Chapter 15 Vad #2
I moved my hand to her elbow, guiding her through the activity. Her gaze swept the cavern, noting exits and soldiers, every movement calculated. Even battered and burned, she was a warrior—sharp, deliberate, alert.
Brelven led us to the far side of the cavern and stopped before a small wooden door, oddly out of place in the rough stone wall. He knocked twice, then opened it without waiting for a response.
"Captain, I've found them," he called, stepping aside and motioning us to enter.
A chill ran down my spine, but there was no turning back now. I entered with my claws ready to be used if needed.
The room beyond was modest but efficient.
A heavy wooden table dominated the center, its surface cluttered with hand-drawn maps, half-burnt candles, and a scattering of crimson wax seals.
Iron sconces shed a flickering amber light that danced across stone walls lined with weapon racks and scroll holders.
Captain Finbar stood bent over the table, his finger trailing a route across one map. Two lieutenants flanked him, both in marked leathers, alert even before we entered.
Finbar’s head snapped up. His lined face registered a flicker of relief before discipline returned. He straightened and bowed deeply. "Your Majesties, thank Fate you're alive. Is the princess safe, or should we continue searching for her?"
Both lieutenants followed suit, dropping to one knee.
I studied Finbar as he rose. His armor bore fresh battle scars with slashed leather and blood spatters. A bandage wrapped his right hand, the fingers bruised, but he stood without wavering.
"She is safe for now. Report, Captain."
"The palace has fallen into chaos," Finbar began.
"Over half of our forces defected or fled when the magic failed. The initial attacks overwhelmed those still loyal to the crown. But we’ve regrouped and established this stronghold and secured two additional outposts in the tunnels, one beneath the Ceremonial Hall and the other under the Ascension Hall.
There may still be a few stragglers among the royals and servants who weren't captured and whom we haven't been able to find.
I suspect a few are plotting their own vengeance.
Fate help them if they haven't escaped yet. "
He motioned to the map, pointing to each marked position in turn.
"Colm and his Aurelines control the main halls. But they are fighting the yellow-eyed shadow beasts, and they’ve suffered losses."
"Colm?" Briar’s voice was tight as boiling rage shot through the bond. “He’s in charge of all this? Not just overseeing some of it?”
A bitter taste filled my mouth. Colm Ainle had tortured my beloved and so many others in Firellan’s Spine. Though that had already sealed his fate, I would make sure his end was extra painful since he had also killed Physician Morlo.
Finbar’s jaw tensed. "There may have been others involved in the initial uprising, but Colm has assumed full leadership. Anyone who hasn’t sworn to him and his would-be queen has been imprisoned. Or executed."
"His queen?" I demanded. "Who?"
"At first, we assumed Siray. She’s royal-blooded—Ignis Fae. But it’s not her. Colm made a show of taking Calla Lily. The one Councilman Bryn declared as the victor of the trials."
Briar’s expression didn’t waver, but her energy coiled tighter. A spike of cold hatred echoed through our bond.
"Calla Lily winning was a lie," I growled. "They forced Bryn’s hand and threatened his family."
"I believe you, Your Majesty." Finbar raised both hands in surrender. "And Colm’s tactics support your claim. He’s silencing dissent, executing loyalists, and twisting tradition to serve his ambition. He’s demanding full unification of the realms under one ruler, one bride, and one throne."
"And he plans to use Calla Lily to stake his claim?" Briar asked, her voice low with contempt.
"Yes, my queen. He’s using her to paint your union with His Majesty as an act of treason and not Fate."
Something akin to sludge pulsed through my body. I would not allow him to rewrite our story. “That will never happen.”
Still, my mind circled on one thing. “Does he truly plan to take over all the kingdoms?” If that was the case, Colm wasn’t just seizing power; he was enacting full-scale realm domination.
I opened my mouth to ask how he expected to control the other rulers without a drawn-out war, but the answer settled cold and heavy in my gut.
The coronation and wedding had been a trap.
Every royal who’d attended and refused to bow was likely imprisoned beneath the Shadow Palace. And if any escaped? Colm had their children.
We already knew he’d captured two young royals from the Sylvan and Aquen kingdoms. “Is he torturing them?”
“For now, they’re sealed in the old dungeons on the eastern side of the palace.” Finbar’s jaw tightened. “He plans to starve them. All of them. Men. Women. Children.”
Colm was even more of a monster than I’d believed.
