1/Terreille
Alex didn't need much time to finish in the suite. He was just stalling. Why? Because when he stepped out that door, he'd have to spend the next two days with Lilith.
She was and wasn't what he'd expected, given the way they'd left things before. Around Tarine's Court, their conversation had been cordial. And even just now when they'd been alone, Lilith hadn't shown any of the cold distance that Alex had expected. The only time she got touchy was the few times he'd tried to bring up what had happened between them.
As much as he wished that he could just let it go like she wanted, Alex knew that they had to deal with it. But whether the time for that was during this journey to his family home, he was inclined to take Lilith's advice and just put it all on ice for now. With a sigh, he left the suite and hoped they'd survive the next few days.
Lilith had wandered down the hallway, and turned back at the sound of the door closing. She looked at him for a minute as if trying to make a decision about something.
"What?"
"I was just thinking," she answered slowly. "It might be a good idea if you turned back into Lord Vrede for a little while."
Alex didn't think he was going to like where this was headed.
"Why's that?"
"While Tarine's district is safe enough, but once we leave it, we'll be travelling through some unfriendly territories in Hayll." She shook her head. "I don't want rumors getting back to Meredith that would tell her that you were here. Tarine's not prepared yet to fight her on an open battlefield."
She was right. If Meredith ever did suspect that he'd been deliberately sheltered in one of Draega's districts, she would crush its Queen and everyone living there. Alex didn't want to be responsible for that happening to Tarine and her people. So he called in the illusion.
"I suppose it would be a wise move to keep a low profile."
He keyed the illusion, and saw Lilith nod.
"Exactly. That disguise will ensure no one suspects who you really are. They won't look twice at us."
"If that's done, are we leaving now?"
"Yep, it's time to go."
She turned and led the way out of the Queen's Residence. It was surprisingly empty, considering the time of day. Even the square outside was quiet. All the better to make it easier for them to leave. Alex suspected if there had been a lot of people milling around, they'd all want something from Lilith before she left. Even if it was just a minute to say goodbye.
They slipped through the district almost unnoticed, taking the less used alleys instead of main streets. In no time, they'd reached its edge. Lilith stopped before crossing into the next one. She sighed heavily and looked over at him.
"This district is currently ruled by Lady Jaemie, one of Meredith's pets. We have to cut through it to get out of Draega."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I'm going to turn into a bitch for about twenty minutes and I wanted to give you some warning first."
Alex understood immediately. Yeah, a warning was definitely a good idea if she was going to play that sort of game. He didn't argue that it made sense, especially if they weren't trying to draw any unusual attention. But that didn't mean he was going to like it, either.
"I can deal with it."
"All right, here we go, then."
In the space between minutes, he saw a swift transformation come over her. Lilith was gone, and in her place was a cold-eyed bitch Alex had never seen before. Even the way she held her body and moved was different.
"Well, don't just stand there, Warlord. I don't want to spend all day on my errands."
If Alex didn't know that it was just a façade, he would have believed she was every bit the same as every other bitch loyal to Meredith. The demanding tone in her voice with that haughty stare was a perfect match. To his thinking, it was both impressive and frightening how convincing she was.
Lilith's foot began to tap impatiently, obviously waiting for his reply.
"Yes, Lady. My apologies."
"Save them and just get moving."
He nodded, and started walking. As they reached a marketplace, she paused at a peddler's stall every now and then to browse. She would pick up something from the table, sneer at its quality, and walk away without making a purchase. All the while, Lilith directed cutting remarks at him for being clumsy or getting in her way.
Eventually, the crowds thinned until no one was around. The main road branched off, and Lilith nodded to take it. They passed unnoticed through the last gates before reaching the edge of Draega. After they'd gone a mile or so, Lilith stopped. She pressed her hands to her face and exhaled. When she looked up, the persona she'd adopted was gone again.
"Well, at least that's over. I'm sorry you had to experience one of my least admirable disguises, Prince."
"I don't think I've ever seen someone change like that without an illusion spell," he replied.
"I guess I should be relieved to hear that she doesn't resemble me at all. In any case, we're away from the city and I won't need her again for a while."
