Chapter 15

Garlands of fresh flowers hung between every column and lined every rooftop, filling the air with a sweet perfume that carried far beyond the walls of the city. The summer solstice was upon the new faylands at last.

Pre-dawn gray lit the cloudless sky as Kaelyndra stood on the raised dais just outside the palace. She wore a long dress that was a green as the leaves of the oak tree that stood behind her, with gold thread woven into the hem and up the sides. All of the people gathered wore the green and gold of summer and many had flowers braided into their hair.

Though the celebrations truly did not start until the first golden rays of the sun stretched across the sky, people had started gathering hours earlier, so that all were in their place. Once begun, the festival lasted all day and all night, when the lanterns lit with starfire were hung from the garlands, unlike the great bonfire that marked the winter solstice.

In bygone days, before the exodus, the solstices were of the utmost importance, marking the height of their court's power. Kaelyndra remembered celebrating this day at her father's side. It was a day that the fay nobles could gather the magik granted to them by the longest day and give it back to the people and the land. It was a day of fertility and birth. Humans might celebrate these things in spring and the Winter Court in winter, but for the Summer Court it was the summer solstice that would see their celebration of life.

Kaelyndra stood alone before her people. Follyn had failed to return before the solstice as the days when the fay could travel over all their lands in the time of a heartbeat were lost as so many other things were.

As the sun rose, the light hit the jewel in her necklace where it hung between her breasts and changed its color. It was the only piece of ornament she wore on this day. Despite the fay's fall from grace, the necklace was still a powerful focus. It grabbed hold of the sun's light, casting it about the assembly, filling them with warmth as Kaelyndra lifted her voice in a song of its praise. Soon her voice was joined by the rest of her people as they too sang a greeting to the morning light. Like the scent of the flowers, the song traveled far into the lands beyond the city reaching the ears of those who could not make it. The song gathered in strength as the sun climbed higher, visible now over the trees in the distance– it rose and soared, gathering into a grand crescendo when the sun became fully realized above the horizon.

The last notes fell from Kaelyndra's lips and she turned back to her people who had assembled before her. From the highest to lowest they had gathered in the clearing that spread out from the steps of the palace. There was a moment of silence when the fay seemed to bask in the golden light before they broke apart with no evident command or dismissal, because one was simply not needed. Lesser fay servants would now bring long tables and chairs for everyone. There were many events that would take place on this day– fertility blessings would be bestowed upon young married couples, youth that were coming of age would be recognized as adults. In the afternoon there would an athletic competition and people would split into small groups or go off by themselves to meditate and reflect. Of course, at the sun's zenith Kaelyndra would preside over the quickening. After the sun was finished, a vigil would last the night, although many of the youngest children would fall asleep before the night's end.

But for now, the feasting would begin, at least for most. Kaelyndra would also take this time to speak with those who where not always given the chance. Standing among, yet apart from the others, were two such individuals. Stepping down from the dais, Kaelyndra made her way towards two of the human dignitaries.

"Gentlemen, I pray you are enjoying the festivities so far?"

Ivan and Hjorleifr broke off their conversation at her approach and bowed deeply at the waist. "Rest assured yor highness, we be overwhelmed by yor hospitality, and enjoying er'selves even more now that we be graced with yor illustrious presence," Ivan said.

"You speak with such honeyed words, emissary. It must make your food unbearably sweet," Kaelyndra replied with a smile.

"He speaks only the truth, yor highness," Hjorleifr offered.

"Indeed, I find truth be a powerful tool, and one I be using often," Ivan said enigmatically. "I must beg yor indulgence. I see the feast be starting, and I be feeling weak with hunger, might we walk that way?"

"I fear that I still have duties that I must attend, but do not let that be a reason why you can not take this time to eat. Go, with my blessing."

Ivan bowed once more before making his way through the gathering, leaving Hjorleifr behind. Kaelyndra turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "Will you not join your companion?" she asked.

