Legacies (59 page)

Alucius could feel Wendra stiffen, and could sense her sudden concern. He leaned toward her ear and whispered, “It hasn't changed what's between us.”

And it hadn't—that he also knew, knowing as well that, as his experiences had changed him, so had Wendra's work on the stead changed her.

Wendra did not reply, but Alucius could feel her relax, if not completely.

“You look older,” Royalt observed.

“I am,” Alucius replied. “Two years.”

“Older than that.” His grandfather offered a wistful smile. “Wish Veryl had been able to see you. She knew you were coming home.”

Alucius nodded. He wasn't surprised, but he still felt the emptiness when he thought about his grandmother.

“There's a stew in there,” Lucenda said, “and it won't be long before it's ready. I'd have had something grander—”

“Except you didn't know when I was coming,” Alucius said with a laugh, half forced. “A good stew would be wonderful.”

“You can eat—you need to eat after that long ride—and you can tell us everything.”

“There's a lot to tell.” Alucius wasn't about to recount it all, not at the moment, and perhaps never, but, when they were alone, he would tell his grandsire about the crystal, the torques, and the Matrial. Royalt deserved that, and so did Wendra.

“You can start,” said Royalt.

“Yes, sir.” Alucius grinned as he followed the others into the house.

The dinner was outstanding, stew or not, but the narration Alucius offered before, during, and after the meal was a slight strain, because while he did tell them about the Matrial's death and the failure of the torques, he did not tell all the details, nor did he ever intend to, not for years, and perhaps not ever. Without a word passing between them, he also knew none of them needed the details about Dysar's death.

His grandsire nodded several times, but did not offer a single word or question about either aspect of his tale, and, finally, Alucius and Wendra escaped the house—or, Alucius reflected, were allowed to leave. For several long moments, they stood on the porch, looking at the Aerlal Plateau, looming large in the east, its crystal edge shimmering in the light of both moons.

Alucius turned and looked at Wendra, wearing the green scarf that somehow brought out her eyes, as he had known it would.

“I'll always treasure it.”

Alucius blinked.

“The scarf.” She smiled.

So would he, if for slightly different reasons. He offered his arm. “I'd like to walk a bit.”

They walked north, arm in arm, and then westward, away from the house. The slightest of breezes had begun to whisper out of the north, bringing with it the faint sweet scent of blooming quarasote, a harbinger of the coming harvest season.

“I'm glad you've been here.” Hearing an old echo in his own words, Alucius stopped and studied Wendra, taking in her face, as he had once so many years before, seeing this time not a girl, but a woman.

“So am I.”

“You belong here.”

“With you…yes.” Wendra paused. “Do you remember the last time we were here? There was only Selena, and a star where Asterta is now.”

“You asked me to look, to see how beautiful it was,” Alucius said. “You were worried that your father would call you.”

“You
do
remember.”

“It's more beautiful now.” Alucius fell silent, wondering about what he needed to say, but finally spoke. “You don't mind getting married…with me still being in the militia?”

She laughed, softly, warmly, turning to him. “I'd mind much more not getting married now. Life goes on. It doesn't wait for the perfect moment. I'd feel more like I was helping you by being here.”

Their lips touched.

As they held each other in the summer evening, Alucius could feel once more the dark webs of life entwining, not as a shock, but a flow that was meant to be, that would be, and would continue to grow stronger as the years passed.

A pale silver-green radiance flowed over them…a radiance that bore warmth of a sort.

They both fell away from each other, looking to the east where the soarer hovered, seemingly halfway between both moons, her delicate winged figure suspended between the evening sky and the bare ground, her eyes fixed upon the couple.

Green radiance…Alucius felt both warmed and chilled within. The silver-green radiance had surrounded him on three occasions, although this was the first time he had seen the soarer. The first had been just before he had been struck down at Soulend, the second when he had destroyed the purple crystal…and now…with Wendra.

They both watched the soarer.

“She's smiling…” murmured Wendra. “She is…as if you're the soarer's child.”

Soarer's child? That was a nursery rhyme. Still, he could sense the warmth projected by the soarer, although he would not have called her expression a smile. “She wishes us well, I think.”

“You can tell that?”

Alucius did not answer, instead watching the soarer, seeking an answer he knew he would not get. Instead, the radiance diminished, and then, suddenly, the soarer was gone.

Wendra turned to Alucius, inquiring, but not speaking.

“We're meant to be together,” Alucius said with a smile. “The soarer means that nothing can tear our spirits apart.”

The second time they kissed, there was only the light of the stars—and the two moons.