The Reborn King (Book Six) Read online

  Theopolou had once tried to describe to her the deep connection he had with this place, but she'd never really understood. Not until this very moment. His family had spent generations cultivating a relationship with the flow here. At least, that’s how he'd explained it to her. Now, at last, she could feel as he did - partly due to her training, but mostly because his blood also flowed through her veins. This gave the land more than life. It gave it a soul.

  The gleaming gates swung open as she touched the handles and, oblivious to the assembly of elves behind her, she passed through.

  Aaliyah, Linis, and Basanti broke away from the twenty elves belonging to Theopolou’s clan acting as their escorts and made their way alongside Kaylia, the wide path being easily able to accommodate them all walking abreast. The crystal statue in front of the main house sparkled in the noonday sun and split the rays like a prism, casting rainbows of warm light in every direction. The majesty and unrelenting beauty of the manor and grounds was never wasted on Kaylia. She paused to take in her surroundings.

  “Magnificent,” remarked Aaliyah.

  “Indeed,” agreed Basanti.

  “Theopolou told me that this was built at a time when our people made many wonders using the power of the flow,” explained Kaylia. Saying his name aloud immediately brought an emptiness to her heart. Feeling his mother’s grief, Jayden awoke and began to cry.

  “Allow me,” offered Aaliyah, holding out her arms.

  Normally, Kaylia was hesitant to give over her son while he was crying, even to Aaliyah. However, this time she did so without protest or complaint.

  She recalled the day when she and Gewey had first visited here together. She had been so angry with her uncle at the time, even though his actions were driven by love and had only been to protect her. The fond memory eased a little of her sadness.

  The main door to the manor swung open and Lady Bellisia stepped out. Her face shining a welcome, she spread her arms wide. Even before the approaching group could reach the steps, she sprang forward and descended to meet them. She immediately embraced Kaylia, Aaliyah and Linis. Basanti gave her pause however. She had been told of the Oracle and of her origins, but it still unsettled her to think of someone so ancient being amongst them. Not wanting to show discourtesy, she bowed low instead.

  “And now for the guest of honor,” Bellisia said, leaning in closer to see Jayden. He had already stopped crying and was beginning to drift off. She brushed his cheek with the tip of her finger and sighed. “I remember you this young,” she said, glancing at Kaylia. “Your father brought you to every home within a hundred miles after you were born. He was so proud.”

  Kaylia smiled, but said nothing.

  “And it will be good to have a new life here,” Bellisia continued. Pulling herself away, she gestured for everyone to enter. “Come. All has been made ready for your arrival.”

  Kaylia was grateful that Bellisia had chosen to go on ahead of them to prepare the house. She had no desire to be looked upon with wary eyes by the servants and caretakers. Bellisia would have seen that they were all familiar with the new circumstances far ahead of time.

  With their duty done, the elves escorting them took their leave and departed. Their homes were scattered well away from Theopolou's grounds, and many had families they had not seen in some time.

  Once inside, both Aaliyah and Basanti paused to admire the gleaming walls and green marble floors.

  “Much like the halls of my homeland,” remarked Aaliyah.

  “It was likely built not long after your two peoples were separated,” said Basanti. “Perhaps even before. Elves were master builders for a very long time after the barrier went up. The decline in their skills was a slow one.”

  “To think that you remember such things,” said Bellisia, shaking her head in wonder. “One day I would like very much to hear of what you know concerning my people. Since the opening of the Book of Souls and the revelations it brought forth, I have been anxious for further knowledge. Most of the book has yet to be translated. All we know at present is what Gewey was able to divine in the short time he spent with it.”

  Basanti lowered her head and smiled. “I will be happy to share what I have learned. But I must warn you, some of the things you hear may be upsetting. And it will be told from my singular perspective.”

  Bellisia nodded. “After what I have been told, there is little you could say that would cause me pain. I did my best not to show it in front of Darshan and Chiron, but I was deeply disturbed by what he said.”

