Chapter 32
VALANCE
The castle sat atop a mound of snow, a tall structure of gray stone, grubby windows, and four turrets. Even with the brilliant sunshine of the day, I could see candlelight flickering within that dirty glass.
Aeveen landed at the foot of the mound, immediately taking to the skies again. There were deer in the woods nearby, a dense sea of evergreen firs east of the keep.
“Don’t take too long,” I said, her roar and wings drowning out my voice.
But I knew she heard me, that she would be back as soon as she’d tasted the hot blood of the deer she craved.
“Come,” I told Kormac, taking him into my arms.
“I can walk…”
“I would rather carry you.”
“But—”
“Don’t argue with me, human.”
He smiled. “The king has spoken.”
“He has.”
So fragile in my arms, struggling against the poison. I poured more of my magic into him, his breath a trembling release in response.
“Everything will be fine,” I added as my rage continued to rise.
They could have killed him.
My fault…
My fault…
They will pay…
I carried him up a newly cleared path snaking up the mound. The heavy oak door opened as we drew closer, two humans dressed in fine silver robes awaiting us.
The two women bowed to me, offering soft greetings.
I stopped, shifting Kormac’s body slightly in my grip. “Are you servants to this household?”
“Yes,” the tallest of the women answered.
“We are two of eight. There are four humans, two elves, and two brownies also on hand to take care of your needs.” Her eyes glistened with tears.
“You brought us back to life.” They both bowed their heads.
“We will forever be grateful for the gift you have given.”
“Is Pierce in residence?” I asked.
“No, Your Majesty. He left two days ago to ponder his new life.”
“I see.”
With that, the elves and the brownies she had spoken of appeared behind her, offering their gratitude.
“May we come in?” I wondered.
“But of course!” the woman who seemed to be the spokesperson said, panicked. “I do beg your pardon, My King. I do not mean to keep you waiting in the cold. We will prepare a feast for you, draw you a bath, any wish you have is ours to fulfill.”
Wish…
“I’m not staying,” I responded. “But my companion here will be. He needs shelter and food. To recover.”
They all seemed to notice Kormac then, despite him being on display in my arms.
“The fire in the sky,” a human male said as the servants stepped aside.
“Yes.”
The hallway was a fair size, the walls a burnished gold rather than gray, giving the space a somewhat lovely warmth. Every inch, from the gilded framed paintings of landscapes to the grand diamond chandelier, gleamed with cleanliness.
“What is your name?” I asked, my attention on a curved wooden staircase.
“Siobhan, Your Majesty. May I show you to a room?”
“Please do.”
I followed her through the warm golden corridors, past so many of those landscape paintings. I paused before a portrait of a Tuatha, a welcome break in the theme.
“Queen Orla,” I said, looking up at the former monarch standing outside this castle, gazing into the distance.
Her hair blew behind her in the wind, captured so beautifully by the artist. The colors were vibrant yet not overwhelming, complementing the ornate copper-like frame which stood out amongst all the gold.
“Painted by my master many centuries ago,” Siobhan answered.
“It’s lovely.”
“As is she.”
This is not the time to appreciate art.
Siobhan walked on.
“You can put me down now,” Kormac said.
“Not until we reach the room.”
He groaned.
“Here,” Siobhan said, reaching a door at the far end of the corridor. “This is the finest room in the castle.”
The door opened into a large room of gold and copper décor as if everything was carved from fire and light.
Flames danced in a hearth flanked by two vertical windows.
A bed awaited a weary body, a bathing room attached.
There were books crammed into a tall shelf, two vases of white lilies on polished oak tables.
“A fine room,” I said. “Thank you, Siobhan. If you could please leave us.”
“Of course,” she bowed, leaving quickly and quietly.
I put Kormac down on the bed. He immediately sat upright, sliding to the foot of the bed, clutching at his sweaty forehead.
“Lay down,”’ I said. “Rest.”
“No…” He looked so pale. “I can’t stay here.”
