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“So, it’s only this area, then?”
“Yes,” Wylf said. “But the Shadowlands world is not very populated, at least last I was here. The entire population has journeyed over the generations to come live in Sceadulyr’s sunlight. No one lives in the shadows anymore.” He smirked. “To the Sio
“I mean, I can’t really blame them if he literally creates the warmth and sunlight that allows them to grow food and prosper,” I said. “He doesn’t sound like such a bad guy if he at least takes care of the people here.”
Wylf made a disgruntled sound in his throat.
“He is not to be trusted,” he said sharply. “Do not leave my side. Don’t even stop touching me. Hold tightly to my arm.”
I looped my arms around his and nodded.
Before I could get more information on Sceadulyr or his world, a familiar figure approached from the direction of the palace.
“Maerwy
Maerwy
“You brought her,” he said, shock colouring his voice. “The gathering only allows...”
“Gods and their mates,” Wylf finished for him. “I know.”
Maerwy
“I am surprised, but in some other ways, not surprised,” Maerwy
I frowned, wondering if this conversation was going to go the same way it had last time, as if I weren’t even there. But then Maerwy
Time to put on my happy bride face.
I leaned into Wylf’s arm and smiled.
After a moment, a soft smile mirrored mine. It shocked me because it actually seemed quite genuine.
“Hello, Torrance. I am glad to see you here with Wylfrael. As we say on my homeworld of Vizhir when a couple completes their bonding ceremony, ‘may blood forever flow between you.’”
“Thank you,” I said, trying not to let my smile slip at how bizarrely violent the phrase sounded. I reminded myself that I couldn’t judge alien culture by my human rules, and maybe the flowing blood thing was metaphorical, anyway. Now that I wasn’t a terrified prisoner worried that I was going to get handed over to Maerwy
“You’ve obviously come alone,” Wylf said. There was a question lingering behind the statement.
“Yes. I am alone,” Maerwy
“Whatever support you require, I freely offer it,” Wylf said firmly. It was a remarkable change from their last encounter when Wylf had seemed to only begrudgingly want to help Maerwy
Maerwy
Even before you starburned, some instinct inside you knew she was yours.
“Everyone else is inside dancing,” Maerwy
“Dancing?” I asked. I hadn’t known there would be dancing. I hadn’t really known what to expect, in all honesty. Maybe something like a board meeting.
“Come. I will show you,” Maerwy
The three of us crossed the sunlit courtyard towards the largest white dome at the centre of the curving building. This dome alone was massive – as big as a mansion. There was an arch at its base, the curving entrance completely overflowing with glorious flowers, similar in shape to something like roses from Earth, but larger, the petals huge and buttery soft. As we passed under the arch, a warm breeze rustled the blooms and petals floated down, as if to welcome us.
When we stepped fully into the dome, my jaw dropped.
The first thing I noticed was the space. The white stone of the domed wall was barely visible, every surface crawling with vines and more flowers. Trees circled the entire room, lush with fruit. The massive room reminded me more of a greenhouse than anything, especially because it was...
It was su
Confused, I wrenched my head back to stare upwards. Yup, there was a solid white stone ceiling above. But though it should have been blocking the sunlight, somehow, it cast no shadow. The interior of this dome was as sun-drenched as the courtyard outside.
“How is this possible?” I murmured, awe-struck.
“I ca
“Shadowlands musicians,” Maerwy
So, these weren’t stone sky gods, then, but the mortals of this planet. They were humanoid in shape with pale grey skin that had an almost aquatic look to it – like a shark’s hide. Their noses were flat and slitted like a shark’s, too, their eyes hidden behind a fringe of dark blue feathers that hung down over the top half of their faces and ran down the backs of their necks, disappearing into beige robes.
I was standing face to face with a brand-new alien species. That was incredible enough, but even more stu
“It’s shadow magic,” Wylf said, as if sensing my confusion. “Sceadulyr made them.”
“Hold on. Are you telling me he made these instruments out of shadow?”
That made no sense. Shadow wasn’t a thing in and of itself, it was merely a lack of light. An absence.
But even though my human science brain rebelled against what Wylf had just told me, I couldn’t come up with any other explanation of why the strings weren’t strings but more like... well, shadows. And the music sounded like nothing I’d ever heard. Every note prismatic, as if comprised of a thousand different waves of sound.
“Come. We must meet the other gods,” Wylf said.