Lilith talked about the persona like it was a separate person. Something that was, but also wasn't, her. He could empathize, thinking of when he went cold. That facet of himself was almost someone else, too. Could she control hers any better than he did, he wondered.
"What's the plan from here," he asked, setting those thoughts aside.
"There's a blacksmith a few miles away. We'll get horses from there and ride for the border between Hayll and Askavi. If we're lucky, we'll reach it tomorrow."
"Horses? Couldn't we just ride the Winds?"
She shook her head. "No chance. Meredith has guards posted at all of the landing webs in Hayll looking for you. Even with the disguise, it's better not to take chances."
"I'm surprised that she thinks I would leave the city," Alex said. "It would make the most sense to think that I'd go after her coven first."
"Meredith likely did at first. But by now, she's going to focus her search outside Draega to catch you that way."
"You sound like she might know where I'd be going."
"She does, Prince."
With that, Lilith started walking again. Alex closed the distance between them. He tapped her shoulder, but dropped contact immediately when she cringed away.
"How would she know?"
"Because she's the one who took you from your parents in the first place."
Not expecting that response, Alex froze. He'd never quite known how he'd ended up in Meredith's Court. Even after Lilith had told him that he did have family out there somewhere, he'd only guessed how he was separated from them. But Lilith knew for sure how it had happened. Alex decided he wanted the answers.
"You seem to know a lot about my life."
"I've known your family for decades, Prince. I'd heard the story from their side more than a few times from your sister. Once I'd installed myself as a servant in Meredith's hall, she filled in the rest. Turns out she isn't very careful about what she says in front of the staff."
Not surprising. The witches in the housekeeping staff were even less important than the Blood males Meredith had held captive. Alex was sure that Lilith had heard all sorts of stories while she'd played that role.
As they resumed walking to the blacksmith, Alex thought about what she'd said. If Meredith had taken him from his family, he had to wonder why they never fought back. He knew why the families of the other Warlords hadn't fought. None of them had power enough to do anything about it. But given his Jewels, he had to believe that he'd inherited the power from someone.
So why hadn't they fought to get him back?
"I notice that my family never tried to reclaim me."
"For two very good reasons," Lilith said.
"Such as?"
"First and foremost- they think you're dead."
"Oh." Alex thought for a minute. "Well, I guess that would make a rescue seem futile."
"Indeed."
"And the second reason?"
"Neither of your parents has set foot in Hayll in over seven centuries." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "And never will again."
"What do you mean?"
"This realm- Hayll especially- holds unpleasant memories for both of them. I know if they tried to come back, it would damage them, probably forever. That's why I came instead."
"What kind of memories?"
"That's something I'd better leave unsaid. You'll have to ask them."
Obviously, Lilith knew a lot more to that story. But if she said she couldn't tell him, he doubted he would change her mind. That's when he realized what else she'd said.
"You said this realm."
"That I did."
"You don't mean that they…"
"Live in Kaeleer, not in Terreille. Yes, that's exactly what I mean."
"And just how are we going to get there?"
"There's a Gate at the Keep in Askavi."
"But…the Shadow Realm. You're telling me it's real?"
"Trust me, Prince, it is. Like you, I was born there."
Like him. The world spun. He'd been born in the Shadow Realm. A place that Meredith had claimed didn't exist. A bedtime story told to entertain children, nothing more. He remembered seeing more than one witch or Warlord maimed for claiming the stories were true.
Now he understood why. Meredith was willing to do anything to keep him from learning the truth about where he came from. What might he have done if he'd thought there was someplace he could escape her control?
The what-ifs weren't going to help now. Alex was curious about the first half of what she'd said. He'd wanted to know since the day they met where she was from. Now Lilith had finally told him. Or at least given him an idea where to start.
"Where?"
"Doesn't matter."
"I thought you were Hayllian. Is there a territory in Kaeleer called Hayll, too?"
"No, but there's Dhemlan. The long-lived race belonging to that territory is similar to the Hayllians."
"So that's where you're from."
"I was born there, yes."
