Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [72]
“Dead and gone,” Anas said with satisfaction. “As is Sien the Vindicant—”
“Sien!” Elandra echoed, and she almost added, Good riddance. But instead she thought of the old Magria, likewise gone. So much had been swept away so suddenly. It made her shiver.
“What is to befall—”
“Please be quiet,” Anas broke in, quickening her pace. “I require quiet, Majesty, so that I can take us from here safely.”
Elandra stifled the rest of her questions. She did not understand why Anas had to be so prickly. Walking as fast as she could, she kept pace with the Magria and wondered how far they would have to go.
In the next moment, without any warning at all, she was back in the snowy gully.
Startled, she stumbled and nearly stepped in the stream. The intense cold struck right through her gown and seemed to freeze her face. Huge flakes of snow were falling from a gray, gloomy sky. The air smelled fragrant and fresh, and she drew in several deep lungfuls of it.
“You did it!” she cried. “Anas, you are wonderful!”
Again Anas gave her that fleeting smile before looking stern again. “Is it too much to address me with respect, Majesty? I believe you have been thinking we should treat each other as equals.”
Elandra’s joy was jerked up tight. Hurt and annoyed, she grabbed for imperial composure as a defense. “You must forgive me, Excellency, if I do not take your abilities for granted in the way that you do. I am not yet accustomed to treating them casually. I am sure my admiration will eventually fade.”
Anas frowned, drawing in a sharp breath, but Elandra gave her no time to speak.
“As for equality, I think that is fair. It would be pleasant if we could feel comfortable enough with each other to be informal in private, but if that is not possible, I am amenable to maintaining the formal protocols.”
Anas opened her mouth, but Elandra gathered up her long skirts to keep them from getting wet in the snow and walked toward the cave.
“Do allow me to offer you shelter. The cave looks humble, but I believe it is considered a place of sanctuary. It is better than standing out here in the wind and snow.”
With head held high, she swept on ahead of Anas like a grand lady. Anas followed her without a word, although Elandra half expected the Magria to vanish into thin air.
Once inside the gloomy cave, however, Elandra found nothing welcoming about it. The ice-covered walls gave off a damp chill. There was no fire to warm it, no food or drink to bring back strength, hardly any light to see by.
Picking up her cloak, Elandra wrapped it around herself and sank wearily to the floor.
Anas glanced around warily as though she expected something to spring at her from the interior of the cave. “How interesting,” she said at last, tilting her head as she studied the ceiling and ran her fingertips along the ice-coated walls. “One of the famous ice caves of Trau. It is a province known for its many natural wonders. Sanctuary, did you call it?”
“Yes.”
“I feel a natural resonance in the earth.” Anas extended her hand as though to press her palm against the wall, then withdrew it. “Very old power is here, an ancient presence like ...” Her voice trailed off thoughtfully. “Did the man bring you here?”
Elandra looked up.
“The man in your dreams. Caelan E’non.”
Heat flamed in Elandra’s face. She looked away hastily, embarrassed by the question. The passion she had felt in those dreams was very private. In her heart she cursed the Penestrican dream walkers who robbed her of her secrets.
“You are free of your marriage vows,” Anas said. “Have you realized that yet?”
Elandra’s eyes widened. She was a widow, no longer married, no longer bound to a man she did not love. Her heart suddenly leaped in her chest, and she looked at the mouth of the cave in longing for Caelan’s return.
“Does he know you love him?”
Elandra shook her head.
Anas walked over to her and crouched down beside her. Her hand covered Elandra’s in a brief clasp. “Your feelings