Gale Season

Chapter Thirteen

Sava didn’t take surprises well, Aerolus noted.

“You’re lucky I didn’t do more than steal a bit of energy,” he growled at Arim from a face and body completely different from the Aellei Aerolus had been expecting.

Alandra had mentioned Lord Sava as a friend of her parents, and he knew she thought of him like a father. But this man looked as if he would have been more at home as her lover. The thought irritated him as much as it disturbed him. The constant worry for her gnawed at him, and he knew the irrational jealousy was another result of the negative energy amassing in Aelle.

The minute they’d stepped into this plane he’d felt it. Having Alandra’s magic meshed with his was both a blessing and a curse. He felt the Dark more deeply, able to accurately sense Aellei and Dark Lords alike, but was also more susceptible to the Dark’s pull.

“Damn me, Sava,” Arim said with surprise. “Last I’d heard you were a weakened, scarred old man. What happened to the wise old Aellei determined to end his people’s vain fixation on surface pleasures?”

Sava sat back on a plush, oversized couch with a loud exhalation. “Anything worthwhile eventually grows old.” He smiled at his pun. “Do you like the real me? I decided to go back to my roots. All that aged wisdom was getting on my nerves. The Aellei took me more seriously, but then I started taking myself too seriously.”

“Maybe that was a good thing,” Aerolus said quietly, his gut churning. “Remember Alandra? I’m sure she could use your help about now.”

Sava stared with pale grey eyes. “This is the pup my niece has chosen?” He stared at Aerolus with dismay. “He’s barely a man, and a Light Bringer at that.”

Aerolus seethed. They sat in Sava’s tower exchanging pleasantries and insults while Alandra was out there in a fucking dungeon, alone. “Look, you arrogant prick, I want my affai. And if you don’t tell me where she is in two seconds, I’m going to feed your eyes to you on winds of Light.”

The air seethed and sparks crackled in the air as Sava regarded Aerolus steadily.

“One, two—”

Arim stepped between them. “He’s testing you, Aerolus.”

“Not bad. A little overly dramatic, but I like the ‘arrogant prick’ comment.” Sava grinned and grabbed a sword that suddenly appeared on a nearby stone table. “Alandra’s safe in the dungeon. I had one of my men impersonate ‘Sin Garu. As we speak, events are unfolding.”

Aerolus shifted nervously. His skin prickled as if someone had recently enspelled him. Calling forth the latent energy of his affai, he stared around him using Alandra’s senses and saw Darkness creeping through Sava’s windows.

“Arim, we’re under attack.” He withdrew his staff and allowed a beam of Light to pierce the shadowy interior of Sava’s tower.

“What are you doing?” Sava asked, shocked. “You would come into my home bearing arms against your host?”

Arim shook his head. “No, Aerolus is right. There’s something wrong in here.”

Sava opened his mouth to argue, then closed it as his eyes widened. “Lexa,” he murmured and shook his head. “I think it’s time I took my leave. Aerolus, come with me, and we’ll go to my niece. Arim needs some space to greet an old friend.”

Aerolus stared from his uncle’s clenched jaw to Sava. Arim’s gaze suddenly focused on the far wall, and as Aerolus watched, the shadows in the tower grew and coalesced into a woman’s shape.

“Go, Aerolus.” Arim’s eyes gleamed. “Tanselm needs you and Alandra. I can handle this.”

“Yeah,” Sava said sarcastically. “Just like you handled her at the Great Hall.” He shook his head. “Come on, pup. We’ve got better things to do.”

Aerolus wanted to argue, but one look at the mysterious Lexa told him the history between these two was far from over. Something about her reminded him of Alandra, yet the icy fury in her gaze ended the subtle resemblance.

“Uncle—”

“Get moving.”

“Why not let him remain to play,” Lexa murmured, her sensuality a weapon in itself. Her words lashed around Aerolus like a leash pulling him close.

“Not your type, Lexa,” Sava said and yanked Aerolus to his side. In a blink they flashed to the dungeon. “Your uncle and that woman have a history they need to discuss. You and I aren’t welcome to interfere.”

