Lachlei (36 page)

CHAPTER Seventy-Six

Lachlei dismounted her steed and stood, wounded and bloody, on a hill overlooking Darkling Plain. She was weary and had not even the reserves to heal herself. Her arm ached from a cut she received from a Yeth hound, and it hurt to even breathe. She stretched slowly, rubbing her cramped thigh muscles with her good hand. She could still carry a sword
—
that was all that mattered now.

The shadows were growing long again. The hours since the morning victory had slipped by all too fast. Her warriors recovered what few clothyard shafts and adamantine-tipped arrows there were. They had pulled the wounded deep inside their lines, hoping to heal them. Lachlei had done what she could, not even bothering to heal herself now. Her own safety seemed meaningless with so many wounded. Even now, she could see the torches of Areyn’s army marching ever closer to her own weary troops. They needed to flee
—
to escape Areyn unrelenting pursuit
—
but they also needed rest.

“Lachlei!” Cahal spoke. She turned and looked at her second-in-command.

“Cahal,” she said.

“You know we found Wynne and Haellsil.”

She caught her breath.

“They’re alive and with the noncombatants,” he said quickly. “
Chi’lan
Kerri got them out of the city before Areyn razed it.”

Lachlei lowered her head and wept. “Thank the gods,” she whispered. “What of our noncombatants?”

“Ten thousand at most,” he said.

“And our warriors?”

Cahal shook his head. “It’s grim, Lachlei. We have about a thousand
Chi’lan
left. Our
Lochvaur
are maybe twenty thousand. The
Laddel
, maybe five thousand. The
Elesil
are twenty thousand and the
Redel
at about ten thousand. Maybe sixty thousand total.”

“Sixty thousand,” she sighed. “I would normally dream for such an army, and yet it seems like nothing compared to Areyn’s might. He could bring a hundred thousand — five hundred thousand, a million
—
against us because he has the dead. How can we fight against that?”

“He also has the
Eltar
now as well as the
Silren
,” Cahal said. “Who knows what other kindreds will fall to him? But our army isn’t unified either. Already, we’ve had to break up fights between the
Elesil
and
Redel
—
they’re enemies, you know.”

“I know,” Lachlei said heavily. “Damn it, Cahal, why do we have to fight each other?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. All it does is serve the death god.” He paused. “It’s not safe out here, Lachlei. Come back to the tent, get something to eat and have Laddel take a look at that arm.”

“All right, I will in a little while,” she said, trying to smile. “Go ahead without me
—
I’ll be with you soon.”

Lachlei watched as Cahal mounted his horse and rode back. She could see it in his eyes that he did not expect to live through this final battle. None of them did. Without Ni’yah or Rhyn’athel, they were doomed.

In despair, her thoughts turned to Rhyn. How Lachlei longed to see him again. Part of her knew what he was, and yet she still could not believe it entirely despite the fact that she had spoken to Ni’yah who admitted Rhyn was the warrior god. If Rhyn were Rhyn’athel, he would certainly have a plan to get them out of this.

But that was not why she missed Rhyn so, Lachlei now admitted to herself. She missed
him
. Ni’yah had showed her she had fallen in love, despite herself. Lachlei wished she had not banished him. Rhyn had loved her deeply
—
perhaps more deeply than even Fialan had loved her.

Snarling pulled her from her reverie. Lachlei’s horse screamed as a Yeth Hound leapt on her. She rolled with the massive demon on top of her, and her injured arm flailed upward to protect her throat. The Yeth sank its dagger teeth into her arm and shook, breaking bone and sinew. Lachlei screamed in pain and fought to grasp her sword or dagger hilt
—
anything to fight the demon hound. She brought her legs up and kicked, but the Yeth was relentless.

Suddenly, it was gone. Lachlei lay for a moment, her breath ragged and painful with every shallow gulp of air. Her arm was in shreds, and the familiar coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. Her vision blurred, and she saw a glowing warrior astride a stallion, wielding a Sword of Power. The Yeth Hounds slunk away from the warrior, and he rode towards her. She closed her eyes, too weak and overcome with pain to speak. When she opened them again, she looked into a familiar face.

“Rhyn?” she whispered, but her voice came out as a croak.

“Shhhh,” Rhyn whispered to her. “You’re badly wounded.” He touched her, and she saw the glow around him once more.

“Am I dreaming?” she murmured. She began to feel warm, and the pain disappeared.

“Shhhh,” he repeated. He touched her ribs where they had broken and punctured a lung. His fingers touched her shredded arm, and it became whole again. The damage was extensive
—
had he not arrived, Lachlei would have died.

Lachlei opened her eyes. “You’ve come back to me,” she said confused. “Or am I dead, and you too? Will we have to join Areyn’s legions?”

Rhyn smiled. “No, we’re not dead,” he said. “And I doubt Areyn could have me in his legions.”

