Sky Riders: The Rising Sun
Changes

The narrow streets of Vegrandis had never been so packedwith people. Families were clumped together, children clinging to theirmothers’ dresses. Bundles of their belongings—anything they could carry—werepiled around them. Endless chatter surrounded her as Eliana wove her waythrough the anxious people. They had come to Vegrandis from the nearbyvillages, prepared to leave on the journey that would change their livesforever.

As she walked between the groups of humans, their chatterbriefly quieted, their eyes turning towards her, all filled with a kind offearful wariness. The moment she passed them, each group would resume theirchattering, this time in fevered whispers.

Anxiety pushed Eliana’s heart into her throat. What am I getting these people into? shewondered. Here they were, their lives at their feet, abandoning their homes andeverything they’d worked for. All because she had told them it was what neededto be done. They were prepared to fight, to die, because of her.

At last, she managed to escape the packed streets and sheslipped out of the village to the small field behind Otium’s house. She felt amild sense of relief as three pairs of eyes—one blue, one violet, onegreen—turned towards her. Caelum, Ispera, and Oriens sat in the snowy field,waiting for her.

Evidently, she did not conceal the worry as well as shethought she did. Caelum stood as soon as he saw her and embraced her. Shesighed as she leaned into him, trying to unwind her bundled nerves.

“Everything is going to be fine,” he whispered into her ear.

Her head found the curve of his neck. “This is impossible,Caelum,” she muttered. “I can’t lead these people. How can I ask them to giveup everything they’ve ever known, just because I tell them it will make thingsbetter? Families are going to be destroyed; parents, children, siblings…they’re going to be killed because of what I’m asking of them.”

“Hush.” His gentle hands stroked her hair and ran along herspine, trying to soother her as he continued, “They’ve chosen to follow you, Eliana. You’ve forced them into nothing. Youare their Rider, and you’re only doing what is best for them. You know this.”He pulled away so that he looked down at her face, his hand cupping her chin.“Have a little faith,” he whispered.

His lips brushed her forehead and she smiled softly up athim. “It’s good to have you back,” she said quietly. “I missed you.” Hisanswering smile looked forced, pained. She frowned at him. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed and shook his head. “Just… remembering… I’ve neverexperienced anything like what that Dark magic made me feel.”

She bit the inside of her lip, wishing she hadn’t asked. “Iwish I could have stopped him,” she said quietly. “Seeing him torture you likethat…”

He shook his head again. “No, not that. I could have handledthe physical pain. It was those… hallucinations, the nightmares. I thought theywould kill me.”

She remembered struggling to hold down his thrashing body,listening to him screaming her name, pleading with some unseen adversary.

“Those were an endless torment,” he continued. “Seeing youkilled in my mind over and over again. Watching you being beaten and tortured…That is what nearly killed me.”

Eliana couldn’t bear to listen to it anymore. She graspedthe back of his head with one hand and pulled his mouth down to hers, kissinghim for the first time since Vereor. He hesitated in surprise for a moment,then wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, responding to herlips. She pulled back and pressed her forehead to his, looking firmly into hisblue eyes.

“I’m right here,” she whispered. “That was nothing more thana bad dream. This is real.”

He smiled and kissed her lightly. “I’ll try to rememberthat.”

She slipped reluctantly out of his arms and approached hermother and Oriens, who watched them patiently. Ispera stood and embraced her aswell.

“I can hardly believe what a beautiful young woman you’vebecome,” she sighed, holding her daughter at arm’s length. “And Rider besides!I wish I could have been there to see you grow.”

Eliana smiled sadly back. “Me too. But that doesn’t matter.You’re here now.”

“Yes,” she answered, kissing the top of her head. “And Idon’t plan to go anywhere soon.”

Finally, she stepped up to her dragon, reaching out a handto his scaly cheek.

“Ah,” Orienschuckled. “So you remembered I was here afterall.”

“That’s not funny,”she answered, but she was laughing as well. She looked at Ispera and Caelumover her shoulder. “Could you give us a minute?” she asked.

They both nodded and quietly entered Otium’s house.

Oriens sighed and made a sympathetic sound in his throat,knowing already why she’d sent them away. Though they couldn’t hear the Rider’ssilent conversation with her dragon, they could see her reactions, and shedidn’t want them to see her break down.