It was an odd sort of answer. Alex sided a glance to her, and wondered why she was so secretive about where she came from. Silence hung between them as they walked on. Just as he was about to venture a question, they turned a bend and saw the blacksmith.
Lilith picked up the pace, leaving him to follow her lead. The blacksmith looked from her to him and back again as they approached. He crossed beefy arms over his chest and frowned.
"What be yer business here?"
"Two horses," Lilith replied with an easy smile.
"I ain't got anything fancy, if that's what yer lookin' for."
"No need. Just something sturdy and used to travelling."
The blacksmith continued to look skeptical. "If ye want the horses, ye'd better have the marks to pay for 'em. I don't take no credit here."
"Not a problem." Lilith called in a handful of silver marks and flashed them at the man. "Marks we have. It's the horses we need."
Pacified by the sight of silver, the blacksmith gestured to a small corral behind the shop.
"I got five horses- any of 'em will do. Take yer pick."
The horses definitely wouldn't have been in any aristo stable. But Alex could see they were all sound creatures. Lilith walked up to the fence and whistled. A few of the horses raised their heads, but two came over to her. They stretched their necks over the rails and whickered at her. Lilith laughed, shaking her head at them in bemusement.
Alex watched as she stroked one on the nose and fondled the other's ears. She turned to the blacksmith, who stood open-mouthed.
"These will do."
The man rubbed a hand over his sweaty neck, utterly perplexed.
"I'll be damned if I ever saw anything like it before. Ye sure got a way with animals, I'll give ye that!"
"They take to me, I suppose. What's the price?"
"Seein' as they've taken a shine to ye- ten silver marks apiece ought to do it."
"Done."
Lilith didn't haggle on the price, which surprised Alex. He would bet they could have talked him down a few marks. Maybe even gotten it down to six for each. But he kept silent as she negotiated a deal for saddles and other tack for the horses. He waited to ask her about it until they'd mounted and had ridden some distance away.
"Why did you agree to the price outright?"
"Because I wanted these horses and we don't have time to haggle."
"Why these two?"
Lilith sighed, and patted her horse's neck. "You can't feel it, can you?"
"Feel what?"
"They're Blood, Prince. Not full Blood, but Blood."
Alex almost dropped the reins in shock. Blood? Horses could be Blood? She had to be joking with him.
"I don't believe it."
"You'd better start believing it. When we get to Kaeleer, you'll start meeting all sorts of Kindred. It's best you start getting used to the idea now."
"When you say Blood…what do you mean, exactly?"
"Jewel-wearing, Craft-using Blood."
"And you say they live in Kaeleer?'
"They rule whole territories in Kaeleer."
Alex thought back to the books he'd bought only just this week. At the time, Alex thought it was just a story. Something the author had made up. But now he wasn't so sure. Alex called in the first one and held it up.
"Where did you get that," she asked, surprised.
"A bookseller in Tarine's district had them in his shop. I got it around the time you arrived."
"And you read it, I'm guessing."
"I did. I believed it was fiction."
Lilith's eyes were dancing with amusement, and an uneasy feeling filled him. Mother Night, she was going to tell him that it wasn't. He knew that's what she was going to say. She tried several times to speak before finally answering him.
"The events are fiction, but the inspiration behind them…is very, very real, Prince. Scelties are quite common in Kaeleer. And Fiona's books are perhaps the most accurate depiction of what it's like to live with them."
"Oh."
"If only it were that easy to live with the rest of them," Lilith mused to herself.
Alex did not want to hear that. Having read about Scelties, he got the impression that they could be a pain in the ass more often than not. And now Lilith was saying there could be something worse? What the hell was he getting himself into, Alex wondered. Lilith must have realized the direction of his thoughts.
"Relax, Prince. Your family will teach you what you need to know about the Kindred. They won't let you do something stupid that gets you eaten by one of the cats."
"Was that supposed to be reassuring?"
"Of course."
He couldn't tell if she was sincere or not, but let it go. Certainly it wouldn't do him any good to ask how a cat could eat a grown man. She might actually tell him.
