36: The Eye Has It

Chapter 36 of "A River Trembles", Book Two of The Môrdreigiau Chronicles

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The story began in A Grail for Eidothea. You really need to catch up to make sense of A River Trembles. Go on, save this post and go have a binge read. You deserve it.

Disaster struck at the bonding ceremony. Lady Angharad led an attack against the Chosen Court who protected everyone in the stone circle with a fiery blue dome. However, Maeve was killed and Eidothea was taken from the field, unconscious.

A strange pearlescence clouded her left eye. The surface shimmered, tiny lights skittering across the surface. Shocked, I stumbled back.

:Everything is so sparkly,: Eidothea murmured, still drowsy.

Ondine usurped my place, bending over her. :Can you sit up?:

Eidothea did so without any difficulty. :Your mark is so shiny.: She sounded dazed. Her gaze shifted to me. :So is Llyr’s. I never noticed that before.:

:Eidothea, listen carefully,: said Ondine, her thought calm yet serious. :I want you to close your right eye. Is everything clearly visible?:

:Of course,: murmured Eidothea.

Ondine made sure of it, holding up different numbers of fingers both near and far away. :Now close that eye and open your right eye.:

She obeyed. :Oh! The sparkle is gone.: She opened both eyes and frowned at us. :What’s wrong with my eye?:

Ondine glanced at me.

:It looks different,: I supplied helpfully. :Be glad Maeve’s spell caused no more damage than that. What did she do?:

:She asked me to trust her.: Eidothea looked around, frantic. :The ring!:

:Around your neck,: Ondine supplied.

Eidothea felt at her robe and pulled out the Grealseeker ring with its large pearl. It dangled from the chain. :It’s sparkly too. Maeve asked me to trust her and I did. I thought I was drowning at one point and then I guess I lost consciousness.: Her fingers smoothed along her neck, checking for the presence of her gills.

Cold tingled along my extremities. I had come so close to losing her. :She could have just given you the ring,: I grumbled. :Why put you in such danger?:

Eidothea shuddered, releasing the ring and hugging her knees. :She did not make it, did she.: She bit her lower lip.

Ondine hugged her. I hung back. I wanted to be the one— I gave myself a mental shake, as much for Ondine’s sake as mine. We had a truce. I didn’t dare tip the balance.

Eventually, Eidothea pulled away from Ondine. :At least we completed the bonding ceremony. Do we know what became of those who attacked us?: While she spoke, she unfastened her necklace, removing the ring. I noticed she kept the button on her chain. She tucked it beneath her robe. :I wonder if we should bury this with her?:

:You wouldn’t let go of it,: I told her, backing up a few steps so I wasn’t hovering over her. :Maybe Maeve wanted you to have it.:

Eidothea slipped the ring onto her finger. It lit up in a rosy pink hue. :Finally.: Maeve’s grating voice sounded. :I’m sorry I scared you, hwyres. I’m gone now but this ring contains all my wisdom. You need only access it with the spell your grandmother taught you. I knew this would be my fate. Do not mourn me for in this small way I’ll still be with you. You may break the link to the ring now, Eidothea. Be well.:

The ring’s glow faded. Eidothea stared down at it. :Did she … did she give me her grym bwyd as well? There was no need.: She buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

:I’ll send for the Chief Bard and Chief Healer.: Ondine patted her knee. :We’ll find out.: Her head tilted to one side. :Chief Healer Derfel is here. I’ll be right back.: She hurried from the bedchamber leaving me alone with Eidothea. Calmer now, she stared at the ring on her hand. I sat next to her.

Without looking up, she asked, :Am I quite horrible to look at?: Her thought quivered.

:Not at all,: I assured her. I reached out to pat her shoulder but she drew back. :Look at me.:

Eidothea met my gaze. Her concern and embarrassment at having to ask such a question shone through our bond.

“You are beautiful.:

She barked a laugh, covering her mouth. :I was not beautiful before.:

:You are pretty if not startlingly so.: I didn’t see the point in lying. She’d know at once through our bond. :But you’ve always been beautiful to me.:

She glanced at me through her wayward curls, a wary look in her eye. She knew I told the truth. :What does my eye look like? Is it horribly bloodshot? Scaled over?:

I accepted the new, safe topic of conversation. :It’s like a pearl has replaced your eye. I can barely make out the faintest outline of your iris and pupil. There’s a pinkish green iridescence to it that’s quite pretty.: I took a breath before I betrayed myself further. Eidothea had to know how I felt but to say so aloud… :People will be startled as it’s so unexpected but they will get used to it.:

Eidothea nibbled on her lower lip, dipping her gaze. I couldn’t look away. :Maeve’s gift,: she murmured. :I would prefer her to be alive.:

:She knew she couldn’t be saved.:

:The vision…: Eidothea murmured. She shared with me the vision she’d seen when she first touched Maeve’s chosen mark. :The blue flash. That’s what it meant. Our shield.:

Ondine and Chief Healer Derfel entered. I wanted to stay but I lacked an excuse to linger.

After a few days of observation, Ondine deemed me recovered and ready to leave my chambers. Chief Healer Derfel found no change in my grym bywd, which reassured me. Maeve had truly given back what she had borrowed.

