Chapter 20 Talwyn
CHAPTER 20
TALWYN
A zrael was slumped in a chair beside her. Despite his best efforts, he looked exhausted and completely drained. He’d brought that ?nal group of children here, along with Death’s Shadow, and nearly collapsed. The only reason he hadn’t was because Briar had been here and caught him, helping him to the chair he now occupied. His magic reserves were clearly entirely depleted.
Ashtine had sent word that he was returning to the Black Halls of all places, and Talwyn was more than interested to know why they were coming here when Scarlett so adamantly claimed the Fiera Palace was her home . She hadn’t learned of the children until she had arrived to ?nd the princess here with Briar.
Eleven trips.
It had taken eleven trips back and forth from Windonelle to get them all here. Traveling with that many so quickly … It was no wonder he could hardly stand.
“Where is Scarlett?” Talwyn demanded.
Briar glanced up from some quiet conversation he’d been having with Ashtine. “The queen is with Sorin and the High Witch, tending to a friend that was mortally wounded.”
“She needs to get down here and explain what the hell is going on,” Talwyn retorted. “Why are all these children here? I need a full report of everything that happened while she was held captive.”
“I am sure your Second can give that to you,” Briar said casually, with a glance at Azrael. “He was there.”
“That is not what I mean, and you know it,” Talwyn said. “What did Scarlett endure? What did she learn? Who held her captive? Why? Do they still live? Are they a threat we need to worry about? All of these things need to be addressed.”
“And they will be,” Briar answered, his icy-blue eyes hardening like chips of ice. “But right now, her husband is taking care of her. When she is ready, I am sure she will be more than willing to meet with you and discuss these matters.”
Talwyn clicked her tongue. “Yes, I am sure she will be,” she deadpanned.
“Her captors still live,” Ashtine said airily, her gaze ?xed on the room before them, her head tilting slightly to the side.
“The winds told you that?” Talwyn asked.
Ashtine spared her a brief glance before saying, “No. Prince Briar did.”
“And what else has Prince Briar shared with you that he has not shared with me?” she ground out.
Ashtine’s features hardened a little, clearly still upset about their argument from a few weeks ago. Talwyn had seen the princess only a handful of times since then and only when summoned. Her visits were brief and to the point. Talwyn had thought she would have moved on from it by now. But if she were being really honest, Ashtine had never been this upset with her. She didn’t know how long Ashtine would harbor these feelings, or if she would eventually demand they discuss matters again.
But they de?nitely needed to be discussed again. She couldn’t seriously be abandoning their plans they’d been perfecting for years. Decades. Talwyn simply could not accept that.
“What would you like to know?” Ashtine asked.
“Everything,” Talwyn gritted out.
“The winds no longer speak to me, your Majesty. I have nothing to reveal to you,” she replied, her tone void of any emotion. Briar looked more upset by this than Ashtine did. The prince’s jaw was clenched, his shoulders tense and rigid, and his ?ngers were curling at his sides.
“What do you mean the winds no longer speak to you?” Azrael asked from where he sat. His eyes were closed, his head tipped back against the chair, and his breathing was fast and shallow, as if he still couldn’t quite catch his breath.
“Queen Talwyn already knows this, Prince,” Ashtine replied. “She can tell you what she wishes you to know.”
Azrael’s eyes slowly opened, earthy brown irises settling on her. “What the fuck happened while I was gone?”
“Do not speak to me like I am beneath you, Prince Luan,” Talwyn answered.
“Have you told the Alpha his sister is back?” Ashtine asked in her silvery lilt, but before Talwyn had a chance to answer her, she had turned back to Briar. “Why is Rayner holding the hand of a child?”
Talwyn followed her gaze and found the Ash Rider indeed had a little girl’s hand enveloped in his. She had golden curls that bounced with each step, and she was chatting merrily beside him as he made his way around the great hall they were all in. Tables had been set up, with food constantly being brought out to ?ll them. The children were eating as if they hadn’t had proper meals in months. Eliza and Neve, along with some of the older children, were directing the younger ones to bathing rooms, and they would emerge in fresh clothing that actually ?t them, rather than the ill-?tting garments they’d arrived in. Laughter and chatter ?lled the air, along with excited squeals and the endless patter of running feet, as they ran and played and explored. Despite the lack of food and proper clothing, they were obviously well cared for. Very few possessed the destitute and dispirited looks that often accompany poverty.
But that was not what struck Talwyn most. No. What assaulted her the most were the varying scents that accompanied the children. There were so many woven among them, she couldn’t place where each one was coming from. Shifter blood. Witch blood. Night Children. Even Fae. All of them, in one way or another, had some form of magical bloodline ?owing in their veins.
“I do not know,” Briar was saying to Ashtine. “I can only assume he knows her from the last few weeks.”
“One would think she would be afraid of a male whose eyes swirl with smoke and who can disappear among ashes,” Talwyn commented, as the little girl continued to chatter away, telling him some kind of story. A slight smile tilted on the corner of the Ash Rider’s normally stoic features.
“Children tend to see things far more simply than adults,” Ashtine replied. “It is a shame we lose such clarity as we age.”
Sawyer appeared at Briar’s side, leaning in to speak into his brother’s ear. Briar’s eyes widened slightly before he nodded once. He turned to Ashtine as he said, “Sorin has requested my presence for an update on how things are progressing down here. Do you need anything before I take my leave?”
“I do not,” Ashtine replied. “I shall send a note if I require you.”