Maybe that was enough about the Kindred for a while. Alex coughed slightly and made an effort to change to a new topic.
"What else I should know about Kaeleer?"
"We only have two days' travelling ahead of us. There's not enough time to answer that question."
"Maybe you could skip the details and give me the highlights."
Lilith considered his question. Meanwhile, the road passed through a large wood, and Alex began to notice how quiet it was. After living in Draega most of his life, spending time in the open country gave him a sense of deafness. He kept listening for sounds of voices and the hustle and bustle of the city.
Several minutes passed before he could hear the natural sounds of the forest. It made him acutely aware that he was very much alone with Lilith. She interrupted those thoughts with a heavy sigh.
"Well, you'd better be prepared for a very different interpretation of Protocol than you're used to, for starters."
At least he was more prepared to talk about that over the Kindred. But Lilith couldn't know that he'd already started reading the Protocol books that she had introduced from Kaeleer. He was curious what she'd say.
"Different in what way?"
"In almost every way, Prince." She called in a book and handed it to him. "Here, this should give you an idea."
Alex had expected her to hand him a Protocol primer, but pretended he didn't know what it was. Taking the book, he balanced it in front of him with Craft. Alex read a few pages and realized very quickly that this was a different book entirely.
Oh it contained a lot of the same rules, but it was organized a little differently, and included some he hadn't read yet. And those especially…were beyond belief. He closed the book, incredulous.
"You're not serious."
"Dead serious."
"What is this? It's definitely no Protocol primer."
"How would you know?"
"I bought a set- from the same bookseller who sold me the Shadow and Tracker books."
"Oh."
Lilith's shock was evident. As was her inability to find some way of reconciling it with whatever she'd intended to say.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, no it's not," she said in a distracted way. "It will make things easier, actually. Especially if you've read any of it."
"About halfway through. You're right that it's very different than what passes for Protocol in Meredith's court."
"She only dusted off the same books that Dorothea and Hekatah vandalized as they shaped Terreille into their warped playground."
Alex almost flinched at bite in her words when she said 'vandalized'. Obviously a touchy subject better left alone for now. He held up the book she'd given him.
"So what is this, then, if it's not part of the general set of Protocol books?"
"That is a collection of Protocols specific to your family."
"We need our own book?"
"It's a good start, I must admit. But to explain everything would take a whole set, Prince."
He moved to hand it back to her, but Lilith shook her head. "That's yours to keep. If you browse through it on the journey to Kaeleer, you might stand a better chance of feeling more at ease when we get there."
"Maybe I'll read some later," he said, vanishing the book. "About the first page…"
"Yes?"
"It repeated something I saw in the Protocol books."
"Go on."
"It says the first law is not obedience."
Lilith sighed in exasperation. Alex guessed she'd had firsthand experience with that law.
"Your uncle read that when he first came to Kaeleer, and ever since, the males of your family have embraced it with far more enthusiasm than the author intended."
"And they get away with it."
"As if we could stop them," she muttered with an inelegant snort. "Being obstinate and stubborn is almost a requirement for Warlord Princes in your family. Just ask your sister when you see her. She'll agree with me."
They continued riding as Alex digested what she'd said. He wasn't sure he found it all that flattering to be called obstinate or stubborn, but he couldn't argue that it wasn't true, either. That was beside the point, though. Lilith was telling him that what he'd read was true. He wouldn't have to back down just because a Queen gave an order.
"Blood males actually have power," he said more to himself than to her.
"Of course they do. What's the use in having any if you're not able to use it?"
"So I could wear my Jewels."
Lilith hesitated a moment. "I dunno if I'd walk around wearing your rank Jewels, but the lighter ones wouldn't be out of place. The Red would fit in the best, but the Ebon-Gray would do just as well."
"And you'd know all about that, wouldn't, you?"
"I'm just saying that Jewels darker than Ebon-Gray aren't that common."
"And Jewels darker than Black…just how common are they in Kaeleer?"
She was obviously in no hurry to answer, judging by her expression. Alex had wanted to bring it up, and this seemed the perfect time for it. The shock of seeing her disappear through an Ebon-Black shield had stuck with him for the last three months. He wanted an explanation.
