Birth of Innocence: The Innocence Cycle, Book 4 Page 21

  “You aren’t rushing me,” she said with a giggle. “I am anxiously awaiting you.” When he didn’t smile in return, she studied him. He was hiding something.

  “We have all the time in the world, Elena. Let’s just enjoy exploring each other for a while, until you are more comfortable.”

  “I am very comfortable,” she said reassuringly. A tendril of doubt wound its way to her stomach and twisted there. Perhaps it was her history. Perhaps he couldn’t overcome the thought that others had used her. She forced the question through her tight throat. “Are you having second thoughts?”

  “No … no, Elena.” He quickly turned and pulled her into his arms. “I just want to take things slowly so that I don’t upset you or ... or hurt the baby.”

  “Will it hurt the baby?” She raised herself up on an elbow. “I hadn’t thought of that. Is it not safe?”

  “I know that people have had intimate relations for centuries with infants between them, but with the difference in our size, I cannot help but worry.”

  “What will we do?” Disappointment and sorrow filled her heart while her body ached with unfulfilled longing. This was not at all what she had hoped for.

  “I’ll ask Dalgo about it. Until then, come here.” He kissed her with a passion equal to his earlier response. “We will find our way,” he assured her, before his lips devoured hers again.

  Gradually their nuzzles and caresses slowed, and sleep tugged at Silvandir’s eyes. In spite of the unfilled desire that ached in her body, Elena stroked his chest until it rose and fell in steady, peaceful sleep. Pushing aside the questions and self-doubt that consumed her, Elena eventually allowed herself to doze, her body securely entwined with Silvandir’s.

  Chapter 30

  The young lovers awoke hours later still locked in each other’s arms. Elena’s hand immediately went to her medallion. She then relaxed and enjoyed the warmth of Silvandir’s embrace as she listened to the thump of his heart. She quite liked their new situation.

  “Why are you smiling?” Silvandir asked as he watched her.

  She turned her face toward him. “I love waking next to you,” she whispered. “I feel safe and content.”

  Silvandir grinned. “I can think of no better way to awaken than with you by my side.” He kissed her forehead. “Your skin is so soft,” he mused as he ran his hand down her arm, sending a shiver through her. He played with the wedding band that lightly squeezed her muscle. “I never thought I could be this happy.”

  He suddenly sat up. “Would you like to go to our new home?”

  Elena gave a contented sigh. “Our new home … I like the sound of that.” She clutched for the medallion again.

  “Why do you keep grabbing that?”

  “I’m just so happy, I’m afraid I must still be sleeping, and that I’m going to wake and all of this will have been just a blissful dream. Or that this is one of my nightmares and there will be a sudden shift destroying all that is good.”

  “You are quite awake, and I am very real,” he assured her as he kissed her cheeks. “Put on your robe, and I will show you the cottage.”

  Elena embraced the softness of the delicate, shimmering robe, surprised by the warmth it offered. “Do we have anything for our feet?”

  Silvandir pointed. “There are some sandals by the wall, near where the robes had hung.”

  When Elena was ready, they cautiously stepped around the edge of the potent waters and out onto the platform where they had wed hours earlier. The sun was still shining brightly.

  “I thought it would be dark by now,” Elena said.

  “I think we only slept for a couple hours.”

  Silvandir helped her to make the descent on the slippery rocks. Once they reached the bridge they traveled east, moving deeper into the heart of Queyon. Elena absorbed everything she saw, delighted by this new adventure and thrilled to be sharing it with Silvandir.

  ~

  In less than half an hour, they arrived at their new home. Silvandir swept Elena into his arms, eliciting a giggle, and carried her through the door.

  The cottage was small, but delightful. Elena immediately loved it. There was a simple common room in the front with a couch and several chairs set around a beautiful stone fireplace. In the rear was a cooking area with another small fireplace and a door to the outside for ventilation and access to a storage cellar and the privy. Another door led to the bedroom.

