Giya's Betrayal: Book Three of the Firebird's Daughter series Read online

  And what a magnificent creature he was, she marveled in the privacy of her own mind. Pity he had to be so ugly in his disregard for the lives of others. She recognized that, despite everything, there was a sadness that remained buried deep within her, aching for the lost opportunity to have been more to each other than rivals, enemies, and – worst of all – unimportant to each other. She would bear the burden of the love she had once borne her brother in order to save the lives of those she had come to care for on the planet below, though, and gladly.

  Making another pass, she dug her talons deeply into his flaming flesh, feeling her own body diminish with the effort. She screamed out in pain – her own ability to maintain her water-like form was beginning to cost her. She roared in triumph when she saw him suddenly start to fly away from her, but then realized he was flying towards the planet! If he was going to die, then everyone would – she was sure that was what he was thinking. Selfish to the bitter end! No – wait! He was chasing after Denit! No! And why was she falling instead of flying? What was going on? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she realized it didn’t matter why he was doing anything, the only thing that was important was that she stop him. She could feel it in her bones though, that she would simply never be enough to stop him on her own. Still, she had to try, and she was faster than he was! Folding her wings so she would pick up even more speed, she raced towards the planet, passing him. She would have to save Denit and hope that Sov followed them, instead of crashing into the planet, but at this point, she didn’t have any idea at all which he would do.

  Stretching out her talons to grab Denit in a hold she knew would be painful, but unavoidable, she screeched in alarm as she saw an energy wave of some kind rise up to cover her. As soon as it touched her, Denit began to struggle and squirm, as if the wave had somehow revived her. Amphedia felt her own heart in her throat when she realized Denit held the crystal in her talon and was fumbling with it. It was covered with blood! She screamed again in horror as she saw it slip out of Denit’s grasp, spinning away from her. She grabbed it again, but parts of it – small shards of the distinctive opulent crystal – broke off. And then Denit was gone, as if she had been swallowed by an invisible hole in the sky. Quickly turning herself back around, she headed straight for Sov. She would have to end this now. Right now, or everyone on the planet would die, including her granddaughter Nieva.

  * * * * * * * *

  Oculis’ first instinct was to take flight so he could catch Denit, but Eruitt put a hand on one arm while Chared put his on his other. He wanted to shake them off in anger, but inhaled a calming breath when Eruitt said, “They’ve got her,“ at the same time Chared admonished, “You’ll disrupt their magic.” It was obvious the four Mezhdu did, indeed, have Denit, and the situation, under control. They were bringing her down, through the magical barrier they’d created slowly, making sure she wasn’t harmed in the process. But when he saw a small object falling faster than Denit was, he felt his heart skip a beat. The crystal!

  Determined not to be accused of trying to get it for himself, he immediately grabbed Eruitt’s arm, pointing to it as it fell. No! It was going to fall right on Vray!

  “Move!” he shouted suddenly. “Vray! Move! Move! Move!” Instead, he looked up, seeing something falling out of the sky right towards him. Undoubtedly, because it was a small thing, he felt no fear nor concern, waiting for it to fall within his reach.

  “Don’t touch it!” Chared shouted, but Vray wasn’t paying attention to anything other than the object falling towards him.

  Deciding it didn’t matter what anyone else thought at this point, Oculis started running towards Vray, determined to knock him out of the way. He had no idea whether or not the crystal would break, but since Vray was the only one who could actually shatter it in a way that would make Denit become the Sun Goddess, he decided it just didn’t matter.

  A moment later, Nieva swooped through the air to clasp it in her talons, flying right over Vray’s head. It was too late for Oculis to stop his momentum though, although he did try, but ended up knocking several people over in the process, and landing on the ground himself. He wasn’t at all surprised to find that Eruitt was also on the ground, and that Chared was standing over them, offering a hand to help them stand up.

  “That was close!” Eruitt said, shaking his head. They all watched as Nieva flew over to Giya, who took the crystal from her with an outstretched hand, then invited her to rest on her own shoulder. Oculis smiled to himself, more pleased than he knew he had a right to be that his granddaughter had been the one to save the day. There was just something about her that made his heart swell with a kind of affection he’d never known before. And he liked it just fine.

  * * * * * * * *

  Honsa brought the chant to an end feeling both exhausted and exuberant. They’d done it. They had well and truly done it. Denit was standing on her own, having been both captured and revived by the energy wave they’d created using their unique blend of magics. It had been more of a “blanket” than a “wave,” strictly speaking, because it had been used to capture her as she had fallen. It had been Ceirat’s decision to add the healing. He was glad they had thought to make it large enough to capture her Firebird body instead of her human one though – Ordan’s quick thinking was to thank for that. And Tyran was the first to feel that Denit was returning to her human form, making the needed adjustments to bring her safely back down. He was the one who decided to bring the “blanket” back here, instead of just allowing it to return to the planet where Denit would have otherwise landed alone, and perhaps still in need of healing. He sent a wave of gratitude for each of them before breaking the bond.