"Lilith- how many?"
2/Hell
Daemon left the room feeling numb. He never could have expected that- never could have been ready for it. If the Execution had been just about the Warlord's crimes, it would have been one thing. But he had seen something far more disturbing while he'd extracted every last second Lord Henkel had owed the Blood.
Gradually, the numbness shifted into rage. The Keep was a blur of stone walls and corridors as he headed back to the Gate. Demons took one look at him and wisely fled. Even Winnetta and Forythe kept out of his way. Just as well. Only one person had the answers to what he'd just seen.
Well, two. But one of them wasn't so easily tracked down. And that meant he needed to get back to Askavi to have a chat with his darling witch-child.
He lit the black candles on the altar and set a timing spell. The Gate opened and Daemon stepped through into the Keep in Kaeleer. Impatiently, he waited to be sure that it closed behind him before walking away. Daemon passed through the Keep with a predatory glide.
From the landing web, he launched himself on the Black Winds and headed for Ebon Rih. Jaenelle Saetien and the cats were still there, or at least were when he'd left for the Keep this morning. They'd better still be there now. Or back at the Hall. Daemon was not in the mood to chase them all over Kaeleer today.
Minutes later, he landed in Askavi. But before he headed for the cabin, Daemon contacted Lucivar.
*Prick- the cats and Jaenelle Saetien. They're still at the cabin, right?*
Wary surprise hummed over the connection.
*Yeah, they're still there*
*They're returning to the Hall right now*
*Something wrong?*
He didn't trust himself to answer, and broke the link instead. Lucivar's question would have to wait until after he'd gotten some answers of his own. Daemon turned towards Jaenelle's cabin and started walking.
She was waiting for him at the door by the time he'd gotten there. Lucivar must have warned her. Jaenelle Saetien looked pale and worried. As well she should, he thought darkly. The cats were flanking her, their hackles raised. And since he wasn't interested in tangling with them just yet, Daemon stopped just before he was in range.
"Papa?"
"I am going to ask you one last time, Jaenelle Saetien, and I want you to consider very carefully before you answer me."
This daughter nodded mutely.
"Where has Lilith been for the past three months."
Jaenelle's shoulders hunched and she wrapped her arms around herself. She took several shaky breaths before answering him.
"She went to Draega."
"And you knew that from day one, didn't you."
"Yes, Papa."
"All three of you."
"Yes, Papa."
He just stared at her until he could leash the rage enough to ask his next question.
"How long was she supposed to be there."
"A week- maybe two."
Daemon was furious. Beyond furious.
"How long were you going to wait before you told me where she'd gone?"
"I was hoping she'd come back before it came to that," Jaenelle said in a small voice.
"And what if it's too late by now and she's not coming back?"
"She will come back. Lilith promised."
"The Lady went to Draega, witch-child. She didn't sneak into Askavi or someplace moderately safe. She went right into the heart of the worst Terreille has to offer. At the mercy of Meredith and her coven or any of their pet Warlords."
"But Papa…"
"I met one of the latter today," he snarled at her.
"One of what?"
"A Warlord. He arrived rather mysteriously in Hell not long ago. Do you know what he wanted to do to your friend, Jaenelle?"
"N…no."
"Be thankful for that answer, because I do. Lilith is lucky that he was executed before he had the chance."
"That means she's all right, then," Jaenelle said in a hopeful tone. "You said he arrived in Hell recently. So she must be okay."
Daemon wasn't so optimistic. Just because the man hadn't been in Hell for very long didn't mean he hadn't been dead for a while. It could have taken him weeks to make it there from Draega. In the meantime, who knew what sort of trouble could have befallen Lilith. There were hundreds more like that Warlord in the city.
Hadn't he warned them all about what had happened to Hayll? Witches weren't safe there. No one was safe there with Meredith and her court controlling the Blood. They'd recreated everything Jaenelle had destroyed when she unleashed her power and cleansed the Blood.
