Plasma Frequency Magazine: Issue 12 (2 page)

Her shoulders drooped
. "I'm honored by the invitation," she said, rushing the words, "and I appreciate that you're willing to place your trust in someone you know only by birth and reputation."

“
Both those attributes speak with the voice of authority," Coreliar said. "The council, of course, will always advise you. You may come to know us socially at the ball held in your honor—"

"
No balls!" Her voice rang out sharp and strong. "I will not be the subject of the social calendar. I will not be a spectacle at the center of your world..."

Eridanus squeezed her arm in warning.

"In any case," she said, moderating her tone with difficulty, "I cannot attend any festivities now, not with my future husband so gravely ill."

"
Your Jainor...of course." Coreliar nodded. "I do not doubt the healers will do their utmost for the beloved of the star-heiress."

It had not, perhaps, been meant as a threat or condition, but the thought lay beneath the surface
. Adiarwen's face flushed. "I am trusting them with my heart."

"
Of course." The third king turned with a sweeping gesture. "Perhaps you would care to see the city? There is a striking view from the Council Hall ramparts. It brings one a true appreciation of what Gwynora has to offer."

"
No, I have no strength for it now." She bit her lip, then made the peace offering, "I'm sure the city is beautiful."

"
You will never see a sight more lovely." Coreliar sketched another bow. "I take my leave of you, your highness."

Adiarwen kept her face like marble until the door closed
. "Listen to that!  As if I had made an oath just by coming back here..." She paused, turning to Eridanus. "I think I need some time alone. Would you check on Jainor?"

"
I will." He did not want to let go of her and made himself move more quickly to hide it. "Take as much time as you need."

A junior healer slept on the chair inside
. Eridanus moved to the headboard, looking down at Jainor's venomed face. He had always looked softer than he was, thin and fragile, but stone underneath the surface. Men of the Blackwood had to be: they swam the ice rivers as part of their yearly migration, disdaining bridges, and the rite of adulthood took place in glacial caverns.

But Jainor bent as much as he braced
. He was flow to her fire, and there sometimes seemed little Eridanus could do but hover over them.

Jainor
's eyelids flickered; his head turned. A soft sound issued from him, "Danus?"

"
I am here," Eridanus said.

Jainor twisted to look at him
. "Come closer." When the Lthieryn complied, he continued in a whisper, "I need your help."

Eridanus did not hesitate
. "Whatever you need."

A hand seized his, the fingers shards of ice
. "I need you to kill me."

Eridanus did not shock easily, having learned human emotions only through training and exposure, but the statement held him numb
. "Jainor?"

"
Please." His voice strengthened. "The longer you stay here, the more danger there is. The only thing holding you here—"

"
Adiarwen is strong," Eridanus interrupted. "She will not stay unless she wishes to, and we both know her mind on that."

"
No." Jainor was sure, despite the fever. "They will make her choose between my survival and her freedom, if they haven't already—"

Despite himself, Eridanus thought of Teva
's surety, of the weight in Coreliar's words...the rumors that must have flown through the temple grounds, and the city that waited on her word to revolve around her.

"
I cannot have her make that choice." Jainor closed his eyes. "We both know what she would do. I would rather see her happy without me than trapped and miserable with me."

"
It will not come to that," Eridanus said.

"
I could not bear if she surrendered for me. Think about it." Jainor breathed out on slumber.

Eridanus stood motionless, the words tingling through his body
. He had feared Adiarwen would be drawn into the web of Gwynora, but he could not imagine such drastic measures. Yet he had never doubted Jainor would sacrifice for her. They both would, given the chance.

"
You're going to live for her, Jainor," he said softly. "That's the best thing you can do."

~

The night passed, and most of the next day. Adiarwen finally slept when the sun was high, her head curled against the side of the bed. Eridanus watched over them for a time, then saw himself out. He wanted to gather information—something that would prove Jainor's dire predictions as nothing more than shadows.

Teva met him in the sitting room, nervous as she curtsied
. "Milord Eridanus."

"
I need no title." He was about to ask for directions when her manner struck him. "Is everything all right, priestess?"

"The council of kings..."
Her hands plucked at her skirt. "I should not worry the star-heiress with my concerns. The heavens have given her the strength to face what lies ahead."

If only that were true
. Adiarwen had raw power, magic enough to move the earth, but it was no more than a whisper in the face of human conspiracy. "Perhaps," Eridanus said, "but those close to her are her pillars. Tell me?"

Teva
's eyes flickered to his face. "The council of kings is very anxious to see her ascend...oh, certainly from respect," she hastened to clarify, "but not only that. Barbarians are rising in the south. Poor harvests threaten throughout the breadbasket, and the remnant followers of the God-Sons wait for a weakness. No one wants to be the center of attention when these problems come to the fore. Do you see what I mean?"

"
They're looking for a scapegoat. Someone who should have been there from the start." With the further pressure that once she had ascended, to step aside would put the empire in jeopardy.

"
Nothing so harsh as that," she protested.

He had to know
. "Would the council ask the healers to stop tending to Jainor? And would you obey?"

"
Oh, I cannot imagine that," Teva said, with less conviction. "If they did, we would have to. To do otherwise would be treason."

Adiarwen might counter
them...but only by taking authority she did not want. Eridanus bowed his head. She took that for dismissal and slipped away.

