Shadow of Dusk

Teardor

The next morning dawned grey, the sky tingeing pink as the sun tried to push its face through the clouds. Cailin felt clumsy and awkward as she saddled her horse, drowsy from her fitful night’s sleep and aware that Tristen kept stealing glances at her. He did not push her, though, and said nothing as he quickly led the way along the river. After leaving the edge of the bright blue river, they slipped back into the deep of the forest, the morning beginning to take full effect as the birds began to sing and the trees seemed to shake their arms as they rustled themselves awake. They would reach the outskirts of the capital city of Fordra in a little less than a week, where Linden had instructed his daughter to be taken. Once they reached the Alte Mountains the ride would be harder, but the craggy earth and steep terrain would only be a small obstacle to their horses. It would take a regular horse much longer to travel this distance, and it would be a much more difficult ride; but their horses all had unicorn blood in them, and they were gifted with exceptional strength and endurance.

Other than the elements of nature, they met no opposition on their journey, and were stopped only by the border guards as they entered through the high pass and into the mouth of the canyon. The border guards looked warily at the dark-haired veredian, the young liaman, and the human. Perhaps the guards thought they were a strange company—strange that the races would intermingle, but mostly wary of the veredian woman.

Belle knew that the Teardorians saw most of the veredians as evil. She didn’t blame them. The veredians who still saw humanity in all the races were those who did not go to, or did not share the opinion with, Avilane and Maldoran. The guards did not say much, however, and the trio was allowed to pass when Tristen showed the guards the letter with Roselin’s seal.

            Cailin had been to Teardor before, but it was years ago, and she hadn’t fully appreciated the beauty of its green and gray contrast, with tans and browns mingled into the landscape. The waters of the Itale Lake, the smaller of the two lakes in Teardor, were a deep gray, and its waves were laced with a silver mist. Cailin once again smelled the sea, and realized they were as far south as they had been in Veredore at her home, but because of the opposing Altes they had had to go north, cross the pass, and then go south again because the two lakes, Renal and Itale, connected at the Endoria River, and the fastest way to Fordra was to go around Itale. As Cailin laid down that night, on the sea-green grass next to the gray lake, she felt the sea air come on her again, reminding her of home, which she was far from now. She wondered how long she would be in Teardor. She wondered about the humans that her father was sending her to. She wasn’t wary because they were human. She was wary because she was part veredian, because she had to leave home, and because she had to leave remnants of Liaden behind.

            She leaned up on her elbow and saw that her mother was still awake.

            “Mum,” she said quietly, not wanting to disturb Tristen.

“Mmm?”

            “I know you have been friends with Amine and Daniel for a long time, but I can’t remember how you met.”

“Yes, for over twenty-five years,” Belle replied. “Daniel and your father met years ago, in one of the all too common battles fought against Maldoran. Amine, a human from Veredore, met Daniel and your father when they were on their way home. She was a healer and they were both in need of her services. Daniel stayed in Veredore and married Amine, and both were present at our wedding. They then made their way back to Teardor, Daniel’s home, but Daniel and your father remained firm friends. They have one child, a daughter named Brielle. She’s about your age.”

“Do they know I’m coming?”

“You mean have I contacted them with my mind?”

Cailin nodded.