It had taken centuries for Askavi and the other Territories to recover. A long road to heal the scars of the past had made them stronger. But not Hayll. The rot had only grown back. And he'd made it crystal clear no one was to go there for any reason.
But Lilith had gone anyway, and Jaenelle Saetien had kept it a secret. The witch was likely dead by now, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"We're going back to the Hall, now."
"Shouldn't we…"
"Now."
"Yes, Papa. I'll pack my things."
While she turned inside to the cabin, Daemon paced. What had Lilith been thinking to go to Draega? Who had she been standing with- the Queen who'd had the Warlord executed? Obviously not one of Meredith's chosen, even though it was evident she ruled the district.
None of it made any sense. And the only person who could explain any of it was dead. Or perhaps not. She might still be in Draega, doing whatever she went there to do. Daemon knew there was only one way to find out for sure. As soon as he took Jaenelle back to the Hall- and locked her inside- he'd see for himself what happened to the witch.
The door to the cabin opened again, and Jaenelle shuffled over to him. The cats slunk beside her.
"We're ready."
Daemon said nothing, and they departed for the landing web. The trip on the Winds was terse, and no one said anything upon arriving at the Hall. Even when Beale admitted them to the entryway, Jaenelle didn't do more than slip quietly through the door. That's where Lucivar and Surreal were waiting.
"Sadi, what's wrong?" Surreal asked. "I thought you were going to the Keep."
"I did," he replied. "Draca advised that I should make a side trip into Hell."
"What for?"
"To deal with a problem."
Lucivar and Surreal exchanged a puzzled look. His brother was the first to ask the obvious question.
"Then why are you so upset with the waif? She's been in Askavi the whole time."
"Yes, she has been. Meanwhile, her friend has been in Draega."
"No." Surreal said in a whisper, glancing at Daemon in horror. "No, Jaenelle Saetien, she didn't. Not there."
"It's not that bad," Jaenelle protested. "She's always careful."
Daemon's attention caught on the way she'd phrased her answer.
"Always," he repeated in a deadly whisper. "Meaning she's gone to Draega more than just this once."
It was too late for her to deny it. Jaenelle nodded, and the blood drained from Surreal's face.
"Jaenelle Saetien…"
"What was the Lady doing in Draega, witch-child?"
"Papa, I can't tell you that."
Jaenelle Saetien's chin was set stubbornly closed and her eyes defiant. And since Daemon didn't have the patience or the time to pry it out of her by force, he switched tactics. Slipping his hands in his trouser pockets, he feigned disinterest.
"Fair enough," he replied with a shrug. "Since you're not inclined to provide me with answers, then I will have to ask the Lady herself."
"Lilith will tell you, Papa, when she gets back."
"You misunderstand me, witch-child. I'm done waiting for the Lady to return."
In the answering silence, they all began to realize what he meant. Surreal shook her head violently.
"But Sadi, you'd have to go to Hayll to find her."
"Bastard, you know what that'll do to you."
Daemon said nothing, and turned on his heel without so much as a backward glance. None of them dared follow. As he left the Hall, he woke the Black shields. No one was leaving it without his approval. Ever again.
By the time he'd reached the Keep on the Black Winds, Daemon's temper had only grown more volatile. He knew that Surreal and Lucivar were right, and that going into Hayll wasn't something he could handle. Draega especially. Not how it was now- so much like it had been all those years ago.
So why am I going?
Lilith might be a close friend of Jaenelle Saetien's, but she wasn't family. The thinnest veneer of responsibility he had for her was that she was Dhemlan, and he ruled the Territory. Beyond that, there were no real ties between them. Certainly nothing that would obligate him to track her down in that cursed place.
So why am I going?
That thought kept repeating itself as he returned to the Gate. When he got there, Draca was waiting.
"Prince," she addressed him, a warning in her tone.
"Draca."
"The Gate iss not available today."
"I am going to the Keep in Terreille today."
"It iss not available," she repeated firmly.
Daemon seethed with annoyance, but held his rage against the Keep's Seneschal. He may be the High Lord of Hell, but Draca was the Queen of Dragons. So he would leash his temper.
