“Something is wrong, Lachlei, to bring a godling here,” Cahal said, interrupting her thoughts.
“The warrior on Laddel’s right side,” Lachlei said. “Who is he?”
Rhyn hesitated. “That would be Telek,” he said. “First-blood.”
Lachlei stared at the Laddel. There was a familial look between Rhyn and Telek that couldn’t be disguised, despite Rhyn’s Lochvaur features and Telek’s obvious Laddel countenance, hair, and build.
Lachlei steeled herself and clapped her legs against her horse’s sides. Cahal and Rhyn rode with her.
The Laddel guards parted and circled the three Lochvaur. Laddel rode forward, his brass eyes glowing in the oncoming night. “Lachlei,” he said with a smile. “Daughter of my granddaughter. Please accept my condolences on the loss of Fialan. He was a great warrior-king.”
Lachlei nodded. “Laddel,” she said, smiling. “What brings the children of the wolf-god to Lochvaren?” “The same thing that brings you to this place—Areyn Sehduk,” he said.
Lachlei stared. “Areyn Sehduk?” she repeated in confusion. “The death god is here?”
Laddel considered her and then glanced at Cahal and Rhyn. His eyes rested on the warrior god. “Did you not tell her our true adversary, Rhyn-?”
“Rhyn,” Rhyn’athel said firmly. “I suspected a demon…”
“But he did not know,” interrupted Telek, his brass eyes holding Laddel’s gaze for a few moments.
Lachlei recognized a private exchange in mindspeak between the two Laddel warriors, but could not eavesdrop. Instead, she met Laddel’s gaze. “You say our quarry is none other than the death god?” she asked. “If that is so, he chooses his battles poorly. The Silren are twenty miles north of here—we have them on the run.”
“Areyn knows there is the Truce to reckon with,” Telek spoke up. His wolf eyes glittered in Mani’s light. “He fears the warrior god’s involvement and therefore remains covert in his actions. But once he destroys the Lochvaur, he will seek out the Laddel.”
“Telek is right,” Laddel said. “Don’t underestimate your foe, Lachlei, for he will destroy us.”
“Then if Areyn Sehduk is here,” she said. “Where is Rhyn’athel? The warrior god wouldn’t leave us to fight alone.”
“For the time being, he has,” Laddel said. “The war is only between the Silren and Lochvaur. That may change if we do not fight now.” He smiled. “But this is not the place for council. You and your warriors will be the Laddel’s guests tonight while we plan our strategy.”
Lachlei tilted her head in a short nod. “I accept your hospitality and the hospitality of the Laddel.”
41
Fialan awoke to the cold dawn. He had refused to return to Lochvaur’s fortress, and Eshe would not leave him. She had lain beside him during the night, and he had wrapped his cloak around them both. Fialan held her during the night, conserving what little heat their bodies had between them. She was pretty, he thought, and much stronger than he had given her credit for.
Yet his mind was still fixed firmly on Lachlei. Fialan had known that Lachlei might remarry if he were to die before she did. Such remarriages were not uncommon among Eleion, especially Chi’lan, whose lifespans were long, but who frequently died in battle. But Fialan had never considered how he might feel about it when he was dead—if indeed, he had any feelings about the matter. He had relegated death to the back of his mind. If, not when.
Fialan knew his jealousy was unfounded. He was, after all, dead, and the vows he and Lachlei had taken were dissolved. Yet, couldn’t Rhyn’athel have saved him from Areyn? Lochvaur hadn’t thought so, but Lochvaur was Rhyn’athel’s son.
“There will be a day, Areyn, when I will exact my revenge.”
“Really? Or will you let your brother do that?”
Fialan recalled the words between Lochvaur and Areyn. The barb Areyn shot at Lochvaur was exquisite. Painful and yet cut to the point. Would there even be another son of Rhyn’athel now that Areyn knew that Lachlei was the crux in this war? Fialan knew Lachlei would never consciously give herself to Areyn Sehduk—but he could deceive her or even rape her.
Fialan shivered in the cold, pulling Eshe closer for warmth. Eshe’s eyes opened and she smiled. She sat up. “That’s the first time I’ve slept alone with a man fully clothed,” she said wryly.
Fialan sat up with her still in his arms and, feeling his face flush, began laughing. “I’m afraid this is my first time sleeping with a beautiful woman without taking advantage of the situation.”
“Really?” Eshe said. She twisted around in his arms and kissed him.
Fialan pulled away. “Eshe, I can’t…” he began.
A scream interrupted him. They scrambled to their feet. A large demon with the head of an eagle loomed over them. Like Flayer, the demon had the torso of a man with bat wings, but had the lower body of a bird of prey. Eshe flinched and buried her head in Fialan’s chest. Fialan pushed her away gently and drew the ghost blade. “What do you want?”
The demon grinned, showing sharp teeth within the beak. “Areyn needs fighters,” he said. “You and Eshe—by Lochvaur’s own orders.”
Suddenly, the world fell around them. Darkness closed around Fialan and dragged him down. He tried shouting for Eshe, but his voice made no sound. Instead, all he could hear was roaring of the wind as it rushed by him. Then it stopped and he collapsed to solid ground. Fialan felt sick. He had dropped the Fyren ghost blade and now lay in the mud. The light was blinding. Strong hands grasped him and pulled him to his feet. He could see little save dark figures. They weren’t rough as they helped him regain his balance.
“Fialan!” Eshe called, her voice near panic.
“It’s ok, Eshe,” Fialan said. “I’m right here.”
“I thought you’d be used to it by now, having gone through it once,” Lochvaur’s voice said wryly.
“Where are we?” Eshe said.
“We’re in Elren,” Fialan said. “Back in the world of the living.”
Do you think that was wise, Lachlei? Cahal asked in mindspeak as they followed the Laddel king back to their army.
Lachlei glanced at Rhyn, who seemed at ease with the arrangement. Why? she asked. They are our allies.
They could capture and ransom you, Cahal replied. We could do naught.
They could have destroyed us with their army and chose not to, Lachlei replied. I sense no deception and nothing in my Sight indicates a danger.
The Sight is not infallible, Cahal said.
Rhyn doesn’t seem concerned, Lachlei replied.
Rhyn brought them.
You don’t trust Rhyn? Lachlei asked. I thought you were good friends…
We are, Cahal said. But he may not see the danger.
Lachlei chuckled. “That doesn’t sound like Rhyn,” she said aloud.
Cahal shook his head. “No, it doesn’t.”
Rhyn had been riding in front of her, conversing with Telek. He glanced behind at the mention of his name. She caught his gaze and smiled and he grinned wryly. Telek noted the exchange with interest before returning to talk with the Chi’lan.