Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [39]
Caelan frowned, unable to believe Elandra was considering this. “Don’t agree,” he said sharply to her. “He’s influencing your mind. Don’t listen.”
“I agree,” Elandra said. Her voice did not falter.
The Guardian extended its gloved hand to Elandra. “Touch me to seal your word.”
“No!” Caelan cried hoarsely, but Elandra put her hand in the clasp of the Guardian. She flinched and for a moment her eyes went blank. Then she was frowning and pulling free.
Caelan felt hollow with despair at what she’d done. But it was too late now to stop her. He couldn’t believe that now, at this final moment, he had failed to protect her.
Taking Elandra’s hand, Caelan faced the Guardian. “Let us go,” he said angrily.
The Guardian turned its back on them and glided away. Caelan followed, leading Elandra, who was weeping. She covered her face with her free hand and would not look at him.
Ahead of them, yellowish green light glowed between the two tall pillars. As before, when Caelan gazed at it, his eyes began to itch and burn. What would happen when they stepped into that light? What would it do to them? He did not want to know, yet it was the only way out.
The Guardian drew its cowl over its head, concealing its terrible visage at last, and stopped by the gate so that the eerie light shone over its black robes. It raised both hands, and the soldiers jumped to their feet, roaring a deafening torrent of sound.
It was louder than anything Caelan had ever heard in the arena, savage and lustful and triumphant. He did not know why they were cheering. He did not think he wanted to know.
The roar went on and on until the ground shook with it. The Guardian spoke, but its words could not be heard in the din. Words appeared in the air, hanging there, burning there for a moment, before fading with little wisps of black smoke.
The Guardian pointed at the gateway, and Caelan drew in a deep breath. He held tightly to Elandra’s hand, determined not to lose her now, yet knowing he already had.
“The Gate of Sorrows,” the Guardian said, still pointing. “Go.”
Caelan glanced at Elandra, who stood with her face averted from his. “Be brave,” he said, as much to encourage himself as her. “We’re nearly there.”
She did not respond.
Without further hesitation, he stepped between the pillars and led her into the light.
Part Two
Chapter Eight
He was cold, terribly cold. Rousing slowly, at first he was conscious only of the stiff ache of his muscles, of how tightly his arms were clamped to his sides in an effort to conserve warmth.
Something feather-light tickled his face. He frowned, struggling against the mist of sleep. A pungent scent of pine needles filled his nostrils, awakening him further. From overhead, he heard the sharp, raucous cry of jackdaws. The sound and scent reminded him of home, except that he used to sleep warm and snug in his chamber.
The tickling sensation came again, brushing his cheek, his eyelashes, his nose.
Opening his eyes, Caelan saw falling snow, the fat wet flakes spiraling down through a gray mist. He was lying outside on the ground, and it was snowing on him. Small wonder he felt so cold.
Then the fragrance of evergreens registered fully in his muddled senses. He blinked and focused on the nearby pines and spruces.
Abruptly he sat bolt upright and looked around.
He was in a small clearing, a recent one by the look of the freshly cut stumps still sticky with golden resin. The ground of spongy forest earth and layers of brown needles looked trampled and scraped by the logs that had been cut and dragged away.
And yet... and yet... he knew this ominous sky that was the color of tarnished silver. Drawing in another breath, he let the clean scents of snow and forest clear his mind. The falling snow, fluffy soft, melting as soon as the flakes landed, greeted him like an old friend.
He was home.
Caelan drew a breath so rapid and sharp it hurt his lungs.
Digging his hands into the soil, he lifted dirt and pine needles to his face and inhaled the moist, earthy fragrance.
Then his hands began to tremble, and the soil