discard you like a useless tool and raise your son as my own. Having been born here in my lands, am I not also in some way his mother?”
He knew he could call upon the Way, but to what end? What was the chance of one man prevailing against a demonlord who had withstood the combined might of the council and the armies of Edyn? Here, she was all-powerful, and the threat to his son was very real if measured by the conviction he saw in her eyes. Her sudden display of power had the same effect as a bucket full of cold water splashed in his face, returning a modicum of control over himself and what he could objectively see now as his own madness.
“Release me,” he said calmly.
She watched him, her gaze so direct it seemed to strip away any deceit he might harbor to peer at the control of the man underneath. Then, apparently satisfied, she dropped her hand and the crushing grip was gone. Duncan fell the short distance, stumbling to all fours.
“You do not doubt his existence?” she asked with a tone of curiosity, as if nothing untoward had just occurred.
Duncan shook his head briefly, “She was pregnant when she fell through. If she survived… let me see him.” He looked up at her from bent knee, but his voice still did not plea, it demanded.
Lilyth had turned away and put a gentle hand on one of the many children that, having remembered play was foremost, ran in and around her again. “And why would I do that, Lore Father? Shall I show him to you, giving you a face to suborn all reason? You will dedicate yourself to saving him, and then what of my needs? Anonymity seems a better hand for me to play right now. I will reveal him when it suits my purposes.”
His head hung wearily when he asked again, “Is there no end to your demands?”
She laughed, then turned to face him, her tone growing serious, “I have a mission for you, simple in comparison to your work in Edyn. Accomplish it, and I will release your son to you, unharmed. You and your family may go in peace and live out your days for as long as I’m able to hold against Sovereign.” She stopped, then said, “Though if I fail, you may regret not joining me when you could have made a difference.” Lilyth spun and made her way up the dais that led to her throne, the act of seating herself as much a command for him to come forth as if she’d ordered it.
Duncan watched her, and could hear his escort leave their stations to flank him. He could feel his will crumble, and knew he’d do anything for his wife and son, even though he’d never met the boy. For all his foresight that Lilyth would have demands, his newfound clarity had not been ready for her artful maneuvering. In a tired but determined voice he asked, “What do you want?”
Lilyth’s gaze did not waver from Duncan’s own when her demand fell from her lips. “Kill Valarius.”
Sacrifice
“The only measurable mark of love, is sacrifice…”
- Duncan Illrys, Remembrances
H ighlord Valarius Galadine stepped around the bend, his arm wrapped protectively around his wife. They had been together for close to two hundred years, and in that time he’d found his love for her had become deeper than he could imagine. Together, they had survived in a world that seemed intent on killing them, and that shared common bond had made them steadfastly committed to each other.
“Are your preparations going well, my lord?” she inquired.
Valarius smiled and nodded. “Soon we will walk again under the cool sun of Edyn, beloved.”
They walked down the wooden halls of Avalyon, the forest city that served as home to his elves. It floated by itself, a vast ball formed from a network of living trees and home to over ten thousand of his elven children. Life had not been easy in Arcadia. The Way flowed strongly here, so much so that thoughts had to be guarded lest nightmares give rise to real demons.
Valarius did not worry, for his disciplined mind had persevered and overcome
He knew he could call upon the Way, but to what end? What was the chance of one man prevailing against a demonlord who had withstood the combined might of the council and the armies of Edyn? Here, she was all-powerful, and the threat to his son was very real if measured by the conviction he saw in her eyes. Her sudden display of power had the same effect as a bucket full of cold water splashed in his face, returning a modicum of control over himself and what he could objectively see now as his own madness.
“Release me,” he said calmly.
She watched him, her gaze so direct it seemed to strip away any deceit he might harbor to peer at the control of the man underneath. Then, apparently satisfied, she dropped her hand and the crushing grip was gone. Duncan fell the short distance, stumbling to all fours.
“You do not doubt his existence?” she asked with a tone of curiosity, as if nothing untoward had just occurred.
Duncan shook his head briefly, “She was pregnant when she fell through. If she survived… let me see him.” He looked up at her from bent knee, but his voice still did not plea, it demanded.
Lilyth had turned away and put a gentle hand on one of the many children that, having remembered play was foremost, ran in and around her again. “And why would I do that, Lore Father? Shall I show him to you, giving you a face to suborn all reason? You will dedicate yourself to saving him, and then what of my needs? Anonymity seems a better hand for me to play right now. I will reveal him when it suits my purposes.”
His head hung wearily when he asked again, “Is there no end to your demands?”
She laughed, then turned to face him, her tone growing serious, “I have a mission for you, simple in comparison to your work in Edyn. Accomplish it, and I will release your son to you, unharmed. You and your family may go in peace and live out your days for as long as I’m able to hold against Sovereign.” She stopped, then said, “Though if I fail, you may regret not joining me when you could have made a difference.” Lilyth spun and made her way up the dais that led to her throne, the act of seating herself as much a command for him to come forth as if she’d ordered it.
Duncan watched her, and could hear his escort leave their stations to flank him. He could feel his will crumble, and knew he’d do anything for his wife and son, even though he’d never met the boy. For all his foresight that Lilyth would have demands, his newfound clarity had not been ready for her artful maneuvering. In a tired but determined voice he asked, “What do you want?”
Lilyth’s gaze did not waver from Duncan’s own when her demand fell from her lips. “Kill Valarius.”
Sacrifice
“The only measurable mark of love, is sacrifice…”
- Duncan Illrys, Remembrances
H ighlord Valarius Galadine stepped around the bend, his arm wrapped protectively around his wife. They had been together for close to two hundred years, and in that time he’d found his love for her had become deeper than he could imagine. Together, they had survived in a world that seemed intent on killing them, and that shared common bond had made them steadfastly committed to each other.
“Are your preparations going well, my lord?” she inquired.
Valarius smiled and nodded. “Soon we will walk again under the cool sun of Edyn, beloved.”
They walked down the wooden halls of Avalyon, the forest city that served as home to his elves. It floated by itself, a vast ball formed from a network of living trees and home to over ten thousand of his elven children. Life had not been easy in Arcadia. The Way flowed strongly here, so much so that thoughts had to be guarded lest nightmares give rise to real demons.
Valarius did not worry, for his disciplined mind had persevered and overcome
Similar Books
