Aiduels sin, p.52
Aiduel's Sin, page 52
His response came easily and felt sincere. However, even as he said the words, he could feel a part of himself awakening, as if gently emerging from a dream. The rational part of his mind was beginning to reassert itself, and the questions which had been troubling him since Andarron were returning with pressing insistence.
‘How are you here, Allana?’ he asked, after a few seconds. ‘And why are you here?’
He could feel a sudden tension in her body, before she responded, ‘I… came to find you.’
‘But why now?’
‘It… just seemed like the right time.’
He could hear an awkwardness in her voice, and her aura suddenly felt more… tempestuous.
‘And the letters I received,’ he continued, ‘were they from you?’
There was a delay before she responded with a quiet, ‘Yes.’
‘Both of them? Including the letter inviting me to Andarron?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then, why weren’t you there? I went to the tavern but you weren’t there.’
‘I… had to leave,’ she said. ‘There was danger.’
By the Lord, she’s lying to me.
He gently prised her off his chest, then sat up, in order to see her face. ‘That isn’t true. You were never there.’
She raised herself on one arm, naked and arching her back. She looked so glorious that Arion felt tempted anew, despite his questions and doubts.
‘Yes, I was,’ she said. ‘Please don’t say that, Arion.’
‘You were never there, Allana. I asked the innkeeper. Why are you lying to me?’
She stared into his eyes through lowered lashes, and she appeared crestfallen in reaction to his words.
‘Please don’t say that, Arion! Please don’t call me a liar! Why are you being like this, after what we’ve just done? After how wonderful it was! Can’t we just celebrate being here together, at last, and talk about our love, our future?’
‘Our future?’ He frowned at her, suddenly feeling as if his mind was casting off any lingering traces of enchantment. ‘Not until I better understand the past, Allana. Not until you tell me the whole truth. You wrote a letter asking me to go to Andarron, to meet with you. And I did. But you lied, and you weren’t there. Now, please tell me why you did it?’
‘Because I wanted to protect you, that’s why!’ she snapped, and it sounded like she was on the brink of tears. ‘Is that so wrong, wanting to protect you from this war? Wanting to get you away from here? I just wanted to do the right thing! For you, not for me! I have nothing to feel guilty about!’
He frowned again, feeling more and more confused. He started to gather his clothes, before standing and pulling his trousers back on.
‘Then why are you here?’ he asked. ‘And why are you here right now? Why didn’t you go to Andarron, like your letter said?’
‘Stop asking me questions, Arion, as if I’m your prisoner to be interrogated!’ There was a shrill quality to her voice as she said this. ‘I’ve been interrogated before, and it was horrible, and I won’t accept it from you! Why are you trying to ruin this, when we love each other?’
He was about to respond when he heard a voice from the woodland trail.
‘Lady Allana? Is that you?’
Arion’s chest was bare, and Allana was still completely naked, when a man on horseback emerged onto the trail beside the glade. This individual appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with a boyishly young face, and he was wearing the tabard of a soldier of Berun.
Arion reached for his discarded sword and scabbard, and rose to his feet. He was ready to attack and kill if this stranger made any move against him, but he could also see that there was shock on the newcomer’s face.
‘My Lady?’ said the man. ‘What is this?’
‘Stay there, Connar,’ said Allana. ‘Don’t move.’
Arion noticed that her voice was suddenly deeper and more commanding. He observed as the soldier’s wary expression was immediately transformed, with a dreamy, vacant look appearing on the man’s face. This newcomer now seemed to be disregarding Arion’s presence, and he was focusing his attention entirely upon Allana.
By the Lord! What did she just do?
‘There’s no need to feel threatened,’ continued Allana.
Arion drew his sword from its scabbard.
‘Lady Allana, he just called you,’ he said. ‘What does that mean?’
Allana did not look at him, but she murmured, ‘It means nothing.’
‘He’s a soldier of Berun,’ Arion persisted. ‘How does he know you? And why does he call you “My Lady”?’