“How do you know?”

“I was there when it all happened.”

“When what happened?” Aerolus asked in a low voice as they entered the stone building.

“It’s a long story, and one Arim needs to tell.” Sava pulled out a long stick, thinner than Aerolus’ staff but just as powerful, if the grey mist of energy around it was any indicator. “What, by Shadow’s fall?”

They stared at an empty cell.

“Zartic was supposed to keep her here until I arrived. Damn it. He’s playing with things better left alone.” Sava’s eyes glowed, but Aerolus had no patience left.

His elemental magic thrummed to be released. Using his anger to strengthen his power, he slammed Sava against the nearest wall. “If you don’t produce Alandra le Aelle, right now, I’m going to kill you.” He felt calm, too calm. “It’s not a threat, but a promise.”

Sava glared. “She’s not here, Light Bringer. Zartic is working for another.” He closed his eyes and frowned. “You’ve got one of two choices. I feel a distinct disturbance in the council field, and another to the south of the dungeon. Take your pick.”

Aerolus focused and felt a flutter of what he recognised as Alandra. “I’ll take the south.”

“I’ll take the field.” Sava cleared his throat. “As soon as you release me,” he added icily.

Aerolus did so and left without apology as worry overcame good sense. He didn’t bother to hide his presence from the inhabitants of Aelle, and though he travelled along a rather isolated trail, he quickly noted the many eyes in the woods that followed him.

“Well, well, well.” A large male flashed ten feet in front of him, halting his progress. Aerolus could feel the energy ahead of him, bright with streaks of Shadow—Alandra’s marker.

“Not now,” he growled and forcibly thrust the man from his path. Unfortunately, the tall Aellei had friends, a lot of them. They left the forest on silent feet, a formidable enemy should they prove antagonistic. The ice wraiths soon intermingling with the Aellei warned him they weren’t friendly either.

“Don’t worry, Light Bringer,” an ice wraith said and cackled. “I know you’re in a hurry, so we won’t keep you long.”

A flash of blue fire struck him from behind, bringing him to his knees. Instinctive rage struck back as lightning flew from his wound into his attacker, searing the wraith to a crisp in seconds.

Finally able to let free his anger, Aerolus released a storm into Aelle that would be remembered for years to come.

Alandra looked for Sava everywhere, but to her dismay saw nothing but Shadren glaring at her invasion into darker territory. Morphing back into her original form, she readied herself for anything.

“Sorry,” she murmured as she stepped over a young Nocumat. “Have you seen Lord Sava?”

The creature grumbled a few unsavoury remarks and sludged across the narrow trail. She ventured deeper into the woods, the feeling of doom growing steadily worse. She finally stopped in a small, dark clearing, conscious of the silence around her.

“Sava?” Why she bothered calling for him she wasn’t sure. Zartic, and it had been Zartic, obviously hadn’t sent her to Sava. She glanced around, unease crawling through her. She took two furtive steps forward and swallowed around the lump in her throat. Queen Lidra, in all her Dark glory, waited with a smile. Splotchy black marks streaked her once white flesh, and blood dripped from her fanged mouth down her chin.

‘Sin Garu’s words came back to her. “Don’t believe me? Look at what’s left of Lidra.”

Shit.

“My little niece, come to her auntie at last.” Lidra smiled, her pointed teeth offensive in a face once so very averse to the Dark pleasures.

“I guess it’s pointless to expect you to renounce your throne?” Alandra sighed, trying to appear cool while her heart thundered. Lidra had passed beyond reason, beyond the Shadow into death’s keep. Blood drinkers were one step from pure evil, and Lidra now shared more in common with the Dark Lords than her own kind.

“You little slut.” Lidra’s eyes flashed, their blue now clouded with sickly yellow. “Our kingdom needs the magic Tanselm offers. Dammit, I was born there, you ignorant sheel. I know very well what we’ve been living without for over a thousand years.”

She sneered, cloaking her body in the illusion of an elegant red sheath that lit her curves to perfection. Her skin was once again brilliant, and the blood disappeared from her mouth. Her hair lay in soft waves of gold over her back.

