Page 59 of Vardaesia
Alex shared apprehensive glances with her friends, but none of them said anything else. That was mostly because the music rose in crescendo and fell again back to a soft, sweet melody in some kind of cue, with silence then descending upon the shore as the Tia Aurans all turned to face the empress.
Standing right at the edge of the lake, Saefii’s ebony skin blended into the night while her stunning gown flowed straight into the water rippling over her bare feet. The circlet across herbrow was even more impressive in the darkened atmosphere, glowing with an inner light. As she raised her voice to speak to her people, Alex couldn’t help being entranced by the picture she presented.
“Tonight, we honour the life of one who fell while in service to our race,” Saefii said in the language of her people. “Aes Daega was once a beloved daughter, sister and friend. The choices she made long ago will never change the mark she has left on all those blessed to have known her. May the stars shine always in her favour, and may she know peace forevermore.”
Alex jumped when the gathered Tia Aurans repeated Saefii’s final invocation, offering a quiet salute to their fallen kin. She, however, was more intrigued by Saefii’s reference to the choices Lady Mystique had made. Athora had mentioned that the two of them had been sent to Medora as gatekeepers to watch over the Meyarins and help them thrive in their new world, but he had also inferred that, while their task was purposeful, neither of them had left Tia Auras willingly. Alex’s curiosity was piqued, but she focused again on the ceremony when, unexpectedly, Saefii gestured for her to approach.
Tentatively, Alex moved towards the empress, stopping just in front of her.
Feeling all eyes on the two of them, she had no idea what was happening, especially when Tayros passed something small to Saefii, who then handed it to Alex.
Turning the object between her fingers, Alex likened it to a pearlescent coil of spiralling wax. Small enough to fit in her palm and about as tall as her hand, it started with a larger base and then circled upwards in a cone shape to taper into a point. Alex had never seen anything like it.
Switching back to the common tongue in respect for Alex’s friends, Saefii said, “As one who knew Aes Daega in her finaldays, we would ask if you, Alexandra, would be the first to release her into the care of the stars.”
There was that strange phrase again, the same one Zaylin had used. Alex was still unsure what it meant, but sensing she was being given an unprecedented honour—mostly because Zaylin was nodding ferociously from the sidelines for Alex to accept—she said, “That would mean a lot, thank you.”
“Then place your offering into the lake, and speak if you so wish,” Saefii directed, and Alex released a breath of relief at being given clear instructions.
Squatting down beside the lapping water, Alex lowered the base of the cone onto the surface of the lake, giving it a slight push when she realised it could float. Rising again as it began to drift away, Alex turned back to the now solemn Tia Aurans and cleared her throat, wanting to give Lady Mystique the send-off she deserved but not sure how to do that. Having been unprepared to give a speech, all she could do was speak from her heart, and she knew that was what the ancient woman would have wanted—just as she would have wanted Alex to take advantage of this opportunity.
“The last time I saw Aes Daega before she died, it was so she could help me try and win a challenge that would ally the races of my world against a common enemy—an enemy by whose sword she was slain not two days later,” Alex said, her voice quiet but somehow carrying for all to hear. She heard whispered translations echo throughout the crowd as those who understood interpreted her words for those who didn’t. “I’ll never forget what she told me that day: ‘Darkness is everywhere, child. And where it is not, we have the unfortunate ability to imagine it so.’”
Raising her head and hoping she wasn’t overstepping her bounds, Alex continued, “You live in a city—in a world—filled with light. But I know that wasn’t always the case. The reasonAes Daega was sent to Medora to begin with is a testament to that—to what you faced before you became what you now are. Whatever happened, I think…” She paused. Swallowed. Tried again. “I think tonight, she would want you to remember that. To remember what you went through then, and to spare a thought for the world you sent her to, a world that is now threatened by a future of darkness.”
Sensing that her audience was beginning to feel discomforted by her words, Alex lowered her voice and shared, “There’s something else Aes Daega told me—the very last thing she ever said to me.” Making eye contact with as many in the crowd as she could, Alex recited, “‘Don’t fear the shadows. Make the shadows fear you.’” She drew in a deep breath. Then a second. “Tonight, tomorrow, forever, I hope you will remember those words. I hope you will remember Aes Daega’s sacrifice and consider why she made it—why she allowed herself to die a senseless death for a mortal race in a world not her own. Think of her courage, think of her facing those shadows and making them bow down to her, right until her very end.”
Quietly, oh so quietly, Alex finished, “She was willing to give her life in an effort to fight the coming darkness. If nothing else, remember that.” With tears in her eyes, she whispered, “Remember Aes Daega.”
Feeling utterly spent, Alex moved from Saefii’s tense side and back to the safety of her friends. Immediately, Kaiden’s arm curled around her, holding her close as his lips gently brushed the top of her head in a silent offer of comfort. On her other side, Bear reached for her hand and gave her a quick squeeze before letting her go again, but not before she saw the tears gleaming in his own eyes.
The Tia Aurans surrounding them were supernaturally quiet in the wake of her impassioned speech. But then, of allpeople, Zaylin stepped forward, breaking the uneasy stillness by placing her own spiralled cone onto the water, pushing it lightly away.
One by one, the silent Tia Aurans followed after her, and Alex’s friends too, until the golden lake was covered in the pearlescent coils.
Only then did Saefii speak again, her voice a throaty croak of emotion as she repeated Alex’s final words: “Remember Aes Daega.”
The entire audience echoed the sentiment, their voices rising to the heavens as the tell-tale flap of wings came just moments before a familiar shadow dropped out of the sky. Vibrant blue flames gushed from Xira’s mouth as he flew over the lake, the fire catching on the waxy coils and igniting them from the top down.
Xira? What are—What’s—I didn’t know you were—
Aes Daega was a friend to my kin, too, Alex, he interrupted quietly as his bulky figure vanished into the night once more.To those of us from Medora, and to those who knew her here before she left this world. This is my tribute on behalf of all draekons; and on behalf of my mother, who held her in great esteem, as you will remember.
She did remember that—how Zaronia had listened to Lady Mystique, had weighed her opinion and followed her advice regarding Alex’s time in the past.
Quietly, Xira finished,This is my offering to help honour her memory.
And Alex understood what he meant a moment later when, one after the other, the first of the ignited coils shot up into the sky, exploding in a shower of light.
Over and over again the spirals rose and blasted like brilliant fireworks over the lake, the most spectacular pyrotechnical display Alex had ever witnessed. Together with her friends and the Tia Aurans, she marvelled at the sight, allowing it to dryaway her lingering tears. She’d said what she’d felt compelled to say, just as she believed she’d driven her point home enough that even if they failed one of their two remaining challenges, the Tia Aurans might still consider her words. Now that it was done, it was time to do as Zaylin had said earlier and celebrate Lady Mystique’s life.
As soon as the final spiral exploded above their heads, the music picked up again, morphing into a lively tune that was at odds with the earlier stringed lament. Soon enough, the Tia Aurans broke away to start dancing along the shore, a backdrop of embers lethargically drifting down into the water beyond them, like fiery snowflakes.
“Please, mortals, join us,” Saefii said, raising an arm towards the growing revellers. “You have earned a night of frivolity. Especially as it might be one of the last you experience for some time, given your pending return to Medora.”
Reading Alex’s expression, the empress was quick to say, “Forgive me. All I meant was that you should enjoy what time you can”—she stumbled to finish—“while you can.”
For the first time since Alex had met Saefii, she seemed to be tripping over her words. Unsure of herself, even. Not at all like how she normally behaved. Alex hoped it was because her speech had left an impression on the empress, leaving her struggling with her usual confidence.
