Warsong (Chronicles of the Warlands, #6)(72)

“Xy-xy-xyson,” Joden could barely force out the word.

“Xy-xy-xyson,” Kalisa mocked him, then her lip curled. “Bastard always was a meddler.” Her face crumpled in pain. “If he’d only left us alone—” she hacked again, as if her pain caught in her throat.

“Drink,” Mya urged, but Kalisa pushed the cup away, water slopping over the sides.

“I have warded my charges for years, watching over the generations, day after day, month after month,” Kalisa’s eyes filled with tears. “Weary decade after decade, waiting for one to bear the sign. Every son, every daughter in my line, but my warrior blood faded through the generations.”

Anser was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. “Auntie, how long have you lived?”

“Cheesemakers.” Disdain dripped from Kalisa’s words. She snarled at Anser and Mya. “All of them. None bear the gift and never will.”

“Auntie,” Anser said, straightening his spine. “You don’t mean that.”

Kalisa stared at Lara. “But your babes, now. Your children and those that will follow—”

Lara, pale and trembling, drew herself up. Keir was behind her. He stepped forward. “What about our children?” he demanded.

“They were born on the night the power returned,” Kalisa’s eyes grew distant, and her voice dropped to the barest whisper. “Too early to know, too early to tell, but they may bear the gift.”

“She had a fit that night,” Mya whispered. She sat on the bed, her arm wrapped around Kalisa’s hunched back. “On the night of the royal births.”

Amyu shifted next to Joden, stepping forward closer to the bed. “Do you mean the golden light?” she asked. “I can see it.”

Kalisa snarled, “I know. I can see it in you, child. You have the gift.”

Amyu leaned forward. “Please, Elder, show me. I can learn to—”

“I swore an oath,” Kalisa trembled with rage. “Never to use it again, never to touch what was left. I could take up the power, rid myself of this withering, aged—” She coughed again holding up her swollen hands. She curled her lip at Eln and Lara. “Joint cream and teas. Bah.” She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t, I can’t—”

“But I can,” Amyu started.

Kalisa screamed. Joden reached out to steady Amyu as she flinched back, his hands on her shoulders, wishing he could shield her from this.

“You?” Kalisa shrieked, dropping her hands, rage in her eyes. “Never. Never will a filthy Firelander touch my charges.” She coughed, clutching at her chest. “They were created for Xy and Xy alone. I will keep them safe and free of your taint. Only the pure blood of Xy will fly these skies. Never, never, never—”

She clutched at her heart and gasped out the last few words.

“Uppor w-w-waits,” Joden said. Keir stiffened but Joden kept his eyes on Kalisa.

She paused, then her face crumpled. A long moan came from her, that seemed to take all her breath. “Uppor, beloved,” she wept. Then she gasped, and threw her head back.

Eln moved then, with Lara, to aid Mya. They eased Kalisa back down on the bed. There was a rattle, a struggle for another breath.

“Gracious Goddess, Lady of the Moon and Stars, be with her in the hour of her death,” Lara recited the words, as Mya started crying.

“Gracious Goddess, Lady of the Moon and Stars,” Anser took up the chant. “Full of forgiveness, forget her offenses and her flaws.”

Kalisa’s breaths were harsher now, and slowing. All attention was on the bed, but Joden caught a glimpse of Keir easing out of the room as all of the Xyians gathered around and continued the chant.

“Gracious Lady of the Moon and Stars, full of mercy, see her true repentance.” Lara glanced back at Joden.

He knew he should leave out of courtesy. Amyu walked toward the door. But he held back. When she died, would he see…?

Joden stepped back, toward the door but kept his eyes on the bed.

“Gracious Lady of the Moon and Stars, full of kindness, incline your ear to our plea.”

One last harsh breath and then… silence.

“Gracious Lady of the Moon and Stars, full of glory, guide her to a place in your garden

and let her dwell there in peace.” Master Eln closed Kalisa’s eyes, and gently pulled up the sheet to cover her face.

Joden stood silent, but there was nothing to see. No wisp of a ghost, no change in the room.

“I don’t understand,” Mya said, looking lost and bewildered. “Where did that anger come from? She never once spoke of it, never expressed it to us. How could she be so hateful?”

“Some of the herbs I gave her for pain,” Master Eln said quietly. “I didn’t expect they would affect her. I only meant to make her more comfortable.”

Joden caught the glance that Eln exchanged with Lara, and knew Eln’s words were not the truth. But they had the desired effect.

“Oh,” Mya’s face cleared of confusion, and Anser relaxed. “She had a long and fruitful life, but a hard one, seeing to all of our family.”

“Let me get you some tea,” Master Eln gestured to the door. “And then we will see to her.”

“We will lay her in the family burial grounds,” Anser helped Mya rise.