Chapter Forty-Two

Eliot and Aridai rode, side by side with the tall-folk guard behind them.

“For a moment, I thought the girls were going to insist on coming with us,” said Eliot.

Aridai chuckled. “Yes, when it became clear I would not relent and stay. I admire Elisanna’s ability to maintain her composure in the face of their antics, but they are lovable little rascals.”

“That they are. Usually, I’d have stayed for longer, but–”

“You want to see your mother and sister,” said Aridai, finishing his sentence. “And none can blame you for that.”

Despite not having had much sleep, Eliot had wanted to leave for Vernell as early as possible. But he knew Fay and Lise would have wanted to see Aridai, so hadn’t said anything.

He also had to wait while Aridai and Bertran had discussed Jack’s fate, and it was late morning by the time they left.

“Was it a difficult decision to make, leaving Jack here to answer for his crimes?”

Nodding, Aridai said, “I wanted him to face Sela, to apologise directly to her. But I could also see the sense in Bertran’s suggestion. To have Jack speak against Garlon will curb his actions against my people, and, hopefully, will implicate the faction as well. I will be forever grateful to Bertran for dealing with Jack without me even having to ask. All I need do is wait for Bertran to inform me when my presence is required to give evidence against Jack.”

Warmth suffused Eliot, proud to have a man like Bertran for his mentor. “What if Jack decides he won’t speak against Garlon?”

“Then he will be sent to Aiqos, and no amount of pleading will change his fate.”

Eliot glanced back at the guards who maintained a respectable distance while taking in their surroundings. “I can’t stop thinking about Father,” he said quietly. “When Uncle Bertran said how good it was to no longer keep the secret about my ancestry, my only thought was there is still one secret that will always need to be kept. And when you leave, I’ll only be able to speak of it with Renard.”

“It is doubly hard for you,” said Aridai, sighing heavily. “At least I have Arodi and Sela, and she is always with me, so I am able to speak freely of him.”

They rode in silence, Eliot’s gaze downcast, refusing to speak his thought out loud, that Aridai also had the good fortune to be with the cat all the time.

“Something is troubling you, my boy,” said Aridai. “I sense it has to do with Ruvane. Do you wish to speak of it?”

Eliot didn’t reply straightaway even though he could only talk to Aridai about this one nagging thought. “Tulash wouldn’t answer me. I wanted to know if he planned on changing Father back, he refused to say.” He turned to Aridai. “What if, what if that was Tulash’s plan? What if he’d managed to change Father back to, to the man he was?”

Aridai’s frown deepened, but he said nothing.

“He could have, Father could have continued to stay on the mountain with you.” Voicing his wish was akin to floodgates opening; his words poured forth like a torrent. “I’d visit him regularly. We could spend days together, and, and people would simply think I was visiting you. And–”

“Eliot.” Aridai’s soft voice stopped him. “You know that never would have worked.”

The skin around Eliot’s eyes puckered.

“How cruel it would be to keep Ruvane from Marcelin, from his own mother. How would the change have affected him after sixteen years? And who is to say he would have survived Tulash’s attempt? No, Eliot, there are too many uncertainties. As unjust as the present situation is, at least Ruvane is still with us.”

Eliot lowered his head, fighting back tears. “Is it so wrong to want my father?”

Aridai placed his hand on Eliot’s shoulder. “No, my son, no.”

Swallowing hard, he fought to pull himself together. He knew the truth of Aridai’s words, had said the same to himself, but the child in him yearned for his father so badly, it was a physical pain in his heart.

Eliot pushed thoughts of his father aside, concentrating instead on Marcelin and Lina.

As they passed a tall, broad oak and neared the fields by Vernell, Eliot pointed to the left. “See the gap between the fields? That’s the border separating Uncle Leighton’s land from Deverell. The house is away to the right.”

“I have never been there,” said Aridai. “Neither have I been to Vernell, though I have met Leighton, in Mariosha. He had accompanied Marcelin before your parents had wed. A very pleasant man, I am looking forward to seeing him again. We will be there soon, yes? I can sense your impatience.”

Eliot managed a smile. “I know Aunt Elisanna has been to see Mother and Lina, and she said they’re both well. But I’ve never been away from them for this long.”

As they walked their horses along the avenue leading to Vernell, the workers on either side stopped to stare at the tall-folk, absently acknowledging Eliot’s greeting. Fordel tossed his head and snorted as Eliot fought the urge to race to the house.

