jaw and leaned toward Micah. 'I want you to keep your distance from me until I come for you. I sense dark intents being set into motion and I don't want you hurt in the crossfire.'
They'd been searching for Ariana for hours. Kaitlyn found Michael that morning and mentioned that she wasn't in her room, which didn't immediately alarm him; he was under the assumption that she was with Jareth, as they'd taken several early morning rides. It wasn't until he ran into Jareth in the afternoon that he became alarmed. Jareth hadn't heard from her all day.
They immediately set off looking for her in the caverns. Duncan sent his men to search for her over the cold terrain of the Adorian wilderness. When Michael, Duncan, Jareth, Bronach and Jenner met back at the castle at dusk in the council room, no one had found any trace of her. The only clue they had to go on was that wherever she was, she'd taken her horse.
'She kept her bow and quiver in a case attached to her saddle.' Michael said.
Jareth's countenance displayed the same sick expression, though he was trying his best to deny it. 'She isn't that foolish, Michael, expel the very idea.'
Duncan stepped past Jenner. 'What idea?'
Michael lowered his head, almost fearful to say the words aloud lest they come true just by being spoken. 'She's had concern over a friend of hers from Palingard. Yesterday's discovery didn't — '
'She's worried about Sara,' Duncan interrupted. 'They were thicker than thieves. What was the last thing she said to you?'
Michael thought back. 'She asked if I was still unwilling to help Sara.' As he said the words, remembered her whispered response, he knew. 'She's gone to Eidolon alone.'
'Then we've lost precious time looking here,' Jareth said. 'Assuming that she left sometime in the night, she should be nearing Fool's Marsh.' Jareth was right, but Michael's body didn't want to cooperate.
'She has been studying Eidolon's history and customs for weeks,' Bronach said, 'and I know she has at least one map of the city.'
What have I done? She would have been in danger just by being an Adorian, but he'd made it known to his mortal enemy that she was his sister. He lowered his head in his hands.
Duncan cleared his throat. 'Then our decision has been made for us. The Braeden will suit up within the hour.'
'Ready your men, Michael,' Jenner said. 'You have the council's full blessing.'
Michael was grateful that Jenner had taken seriously their discussion from the night before concerning Ariana's powers. But he hadn't expected this response from the elder. It had been two thousand years or more since Adorians had been openly in Eidolon.
Jenner responded as if he'd read Michael's mind. 'We have no choice but to enter into open warfare. Bronach has shown me passages from the scrolls that lead me to believe that Ariana's powers may be related to the strength that forged the divide. If Eidolon knows this, it could be the reason Garren spared her life and has been sending visions to lure her there. They need her in order to usher the human army into Adoria.'
The next two hours were a blur as Michael was suited in his armor and readied his weapons. Though typical Adorian armor was all silver, Michael, as Archorigen, wore a gold breastplate that was carved with ornate symbols from the scrolls of the ancients. He knew the symbols signified strength, honor, and power, but despite the carving's archaic meaning and the lightness of the Adorian metals that made up his suit of arms, he'd never felt more burdened or unable to breathe under the weight of it. The main joint of his wings was protected by a series of small plates, made of the same special metal, that allowed him flight and served as moderate protection against Ereubinian arrows.
At last, he leaned against the outside wall of the stables to catch his breath before heading out. He was there only a brief moment before turning; as he did so, he caught a glimpse of Bronach in the distance, his features distorted by the dim light. Eyes, once gentle, looked fierce — his face chiseled with the hard lines of a much- younger man, yet when the historian stepped closer, the torchlight revealed again the soft, humble visage Michael had grown fond of.
Ariana followed in line with the others. They walked through the open areas beyond the wall and back into the temple. She didn't want to admit that fear had crept into her thoughts but she had to force herself not to hesitate as they entered.
They walked through a long corridor and down a narrow flight of steps. She gasped as they entered a large, black-paved room with rows of benches. An altar was at the front, lined with candles. They filed into their seats, mindless drones, keeping their heads down and eyes averted. She braved a glance at her surroundings and had to keep from yelling out. Sara sat at the very far end of the pew from her.
Ariana swallowed hard as tears began to form in her eyes. It took all of her strength not to weep with joy. She looked over again and noticed Sara's cheek was bruised and her hand was wrapped in cloth. Her attention was pulled away as she heard a familiar voice.
'Nech ordai neroman,' Garren's voice echoed through the sanctuary and she jumped to her feet as everyone around her rose at his entrance. 'We are here for worship. But tonight is a night apart from all others.' He turned to the robed Ereubinian who stood closest to the altar. 'His Holiness and I are here to dedicate the death of many to our Goddess. Thousands of humans have been sacrificed at Adoria's borders in her honor and in revenge for the loss of our brethren. No longer can Adoria question the hand of the Laionai or the will of the Goddess.'
Ariana's blood ran cold.
Garren walked around the sanctuary and for a time spoke in the same tongue that he'd used with her in the woods, what she'd come to learn was Ereubinian. Occasionally, he would pause, and everyone would repeat the last part of what he'd said.
'Norde latresk Ciara mordat.' She would have felt the heat of his breath on her neck had it not been for the hood of her cloak. 'It has come to my attention that there are some among us who have mixed loyalties — who have agendas of their own to abide by instead of that which the Laionai have set before us.'
As he walked away, she turned her head enough to see him saunter to the end of the pew and place his hand possessively on Sara's shoulder.
She's his wife!
She heard many of the Ereubinians shift in discomfort in their seats as Garren continued. 'Come, speak, you who've led them astray! Show them — show us — your strength!' The vile tone of his voice bit into the air. No one answered him. Whatever he'd just done, it had elevated the level of tension in the room significantly.
Suddenly, Garren laughed. 'See, my brothers, you have nothing to gain from following such cowardice. Why would you listen to such a craven, powerless creature?' He released his hold on Sara and made his way back up to the altar.
Ariana tuned out the remainder of the service. Her bitterness clouded her focus, and she had a difficult time following the others. Several times throughout the service, she had failed to rise at the same time or kneel with them. She caught herself within an instant each time, but it wasn't without fear of having been noticed. The service finally drew to a close. After the Ereubinians left, the humans started to file out of the doorway. Ariana watched as an Ereubinian grabbed Sara by the arm and pulled her from the group. She was about to yell out when a hand clamped over her mouth and pulled her into a darkened corner.
'That wouldn't be wise.' It was a young teenager. He lowered his hand from her mouth. 'You are Michael's sister, are you not?'
She nodded, shocked that he knew her brother. She wanted to ask but didn't have time — Sara was getting away from her.
'It's not safe for you to be here.' He said. 'Dark things are afoot. I'll take you as far as I can, but you must leave.'
'I'm not leaving without Sara,' she whispered.
He looked at her sternly. 'Don't approach her. Believe me, Adorian, you have no choice but to leave. Doing anything else will get you killed and then what chance will she have?'
Ariana couldn't argue with him. She'd been naive in her assumptions of Garren. It would take the help of trained Braeden to free Sara from these walls. But how could she return to Adoria empty-handed? Her pride and her love for her friend wouldn't let her acknowledge failure.