“You can and you will. You’ll be safe—”
“No!” he barked. “Nowhere is safe now. Not after that.” He closed his eyes, his body trembling.
I sat with him, rubbing his back. “This is the safest place for you to be while I…” I hesitated, a wave of confusion affecting my fury.
“While you what?” he asked. “Retaliate?”
I removed my hand from his back, getting to my feet. “I have to… I have to…” The confusion ebbed, raw feelings dominant again. “The damage they have done must be answered.”
“They were…” He struggled, swaying from side to side. “They were responding to you.”
“And that makes it just?”
“I didn’t… I didn’t say. But what…” He wiped at his mouth, drawing in a painful-sounding breath.
I returned to the bed, giving him more of my healing. “Please rest, Kormac.”
“I can’t…”
“You can. You must.”
“I’m worried about you,” he responded. “What you’re about to do.”
“I’m about to end this.”
Yes. End it. Embrace this rage. Let it carry me toward victory. Destroy the heart of the enemy, never mind this ridiculous gathering of an army. I may have believed I needed one, but I only ever needed myself. My power. It would be enough.
Wouldn’t it?
My hands shook. My left leg bobbed.
“My destiny is to change the world,” I said.
“But…” A groan, a wince. “But you… You can’t just go… Please…”
“Kormac…”
“Don’t leave me here.”
“I have to… I have so much to do. Clear up this terrible mess Florent has made. That I have made.”
“Valance?” Kormac’s deep voice was a sound I liked to wrap myself in.
It didn’t stop me from getting up to pace back and forth. Nor did it cool the ever-rising rage.
I had to get out of this castle. But could I leave Kormac behind? What if something happened to him again? What if he—
“You didn’t return to the realm beyond the stars.” I stopped my pacing, meeting his blue gaze.
“I don’t know why,” he said. “I don’t know what… I can’t remember anything apart from waking up in the ruins.”
“Maybe because you are different this time,” I offered.
“Please don’t leave me here,” he pleaded.
My limbs were tense, my chest tight. “Rest will help you heal better.”
“I can’t rest unless I know you’re okay.”
“Impossible, as you said. The danger of our lives is more profound than it ever has been before. Florent holds so much power over us, and I cannot stand for it. What comes next? A third wave? A fourth and fifth until Winter is nothing but iron and ashes. I wasn’t given this power to allow that to happen to these lands or to you.
Florent will not rule Faerie. I will. It is mine, and I will crush…
” A pause, sinking into determined fury.
“I will crush all who resist me. For they are the enemy and support the barbaric use of iron fires.”
“Valance…”
“Do not try and talk me out of this.”
“I’m not.”
“Good. Now rest.”
“Where are you going?”
“To end it, as I said.”
“But—” My guts throbbed with guilt as I cast a sleeping enchantment on him.
He yawned, eyelids drooping before closing. He fell gently backward, emitting soft snores. I went to him, pulling him up the bed and tucking him under the thick, silky sheets.
I smoothed back his hair, leaned in to kiss his forehead.
“You will see this is the right path,” I whispered. “Let me give you a world without this terror.”
By Danu, he looked so sickly, so pallid. But I knew he would wake to fighting health.
“See you in the new dawn, Kormac.”
I swept out of the room, calling the servants to the main hall.
“I want his every need attended to,” I ordered them. “He is special to me.”
“We will care for him with everything we have,” Siobhan replied with a bow.
“Good. Thank you so much. Now I must leave.”
“Good luck, Your Majesty.”
Two humans opened the door, both offering their well wishes.
I thanked them and hurried down the path, the cold air a shock after the warmth of the castle.
How I would love nothing more than to turn back and return to Kormac. Lay by his side, see him through his healing sleep. Kiss him when he woke, hold him close.
His closeness was unlike any other body I’d held to mine, something special.
The man who changed my heart.
Who hurts because of Florent.
Aeveen returned from her feeding, ready for flight.
“Did you eat well?”
I took her constant purring as a yes.
“I’m pleased for you. Now let us fly south. We have much work to do.”