The Crystal Rose.

The Mer Cycle.

Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff.

Dedication.

To Jo Sherman for discovering me way back when and for teaching me the virtues of weasels on a stick, to Jim Baen for being the best first book editor a girl could have, to my absent soul sister, Cynthia McQuillan, and to Ray Bradbury who taught me the love of words.

I miss you all.

Special thanks.

To my families, as always. You know who you are.

To my cohorts at Book View Cafe for being an amazing and supportive group of colleagues and friends.

And to Bah'u'llh, as always.

Prologue.

The mystic Beloved, before concealed by the veil of words, is now revealed to the eyes of men. I bear witness, my friends, that the benediction is complete, the testimony fulfilled, the proof demonstrated, the sign given. Let all now see what your efforts in the path of the Meri will unveil and accomplish. Divine grace has been bestowed on you and on all that dwell in the Lands of Shadow and Light. Sing duans of praise to the Spirit of All Worlds.

- from the Testament of Osraed Bevol.

Blood thundered in his ears. Daimhin Feich listened, heeding its siren call. He wondered at the strange visceral elation he felt just strapping on this sword. He had never worn one, save for ceremonial purposes, and this was no ordinary sword-it was a Malcuim sword, worn, so legend said, by The Malcuim himself. It was a sword intended for fighting, and Daimhin Feich had every intention of putting it to that use.

He strode the corridors of Mertuile with a new vigor this morning. A vigor the black banners and bundles of dead flowers that festooned the halls could not dampen. He was Regent to Airleas Malcuim, and Cyneric if Airleas failed to take the Throne. Dark joy bubbled in his breast, threatening to make him laugh. That would be inappropriate now, with Mertuile in mourning; he would laugh when he stood before the Stone and felt the Circlet on his head.

A Feich on the Throne! He began to whistle a tune, but Mertuile's empty interior threw it back at him misshapen.

He stopped whistling.

In the lower hall, the Abbod Ladhar met him, along with his own cousin, Ruadh, commander of his fighting force. One was dressed for travel, the other for battle.

The Abbod's face was screwed into a disapproving mask and he glowered fiercely. "Why do you insist that I accompany you on this war crusade? My place is here."

"To comfort the mourners?" Daimhin asked. "To pray for the soul of your poor dead Cyne? His soul is wherever it deserves to be, Abbod. With the souls of other men who have taken their own lives. Your place is with those living, those who will march to free the Cyne's heir from the clutches of the Taminist evil. Your place is beneath the banner of the Meri, facing that evil. Or do you fear facing it?"

"I fear no man, nor woman, nor Wicke. But the period of mourning is not pa.s.sed. It has barely begun."

"Mourn on the road, Abbod. Now, we ride to Halig-liath."

He pa.s.sed through the door his cousin held open for him, out into the morning Sun that slanted over Mertuile's landward wall. The gates to the outer ward were open and, through them, he could see the ranks of horses and men that were now at his command. He smiled, letting his earlier elation rise to a boil within him.

Sensual, it was. He felt heat fan out from his groin and listened, again, to the song of blood in his ears. A quest. A crusade. And it would end at Halig-liath.

It was not Airleas Malcuim he thought of as he and his hundreds rode east, but she who had taken him-Taminy-a-Cuinn, Wicke.

The Feich forces were arrayed before the gates of the Holy Fortress. Daimhin Feich rode at their head with Ruadh Feich at his side. Behind them, the Abbod Ladhar glowered from the back of a st.u.r.dy horse, the Malcuim standard fluttering overhead.

Beside it, on a second staff, the Star Chalice was borne aloft. It was a bit of grandstanding that did not sit well with the Abbod, but to Daimhin Feich, it added a twist of historical irony to his crusade. Centuries before, another army had rallied to face down another Malcuim heir, using the same holy relic to confound his forces. And now, as then, hundreds had rallied.

Not only Feich, but Feich allies-southern Eiric, for the most part, to whom the Osraed were a nuisance and the idea of supernatural intervention an anachronism. For the Feich it was a return to the glory days. The days when the great House was a thorn in the side of whatever Malcuim happened to sit upon the Throne.

Daimhin Feich, Regent and would-be Cyneric, turned to glance up at the standards aloft behind him. He would tear down that Malcuim emblem soon, replace it with his own. But for now, the Feich crest appeared only on the arm bands of the troops ma.s.sed behind him.

He moved his mount forward, all the way to the shadow of Halig-liath's gates. The heavy oaken doors were open, but the portcullis was down. The Ren Catahn, leader of the Hillwild, stood behind it, the Chief of the House Claeg at his side.