  Silvandir tossed her onto their new bed playfully. It was wonderfully soft and covered with fresh, heather-scented linens. Elena laughed and opened her arms to her husband. He crawled into her embrace and pulled her body into his. The two nuzzled each other until a knock on the door forced them apart. They quickly jumped from the bed, smoothing their hair and robes.

  “You are welcome,” Silvandir called as he emerged from the bedroom.

  Elena grabbed his arm. “We haven’t even dressed yet.” Her face flushed at being caught unprepared, but Silvandir shrugged it off with a grin.

  A surprised Celdorn entered carrying baskets of food. “I thought I saw you walk by. We wanted to have everything ready before you arrived. We weren’t expecting you quite so soon.”

  “I was anxious to show Elena our new home,” Silvandir explained. “I think she likes it.” He smiled as he nodded toward her.

  Her cheeks grew hotter, partly from the rapid heartbeat Silvandir had aroused and partly from self-consciousness at being interrupted, as if she’d been caught doing something illicit. She smiled shyly at her ada.

  Celdorn diplomatically ignored whatever he read in her look. “We wanted to bring you some food since there is nothing in the cupboard or cellar.”

  A tremor of shock ran through Elena. She had never considered how she would cook for Silvandir. She didn’t know how to build a fire, had never made bread, in fact she knew no recipes.

  As if reading her thoughts, Celdorn said, “Jonspur is still willing to cook for all of us, using the cooking room in the men’s cottage, but we thought you might like a few meals alone.” He added the last part with a knowing smile.

  Elena looked with distress from Celdorn to Silvandir. “How will I be a wife to you?” she exclaimed. “I know nothing about cooking, sewing, washing … nothing domestic. How will I care for you?”

  Silvandir laughed lightly. “Do you think I had not considered that, Elena? I don’t expect you to do those things for me. We have others to help with the normal household duties. Relax, you are a lord’s daughter,” he said as he playfully tugged her into his arms.

  “Well, that’s a good thing because I would probably poison you,” she teased. “One day I will learn.” Her eyes burned as she felt the deficit in her life’s training. “Nor do I know how to be a mother to Terzhel and Mishon or this one.” She stroked her belly and let the tears slide down her cheeks.

  “We will find our way, my love,” Silvandir assured her. “I know nothing of being a father or a husband either. Being a warrior is all I have known, but we will learn.”

  ~

  Elbrion joined them a short time later as they sat chatting in the common area and nibbling on fruit. A roaring fire warmed their little home, and Elena realized she felt content, a new sensation for her.

  Elbrion sat opposite Celdorn. The two exchanged a glance, and the mood in the room immediately changed.

  “I need to inform you about something that happened yesterday afternoon,” Celdorn said as he looked down at his hands and began working his knuckles. Elena’s stomach immediately tensed. “There was an ... incident with Terzhel at the academy.” Elena stiffened, and Silvandir moved closer to her on the couch and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “We weren’t informed of this until after the ceremony, but we wanted you to know before you heard about it from someone else.”

  “Just tell us.” Elena was unable to keep the panic from her voice.

  Celdorn met her gaze. “Some boys attacked Terzhel in the washing room when he was alone. They ... beat him pretty badly and ... and raped
him.” Elena gasped and covered her mouth. Silvandir’s hands squeezed into fists.

  “Wait,” Elena said with a frown, “he looked fine at the ceremony. Uncomfortable, but I just thought that was due to his timidity. I didn’t see any bruises.”

  Celdorn ran his fingers through his hair. “Since Elbrion and I were not told until today, we hadn’t seen the original injuries either. Apparently, Terzhel almost died, but Mishon healed him.”

  “Mishon?” Elena wasn’t expecting that.

  Elbrion’s expression softened. “From what we were told, when Mishon’s tears hit Terzhel’s head wounds they were instantly healed, but apparently only the ones they touched. Later, Mikaelin was able to heal the other injuries.”

  “Is he all right? Mikaelin, I mean,” Silvandir said. “The last healing was really rough on him.”