Lachlei slid her arms around his neck, pausing for a moment to see that her arm was whole. “Rhyn,” she whispered. “How…?”

“Shhhh, you’re still healing.”

“No, listen to me,” she said. Rhyn fell silent and met her gaze. “Gods, I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was wrong. I was wrong, Rhyn.” She pulled his face towards hers. “I love you.” She pulled him to her and kissed him.

It was as though all the penned-up emotions inside her were released. Energy crackled between them, white hot, as she felt his eager response. He took her in his arms and held her, his silver eyes filled with desire and longing for her.

“Areyn’s army,” she said.

Rhyn shook his head. “Don’t worry, beloved, there will be time enough for battle. Areyn won’t reach us yet.”

Lachlei stared into his eyes. “The greatest warrior,” she whispered. “And I was too blind to see.”

Rhyn’s lips caressed her throat. “You were preoccupied, beloved.” He slid her helm off and slid the mail coif to her shoulders. He began to untie her tresses and ran his fingers through her red-gold hair.

Lachlei returned his embrace as she slid from her armor. “You should have told me, Rhyn’athel. You should have told me.”

CHAPTER Seventy-Seven

Ni’yah loped into the
Lochvaur
camp in wolf form. The sentries backed away as the huge silver wolf, glazed in light, came bounding in. He transmuted into his
Eleion
form, a
Laddel
warrior with radiant armor and a Sword of Power that glowed white-hot. Many of the sentries had nocked arrows, but lowered their bows.

“I am Ni’yah,” the wolf-god said. “If you want to live, you’d best bring me to Laddel and Cahal.”

Laddel strode forward through the crowd that was gathering, followed by Cahal, Tamar, and Cara. The
Laddel
King stared at his father for a moment. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Do you know what this means?”

“Fine way to greet your sire,” Ni’yah snapped. “How many wounded do you have?”

“Do you know this creature?”
Chi’lan
Kian asked, turning to Laddel.

Laddel glanced behind at the
Lochvaur
apprehensively.

“Tell them who I am,” Ni’yah said.

“Then, the war’s begun,” Laddel whispered.

“It never ended
—
tell them!”

Laddel turned to the
Lochvaur
. “This is Ni’yah, brother of Rhyn’athel.”

“Telek is the wolf-god?” Cahal asked. “Then, I was…”

“Your guess, young
Lochvaur
, was right,” Ni’yah said.

“What does this mean?” Cahal looked around. “Where’s Lachlei
—
she should know.”

“Lachlei already knows
—
she’s with Rhyn’athel,” Ni’yah said. “I need your wounded now, and I need you to stop your orders to advance. We wait on Rhyn’athel’s orders.”

A murmur ran through the
Lochvaur
. “Rhyn’athel? Rhyn’athel
is
here?” exclaimed Cara. She stared at Ni’yah. “The warrior god is here?”

“Indeed. The
Chi’lan
know him as ‘Rhyn,’” the wolf-god replied.

Another murmur ran through the
Lochvaur
. Cahal grinned broadly. “Rhyn? Rhyn has returned?” He stared at the wolf-god. “And he is truly Rhyn’athel as we thought?”

“Rhyn’athel!” laughed Tamar, clapping Cahal on the back. “By the gods! I knew there was more to Rhyn than meets the eye. And here I thought a mere mortal had bested me!” The
Chi’lan
warriors surrounding them chuckled in appreciation.

“I guess your reputation is still intact,” Cara remarked.

“But what of the death god’s army?” Laddel asked.

“I’ve taken care of that
—
we have several hours ahead of us to rest and prepare,” Ni’yah replied. “If you’re up to fighting for the warrior god,” he added wryly.

Cahal laughed. He turned to his men. “Rhyn’athel! Rhyn’athel!” he led the cheer.

*****

Lachlei awoke beside the warrior god, still wrapped in his embrace. She slowly turned in his arms and gazed up at the stars. It was still dark, and the stars were still in the same position as they had been when they made love. They lay under his cloak, warm against the chilly air. Lachlei relaxed against him, enjoying the heat and feel of the warrior god’s body, pressed against hers.

“What is wrong, beloved?” Rhyn’athel asked.

“The stars…” she began.

“Time has stopped,” he said simply.

“How?” she began and then laughed. “Of course. What about our army?”

“They are resting,” Rhyn’athel said. “They will need it for the battle.” He kissed her. “Beloved, something troubles you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me who you really were?”

Rhyn’athel sighed. “I would have, if I thought I could. I had hoped to keep my identity secret long enough to keep the Truce intact. It was foolish notion. It’s complex, beloved, but even I can’t see the entire future. Every time a god interferes, it causes the Wyrd to change. I knew Areyn was here and hoped to stop him before it came to this…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry for the deception, beloved, but it was necessary to keep Areyn from knowing that I was involved.”

