons are running loose in the realm and it’s just the two of them out there.  Maybe Mellis and I can...”

“
No,” says Tolan adamantly.  “Tharin trusts you to do as he asked, Lily.  We aren’t going back to the tower to put you under lock and key, we’re going because we believe our father and Ka are in danger.  You can’t worry about Tharin every time he has to go on a mission, it’s what he does.”

Julia moves to stand beside me. 
“He’ll be okay.  He’s too stubborn not to be.”

Yeah, easy for her to say, she
’s got her elf right here with her.

I sigh
.  “Okay.  When do we leave?”

“
Now,” answers Tolan, turning to Ziri.  “Can you travel?”

Z
iri takes his eyes off Glynnis.  “Yes.”

Mellis moves to pick Glynnis up but Ziri puts his hand out, stopping him.

“I’ll carry her,” he says quietly, rising and reaching out for his coat.

“
Are you sure?” asks Mellis, concerned.  “You’re still weak from your wound.  I can take her, Ziri.”

“
No, thank you, Mellis.  If it gets to that point I’ll take you up on your offer, but I got this.”  Without another word, he bends down, lifting Glynnis easily.  She seems like a small child in the large elf’s arms.

Mellis shrugs and follows Ziri out. 

I turn to Tolan and Julia.  “When we get to the tower, will you go after Tharin and Alorn?” 

I try not to sound worried, but I can
’t help it.  I finally feel Tharin and I are at a really good place.  I am becoming more and more comfortable and have a better understanding of my feelings for him.  To lose him now would crush me.  I love him and, damn it, I
am
worried about him.

“
Lily,” says Tolan slowly.  “I will go after Tharin when he calls for me.  Trust me when I say that I will know if he’s in trouble.”  Uncertainty must cloud my eyes because he reassures me by saying, “It’s a twin thing.”

I finally give in. 
“Okay, but you will tell me the minute something happens, got it?”

“
Yes, my queen.”

As Julia and I turn to follow him out, I lean in and whisper,
“I can get used to that.”

Julia
smiles dreamily, “Yeah, me too.”

I nudge her with my elbow
.  “Not his grin, silly – people calling me ‘my queen’.  Damn girl, reel it in, will you.”

Julia laughs
.  “Hell no...I like feeling girlie, especially when he’s doing it.”

Tolan
glances back at Julia with a knowing smile.  When he turns from us, she grabs my arm, laughing silently.

We would have made it to the city gates sooner
if we were able to go elf mode, but because Ziri and Julia don’t have the ability, we keep at a jogging pace.  The long trek also took its toll on Ziri, but he wouldn't give Glynnis up.  Mellis finds a nearby shelter, a small cave and we stop to rest.  I work on Glynnis and I am able to bring her around and once she transforms into her golden state, she is almost fully healed. 

“
What happened?” asks Ziri.

Glynnis would not look at him.  She
replies by giving her answer to me.

“
I felt your presence when you came through the doorway.  Mother gave me this,” she pulls out a small pouch and hands it over to me.

I
take it from her, but I don’t open it.  “How did you get hurt?  Why didn’t you change to your golden form to heal yourself?”

Glynnis
quickly glances first at Tolan and then Ziri.  With a determined look she continues, “During your absence the tower was under attack.  Word was sent out to the Willow Clan and the others nearby.  Dalim fought alongside the king and his liege, and when they were overwhelmed, the captain of the guard took them to safety within the walls of the Willow Clan.”

“
Dalim?” I ask, fear filling my chest.  “What about Marilyn?  He was supposed to stay behind and protect her.”

“
Dalim brought your foster mother with him.  She is at the Willow.”

“
Why didn’t you come to me?” I ask fear sharpening my words.

“
I am sorry, my queen.  I have no ties to anyone but you and Prince Tharin so to get to the tower, I have to walk like everyone else.  As I neared the main path to the tower a witch with great power struck me down before I could summon the change.  I barely escaped, using the relic to guide me to the prince.”

“
Did you give it to him?” I ask.

“
She was out cold when Tharin reached her. She didn’t have time," answers Mellis.

“
No, not him,” she corrects, turning to Tolan.  “You.”

I look
at the pouch and finally empty its contents into my hand.  A flower-shaped stone the size of a half dollar sits in my palm.  I take a closer look and there is something familiar about it, but I can’t put my finger on it.

“
Is that another key?” asks Julia, peering at it from over my shoulder.

“
No, mistress,” answers Glynnis.  “It is the Junsper Stone.”

Tolan
takes the stone from me.  “The Junsper Stone?  It can’t be.”  He looks at us, stunned.  “This stone doesn’t exist.  It was destroyed eons before Velesi was even created.”

“
That is true,” says Glynnis.  “But the Mother is full of secrets, including where all the Stones of Eirrell are buried.”  She turns to Tolan.  “The stone will help you find the doorway to Eirrell.  I was to give it to you so that you may hand it over to the Summoner.”