  For his part, he thought Denit looked much worse for the wear than when he’d last seen her, and wished they would be able to share another bowl of soup together in a quiet place. He couldn’t help but to feel sad that wasn’t likely to ever happen again. He wanted very much to just go hug her, and let her know that she still had friends who cared about her for herself, and not because she was going to become something or someone. But it was too late for all of that, of course. She was the center of attention and still had much to accomplish before this terribly long day was over.

  Feeling Ordan nudge against him, he turned to look at him. Seeing in him much of what he was already feeling, he put his arm around his friend, holding him tight. He was pleased when the younger man put his head on his shoulder. And even more pleased when Ceirat hugged the two of them from behind. He looked up to see Tyran looking at him, close to tears, if he didn’t miss his guess. None of them had been able to communicate with her for days, so they had no idea how she’d even gotten here. Later, they would talk. Later, they would fill in the details of what had happened to each of them. For now, he held out his hand to her, including her in their silent hug.

  * * * * * * * *

  He thought he’d been ready to do whatever needed to be done, but now all the unanswered questions came screaming forward, leaving Vray feeling stone-cold terrified. Denit was here. The crystal was here. And he was here. Now he would have to do … something … to shatter the crystal. Unless someone else with red eyes came forward. He felt a shiver of fear run through him, making his body jerk involuntarily. Would he die? Would he become something other than what he already was? Who would make sure Sahil remembered that all of the Fire Tenders were people, and not just some interesting experiment, if he wasn’t here to do it?

  Not only that, but what was really going to happen when the crystal shattered? If it shattered? What if it didn’t? What if Sahil had it wrong? And if he did have it right, would it explode? Would a lot of people be hurt or killed? And would Denit suddenly become a sun right here, and now? Wouldn’t that kill everyone too?

  He knew he was driving himself mad, but didn’t know how to stop. And the truth of the matter was that nobody knew the answers to the questions he had. Nobody had any more idea what would happen than he did. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was the one ev
eryone was counting on, no matter if he really was the right red-eyed man for the task at-hand or not.

  * * * * * * * *

  “I am so happy to see you!” Sahil gushed as he hugged Kaya to his chest, closing his eyes for a moment in sincere relief, then patted him on the back several times, wishing he could keep touching him, to make sure he was still here. “You cannot imagine how frightened I was to send you away like that!”

  “It turned out a lot differently than any of us expected,” Kaya replied, smiling, as he held out his hand to reach for Rhian.

  “What?” Sahil nearly choked, unable to believe his eyes. “But .. but …! You’re …”

  “Dead?” Rhian laughed, holding out her arms for Sahil to embrace her. “Not just yet,” she smiled, touching his face. “How I have missed your counsel, my friend.”

  ”But what are you doing here? I don’t understand,” he said, releasing her from his embrace.

  “Sahil!” they heard Giya call his name. “It is time!”

  “Yes!” he called out. “We’ll be right there.” Then he looked back at Kaya, a serious look on his face. “We’ll talk about all of this later,” he said. “But right now, I need you.” He paused, looking around, “We all need you.”

  “What does that mean?” Kaya asked, suddenly on guard. When Sahil asked for the name of his mother and father, Kaya got a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. This wasn’t a trivial question; the answer, he could tell, carried tremendous weight. And yet, he answered straight away.

  “My mother’s name was Dayam and my father was Rigam,” he said simply, determined not to ask why Sahil would ask such a question.

  “And your mother’s lineage?” he asked, tilting his head in a way that Kaya knew from long experience meant the question was one that had consequences.

  “Tadashi. She was a direct descendant of the first empress, Deiserin.” He could feel his heart beating faster, noticing that everyone had become quiet during their short exchange, and was watching them.

  “Sahil,” Giya called to him again; this time in a softer voice. “Come. Now. We’re out of time. Either he will know, or he will not.” She paused, holding out a hand to beckon them closer to where she was standing with Denit beside her.

  “What’s going on?” Kaya asked, grabbing Sahil by the arm, clearly displeased he wasn’t being told what was being asked of him.

  Inhaling deeply, Sahil put one hand on Kaya’s shoulder, gripping him tightly while looking into his eyes. “Trust me, Kaya, even as you did when the emperor commanded me to kill you. Trust me now, as you have always done.” Then Sahil let go of his shoulder, turning his back on the younger man to heed Giya’s summons. Kaya looked briefly at Rhian, wondering what he would see in her eyes. They were shining brightly, clear of conflict. She trusted Sahil. Nodding once, with a ghost of a smile on her tightened lips, she encouraged him forward.

  * * * * * * * *

  So this is it, then, Denit thought to herself. I failed to bring Jonath back. I failed to destroy Sov. And there is no other choice. If I walk away from this, the world will soon turn dark when Sov finally dies. Everyone will freeze to death, if they aren’t all buried in the sands that are probably still pouring forth from the wounds I made on the land, and it will be my fault.

  “I’m ready,” is what she said.