Feich spoke to the lowland Chief. "A twist in history, this, old friend-that Feich and Claeg face each other across defenses."

"Aye, well, it was inevitable. The Claeg do what they believe is right. The Feich do what they think is profitable."

Feich chuckled. "Barbed words, Claeg."

"May they draw blood."

"I must speak to the Cwen Toireasa and the Riagan Airleas."

From behind the sill of the gate, Toireasa Malcuim heard the words and shivered. Grasping her son's hand, she willed her feet to move her forward. They behaved as if rooted to the cobbles.

Someone took her other hand, flooding her with strength. She smiled.

Oh, to feel this strong and resilient, always.

With Airleas on her left and Taminy on her right, she went out to face Daimhin Feich. His eyes gleamed when he saw them, and he dismounted, coming to stand before the portcullis.

"This is absurd," he said. "I merely wish to reason with you, mistress. Can't we do without further barriers between us?" He gestured at the heavy wood and iron grille that separated them. "Your men have their bows aimed and ready. What could we do against them?"

Taminy turned her head and glanced behind her. The portcullis rose ponderously.

"Thank you." Feich dropped his gaze to Airleas. "I bring you sad news, Airleas. Your father, Cyne Colfre Malcuim, is dead. You are now Cyneric of Caraid-land."

The boy's face paled, but he showed no other sign of emotion. "We know," he said. "We felt him die."

Feich moved his narrowed eyes to Toireasa's face. "I regret to say that he died by his own hand. Your desertion destroyed him, madam."

The Cwen shook her head, keeping her gaze on him, hard and cold. "I destroyed nothing, Daimhin Feich. It was you who destroyed him. You who deserted him. You who pa.s.sed him the cup of betrayal. This . . ." - she nodded toward the soldiers arrayed behind him - "this is forever and always what you have wanted, is it not?"

Feich's insides cooled at her words. What did she know of a "cup of betrayal?" He only just kept his eyes from seeking Taminy's reaction. "You mistake me, mistress. I had nothing but the good of my Cyne at heart. And the good of Caraid-land. That good can only be served by the return of the Cyneric Airleas to Mertuile to be set before the Stone."

"Under whose regency?"

"Under my own, by the Cyne's decree. Ask Osraed Ladhar, if you don't trust me. He witnessed the act and counter-signed the doc.u.ment. For the sake of this land, which we both love, I beg you, Cwen Toireasa-let Airleas return to Creiddylad with me. Let him be set before the Stone as is his right."

Toireasa smiled wryly. "Ah, Goscelin's dilemma. To be parted from her child, or to hold him fast to her side."

"Goscelin had no choice, madam. You do. I offer it to you."

"And the alternative?"

Feich gazed around him at the hills above, the town below, the long slope, meadows and woods behind. "This land is divided, torn by dissension and strife. Blood flows. Lives are lost. Madam, Airleas is a symbol of Caraid-land's unity. If he is not at Mertuile, Caraid-land is a headless corpse, thrown to merciless eaters of carrion."

"Then let him return to Mertuile with me. Let Taminy Weave her will in Caraid-land and let its wounds be healed. Let Taminy complete her purpose-to renew and unify Caraid-land as it has never been unified before."

Feich did look at Taminy now and the hatred that had collected in him over the weeks roared for release. Her face blanched as his gaze touched it, and he knew without doubt that she could feel the black emotion roiling within him. Something else sprang to join it, something that burnt its way up from his groin, scorching him.

Self-disgust followed-disgust that his own body could betray him so thoroughly. He knew what she was-anathema.

"She will Weave her will in chill h.e.l.l and nowhere else."

"Then you return to Mertuile empty-handed."

"You deny your son-Colfre's son-his birthright. He is a Malcuim."

"Yes, and so am I. And I shall behave like one. Cowardice ill-befits a Malcuim Cwen. I will not give my son and Colfre's into your hands, Daimhin Feich. In your hands he would become a p.a.w.n . . . as Colfre was."

Beside Toireasa, Taminy stirred, returning Feich's gaze. His innards squirmed.

"Then you shall be declared outlaw-all of you. Heretics like her." He pointed at Taminy, and sought the faces of those behind the trio in the archway. "I'll have you declared Wicke. You'll be hunted down like vermin wherever you go. Fed to the waves or the flames. You'll watch your husbands and wives and children die horribly before your eyes. Is that what you want? Cyneric Airleas, is that what you want for your mother?"