The house came into view as did Lina, basket in hand, coming from the direction of Leighton’s garden. She looked in their direction at the sound of the horses’ hooves crunching over the pebbled pathway, and stopped, eyes wide.

Barely waiting for Fordel to come to a halt, Eliot jumped off and ran to her, calling her name.

Lina dropped her basket and ran, stumbled, caught herself and continued to run to him.

He caught her in an embrace and held her close.

She kept repeating his name as she pressed her tearful face against his chest.

Fighting back his own tears, Eliot only then realised how much he’d truly missed his sister.

“We were so worried,” said Lina, “not knowing when you’d return, if you’d go to Deverell. But how did you know we’re here?”

She tried to straighten, but Eliot wouldn’t loosen his hold.

“Did you go to Granville first? Eliot.”

“One moment, Lina,” said Eliot softly, his arms still around her. “Give me this one moment.”

She stopped fidgeting then gasped. “Who’s that?” she whispered.

Eliot reluctantly stepped away to answer his sister’s question.

Aridai and his guards had already dismounted.

“This is.” Eliot caught himself before he introduced Aridai as his uncle. “This is Master Aridai. He’s the tall-folk who lives on Cloud Mountain.”

Lina’s eyes stretched wide before a confused frown crumpled her brow. “But Mama said your uncle’s name is Aridai–”

“You know?” said Eliot. “Mother has told you about my father’s family?”

“After we came here, she and Uncle Leighton told me.”

Aridai had moved closer. “I am Aridai Risal-son, Eliot’s uncle,” he said, smiling.

Lina stared at Aridai, but her words were directed at Eliot. “Did you know it was your uncle on Cloud Mountain?”

“No,” said Eliot. “We only discovered that as we were about to head up the mountain.”

“We? Oh yes, the man Uncle Bertran sent.”

“It was Renard.”

She turned to Eliot. “Renard went with you?” Visibly startled, she said, “What happened to your face?”

Not wanting to speak about his fight yet, he said, “Uncle, this is my sister, Lina. I assure you, she does possess manners,” he finished with a slightly pained expression.

Stiffening, Lina’s cheeks coloured as she ducked her head and curtsied. “Forgive me, Master Aridai.”

“Come, my dear, no need for such formalities. I hope you will do me the honour of also calling me ‘uncle’.”

Glancing up at him, she nodded, her face wreathed in smiles.

As he looked past her, Aridai’s expression changed as tears filled his dark eyes.

Eliot turned to see Marcelin by the house with Leighton by her side.

Her hands over her mouth, Marcelin stared then covered her face, and Leighton placed his hands around her.

Eliot hurried to embrace her. “Mother, what’s the matter? Don’t cry, please.”

Lowering her hands, Marcelin’s attempt at a smile failed as she looked at the still visible bruises on his face. Despite her obvious concern, she didn’t question him, but turned her gaze to Aridai. “To see you again after all these years.” Her face crumpled as fresh tears spilled.

Aridai, already at her side, took hold of her hand. “Hush, my dear, I know.”

“The last time we met, he was still, Ruvane was still.” Leaving her sentence unfinished, she shook her head.

Eliot struggled to swallow past the sudden lump in his throat.

“It has been too many years,” said Aridai, “and I blame myself for not making the effort to visit you.”

“You are assuming my dear cousin would have made it easy for you,” said Leighton. “If anyone is to blame for either of you not seeing the other, it is, without a doubt, Climence.”

Aridai’s expression softened. “Lord Leighton, thank you. It is such a pleasure to see you again.”

Leighton’s smile widened. “It is an unexpected but very pleasant surprise to see you here, at my home, Master Aridai. Welcome.”

“I did not expect to find myself here. But, please, let us not be so formal, call me Aridai.”

“And you must call me Leighton.”

Marcelin dabbed at her teary cheeks with her handkerchief, turned to Eliot and laid her hand against his cheek. “Eliot,” she said softly, “you’ve been hurt.”

He didn’t answer but put his arms around her. To his relief, she didn’t persist but returned his embrace.

“I was so worried,” said Marcelin. “Did you go to Deverell? How did you–Why are you laughing?”

“Lina asked me the same questions. We returned yesterday and went to Granville, that’s how I knew you were here.”

“But how is it that Aridai is here?”

“Uncle Aridai is the tall-folk who lives on Cloud Mountain,” said Lina before Eliot could even open his mouth. “And Renard went with him. If we’d known that, we wouldn’t have worried so much, isn’t that right, Mama?”

