The Heartstone (29 page)

Remembering something Cava had taught her she lay next to him closing her eyes. Immediately she saw a sea of green fire. His injuries appeared as sickly orange sparks. Using the white fire of the Heartstone she eased his pain and tried to extinguish the sparks. The rest was up to him. She couldn’t eradicate the blobs of viscous black intermingled like tar with the pure flames. She isolated the contamination as much as she could. Then it was time to go. She opened her eyes and took her hands away. He seemed to be sleeping more peacefully.

She kept vigil at his bedside, snatching food and sleep. She watched each breath jealously. Lorena and Geneth came to relieve her but she couldn’t leave. Lorena had her things brought to the sickroom. Through the night she watched. At every groan she was there to sponge his face and give him water. He was delirious, “Rhysin… must warn.” He said. She reassured him he’d warned them but he didn’t hear. On the morning of the second day the fever broke.

Jarod opened his eyes. “Rhysin, he’s coming.”

“I know, dearest. They’re preparing for him. It’s OK.” Ariana bent down over him. He looked at her, recognized her.

“Ariana?” His eyes shone.

She couldn’t speak.

“Am I dreaming?” He said.

“No you’re not. I’m here.” She took his hand gently.

“You’re real.” He clutched her hand wincing at his broken fingers. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Be careful, don’t hurt yourself.” She said.

“I’m fine.” He said.

“You will be. I’m not going to lose you again.” She said.

“You’re really here?” He said.

She nodded tears welling. She kissed his hands. Putting her head carefully on the bed near his she kissed his cheek. He was alive. They were together. He touched her face reverently testing her reality. Tears trailed down his cheeks. Gently she wiped them away, her own eyes streaming.

”I love you.” She whispered.

“I love you, too.” He said.

He kissed her hand. She shivered at the touch of his lips. Then they were frantically kissing, reassuring each other in a frenzy of butterfly touches. The kisses grew more intense. They clung together. A cough came from the doorway. Ariana glanced at the door. Lorena and Geneth stood, flanked by a servant with a bowl of soup. Rosy-cheeked Ariana beamed at them. Jarod sat up and pulled away still holding her hand.

“I am Lorena, this is my granddaughter Geneth. You are welcome in the Hall of the Silver Ray. I am glad to see you are feeling better.” Lorena came forward with a gracious gesture.

Laboriously Jarod sat up despite Ariana’s half uttered protest. “Thank you Milady; I am Jarod of Dun Caer.” He tried to bow despite his bound ribs. “Thank you for your care.”
“You are most welcome, sir.” Lorena said.

Jarod turned grave. “I have dire news. The safety of the Horse Clans is at stake. Rhysin is on his way.”

“Young man, thanks to you we are warned and the clans are preparing. When you are well you can give us more details.” Lorena said.

“I am well enough now.” Jarod said.

“Are you certain?” Lorena looked at Ariana.

“Jarod, you’re too weak. Talk to them tomorrow.”

Lorena nodded her assent.

“No, I must warn them.” Jarod said.

“I’ll bar the door.” Ariana said. “They know he’s coming. What you need to do is get better.”

Jarod tried to get up.

“Alright give us till this afternoon. First you need to eat.” Ariana said, “Then you can get up and dressed.”

“Alright.” Jarod rolled his eyes, smiling.

“I want you better.” Ariana said.

“I’ll send a servant to help you. You look to be about the same size as my eldest son. It would honor my house if you would accept our clothing, while your own is mended.”

“My thanks to you, you can burn the rags.” He hesitated, “Ariana, did you see my…?

“Your brooch? Yes, it’s right here.” She got up careful not to jostle him and brought it to him. His face eased when she put it in his hand.

“Thank you.” He said.

“Come Geneth. Help me find something suitable.” With a searching look at Jarod and a reassuring smile to Ariana, Lorena left.

“Jarod you can’t possibly be ready to meet them this afternoon. You were delirious for two days.” Ariana said bringing him soup and watching him eat. There was silence while he ate. When he was finished Ariana took the tray away.

“I have a duty to make sure Rhysin is stopped. It was my weakness which brought him here.” He said.
“What are you talking about?” Ariana asked. She sat down on the bed. Jarod was quiet for so long she thought he hadn’t heard her. He took her hand and kissed it. Putting it aside he turned away.

“When the ship sank I lost sight of you. Rhysin’s men captured me. I took out a few,” A fierce smile flickered over his face.

“Not enough, they overwhelmed me by sheer numbers and took me prisoner. I was bound over the back of a horse like a sack of grain and we traveled for three days until we reached Rhysin’s encampment.” He stopped.

“His forces are vast, a sea of white tents. I was taken before him. When I leapt to attack the murderer his vile magic stopped me. God, such pain…” He shivered his eyes glassy. Ariana took his hand.

“Don’t… stop. I don’t need to know.”

“Yes, you do.” He looked at the wall lost in memory. “They tied me like a dog outside. Every day the officers beat me, trying to get information.” He smiled, not a nice smile,”But I held out, they kicked me, broke my fingers, starved me until I was like an animal. But I would not give in to that murdering scum.”

“Please stop.”

He ignored her. “Then… Then Rhysin had me brought to him again.” This time he had me bound to a table and…” He stopped. “He forced me to drink a vile potion. All his adepts held me down and… I couldn’t stop them.” His face was gray. “Then he questioned me.” Sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Jarod stop. I can’t listen to any more.”

“You have to listen.” His hand gripped hers till it hurt. “Don’t you understand? He knows.” His face was ugly with self-hate and rage. “I betrayed you.”