“
Well,” I say, “then it’s done.  Tolan is the Summoner.”

Glynnis
looks at Tolan and after a brief moment, bows her head to him.  She turns to me and says, “Then my mission is done.  I will return to the clearing and wait for your return.”

Ziri stops her. 
“You’ll come with us.”

She look
s at me.  “I cannot unless the queen requires me to.”

I return
her gaze and ask, “Have you been at the clearing all this time?  I mean alone?”

Glynnis keeps her eyes on me and I noticed how her breathing seemed to tighten at my words.

“Okay, you’re coming with us,” I command.

Glynnis let
s out a slow breath, trying not to show her emotions; and I don’t miss Ziri’s grateful grin. I sigh knowing Glynnis is relieved to be with others and not locked away at the clearing alone.  It will take more than his handsome face for Ziri to win her back.

“
Okay,” I say, turning to Tolan, "now what?”

“
We need to get to the tower.  We have to make our way to the queen’s suite and to her private garden.  There’s a path there that can take you to its sister garden at the Willow.” Tolan looks at me and says, “It’s how our mothers visited each other.”

The thought of finally v
isiting my mother’s clan excites me and I find I am anxious to get going.

“
What about Tharin and Alorn?  How will they know to go to the Willow?” I ask Tolan.

“
I’ll leave them a message sphere,” offered Mellis.  “I’ll leave it where only they will be able to find it.”

I smile
at Mellis gratefully.  Knowing Tharin would know where to find me eases the dread growing in my chest.  Julia nudges me and hands over my coat. 

“
You ready?” she asks.

I nod and without another word, we follow Tolan
from the cave and back into the wet night.

Tolan keeps us close to the giant trees, noting the Kufftai are still absent from the ring of woods
protecting the Oak Clan perimeters.  The absence of the guardians worries him because as far as he knows, they were to return after Tolan and Ziri took the Willow Clan from Falsad and Harlu.  Another concern is the gates are wide open.  From what I was told, the king ordered the gates closed and they were to remain closed until Kolinest was caught and sent back to the UnderRealm.

“No guards at either gates,”
observes Mellis. 
“Maybe I should take a look.”

Tolan
nods and Mellis takes off without a sound, or a glance back.

We watch Mellis zip around the first set of gates and disappear into the trees standing several yards from the bridge to the city.  It is when he flashes to the first pillar of the bridge that I realize the panswa trees that line
d both sides of the bridge are out.  In fact, all the panswa to the city are out, giving an eerie, menacing look to the island.  The main tower that houses the royal suites is the only one with lights coming from the windows.  From where we hide, we can tell the lights are not the natural lighting of the panswa.  Instead, they flicker as if by torches.  The rest of the city is in darkness.

I turn to Tolan, tapping at my temple.

“Yes, Lily?”

“
What’s with the lights?”
I ask, keeping my eyes on the spot where Mellis is.

I feel him bring the others into the conversation and I am amazed
how easily I’m becoming more and more sensitive to the
whispering
.

“
It’s a safety mechanism.  Without my father here, the panswa will remain dormant until his return,”
he answers.

“
Wait,”
interrupts Julia. 
“Are you saying your dad keeps all the lights on throughout the realm?”

“
No, just here.  Everything within these gates is tied to the king, as it is with the other clans,”
he answers, also keeping his eyes on Mellis’ location. 
“Hold on.”

We wait anxiously as Tolan cuts us off.  We know he is in connection with Mellis. 

Finally, he pulls us back in. 
“Mellis has cleared the bridge up to the first trellis of panswas.  He’ll wait for us to reach him before moving on.”

“
Wait,”
I say, reaching for his arm,
“what of Jarhan?  Can she help us?”

“
I don’t think so, Lily.  I don’t sense her nearby,”
he replies. 
“Perhaps you can reach out to her, see if she’ll come to you.”

I pause for a moment, looking out toward the lake. 
“I don’t know how.”

Tolan takes me by the hand.  He turns to Ziri and
nods, and instantly Glynnis transforms.  Her golden form is muted to prevent any detection, but to be sure, she pulls on her hood, completely covering her head and shoves her hands into her pockets.  Julia moves to stand next to Ziri and all three nod back.

“
They’ll meet us on the bridge,”
explains Tolan.

I glance at Julia, who
meets my gaze with a determined look and before we have a chance to say anything, Tolan pulls me forward and around the gates.  We move quickly, but stealthily through the trees until we come to the edge of the lake.  I glance at the bridge alongside me only several yards from where we are standing, and watch as Ziri, Julia and Glynnis move like shadows to where Mellis waits.

Standing beside me, Tolan says quietly,
“Close your eyes, Lily, and picture Jarhan in your mind.  Once you’re calm, call to her.”