"When will it be available?"
"When it iss needed."
He counted to ten and exhaled slowly.
"I beg your pardon, Draca, but it is needed now."
"Such impatience. The answerss you seek will find you, Prince. There iss no need to be so recklesss."
Draca already knew. Daemon could tell from the look in her eye that she knew exactly where he'd planned to go and why. But she was telling him to wait. The answers would come to him. In what form she hadn't said, but he would have them.
Frustrated, the end of his sigh turned into a snarl.
"There's no way I'm getting through that Gate today, is there?"
"You will know when the time iss right to return."
That was as much a dismissal as any he'd ever heard before. Daemon might stand here all day before the Gate, but Draca would be right here to block his way. There was nothing to do but return to the Hall and wait.
3/Terreille
The time of reckoning had come. Lilith should have known Alex would ask about her Jewels, thanks to her disappearing act in his suite. So many mistakes, and she still didn't know how to fix them. That is, if they could be fixed. Alex was staring at her, waiting for the answer to his question. Lilith hung her head, defeated.
"Just one."
"Meaning just you."
"Yes, just me."
"You told me you wore the Ebon-Gray."
"I didn't lie, did I? I do wear the Ebon-Gray."
"Yeah, but you conveniently left out telling me that they weren't your Rank Jewels."
Lilith's temper spiked. She pointed a finger at him.
"I don't recall you being any more forthcoming about your Jewels, you know. You were perfectly happy to let me think you only wore the Red. Didn't say a peep about the Ebon-Gray or anything else. Don't try to deny it."
A consternated look crossed his face. Good. If she'd been cornered, then she wasn't the only one. Plus it was a nice way to distract him from any further questions about rank Jewels, specifically hers. Nothing positive would come from that conversation once it got started.
And then suddenly, Alex bolted upright in the saddle. Lilith was struck by her error almost immediately. Damn, what was the matter with her? He reined his horse close to hers and pulled them to a stop.
"Just a damn minute, Lilith. I never said anything about wearing an Ebon-Gray Jewel, and I certainly never used it the last time we met. So just how did you know?"
"Same as anyone else does it. Test the resonance of someone's power and get a feel for their birthright and rank levels. You've had to have done it yourself from time to time."
"Well, yeah, but…"
"Lucky for you, no one else in Terreille wears Jewels dark enough to make out yours. Meredith would not have been pleased to know what you've been hiding."
"No, she wouldn't."
Lilith patted her horse's shoulder and shrugged.
"And even if I hadn't done it that way, it's not possible to descend to the Ebon-Black from the Red. You ought to know that."
He looked stunned that she'd actually said it aloud. Maybe she shouldn't have. Lilith blew out an uncertain breath and gritted her teeth to apologize.
"I've never admitted wearing the Ebon-Black to anyone," he said in a hushed voice.
"Likewise."
"Not even in Kaeleer?" Alex asked in surprise. "I would think they'd know."
"They do not, and I'll thank you to keep that in mind when we get there. If you want to reveal yours that's your business, but I intend to keep mine to myself."
"I see."
Alex let go of their reins and the horses started forward again. They hadn't gone far when he decided to ask her another question.
"So it didn't seem odd to you that you sensed three Jewels?"
He opened the door to the conversation, so they might as well get this over with. No matter how much she would rather not discuss it. Lilith sighed.
"Prince, if you know I wear the Ebon-Black, you must realize by now that I know it's not just three."
"But…no."
"Red, Gray, Ebon-Gray, Black and Ebon-Black," she recited, counting them off on her fingers. "Five Jewels."
"How can you…"
"Does it really matter how I can tell?"
"I guess not."
She wasn't sure what to say next, and waited to see how Alex would respond.
"The Red and the Ebon-Gray appeared at my Birthright Ceremony," he said after some silence had passed between them.
"And you showed Meredith only the Red."
Alex nodded. "The other three were there when I made my Offering."
"But you hid those and only showed her the Ebon-Gray."
"It seemed the wisest decision at the time."
"I agree. Gray would have been too light in Meredith's court. And the Black too dark."