Lachlei gazed at his face. “Some first-blood I am
—
I didn’t even recognize a god within my own
Chi’lan
.”

Rhyn’athel smiled wryly. “It was difficult to keep my identity concealed from you, anyway. But I didn’t lie to you when I told you I was a demon slayer.”

She kissed him. “No, you didn’t.”

“And you would’ve felt differently about me if you had known I was a god.”

Lachlei met his gaze. “Do you believe that?”

“Deities inspire awe and fear, but seldom love,” he said. “Perhaps you might not have, but I couldn’t risk it. Being a god can be lonely, Lachlei. When I saw you for the first time, I knew I had to have you. But to appear to you as a god…”

“You became mortal for me,” she said, shaking her head. “I still can’t believe it.”

Rhyn’athel nodded sheepishly. “Not one of my well-thought out plans,” he admitted.

“Rhyn, I would love you regardless of what you are,” she said, laying her head against his chest. “I am glad you returned. When you left, a part of me died.”

Rhyn’athel smiled at her use of his familiar name. “If there is anyone to blame for my return, it’s Ni’yah.”

“Ni’yah?” she grinned. “I knew that trickster wouldn’t fail me.”

Rhyn’athel stared at her. “You sent him?” he asked incredulously.

 “I guess I did. He saved my life, Rhyn. I asked him to convince you to come back.” She kissed him. “I’m glad he did.”

“His meddling brought me here in the first place,” the god remarked.

“I know. He told me.”

Rhyn’athel frowned. “What else did he tell you?”

She slid her arms around his neck. “That you love me very much.” She kissed him again. Rhyn’athel responded, kissing her slowly. She pulled away and gazed into his eyes. “Rhyn,” she whispered. “Not all the kindreds are involved in this
—
are any of the other gods involved?”

“No, this time it is between Areyn Sehduk and me,” the god said. “The other gods won’t take sides
—
not this time. Only Ni’yah has joined my side.” He smiled wryly. “Even now, he’s preparing our troops.” He slowly sat up, keeping her pressed against him. “We shouldn’t tarry long, beloved, even if I have stopped time. Areyn will eventually become wise to it.”

Lachlei sighed. “I suppose you’re right.” She met his gaze. “Rhyn, there is something else that bothers me
—
Fialan ...”

“I know,” Rhyn’athel said grimly. “I would’ve prevented Fialan’s death if I could’ve, Lachlei. But Areyn killed Fialan.”

The words made Lachlei shiver, and she pressed her head against the god and wept. He held her gently. “Fialan hates it, I know
—
I could see it when he fought against us. But he was powerless to do anything.” She looked up again to see the god’s eyes strangely bright.

“I know,” he said. “All the dead serve Areyn, even the
Chi’lan
. Even my son, Lochvaur…”

Lachlei closed her eyes and shook her head. “Your son
—
Lochvaur. That was Lochvaur?”

Rhyn’athel nodded. “I told you it was hard to explain, but yes, the man who rode next to Fialan was none other than Lochvaur.”

Lachlei felt sheepish. She opened her eyes to see Rhyn’athel grinning at her. “What’s so funny?”

“You are,” he said. “You drove me away and yet were jealous over a nonexistent lover.” Lachlei tried to look angry, but Rhyn’athel pulled her closer and kissed her. “I couldn’t quite explain to you Lochvaur’s existence
—
it was far too complicated.”

“I see,” Lachlei said and fell silent. “Did you love her?”

Rhyn’athel glanced at Lachlei in puzzlement. “Love whom?”

“Lochvaur’s mother.”

Rhyn’athel chuckled. “Lochvaur had no mother. Lochvaur was a product of my power, Lachlei, just as the
Eleion
and
Ansgar
are, only more so.” He shook his head. “Lochvaur is difficult to explain, but he is my son.”

“But he serves Areyn.”

“Not willfully. He is
Eleion
, which makes him mortal, thus, when Areyn took the dead, he also took Lochvaur. I didn’t want it that way, but Lochvaur and Ni’yah talked me into it.”

“I don’t understand.”

Rhyn’athel kissed her. “Now is not the time for the full explanation. Just accept that because he is mortal, he fell under Areyn’s domain.”

“As do all mortals.” Lachlei shivered again. “I don’t want to serve Areyn,” she whispered, tracing the lines of Rhyn’athel’s face. “I couldn’t bear to part from you again.”

“You won’t,” Rhyn’athel said. “I swear on my sword,
Teiwaz
, I will never let that happen.”

Lachlei kissed him, relishing in his response to her touch. His lips slid from her lips to her neck and down to her breasts. “Shouldn’t we return to the army?” she asked. She pulled away to see disappointment in his eyes.

Rhyn’athel smiled. “Another hour will give them more rest,” he said, pulling her close again. “I’ve waited a long time for this, Lachlei. A very long time…”