Griffin's Destiny (19 page)

“Ashi, if the Kirians say we must do this now, then we must.” She stood and the others rose with her.

If my death will save the world, then for my daughter’s sake, I must embrace it
, she thought.

“I’m ready,” she said and clasped Ashinji’s hand.

***

Jelena bent to kiss her father’s brow in farewell, then allowed Ashinji to lead her from the bedchamber. Her eyes were dry for she had no more tears left. She had shed the last ones while saying goodbye to Hatora.

The sweet smell of her body, the softness of her skin; these memories of her baby, along with that of Ashinji’s touch, were the things Jelena most wanted to carry with her into death. When at last she could bring herself to let go, she had relinquished the child to Eikko’s waiting arms.

“Look after my daughter, Eikko, until my husband and my mother-in-law return,” she had instructed with as little emotion in her voice as she could manage. The hikui servant girl knew nothing specific, but she was no fool. As soon as she had taken Hatora into her arms, she gulped and shuddered as fat tears rolled from her brown eyes.

“Hush, Eikko, please!” Jelena had admonished gently. “You’ll upset the baby even more than she already is.” As she turned from her daughter for the last time, she heard in her mind the bird-like sound of Hatora calling to her. She had not dared to respond, for fear she would lose all courage.

The hard parts are done. Now, all that’s left is to die
, she thought.

No, that’s not true. I still have to say goodbye to Ashi.

He strode alongside her now, his arm linked with hers. The
scuff scuff
of his boots on the stone floor kept time with the beating of her heart. Ahead of them walked Taya, carrying
Kashegi’s Notebooks
. The Eye of Lajdala, ancient badge of office for the masters of the Kirian Society, shone like a red lantern on her breast. The fire of its magic blazed in response to the princess’ Talent, casting a blood-red glow on the walls, ceiling, and floor.

Behind them walked Gran and Amara, each woman carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle in her arms. Sonoe had stayed behind for a few extra moments alone with the king, but had promised to catch up. She would bring the White Griffin Ring.

Taya led them at a brisk pace along a series of hallways and down two flights of stairs before stopping in front of a set of doors carved with the likenesses of figures from elven mythology.

“The library?” Jelena asked.

Aren’t big, important rituals supposed to take place in tower rooms or stone chambers deep within the earth?

“Your question will soon be answered,” Taya replied, as if she had heard Jelena’s thoughts. She pushed the left door open and after they had all passed through, shut it behind them then led the way to an alcove in the rearmost chamber.

“We’ll wait here for Sonoe,” the princess stated. “I checked on the portal just last week. The magic is holding firm. We should all be able to teleport together.”

Jelena and Ashinji looked at each other in confusion.

“Are we leaving the castle?” Ashinji asked.

“Yes, Son,” Amara answered and pointed to what appeared to be a plain wooden panel. “Behind this door is a teleportal, a device created by our Society many ages ago. It allowed the Kirians of old to travel great distances in the blink of an eye, saving much time and effort. The magic used to create new portals has long been lost to us, but we modern Kirians have retained the knowledge needed to maintain the existing ones.”

“At least the ones we know about,” added Gran.

Taya nodded. “Quite true,” she said. “The Ritual will take place many hundreds of leagues from here, in an ancient fortress that once served as the stronghold of the Society. No Kirian has traveled to the Black Tower for quite some time now. We’re not even sure it still stands.”

“Then why are we going there?” Jelena asked.

“Because we know the portal beneath the fortress is still activated, which means at least part of the underground complex is still intact,” Amara explained. “At the very heart of the complex lies the main Spell Chamber, the strongest, most protected part of the fortress. It was built to withstand the most powerful of magical energies. We believe, based on writings of Kirians who survived the original battle with the Nameless One, that the Spell Chamber escaped destruction.”

“The Spell Chamber will be the safest place for us to conduct the Ritual,” Gran continued. “Also, it is near to where the Nameless One lies imprisoned. According to our chronicles, his prison vault lies directly below.”