"I be not one who has seen so much magik that I can quickly turn mine thoughts to simple things," Hjorleifr replied. "If ye find it not to hinderin', I would walk with ye?"

"I would be pleased to walk with you, emissary." Kaelyndra said offering her arm. Hjorleifr bowed once before taking her arm in his.

"Yor song from this morn, t'was beautiful. Can ye tell me of its meanin'?" Hjorleifr asked.

"All things have deeper meaning, even more when one is dealing with magik. The song praises the coming of the sun and the life it brings, t'was also about... parts of our life that are now behind us." Kaelyndra fell silent. Hjorleifr, showing the tact that must have helped him in earning his place, did not press her.

"Is the Sun the greatest of your gods, or be there another, and this day simply his?" he asked instead.

"We do not worship the sun, we are merely grateful for all that he has given us," Kaelyndra explained. "Human gods are not for us, we are one with the world and it's cycles of life, death and rebirth. That is what we celebrate today."

"I see," he said while stroking his beard, obviously thinking over her words.

Kaelyndra visited guild masters and lords and ladies of all stations as well as taking the time to talk to those of her people without rank. Rare was the event that brought her among them and those that proved brave enough to approach her were not turned away. Their traveling brought them to the outer edges of the revelry.

"Why does that place be not adorned as the others?" asked Hjorleifr nodding to a street that led off between closed and shuttered buildings. It alone of every place he had seen this day was not decorated with garlands and filled with celebrating people. In fact, only one person was to be seen, standing in the shadow of a building. Garbed in black with her steal gray hair pulled back from her face, she held her arms crossed over her chest as if guarding the empty road against the gayety before her.

In a way, Kaelyndra mused, she might have been.

"That is where those that remain of the Winter Court reside," she said. "They do not celebrate the sun's day as we."

"The Winter Court? But be not they yor mortal enemies?" exclaimed an astonished Hjorleifr.

"Our peoples warred, yes, but we were once one. And so should we be again. We are not so great now that we can turn them from us, as the war cost us much that we must work to reclaim," Kaelyndra said. "Do not fret yourself over them, they are beaten and will not look to overset themselves soon."

Kaelyndra watched the Winter Court faywoman, and now that they were closer, she recognized her. Standing sullen against the joy of the day was the former Princess of Winter, Rhairen.

She had been at the forefront of Winter's armies after the peace talks fell apart with her elder sister's death. Rhairen had claimed Summer responsible for the tragedy, and she had vowed that they should pay. Across the space between them, Rhairen's eyes met hers. Kaelyndra felt a chill run down her spine, for there was no emotion in Rhairen's eyes, and the lack made Kaelyndra's blood run cold. For reasons all her own, Rhairen turned from her vigil and walked away.

Kaelyndra turned back to Hjorleifr and graced him with a smile. "This is not a day to dwell in painful history. Come Hjorleifr, I have seen to my duties enough for this day. Let us join the feast."

As they walked back into the heart of the revelry, the cold feeling would not leave her. It merely moved to her chest. There it grew until she felt she could not stand it any more. Kaelyndra collapsed to her knees with a pained scream. She heard the crowd of people moving around her and she felt Hjorleifr's hands catch her as she fell, but all of it was distant compared to the agony she felt.

Then, mercifully, everything went dark.

~ ~ ~

Kaelyndra blinked open her eyes in the afternoon light. She was in her bedroom, attended by the royal healer, Avanphor. Upon seeing that she was indeed awake, elder Avanphor slowly walked to where she rested and placed his hand over her brow. The soothing rush of his healing magik flowed through her, but it did not chase away the lingering effects of whatever struck her down. A frown creased his serene features and the magik grew stronger, but still it did not touch her pain. Finally Avanphor withdrew. "Forgive me, Majesty. I know not what ails you. I can see it but I fear there is nothing do for you."

Kaelyndra was shocked. Avanphor was the greatest healer of his generation- there was no illness, nor injury beyond his knowledge or ability. Kaelyndra sat up. There was still pain, but it was more the memory of a hurt that had passed.