The child twitched as if Feich had poked him. He glanced from his mother to Taminy, then set his gaze on Feich's face.

"If we deny Taminy-Osmaer, we'll live horribly. A Malcuim does not poison himself."

"Your father did. Day by day his soul writhed in torment because he believed in that." His finger pointed at Taminy again. "It tore him asunder in the end." He glanced at the Ren Catahn, standing just behind the three. "Perhaps it was the Hillwild blood in his veins that made him susceptible to pagan G.o.ddesses-that made him weak of will and shallow of mind."

"Or perhaps it was having a fox for a Durweard," Catahn growled.

"My father worshipped power," said Airleas. "That's what made him weak. And you knew it. I don't care if you call me a Wicke or a heretic. I love Taminy and I love my mother. I won't leave here no matter what you say. Go away, Durweard Feich, and leave us alone. You can have the Throne and the Circlet if you want them so much." He looked up at his mother. "Can I go now? I don't want to talk to him any more."

Toireasa smiled into Daimhin Feich's face. It was a smile fierce with pride. "You've heard The Malcuim. Leave us."

She turned her back on him then, and prepared to usher Airleas away. Desperate, he leapt forward. "Airleas! Come to me! These women deceive you! They've poisoned your mind. Your father made me your Regent. Trust me, Airleas, and come to me!"

Airleas turned back to give his father's Durweard a scathing look. "You stink," he said.

Feich made a move to draw his sword and follow the royals into the courtyard. Before he had tightened his grip on the hilt, the portcullis crashed down again, digging its sharpened tines into the earth. Feich jumped clear, swearing. When he regained his poise, the Cwen and Airleas were gone and only Taminy faced him from the other side of the grille, Catahn hovering warily behind her.

"You-!" Feich moved forward again. He stopped at little more than arm's length from her, the portcullis bars creating a thick frame about her head and shoulders. "You are a dagger in the heart of this land."

"And you are the man who directs the blade. Stop this now. Let Airleas and Toireasa return to Creiddylad free. Let me pursue my mission in Caraid-land and the wound will quickly heal."

He gazed at her a long moment, then nodded. "All right. I see that what you say is true. My actions are a determining factor in what happens here. Yes. You may return to Creiddylad a free woman."

Taminy smiled while, behind her, the Ren Catahn laid a hand to his sword hilt.

"I have changed since we last spoke, Daimhin. Then, I was caught at a crossroads, stranded in a state of transition. Powers ebbed and flowed, awareness informed me only fleetingly. I am past that now. And because I am past that, I know that you lie. If Airleas were to pa.s.s into your hands, Regent Feich, he would become, as his mother said, a p.a.w.n. As it seems his father was, as you intended me to be. There is still pain in that memory. How close I came to allowing my purpose to be consumed by yours. And for what-a flash of white heat, a touch of warm flesh? That was an ordeal by fire, Daimhin. And I still ask, 'Did I pa.s.s?' Or did Osraed Bevol rescue me?"

Feich jerked. "Bevol? Bevol is dead."

"After a fashion. And yet, he lives, after a fashion. You wouldn't understand." She shook her head and he felt her sigh rush through him like a cool breeze. "I want so to appeal to your spirit. I want so to speak to your conscience. But by all the powers that vibrate in this great rock, I cannot reach either."

Talk of spirits and consciences made him squirm. "Enough nonsense. I have no choice but to return to Creiddylad and have myself declared Cyneric."

"You already think of yourself as that."

Feich hurled himself against the barricade. It rattled only slightly, though he threw his whole weight into the motion. "b.i.t.c.h! Stop pretending to read my mind!"

Catahn's sword was out as he came to Taminy's shoulder, ready to run Feich through-if Taminy would allow such a thing, which she wouldn't.

"Afraid of me, Wicke? Does your trained bear dance attendance because you fear me?"

"Lady?" Catahn's intent was clear in his voice. He wanted to put an end to Daimhin Feich. Yes, of course-he wanted to keep the Crystal Rose for himself.

"I'm not afraid of you," Taminy said, and Feich scoffed.

"Then send your bear away."

Taminy apparently felt Feich's demand posed no mortal danger. She looked up over her shoulder into Catahn's dark face. "It's all right, Catahn. Stand down. He can't harm me."

Reluctantly, the Hillwild removed himself from Taminy's side, fading into the shadows beneath the arch. Taminy moved close to the portcullis.

"You feel nothing for me, Taminy?"

"I feel pity."

"Prove that. Give me your hand."