“I am a queen, the highest of the Aellei, and I would have my people where they deserve to be, at the very top of the multiverse.”

Alandra couldn’t help frowning at Lidra’s melodrama. “And you think Tanselm is the best so many worlds have to offer? No offence, Lidra, but I’ve been there. And as beautiful and magical as it is, Tanselm surely pales to other places in existence.” And if I live long enough, I promise to travel to as many of them as I can with my Storm Lord.

“Heresy,” Lidra hissed. Lifting her arms above her head, she linked her hands together and began to absorb the surrounding Darkness.

Alandra stared nervously, wondering how she might evade her aunt long enough to get some help. Sava would know how to handle Lidra, but Alandra wasn’t so sure.

“B’alen wants you. I know he does. But it’s for no more than your power, you stupid chit. I’m the one he desires. I’m the one he drinks from when he hungers.” Lidra licked her lips, and Alandra felt an odd surge of pity for the selfish queen.

“What has happened to you?” she asked softly. “You were once Lidra the White, the Queen of the Aellei, and now you’re reduced to a Dark Lord’s nymph?”

Lidra’s eyes flashed, and she directed a large stream of negative energy through Alandra.

Stunned at the brute force of the attack, Alandra stood in shock like a statue, trying in vain to rethink her strategy. There was no time to wait for Sava. She had to rid Aelle of Lidra now. The raw hatred seething inside the queen was a danger to anyone she encountered. Unfortunately, Lidra was beyond saving.

“Why have you always hated me?” Alandra asked, drawing Lidra into her haphazardly constructed plan. “Even as a young child, I was the one you teased unmercifully. Great queen, I loved you. What have I done but be your niece above all else?”

Lies, but they sounded suitably pathetic uttered in a capitulating voice.

“Stupid as well,” Lidra muttered, glaring. “I’m your aunt in that your great-grandmother Nara was my sister before she died, not so very long ago. She made the mistake of lying with a Storm Lord. A Light Bringer,” she spat in distaste. “Knowing Father would kill her for such perfidy, she tricked your Aellein great-grandfather into marriage. He cared little for his other progeny, siring a multitude of Aellei with dozens of females more worthy than my sister,” she said as insultingly as possible.

A sudden flash of insight took Alandra aback. “You were in love with him, weren’t you?”

Lidra shrugged. “Rovu was the most handsome of our kind. Unlike Sava, he knew my worth, and sadly, my wrath. The minute he set eyes on your mother, some odd sense of paternal fondness hit him. It made no sense whatsoever, yet he refused to let her go. He even began doting on you.”

Alandra recalled her Pare Rovu, remembered his kind eyes and the sticky taffy he brought whenever he visited between his jaunts abroad.

Lidra shrugged, her beady eyes glued to Alandra’s face. “Because of you and your mother, I had to kill him. Such weakness in a male is not worthy of a queen.”

Alandra stilled as a sudden suspicion dawned. Her parents had been killed together, supposedly caught in the crossfire between warring Djinn and Aellein outcasts.

“Yes, you stupid girl.” Lidra rolled her eyes and sent another blast of Darkness through her, one that did substantial damage this time. “I killed your father, your mother, hell, I killed my own sister as well. How could I let her live, hanging onto my lover as she did? Rovu never really loved her. He just wanted her because he thought she was prettier than me. Than me!”

She plumped her lips, and her brilliance flared. “You are the spitting image of Nara, Alandra. And every day you’ve taken breath, I’ve been just waiting for the opportunity to rid myself of your presence.” Lidra’s face turned ugly, her features twisted with hate, and Alandra wondered how much of it was the Dark and how much was Lidra’s unruly jealousy.

“How fortunate, then, when I openly accused you of allying with the Dark Lords,” Alandra said stiffly, still trying to sort the awful truth Lidra had spouted that she, honestly, wished she didn’t now know.