This time, Allana turned to regard him. There was irritation in her expression, and she hissed, ‘I said, it means nothing!’
‘And this thing that you seem to have done to him. Is that your power? Is that what you’ve done to me, too?’
‘I didn’t do that to you! It doesn’t work the same on you, as on him! Don’t pretend you didn’t want me, Arion, as if it wasn’t your choice.’ She paused and took a deep breath. ‘Please, please, Arion, just stop all of this nastiness!’
Arion stepped closer towards the Berun soldier. ‘He’s invading my land as part of a hostile army. This man is my enemy. You there, how do you know this woman?’
The man’s gaze flashed towards Arion for just a moment, then returned to Allana, his expression looking besotted and full of desire. He did not answer the question.
‘Whatever you’re doing to him,’ said Arion, addressing Allana, ‘stop it and permit him to speak, or I’ll kill him.’
Allana’s brow furrowed in response, and Arion noticed that the man was geeing his horse in an attempt to ride away. Arion reacted instantly, moving towards the soldier in a blur of speed. He dragged the man down from his mount and slammed him hard against the ground.
Lord preserve me, I think that she ordered him to flee!
The soldier groaned as his back crunched against the floor. The daze in his eyes appeared to clear, and he looked up to find Arion leaning over him. One of Arion’s hands closed around the man’s throat.
‘You’re a soldier of Berun, yes?’
After asking the question, Arion briefly squeezed his hand tighter.
The soldier gasped, and looked terrified. ‘Yes.’
‘Where’s your army?’
‘At Septholme, besieging the town.’
Arion felt rage. ‘Right now? Led by Duke Jarrett Berun?’
‘Yes.’
By the Lord, I’ll find him and I’ll fucking rip him apart!
‘And who is this woman to you?’ said Arion, while pointing towards Allana. ‘Why did you come looking for her?’ The soldier tried to turn his head to face Allana, but Arion squeezed his neck again, and bellowed, ‘Who is this woman?’
‘Sh-she’s Lady Allana, Duke Berun’s w-wife-to-be.’ The man was gasping the words. ‘He’s ordered me to guard her.’
‘What?’ said Arion, feeling stunned.
He turned his head towards Allana, somehow hoping that she would deny it. However, the mixture of discomfort and defiance visible on her face told him that the Berun soldier had spoken true.
‘You’re betrothed to Jarrett Berun?’ Arion spluttered. A fury was continuing to build, that he was struggling to contain. ‘What? How? And you’re here with… him? With his army?’
‘Let me explain, Arion,’ Allana replied. ‘You married another wom-’
‘Wait!’ he interrupted, then turned to face the soldier. ‘Does the town still stand? Speak true.’
‘Y-yes, but only b-because the Angel was protecting it. But she fell today after the rock struck, and it seems like we’ll take the walls now.’
‘The Angel?’
‘The Angel of Arlais.’
Arion turned towards Allana and shouted, ‘Leanna’s here! Why didn’t you tell me any of this? Did you know that another one of our kind is near?’
Allana’s face and bare chest were flushed, although whether it was from anger or from embarrassment, Arion could not be certain.
‘Why should any of this matter?’ she said, her voice low and imploring. ‘Let’s leave him and get away from here! Please Arion, we love each other, and I choose to be with you! I want to be with you. Let’s leave, just you and me, before it’s too late!’
‘Just answer me!’ he bellowed at her. ‘Is Leanna of Arlais inside Septholme?’
‘Yes!’
Arion addressed his next question to both Allana and to his captive. ‘And what of Duke Gerrion Sepian? Does he still live?’
‘Yes,’ gasped the guard. ‘He’s a prisoner.’
Thank you, Lord!
‘Where is he?’
‘The fortress!’ said the soldier. ‘Aiduel’s Guards’ fortress, outside the town.’
