Darkness: A Guardians of Orana Novel

put a burning need for revenge for her family in your heart. The poor thing had fallen in love with Taeben, and though I hated to do it, I exploited that love to spur her to action. It was my hope that she would focus more on you than him and would eventually see his true nature. She knows of Lairky and Cursik, Ginolwenye. I had to intervene before the beautiful intertwining of your families was ruined by the wizard.” Sephine turned back to Gin and again took Gin’s face in her hand. “What I did not know was he was still communicating with her through the bond—I was not aware of anyone with that ability since the days of my Draoch. He plans to use her body as his conduit. Taeben wants to return to Orana—and, I fear, to you, my Nature Walker. He led her to create the magic that sent you here, and in doing so, she thought that she was honoring him and his wishes. In the meantime, he was drawing her in, commanding more and more of her mind. You of all people should know how he operates.” Gin nodded sadly.

“But Mother, we saw Taanyth in the Void! Why didn’t we see Taeben if he is stuck there?”

“He has concealed himself, my child. He knows how to use the magic of the Mother Dragon, creating pockets of time where he can hide. Taanyth does not—he merely sits in stasis, waiting to either move on or be resurrected.” Sephine rose from her cushion and crossed the room to look out the window. “Taeben learned from Taanyth as the Father Dragon slowly went mad—I imagine that is how he knew how to create his hidey holes—and tipped her off that you and the Rajah had the orb; he also handed over to her his apprentice, Elspethe. Rajah, I am grateful to you for protecting the Nature Walker from that dragonkind that meant her harm in the inn. That is part of why I gave you that gift.”

Sath smiled, but the smile did not reach his teal eyes. They burned with a mixture of sadness and anger as he looked into the face of the goddess. “Aye, we both are grateful to you for that chance. And as for protecting Gin, I didn’t need a nudge from you to do that. I will always do that—though I think you and I both know that she no longer needs me in that role.” He looked around at Gin, who was staring off into space, as though hearing something they could not hear. “Gin?”

She rubbed the back of her neck but did not answer him. Sath waved the goddess back to where they were by the fire. “What is wrong, Rajah?”

“Look at her. She is listening to—something—but I’ve seen her rub her neck like that. One of the bonds she used to have was hurting her physically.” Gin’s eyes grew wide, and a tear ran down her cheek as she froze in place, her fingers still wrapped around the back of her neck.

“Which bond? With whom?” Sephine demanded though the look on her face said that she already knew.

“Taeben.”

Ginny. My Ginny! It’s been so long.

This is not possible.

Well, I admit that I needed a little help, but you should know by now that anything is possible where I am concerned and especially when it comes to you. Have you missed me, my love?

I did not allow you in, how are you in my mind?

It does not matter how. All that matters is that I am here, in your mind, where I belong.

You have no place here anymore.

Gin concentrated all of her energy into creating a barrier against him, and while she felt him diminish, he was still there. Sath was calling her. Sephine was looking into her eyes. Why couldn’t she answer them? Perhaps she shouldn’t tell them what was going on? Another hum started in the back of her mind, growing into a rumbling growl.

Sath?

Gin, what’s going on? Are you all right? I saw you rub your neck.

It’s him, Sath. It’s Ben. I blocked him out. But he will be back.

My Nature Walker, the wizard needs the orb. You must not let him know what you know.

I know, Mother. But I fear he already knows. He is still here, weakened, but still here. Tell me what we need to do, and I will do it. I will not allow him back into the world if I can do anything to stop it.

Thirty-Two

Void of all Reason

There wasn’t much to do in the Void on any given day. There wasn’t even a definitive way to know if it was day or night. Time flowed on, ever forward, and nothing changed. It was permanently dark, and the stars weren’t even familiar. Occasionally a magic user would come into the Void and become stuck for a short time before figuring out how to backtrack their way out. Other times, adventurers trying to find the dark side of the world would find their way out of the Mother Dragon’s traps and into the Void, but they almost always went back into the traps—never to be heard of again.

The day that Taeben first heard Elspethe calling out to him, weeping for him, it was like a lifeline for him. Whereas before he had been floating, unable to take form, her energy was like a lighthouse—he was able to find her and move toward her. He discovered their bond again, and in that, he grew stronger. Every time he connected with her, he took a little of her strength into himself, just as he had done when he was alive and had his Ginny nearby to help supplement his magical energy. Ginny—every thought of her chiseled away at the strength he was amassing. Every image of her face blocked his connection with Elspethe for a long enough moment for him to lose focus. Or at least it had