Read Online Soul Seeker (The World of Lasniniar Book 1) by Jacquelyn Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jacquelyn Smith
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I don’t have the heart to watch Lysandir recount the tale again.” He closed his eyes, trying to decide where to begin. “Although Lysandir’s life has been based on betrayal, none of it has been his. If not for the Kinslaying and the initial betrayal of the dwarves, he and the others of his kind would probably never have been created.”
Iarion told the twins Lysandir’s story and about the creation of the rest of the Learnéd. A long silence hung over them once he had finished.
“What is this Kinslaying you speak of?” Linwyn asked. “I have heard mention of it before, but no one has ever explained it.”
“I have also heard of it before.” Barlo gave Silvaranwyn a meaningful look.
Iarion exchanged glances with the Linadain . She gave a brief shake of her head. Very well. If she wasn’t going to tell them, he wasn’t going to take up the burden.
“It is an event that occurred during the Age of Sundering,” Iarion said, trying to keep his voice even. “It was something of painful significance to the elves.” Barlo and the twins waited for Iarion to say more, but were left disappointed.
“Well that clears that up,” Barlo muttered.
Silvaranwyn leaned over and tapped Iarion on the shoulder. “May I speak with you alone?” Her expression was strained. Iarion nodded. They walked to the far side of the hall, out of earshot of the others.
“What’s wrong?” Iarion asked. Now that it was just the two of them, he found himself lapsing into Elvish.
“I can barely feel it.” The words seemed to tumble from her mouth.
“Can barely feel what?”
“The Quenya!” Her golden eyes filled with tears. “My connection has been slowly fading since we left Melaquenya. I expected this. But after I used my connection to call the hawk, I almost lost it completely!”
“You can’t be serious.” Iarion shook his head and started to turn. Silvaranwyn put a hand on his shoulder.
“Would I jest about something like this? Iarion, it is so distant!” Her face was full of anguish.
“I do not doubt your seriousness about what’s happening to you. What I cannot believe is you are actually talking about it to me, of all people!” Iarion threw his hands up in disgust. “At least you can still feel it. What do you think it’s like for me?” The stunned expression on Silvaranwyn’s face told him this had never occurred to her.
“I am sorry, Iarion.” Her fingers tightened on his shoulder. “I simply forgot. I just needed to talk to someone. I thought you would understand.” Her eyes pleaded with him.
“How could you possibly—” Iarion checked himself, realizing the others were glancing over at the two of them to see what was the matter. He brought his face close to Silvaranwyn’s and continued in a harsh whisper. “How could you possibly think I would understand? I can never feel the Quenya inside me. Never!”
“Then perhaps you are better off,” she said, lowering her eyes for a moment. “I have lived with it all my life, and now it is slipping away. I feel as though I am standing on the brink of an abyss! It is as if a part of me is slowly dying. To never have known the Quenya at all would almost be a blessing.” A single tear slid down her cheek.
Iarion felt like he had been punched in the gut. “You have no idea what you’re saying.” Golden eyes met silver-flecked sapphire. “You don’t know what it’s like—” Iarion cut himself short, unable to continue.
He turned and walked away, leaving Silvaranwyn to stare after him.
– Chapter Nine –
Strengths and Weaknesses
Iarion stalked up the stairs that led to the northern tower, fuming. He hoped no one would follow him. He needed some time to himself. He reached the top sooner than he expected. He took a deep breath of the fresh air and stared out at the wide world. What had Silvaranwyn been thinking? How could she be so ignorant? She would never understand.
And that was the problem. No one would ever understand.
Iarion told the twins Lysandir’s story and about the creation of the rest of the Learnéd. A long silence hung over them once he had finished.
“What is this Kinslaying you speak of?” Linwyn asked. “I have heard mention of it before, but no one has ever explained it.”
“I have also heard of it before.” Barlo gave Silvaranwyn a meaningful look.
Iarion exchanged glances with the Linadain . She gave a brief shake of her head. Very well. If she wasn’t going to tell them, he wasn’t going to take up the burden.
“It is an event that occurred during the Age of Sundering,” Iarion said, trying to keep his voice even. “It was something of painful significance to the elves.” Barlo and the twins waited for Iarion to say more, but were left disappointed.
“Well that clears that up,” Barlo muttered.
Silvaranwyn leaned over and tapped Iarion on the shoulder. “May I speak with you alone?” Her expression was strained. Iarion nodded. They walked to the far side of the hall, out of earshot of the others.
“What’s wrong?” Iarion asked. Now that it was just the two of them, he found himself lapsing into Elvish.
“I can barely feel it.” The words seemed to tumble from her mouth.
“Can barely feel what?”
“The Quenya!” Her golden eyes filled with tears. “My connection has been slowly fading since we left Melaquenya. I expected this. But after I used my connection to call the hawk, I almost lost it completely!”
“You can’t be serious.” Iarion shook his head and started to turn. Silvaranwyn put a hand on his shoulder.
“Would I jest about something like this? Iarion, it is so distant!” Her face was full of anguish.
“I do not doubt your seriousness about what’s happening to you. What I cannot believe is you are actually talking about it to me, of all people!” Iarion threw his hands up in disgust. “At least you can still feel it. What do you think it’s like for me?” The stunned expression on Silvaranwyn’s face told him this had never occurred to her.
“I am sorry, Iarion.” Her fingers tightened on his shoulder. “I simply forgot. I just needed to talk to someone. I thought you would understand.” Her eyes pleaded with him.
“How could you possibly—” Iarion checked himself, realizing the others were glancing over at the two of them to see what was the matter. He brought his face close to Silvaranwyn’s and continued in a harsh whisper. “How could you possibly think I would understand? I can never feel the Quenya inside me. Never!”
“Then perhaps you are better off,” she said, lowering her eyes for a moment. “I have lived with it all my life, and now it is slipping away. I feel as though I am standing on the brink of an abyss! It is as if a part of me is slowly dying. To never have known the Quenya at all would almost be a blessing.” A single tear slid down her cheek.
Iarion felt like he had been punched in the gut. “You have no idea what you’re saying.” Golden eyes met silver-flecked sapphire. “You don’t know what it’s like—” Iarion cut himself short, unable to continue.
He turned and walked away, leaving Silvaranwyn to stare after him.
– Chapter Nine –
Strengths and Weaknesses
Iarion stalked up the stairs that led to the northern tower, fuming. He hoped no one would follow him. He needed some time to himself. He reached the top sooner than he expected. He took a deep breath of the fresh air and stared out at the wide world. What had Silvaranwyn been thinking? How could she be so ignorant? She would never understand.
And that was the problem. No one would ever understand.
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