it for him, everyone knew that. Talk about ridiculous…

Ellie, I need you to come to me in the Void. I have a job for you, but it is not one that I can convey to you through the bond.

Of course, A’chrya. I will make my way there -

No, I mean NOW.

Once again, Ellie felt turned inside out and sideways, and when she next opened her eyes, she was standing on the now-familiar parched ground of the Void and under the dark skies filled with unfamiliar stars. But at least here she could see Taeben in person, and for once, she did not stop herself from running to him, arms outstretched, and wrapping herself around him. “A’chrya, I almost cannot bear my life without you physically by my side.”

“I know, my dark flower, I know. But it will not be long now.” He stroked her hair as he looked down at her with a mixture of pride and—something else? She was not sure. It did not matter.

“What do you mean, it will not be long—until what?”

“Not yet, Elspethe. Not yet. Now, I have brought you here because I may have discovered the location of the orb.” Ellie stared up at him. “Yes, you told me that Sephine had the orb, so I sent my magic out into the Void to find her—only she is not here, she has returned to walking Orana as she did centuries ago. I do not think that is a coincidence.” Taeben took her hand and led her over to a portal nearby. Through the arch, Ellie could see nothing but darkness—a shadow that seemed to seethe and writhe. “You must retrieve the orb for me, Elspethe.”

Ellie spun around to face Taeben. “A’chrya, with all due respect, have you taken leave of yourself? You have been in this place a long time—have you gone mad? I cannot just walk up to a goddess and ask her to give me this orb—this weapon of such immense power that allegedly took the magic from Father Ikara.”

“Always full of fire and spirit.” Taeben smiled at her, but it was not a convincing grin. Malevolent intent danced in his silvery eyes. “You seem to be of the impression that you have a choice.” With incredible speed, he moved behind her, holding her fast in front of the writhing blackness within the portal. “I will still be with you, Elspethe, while you do this, and once you bring the orb to me, then I can be released from this Void. Is that not what you want as well?”

“Of course I do, A’chrya, but -”

“Good. Take her!” Elspethe screamed as the blackness formed a tendril and reached out for her, winding around her midsection as Taeben released her arms.

“A’chrya, Taeben, please!”

“Do not let me down, Elspethe.” She heard his words faintly as the blackness filled her eyes and ears and cut off her screams before pulling her through the stone arch. She opened her eyes slowly, expecting to see more of the black matter that dragged her through the arch, but instead, she saw blue skies and clouds. She was lying on the ground, and it was hard, like lying on a rock. She was still in the Void where she had been brought by Taeben—wasn’t she? The sound of waves lapping against a coastline and the smell of salt air filled her senses, and she sat up, looking around. She was on a rock on a beach. Was this Qatu’anari?

Hardly, little one. You are on my beach now.

Ellie scrambled to get to her feet. “Who are you? How are you in my mind?”

The bond is easy for me, Elspethe. I am the one that created it, after all. It is innate in my kind.

The urge to run fought against a body paralyzed in fear. “No. This cannot be -”

And why not? You elves are all alike, regardless of skin pigment or living arrangement. When confronted with something new, your first response is to deny that it is true. Is it because you cannot see me? Is that why you do not believe that I am who I say I am? I can remedy that.

“Wait—NO!” No sooner had Ellie scrambled to her feet, but she was turned inside out by that same form of magical transportation that Taeben had used—bringing her somewhere through the bond. She knew from his journal that Salynth had brought him to the Western Tower against his will this way, and the only way he had been able to escape was to use his bond with that wood elf, Ginny. Ellie took a moment to rid her mind of the Nature Walker before she opened her eyes.

The sight awaiting her nearly drove her to her knees. She was in a large room with walls made of polished stone. The floor was covered by exquisite rugs with such a deep pile that she felt her feet sink into them upon her landing. She scanned the room and then stopped as she saw Lady Kaerinth, the Mother Dragon, standing directly opposite her and staring down at her. The ancient dragon crossed the room and closed the space between them faster than Ellie could track her, and as she looked up into those amber eyes, she thought she might faint.

“There, now I don’t have to talk to you in the bond—gracious, little one, are you all right? You seem—well, it’s hard to know if you are pale, but in the bond, I sense that you are a bit lightheaded.” Ellie had expected a booming voice, but in actual fact, it was just a bit louder than anything she had heard before. “Ah, I’ve surprised you, have I?” Kaerinth laughed, and had her razor-sharp teeth not been so close to Ellie’s face she might have joined in—the sound was almost pleasant. “I have heard that you were asking after me, Elspethe Turlach.”

“Why have you brought me here?”

“You mean Taeben didn’t tell you? I warned Taanyth not to place so much of his trust

Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату