Episode 158 Interrogations
Interrogations
“A heartbinding?” Father looks from Jonas to Tharios. “Between Jonas and Taliel?”
“Yes, sir,” Tharios says.
“I feel...not right.” Jonas sways, and Rominy rushes toward him.
“Take him outside,” Mother says. She’s been strangely quiet. “He needs to stay near Taliel while the magic settles.”
Rominy helps Jonas back into the darkness, and Father switches to Elvish. At least Grandmera’s been translating for Viala.
“Was he unconscious?” Father asks.
Tharios sighs. “Yes.”
Mother steps to Father’s side. “It wouldn’t have worked if his heart hadn’t consented. Conscious or not.”
“And you didn’t coerce her? Push her toward it?”
Tharios frowns. “Of course not.”
“He tried to talk her out of it,” Viala says. “It was Taliel’s idea.”
“Jonas took the arrow for her,” Elowyn adds. “Lunged toward the gap in Tharios’s shield that was right in front of her.”
“So she felt obligated?” Father asks.
“I don’t believe so, Lorial,” Grandmera says. “She came to this willingly, just as Nestraya did. It was her decision, and she made it with her eyes open. And his heart consented, just as yours did.”
“I was already in love with Nestraya!”
“His heart consented, my love,” Mother says again.
“Until you’ve faced this decision on a battlefield while someone who matters to you fades away before your eyes, you can’t understand how it feels.
You have minutes to decide. Sometimes less.
And the only question you ask is can you live with yourself if this man dies when you could have saved him?
That is what Taliel had to decide, and this is what she chose.
Respect her choice, my love. It was hers to make. ”
“There’s nothing wrong with binding your heart to a human,” Cerian says quietly. “Perhaps this will be their stronger-together love.”
Father sighs. “Of course there’s nothing wrong with binding with a human. And I hope it is their stronger-together love. But this goes beyond anything I would ever ask of one of my elite warriors.”
“She would die for any of us here,” Grandmera says. “Is this asking more of her than that? Regardless, it cannot be undone. As I told Tharios, our job now is to support them.”
“I’ll check on Jonas,” Mother says. “Tharios, if you feel up to it, Uncle Quilian could use your attention. Then you need to sleep.” She ducks outside with Elowyn behind her.
Tharios breathes out slowly before stepping toward Uncle Quilian, but Father grabs his arm.
“Limits, Tharios. You have them. Look me in the eye and tell me your magic is ready for this, or you don’t go near him. And if you don’t take at least five seconds to consider your response, I will wrap you in my magic and bind you to the bed.”
It’s a question he’s been asking himself.
Is he ready?
Tharios digs deep. Reaches for his life magic. Twines it with his air magic and finds Viala’s flame. She gasps beside him as he brushes her flame. Caresses it. He’s tired, but his control never wavers. He pulls back his magic.
“I can do this, Father.”
With a nod, Father lets him pass.
Tharios lowers himself to Uncle Quilian’s side and reaches for his magic before wincing. “Whistling wind. Did he heal this himself?”
“I believe it was that or die,” Cerian says. “He was in bad shape when we found him.”
“Your mother and Third Laneara did what they could, and Rafelis helped as well,” Father says. “I believe the sleep was induced to keep him still until a fully trained healer arrived.”
Tharios nods. “This may take a while.”
“And you’re certain you’re up to it?” Father asks again.
Tharios finds Viala. “I could use your help to ensure I stay strong.”
Viala hurries to his side. “Always, my love.”
“Stronger together,” Grandmera says. “May we never forget.”
“I feel better,” Jonas says once Rominy gets him outside. “Thank you.”
Rominy nods and lets him go. He looks better.
Jonas squints into the darkness. “Where did they go?”
“Are you missing her already?” Rominy tries not to grin, but his lips twitch.
“Is that what this is? The heartbinding? I feel like I’m supposed to go after her. Ensure she’s all right. It’s disconcerting. Especially since I’m supposed to be guarding you, not her.”
“I think I’m safe here. There are warriors everywhere.”
“But which way did she go? Should I ask someone? Maybe she’ll hear if I yell for her.” Jonas stiffens before turning to Rominy. “Forget I said that.”
“You mean you’re not planning to wake the entire camp by yelling for Taliel before dawn?”
“I’d tell you to shove off, but that would be unprofessional of me.”
Rominy laughs at that. “I think we’ve moved beyond professional.”
“I doubt my superiors in Nunia would agree.”
Rominy shrugs. “You’re married to an elf now. Embrace it.”
“At least you had a day to get used to the idea. I vaguely remember jumping in front of her, and then I—” Jonas’s mouth moves, but no sound comes out.
“You probably don’t need to know that part anyway.
And now I’m somehow married, and her brother hates me, and I don’t know how to process any of this.
” He clears his throat. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I’ll be done now. ”
“Don’t do that. Don’t turn formal again. I like this side of you.”
“You know, when they train us to guard the royal family, they tell us not to get too close. I’m not supposed to be your friend, Rominy.”
“I’m pretty sure you take your orders from me.”
Jonas chuckles. “Good point.” He rubs his chest and winces. “This hurts like...well, like a word I’m not allowed to say around you. Don’t tell Taliel.”
“There are words you aren’t allowed to say around me?”
Jonas gives him a sideways glance. “Use your imagination.”
“I know what the words are.” Rominy rolls his eyes. “I won’t tell Taliel about the pain. I might tell Tharios, though.”
“I don’t want to be out of my head on pain relief. I’d rather deal with the pain.”
Rominy sighs. “Can we talk about how sorry I am? I keep asking myself what I could have done differently to prevent this from happening. Brought more guards. Stayed at Windhaven—”
Jonas laughs. “I never expected you to stay. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did.”