Fear shivered through her. Rhysin knew who she was and where she was headed. Numbly she sat as terror threatened to overcome her. She realized Jarod was still talking.

“I would rather have died. I wanted to kill myself but there was no way. I tried to die before I told him but the magic kept me alive.” He stopped and looked over at her. His eyes were haunted.

Rhysin would pay for every moment of pain Jarod had suffered. Ariana vowed it. The Heartstone flared blood red. Outside she heard horses snorting in fear. She clamped down on her anger. Not yet but soon she’d have her revenge on the bastard.

“Then he left me for dead. I dug myself out of the grave he’d thrown me into. I had no memory but gradually it all came back. I wanted to kill myself then I realized the only way I could redeem myself was to warn you.”

She made him look at her. “Listen to me. You had no choice.”

“How can you even look at me? I’m a traitor. I betrayed you.” Jarod turned away.

“You’re not to blame. No one could have withstood Rhysin’s magic. Listen to me.” She said. “I’d rather have you alive, whatever the cost.”

Jarod looked at her. His eyes filled with shame. “Even at the cost of innocent lives? Rhysin won’t stop. It’s my fault.”

“Blaming yourself won’t do any good. So stop it. You had no choice. Rhysin will pay. I promise you.”

Reassured Jarod let Ariana push him back onto the pillows. He was sweaty. She smoothed the hair back from his forehead. Two servants came in and took him to the bathing room. Ariana rose. With the two men supporting him he walked down the short hall to the bathing room. Ariana tidied the chamber. She paused and looked in the mirror. Her face was gaunt with strain and fear but her eyes blazed with banked anger. Rhysin would pay for the pain he’d caused.

Jarod came back in. Dressed in clean clothes with his hair trimmed and pulled back from his scrubbed face, he made Ariana’s pulses leap. With a smile she took his hand and couldn’t resist rubbing her cheek against his freshly shaved face. Tears started in her eyes again. She helped him sit on the bed. There was a knock at the door. Jarod grabbed her shoulder and rose. She put her arm around his waist careful of his ribs.

“Are you ready?” she said.

“Yes.” His face was pale but set.

“Come in.” She said.

Lyon came in followed by Tareg and Lorena; behind them were the heads of the clans and the seven sages. When everyone was inside they stood silently looking at the couple. Some were concerned; all were intent on the strangers in their midst.

Ariana was hyper aware of Jarod standing beside her. The tang of herbal soap, the still damp tendrils of hair curled behind his ears and the feel of his arm trembling distracted her. Jarod stepped forward, looking Lyon in the eye.

“I am Jarod, Lord of Dun Caer; exiled since Rhysin murdered my family, enslaved my people and destroyed my lands. Now he comes to destroy the Horse Clans. I come to warn you. Rhysin is barely a week away. Secure your herds and hide your people, for he is death.”

Pandemonium reigned. For a few moments, all was chaos. Ariana looked at Lyon, only the tightness of his mouth betrayed his strain. Beside him Maeve his wife stood stoic. When she saw Ariana watching her, the fear in her eyes changed to hate. Ariana looked away from the venom in her eyes before the impassive mask came back.

“Silence” roared Lyon. “Rays attend me.”

Silence fell. ”Well what do you propose?”

“We should send a scout to locate Rhysin’s army. I volunteer,” said Caroc.

“We need to gather the herds and the children and elders and take them to safety.” Aethan said.

“We should take the battle to him. Destroy him before he even gets close.” Rhys said. The younger lords nodded assent; enthusiastically they began boasting about how many of the enemy they’d destroy. The older lords argued against it. The argument grew loud and tempers rose.

“Listen. I am of the first Ray and you will listen.” The hubbub quieted and everyone turned to Tareg.

“The dark Lord is too strong. If we go meet him he will destroy us and there will be no one here to defend Heulwen.” He said.

“Well what do you suggest?” snapped Rhys.

“I say we take the herds and our families to the summer pastures. Then split our forces between the pass and the plateau. We can hold them off in the narrow pass easier than the plateau. If we use our wits they will fall.” Tareg said.

Silence, Lyon smiled. ”You crafty silver fox, I put you in charge of the planning. Caroc and Rhys you are both second-in-command, Ser Jarod, you have fought him before. Even here we have heard of Dun Caers' gallant stand.”

Jarod nodded his thanks,”My lords, I have seen his forces. They are disciplined and outnumber us. We will have the fight of our lives. But they fight from fear not from true loyalty. If we can destroy him they will stop.”

“And how do you propose to do that?” asked Caroc.

“I don’t know.” Jarod said.

“The only way to defeat him is to open the sacred Gate and return the Heartstone to the Web of Stars,” said Vaeryn.

“Well open it,” ordered Lyon.

“It cannot be opened until the solstice.” Vaeryn said.

“Well when is that?” Lyon asked.

“Two sevendays.” Vaeryn said.

“How far away is he?” Lyon asked.

“Ten days,” Jarod said.

“So we hold him off until the gate is opened.” Lyon said quietly.

Silence as everyone absorbed what he meant. A chill came over Ariana her as she thought about what Rhysin could do to the Horse Clans. Lyon broke the silence.

“Liam and Ban are in charge of the move getting supplies together and making sure we can withstand a siege. Tomorrow we begin.” He turned and left. Everyone followed him out to start preparations. Vaeryn stayed behind looking at her, waiting.

“We can’t wait two weeks.” Ariana said banishing the images of the bodies at Dun Caer from her mind with difficulty.

“Vaeryn what can we do?”