  “Then come and see me whenever you like. I will tell you my account regarding your people. And don’t worry. Most of it will please you. The elves have been through many changes over the millennia.”

  “Sadly, now that Kaylia and Jayden are here I must leave at once,” she said. “My healing skills are needed with Lousis and the army.”

  “When you return then,” said Basanti.

  Then mention of war cast a dark shadow over the assembly and they entered the manor with thoughts of their friends and loved ones lingering in their hearts.

  Servants showed them upstairs to their rooms. An ivory crib with elf blessings carved in delicate ancient lettering had been placed in Kaylia’s chambers. She tried to divine whether the house staff would be accepting of the new situation, particularly the presence of Jayden, but their expressions were stone and unreadable. News of Theopolou’s death had certainly hit them hard. Many of the elves who dwelt in the manor had lived their entire lives beneath its roof.

  She fed and changed Jayden, then left her room to say farewell to Bellisia. The urgency of her departure only brought more feelings of anxiety to the fore. Afterward, she wandered the house in an effort to ease her mind with fond memories. Each painting and tapestry she passed was like looking at a piece of her childhood. She had spent as much time here as she had in her own home. Theopolou and her father had been very close, in spite of the fact that her father preferred a more rural and simple lifestyle than his brother. She remembered a conversation she had overheard between the two when she was still very young. Theopolou thought it best to keep Kaylia with him one spring to further her education, while her father insisted that their time in the forest was more important.

  “Only the Creator knows how much time we have with our children, Theopolou,” her father had said. “And they are only children for a short while. There will be time for books and study later. This time…this precious time…is fleeting.”

  The prophetic nature of what he had said now rang true and clear as a crystal chime.

  On the top floor of the house were the libraries and parlors. It was in one of the lesser sitting rooms that she came across Aaliyah admiring a small statue of an elf maiden sat upon a marble pedestal.

  “Your uncle had exquisite taste,” Aaliyah remarked.

  “He did,” agreed Kaylia. “But much of this has been passed down for generations.” She noticed Aaliyah’s sad expression and touched her shoulder.

  Aaliyah sighed. “Am I so transparent?”

  “Only to me.”

  “I miss my home,” she said. “And seeing this place reminds me of what I left behind. But more than that, I miss Nehrutu. I cannot help but question my decision to send him with Gewey and Felsafell.” She looked up with guilty eyes. “I know how selfish that must sound to you.”

  Kaylia felt a sudden, overwhelming compassion. Careful not to put Jayden between them, she embraced Aaliyah tightly. “You are not selfish. I would have Gewey at my side if I could. And were there a place to hide from the world, I would take Jayden and escape this terrible war.”

  A tear fell from Aaliyah’s eye as Kaylia released her. “I would flee as well, if I were able. Now that we are bonded, I have no greater love than for Nehrutu. I would do anything to protect him.” She looked down at Jayden, who was wriggling and cooing. More tears fell. “And when I think of what you have risked…I am ashamed.”

  The sight of Aaliyah’s tears induced Kaylia to spill a few of her own.
“Please do not be,” she said. “I was relieved to hear that Nehrutu was going with Gewey. I did not give a thought to the danger he would be in, only that my unorem had more protection. I thought of the loss I would feel should my love not return…not yours. For this I could feel ashamed as well. But we both know the pain of loss. You were prepared to follow your mate in death. I went mad when my bond with Gewey was broken. Neither of us can be faulted for not wanting to endure that for a second time.”

  Aaliyah wiped her eyes and forced a smile. “You are very young to be so wise. I thank you for your words. My heart is lighter.”

  Kaylia laughed. “I feel as if I have aged two-hundred years since I first met Gewey. By the time he returns, I suspect I’ll be an elder.”

  They strolled from room to room together for the next few hours, talking about happier days of long ago, and of the peaceful times to come.

