Standing in Shadows

Chapter Two

Chapter TwoBrilliant sunshine streamed in through the Nursing Ward windows, washing over Gairynzvl in its fullest measure. All the shutters nearest to his bed had been angled to direct the warming ribbons of light over him. Encouraged to rest throughout the remainder of the morning, not only to regain his strength from the demands The Prevailation had put upon him, but also to prepare both physically and mentally for the celebration the temple inhabitants had arranged for that evening, he had willingly returned to his bed. He resisted the notion of being put on any sort of display and was entirely in opposition to meeting and greeting all the villagers of Hwyndarin who had heard the tale of the young Fey who had fought and defeated a Legion of The Reviled, but Veryth assured him that it was all part of the process of Reclamation. Thus, both weary and resigned, he had closed his eyes in the hope of capturing a few moments of sleep.

Lying beneath the radiance of sunlight for the first time in his adult life, Gairynzvl sighed profoundly more than once. The sensation of warmth washing over him was sweetly intoxicating, like the euphoria that spreads through the body after drinking a strong brandy or robust wine,. He did not feel the spreading warmth within, but on his skin and could not keep himself from checking again and again in order to assure himself that the light was not, in any way, burning him. He had become so accustomed to shielding himself from any light that forcing himself to lie within its full and ruddy glow was almost terrifying. Fearful of falling asleep amidst the lustrous gleam lest he not awaken, he tossed and turned for the better part of an hour, but he could not resist the blissful tranquility of the warm sunlight any more than he could deny his exhaustion. Before the chiming bells that heralded the hours rang out from one of the many Temple towers, sleep stole forward in the hazy blush of light caressing him and subdued his anxiety.

* * *

With both friends now a-slumber, Ayla was left on her own. She paced the length and breadth of the Nursing Ward uneasily, turning the memory of cerulean eyes and covetous emotion over and over in her mind. It made no sense to her. Mardan had stood gazing upon them from the shadows behind the doors to the Chamber of Radiance, but now he lay drifting as he had done for days. How had he arisen from his bed unaided and unnoticed? How had he known where to find them and how had he wandered the vast corridors and avenues of the Temple complex, which stood between the Nursing Ward and the chamber where the Prevailation had been performed, without anyone seeing him? Shaking her head, she returned to his bedside and stared down at him, perplexed. His quiet state left her with no answers, only additional questions, but after watching him for many long moments she finally sighed sharply and turned away.

While the malefey slept, Ayla was joined by a companion she knew far better who did not confuse her thoughts or leave her senses spinning. Nayina had arrived with dresses and implements of preparation so they might spend the afternoon in a far more pleasing manner than waiting, alone, in the stillness of the Healing Ward. Having been informed about the celebration planned for that evening by Veryth, who had sent the first invitation directly to her home, Nayina insisted Ayla join her in the rooms that had been provided within the dormitories of the Temple so they might bathe and preen for the upcoming night of revelry. It did not take a great deal of convincing on her part before Ayla agreed to leave behind the confusion prompted by the malefey.

The broad room in which they eventually found themselves was located on the third floor of the Temple dormitories and was warmed by an enormous hearth that stood open on both sides and efficiently heated two rooms rather than one. The room into which they initially entered was a wide chamber with comfortable furniture, several dressing tables with highly polished golden mirrors, which could not be crossed by any Reviled, and a balcony that allowed the afternoon sunlight to stream radiantly into the room. The second was a smaller bathing chamber. It was heated generously by the fire emanating from the hearth and insulated by elaborately decorated tiles that lines the walls and formed intricate, colourful patterns. A large copper bathing tub was situated close enough to the massive hearth that its ruddy heat effectively warmed the water it contained to keep it temperate and inviting.

The afternoon hours passed rapidly. Compelled by Nayina's insistence that she recount of every detail of the Prevailation, a rite she had never even heard of until Veryth mentioned it the previous day, Ayla spent much of the day talking. Athough she did her best to explain what happened, she did not understand most of the elaborate ritual, which made clarifications difficult the many times Nayina stopped her with a query. Nonetheless, the heart of the matter was far less difficult to relate. Gairynzvl had somehow been transformed from a fearsome, dragon-winged, spine-bearing Dark Fey and was restored as a Fey of the Light.

As her thoughts returned to the events of the morning, Ayla's mind filled with the intense emotion she had witnessed and felt, in spite of closing herself to telepathy. The sensations had been inescapable and one did not need to be empathic to sense Gairynzvl's torment or to understand how greatly he suffered during the rite, suffering which prompted tears from her even now. Watching her closely for a quiet moment as she listened intently to her friend's recounting, Nayina posed an unexpectedly piercing question.

“Are you in love with him, Ay?” Lifting her gaze from the depths of the fire into which she had been staring, Ayla looked at her friend and was transfixed with amazement. She tried to instantly deny the fact, but she could not force the negation past her lips. Stammering ineffectually, she could only shake her head with an expression of puzzlement.