He seemed to toy with a question, unsure whether he really wanted to know the answer. Lilith kept riding, pretending not to notice until he'd made up his mind.
"Perhaps you could tell me why only three were set when I got them. And why there were two that appeared as loose stones on the altar."
Oh Lilith wasn't sure if they were at all ready to have this conversation. She really didn't want to explain whose Jewels he wore. Not in any detail, anyway. So she'd keep this very generalized and hope it'd be enough.
"Most Jewels received at a Birthright or Offering ceremony are re-gifted from someone else who wore them before. Someone who's already returned to the Darkness. Their Jewels sleep until they resonate with someone again."
While he digested her words, Lilith took a breath and moved on to the second part of her answer.
"But a few rare times, an uncut Jewel is gifted. It's never been worn before by anyone else."
"Both the Ebon-Gray and the Ebon-Black were uncut."
"Makes sense. Jewels above the Gray are still quite rare in the history of the Blood. So there aren't as many to be re-gifted."
Alex called in his Black Jewel and studied it closely.
"So it's possible to know who last wore this one?"
Oh please, please, please don't make me answer this right now. Lilith tried not to let it show how much she dreaded this line of inquiry.
"Yes, it's possible."
He said nothing for a while, before vanishing the Jewel again. Lilith waited for him to ask the next logical question. She was bracing herself that he may ask her if she knew. Because she did. And if he asked, she'd have to tell him. The Darkness only knew what his response to that would be.
But he didn't ask. Alex shook himself out of his thoughts, and gave her a sideways glance.
"So my family only knows that you wear the Ebon-Gray."
"Hmmm…not so much, Prince."
"You can't tell me that they believe you don't wear any Jewels."
"You did."
"I wouldn't have for long. Besides, my sister is supposed to be your friend. How could she be crazy enough to send you into Draega if she thought you didn't wear Jewels?"
"Fair point," Lilith conceded reluctantly. She was not going to enjoy admitting this next part, but there was little help for it.
"In Kaeleer, everyone thinks I wear Sapphire."
"And do you?"
"Yes, I do."
Fortunately, he didn't focus on what should have been obvious about her admission. Instead, he jumped right to a different thought.
"But when you're in Hayll, you pretend not to wear Jewels at all."
"The ruse has its uses," she replied casually. This wasn't a much better direction. "People say and do a lot more if they don't think you can't do anything about it."
"Lilith, do you realize how that sounds?"
"I imagine it sounds pretty bad."
"Yeah, it does. Hell's fire, how many brawls have you been in with would-be rapists before we crossed paths?"
"I don't think it's wise to answer that question."
Alex swore and muttered under his breath.
"Explain something to me, then."
"What?"
"You admit that in Kaeleer the first law is not obedience."
"Yes."
"And my family is particularly fond of that law."
"They are," she answered, narrowing her eyes.
"And yet they willingly stand aside to let a Sapphire Jeweled witch play around in Draega whenever the mood strikes her?"
"Oh, well, they don't know about all this. I find it cuts down on the arguments."
With that, she urged her horse into a gallop. Alex reacted a split-second later, obviously still sputtering from her reply. There was more than one way to prevent an argument, she thought with a grin. Not to mention, they had to cover a lot of ground today, so a spirited run would get them started.
The horses galloped over the forest road for several miles before Lilith felt hers begin to tire. He wanted to keep running. Lilith could feel the joy he felt knowing that she saw him as something other than an animal. That he wasn't alone anymore.
But she gently reminded him that they had a long way to go, and there would be more chances to run later. With a snort, he pulled back and slowed to a trot. That's when Alex pulled even with her and shot her a murderous glare.
"You did that on purpose."
"Guilty as charged. You wanted to argue. I didn't."
"Are you always going to be this stubborn?"
Lilith was taken aback by the implication. Always gave her the impression that he expected to see her often. That was dangerous. An entirely too disquieting thought to entertain. And so she tried to shrug it off.
"I am known to be very stubborn about a lot of things. Or so your sister tells me often enough. Sounds like you'll be able to commiserate with her."