Crown of Crystal Flame
Page 150

He wouldn’t allow Elfeya or Ellysetta to risk themselves trying to undo what the Mage had done, and he wouldn’t risk the Fey by giving the beast its freedom, so he had willingly bound himself in sel’dor. To his mate’s objections, he had replied, “Pain is life, kem’san. I accepted that long ago. We are together, and we are free. That is joy enough for me.”
The Fey Lord’s face was carved from stone, but his granite jaw softened, and the hard glitter of his green eyes warmed when he turned his attention to the daughter he’d suffered decades of torture to protect. “Blessings of the day, ajiana. Miora felah to you and your mate. May Shadow always fall short of your Path and your days be filled with joy.”
Ellysetta embraced him. “Beylah vo…Gepa.”
His arms clutched her close. “You do us proud, kem’nessa.” He bent his head to her ear, and added in a hoarse whisper, “You were worth every moment.”
The tears she’d been fighting squeezed out between her lashes. When her father released her, she begged again, “Won’t you change your mind and stay with us here in Dharsa?”
Shan smiled and shook his head. “Nei, child. Tehlas is our home. It is where we belong.”
Rain had asked Shan and Elfeya to take Tenn and Venarra’s place on the governing council, but they had declined. After their centuries of confinement, the bustle of Dharsa unsettled them—and disturbed the tairen tied to Shan’s soul. They both believed the solitude of their now-abandoned home city would suit them much better and grant them both the time they needed. Time to live together in peace, without pressure or restraint. Time to walk the silvery beaches of Tairen’s Bay, or turn their faces up to the sun, or lie on the rooftop of their old home at night and make love beneath the stars. Time to heal and to learn what it was to be free once more.
“But you will visit us, of course,” Elfeya said. “You and your mate… and your papa and sisters, of course.” She sent a fond glance at the twins, who both already bore smudges of dirt on their pristine white gowns. The two girls had captivated Shan and Elfeya with their laughter and mischievous antics, and most of their time since returning to Dharsa had been spent in the company of the twins, watching over them and spoiling them as they had not had the chance to watch and spoil their own child. Elfeya lifted her hands to spin a quick weave. The smudges vanished and the slightly askew bouquets of Amarynth nestled in the twins’ mink brown curls straightened neatly. “And perhaps one day, their mates as well, hmm?” she added, as Kieran and Kiel joined the group on the terrace.
Rain’s brows drew together. Elfeya was looking at Kieran and Kiel when she spoke, and there was a very Elvish look in her eyes.
Before he could comment, Bel appeared in the arched doorway and signaled to him. Rain nodded an acknowledgment. “Kabei. Our final guests have arrived. With them is someone I think you and your daughters will want to meet, Master Baristani.”
They turned their attention to the arched doorway just as Gaelen and Rijonn ushered in two dozen of the women and children from the dahl’reisen village and Farel’s white-haired, silver-eyed hearth witch.
“Sheyl.” With a happy smile, Ellysetta greeted the woman who had helped save their lives and enveloped her in a warm hug. “Meiveli ti’Dharsa. Welcome to Dharsa. Welcome to the Fading Lands.”
“Thank you.” Sheyl nodded at Rain. “Thank both of you for your kindness and generosity in offering us shelter and a new home. Farel sends his greetings and bids you both much joy.”
Despite the lingering concerns of some Fey, Rain had granted safe harbor in the Fading Lands to the refugees from the Verlaine Forest—including every dahl’reisen who had sworn a lute’asheiva bond to Ellysetta. As few as the Fey had become, there was more than room enough for the dahl’reisen lu’tan to live in one of the abandoned Fey cities without inflicting their pain upon the vulnerably empathic women of the Fey.
Farel and most of his men had refused. Even without the Mists to bar their return, they would not step foot in the Fading Lands while they still bore their dahl’reisen scars. They chose instead to settle in Orest and Dunelan, to serve as the guardians of the Fading Lands they had always been. Many of the villagers had refused as well—like Sheyl, who would not leave her chosen mate and several non-dahl’reisen men who preferred to fight alongside their friends, fathers, and brothers. The rest had made the woodland city of Elverial their home, though there was talk of resettling in Lissilin. Thanks to Tealah’s tireless efforts to recover all the lost knowledge retained in the Mirror of Memory, Rain and Ellysetta now knew how to restore magic to the dead Source there. Life would bloom in the desert again.
“Sha vel’mei, Sheyl,” Ellysetta said. “Though I do wish for both your sakes that Farel had accepted Rain’s invitation. I would gladly restore his soul, Sheyl.”
“We both thank you, but he could never accept the pain it would cause you. Despite what some Fey may still think, he is too honorable a Fey to ever let you suffer on his behalf.” Sheyl forced a smile. “Enough sad talk. This is a day of joy. And there is someone who would like to meet your father and sisters.” She gestured, and the woman standing in the shadows of the archway stepped out onto the terrace.
Lillis’s eyes widened briefly, but then a slow smile spread across her young face. “Your name is Bess.” She walked across the terrace and hugged the aunt she’d never met as if they were old friends. “Hello, I’m Lillis. Mama loved you very much, and so will I. I’m so very glad you’ve come.”