Chapter 17

A Glimpse Of The Future

During the week that followed Magnes’s departure, Ashinji tried to ease Jelena’s sorrow and loneliness by spending as much time with her as his other duties allowed.

Jelena’s company posed no hardship. In truth, he found himself drawn to her more strongly with each passing day. His first thoughts when he awoke in the morning were of her, as were his last thoughts before he drifted off to sleep at night. She haunted his dreams and preoccupied his waking mind. He found it both exciting and troubling. Ashinji was no callow youth; he’d had his share of affairs, but never before had a woman stirred his soul like Jelena. He felt off balance, like his world had just been upended and shaken out like an old sack.

Early evenings, during the quiet time between the end of the workday and the evening meal, Ashinji liked to ramble about the castle grounds. He invariably ended up on the battlements, where he could soak up the peace of the bucolic landscape in blessed solitude. This particular evening was no different. Slowly, he mounted the stairs toward the top of the wall, his mind already deep in thought.

Ashinji had never given much thought to the idea of romantic love. As the son of a noble house, his duty was to obey his parents, and when the time came for him to marry, he would go before the priests with a bride of his parents’ choosing. Love never really entered the picture, at least during the selection process. With luck, the girl would be pretty and of an agreeable nature. With still more luck, they would find that they were compatible, and friendship, then love, would grow between them. Ashinji had known for some time that his parents had been making discreet inquiries amongst several noble families. He had no thought or desire to complain.

Everything had changed the moment he had first seen Jelena’s face and had recognized her as the girl from his dream visions. He had known then, with absolute certainty, that they were meant to be together. He must make his feelings known to her, and soon.

His parents did need consideration, though. Lord and Lady Sakehera were far more liberal than most people on the subject of human-elf intermingling, but he wondered if their tolerance would extend to marriage with a hikui. Ashinji loved and respected his parents with all his heart and held his duty to them as one of the central aspects of his life. But in this one thing, he knew he could not obey. If he could not make Jelena his wife, then he would have no wife at all. He must somehow make his parents understand. 

The sun had started its slow slide below the horizon. The evening breeze picked up a few stray locks of Ashinji’s hair and whipped them across his face, tickling his nose and mouth. He turned his head slightly and spotted movement out of the corner of his eye.

His heart sank.

Approaching him on the wall walk, like an onrushing storm, came Sadaiyo.

“So, Ashi, up hiding on the walls again, eh?” Sadaiyo flashed a grin, all teeth and no warmth.

Ashinji sighed inwardly and steeled himself against the inevitable barbs that Sadaiyo took a perverse delight in throwing at him. “I’m not hiding. I came up here to be alone and think, as you well know.”

“Think? About what, Little Brother? Oh, I know. My wedding! That’s all anyone can think about these days, isn’t it?” Sadaiyo rested his elbows on the parapet, looking smug. “Did you know that my soon-to-be wife single-handedly took out an entire Iinaa raiding party? Single-handedly! And I’ve also heard that she can love a man to complete and utter exhaustion, then spring from bed to ride to hounds!” He cocked a sardonic eye at Ashinji. “It’s a good thing Father and Mother picked her for me rather than you. Such a woman needs a man strong enough to handle her properly. I think she’d end up sucking you dry.” He laughed and Ashinji ground his teeth, wincing as hot needles of pain shot up his arms. He looked down to see that he had bloodied his fingers gripping the parapet.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with that stray you brought in. I don’t blame you. She is very attractive, despite her humanish features… no, because of them, I think. It makes her so…different, so intriguing. Have you had her yet?”  Ashinji went cold with fury, but Sadaiyo did not seem to notice. “Wait! This is my prissy little brother I’m talking to. Of course you haven’t,” he continued, his voice dripping sarcasm. “You know, if you don’t want her, maybe I’ll take her as my concubine.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Maybe I’ll take her anyway, even if you do want her.” His cruel smile cut like a razor.

“Stay away from Jelena, Sadaiyo,” Ashinji replied, his voice low and dangerous.

Sadaiyo raised an eyebrow. “Struck the mark, have I? Is it possible…could it be possible that you actually have feelingsfor this girl, Little Brother? She’s a half-breed, you know.”

“I am well aware of Jelena’s heritage.” Blood pounding in his ears, Ashinji fought to keep a grip on his temper, but with each heartbeat, his control slipped a tiny bit more.

“She’s a half-breed, and she’s kinless. The only thing this girl has to give you that’s worth anything is what’s between her legs.”