“Oh, yes.” Lidra shot at her again, but this time Alandra managed to avoid the blast by ducking behind a nearby boulder. Pain from her other wounds throbbed in her side, where the numbing Darkness coalesced. Her mind, however, ticked at a record pace, trying to figure out how to do the most damage to Lidra as possible. “Your accusations did more than open the door to my vengeance. You see…”

As Lidra blathered on about one corruption after another, Alandra continued to dodge her advances. Shoring the Light within her, borrowing from Shadow as much as she dared, she knew she’d never have a better chance.

“You poor, sad cow of a woman,” she said with false compassion and stepped out from behind the boulder. She needed nothing standing between her and Lidra when she attacked. Lidra stopped mid-sentence and stared open-mouthed. “How terrible to live in my great-grandmother’s shadow all these years. That even after killing her, my mother and my father, you still are not the prettiest Aellei in the land.” With a blinding brilliance, Alandra released the Light within her. “Rovu could never want a thing as ugly as you.”

Lidra shrieked and returned fire with everything she had. The pain was terrible, akin to the agony Alandra had suffered under Arim, but worse, as Lidra used the Dark to aid her.

Not willing to go the way her unfortunate parents had, and unwilling to allow Aelle to suffer the fate of the many dead worlds the Dark Lords raped and tore to pieces, Alandra allowed the love she felt for Aerolus to fuel her righteous anger.

As Dark met Light, showers of fire lit the grey sky. Cries and shouts feathered into her consciousness, but as their energies met and clashed, something had to give. A loud boom rent the air, and she and Lidra were thrown back. The sick crack of a broken spine made her look to Lidra, only to see her twisted body curdled with age, lying lifeless under a large tree now scarred by Light.

A constant buzzing filled her ears, and the taste of blood made her stomach sour, as did the smell of burnt hair. Glancing at the blurring image of Lidra once more, she saw her aunt’s once bright hair curling with flame. Then a seething, ripping pain tore through the Dark numbness that had settled within her. Agony, the stinging of a million needles piercing her brain, her magic, began to invade the places of Light within her. Her vision darkened, and she prayed Aerolus would find her.

He’d brought her back from the Next once before, but she feared if he didn’t find her soon, she wouldn’t wake to see his face for a very, very long time, if ever again.

Tired and sick of fighting these cretins when his every cell called him to join his affai, Aerolus focused on the well deep within himself for ancient power. Winds and lightning raged, pouring from his eyes and mouth. Torrents of static flew from his fingertips, riding the same air that threw his enemy into a great vortex of wind so vicious that nothing survived in its path.

A sudden explosion in front of him told him to move, and quickly. Ignoring the burning in his body, the myriad cuts and blows he’d received battling an enemy that clearly outnumbered him, he rushed through the same winds that crushed his opponents, only to see Alandra and another woman shuttling through the air away from each other and him.

Alandra landed with a solid crash, jarring her slight form into a moan but not sending her unconscious, for which he was profoundly grateful. The other woman faired not so well. Her body snapped as she hit a massive tree at an odd angle, and as she fell to the ground, her body decayed into a decrepit creature more pulpy flesh and blood than whole.

Not wasting any time, he quickly reached Alandra as her eyes slowly closed. He called her name, stroking her head and cradling her to his chest, but she didn’t give him the slightest response. Worried, he tried to see her aura, but found, to his shock, he could no longer feel her power within or around him. Clinging to her, he began to waver, and finally realised what terrible shape both of them were in.

He was bleeding from more wounds than he’d ever had in his life. Darkness clawed at his core, breaking the Light within him into small, useless pieces. His head throbbed, and he kept seeing spots that he had to blink away to maintain focus. Yet he was awake and moving, while his affai was not.

Studying the face more precious to him than life itself, he saw her perfect cheeks bruised, her lips bleeding and her left eye slightly swollen. She had been struck, battered, and even now lay perilously close to death. He turned away from the thought she might already be dead, unable to accept even a hint of such truth without losing his tenuous hold on life itself.

Knowing of only one thing that might cure his affai and bring her back, he used every last reserve of energy he possessed and teleported them into Tanselm, into the shadow of MornMountain. Finally at his end, he laid her down as gently as he was able and toppled next to her. He reached out and clutched her hand, willing her to recover even as his soul struggled to separate from his body and seek the Next.