She embraced Oriens’ nose, her hands trembling, trying tosteady her quick, anxious breaths. “Idon’t know how to lead, Oriens!” she cried out in her mind. “Please, tell me what to do. Tell me what tosay to these people. I can’t do this.”

“Eliana,” heanswered calmly, nuzzling her chest, “thereis nothing I can tell you that you don’t already know. You were meant to lead. You are a Rider.”

“You always say that,as if it’s supposed to make me more than what I already am. Well, maybe Ishouldn’t be a Rider! Maybe this wasall a mistake.”

“Do you question mydecision?”

She had no answer for that, so she sat down in a huff,leaning against Oriens’ chest. How did one argue with a dragon?

Oriens sighed and laid his head on the ground, encirclingher with his neck and gazing at her with one large, green eye. “When I was an egg,” he said slowly, “I could feel your presence, Eliana. Evenbefore I hatched, I knew that you would be the one I would choose. Dragons canonly bond with one person—the one that is destined to be their Rider. If thetwo are not near one another at the time of hatching, the dragon does not bond,and they become wild. So, you see, I did not make a mistake, Eliana. I couldnot have made a mistake. Because oursouls were meant to be bonded.”

Eliana considered this silently for a moment, scratching thetop of his head. “We don’t have to dothis,” she said. “Astrum said it wasour choice.”

“Yes,” heanswered. “But we both know what ourchoice is. We’ve already made it. And I know that, no matter how badly you wantto, you cannot and will not change your mind.”

She sighed. “I know.”She stood. “We should get these peopleheaded towards Amiscan then.”

Oriens nodded his large head and stood as well, followingher around to the very end of Vegrandis’ main road. As soon as the villagerssaw them, they fell silent. Every eye turned to the Rider and dragon. Five menextricated themselves from the crowd and stepped towards—Caedis, Teleas, andthree other men from the neighboring villages. They were the men she’d chosento lead the five separate groups to Amiscan.

“Everyone ready?” she asked.

The men all nodded.

Eliana drew a breath and spoke loudly, trying to sound as ifleading came naturally to her. “Very well then. Gather those that have beenassigned to your groups. Ensure everyone is accounted for. Teleas, your groupleaves in fifteen minutes. The next will leave three hours afterwards, and soon, until the last group—that’s yours, Caedis.

“Your group will leave around dusk. Laurus has agreed toaccompany you, so will have a Healer. For those of you who have some timebefore departing, tell your people to get some rest. It is a long journey, andyou can’t afford to stop too often.

“I will leave for Iterum when Teleas’ group departs forAmiscan. You should each meet a small group of elven escorts about four hoursinto your journey. They will lead you to Amiscan. You must remember, they arenot your enemies anymore. You have to trust them. Oriens, Caelum, and I willjoin you in Amiscan with the rest of Iterum’s people in a few days’ time.”

The five men nodded in understanding, saluted her with theusual fists over their hearts, then turned to leave.

“Caedis.”

The brown-haired young man stopped and turned to look backat the Rider. She motioned him over and he returned to her side.

“Yes?” he asked in surprise.

Eliana nodded at the villagers, who were still watching herand Oriens with wide, frightened eyes. “They look frightened. Are they unsureof their decision?” she asked in a low voice.

Caedis sighed and shook his head. “I don’t think anyone isreconsidering their choice, but you’re leading them into war, Eliana.” His tonewas hushed, trying to keep his words from the nearest villagers’ ears.“Wouldn’t you expect them to be afraid? And…” he hesitated.

“And what?” she urged.

“Well… you’re not really the Rider that some of themimagined. I’ve heard some of them saying that they expected someone more…”

“More than me,” she muttered.

Caedis nodded slowly and gave a shrug of admission. “Yes, Isuppose so. You’re a young girl, Eliana. Not exactly the warrior they expected.I suppose that they’re… afraid of following you, in some ways.”

Eliana nodded in understanding, feeling grim. “Thank you,Caedis.”

He briefly gave her the traditional salute, then left todeliver her message to the villagers in his traveling group. She sighed toherself, turning over the words he’d spoken in her mind. If she wasn’t theleader they wanted, then why did they follow her? A feeling of incompetencecrept into her bones and she wrapped her arms around herself.

“They’re right,”she thought. “I am nothing but a littlegirl. What am I supposed to do?”

“Prove them wrong,”Oriens answered.