Briar’s hand gripped mine like a vise. “We have to get them out. Is there… water in the cells?” Her face paled, the question dragging something deep and sharp out of her. We can’t allow that to happen, Vad. All those poor people. They're innocents. They don’t deserve this.
Her heartbreak swelled inside of me. She wanted to protect everyone, especially those facing injury and abuse. It was a rare quality that made her just as lovely on the inside as out. We’ll get them out.
Finbar braced a hand on the map, pointing toward the east. “There’s water.
And if we can, we’ll get food to them, but time is critical.
They’re barely guarded—merely locked in and barricaded.
Our focus has been on retaking the palace.
If we free those prisoners, we’ll fracture Colm’s narrative.
But right now, fear has those who aren't prisoners and aren't working with us listening to him.”
Briar straightened. “Fear of what?”
His expression darkened. “He’s claiming that the loss of magic is punishment.
That your union broke Fate’s laws and that you come from a wretched family, starting with your father, who also chose defiance when he claimed your mother.
The tipping point came about due to an Aureline marrying into the Shadow Court. ”
I would kill everyone loyal to the fecking bastard. One by one, with my own hands.
Briar scoffed and shook her head. “So they’re blaming me for the collapse of magic… to justify a coup?”
“I’m afraid so.” Finbar’s sigh was weary. The shadows beneath his eyes told me he hadn’t slept since his brother’s and my father’s murders.
“They’ve been planning this from the start.” I inhaled deeply, trying to stay grounded and not give in to anger. “Rigging the bridal trials. Poisoning alliances. Killing my father. Draining fae to steal their power.” My voice dropped. “This didn’t begin at my coronation. This was always the plan.”
“If we can prove that they corrupted Fate’s balance, more will turn against him.” Finbar rubbed his hands together. “The people fear that magic is gone forever. But if they believe Colm caused the loss… if they see him as the one who brought down Fate’s wrath…”
“They’ll fight him.” Hope and resolve swirled between Briar and me.
“We have one former prisoner who might testify.” The thought of the two women who’d tried to kill Briar and take her place made my stomach revolt.
“And Physician Morlo’s records—he found traces of stolen magic in the hair of either Kaylen or Calla Lily.
One of them has been consuming another’s gift. ”
“It’s something,” Finbar said. “But not enough.”
“We’ll need more,” I agreed. “Whether it’s additional witnesses, a confession, or proof they can’t twist or burn away.
They’ve likely destroyed anything from Briar’s quarters that bore signs of Fate’s favor.
Her gown might’ve once held power, but it’s been so stained and shredded, I doubt it will convince anyone. ”
A thought struck me. “What happened to Kaylen? They were dragging her off before everything collapsed. She looked shocked. Angry.” And her shock and indignation had seemed genuine.
Finbar grunted. “Kaylen was imprisoned with the other guests. She was quick to offer fealty at first, but they locked her in the old dungeon, in the southeastern block near the entrance.”
Pursing her lips, Briar lifted her chin. “As much as I hate the thought of seeing her again, she may know something.” Her voice dropped slightly. “We should get to her before they decide she’s not useful.”
I calculated the route in my head and set my hands against my belt. Do you wish to handle the interrogation?
Something bitter inched through our bond. Hell, yes, I do.
Finbar spoke up. “If you wish to divert forces, we can try to breach the main entrance—”
“No,” I cut in. He didn’t know about the hidden paths, and I had no intention of revealing them. “We’ll manage it. Show me the schematics so we can make a plan.”
Finbar inclined his head and turned toward the map.
“Of course, Your Majesty.” He tapped a square labeled Ceremonial Hall.
“Colm intends to crown himself king tomorrow. All current loyalists will be present. If we can provide proof that they’d been planning this takeover before the magic was gone, this is the moment to do it. ”
“Who else will be in attendance?” I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head back. “If the royals are locked away, is he assembling their advisors?”
“He’s calling for secondary leadership to swear loyalty. Likely to claim this was a unanimous decision among the courts, not a coup.”
“And the excuse?” I leaned forward and tried to wrap my head around how much of a monster this man truly was.
“That you and your Aureline bride violated Fate’s laws. That your union caused the collapse of magic. They sent messengers shortly after the attack—so quickly it had to have been coordinated. There are contacts embedded in every realm. It’s why nearly every royal line was here to begin with.”
I gritted my teeth. “So we have one day.”