Treasures of Fantasy - Margaret Weis [101]
“You may speak to him,” she said.
“Why are you in chains, my love?” Aylaen said, agonized.
“You keep me here,” said Garn and his voice was filled with sorrow. “Because of you, I am a prisoner.”
Aylaen gave an anguished cry and started to walk toward him into the square of light. Semelon detained her.
“He speaks to us from the realm of the dead. The living may not enter.”
“Forgive me. . . .” Aylaen said brokenly. “They said Aelon would bring you back to life!”
She reached out a trembling hand. “I love you so much, Garn. I miss you. . . .”
“If you truly love me, you will find a way to set me free,” said Garn. He held up his chained wrists. “Do not let them keep me a prisoner throughout eternity.”
“How can I free you? I will do anything!”
“You must tell your sister the secret of the Vektan dragons,” said Garn.
Treia gave an audible gasp. Raegar stared at the ghost with wide eyes.
“But . . . I don’t know anything about the Vektan dragons!” Aylaen faltered. “How could I? Only a Kai Priestess knows such things!”
“Vindrash speaks to you, Sister,” Treia said harshly, “as she once spoke to Draya. If you ask the goddess, she will tell you.”
Aylaen looked at her sister in bewilderment. “But why would you want to know such a thing?”
Treia said nothing. The Priest-General was stone-faced, glaring balefully at Semelon. Raegar swallowed. He was finding it difficult to look at the dead man. The fane was silent except for the hissing of guttering candles.
It was Garn who answered. “The priests of Aelon have one of the five spiritbones of the Vektia. The god, Sund, gave it to them. Treia plans to use it to summon the dragon.”
“The god, Sund . . . Is this true, Treia?” Aylaen cried, dismayed. “Are you working for our enemies now? Are you a traitor, too?”
“Do not judge me, Aylaen,” Treia said. “You have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Give your sister the secret and Garn will go free,” said Xydis. He added more gently, “As Treia says, events are transpiring in the world, important things are happening that will affect you and your people and everyone in Sinaria. Your sister is not a traitor and neither is your god. They both do this for the good of your people.”
Aylaen clasped her hands in anguish. She looked at Treia and then she looked back at Garn. She covered her face with her hands. Her body shook with sobs. She sank to her knees.
Garn drew near her. He did not leave the circle. He made a motion as if to embrace her. The chains prevented him, held him back.
“You do not need to ask Vindrash, Aylaen. Someone else knows the secret to the Vektan dragons. Skylan knows. Ask him.”
“Skylan!” Raegar repeated hoarsely. He frowned. “How could Skylan know? It is a trick. The ghost lies.”
“The dead cannot lie,” said Semelon.
Treia drew close to Raegar and whispered, “Draya must have told Skylan. The fool woman adored him. She would have told him all her secrets. Skylan loves Aylaen. He will tell her.”
Raegar sucked in a breath and said in a mutter, “He lies.”
“Talk to Skylan, Aylaen,” Garn urged her. “Ask him for the secret. He will tell you.”
Aylaen regarded Garn sadly. “If I tell Treia, will Aelon set you free?”
“Ask Skylan, Aylaen,” Garn said.
A warm breeze wafted through the fane. The candles wavered. The breeze strengthened and the candles went out. The ghost vanished. Aylaen’s strength failed her. She fell to the floor, insensible.
“She has fainted,” said Semelon, kneeling beside her. “She is overcome with the spirit. This often happens.”
Semelon took Aylaen in her arms and, holding her close, began to rock back and forth, murmuring soothing words.
Xydis walked out the door, giving Raegar a commanding look to follow. Raegar hastened to obey him.
“That did not go as anticipated,” Xydis said, once they were outside and the door had shut behind them. “Still, we got what we came for and that is all that matters. This Skylan . . . will he tell her?”
Raegar said nothing. His face was livid. Sweat covered his brow.
“He will tell my sister, Worshipful Sir,” said Treia, wondering what was wrong with Raegar. He