CHAPTER

Forty-nine

Throbbing wracked Tristan‘s every limb and joint. He tried to raise himself up, but strong hands eased him firmly back down into the luxurious depths of a bed. He could see little, his vision blurry and off-center. Unable to fight his way out of the gloom, he allowed the blackness to overcome him again.

Pain still greeted him when he finally came around again, but his vision was better. Looking up, he saw the faces of Traax, Shailiha, and Celeste. Each of them smiled hesitantly down at him.

―You were gone a long time,‖ Shailiha said, her voice cracking. ―Almost twelve hours. We thought that we might have lost you for good this time.‖ A tear crowded its way into her right eye, and she brushed it from her cheek.

He tried painfully to sit up, but his right arm wouldn‘t move.

Shailiha turned her eyes away, then forced them back to him. ―The veins have blackened up the length of your neck, little brother, and they cover your arm and hand.‖

―I‘m sorry,‖ Tristan said quietly. ―There was no need for you to see this.‖

Traax took a step closer to the bed, his dark green eyes looking intently down at his stricken master. ―Forgive me, my lord,‖ he asked. ―But now that you are conscious, there is a question I must ask you. The wizards claim you promised them litters, and a host of warriors to do their bidding. I wished to confirm these facts with you before granting their requests.‖

Tristan smiled weakly. ―Give them whatever they desire,‖ he said softly. ―And any other aid they may need. I shall join you later.‖ He paused. ―But first tell me, given the fact that you have now seen the effects of my illness, do you still accept me as your lord?‖ He held his breath for a moment, wondering if he had done the right thing. Above all, he must continue to command the loyalty and respect of the warrior standing before him.

Traax‘s answer was both immediate and unequivocal. ―I continue to serve you, and only you,‖ he said. ―And as for your illness, it only makes me want to destroy the ones responsible for inflicting it upon you even more.‖ His hand tightened on his dreggan. ―But I must also tell you that I am very glad the entire body of warriors did not see this. In truth, I cannot be sure how they would have reacted.‖ And then an unexpected smile spread across his face. ―I shall now go to the wizards. They stand just outside the castle entrance, bickering at each other.

Get well quickly, my lord, for we have some well-deserved killing to do.‖ Clicking his heels together, he turned and walked from the room, leaving Tristan alone with the women.

Tristan couldn‘t remember ever having been so tired in his life. ―Where is Ox?‖ he asked his sister.

―Just outside your door,‖ Shailiha answered. ―I know of nothing in this world that could move him from his post.‖

Then Celeste leaned over the bed, placing an affectionate hand on one of his cheeks. As she did so, her dark red hair fell down over one shoulder. He could smell the myrrh in it, just as he had that first night when he had saved her from diving off the cliff.

―I shall leave the two of you alone,‖ Shailiha said quietly. ―When Celeste is done saying good-bye, I will return.‖ With that his twin sister quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Celeste picked up Tristan‘s stricken right hand, holding it gently.

―I want to thank you,‖ she said, her voice dark and husky. She reached out with her free hand and smoothed back the usual, dark comma of hair from his forehead.

―For what?‖ he asked.

She smiled. ―For saving my life, thereby making it possible for me to find my new one.

Despite the fact that we may never see each other again, I shall never forget what you did for me.‖

Tristan looked into her eyes and held her gaze. ―If that is true, then promise me something,‖

he said.

―Anything.‖

―If you should somehow survive all of this, and you truly value your new life as you say you do, then make sure you deserve it.‖

―What do you mean?‖ she asked in surprise.

―My life was once golden, with no worries or cares,‖ he said. ―I foolishly took it all for granted, and for a very long time. I lost almost all of my family and friends before realizing how precious they were. Your father tells us that your blood is inferior only to Shailiha‘s, and Shailiha‘s only to my own. Therefore, should I die, your blood shall become the second most powerful in the world. I can see that you have your father‘s strength and courage. You must, to have survived all that you did. Listen to your father, and learn the craft well. Be one of the strongest of people ever to master it, for I know in my heart you will be able. But follow the teachings of Wigg and Faegan only, and do so strictly for the sake of the Vigors, keeping the ethics they deem so important alive for future generations of the endowed—generations that I shall never see.‖

His eyes lingered on the graceful curves of her face. ―There is something else I wish to tell you.‖

Celeste placed her fingertips on his lips. ―I know,‖ she said. ―I may be new to your world, but I still see much, including the way you look at me.‖ She closed her eyes, choking back a sigh before opening them again. ―But for now, I must leave.‖

With that she touched her lips gently to his and then stood. Removing a scented handkerchief from the bodice of her gown, she placed it on his lap, then walked to the door. For a moment, she paused, her head lowered. And then, without turning back, she left.

Several moments later Shailiha reentered the room. She sat on the edge of his bed and smiled bravely. ―It is now my turn to say good-bye,‖ she whispered. Her voice seemed very small.

―And there is so little time. The Minions have already granted the wizards‘ wishes, and everyone awaits me.‖ She looked down at Morganna in her sling. ―I hope you can watch your niece grow up.‖

Resolutely, then, she grasped the gold medallion hanging around her neck, the exact duplicate of his, and looked directly into his eyes. ―I shall always wear mine, no matter what,‖ she said softly. ―You came to the ends of the earth to find me, and if I must, I will one day do the same for you.‖

―I know,‖ he whispered. There was so much more he wished to say, so much more he knew he would later greatly regret not saying. But just now, the words wouldn‘t come. He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again.

Shailiha closed her eyes, nodding gently.

And then she took a deep breath and stood up. Looking seriously into his face, she said,

―Trust the process, Chosen One.‖

Tristan‘s brows drew down in confusion. ―W-What?‖ he asked.

―Trust the process, Chosen One,‖ she repeated. With that, she kissed him on the forehead and turned to the door. Before he could speak to her again, she too was gone.

Tristan lay back in the bed, exhausted, wondering what she had meant. But he was asleep before any answer came.

As Shailiha stepped up into one of the several Minion litters, Martha smiled at her.

Wigg turned his head anxiously in the direction of the princess. ―Did you tell him? Are you sure he heard you clearly?‖

―Yes,‖ Shailiha answered, holding her baby close. ―He did.‖ Tears came again, and she closed her eyes.

―Then tomorrow we shall know,‖ Wigg answered.

Gently rising into the sky, closely accompanied by the several thousand Minion warriors sworn to protect them, the litters turned north, toward Shadowood.