  “I know little of that,” Elbrion said. “Yaelmargon was with him, and both are rather tight-lipped about what occurred. Mikaelin was able to release the injuries, but something profound has happened to your friend.”

  Silvandir’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “I do not know how to explain it,” Elbrion said, his hands spread in a shrug. “I sense a shift inside of him—for the better. A release, a transformation of some sort. I know that sounds vague, but that is the best I can do.”

  “So he has healed our son twice in just a few days’ time,” Elena murmured. “How do we thank him for that?”

  No one answered.

  Silvandir’s fists tightened. “How old were the boys who attacked Terzhel and how many? Do we know who they are?”

  “I believe Charaq has the Guardians investigating that,” Elbrion replied. “It seems there were four or five of them, and from what your boys told Charaq, they were older than thirteen.”

  Silvandir stood and began to pace. “Perhaps I should visit these boys and see if they are as tough with me.”

  “Silvandir, they are from the camps ...” Elena couldn’t finish the thought.

  Her husband paled, and he stared at the far corner. “But how could they hurt a four-year-old? You would think with all they’ve endured they would never want anyone to hurt like that.”

  “Some will respond that way,” Elbrion said. “Others will imitate the violence they have experienced. For some, it is a matter of regaining a sense of power, whether they realize it or not.”

  “They raped our son and left him for dead,” Silvandir snapped. “Don’t make excuses for them.”

  Elbrion flinched as if Silvandir had struck him. “And our grandson ...” Her ada closed his eyes. “I am not making excuses. I am trying to comprehend something I find appalling, chilling. These boys are broken through no fault of their own. That is all I am saying.”

  Elena knelt by her ada and patted his arm. “They need to be taught a different way. Perhaps, like me, they were forced to hurt others and perpetuate the violence.”

  Silvandir swung around to look at her and paled again, his eyes brimmed with tears. “I’m sorry, my love. The longer we’re together the harder it is for me to see you in that life.” He knelt by her and pulled her into his arms. “How I wish I could wipe out that world. For you. For our boys. For all the children in the camp.”

  Celdorn cleared his throat. “In light of what has happened, we have moved Charaq and the boys out of the academy. They are living in a small cottage not far from here. We’ll show you later—not today,” he quickly added when Elena started to rise. “Today is your day. Focus on each other. Charaq has things in hand. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

  Elena nodded and reluctantly settled back on the couch.

  “As far as the situation at the academy, the Guardians are interviewing the children and will find those responsible. Consequences will be meted out based on what they learn and how remorseful the boys are. They’ve also decided that in the dormitories they will separate the older children from the younger and the boys from the girls. My men have been reminded of their responsibility to protect the children—even from each other—and prevent any further occurrences. Some of the boys—possibly some girls as well—will likely be moved to Marach to train as Guardians to keep them out of further mischief.”

  “How is Terzhel’s heart?” Elena asked.

  “As you would expect,” Elbrion replied. “He won’t let go of Mishon—and vice versa. He jumps at the tiniest sound and is unwilling to talk at all, according to Charaq.”

  “And Mishon? Did the healing hurt him at all?”

  Celdorn chuckled. “On the contrary. It seems to have strengthened something inside him. To find that he has his mother’s healing ability boosted his self-confidence. He had been feeling a bit wretched and out of place among the many gifted children, from what Charaq told us. And he’s more devoted to Terzhel than ever.”

  “What a blessing they are to each other,” Elbrion added.

  Elena smiled. “Well, at least something positive came out of this.” She looked at Silvandir. “We need to go see them soon. Maybe first thing in the morning before we prepare for the wedding feast?”

  Silvandir hugged her close and nodded. “And I will begin training Terzhel on how to defend himself after the feast.”

  “He’s only four, my dear.”

  “It’s never too early to learn some skills. By six, he’ll have the stout heart and inflated confidence of his older brother.”

  Chapter 31

  Later that evening, Lamreth, Yaelmargon, and Wezhar visited Celdorn and Elbrion at their new cottage.