Arion paused, trying to collect his thoughts, while his fingers were still clasped on the man’s neck. There was almost too much information to take in here. He stared down at the Berun soldier, wondering whether there was any way that he could release this individual, this invader of his homeland. He was hesitant to kill someone who was co-operating with him, but this man was his enemy, and they were at war. After a few moments, he came to a reluctant decision.
‘I’m sorry.’ He wrapped his arm around the captive’s neck, then wrenched the man’s head sideways. There was a sharp crack, then Arion lowered the lifeless form to the ground.
With this done, he stood up and turned to face Allana again. She was still completely naked, and she seemed unperturbed by his action. A part of Arion could not fail to note once more just how flawlessly beautiful she was, but he wilfully resisted any stirrings of desire.
‘Were you going to tell me any of this?’ he asked her.
‘No!’
‘No? Why not?’
‘Because it doesn’t matter! We’re together again! And we can be together now, Arion, like we should be.’ Her voice was softer as she said these latter words. ‘Nothing compares to the feeling when I’m with you, and I know you feel the same! Remember how blissful it was, being together today. We can have that every day, every night. Let’s just leave here together, make a new life together, and forget about all of this. Please, Arion.’
‘I don’t think so,’ he said, struggling to contain his disdain as he started to dress. ‘Have you fucked Jarrett Berun? Is that who you’re comparing me to? Or maybe it’s my father? Or possibly some other duke?’
‘Don’t act all holy with me!’ she replied. ‘You haven’t stayed celibate since you abandoned me, so why should I?’
‘No, indeed, why should you?’ he sneered.
‘Don’t look at me like that! You still want me, Arion. I know that you do.’
‘Want you? Want you? How could I want you? You’ve been whoring yourself to Jarrett Berun!’
She took a step towards him after he had said that, with her hand raised as if to strike him. But then an expression of anguish appeared on her face, and she halted. She lowered her arm and took a deep breath.
‘Don’t you dare use that word on me, Arion,’ she said, after a few moments. ‘Don’t you dare! Not you. And how can you have the gall to judge me? I’m not the one who’s married. I had no idea that you’d come here. You’re the faithless one!’
‘I’m not faithless!’ he said indignantly, though he recognised the truth in her words.
‘Yes, you are! You married another woman, despite your promises to me, and now you’ve cheated on her, too! And you call me a whore, but you weren’t criticising me when you were inside me, fucking me, Arion!’
‘By the Lord, Allana, I see now how deluded I’ve been. And if I could take back this encounter, in fact any encounter with you, I would.’
‘Don’t say that, you don’t-’
‘I see you now for what you are,’ he interrupted, as he buckled on his belt and scabbard. ‘You sent me to Andarron at Jarrett Berun’s bidding, didn’t you? To get me away from here so he could invade my homeland. Lord, what a fool I’ve been for you, time and time again. Do you realise what you’ve done? My whole country invaded, my army destroyed, and me not here, and it’s all because of you!’
‘That’s not true!’
‘It is true. I’m leaving, and after today, I want nothing more to do with you. I’m going to free my brother, and I’m going to find Kalyane, Karienne, and Leanna. Three women in my life who are actually worth something! I love my wife, even despite… this. She’s worth a hundred of you. And Leanna of Arlais is worth a thousand! If I never see you again, Allana, it’ll still be one fucking time too many!’
He was fully dressed now. As he turned towards his horse and untied its reins, he suddenly realised that he was uncomfortable to have his back exposed to Allana. He turned his head so that he could see her in his peripheral vision.
‘That’s it,’ she said, as he climbed into the saddle. She was starting to dress, her voice sounding on the edge of hysteria. ‘Run away, and leave me here, like you always do. Go get yourself killed in Septholme, and I’ll be there to celebrate when Jarrett conquers your town, and puts your precious women in the dungeon! And makes me Duchess of Western Canasar! See if I care!’
He turned to face her as he geed his horse into motion, and he uttered the words, ‘You fucking whore.’
