She couldn’t shake the ruby red of his blood, its stain spreading across the perfect picture of storms personified.
As if sensing her thoughts, Rionan squeezed her hand and shook his head. Grief washed over his face as he locked eyes with Alianna.
“Not now, my love,” he whispered, leaning forward and kissing her tenderly. “Rest. There will be much time to mourn those lost before the land can begin to heal. Korva is in the process of arranging a service to say goodbye to those we have lost, and to thank them for their sacrifice.”
Rionan drew a slow breath through his nose, closing his eyes. “You could have so easily been one of the names on that list, Ali. So easily been part of that service, for reasons I cannot bring myself to think about any more than I have done so already. So, for me – please, rest.”
***************
Another week came to pass.
A week of Alianna fading in and out of the deepest sleep she could remember experiencing. Her dreams were filled with visions of Ulreah, of Rannirr, of lightning storms and the shrieks of Amassa clashing in the sky.
Her dreams always shifted; from nightmares to the soothing sensation of being embraced in Rionan’s power. A strange, gentle voice welcomed her as if she belonged.
Home. Home. Home.
The dreams were always hard to recall when she awoke, aside from seeing Ulreah’s vacant expression as he fell through the skies, which he had so masterfully used as a weapon.
As the days passed, her headache began to ease, with the help of Ykava. The High Healer brought her tonics every day to aid her recovery, to lessen the effects of falling into Rionan’s power. To ‘knither consciousness back together’, was what Ykava said she was trying to do. Whatever that meant.
Rionan saw to her every whim. He had handmaidens bringing her food, drink, and fresh clothes whenever she was notasleep. He personally ensured that she was drawn hot, luxurious baths, filled with bubbles that smelt so richly of lavender, that they seemed to draw the worries from her.
Thallax also visited her once or twice, to see how she was, each time thanking her for her bravery in the battle.
She cringed at this; she didn’t feel brave. She felt like Ulreah had protected her, and it cost her his life. The moment he had gone, she had hurled herself into a situation that should have seen her obliterated.
When the day came that she felt able to rise from her bed without the room spinning around her, Rionan led her to his balcony. The grey stone balcony opened up across his grounds. The forests, visible from their vantage point, had begun to colour with green leaves. There was much healing to take place, but the process had started.
The mountains that sat on the horizon were snowy, despite the sun that was beating down across Xanthia.
The grounds beneath them were still mostly devoid of any plant life. The ground was cracked and dried out, with dark patches visible where lightning had struck repeatedly.
Rionan put an arm around Alianna, looking down at her as she scanned the area surrounding Savangrad. A warm breeze snaked its way around them, sweeping her hair from her shoulders, ruffling the skirts of the light dress that she had been dressed in that day.
“Soon, you will be able to see the version of Xanthia that I had wished to show you,” he purred to her, kissing her temple.
“Why is everything still so desolate?” she asked. “Is all of Xanthia like this?”
“The Northern territories are similar. The South and East are substantially worse. Rannirr’s hold on Xanthia was formidable. He may have been wiped from this realm, but the stain of his corruption remains. We, the Lords of Xanthia, need to unify once more, for thepurposes of purification andcasting out all that Rannirr stood for. Then, Xanthia will be whole once more and flourish as it once did.”
Rionan gestured to the seats, which were arranged on one side of the balcony, overlooking what would have once been a magnificent view. His staff – at least, Alianna presumed they were staff – had brought lunch out for them. A platter of fresh fruit, bread, cheese, and small cakes, which were overflowing with cream and various fillings. The platter smelled delicious.
Alianna sat down gingerly, expecting pain to shoot through her head once more. It did not.
Rionan motioned to two ornately painted pitchers, picking up two small goblets.
“What would you like to drink?” he asked. “In this one is a herbal tea. It is warm, despite the way it is contained.”
“What does it do?” Alianna asked, expecting that the tea had been prepared by Ykava, for medicinal properties.
“It...tastes nice?” Rionan smiled. “Honestly, I haven’t the foggiest idea what else it does. My staff have been making it for me during stressful times for as long as I can remember. I find it comforting.”
Alianna smiled at the thought of Rionan being taken care of by those who worked at Savangrad, even if they did not live directly with him.
“And what is in the other one?” she asked.
Rionan beamed at her, his face lighting up with such joy that she felt her stomach somersault. “Mimosas.”