“What?”
“We both know the only reason you didn’t join the search for your sister was your wife’s health. As soon as Princess Elowyn recovered, I knew we’d be leaving.”
Rominy looks down at his hands and chuckles. “You know me well.”
“I like to think so. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t risk my life every day for someone unwilling to do the same for those he loves.
You’re a future king, Rominy. It will always be dangerous.
I knew that when I took this job. Next time, though, we will be bringing more guards, no matter how much you try to convince me we don’t need them.
” Jonas’s mouth ticks up at the corners, and Rominy fights his own smile as relief fills him.
Before Rominy can respond, Nestraya appears in the glow pouring from the shelter. Elowyn follows and melts into Rominy’s side as he wraps his arm around her.
“Feel better?” Nestraya asks Jonas.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”
“Good. May I examine your wound?”
Jonas clears his throat and nods, and Nestraya pulls back his ragged jacket.
“Taliel is that way.” Nestraya juts her chin toward the shadows to the south. “In case you wondered.”
Jonas looks like he’s about to deny it, but he thanks her in the end.
“Tharios did an excellent job,” Nestraya says. “You may not even have a scar once this finishes healing. How’s your pain?”
“Manageable.”
“And by manageable, he means excruciating,” Rominy says.
“Traitor,” Jonas mutters, and Elowyn laughs.
“He means well,” she says.
“I’m sure he does.” Jonas sighs. “I don’t want my senses dulled more than necessary, and I definitely don’t want to turn into a raving fool, but if you could do something to take the edge off, I’d be grateful.”
“Let me do it.” Rafelis approaches from the shadows with Taliel at his side. “You need to rest your magic, Nestraya.”
Nestraya steps away without argument, and Rafelis stops in front of Jonas.
“On a scale of one to ten, how’s your pain?” Rafelis asks.
“I’m managing, sir.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Rafelis presses on Jonas’s wound, and Jonas sways as his eyes widen and a moan squeaks from him. Stars above. What sort of elf is Rafelis?
“Rafelis!” Taliel cries. “Was that necessary?”
“I can’t do anything for the pain if he won’t be honest with me. And himself.”
“It hurts,” Jonas says through gritted teeth. “A six. Maybe a seven. Worse when you push on it. Please don’t knock me out.”
“I won’t. Here. Just a little something to dull the pain.”
The relief on Jonas’s face is instant and telling. Perhaps Rafelis isn’t so bad.
“Better?” Rafelis asks.
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“And what’s your name? Your full name. Taliel says she knows it, but she can’t tell me. I assume because you told her in the heartlanding.”
For a moment, Jonas looks confused. Then he swings his eyes to Taliel, and she quirks her mouth in a half-smirk.
It’s odd being on the other side of this.
“It’s Jonas Caveneau, sir.”
“And how old are you?”
“Thirty, sir.”
“And how long have you been the leader of the prince’s guard unit?”
“More than four years. I took over when he began his university studies. Am I being interrogated, sir?”
“I’m monitoring the pain relief I gave you. Ensuring I didn’t turn you into a raving fool. That was your desire, was it not?”
Rominy almost bursts into laughter. That was well-played.
Jonas cracks a lopsided grin at Rafelis’s words. “I may be a lot younger than you, sir, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“A human expression,” Rafelis says. “I shall have to remember that one. I have one more question for you, Jonas. What did your heart promise my sister when you were unconscious?”
The words of the heartbinding repeat in Rominy’s own head in perfect Elvish.
A moment later, Jonas speaks them aloud. “I don’t understand,” he says when he finishes.
“They’re etched on your heart, Jonas of Nunia,” Rafelis says. “The promises your heart made when your words failed. Until your end of days.”
Jonas glances at Taliel. “Until my end of days.”
“Get some rest,” Rafelis says. “All of you. I need you alert and ready for whatever we encounter tomorrow.”
He squeezes Jonas’s good shoulder and gives Taliel a hug before disappearing into the night again. This time, Taliel lets him go.
“I can’t decide if he hates me or not,” Jonas says.
“I’ve never known Rafelis to hate anyone,” Nestraya says. “Though that was definitely an interrogation.”
“Definitely,” Taliel says. “One you seem to have passed. I think he likes you.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“Especially since she can’t lie to you,” Rominy says. “Now, I am exhausted and ready to do as he said. Point me to a bed. Or a patch of moss. Or anything.”
A shadow fills the doorway, and Cerian emerges. “I was planning to give you our shelter, but I think Tharios needs it more.”
Arisanna leans into his shoulder, and Cerian wraps his arm around her.
“Tharios and Viala can sleep here,” Nestraya says. “But thank you, my littlest love.”
“Well, this way, then,” Cerian says. “It’s not large, but it’s private and better than sleeping on the ground.”
Rominy is about to follow when he catches the uncertain expression on Jonas’s face.
“You know what? I think perhaps Elowyn and I will sleep under the stars.”
“Oh, that sounds delightful,” Elowyn says. “Much better than a stuffy, cramped cottage.”
“That may be laying it on a little thick, love,” Rominy whispers to her.
Cerian frowns before understanding dawns in his eyes. “I suppose if no one else needs it, you might as well use it, Taliel.”
Nestraya laughs. “My elflings are many things. Subtle is not one of them.”
“Clearly not,” Jonas mutters. “It’s my job to keep you safe, Rominy.”
“He will be safe here while you rest,” Nestraya says. “Together. Don’t fight it. The heartlanding makes you stronger, as a wise person recently told me. And when you wake, we’ll discuss the implications of this second attack, all right? Now get some sleep.”