She looked up at him. He was watching her with blazing greeneyes. “What?”

“They have not seenyou fight, Eliana. I have. Caelum has. Even the villagers of Vegrandis have.That is why we have so much faith in you. These other villagers don’t know whatyou can do. But they will. Prove them wrong. You are more than enough.”

She managed a small smile and stepped forward to embrace hisgraceful, golden face. “Where would I be without you?” she whispered.

He chuckled deep in his throat as he nuzzled her chest. “Still leading dragon hunts, I suppose.”

She kissed his forehead. “We should get you ready for the flight to Iterum.”

He heaved a large, dramatic sigh. “Again. With three passengers… again.”

Eliana laughed aloud. “Do you ever stop complaining?”

“No.”

~*~

The snow was glistening brightly on the trees in theearly-morning sunlight. The sun’s rays reflected off of the never-ending whitein rainbow-colored crystals. Eliana leaned out of her round window, smiling atthe sight. It was a beautiful day for a wedding.

“Eliana!” a voice called from the bottom of the spiralingstairs. “Are you up there?”

“Yes, Mother,” she called back. “Come on up.”

Ispera’s thin figure appeared at the top of the stairs, cladin an elegant red dress with gold trimmings. She surveyed her daughter with afrown, taking in her rumpled hair and nightgown.

“Why aren’t you dressed?” she asked. “Denio’s wedding startsin an hour.”

Eliana sighed and stretched her arms overhead. “Alright,alright,” she groaned.

Ispera chuckled and shook her head. “Just put on that golddress Caelum got for you, and be quick about it.”

“Yes, Mother,” she laughed.

Eliana made her way to the nook in the corner and pulled outthe dress Ispera spoke of. It was made of fine golden silk, the exact color ofOriens’ scales. Small jewels sparkled across the bodice, the same brilliantgreen as his eyes. Once again, she would be clad in her dragon’s colors.

“Why am I not wearing the family colors?” Eliana asked,pulling her nightdress over her head.

“Because you’re a Rider, Eliana,” Ispera chuckled. “You knowthat.”

“Yes, I know. But I’d still like to wear the colors of myclan, like everyone else.”

It felt strange to say—“my clan”—but now that the elves knewwho her mother was, she did, in fact, have a clan. She carefully slid into thefine golden dress, and her mother stepped forward to lace up the back for her.Once she had finished, Ispera held her out at arm’s length and smiled at her.

“You have your own colors now, Eliana. There’s no reason foryou to wear the red of a simple Healer’s daughter. Besides,” she added, holdingup the sleeve of her dress to show her the golden detailing, “I get to wearsome of your colors now.”

Eliana smiled back at her, feeling warmed by her mother’spresence. She carefully brushed her hair flat, then sat on the edge of her bed.

“See?” she said with a smirk. “I’m ready in plenty of time.”

Ispera responded with an identical smirk. “But you have togo help Kana.”

Eliana frowned. “What?”

“You did agree tobe her attendant, didn’t you? It is the attendant’s job to help the bridebefore the wedding.”

“Well why didn’t anybody tellme that?” she cried, jumping to her feet. “I’ve never been to a wedding before!How could I be expected to know that?”

Her mother simply laughed and shook her head. “I supposeyou’d better hurry.”

The Rider rushed from the room, bounding down the stairs twoat a time, her mother following at a more subdued pace. Oriens looked up at heras she rushed past his cave.

“Shouldn’t you behelping Kana?” he asked.

“Why does everyoneknow what I’m supposed to be doing by me?” she replied in exasperation.

His laughter echoed in her head as she darted through thepalace, surprising the guards, and out into the streets of Iterum. Elves casther curious looks while still trying to bow respectfully at her rushing figureuntil, at last, she reached Kana’s home. She had been there once before, on herfirst day back to Iterum, when the girl had asked her to be her attendant atthe wedding. Of course, Eliana had accepted without fully understanding whatthat might mean.

She stopped outside the open doorway and called, “Hello?Kana? It’s Eliana.”

Her voice came from up the staircase, sounding tight andnervous. “I’m up here. Please, come in, Rider.”

Eliana stepped through the doorway and made her way quicklyup the stairs. In the upper room, Kana sat in a wooden chair, wringing herhands anxiously while her mother—a tall, thin, blonde elf—darted around herdaughter, twisting the long black locks up into a bun.