“Honestly, Nay, I do not know. How could I be? I have only known him a few days.” The questions were meant as much for her friend as for herself, but Nayina shook her head.

“You have known him much longer than just a few days. Isn't he the one who was following you all these past months?”

Ayla nodded mutely, her thoughts whirling as her friend continued.

“I think you were getting to know him all that time without realizing it, just as he was getting to know you.”

“It is not as though we ever held a conversation, Nay. How could we get to know each other without speaking?” She was musing aloud, not entirely convinced of the truth her friend was gently asserting, but her companion laughed abruptly.

“You get to know everyone without speaking, Ay. It is, after all, what you do best.” The irony of her words brought a smile to Ayla's lips as well. “Perhaps he knew that. Perhaps that is why he lingered close to you for so long. A little underhanded, really, but what do you expect from a Dark Fey?” Her seemingly harmless slur brought a sharp end to her Ayla's musings.

“He's a Dark One no longer, Nay!”

Raising her hands in a placating gesture, the raven-haired shefey quickly apologized. “Forgive me, I am sorry, but all I can see are those fearsome dragon wings and enormous spines of his.” Her explanation was emphasized by an abrupt shudder. “Surely they terrify you as much as they do the rest of us, Ay?”

Ayla shook her head, pausing from rubbing oils and botanicals into the lengths of her curling tresses. “He has them no longer; he has been transformed, I told you that.”

Nayina stopped and looked at her friend more quizzically, a wrinkle of confusion furrowing her brow. “I thought you were talking about being spiritually transformed; emotionally, mentally. Do you mean to say he was physically altered somehow?” The skepticism of her tone spoke volumes.

“I am not sure how altered he is spiritually. There is so much about The Prevailation I still do not understand, but, Nay, he is not the same as he was yesterday. When you see him tonight you will understand.”

Accepting the truth of her friend's statement, Nayina queried no further, though a myriad of further questions filled her mind. Instead, she contented herself beside the warm fire and combed through her hair repeatedly to straighten and dry it as their conversation drifted to less confusing topics. A celebration feast at the Temple was not something that happened every day and the possibilities of the night's festivities spawned more than a few imaginings.

* * *

The liquescently harmonious sound of evening vespers echoed throughout the temple complex, whispering serenely into Gairynzvl's sleeping mind and drawing him back into reality from the lush environs of sleep into which he had fallen. Unaccustomed to waking peacefully, his eyes shot open the moment consciousness returned and he immediately raised himself upward, leaning back upon the heels of his hands as he scanned the room rapidly, searching for any hint of danger or any threat bound to do him harm. Only the soft whispers of the two attendant Healers broke the tranquility. Candles had been lit against the spreading dark of eventide and the streaming sunlight that had soothed and intoxicated him earlier was rapidly diminishing, but even on the brink of nighttide the Temple halls stood tranquil and calm.

He had forgotten. Forgotten where he was and why; forgotten the sensation of security he felt within the ancient halls of the Temple, but as the wisps of cloudy sleep scattered from his mind the hammering of his heart slowed. Shaking his head, he lay back against the warm pillows and sighed prodigiously, closing his eyes while attempting to assimilate the concept of shelter and well-being.

His reverie was short-lived.

Out of the shadows, a figure moved toward him soundlessly like a ghost drifting upon the silent air. It moved past the Healers entirely undetected and stopped beside his bed, pausing to consider him. Wordlessly it waited to be noticed, but he did not immediately open his eyes. Yawning with a greater appreciation of the soothing stillness around him, he almost resented having to rise to face an impending party where he would be the center of everyone's attention and curiosity. Weary in spirit as well as in body, although he had spent the better portion of the day sleeping, he allowed himself the luxury of a leisurely stretch before opening his eyes once again in preparation of rising.

Brilliant cerulean met his gaze, staring at him from out of darkness, but only for an instant before the haze of shadow and blurred perception that shimmered before him shrank back into the dimness of the corridor. Utterly confounded, Gairynzvl sat up and stared into the empty air around him and peered into all corners of the Healing Ward. Unsure if what he had seen was real or the fleeting memory of his earlier joining with Ayla's twisting and chaotic thoughts, which often left him feeling unsettled, he did not wonder about the phenomenon overlong. Even at that moment Veryth was crossing the ward, coming towards him with a broad, welcoming smile and carrying over his arm a set of fresh clothes.

“Valysscopta!” Veryth said cheerfully, then, at Gairynzvl's entirely muddled expression he repeated his greeting in the common tongue. “Fair greetings, friend! I forget that your Celebrae is limited.”

Smiling with greater understanding, Gairynzvl nodded and muttered a greeting as well, clearly unaccustomed to the pleasantries of salutations. Veryth's smile never wavered. “I have brought something for you, but we must not tarry here. A room of preparation has been set aside for you and the hour has come to do just that.”

Rising hesitantly from his bed at last, Gairynzvl followed the cheerful Healer beyond the ward into the dormitories of the temple, leaving behind Mardan, who still lay unconscious, as well as the mystery of cerulean gazes peering from the shadows.