This is the ongoing sequel to `Dark Wishes' and the Qell lords of magic, both of which are copyrighted under Nifty and International Common Law. This is a story of kings and magic, love and war, and is suitable for all age groups because love, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Unspoken Wishes
M.C. Gordon
Part One: Markel
Chapter Eight
It was bitterly cold and the ominous black clouds overhead threatened to let loose torrential rain that would turn to ice before it hit the ground. The King grasped the massive steed beneath him with well-muscled thighs. The mighty black war-horse radiated power as he surged forward into battle. Swords clashed and clang against each other and shields while arrows sang their way from bow to body.
The King, at the forefront of the battle, used his sword with great efficiency ... a sword no mortal man could lift. The King, Qell, used it with ease against his enemy, the muscles in his right arm bulging as he struck down one, and then another. His heart was filled with vengeance for his lover lay dead, fallen beneath a horse with arrows protruding from the fair body.
He could have used magic to vanquish those responsible for the death of his beloved, but he wanted to feel the give of tendon and bone as his great sword stuck deep. There could not be enough blood spilled to pay the price of great violet eyes lost to him forever, or merry laughter and loving arms.
Sweat poured down his face in spite of the cold. His arm began to ache from the weight of his mighty sword, and yet he fought on. He would have his revenge for the kidnapping of the man who had lifted his heart and body to the heights of love.
"Go!" he shouted. "I will not have you see me die! Go to that other who pulls at your heart. Save his life and yours."
Efren, realizing that Tynan was in the agony of a nightmare, bolted from the bed they shared and rushed to Iashain. "Please," he begged, "help him."
Iashain was awake, as was everyone else, and responded by rushing to his brother Qell's side. "Join me," he said to Markel. "I need the magic of the old grandmothers."
Markel, calling for any memory that would help, bid Frina raise the fire in the fireplace and light the candles she had made from the tallow of the bucks hanging in the smoke-house.
"He dreams," Iashain whispered, "of things that happened in the far past, of our brothers and their lovers. Miralen often had such dreams, as did Trelaine. We are young still, and the power of our magic not yet complete. If we cannot bring him back then he will die, and I will die with him."
Frina lit the candles and sprinkled crushed lavender and rosemary into the fire. Usan and Hadrad hastily dressed in the buckskin breeches and tunics Frina had made and went to fetch logs for the fireplace. They acted all the more swiftly because they sighted a large cat pacing back and forth, his huge feet kicking up swirls of the late spring snow that had recently fallen.
Iashain squatted and pulled Tynan to a sitting position, pulling his brother's body against his own bare chest. "Take his hands," he bid Efren and Markel, "and then join your own. You are both children of the forests. The blood of Nels and Frayne runs within your veins, distant though it may be. Yet I have no other to aid me, and trust that there is enough of what Resnaron and Ilafrain passed to them of their magic. You must concentrate hard, seek deep within yourselves and find that which is your birthright, for I cannot do this alone."
The hours passed slowly, night into day and night again. Iashain cast his mind toward any that might aid in saving Tynan from the nightmare that had gripped his soul. Efren and Markel grasped each other's hands and those of the stricken Qell until their fingers grew numb and their knuckles locked. Frina kept the candles lit while Usan and Hadrad tried to remember anything of the old tales, hoping they could recall something that might be of importance.
Dawn broke on the third day and an unusual mist began to form in the room where the odd group had found shelter during the winter. Iashain was the first to feel the unusual damp chill.
"Thank you," he whispered.
The shadows that formed said nothing for they were ethereal, born and dead in the hands of time. One by one they became one with those in the room, the six lovers of the Ancients ... and the Qell, who joined with Iashain.
"Return," they whispered, their gossamer bodies part, and yet not part, of the mortals seeking to keep the Qell alive. Like whisps of smoke they went from one to another until they found the mortal most likely to serve their purpose.
"It is past," Iashain finally said in a voice that was not his own. "What has been is no longer, and those we loved have long since joined us in eternity. Put these memories behind you. What we seek now is the future of the ten kingdoms. We will be with all of you as you strive to bring prosperity to mankind. I, Trelaine, promise you this. Be at peace, brother, as I found peace."
Tynan slumped forward in Iashain's arms and the Qell hurriedly said, "Take him."
Efren gathered his lover to him as he collapsed, cradling the body to himself. Markel barely had time to react and catch Iashain before he fell backward to the ground.
Frina, last to lose the spirit which had taken their minds, whispered, "We thank you for your love of them," as a vision of auburn hair rose above her.
. . .
"We had intended to travel separately," Iashain told Markel as they packed the dried venison Frina gave them. "You and I were to go east while Tyan and Efren traveled west. Now I find it best if we travel together, lest my brother once again suffer memories best left unremembered until we are strong enough to endure them."
"I understand," Markel replied. "I will do all that you require of me, for I know the only hope the world has is the two of you. Too long have men suffered hardships. I will try to recall more of my grandmother's memories in the hope that I can be of greater service."
"I am not an invalid and will not be treated as one!" Tynan barked.
"This is true," Iashain said, turning to face his brother Qell. "But what if I should be the next to have dark memories? Markel alone cannot save me any more than Efren could save you. Together we have strength, brother. Separately ... either of us might fail. Would you have mankind remain in darkness, starvation, and ignorance because of arrogance? And I also wish to point out to you that Efren, because of his illness during the winter, has not learned to write while Markel has. Now that your gentle love is in full health I will teach him as we travel. We cannot traverse the width and breadth of Elanen in the length of one summer and autumn. We will do the best we can this season and set ourselves different paths after the next frozen winter passes."
Tynan reluctantly agreed and the four set out on their journey to Elanen's west, seeking first Perinel's harem ... for any colts born would be of sufficient size to bear their provisions.
To be continued:
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