«Nei, his mind was too full of last night’s triumph. He has created a second Tairen Soul. A boy this time, with vel Serranis blood.»She closed her eyes in horror. The poor, doomed child. There was no one to save him as she and Shan had saved Ellysetta.
«He must be stopped. If he Mage-claims a Tairen Soul... »His voice trailed off. Twenty-five years ago, that same fear had pushed Shan and Elfeya to willingly risk death in an effort to bind their daughter’s magic and smuggle her out of Eld so Maur could not enslave her soul. The devastating power of the tairen under Mage control—it was a horror so dark Elfeya could scarcely think of it without shuddering.
«Elfeya... beloved... »
Her body tensed. When hershei’tansaid her name like that outside of mating, it never boded well.
«The girl who was here earlier—the umagi who came to feed me—she asked for my help. She wants me to kill Maur.»
Her blood ran cold.«Nei.»
«Elfeya—»
«Nei! It must be some sort of trap. Some new way to torment us. She is umagi. None of them could even think such a thing without the one who owns their souls knowing it.»
«Perhaps another Mage is her master then. One who wants Maur dead.»
«Even if that’s true, there’s no way you could kill him without being slain yourself.»
She felt his soul sigh. Then he said, in a voice so soft and weary it made her throat close up,«After all these centuries of torment, can death truly be so terrible a fate, kem’san?»
The tears she kept telling herself she would not shed pooled in her eyes and spilled over.«Nei,teska,do not think that way. Solong as we live, there is hope. A thousand years we have suffered. A thousand more would I bear, just for what few bells he grants us together. Do you love me any less?»
«You know I don’t.»
«Then promise me you will not do this.»
«Elfeya... »
«Promise me, Shan.»
For a long moment he did not answer, and then finally, in a defeated whisper,«What choices we make, we make for us both. If you do not wish it, it will not be done.»
The Fading Lands ~ Fey’Bahren
«Your mate needs feeding,»Sybharukai chided.
Ellysetta had been sitting with the eggs for several long bells. Even now, she leaned against them, her hands stroking gently over the leathery shells as she crooned little songs of encouragement and praise.
“Aiyah,” he agreed, “and sleep.” Though inside, the nesting lair remained dark and unchanged, outside the Great Sun had passed its zenith and was already approaching the western horizon. Most of the day was gone, and Marissya and Dax were less than eighty miles away. They would be here before nightfall.
Rain regarded Ellysetta. There was no hint of the weariness he could feel beating at her. Was she even aware of it? Her concentration was wholly focused on communicating with the five small, unborn tairen huddled in their eggs. She was weaving love around the unborn kitlings the way Fey wove the elements, only her weave wasn’t Spirit. It wasn’t illusion. It was genuine emotion, real love, warming and welcoming. Tenderness. Devotion. Pride. Encouragement. It shone from her like sunlight, bathing the kitlings in its warmth.
“Shei’tani.”He touched her shoulder. Still singing, she turnedtowards him, and for a brief moment the song of warmth, love, and tenderness poured over him, soaking into his skin. His breath stalled, and his eyes half closed in pleasure.
He gave a small frown of protest as Ellysetta cut her song short.
“I’m sorry.” She started to rise, and a surprised look crossed over her face as her legs—cramped for so long in their crouched position—collapsed beneath her.
He caught her, swept an arm under her legs, and lifted her off her feet, carrying her with effortless strength up the main entrance tunnel.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked as they veered right into one of the larger passageways branching off of the main tunnel.
“You are weary. You need to eat and sleep. There is a sleeping chamber above where you can rest.” Globes of light flared to life as they walked, illuminating their path. This tunnel was narrower than the main tunnel but still quite wide. The walls were smooth, the floor well worn.
“But the kitlings—”
“We have time.” The tunnel forked in three, one path leading below, two others leading up. They went up and to the left. “The sickness attacking the tairen comes most often in the bells between dusk and dawn.”
