Page 8 of Steeling Light
I put on a smile again as I soar down to the streets below. The memory of a crystal hallway fades into a corner of my mind, always there, but never acknowledged. The sounds of a party fill the evening air, and I make a note not to go to that inn. I’ve been a little loud and obnoxious at times, but tonight I need peace and quiet.
When I step up to the door of the Ashen Hearth, I’m hopeful. Unlike the previous inns, this one is quiet. The soft sound of a harp plays from inside, but none of the raucous noise of a lively crowd accompanies it. There’s no laughter or chaos from patrons who’ve had too many drinks.
It’s almost somber when I step through the doorway, my wings gone, and my rucksack positioned to hide the slits in my tunic. A woman plays the harp in the center of the room, and three patrons look on fondly. It’s a love song, a song of hope and beauty. And I hate it.
At so many other times in my life, I’d have sat down in front of the harpist and enjoyed her song, but not tonight. Not after seeing that hallway again.
No, there is no room inside me for hope and love tonight.
Interlude 1
RhionRahnwasonlyten years old when he decided he was going to marry Ainslee Emlyn. She, at the very mature age of fifteen, spent all her days with Cole Cyrus and her brother Darian. Rhion had known Ainslee for years. Ever since her mother became Cole’s tutor, Rhion had spent as much time as possible with her.
He was a Prince, destined to become a King even if his father told him he was too weak for the Throne, but he was always slower, weaker, and more scared than Cole. Everyone looked up to Cole, so it wasn’t strange that he had as well. As the years came and went, he’d become less and less in awe of the Prince of Flames.
Instead, when he was forced to spend time with King Casimir’s son, he tried to spend it with Ainslee instead. Cole was never rude or even unkind to him, but there was no doubt Cole believed himself too important to spend time with little Rhion.
On this day, Rhion showed his colors in a way that Darian and Cole would never understand. He asked Ainslee to walk with him as he had so many times in the past, but when she agreed, as she always did, he did not lead her through the House of Steel or Draenyth. He withdrew a magic mirror from his pocket.
Ainslee had never seen this type of enchanting work that his grandfather had invented long before he was born. Its sister mirror had been placed in a cave far from Draenyth by his servants. Five soldiers had flown for a week to prepare for this walk.
Rhion took Ainslee’s hand before pressing a finger against the silver mirror’s surface and saying a word to activate the magic.
Then, just as shadows would pull a shadow walker into the void, the mirror pulled them through the world. Instead of ending up in the void, they appeared in a cave full of crystals. Ever-burning torches lit the walls, making the crystals sparkle and shine like nothing even in Draenyth could.
“Where are we?” Ainslee asked, awe in her eyes and voice. “This is beautiful.”
Rhion smiled at the girl he cared so much for and said, “It’s called the Diamond Cave, and I thought you might like it. I read about the Keep of Light, and I hoped it might remind you of home.”
At the mention of her mother’s home, Ainslee’s smile disappeared and became a snarl like Rhion had never seen before. “The Keep of Light isnotmy home.”
“Oh,” Rhion said softly, not understanding why she was so unhappy at the reference. He was only ten, and ten-year-olds rarely understand the reasons people don’t want to call a place home. “We can go back to Draenyth if you don’t like it here.”
Fifteen-year-old Ainslee paused for a moment, recognizing the kindness and thought that had gone into this, and she shook her head. “No. No, Rhion, I’d love to go for a walk here with you.”
Her words brought a smile to the boy’s face, and he took her hand. She was taller than he was, but not by much. Rhion had always been tall for his age. They walked together, smiling and laughing as they explored a cave that even Cole had never seen before.
Although the cave reminded Ainslee of the Keep of Light, the terrible memories never came. Her father’s words never echoed in her mind as they did so often alongside any thoughts of her birthplace. Instead, she saw only the wonders of the world and enjoyed every moment without the past ruining them for her.
Rhion’s heart sang in time with Ainslee’s laughter as they walked the dimly lit passageway. There was nothing to be gained from spending time with the girl five years his elder. She was from a Lesser House, and the House of Light at that. His father would say that time with her was a waste.
Rhion couldn’t care less. When the heart and duty go to war, duty is destined to yield, and Rhion’s young heart yearned to walk anywhere and everywhere beside Ainslee.
Then, without warning, Ainslee stopped and frowned at a bit of shadow hiding behind a stalagmite. “What’s that?” she muttered before stepping into the darkness, dragging Rhion behind her.
“What?” Rhion asked.
“It’s not a crystal,” Ainslee said softly as she picked up a flat stone the size of her palm that shone in the torchlight. Silver with deep red veins running through it, it sparkled just as much as any gemstone.
“It’s called hematite,” he said a little sheepishly. “My enchanting tutor showed me some things we can do with it.”
Ainslee smiled as he reached for it, and as soon as it touched his hand, she let go. While Rhion may have been the Immortal Prince of Steel, he was still only ten years old, and awkwardness is a common trait in even Immortals at that age.
The piece of hematite slipped past his fingers and fell to the ground. It hit the corner of a piece of crystal, and a soft snapping sound echoed through the cavern as the piece of hematite broke almost perfectly in half. Rhion bent down to pick it up without a second thought. He pushed the two pieces together as though he could convince them to become one again.
“Double damn,” he swore under his breath. “I didn’t mean to break it, Ainslee. I always ruin everything.”
Ainslee just smiled at her friend and took one piece from him. “Don’t worry. This is better. Now we both have a piece to remember today with.” He clasped his piece with both hands so he wouldn’t drop it again. “Now we’ll never forget this place or what a perfect day we’ve had. Every time we look at our piece, we’ll remember what it was like. Not even our fathers can take that from us.”