Nonetheless, she moved with great care as she rose from her bed.

"If it is no sickness nor physical injury that struck me then it must be magik," Kaelyndra spoke slowly. She lifted her eyes to her handmaiden, who stood quietly in a corner. "Amira, go to the high scholar and bring him here."

"Your highness, do you have some idea as to what or whom attacked you? The palace guard has been on alert, but they know not what for."

"I am not sure it was an attack on my person, honored healer. I feel... something has happened, I know not what," Kaelyndra said softly.

Avanphor bowed his head in acknowledgement.

Kaelyndra looked out her windows. The sun was past its zenith, more than half the day she had laid abed. Even more troubling, this was not just any day which she might forgo her duties.

"Who lead the quickening in my absence?" Kaelyndra asked.

"No one, Majesty."

Kaelyndra turned away from the window to stare at Avanphor until he looked down once more. "Please Majesty, without the Oaken Heart... There was no reason."

The quickening. Once, a few from the sacred Anchorite Order would return to the capital, to become the Voice of the Heart– by the blessed power of sun itself, through the ruling monarch. It was looked upon as a rebirth for those chosen– from separate lives to becoming part of a greater whole, as they would act as one while filled with the Voice and remain within the Oracle's Grove. So empowered, the Voice would advise or simply pass prophecies as it saw fit.

Of course, the Oaken Heart, the Oracle's Grove, even most of the Anchorite Order, were all lost to them. Kaelyndra had planned to simply appoint the leader of the order as an advisor, but Avanphor was right, without the Oaken Heart it did not matter when or how or even if the Order was appointed.

There was a timid knock on the door. Kaelyndra frowned. Amira could not have returned so quickly. "Enter," she commanded. A small page boy that Kaelyndra did not know, so young that his hair was still the copper of youth, slipped in through the door. He stayed in the opening and bowed so deeply that his head fell below his waist and Kaelyndra wondered that he simply didn't topple over.

"Your Highness," the page said. "I come with a message from my Lord Castellan, he sent me to inform you that Lord Silvendar has returned and wishes to speak with you at once."

"Silvendar?" That made little sense. "What of Follyn?"

"I don't know, your Highness."

A terrible feeling came over her, too horrible to put to words, too unthinkable to be true. Without a sound she swept forward and out the door, barely seeing the young boy stumble out of her way.

The hallways were a blur as she sped through them, ever faster. People went unseen and their voices unheard. They were unimportant. She could not find the air to fill her lungs, but that was unimportant too. Queen Kaelyndra ran through the passages of her palace as if running away from a dreaded thing, instead of towards it.

The door before her flew open and she saw Silvendar. He stood, torn and bloody and exhausted, in the middle of the room. His eyes, bleak and empty, met hers– and then she saw what he held. At first she could not believe, would not believe, the truth. But she knew it to be, had known it since she collapsed from the shared pain of his death.

Silvendar held Follyn's crown.

"Cousin... Kaelyndra... I'm so sorry... We were ambushed..."

Kaelyndra didn't wait to hear the rest of his halting explanation. She stepped into the room and simply took the crown from his unresisting hands. She held it to her chest, curling around it like a dying flower, lowering her head to let golden hair fall forward to cover her face. She didn't speak, didn't cry, didn't make any noise at all. She stood in a well of silence and stillness so deep it seemed that she had become as stone, that she would be trapped forever inside an abyss of sadness.

When she spoke, her voice was empty. "What happened?"

"We were returning from the goblin's lands. We rode hard. My Lord wanted to make it back for the solstice... t'was already late, but we rode as fast as we might." Silvendar stared down at his boots. "The goblin gave us naught in resistance for our journey there, nor our task. When it came, it was to the surprise of us all. This morn, we were set upon... we..." Silvendar had to stop again to steady himself. He shifted his weight and one of the servants brought forth a chair. "They came from all sides, many to our number, t'was chaos... We had no time to try to command any of them. I... I did not see him fight. But I heard. The goblins let up a cry and fell back. I saw him then, and went to where he fell... I rallied the men and gave chase to the fleeing cowards." His voice took on the true emotion since he had arrived. "We were able to command them then and those we did not put to the sword we bound. They await the crown's mercy, though I imagine they wait in vain."