Kana looked up at the Rider’s approach and forced a small,tight smile. “Thank you again for agreeing to be my attendant,” she saidquietly.

Eliana smiled back, doing her best to sound reassuring. “I’mhonored that you asked me. And I’m really very sorry I’m late.”

There was a sudden crash and shouting from the other side ofthe room. She looked towards the source to see Kana’s two younger brothersbickering over something they had knocked off a shelf.

“Boys!” Kana’s mother cried, dropping the strand of hairshe’d been twisting and rushing over to them. “Stop that this instant!” Shelooked over her shoulder at the Rider and said in a much sweeter voice, “LadyEliana, could you please finish helping Kana?”

She nodded in reply as the woman disappeared, dragging hertwo sons after her. They struggled and fought against her like agitatedpolecats until they disappeared from the room. Eliana hesitantly made her wayto stand behind Kana, where the girl’s mother had been.

She looked down at the collection of intricately twistedhair before her and paused. Finally, she said. “Um… I’m going to be entirelyhonest. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“I’m sure it will be just fine,” Kana answered. Eliana hadcome to learn that Denio’s future wife was the epitome of sweetness at everymoment.

She sighed and shook her head. “Alright, I suppose I cantry.”

She took a strand of hair between her fingers and twisted itas she’d seen Kana’s mother do, so that it lay in a curl against the back ofher head. She pinned it in place, then picked up another strand. She continuedthe process for several more minutes before Kana spoke.

“Rider Eliana?”

“Just Eliana, please,” she told her for the hundredth time.

“Eliana, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” she answered, hearing the worried note in thebride’s voice.

“Am I doing the right thing?”

Eliana stopped what she was doing and moved around to squatin front of the nervous girl, looking up into her face. “What do you mean?” sheasked.

Kana bent her head and began to toy with the edge of hertunic. “I… I don’t know if I can be aqueen,” she whispered. “Queen Ivi is so… so powerful and composed. She commandsrespect at every moment. How can I possibly assume her place?” She looked up atEliana with tears shining in her amethyst eyes. “What if Denio doesn’t thinkI’m good enough?”

A small smile formed on Eliana’s lips and she placed a handon the girl’s knee. “Kana, do you love Denio?”

The girl smiled back at her, dispelling the tears that hadbeen threatening to spill over. “More than anything.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about. Denio loves you. Hechose you. It doesn’t matter to him if you’re the same kind of queen his motheris. He wants to marry you, and you want to marry him. What matters is that youwill be together. The rest will come in its own time.”

Kana did not respond, so Eliana reached up and gave thegirl’s hand a squeeze, then returned to her task. Ten minutes later, all of herlong, black hair was pinned up in perfect little curls. In companionablesilence, Eliana helped her into her wedding gown. The soft, white fabric wasoverlaid with thin, sheer lavender—the color of the royal family.

The Rider stepped back and surveyed the girl before her. Herpale face was anxious, and she was chewing on the inside of her lip nervously.Eliana realized then that Kana couldn’t have been more than sixteen years old.Sixteen, and today she would be a queen.

Eliana smiled at the young woman warmly. “Fit for a queen,”she said.

A small smile graced the girl’s fair features. “Thecoronation is right after the wedding. Did they tell you?”

Eliana nodded. Queen Ivi had wanted to get both the weddingand the coronation ceremony finished as soon as possible, so the elves couldleave for Amiscan. Both ceremonies would be completed that day, and the exoduswould begin on the next. The sooner everyone left Iterum, the safer they wouldbe.

“It must be a lot to handle,” Eliana responded, trying touse a soothing tone; she was not used to comforting people.

Kana shrugged slightly, apparently preoccupied with the laceon her dress. “I just don’t know if I’m ready to lead anyone, Eliana.”

The Rider stepped forward and put her hands on Kana’sshoulders. “Do you think I’m ready tolead anyone?” she asked with a smirk.

Kana looked up at her in surprise. “But… but you’re a Rider.”

“And you will be a queen. Sometimes the dice don’t landexactly where we may expect. Do you think I ever expected to be a Rider? I’d nevereven seen a dragon before the day I found Oriens’ egg. But everything worksitself out in the end. And I’m certain that you will be a wonderful queen.”

At last, the nervous girl smiled. “Thank you.”