  Just before dinner, they were joined by Linis. He appeared to be in unusually good cheer.

  “The house staff wishes me to convey a message to you,” he told Kaylia. “You are now to consider yourself master of this manor.”

  Kaylia raised an eyebrow. “I thought they did not care for my being here.”

  “Of course they are deeply saddened by Lord Theopolou’s passing,” he explained. “But in his wisdom, he sent word of his desire for you to be his successor before he left for the Steppes. They would never question his final request.”

  “When you say staff,” said Aaliyah, frowning, “do you mean the servants here? I have wondered…”

  “They are not slaves,” laughed Linis. “They serve as a matter of honor. Lord Theopolou was a chief among our elders. Many came here in search of his wisdom, then chose to remain after receiving it. All may come and go as they please. And now they wish to pass on to Kaylia the respect they had for her uncle. As this house has become their home, some will most likely remain. Others may choose to leave and start anew.”

  Aaliyah nodded. “I see.”

  “Do you not have servants in your land?” asked Kaylia.

  “Not as you do,” she replied. “Most menial work is done in turn. We work as one. For example, dinner is prepared and served by all who sit at the table. And certain tasks are assigned according to need. We have no need for servants, because all are equal.”

  “Then what of your masters of crafts and learning?” asked Linis. “Do they halt their work to clean and polish?”

  Aaliyah shrugged. “Certainly. Why should they not? Only those too old or sick do not assist. I may be the most powerful elf in my land, but just before I departed, I was polishing the railings of the city archives. I feel no shame in this. In fact, I am pleased to have done my part.”

  Linis nodded approvingly. “Perhaps when the rest of your people arrive, this is something we should adopt. Though I am surprised to hear you speak of it only now. You have been here for some time and seen the order of things.”

  “Yes, but this is the first purely elf dwelling I have been in,” she explained. “Until now I have seen only human, or a combination of elf and human. But do not misunderstand. I do not disparage your ways. There is honor in serving those you admire and love. Aboard my ship, I did little of the actual work. My crew would not allow it.”

  There was a brief pause.

  “Are you leaving us soon?” Kaylia asked Linis, changing the subject.

  His face twisted and he shook his head. “Dina has insisted that I remain here in spite of my assurances that the manor has ample protection. Besides, she claims that her new duties as Interim High Lady of Amon Dähl would make my presence at the temple a distraction. Now that Lady Selena is Queen of Althetas, the order is in need of leadership…at least, that’s what Dina tells me. In truth, I think she feels guilty that everyone else has to be apart from the ones they love and cannot justify her own lack of sacrifice.”

  “What will you do if she takes up the position permanently?” asked Kaylia.

  Linis shrugged. “I have no idea. But I do not believe that she wants it. Until now our plan has been to find somewhere quiet to settle once the war has ended. I suppose only time will tell.”

  After a little more talk, they made their way downstairs. Dinner was already being laid out on a large round table in the center of a spacious, warmly lit room, elegantly decorated with superb oil paintings and masterfully crafted furnishings. Basanti soon joined them and they all sat down together, eating at a casual pace. Conversation was light, centering mostly on past times and childhood memories.

  Just as they were ready to retire, an elderly elf woman named Therisa beckoned for Kaylia to follow her outside. Kaylia had known the woman her entire life. She had been head of the household staff for more than three-hundred years, and had a stern and unbending nature about her. She went after the old woman, accompanied by Aaliyah.

  The night was comfortably mild, with stars dotted about a cloudless and moonless sky. Even so, the statue at the front of the house still managed to glow with an almost spiritual light.

  Therisa was kneeling at the statue’s base, and gestured for Kaylia to come do the same. “I can feel that your ability with the flow is strong,” she said. “Stronger even than Lord Theopolou. This is good. It will ease the transition.”

  After handing Jayden to Aaliyah, Kaylia joined the woman. “What is this?” she asked.