For a second, the anger on her face was again replaced by distress, and he felt a moment of remorse for the venomous nature of his words. However, he was then riding away from her, his horse turning onto the trail towards Septholme, and she quickly disappeared from sight.
‘Arion!’
Her final call sounded like a plea. But he did not look back.
–
As his horse galloped towards Septholme, Arion realised that he could hear the distant noises of battle. His senses had returned to complete alertness, and the agitation that his encounter with Allana had roused meant that he was now even more ready to fight. He was eager to release his anger upon the enemy.
He would have to decide what he was going to do before he reached the end of this woodland trail. Should he head straight for the town and try to find a way in, to help Kalyane? Or should he travel towards the fortress of Aiduel’s Guards, to attempt to free his brother?
He could still feel the presence of Allana dei Monis as he rode towards the sounds of battle. He realised that she was also moving, somewhere behind him, tracking the same direction along the trail back towards the town.
By the Lord, I’ve been bewitched by her! How could I not have seen her for what she is, before now?
He was still reeling from the encounter. His infidelity with Allana was yet another stain on his honour, if indeed he had any remaining claim to such virtue after his actions of the last month. But without any doubt, it was one more deed for him to feel ashamed of.
He continued riding. Only then did he become aware of the pulsing of a second Illborn, in the distance to the south-west. This presence felt weak, lacking Leanna’s usual vibrancy and radiance, but it had to be her. She was alive, despite the soldier’s words.
Arion realised that with Leanna close by, and Allana seemingly following him, for the first time ever he was in the proximity of two other Illborn at the same time.
The air crackled around him as if in recognition of that fact, and he felt the resultant coils of energy encircling his limbs. Would he be even stronger now? More powerful and resilient? Even more capable of deeds on a battlefield which might once have seemed unimaginable? Certainly, the fatigue which he had carried with him across Rednar and Western Canasar was now forgotten, a trivial inconvenience.
He continued to urge his horse onwards, seeing the end of the trail looming up ahead. The town, the fortress and a now cacophonous battle were drawing close. Soon, the enemy would emerge into view. After that, there would be an awful reckoning, and a possible way to make reparation for some of his shameful deeds. A way to appease his guilt.
And one thing was absolutely certain. Many people were going to die today.
30
Leanna
–
Year of Our Lord,
After Ascension, 770AA
At first, all that she knew was pain. Agonising, stabbing, shattering, maddening pain. Spanning her entire lower half, as she floated in darkness.
‘Lea…’
A quiet voice, a familiar voice, seeming to whisper to her, but she could focus only upon the unbearable agony.
‘Lea…’
Was there a hand on her face? Memories, the last-second glimpse of a boulder looming, arcing towards her. Too late to react, too late to do anything. Amyss pushing her…
‘Lea!’
The frail voice was louder this time, more insistent.
Leanna’s eyelids drifted open, and the blue of a clear sky was revealed above her. She was lying on her back, facing upwards. There were alarming sounds all around, a chaotic din of screams and metal. Her mouth was dry, tasting of dust and blood, and the world around her seemed to be swirling. Amidst her confusion, she could not remember where she was. But from every direction, there were emotions of pain, horror and fear. Bombarding her, and threatening to become as overwhelming as the agony of her own injuries.
She opened her mouth to scream, but all that emerged was a whimper.
PAIN. DYING. WORRY.
Within the chorus of external suffering, this one call was nearer and more resonant than the others. Leanna recognised the intimate voice of this emotion, from one who was so familiar and loved. She wanted to reach out to it.
But she could not focus; her return to consciousness was bringing renewed awareness of the pain in her shattered legs. This time, she let out a full-throated and anguished scream.
Then a hand was touching her nose and cheek again. Turning her head to the right.
‘Lea!’
And there was… Amyss, beside her. Lying on her side, facing Leanna, their faces just inches apart. Blood was on the mouth and chin of the petite priestess, and her eyes seemed glazed. Behind her, there was a broken battlement wall. They were on the ramparts.