Quick, light footsteps raced up the staircase, and Kana’smother appeared again. “What are you two still doing here?” she said in aharried voice. “Prince Caleum is waiting to escort you to the ceremony!”

Kana and Eliana hurried down the stairs to replace Caelumwaiting for them just inside the doorway. He wore formal black trousers andboots, and a belted tunic in the soft purple of the royal family. His warmsmile greeted them as he stepped forward.

“You two are the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen,”he said.

A soft blush crept into Kana’s cheeks, and she curtsiedslightly. “Thank you, Prince Caelum.”

He shook his head, his grin growing. “None of that anymore,Kana,” he scolded playfully. “You’re going to be my sister shortly, and myqueen shortly thereafter. To you, I am only Caelum—no one to curtsy to.”

She gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, but she stillblushed deeply, as if the idea of not curtsying to Caelum embarrassed hergreatly. Then Caelum turned to Eliana. As his blue eyes rested on her, shethought that they appeared brighter than usual, like a clear sky on a warmspring day.

He softly pulled her into his arms, holding her briefly towhisper in her ear, “You look absolutely enchanting.”

She felt his lips graze her cheek ever so slightly as hepulled away. Then he held out an arm to each of them. “We should get to thepalace. The ceremony will start soon.”

They quickly made their way down the empty streets towardsthe palace, Kana’s mother and rowdy brothers following close behind. Familieswere clustered on the palace lawns in varying colors—green, yellow, blue—allgrouped in their families. Unlike at other celebrations, elves wore the colorsof their clans to weddings.

As they strode quickly down the path, hundreds of voicesrose in a beautiful harmony, singing words in a language that Eliana could notunderstand. Their eyes were all on the bride, the prince, and the Rider,smiling brightly at their future queen. The doors to the palace were opened,and Caelum pushed Eliana slightly in front of him.

“You’re supposed to go first,” he whispered. “The attendantprecedes the bride. Just walk to Denio, then stand on my mother’s right.”

“Shouldn’t we have rehearsed this or something?” she hissedback at him.

He chuckled quietly. “You’ll be fine.”

With a heavy sigh, Eliana stepped through the doors. Therewere more elves inside, all of them singing the same enchanting song as theothers. She walked slowly down the stone pathway between them, keeping her eyesahead of her, where Denio and Ivi watched their approach. The prince lookedstunned and slightly nervous by the appearance of his bride. And, to Eliana’ssurprise, Queen Ivi looked as if she might weep for joy.

As she reached the pair of them, Denio stepped forward andembraced Eliana briefly, then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She steppedto Ivi’s right, as Caelum had instructed her, and turned to look back down thepath. Kana had her arm linked through Caelum’s. All signs of nervousness weregone from her beautiful face as she smiled at Denio.

The bride and her escort stopped in front of the queen.Caelum kissed her quickly on the cheek, then turned and embraced his brother.Then he stepped away, standing to Ivi’s left, opposite Eliana, and the brideand groom faced the queen. The singing ended, and the queen spoke.

Eliana didn’t hear what Ivi said. Somehow, the words escapedher attention. She was watching the faces of the people around her, wonderingwhat they could be thinking. Queen Ivi looked misty-eyed as she spoke, as ifher vision were still clouded with tears. Caelum’s thoughts were clearly faraway, but he stared at his mother with a fair imitation of rapt attention, hisface drawn in quiet contemplation.

Her eyes wandered to the audience. Her mother stood closeby, smiling brightly. Eliana knew that she was happy to be back in Iterum,among her own people. Behind Ispera stood a cluster of elves, all clad in greendresses and tunics. An image suddenly came to her mind—an arrow with green andwhite fletching, lodged in a tree. Those were the colors of Raena’s clan.Eliana’s eyes scanned the group, searching for those glaring blue eyes.

A voice leapt into her mind, but it wasn’t the harsh voiceshe’d been expecting. “Something wrong?”It was Caelum.

“No,” sheanswered, turning her attention back to Queen Ivi.

“You’re lying.”

She looked briefly at him. He was watching her closely, hiseyes narrowed in concern. “Later, Ipromise,” she said.

She saw him sigh, but he looked back at his mother withoutanother word. Denio and Kana were now facing each other, smiling as they spoketheir vows. Then, they kissed, and the crowd of elves broke into singing oncemore. Tears sparkled brightly in Kana’s eyes as Denio held her tightly.