Jelena shuddered and pressed closer to Ashinji, who tightened his embrace in response.

“Now is the time to ask about anything you still don’t understand,” Taya said, addressing Jelena. Her voice, usually so stern and commanding, softened. “I know you are afraid, Niece. You need feel no shame about it, not now. We all know the courage of your heart.”

“I understand what my part is, but why does Ashi need to do this?” Jelena demanded. All the bitter anger she had kept hidden, until now, rushed to the surface. She rounded on Amara, eyes flashing. “Pardon my insolence, Mother-in-law, but you deliberately denied your son his birthright, but now, you have no trouble using him when it suits you!”

“Jelena, leave it be,” Ashinji whispered.

“No, I won’t, Ashi!”

Amara held up her hand. “No, Son. Your wife is right to be angry with me. I did deny you what is yours, and for that, I am sorry, though at the time, I believed I was saving you from a lifetime of frustration and heartache. The Kirians have been woefully shortsighted and neglectful of our sworn duty. We never should have let our numbers dwindle to so dangerous a level. Now, we must rely on your raw Talent to provide the necessary boost to our power. Without your Talent, Ashi, we simply are too weak to defeat the Nameless One.”

“Our minds must all be linked within the Working. Since Ashinji is untrained, he can’t participate directly in the creation of the Spell,” Gran explained. “We four Kirians must concentrate on maintaining the integrity of the Working. Ashi, therefore, will be free to perform the most vital part of the ritual. We will draw down his energy and direct it through the blade as he strikes to sunder the Key from your body.”

Jelena closed her eyes and rested her head against Ashinji’s chest. The surge of anger had passed, leaving her drained. If she let go, she could fall asleep right here and now, lulled by the steady beat of Ashi’s heart.

They all fell silent, waiting.

“Where is Sonoe?” Taya hissed, breaking the silence and tapping her foot in a staccato rhythm. “She knows we have very little time!”

“She’ll be here soon, Aunt,” Jelena replied in a low voice. “She hates leaving…”

At that moment, something tore loose in her mind and vanished. She pushed away from Ashinji and took a step backward, hand to her mouth.

“What? What is it, love?” Ashinji reached out a hand to steady her.

“I’m not sure…” She shook her head, then realized with a start what had changed.

“I can’t feel my father anymore.”

***

Sonoe stood at the king’s bedside, gazing down at his still form.

The time is at hand, dear heart! My plan has been worked out to the last detail. The others think they know what will happen. They are mistaken!

She touched a fingertip to the stone pendant that served as her link to the Nameless One. It rested between her pale breasts like a drop of crystallized darkness.

No loose ends, my love.

She kissed Keizo tenderly on the lips for the last time, then pressed a silk-covered pillow hard against his slack face. There was no struggle, no pain. Keizo’s soul quit his wasted flesh with ease.

It is done.

She smoothed the bedclothes and rearranged the pillows then allowed herself a few moments to grieve. Keizo Onjara had been her companion and lover for many years, after all. To a casual observer, nothing would seem amiss.

The two guards outside the entrance to the king’s apartments remained at their posts, ensorcelled, their minds sponged clean of all conscious thought and recollection of her presence. If approached, they would respond, but only as automatons until the enchantment binding them dissipated. The king’s lifeless body should lie undiscovered for many hours.

Before she departed, she removed the White Griffin from the king’s finger then carefully folded his hands upon his breast. The ring felt heavy and cold against the skin of her palm, almost as if by removing it from its rightful owner, it had lost the ability to absorb body heat.

Sonoe raised the ring to eye level. With her mage sight, she could see the magical energy binding the very substance of the ring together.

So much power…so much potential…but useless without the Key!

A tiny smile crept across her sensuous mouth.

I shall have to get this sized to fit my finger.

The only task she had left to do now was to secure the Key for herself, but to accomplish this, she must first subjugate the Nameless One.

