Sixth of Artula
Year 1182 of Emancipation
The sun was setting as Siara moved through the sense forest surrounded by four elves. The eldest had introduced himself as Grais and acted as if he had been expecting her. Of course, Belkai would have had outposts around all of her borders after the chaos of the past month. Siara’s escort had camped outside Narandir, the Prophetess having declared her intention to meet Belkai – and most likely Davos – on her own. To her surprise, she wasn’t led to Belkai’s throne but to a moonlit lake. A small campfire burned nearby, half a dozen tree stumps places around it. Davos wore only a pair of dark trousers, and the light of the fire highlighted the scars and unhealed wounds from his recent trials. Belkai sat beside him dressed in a white linen robe, looking regal even as she whispered in his ear.
Siara bowed her head as Grais announced her presence, and Belkai waved for her to take a seat. This was probably the most informal a meeting Siara had been in for decades. The smell of the fire brought back memories of a childhood long forgotten, and she couldn’t help but smile as she basked in the warmth.
“There are few better ways to end the day,” Belkai affirmed. It was a friendly greeting, but Siara got the message. She wasn’t a threat, but Belkai wasn’t letting her guard down. She had felt Siara’s thoughts, and for a moment Siara wondered if she’d read them. Rumour had it that the stronger Brilhardem could do that. Was Belkai at that level?
“Thank you for meeting me,” Siara said, hoping that her uncertainty was hidden. She would not make the mistake of underestimating the woman before her. There were too many corpses that testified to the danger of doing so. “I did not intend to interrupt an intimate evening between husband and wife.”
“It is always an honour to host you,” Davos spoke, and Belkai nodded in agreement. “What brings you to Narandir in the darkening night?”
If it was mockery, Siara didn’t notice. “I have been sent by the Arcane with a message for Belkai.”
Belkai waved a hand and the elves disappeared into the bushes. Davos didn’t move, not that Siara had expected any different. There was silence for a few moments as they waited to ensure that the elves had left. Siara took advantage of the pause to study the two before her. Davos was tense, but that was understandable after the hell that he had been through the past few weeks. Belkai, on the other hand, was surprisingly relaxed. She hadn’t been conditioned to bow to the Prophetess, Siara reminded herself. After everything that had happened, she had no need to bow to anyone on this plane.
“Who exactly sent you?” Belkai asked, her voice still level.
“Delorax,” Siara replied honestly. “A lord of justice, as you know.”
Belkai didn’t reply at first. Adrianna had claimed that this ‘lord of justice’ had sent her. Belkai had no reason to doubt her. But she motioned for Siara to continue, choosing to stay silent for now.
“He came to me in a vision. He claimed to speak on behalf of the Arcane. The last few months have been remarkable in the violence that you have brought upon them.”
“Belkai did not start this,” Davos growled, but Belkai gently took hold of his hand, and he fell silent. Siara looked him dead in the eye and replied,
“Like it or not, Belkai started this the second she allowed Ashelath an opening to her mind.” She raised a hand as Davos tried to respond despite his wife’s restraint. “Belkai, you were innocent then. I know that, even if some of the Arcane choose to ignore it. We all see what we want to see. Nonetheless, you were the spark that has set the higher planes afire. You know, of course, that Yulen and Belamin are dead.”
“Killed by the Sons of Retribution,” Belkai confirmed. “They were two of the Arcane assigned to control Ashelath. They failed, and they paid the price. Falkar was one of them, but he is free.”
“Delorax still has use for Falkar’s dominion,” Siara told her. “For now, he lives. That may change.”
“What was Delorax’s message?” Belkai asked.
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“He is willing to offer peace,” Siara said, and even in the dancing flames she recognised the doubt in Belkai’s eyes. “You killed an Arcane, even if he was banished. Two more died as a result. Hundreds of Svaletans, Aliri, and Wextons are dead. And you killed the twins that were sent to execute vengeance. You have forced a stalemate of sorts, Belkai. That makes you unique among mortals. Delorax does not want this to continue. He wishes for peace to return.”
“Delorax sent Kane and Adrianna,” Belkai announced, and Siara felt herself pale, much to her own disgust. She hoped that the darkness hid the sudden shift. “That’s what Adrianna claimed when she thought she had won. She had no reason to lie. He instigated all of this. And two days ago, he sent one more message. The severed head of my father.”