Ashinji rounded on Sadaiyo, fist raised.

Sadaiyo stood cool and unflinching, his eyes daring Ashinji to strike. “Careful, Little Brother,” he said slowly.

Ashinji lowered his hand and relaxed his fingers. “Ever the charming one, aren’t you, Brother?” Ashinji spat, eyes blazing with anger and disgust. “Can’t you please just go away and leave me alone?”

Sadaiyo shrugged, a little sneer twisting his handsome mouth. “Don’t stay up here too long. You know how much Mother hates it when any of us are late for dinner.” He brushed past Ashinji and disappeared down the stairs.

When he felt certain that Sadaiyo had gone, Ashinji leaned back against the rough, unyielding stones of the wall, feeling weak and shattered.

Why do I let him do this to me? he raged silently. He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing, drawing air in and out of his lungs, until his heart, which had been racing like a runaway horse, slowed and his hands stopped shaking.

Ashinji knew with chilling certainty that if Sadaiyo learned of his depth of feeling for Jelena, he would cast wide his net of hatred to ensnare and destroy her, purely out of spite. Ashinji’s pain was like meat and drink to his brother; any chance Sadaiyo had to hurt or humiliate him seemed necessary to his nature. He craved the perverse pleasure of it and reveled in Ashinji’s refusal to fight back. Long ago, Ashinji had decided that passive resistance could be the only way to deal with his brother. He would never willingly raise a hand against Sadaiyo, who was, after all, to be Lord of Kerala one day. Blood ties were too strong, too important, and he would owe his allegiance to Sadaiyo because of them.

Ashinji would never openly fight Sadaiyo if given any other choice, but neither would he allow his brother’s hatred to poison his own spirit. Much of the time, he remained immune to it, shielded by a mental barrier he had learned to erect in childhood. But, sometimes, a small bit would get past, sliding through a chink in the wall and burning straight into his heart, as it had with Sadaiyo’s crude comments about Jelena.

He pushed himself away from the parapet and headed back down the stairs. Crossing the lower yard toward the path leading to the upper gate, he passed several guardsmen and servants. They greeted him respectfully, but he barely heard or saw them, so preoccupied was he with the possible threat his brother posed to Jelena.

Sadaiyo had every right to take a concubine if he so chose, and Jelena would be in a difficult position to refuse. Sadaiyo could not force her, but he could make life nearly impossible for her at Kerala if she turned down his offer. Ashinji knew he must find a way to protect her, but first, he must warn her of the danger she faced.

If you try to hurt Jelena, I will have no choice but to fight you, Brother, with all my strength and to the bitter end, even if it costs me everything.

He would pray to the One that it never came to that.

~~~

In a heavily warded chamber high up in Kerala Castle’s east tower, Lady Amara Sakehera put the final touches to her preparations. Carefully, she mixed several incenses together to make the special blend she used for all of her divinations. She checked to see that her scrying bowl contained the proper amount of water and that her altar was tidy. She couldn’t abide an untidy work surface.

With all in readiness, Amara sat down on folded knees before the altar and closed her eyes. She began the breathing pattern that would focus her mind and carry it into a light trance. Years of experience allowed her to quickly reach the level where she could easily access her Talent.

Connected now with her inborn magical power, she opened her eyes and carefully lit each of two beeswax candles by simply willing them into flame. Next, she kindled the incense with a thought, and breathed in the pungent smoke to further clarify her mind and sharpen her focus.

Leaning over the shallow copper basin, she gently blew upon the water’s surface and breathed out an incantation. She then gazed into the bowl as the water began to roil, slowly at first, then more quickly until a miniature whirlpool had formed at its center. Amara spoke a single Word of power, and abruptly, the water quieted and became as still and reflective as a mirror.

Images began to form, and Amara watched them flicker into focus, then fade in rapid succession. Her pulse began to race as the pictures she saw confirmed both her suspicions and her worst fears.

When, at last, the parade of images had ceased and the waters went dark, Amara sagged backward, shaken and pale. With trembling hands she extinguished the candles and doused the still-smoldering incense with a scoop of sand.

Great Goddess, help us!she cried silently, covering her face with her hands.

Amara allowed herself only the briefest moment of self-pity. She rose to her feet and straightened her clothing. Much remained to be done. First, she needed to contact the others. The time that they all knew would come—had prayed would never come—was finally at hand.

The Key had returned.