Through all Silvendar's telling, Kaelyndra moved not at all, giving no sign that she heard his words. Even after he finished, for long moments she did nothing at all.

"What of his body?" She finally asked with painful calm.

Silvendar looked up at her, then back down at his boots. He opened his mouth but did not speak. A helpless air came over him and he closed his eyes tight against it. "Forgive me," he whispered. "We... I was unable to find his body."

"What?" She did move then, unfolding herself form around the crown slowly. As trembling energy filled the void of her soul, her eyes pierced Silvendar. "What did you say?"

Silvendar threw himself from his seat to his knees before her, his head bowed and his hands clasped in supplication. "Forgive me, when we returned for him after subduing our attackers, he was not to be found."

"How could you let this happen?" Her voice did not rise above a whisper but Silvendar flinched as if she had screamed and beat him. He said nothing to her accusation, having no words to defend himself.

"Your prisoners, they are here? In the holding?" Kaelyndra demanded. He simply nodded, unable to raise his eyes from the floor to look at her. Kaelyndra turned her back on him then, and strode from the room. Her long steps carried her quickly down the hall before anyone in the room could react. The guards raced to catch up with her and Silvendar leapt to his feet to follow as well.

Once again her passage through her home was marked with her focus on her goal to the exultation of all else. The holding had only one entrance under the northern most tower and was deep under the earth. In this time of peace and rebuilding the prison saw few guests, but it was always kept up, for when it was needed, nothing else would do. Guards, four real battle-tried soldiers, flanked the door. Marking the holding did indeed fill its purpose once more. If the guards were surprised to see her, they did not show it. Two broke off from their standing duty to join the guards that had followed her. Silvendar had managed to place himself behind his cousin, looking stern despite his injuries.

The holding was dark, not because there wasn't enough light, but because this place had never and would never see the sun. If one were to put out all the glowstones it would plunge the holding into a darkness so complete one might begin to forget what the light was. Kaelyndra had always found the place unbearably ugly. Unlike any other place in the whole of the palace, the holding was without carvings of any kind. The walls and floor and ceiling were a dull, lifeless grey, and the doors were simple things, made of metal bars and several bolts. Kaelyndra waved forward the guard with the keys.

"How many of them are there?" Kaelyndra asked.

"There are five still living, your majesty. Kept in separate cells," the guard answered.

"Their leader fell when we took them, but their second, Tougath, lies just down this passage here," Silvendar said.

Kaelyndra took the turn and it was not long before she stood in front of an occupied cell. She looked to Silvendar, who nodded that this was the correct cell, then called to the occupant. When there was no immediate response, she called again.

"Tougath! Stand as a man, if you are one, and answer me!" Kaelyndra yelled into the close space.

A shadow at the far end of the cell pulled itself free and moved to the door and into the light. The goblin Tougath was everything a goblin should be. His snout was wide and fit between the tops of his tusks where they jutted up from under his lower lip. Ears that seemed to large for his head were pointed and flared, and twitched this way and that. His deep green skin was marred by cuts that remained untended but his yellow eyes were bright as they regarded the queen.

"I know you," Kaelyndra said softly. "You're chief Tregoth's boy."

"Aye, dat I am, Bright Lady." Tougath replied. "All us here are kith and kin of da murdered chiefs."

"As I am kin to a murdered king, no doubt you find that just."

"Were it just, I would not be in this fine cage, Bright Lady."

"Surely you knew that your life was forfeit the very instant you took up a blade against your king."

"My life might be forfeit for any reason 'tal. Whether it just or no makes no difference."

Kaelyndra refused to be drawn into such a debate. "Do you know who struck down King Follyn?"

"Hardly seems to matter. Your king were set to die before he ever dipped his hand in our blood."

