“I know,” she said, drying her eyes.
Rhyn’athel smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. “Ah, Lachlei, it won’t be long when we are together in Athelren.”
“By a god’s reckoning or a mortal’s?”
“By my own reckoning,” Rhyn’athel replied. “I cannot bear to be parted from you long.” He sighed. “I have already spoken to Cahal—he will be Lachlan and Elsonre’s foster father. And then, of course, there is Ni’yah…”
Lachlei laughed, despite her tears. “Are you trying to corrupt your sons?”
Rhyn’athel chuckled. “Ni’yah isn’t my first choice as a role model, but he is my brother and an Athel’cen. He can teach my sons what they need to know.” He took her hands and kissed them, placing a ring on her finger. It was a simple band of intertwining patterns. Beloved, he said in mindspeak. You will not be far from me.
Lachlei stared at him as he opened his mind to her. You wish to mind-link? she said in awe. Is that even possible with a mortal?
I will make it possible, beloved. Will you accept it?
Yes. Lachlei closed her eyes as she felt the mind-link form between them. Rhyn’athel’s presence within her mind was almost overwhelming. Like staring into the sun after being in the dark, she thought. His fierceness, power, and love flowed through her. Slowly, the force of his presence dimmed. When she opened her eyes, she knew he was gone.
Gone, and yet, not. Lachlei could still feel the warrior god’s presence and emotions as he left her. Loneliness. Regret for leaving her. Love.
Lachlei twisted the band on her finger, and it glowed softly in the waning light. Rhyn was with her even now. The mind-link was his gift to her; his promise that he would never leave her. This time, nothing would break the mind-link. Not even death.
She walked to the window and stared into the twilight sky. The stars were slowly winking into the velvet night. The link between them caressed her gently.
Rhyn was right. It would not be long.
People, Places, and Things in Lachlei
• Cahal—chief guard and Chi’lan warrior.
• Elrys—Council Member.
• Fialan—King of the Lochvaur, killed by Areyn Sehduk.
• Haellsil—Infant son of Lachlei and Fialan.
• Kellachan—cousin to Lachlei and Fialan.
• Kerri—Younger Chi’lan.
• Kian—Chi’lan warrior who brings the bodies of Fialan and his men back.
• Kieran—Chi’lan warrior who sits on the Council.
• Lachlei—queen of the Lochvaur, Chi’lan.
• Laewynd—Leader of the high council member.
• Lochynvaur—Father of Lachlei.
• Moira—Council Member.
• Talar—Council Member.
• Tamar—Chi’lan warrior.
• Tarchon—Council Member.
• Tragar—Chi’lan in charge of guarding Haellsil.
• Akwel—Areyn Sehduk’s guise.
• Cara—daughter of Silvain.
• Galen—a noble who served Akwel.
• Haukel—a rebel Silren, loyal to Rhyn’athel.
• Silvain—king of the Silren, son of Elisila.
• Tora—a rebel Silren, loyal to Rhyn’athel.
Elesil
• Conlan—King of the Elesil.
• Hakan—guard of Conlan.
Laddel
• Ladara—granddaughter of Laddel, mother of Lachlei.
• Laddel—King of the Laddel, son of Ni’yah.
• Ladsil—son of Laddel.
• Telek—Ni’yah’s Laddel name.
• Wynne—Lachlei’s personal lady-in-waiting. Eltar
• Imdyr—mother of Allarun—Wyrd Blood—Last of Areyn’s and Fala’s line.
• Tarel—Eltar guard.
• Eshe—Chi’lan Soldier.
• Kiril—Chi’lan Soldier, Shara’kai, bronze-skinned.
• Lochalan—Father of Fialan.
• Lochvaur—Son of Rhyn’athel, founder of the Lochvaur kindred.
• Redhael—Father of Redkellan
• Redkellan—King of the Redel
• Redsil—Redel soldier
• Flayer—an arch-demon
• Slayer—an arch-demon that took a warhorse’s form
• Adamantine—An ore when tempered is stronger than the hardest substance. Has magical properties as well. Scarce in Elren, it exists primarily in Athelren although there are ore deposits in Tarentor.
• Ansgar—a younger race, less warlike but shorter lived than Eleion
• Athel’cen—Three gods who were born from the Wyrd. Considered the most power of the gods.
• Athelren—World of the gods
• Caer Lochvaren—Main city of the Lochvaur
• Chi’lan—Lochvaur warriors dedicated to fighting for Rhyn’athel
• Darkling Plain—The boundary plain between the Lochvaur lands and other lands to the east.
• Demons—Are more or less twisted creations of Areyn Sehduk designed to carry out his orders. Unlike Eleion and Ansgar, they have no life-force beyond their bodies, but have no concept or fear of death. They can’t be reasoned with nor do they have a free will. They do their master’s bidding and their emotions mirror the dark emotions of Areyn Sehduk. There are many types of demons, but the ones that the Eleion recognize are the Heath-stalkers (lesser demons), Yeth Hounds, life-leeches, and Arch-demons.
• Eleion—a race of people with long lives, but still mortal, who are the descendants of the gods.
• Elren—Land of the Living
• Fyr-Dragons—creatures who exist within the Fyr
• Fyren—Fialan’s and later, Lachlei’s sword. Lochvaur’s first sword, forged from adamantine from Athelren.
• Heath-stalkers—The Heath-stalkers are the lesser and most plentiful demons. Called Heath-stalkers because before the Truce, they would travel the wilderness in search of victims. They feed off the blood and souls of the living.
• Iamar—Second moon
• Lochvaren—Land of the Lochvaur.
• Mani—moon of ominous portents.
• Nine Kindreds—The Eleion split into nine clans or kindreds, named after the founder. They are Lochvaur, Lochel, Redel, Elesil, Silren, Laddel, Haell, Eltar, and Falarel.
• Nine Worlds—In this universe, there are nine separate worlds, each connected to each other through the World Tree, which is the source of the Web of Wyrd. The Wyrd runs throughout the Nine Worlds.