He dropped to a seat, hands limp
. Could Jainor be right? Nothing stopped them from riding out of here, but that would kill him as surely. Despite himself, Eridanus felt a trickle of attraction towards the idea. No Jainor meant a second chance, nothing between him and Adiarwen...except his conscience.

Enough he had no desire to hurt a dear friend, how could he stay near her if he were responsible for the death of her beloved
? Whatever the reason, it would be his hand on the blade.

It would not come to that
. Teva knew the council better than he did, and she believed this was nothing more dire than a few suspect motivations.

Eridanus built himself a wall of reasoning, brick by brick, confining the idea that Jainor had planted in his mind
. When he was done, only a mote of memory stared back at him through the cracks.

"
His fever has broken," Adiarwen said from the doorway. "He has a long way to go before he is out of danger, but the worst is over." Her voice rose towards singing. "The worst is over, Eri." She flurried over to him and hugged him fiercely. He could feel her trembling.

"
I never had a doubt," he said. "How are you holding up?"

Her gaze met his, then jerked away
. "I told the high priests I would speak to the faithful during the sunset rites," she said. Her voice tightened in self-defense as she continued, "I'm taking their hospitality, their talents and even these chambers. I owe them something, don't I?"

"
You accepted no obligations, and the healers here are sworn to help the sick," he said, "so I believe anything you choose to do makes you remarkable."

She crinkled her nose
. "Sometimes I wish I could make you less polite. Would you watch over Jainor while I attend the rites?"

"
Of course." The words were out before he could make up an excuse, and he grimaced inwardly.

Adiarwen squeezed his arm
. "Thank you. Wish me luck, would you?"

She left him with no other choice than to retire to the bedchamber where the smell of herbs lay cloying on the air
. Every stray twitch or breath from Jainor put him on edge, waiting for a mournful repeat of that plea.

~

Shortly after sunset, Jainor stirred. He jerked upright with rasping breaths, only to be calmed by the healers. Eridanus retreated, somehow found himself continuing to walk, and ended up in unfamiliar regions of the tower, drawn to open air and doorways long left closed.

He stepped onto a balcony and sighed
. Maybe it was time for an escape of his own. Maybe he had spent too much time among humans, and the only solution was the tranquil heavens. But the mere thought of leaving the light around which his life circled left him cold. Maybe once Adiarwen and Jainor were joined, when they had no need of him...

Perhaps the Lthieryn were right
. Perhaps humans were shallow, impulsive, too consumed by their passions to make something of their world, too trapped by love to see its frailties.

Eridanus found his center
. He would return and finish his watch. If Jainor urged him on, he would invoke reason. Adiarwen did not need to be forced to make her decisions; there was enough of that going on already.

He moved through the tower, quickening his pace as he neared the royal suite
. He knew something was wrong when he entered the sitting room and found the healers in a flurry, Teva keeping order with a fading voice. They turned on him as if he were their savior.

"The council—
oh, lord Eridanus!" she exclaimed. "They have taken Jainor for his protection and installed him in the innermost suite of the palace under heavy guard. News of the star-heiress has spread, and they want to be sure no one tries to assassinate him."

"
Priestess," he said gently, "you don't really believe that, do you?"

Teva lowered her eyes
. "We are reprimanded to remember that many are suffering and a barbarian needs no special treatment," she whispered. "We care for him because of who he is—who he might become."

"
The council of kings rules the temple," said a healer. "The star-heiress' mother appointed them, and she could overrule them, but no one else."

It was a hopeless situation
. Even violence was futile; Adiarwen could easily breach the palace with her powers, but not before Jainor's captors hurt him. Eridanus lowered himself to the couch, overcome by the sudden sense of responsibility. Had he not run from the request he could not answer...

"
The council left a letter for the star-heiress," Teva continued. "We are to give it to her when she arrives."

Eridanus made himself look up
. "Let me give it to her," he said. "I think we should be alone."

She bowed her head and ushered the others out
. Eridanus stood with the letter in his hand, a condemned man.

She knew when she entered that something was wrong
. She stood like a doe ready for flight. "Eri?"

He handed her the letter and watched her expressions as she moved through the violent gamut from confusion to understanding
. "Everything is arranged. They're 'protecting' Jainor until the coronation. How could they do this?" she demanded. "Seven years, isn't that enough to realize they don't need me?"

But they wanted her, a convenient excuse, a symbol, a balm for their problems
. He tried to organize his thoughts. "Jainor would want—"

She shot him a furious look
. "I love him," she said, "more than my freedom, more than whatever good we've done out there." Her eyes pierced him. She had made her choice.

Eridanus knew then it didn
't matter what she came to think of him, how far he had to travel, where his story ended. There was only one thing left to do.

He leaned in, tentative, and placed a brotherly kiss on her brow
. "My soul and faith are yours forever," he said. "You will survive this."

Adiarwen held his eyes
. "You are my oldest and dearest friend, Eri. You always will be."

For a second, he let himself believe she knew what he intended
. He shook off that delusion and hugged her. "I have something I need to do."

She trusted him—
she had no reason not to—and let him go without question. He could tell by her eyes there were tears to be shed, an ocean followed by a tempest before she faced what she saw as her future.