A smile touched Eliana’s lips as happiness for them welledinside of her. But something came with it—a dull, aching jealousy that gnawedat her heart. Suddenly, she realized how badly she wanted this for herself. Hereyes found Caelum again. He was singing along with the other elves, his voicestrong and beautiful. He saw her looking at him, and he smiled, giving her a briefwink.

She forced a smile back and turned her face away from him.She loved him. She loved him with every bit of her heart. She liked to believehe loved her as well, though he had never said it. But what did that mean, inthe end?

They could never have what Denio and Kana had. Eliana hadchosen her path—the path of the Rider, the path of the prophecy. Only war layon that path, waiting for her. She had to walk that path alone. No one butOriens could accompany her where she needed to go.

Tears stung at the back of her eyes as the singing stopped.She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her blurry vision, trying to focus on thecirclet of golden leaves that was being carried forward on a lavender cushion.Queen Ivi took the circle in her hands and spoke.

“Denio, my son, I now confer upon you the throne of thekingdom of Iterum. With this crown, I bestow my power as ruler of the elvesupon you. Prince Denio,” she placed the golden elaves on his head, “KingDenio.”

The elves cheered as the new king and his mother embraced.As they stepped away from one another, Ivi removed her own circlet of silverleaves from her hair and handed it to him. The crowd quieted again as Denioturned to Kana.

“Princess Kana,” he said quietly, “I ask you to stand besideme as I lead the elves of Iterum. Will you accept this duty, and be my helpmeetthrough the burdens I will bear?”

Kana’s voice was barely a whisper. “Yes, I will.”

Denio smiled softly. “Then with this crown, I share my poweras ruler of the elves with you. Princess Kana,” he gently settled the silverleaves onto her dark hair, “Queen Kana.”

There was another cheer from the crowd as Denio and Kanakissed once again. Ivi stepped forward and embraced the new queen. Caelumjoined them, slapping his brother on the back, then kissing his mother and newsister on their cheeks.

The crowds began to disperse without a dismissal, filing outof the wide palace doors into the afternoon air. Eliana caught sight of hermother, embroiled in conversation with another red-clad elf. The royal familywas clustered tightly together at the base of Domus, laughing and chatting. Shesmiled to herself, then slipped quietly out the rear doors.

The day had become cloudy, the sun now slightly obscured,stealing its radiance from the snow below. Oriens lay on the snow-covered grassoutside his face. He lifted his head as she approached. He looked at herbriefly, his mind touching hers softly.

And then he sighed. As she reached him, he gently pulled herinto his chest with his chin, embracing her as only he could. She wrapped herarms around his neck, pressing her cheek to his scales.

“Do you really believethat such happiness cannot lie on your path?” he asked her sadly.

She shook her head slowly. “How can it? I will always be a Rider. I have responsibilities, dutiesthat I can’t walk away from. I will always be fighting and protecting andleading and guarding. How could I drag him through that with me?”

The palace doors opened and Caelum stepped out. He glancedaround briefly before his eyes fell on her, looking concerned.

“Eliana!” he called as he trotted over to where she stoodbeside Oriens. “What are you doing out here?”

She forced a smile again, doing her best to sound casual. “Ididn’t want to be in the way.”

“Don’t be silly, you know you’re not in the way. You’re apart of the family.”

His words seemed to taunt her, wrapping an iron fist aroundher chest. She dropped her gaze to the snow at her feet, swallowing hard. Theredidn’t seem to be enough air in her lungs to form a reply. Or perhaps it wasbecause the words she needed to speak would hurt too much to say.

Caelum’s smile disappeared and he frowned. “What’s wrong?”

When she didn’t answer, he turned his eyes to the dragonbehind her. She knew that he was asking Oriens the same question, and she letherself slip into the back of Oriens’ mind, listening, away from where Caelumcould feel her presence.

“Is she okay?” sheheard him ask.

“That’s a difficultquestion to answer,” Oriens answered cautiously. He knew Eliana waslistening, and she sensed his disapproval of her eavesdropping.

“What do you mean?”

“It is not my place.Eliana must tell you herself.”

Caelum sighed and returned his eyes to the Rider in thegolden dress. He held out a hand to her with a gentle smile. “Come on,” hesaid. “Get changed. We’re going for a walk.”