I am ready. I, alone, know his true name, and just when he reaches out to seize victory, I’ll snatch it from him and make him my slave!

She giggled a little, flushed with excitement. The other Kirians—fools all—would assist her, unwittingly, of course. She had not counted on Chiana Hiraino’s inconvenient return, though that should not present a real problem. The old woman’s powers had greatly diminished since her time as Mistress of the Society so many years ago, but she could still pose a threat if Sonoe didn’t act quickly to stop her.

Even weakened, the old cow is still the most Talented of the Society…except for me.

A log collapsed in the fireplace, sending a shower of sparks whirling up the chimney like a cloud of manic fireflies. The large, overheated room smelled of sickness, but Sonoe felt reluctant to leave just yet. She let her eyes roam, taking in every last detail so she would remember them later—the intricate murals of woodland scenes adorning the walls, the finely woven mats cushioning the stone floor, the figurine of a mare and foal, carved from a whale’s tooth, resting on her dressing table.

I’ll miss all of this so much!

Her gaze settled on the big bed with its mounds of pillows and sumptuously embroidered coverlets where the king lay unmoving.

Has it really been almost twenty years since Keizo first made love to me in this very bed?

Sonoe sighed, and a bittersweet twinge of desire and loss stirred the place below her belly.

A soft whimper distracted her from her musing. She looked down to see her little dog Jewel sprawled at her feet. The animal squirmed and presented its flank for petting.

In her intense focus on the endgame, Sonoe had forgotten all about Jewel. She scooped the dog into her arms, laughing as it ecstatically licked her face.

“My poor little poppet,” Sonoe murmured. “I wish I could take you with me, I really do.” She cuddled the quivering dog against her breast and stroked its silky fur. “I love you, pet,” she crooned, then with a quick twist of her hands, she snapped the animal’s neck and dropped the carcass to the floor, where it landed in a little heap, twitching.

The time had come. She must leave now, for the others would be waiting. At the bedchamber door, she paused to look back one final time. Despite the ravages of the plague upon his body, Keizo looked remarkably well in death—peaceful, handsome, and above all, kingly.

Sonoe’s heart skipped a beat. “Goodbye, my darling,” she whispered and fled.

What do you mean, you can’t feel your father?” Ashinji saw fresh distress in his wife’s eyes.

“I can’t sense his mind anymore. It’s as if he’s disappeared! Ashi, I think he’s…he’s…”

Jelena’s face blanched as her voice stuttered to a halt. Ashinji could only hold her as she stared blankly past his shoulder.

“Sonoe should have been here by now,” Taya muttered through clenched teeth. “Whatever is taking her so long?”

“Patience, I beg you, Sister,” Amara soothed. “Sonoe knows what’s at stake. A few moments to say goodbye to her beloved, is not too much to ask for…”

“It is when she puts all of us in jeopardy.” the princess shot back. She glared at Amara for a moment, then abruptly turned away and said, “At last!”

Ashinji heard the sound of rapid footfalls approaching. A heartbeat later, Sonoe rushed into the room, breathing hard as if she had just run a great distance. Instinctively, Ashinji moved to put himself between the red-haired sorceress and Jelena, but his wife pushed past him and went to her friend.

“Sonoe, I can’t feel my father in my mind anymore!” Jelena cried. “Is he…”

Sonoe flung her arms around Jelena, and Ashinji had to resist the urge to pull her away. “My dear friend,” she murmured. “Your father still lives, but he is very weak. Perhaps that’s why you can no longer sense him.”

She’s lying!

Ashinji opened his mouth to speak but the accusation froze on his lips.

She’s afraid if Jelena knows the truth, her grief might jeopardize the Sundering! She’s right, Goddess damn her!

Jelena sighed and nodded. “Yes, of course. That must be it. Thank you for taking such good care of him, Sonoe. I’m truly grateful.” With a final squeeze, she broke their embrace, and added, “I wish now I’d insisted my father marry you.”