In that moment, it came to Eliot how much comfort he unknowingly derived from Lina’s talkative nature, her constant chatter that had been part of his life since she could talk. His smile widened as the pain eased its grip on his heart.

The silence in Leighton’s drawing room was broken by the cracking of the logs feeding the fire.

Eliot stood with his back to his family, staring at the flickering flames in the fireplace. He and Aridai had recounted their meeting and time with his tall-folk family. Aridai had done most of the talking of what had happened after they’d left Cloud Mountain and coming across Garlon and his men. But the tall-male had left the rest for Eliot to say, and for that he was grateful. Although he’d said he and Garlon had fought, he didn’t tell them the full extent of it. Even then, he found it hard to face them.

A gentle touch on his arm startled Eliot. He turned to see Marcelin smiling at him.

“I don’t like to see you hurt like this,” she said, “but I am proud of you, knowing I have a strong son who is willing to fight for his family.” Tears filled her eyes, but she remained smiling, her hand resting on his cheek. “If he were here, your father would be so proud of you also.”

His chin trembled, he pressed his lips together to stop himself saying his father was here, he was still alive. What Eliot wouldn’t give to hear his father say those words. Returning his mother’s embrace, he gave in to his tears. Just as quickly, he fought to rein in his emotions, wiping his damp cheeks on his sleeve, which earned him a reproachful look from Marcelin.

Then Lina was there, her arms around his waist. “I’m glad you’re not badly hurt, and I’m glad you had the chance to best Garlon.” Smiling up at him, she said, “Though I wish I’d been there to see it.”

“Lina.”

She looked over her shoulder at Marcelin. “I know I shouldn’t say such things, but Garlon has always been so awful, he had it coming.”

“She has a point, my dear,” said Leighton from his wide-armed chair positioned opposite the fireplace.

Marcelin returned to the broad chair to sit next to Aridai. “Uncle Leighton, please don’t encourage her, although I do agree. Especially now I know you were the victim, Aridai, and dear Sela suffered an injury.”

His legs stretched out in front of him, Aridai said, “Granted, I barely had anything to do with the man, yet I found him loathsome.”

“Oh,” said Lina. “When Garlon came here, that must have been before he left for Cloud Mountain.”

“He was here?” said Eliot, his concern evident.

“He didn’t enter the house,” said Leighton. “Not that he didn’t try. Marcelin told him she had no interest in him, and I told him to get off my property.”

“He threatened Uncle Leighton,” said Lina.

“Garlon appeared to have forgotten I’m more than an old fool doddering about in my garden,” said Leighton, chuckling. “Simply because I rarely, if ever, go to court these days. But I reminded him the name of Leighton Anders is still held in high regard. I invited him to put my words to the test, but, for some reason, he declined.” Leighton’s attempt at bemused innocence failed as his smile only grew wider.

“Rest assured, Garlon will no longer bother you,” said Aridai as their laughter subsided. He then told them of Jack agreeing to speak against Garlon and the Anti-Giant faction.

No one spoke.

Lina resumed her seat by Leighton while Eliot remained by the fireplace, his gaze on Marcelin.

She stared at the space in front of her, her brow wrinkled as she fiddled with her bracelet.

“Marcelin.”

Blinking, she turned to Leighton.

“If either of them name Climence, there is little we can do.”

Aridai leaned forward and placed his hand over hers. “You worry for your mother.”

“I don’t want her to be treated like a criminal,” she said, her voice low and tremulous.

“After all she’s done?” said Eliot, his anger evident. “The way she’s treated you?”

“She’s still my mother.”

“But, but you left, you said you couldn’t agree with what she was doing, the way she treated us–”

“That doesn’t mean I want her to suffer, Eliot.”

Muscles quivering, he wanted to shout it was no less than Climence deserved after the years she’d made him suffer, and knowing she’d planned on doing away with his father.

Leighton got to his feet and made his way to Eliot. “I know you want Climence to answer for the things she’s done, my boy, for what she’s subjected you to over the years. But try and understand, she is Marcelin’s mother and my only cousin, one I still think of as a sister. Regardless of her,” he paused as if searching for the right words. “Regardless of her usually unpleasant behaviour, it is not easy to cut the family ties that bind us.”

Breathing heavily, Eliot forced himself to nod, but knew he’d have no trouble cutting that particular tie for it meant nothing to him.