Lachlei

Ni’yah sighed. He shook his head. “I don’t know—it’s the Fyr, Lachlei. Only the dragons survive it, themselves being creations of it.”

“Then, there is a chance,” Lachlei said fiercely. “We do have hope.”

“A foolish hope, perhaps,” Ni’yah said. “Come, we must meet with Lochvaur and the others.”

“Lochvaur? Rhyn’s son?” Lachlei asked.

The wolf-god nodded. “Lochvaur might have a better idea for fighting Areyn than I do. He was under Areyn’s dominion for nearly two millennia.”

“Lochvaur is still not as strong as he would like to think he is,” a voice came from behind them.

Lachlei turned her horse. Before her stood Areyn Sehduk. Beside him stood two demons holding Lochvaur, who struggled against the chains that bound him.

84

Lachlei and Ni’yah’s warhorses spooked. Lachlei leapt from her own before it threw her. Ni’yah dismounted and stood beside her. “Let them go,” he said quietly. “You won’t be able to hold them now that Areyn is here.”

Lachlei released her horse and it scampered away, terrified of both Areyn and the demons. She drew her sword, Fyren. The long sword felt woefully inadequate against the god.

Four demons flanked Areyn at either side. They were not the heath-stalkers, but arch-demons. They had raptor heads and gazed at her hungrily; their yellow eyes glowing as they considered her. Yet, it was Areyn who drew her attention.

Areyn Sehduk was a handsome god, Lachlei had to admit, despite his Eltar features. Dark, piercing eyes and a long black mane, Areyn was as tall as Rhyn’athel and as muscular. He wore black mail and no surcoat. A dark Sword of Power hung at his side.

Despite herself, Lachlei felt strangely drawn to the death god as much as she had been drawn to Rhyn’athel. She could see a resemblance between Areyn and Rhyn’athel. The warrior-hardened features, the angled jaw-line, the fierce expression—he reminded her of Rhyn’athel.

Could they be brothers? she wondered. She glanced at Ni’yah, whose gaze was riveted on the death god. There was a resemblance between Areyn and Ni’yah, too—she had not seen it between them because of Ni’yah’s wolf-like hair and eyes. But now, having seen all three Athel’cen, Lachlei could discern their similarities. Ni’yah and Rhyn’athel considered themselves brothers, being Athel’cen. Areyn was Athel’cen—did that make him Rhyn’s brother?

Lochvaur struggled against the fetters on his wrists, ankles, and neck. Stripped and bloody, he met Areyn’s gaze with a feral look that spoke of hatred.

Areyn laughed. “So, you will destroy me, Lochvaur? Where is your power now that your sire is destroyed? Where is the great Rhyn’athel now?”

Lochvaur was facing Areyn, but he held Lachlei’s gaze. “He isn’t destroyed. You of all should know this.”

Ni’yah glanced meaningfully at Lachlei. If what he says is true, he knows more than I do but, it could be the ramblings of a madman.

“Rhyn’athel is gone,” Areyn replied with such finality that Lachlei closed her eyes. “Nothing survives the Fyr save that which belongs in it.” He turned and slammed his mace into Lochvaur. The Chi’lan warrior went limp in the chains. “I’ll deal with you later,” he growled.

Ni’yah had already transmuted into his wolf form and leapt at Areyn. The wolf ’s massive jaws closed around the death god’s gorget, but Areyn threw him off with ease. Suddenly, Ni’yah stood chained beside Lochvaur’s limp form, unable to move as the fetters wound around his body.

“Leave him alone,” Lachlei growled, raising her sword. It was a bold, defiant gesture, but one she knew was hopeless.

Areyn turned to Lachlei, his dark eyes considered the Chi’lan woman thoughtfully. “I think not,” he said with a sneer. “I think they’ll make fine pets. Don’t you think?”

“I think if you were as powerful as you say, you’d free them,” Lachlei said.

“They can’t hurt you.”

Areyn laughed. “A brave goad, Lachlei, but I think not. Even I know my own limitations when handling fellow Athel’cen and their spawn. Ni’yah, for all his meddling can indeed be dangerous. And Lochvaur…” He paused and his countenance darkened. “Lochvaur is dangerous indeed.”

“Why are you toying with me—certainly not to taunt me,” Lachlei said.

“Rhyn’athel is gone, Lachlei—the Fyr consumed him as it will consume all. You’re alone now, and you alone must make a choice.”

“Choice?” Lachlei snarled. “What choice could you offer me?”

“Lachlei, don’t listen!” Ni’yah said.

“Silence, cur!” Areyn snapped, and a muzzle twisted around the wolf-god’s jaws. “Your brother is gone, and as usual, you haven’t the power to deal with me.” He turned back to Lachlei. “He meddles in the affairs of mortals without understanding what damage he causes. Lachlei…” His tone was almost a throaty purr. “Lachlei, they’ve kept so much from you.”

Lachlei took a slow breath. “What have they kept from me?”

Delight flickered in Areyn’s dark eyes. “You don’t know, do you?” Areyn said. “Neither Ni’yah or Rhyn’athel bothered to tell you your destiny? Funny how that slipped their minds.”

“What destiny?”

“Lachlei, Rhyn’athel was never in love with you. Gods such as the Athel’cen are incapable of love. Oh, we have needs and desires, but they are much different than anything a mortal experiences….”

“That’s not true,” Lachlei said.

“Really? Did Rhyn’athel mind-link with you?” Areyn smiled as he saw the doubt form in her eyes. “Gods can’t mind-link with mortals, Lachlei, because we are very different from you. While you may satisfy us for a short time, there is no love, not as you know of it.”

Lachlei forced herself to stare ahead at the demon god, but her mind was reeling with his words. Could Areyn be telling the truth? Rhyn’athel had not offered to mind-link with her as first-bloods did. Perhaps Rhyn’athel did not because he was a god—in that case, Areyn was right, Rhyn’athel could not mind-link with her. She forced herself to recall Rhyn’athel’s last words. “Rhyn loves me.”

“Rhyn is it?” Areyn chuckled. “My, my, how he duped you! Poor girl!”

“Silence!” Lachlei snapped. She raised her sword defensively. “Would you like to feel Fyren’s bite again?”

Areyn smiled, but his smile was patronizing. “Lachlei, don’t you think as a god, I could have anything I desire? Even you? Your pathetic attempts at defending yourself are hardly worth noticing. Still…” He grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know why ‘Rhyn’ was so eager to bed you?”

Lachlei’s face flushed slightly, but she kept her gaze steady and her guard up.

“The sons you’ll bear will change the balance of power,” Areyn remarked. “The Wyrd has shown us all this. Rhyn’athel naturally decided to seduce you to be certain it was his offspring, not mine.”

“That can’t be true…”

“Can’t it?” Areyn asked. He glanced at Ni’yah. “Why don’t you ask the meddler? He’ll tell you the truth.” With that, the muzzle slipped from the wolf ’s jaws.

Ni’yah moved his jaw back and forth in an effort to restore feeling to it. “Don’t believe him, Lachlei. Rhyn’athel loves you…”

“Is it true about my sons?” Lachlei asked. “Is that why Rhyn…”

“Lachlei, he’s twisting the truth around,” Ni’yah said. “That was a consequence of Rhyn’athel’s appearance in this world on the Wyrd…”

The muzzle snapped around his jaws once more, and the wolf-god tried fervently to paw it off. Areyn laughed. “You see, Lachlei? Ni’yah can’t deny that Rhyn’athel used you. I would’ve done the same, except Rhyn’athel kept such close guard over you; I couldn’t get my demons through.”