Lachlei Read Online Free Page B

asked. Rhyn’athel turned towards Ni’yah, but found he could not tear his gaze from her. Lachlei was a true Chi’lan , athletic and powerful, and yet her beauty…
    “She is rather pretty, isn’t she?” Ni’yah said wryly, his brass eyes gleaming. “I thought you might like her.”
    Rhyn’athel continued to stare at Lachlei, entranced. Suddenly, the Truce meant nothing to him. Rhyn’athel had forgotten how long it had been since he had been in Elren . How much he loved the world and the Eleion . And how much he had fought to stay away from it.
    Lachlei brought back those old emotions. Emotions Rhyn’athel had long buried inside him for the sake of the Truce. Emotions he could not afford to have, and yet still did. The god continued to stare at her. Lachlei was a creature of light. He could sense the power within her — the power that belied her mortality.
    He wanted her.
    “How long has it been since you were with a woman?” the wolf-god asked. “Two thousand years, I’d wager — maybe longer. Not since the Truce, certainly…”
    The remarks snapped Rhyn’athel out of his reverie and he wheeled on his brother. “You knew this would happen.”
    “Not, exactly …”
    “You’ve just complicated matters.”
    “I always do,” Ni’yah agreed. He paused and became serious. “Listen, I would wager half my powers that Areyn Sehduk killed Fialan. I saw your champion die, my brother, and nothing should have been able to hold Fialan’s powers back, save a god. Fialan was the strongest champion you’ve had since Lochvaur, and his powers equaled most godlings.”
    Rhyn’athel reluctantly turned his gaze from Lachlei to his brother. He nodded. “That is true — Fialan was powerful.”
    “The bodies stink of Areyn’s magic,” Ni’yah replied. “Even Lachlei can feel it, but she doesn’t recognize it because she’s never been up against Areyn. I have.”
     “What would you have me do? Destroy the Truce? It will start another war bloodier than the last. And to what purpose, Ni’yah? I can’t kill Areyn anymore than he can destroy me.”
    “The problems with being immortal,” Ni’yah remarked dryly.
    “We would raze the Nine Worlds,” Rhyn’athel said. “Everything you see here and now would be gone…”
    “Lachlei has sworn blood vengeance,” Ni’yah said.
    Silence ensued.
    “I know. I heard her,” Rhyn’athel replied.
    Another silence followed.
    “Lachlei will not rest until she avenges Fialan’s death or is dead.”
    “What would you have me do?” Rhyn’athel snapped. He turned around and crossed his arms.
    “She’ll be lost to Areyn Sehduk if you do nothing,” Ni’yah replied.
    “We don’t know Areyn killed Fialan.”
    “Yes, we do, but you won’t admit it,” Ni’yah replied. “The sword Lachlei carries is Fialan’s. Fialan blooded it on Areyn before Areyn killed him.”
    Rhyn’athel turned around with a fierce gleam in his eyes. “He did? I’m glad to see Fialan gave Areyn something to think about.”
    “Indeed and no doubt Fialan is paying for that boldness in Areyn’s realm,” Ni’yah said. “But, the proof you seek is on the blade.”
    “Indeed,” Rhyn’athel said. His gaze lingered on Lachlei. She had sheathed the sword and now sat cross-legged on the grass, looking into the night’s sky. He could hear her thoughts and feel her underlying power as she stared at the stars. How had he overlooked her? he wondered. Perhaps he had been afraid.
    The thought amused the god, but there was some validity. Had Rhyn’athel paid more attention to Lachlei, he might have been tempted to enter the Fifth World — as he was doing so now. If Areyn Sehduk learned of the transgression — however minor, Areyn would use that as an excuse to raze this world. He would destroy the Eleion as he had destroyed the others that had occupied the worlds he took — in favor of his own twisted creations. The Eleion would be no more, nor would their descendants, the Ansgar, hope to