"Have you no understanding of respect, you cur?" Silvendar snarled, unable to hold his temper. Kaelyndra silenced him with a look.

"The king was your greatest ally," Kaelyndra told Tougath. "He fought for you until your crimes forced his hand."

"It did not save us or him in the end, Bright Lady. I can't say I saw the king's death, I know not who landed the final blow."

Kaelyndra stepped forward and wrapped one hand around the bars– she still held the crown in her other hand– and met his eyes unflinching. In the end it was Tougath who turned his gaze first. "Where his my husband's body? What did you do with it?"

"His body?" Tougath brought his eyes up once more. "Seems to me you have more pressing concerns than a piddling little thing like dat. You should worry about your own self. You bright ones are not the gods you always thought to be."

"You go too far!" Silvendar shouted, pulling his weapon. The goblin, perhaps feeling protected by his bars or just singularly unafraid of death, barely blinked in the face of Silvendar's righteous fury.

Kaelyndra raised her hand, once more silently commanding him to stand down. Silvendar looked rebellious, but obeyed. Tougath was not acting like a political prisoner prepared to martyr himself for a cause, he was acting as if he had something to hide. Kaelyndra was not in the mood to play games with him. "You are in a poor place to make threats. I will not stand for this outrage. You will be judged and made to face your crimes. Tell me everything and I will consider sparing you, or keep your silence and I will take your life."

Tougath kept his silence.

~ ~ ~

The windows were covered and the glowstones darkened, leaving the room in an early twilight. Outside, the sun was finishing its journey across the sky, but few paid it its due. The city was rocked with the knowledge of the king's death. Any celebration that managed to survive Kaelyndra's collapse was thoroughly put down by the news. Inside, Kaelyndra had retreated from the world and all its wretched workings.

She sat unmoving, hardly breathing, simply living through each heartbeat and not caring if the next ever came. Thinking was only met with agony, so she remained as empty in mind as she felt in soul.

A knock, an unthinkable intrusion, came at the door. Kaelyndra lifted her head to the noise but made no command for the visitor to enter, nor to leave. The knock came again and again Kaelyndra gave no answer, as if she had forgotten what the sound meant. Kaelyndra simply watched as the door opened and Countess Inaldel entered. Closing the door softly behind her, Inaldel navigated the dark room to Kaelyndra's side.

Kaelyndra's eyes tracked Inaldel's path but she did not otherwise move. Inaldel sat in the same chair she used the last time she was in this room and pulled Kaelyndra's hands into her lap. They were wrapped tightly around something, and Inaldel merely stroked them, trying to instill some warmth.

"I can't find him," her words came slowly as if she were entranced. "I tried to bring him home, but he's gone and I can't find him." Kaelyndra opened her hand to reveal her necklace.

"You're tired. You should rest and try tomorrow," Inaldel said gently.

"I can't," Kaelyndra said. "I can't rest until I find him."

"If you cannot find him, have you looked for something that he has? Something that he would have kept with him? You could bring that here, and use it as a link."

Kaelyndra closed her eyes and wrapped her hands around the focus once more. Between one breath and the next Kaelyndra's face relaxed and her breathing evened out as if in sleep. A small light, a glow that did not even reach past the seated figures, appeared before her. It flashed once before collapsing in on itself to form a ring that hovered in the air, spinning slowly. Kaelydnra opened her eyes and her hand. The ring fell from the air to land gently in her palm. It was Follyn's marriage ring.

Her hand closed around it in a white knuckled fist and the first tears rolled down her cheeks. Her breath caught with a sob as she finally broke down. Inaldel caught her as she fell forward from her chair.

There was nothing Inaldel could do but hold Kaelyndra as she cried, so she rocked the younger woman and stoked her hair. "It will be all right," she whispered to Kaelyndra in a soft tone. "It will all be all right." But Kaelyndra knew the soothing promise was a lie. Nothing would ever be all right again. Follyn, her husband, her mate, her love, was dead.

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