  “That makes one of us,” Giya told her, trying to smile, but Denit could see the strain in her and merely blinked in response, her mouth refusing to return the expression.

  “Ordan,” Giya said, turning to him, “you and Tyran will lead the chant together, since the two of you know it best. If anyone else feels the need to join in, please do,” she said, looking up at everyone gathered in a circle around her.

  “Kaya, you are the “Tadashi child” that was seen in a vision telling us that you know of a missing verse to this chant.” She paused, holding up a hand when he started to respond, a confused look on his face. “Don’t concern yourself that you don’t know it right now. There is a very old magic at work here that will reveal itself through you, when the time comes. Trust that this is so.” She saw him glance towards Sahil, who nodded his head with confidence.

  Denit watched as Giya gave everyone their instructions, marveling at her confidence even though she knew it wasn’t possible for her to know what to expect. Well then, she though, perhaps I can do the same. She stood up a little straighter, waiting to see what would happen.

  “Vray, we will all have to trust that you will understand when your part comes. Trust your instincts. What your heart tells you, not what your head tells you,” Giya told him, touching his chest. “Let go of your fear; you’ve lived too long with it. Today is the day when your touch will release the Sun Child so the rest of us will live. Today, your touch will mean life, not death.” Denit watched as the Fire Tender nodded gravely at Giya, almost able to feel his gratitude for her words naming him as a life-giver for the first time in his own life.

  Turning once more to her, Giya reached out and hugged Denit fiercely, whispering “I love you,” then gave her the crystal, placing it firmly in both of her hands.

  “Very well,” she said nodding at Ordan and Tyran, “please begin.”

  Denit watched as Tyran reached out for Ordan’s hand, taking a breath, then the two of them began in such perfect unison it was a little unnerving, until she remembered that they were Mezhdu, and often did things together while they were bonded.

  “Deep in the earth, the seed won’t grow,

  No, no, no. the seed won’t grow.

  Deep in the earth, the crystal glows.

  And the sun will rise again.”

  It was a child’s chant, Denit decided. How odd. She hadn’t had any idea at all what was going to happen, but this was not what she had expected.

  “Dancing in fire, the seed will grow,

  Grow, grow, grow, the seed will grow.

  Dying in fire, the seed will grow,

  And the sun will rise again.”

  Denit heard a few other voices joining in, wondering who else knew the words to this rhyme, and how they had learned it. Then she felt the crystal begin to … move. Although “squirm” seemed more like it was probably the right word, almost as if it was an egg that had a chick inside pecking its uncertain way out of the only home it had ever known. Tentatively at first, then at a more furious speed until it felt more like there was a snake inside of it instead of a chick.

  “With death’s red eyes, the seed will crack,

  Crack, crack, crack, the seed will crack.

  Once it breaks, the light comes back,

  And the sun will rise again.”

  She looked up at Vray as he stepped forward at the beginning of the verse and gasped as his eyes began to glow red. So this was death. Vray was a Fire Tender. She knew that much. They killed people. Would she have to die, like her father had always done, so that she could rise from the ashes? Is that what was going to happen? She felt herself tensing as he raised his hand, then pointed directly at Kaya as Ordan and Tyran stopped reciting the chant.

  It seemed to her that Kaya was in a daze, his eyes unseeing, as he stepped forward next to Vray, then recited what she knew hadn’t been heard in hundreds of years. She could feel the knowledge of the crystal bursting to life within her, and knew the words Kaya would say before he said them.

  “Crystal shatters, the God does rise,

  Rise, rise, rise, the God does rise.

  With death’s sure touch, he never dies.

  And the sun will rise again.”

  Yes! She could feel the energy flowing through her. She could feel it when her body ignited without her conscious effort. I am alive! I am free!

  Once again, the others took up the chant as she closed her eyes, throwing back her head, hearing the voices of the past combine with those of the living surrounding her. She thrust the crystal forward with both hands, as if it was a sacrifice.

  “Glowing crystal, bright sacred seed,

  Shine, shine, shine, bri
ght sacred seed.

  Death reaches out, fulfills the need.

  Now the Sun Child flies free.”

  At the last word, Vray reached forth with one hand, and the crystal shattered with an explosive outrushing of sound, emotion, and magic. She could feel every shard, each sliver of the crystal as they dissolved and were reabsorbed within the magnificence that was now her body. When she opened her eyes, she was floating well above everyone else. Not only was she aflame, but she was shining brightly, encompassed in a brilliant aura.

  Nor was she, by the smallest measure, surprised to watch as all of them fell to their knees, with their heads bowed. She was the living embodiment of life itself, and they were all her children. She laughed out loud then, filled with delight and a deep love for each of them.

  “Thank you, my friends. Thank you,” she said, still laughing. “I will return when I understand how to, but for now, you have my thanks.” She paused, seeking out Giya’s eyes, “and my love.”

  She started rising, then stopped, thrusting her arms outwards, as a wave of energy swept through them all, then rose out of sight, spreading her wings as she resumed her Firebird form.

  Chapter Twenty-Two – God of the Seas