I hesitated to return to my normal duties amongst the palace staff and council. Had news of my strange eye spread? I closed the door of my bedchamber, heading for the windows instead of leaving the suite.

Emrys found me there. I did not hear him enter. His hand on my shoulder made me jump. :You seemed somewhere else,: he murmured.

:Somewhen else,: I told him. :Before the bonding ceremony.:

:Let me look at you.: He tugged lightly on my shoulder. :The Chief Healer already reported your condition to me.:

I turned, meeting his curious gaze. He did not flinch, but his hand fell from my shoulder. I took a deep breath and aimed for some levity. :Have I told you what it means Above Sea when a man enters a woman’s bedchamber?: My lips twisted into a sort of smile.

:Your bedchamber is over there.: Emrys gestured with a dip of his head. :Not here. I’ve come to tell you something important. A couple of matters, in fact. Shall we sit?:

We sat on the stone couches opposite each other. Emrys laced his fingers, balancing his wrists on his knees. :The attack on the Chosen Court was unconscionable. Thankfully, the Lady answered. The official count of those dead is twenty-one. My sister and her son are among them.:

At my raised eyebrow, he explained. :I saw them before the Court activated the shield. Every draig môr who gave chase has been interviewed. They are not among those who fled. Being at the fore of the attack, it seems reasonable to assume Angharad paid for her foolishness with her life.:

:I saw Cornelian ap Tregallas and his son. Did they escape?:

Emrys nodded. :Cornelian is badly, perhaps fatally injured. He lost at least one limb. His son carried him from the field. Their names and those of others who betrayed the Lady are being disseminated throughout the known dreigiau môr world. They — and any caught hiding them — will be punished. It won’t be exile this time.: His eyes glittered. :When Maeve fell and then you collapsed…: He wiped a hand across his mouth.

:I cannot believe she is gone,: I murmured, plucking at my robe. In a sense, she lived in the ring yet I deeply felt her absence.

:Which brings me to my next piece of news. For your ears alone, although it will become common knowledge soon enough once I inform Chief Bard Amlawdd.:

My brow crinkled. :What is it? Were you hurt at the circle?: I rubbed at my temples, my cheeks pinking in embarrassment. :I am sorry. I did not even think to ask—:

:I was not the target. However…: Emrys inhaled, his gills flattening against his neck. :I plan to abdicate and very soon.:

:What?: My chest squeezed in mild panic. :Why? I was not expecting until next year…:

He stared down at his hands, his linked fingers tightening. :The shame of my sister, my family, repeatedly plotting your downfall—:

:You are not them,: I interrupted.

He met my gaze then. :I’m glad you recognise that. Many would lump me in with them. Kill the rot by getting rid of the whole family.:

:Is there anyone else amongst your family I should be concerned about?: It shocked me Emrys had suggested such a drastic measure.

:No, none, although I’ll keep my eye on them. I can’t remain on the throne, Eidothea. Any further delay means another attempt on your life, another attempt to restore things to how they were before, before—:

:Before the Chosen Court reappeared.:

He nodded. :I intend to retire entirely from public life. My only request is to remain in the palace. You should take my rooms, Llyr’s yours. Ondine can move in also.:

I shook my head in disbelief. :You have it all planned,: I murmured, wonderingly. :You have your pick of the entire palace. But—: Impulsively I reached forward and grabbed his linked hands. :Won’t you be lonely?:

He shook his head, smiling. :I don’t plan to become a hermit, but I won’t be making any public appearances or sitting in on meetings. You need to stand on your own.:

:What if I need to leave Caer Morgana?: I blurted, thinking of how I needed to visit Father again.

:There’s the council—and if you arrange it well, a few days absence won’t matter. Longer, Ceridwy ferch Heddwch could step in. She knows how to keep the system ticking: His gaze narrowed. :Were you planning on going anywhere?:

I explained to him how I needed to bring Jasper into the Chosen Court.

He nodded. “Of course that is not the only reason.: He smirked.

I blinked at him. I had never seen that expression on his face before. :Are you … teasing me?:

He shrugged, his smirk transforming into a small smile. “Can’t I do that as someone who once sat on your throne?:

I smiled back. The reality of his upcoming absence in my life sank in. I gripped his hand. :I do not like this. What if I need your advice?:

:Then come and see me. I will be busy, but I will make time to see you.:

:Busy with what? Are you sure you are not ailing?: I frowned, examining his appearance. He looked healthy.

I sensed him speak to someone. :My apologies, Eidothea. Duty calls. All I’ll say on the matter is that there is much I long to experience.:

I released his hand, my shoulders slumping as dread set in. :When?:

:The autumn equinox.:

He should not be allowed to sound that excited. :But that’s a week away!:

Emrys nodded. :We can’t drag this out. It’s fortunate such an auspicious date is near. Chief Bard Amlawdd will announce both my abdication and the date of your coronation later today. You might want to let your grandmother know.:

And Llyr. The Chosen Court needed to function and I had no clue how to begin. I gazed down at the Grealseeker ring. Maybe I could ask Maeve.

Emrys rose. :A longer apprenticeship would have been ideal but you’re already coming into your own. You’ll be fine.: He bowed, the deep bow one gave to a reigning monarch. :Your Majesty.:

:Esteemed.: I watched his retreating form, biting back tears and wishing for his confidence. Without Maeve to guide us, how would this work?

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