  “What brings you here?” Celdorn asked, noting the grave expressions on the elders’ faces.

  “Tomorrow is the wedding feast to celebrate the union of Silvandir and Elena?” Lamreth asked.

  “Yes, while we decided it was wise to have few at the wedding, we do believe this union should be openly celebrated. Elena needs to learn the value of living in community. She has only known deprivation and isolation,” Elbrion replied.

  Lamreth was quiet for a moment. “The wedding feast cannot proceed until the marriage has been consummated.” The Xiander tugged on the end of his long, white beard and glanced to the side.

  Celdorn and Elbrion both studied Lamreth with furrowed brows. “And you have reason to believe it has not?” Celdorn asked.

  “Yes,” the Xiander replied.

  Celdorn glanced from one elder to another. “How could you possibly know that?”

  Wezhar sighed. “There was no movement in the Jhadhela.”

  Celdorn stared at him. “And there would have been had they … consummated?” He tried to hide the disgust he felt at this intrusion into the young couple’s private life.

  “Yes,” Wezhar said.

  “You can sense things like that?”

  “Not with everyone, but Elena’s life is powerfully tied into the Jhadhela. When she moves, the Jhadhela moves.”

  Celdorn looked at Elbrion then the elders. “What business is it of anyone else whether they had relations or not?” He now made no effort to hide his disdain. “They are a young couple struggling to find their way in a very complex situation. Elena has years of abuse to overcome, and Silvandir fears pushing her too quickly. ”

  “We understand that, Celdorn,” Yaelmargon spoke up. “We are not trying to be invasive, but there is an understanding that the wedding feast can only follow the consummation. It cannot occur until that happens.”

  Elbrion clasped Celdorn’s arm. “It is our way.” Then to the elders he said, “We will speak with the couple.”

  Celdorn turned to Elbrion. “I am comfortable discussing this with Elena but not Silvandir,” he said. “I know it will offend him. And I am ill-equipped to counsel anyone on the subject of marital relations.”

  “I believe Dalgo would be an appropriate choice to speak with Silvandir. He will be able to address the fears that trouble him,” Yaelmargon replied. “I suggest you speak with them soon to give them sufficient time before the feast.”

  Celdorn rubbed his neck as he sho
ok his head. “Elena is going to be distressed to learn that even the intimacies of her marriage are now an open book.”

  “Her power and her life are far too significant for any detail to be overlooked,” Lamreth countered. “She might as well become accustomed to this now. It will get no easier as time moves on.”

  ~

  “You are welcome!” Elena called from the cooking area where they found her investigating the food Celdorn had brought earlier and the devices for its preparation. He flashed her a forced smile, and she hurried over to embrace Elbrion and him. She looked ... happy, content. Celdorn hoped they wouldn’t destroy that.

  “Is Silvandir here?” he asked.

  “What’s wrong?” Elena immediately stiffened.

  “Nothing, little one,” he assured her. “We just wanted to speak with you.”

  Just then, Silvandir entered through the back door. He took one look at the scowl on Elena’s face and came over to stand beside her and wrap a protective arm around her shoulders. “Celdorn. Elbrion,” he said with a nod toward each.

  “Dalgo would like to speak with you,” Celdorn told him. “He is in our cottage.”

  Silvandir and Elena exchanged puzzled glances. “What is this about?”

  “I think it is best if Dalgo tells you himself,” Celdorn replied.

  Silvandir hesitated, eyeing Celdorn suspiciously. He finally gave a stiff nod, kissed Elena on the head, and left without a word.

  “All right, Ada, what is going on?” Her hands were firmly planted on her hips.

  “Sit down,” Celdorn said, guiding her to the couch in the common room. He and Elbrion moved chairs so that they were sitting opposite her.

  “You’re scaring me,” she said. “What’s happened?”

  “I am sorry, Sheyshon. We did not mean to frighten you. We just need to talk about something rather delicate, and we felt it was best that Silvandir not be here.”

  Elena gripped her hands in her lap and stared back at him with fear-filled eyes.