  Her stoic expression softened into a sweet smile. “You are master of this house, just as Theopolou was before you, and his father before him. Now that Theopolou has died, the land is without a companion. You must take his place.”

  Though not nearly as strong as her own skill, Kaylia could feel the flow emanating from Therisa and entering the crystal. The light transformed into a deep blue as the power was amplified. Kaylia knew instinctively what to do. Closing her eyes, she placed her hands on its base. A warm sensation washed over her. Instantly, she could feel the flow coursing from the earth and seeking to combine with her spirit.

  The moment she joined with it, she could feel everything around her coming to life. It was as if the manor, the grounds, and everything within it had a consciousness…and it knew her. She allowed it to wrap itself around her in a warm embrace. When she was a child she had thought that Theopolou was in command within his borders. But that was only partly true. Now she truly understood. Just as he had been, she was a part of this place, and it was a part of her.

  Just then her eyes snapped open and she sprang to her feet.

  “What is it?” asked Therisa.

  “Get inside and alert the staff,” she ordered. “Enemies are coming.”

  The flow burst forth from Aaliyah as she hurried over, reaching out to the surrounding area. “I feel nothing,” she said, frowning.

  “They are there,” Kaylia insisted. “They are clever. And they are elves.”

  Chapter Two

  Gewey mounted his horse and made his way to the vanguard of the massive army. Even at a gallop it took him ten minutes to reach King Lousis and Nehrutu, who were waiting patiently. Nehrutu looked uncomfortable atop his mount. Much like the desert elves, he preferred traveling on foot. Lousis, on the other hand, looked tall and proud – every inch a warrior king.

  “It’s about time,” called Lousis. “I thought you might have lost your nerve.”

  Gewey laughed. “I did. But being as how you are refusing to leave me behind…”

  “And where is Felsafell?” asked the king.

  “I suspect that he’s not far away,” said Gewey. He took a long look back at their force, which measured one-hundred and fifty thousand swords. “I’m still amazed at how many soldiers you were able to muster in just two months.”

  “And when you join with the desert elves,” added Nehrutu, “your enemy will truly have cause to fear.”

  “I hope to gain even more support along the way,” said Lousis. “Baltria has managed to recruit men from the Eastland, and I hope to do the same.”

  “And if those you hope will become allies turn out to be enemies?�
�� asked Gewey.

  “I do not intend to engage in battle until I must,” Lousis replied. “If we are allowed to pass unhindered, we will. The journey will be difficult enough without the added hardship of battle.”

  “If you are resisted,” said Nehrutu, “Mohanisi and the others from my land should be able to swing the advantage to your favor. It’s unlikely they will know what he and my kin are capable of.”

  Gewey hoped that such a display of power would also make them think that Darshan was leading the army. This was a hope shared by the king, though it was left unspoken. Lousis was already in poor spirits that King Victis would not be with him. His friend had returned home to assist the southern kingdoms in rebuilding their shattered lands. Being that many of their sovereigns had perished, his leadership was desperately needed there. The remaining northern rulers had also gone with Victis in a show of solidarity. Of all the remaining monarchs, only King Lousis would be going to war.

  This was a fact that had not gone unnoticed by the former High Lady, and now Queen Selena. It was all Lousis could do to keep her from coming along too. It was only when Lousis named Jacob as his heir that she finally relented. Lord Ganflin would be there to instruct Jacob as to his duties, but Jacob insisted that his grandmother stay too. And though the former High Lady knew this was likely a conspiracy to keep her from harm, she could not refuse her grandson.

  Lord Chiron arrived, his normally cheerful countenance grave and showing the signs of age.

  “All is ready?” asked Lousis.

  “It is,” Chiron confirmed.

  “Then why so glum?”

  “I have been on such a march before,” he replied. “During the Great War, the remainder of the elf nations gathered in a desperate effort to stave off defeat. I cannot help but be reminded of what happened then.”

  “What did happen?” asked Gewey.