Siara’s voice lowered. “I am sorry. I didn’t know.”
The good thing about dealing with Brilhardem was that they accepted the truth without questioning it. Belkai smiled grimly. “No, he wouldn’t have admitted that. You see, Siara, to Delorax and the others this is all a power play. But to me, this is about the fact that I freed myself from slavery to a demon. In response to that, the Arcane have slaughtered innocent people, taken my husband, and killed my father. This isn’t a power play to me. It is personal.”
Belkai shook her head and glanced at Davos for assurance before she continued. “All they see is the lust for Narandir’s power. But I never wanted it, Siara. I only ever wanted to be free. I will fight for that until my dying breath and I don’t care what the Arcane may do to stop me from achieving it.”
“Be careful of the path that you are about to choose,” Siara warned. “You have a shot at peace. If you choose to continue this war, Narandir will burn.”
It wasn’t a threat from Siara, Belkai knew. Delorax must have made his threat quite clearly. “What exactly did he say?”
“He said that if you do not accept his conditions, he would bring the full weight of the Arcane against Narandir and burn it to the ground. And if you escape, he will destroy every sign of civilisation on this continent until you are dead.”
Belkai ignored the fear that gripped Davos. “What are his conditions?”
Siara swallowed nervously, a very rare reaction for her, and one that she knew that she couldn’t hide. “It is essentially the same as what he gave to Mishtar before you: stay in Narandir, do not leave. Do not interfere with the outside world. Become the Recluse. Break those bounds, and you will face eradication.”
Belkai smiled, much to Siara’s surprise. “I do not fear Delorax, nor the Arcane. You can tell that to him. I will not escalate this, despite what he has done to me. But I will not hide in cowardice like Mishtar. Narandir is a part of this world. No longer will we live apart.”
“Even if it brings war?”
“If Delorax did not fear Narandir, we would not be having this conversation,” Belkai pointed out. “There will be no war. I will not live in fear, and I will not bow to him. I put everything on the line to kill Ashelath so I would never again have to fear.”
For the first time, Siara truly understood the woman that looked back at her from the other side of the fire. The flames seemed to dance in her eyes, and in the warm light Siara could see the beauty that had captivated Davos on those long nights journeying through Svaleta. There was the undeniable physical beauty, of course, but also a sheer determination of will that was irresistible. This was a woman who could unite nations, Siara realised. She could change the balance of power for the continent, and not for the worse. Maybe there was a hope that she hadn’t seen before, a chance at release from the danger that was beginning to plague the lands.
In the silence, Davos leaned forward and spoke in a quiet but firm voice. “Siara, I am a Svaletan. I have always had love for the Temple. But it is time for Svaleta to stop hiding from the magic that is in this world. We have a chance now to change the path this world is on. We need to take it.”
Siara stood and bowed her head again. “I bid you both farewell. I will deliver your message. And for all our sakes, I hope you are right. For what it’s worth, Belkai, I believe in you.”
Belkai watched as she disappeared into the night, then turned to face Davos.
“You just declared war on the Arcane,” he whispered, and she shook her head.
“No. I declared independence. And they will accept it.”
“How can you know?”
Belkai turned and took his hands in her own. “Because the Arcane operate within certain bounds. That is why they sent Kane and Adrianna. If they initiate their own war on this world, they will be destroyed by their Creator. Delorax’s threats are empty.”
Davos looked deep in her eyes and nodded. “Like the woman said, I believe in you.”
Belkai’s face softened as she heard those words. “I love you, Davos.”
He leaned forward and kissed her lips. His next words were a whisper. “I live to love you, Lord Belkai.”
Belkai didn’t speak as she pulled him close and pressed her lips against his. She shivered as his hands ran down her body, feeling her through the thin fabric of her robe. She broke their kiss as she straddled him, pressing her body against his and feeling his reaction.
I need you. She was surprised to hear his voice in her head as clearly as if he had spoken them aloud. The hunger in his eyes told her that she hadn’t imagined it. She slowly stripped off her robe and gasped as he brought his lips forward to meet her.
The Arcane raged and nations prepared for war, but tonight Belkai drank deep at the well of their mutual passion, finding her peace in the delight of their love.
And that was enough.