Ch.9

With a single word, Evander had changed everything. "We?" Celene"s voice came out as a whisper, and for a moment Rissa almost thought the other woman wasn't going to answer. Then, after taking a deep breath, the elf responded.

"Yes. It seems that we still have things to talk about." She tried to sound convincing, though, in truth, she already knew what the elf was going to say. She was just hoping to avoid it for a little while longer. "Before we decide anything more, let us try to find out where Aelbur is hiding out. There must be someone he can trust . . ."

She lifted her head, staring hard into Celene"s eyes. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked.

Celene flinched as if she had been struck by an arrow. "I . . ." She took a deep breath. "You have been through enough."

Evander turned on Celene, his fists clenched. "Enough? Have you forgotten what she has done, Evander? All this time she was concealing what happened to you!"

Celene held up her hand as if to keep him silent. "She did nothing wrong," Celene replied. "LAsI said, this must have been planned long ago. We were used like chess pieces."

Rissa frowned in confusion. "But why now? Why haven't I seen Evander before this?"

Celene went over to the body, placing her hand gently against the pale skin. "Because Celene always knew you were coming," she whispered. "We were . . . well, we have been keeping watch since you started training with your father."

Rissa gasped, standing up quickly. "Then how did you know about the sword? When Aelbur explained everything . . ." She looked at them all, each one holding a look of fear. "When he told me about the sword, there was no one else there . . ."

"That's what we're here to explain," Celene said, walking toward them. "We have a deal, after all."

Rissa frowned in disbelief, not knowing how to process the information. They had all been lying to her, and for what? To make sure she never got close to Evander? "You all knew who I was? You told the others?"

"Only one other person knew about you," Evander said, speaking slowly as if to make sure she understood. "Only my master . . ." He hesitated, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And when he saw that the Fereldans were gaining in strength, he decided it would be easier to allow us to die than to let you escape alive. That way, when Celene came, we could present her with the deal."

Rissa couldn't breathe. "You never told me any of this before!"

Celene stepped forward, placing a hand on Rissa's shoulder. "It was our decision. But now we have changed our minds."

Rissa looked from the elf to Evander, not wanting to believe the truth. Yet something seemed off; she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was an underlying air of urgency to their words. "How can you just decide . . . after all these years? After everything I have been through?"

Evander shrugged, looking at Celene. "There's nothing we can do about it. Not anymore." He held up his hands in surrender. "Go ahead—be angry. It won't change anything."

She shook her head, opening her mouth as if she was about to say something, but instead she turned toward the fire and closed her eyes. With a deep breath, she began to sing in an ancient language. Rissa hadn't sung since she was a child.

She didn't think they had ever met, although she had a sneaking suspicion that Evander had told her about him. Aelbur had spoken of him often, using him as an example of the type of man he sought to recruit into the Order. The singing woman must have been one of those men. Her voice was like magic, seeming to tug at her heartstrings, making her feel warm all over. There was no music in the world like this. She felt happy to be alive, even though everything seemed to be going to hell.

As her song continued, Rissa suddenly recognized what was happening. Yes, Celene knew more about their situation than she had shared. They were trying to justify the information they had withheld.

"This is your fault," she said, pointing accusingly at Evander. "You led them to me!"

But even as she spoke, a feeling came over her, perhaps instinct or whatever she would have called it if she believed in anything other than herself. The need to do what she did welled up inside her, pushing away all the emotions that Celene had previously triggered. It was at once the most natural thing in the world to her and the strangest sensation she had ever experienced.

Then she heard the words of the song, and they instantly reminded Rissa of another melody—one that her mother used to sing to her when she was young. But unlike the others, this song made her think of something else entirely: death.

I won't be afraid because I don't know

Where the dark lies.

The words filled her head with emotion. If she never tried, how could she ever know what it was like? Wasn't that the point of living? Of breathing? But there had always been a wall between her and Celene, one that separated them both from the rest of the world. Celene had never understood why she wasn't able to love. Until now . . .

Rissa finally looked up at Evander, meeting his eyes. The elf glanced at her for a moment, but then returned his attention to the woman singing in front of them.

When the song ended, Rissa pushed past them. "Where is Aelbur?" she asked, turning to the others. "We still have work to do."

Celene narrowed her eyes in anger. "Tell us where the map is, and we will let you go."

Rissa shook her head, keeping her eyes locked on Celene. "I can't," she replied. "There are some things you have yet to tell me."

Evander tried to step forward, but Rissa held him back with a hand on his chest. He stared at her, concern visible on his face, but she paid him no heed. Instead, she continued to stare at Celene as the singing woman moved toward her, her head tilted in a regal manner, like the queen she was.

"What do you want to know?" she asked.

Rissa held up a finger. "The sword. The one on your arm. What does it mean? How is it different from the other blades? Is that what I"ll become when I wield it?"

"No. That is what you are right now."

Rissa felt a deep shiver run through her. As much as she wanted to deny it, however, she had seen the evidence in the elves' eyes, the power coursing through Celene. Rissa knew what she must look like to them right now; she was sure they would lock her away if they were able to. But she still had one final question. "What about Evander?"

"Who?"

Rissa"s cheeks grew hot, and she immediately regretted asking such a thing. Maybe she could have come up with something better, something more delicate. But she couldn't stop herself now; she didn't want Celene to know about him. "Evander"s here . . . somewhere. You wouldn't know where he is, would you? Or what he looks like . . ."

Celene nodded slightly, motioning for Rissa to wait a moment. She then turned back to the fire, looking long into its flames. For a moment, Rissa worried that the elf had changed her mind, but after a few moments of silence, Celene finally answered. "No, I don't know where he is, or how he looks. However . . ."

She held out her hand, indicating Rissa should do the same. Then she slowly traced a finger across the palm of her hand, not once breaking eye contact with Rissa. "Your skin will always have an essence to it."

Rissa frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I can sense what you are, wherever you go. And by extension, anyone who comes near you," Celene replied. "But if there's one thing I know about humans, it's that there"s almost always a way around every obstacle. And if that is the case, then we may be able to break through, even with the great spell of Evander"s . . . if it holds any true power at all."

Rissa released her grip on Evander"s shirt, taking a step back. There was nothing she could say. Perhaps this would give them a chance to get away from here, to get away from Aelbur and his ilk. It wasn't much, but at least now they had options, and options were something she had"t had in a long time.