Briar nodded once, his lips forming a grim line, before he turned and left the hall, but Sawyer lingered next to the Wind Princess. Talwyn was about to ask if he needed something, when Azrael’s voice came from behind them.
“Where is Nasima, Ashtine?”
Talwyn’s gaze snapped back to the Wind Princess at the question. Indeed, the silver hawk was not in her usual place on Ashtine’s shoulder. How had she missed that? When was the last time she had seen Nasima with her? It couldn’t have been that day they’d argued, could it?
Ashtine’s lips pursed for a moment before she said tightly, “I have already stated the winds no longer speak to me.”
“What does that mean ?” Talwyn demanded.
For the ?rst time that day, Ashtine turned to face Talwyn fully. Winds swirled around her, and some of the children let out cries of fright, wide eyes turning to look at the Fae Princess. Her sky-blue eyes were hard, unforgiving. The female that stood before her had Azrael pushing to his feet and stumbling to Talwyn’s side, a hand going to the sword at his waist.
“What is the meaning of this, Ashtine?” he barked.
But her eyes stayed pinned on Talwyn. “You forced me to choose,” she whispered with a terrifying calm. “I told you. I warned you that the winds answer to what lies there. I begged you to walk a different path, but you did not turn. You forced me to choose, and I chose you, your Majesty. But the sacri?ce of that choice has been arduous.”
“I did not ask you to choose,” Talwyn snarled.
“You are correct,” Ashtine replied, her winds swirling faster around her. “I chose you of my own free will. A concept that is dif?cult for you to comprehend.”
“You are bound to choose me,” Talwyn retorted.
“I did not choose you out of any duty or vows of my Court, Talwyn. The choice would have been far easier, if that is what I could have based such a decision on.”
“This is not the place for this conversation. We are not in our Halls, and there are listening ears everywhere,” Azrael said, giving a pointed look in the direction of Eliza and Rayner, who were indeed watching them intently.
“May I escort you somewhere, Princess Ashtine?” Sawyer asked, stepping to her side.
“Yes, please,” she answered, placing a hand in the crook of his elbow. As he began to lead her away, she looked back over her shoulder. “You best inform Stellan, your Majesty. You do not need any more strained relations at the moment.”
Talwyn bristled at the slight, her back straightening and teeth clenching as she bit down on a reply.
“What did she mean by that ?” Azrael ground out.
“Stellan was upset by Sorin going behind his back and taking Arianna on this mission. I went to visit him, and things became heated,” Talwyn answered. She cast a side-long look at Azrael. “You should rest. Then I can ?ll you in on everything, and you can do the same.”
“This sounds like something that needs to be discussed now, Talwyn. Let’s go somewhere private,” he replied. “You need to rest.”
Azrael rubbed at his jaw, looking utterly exhausted. “I do, but there is something I need to tell you ?rst.”
Talwyn sucked on a tooth before nodding tightly and reaching for his hand. She Traveled them to her chambers in the White Halls, and Azrael immediately collapsed onto the sofa.
“What is it?” Talwyn demanded.
“It might not be anything, but …” He tilted his head back, closing his eyes.
“Spit it out, Az.”
“Do you remember when I mentioned that there was another scent amongst the Night Child carnage at the border?”
Her brow arched. “You learned who it was?”
“Not exactly. But he appears to be working with those who took Queen Scarlett.”
“You saw him?”
“He was hooded, and his scent was still very muted. Almost undetectable, especially in the mortal lands, but he is de?nitely Fae and de?nitely of the Earth Court,” Azrael replied, his eyes opening to meet hers. “He spoke though. His voice was … familiar.”
“You think you know him?” she asked, going still. If there was indeed a traitor in their Courts, it needed to be dealt with before anything else, and she had a lot of shit that needed dealing with at the moment. This moving to the top of that list was not ideal, but one traitorous Fae shouldn’t be too much trouble. They’d just need to draw him out.
“Talwyn, he …” Azrael ran a hand down his face, then pushed out a heavy breath. “His voice sounded exactly like Ordos.”
Talwyn lurched back from him, nearly tripping on the rug at her feet. “That is not possible.”
“I know,” Azrael said, forcing himself back to his feet and swaying slightly. “But I swear to Silas, Talwyn, he sounded just like him … and he seemed to know who I was.”
“There is some other explanation for that,” Talwyn said. “Tarek is dead. He has been dead for over ten years. He would not be hiding out in the mortal lands, leaving me to think otherwise.”
“I understand, Talwyn,” Azrael said with a sigh. “I understand how unlikely this seems. We can look into it after my reserves have re?lled. I did not want you to hear it from someone else while I slept.”
“If Scarlett was in his company these last few weeks, I am sure she will be able to tell us who it is,” Talwyn replied, watching him make his way to her bed.
“I am sure you are right.” He practically fell onto the bed. “Talwyn.”
“What?” she snapped.
“Do not do anything brash until I wake.”
She turned to snap a retort, but found him already asleep, his breathing deep and evening out. It would take at least a day to fully replenish his reserves with his deep wells entirely depleted. Perhaps longer.
He had to be mistaken. There was no possible way Tarek was alive and living in the mortal kingdoms of all places. In Windonelle. In Baylorin. Where Scarlett had been hidden all these years. Where Eliné had been hiding. She could not even entertain such a ludicrous idea because if that were true …
If that were true, he had betrayed her on so many levels. He would have betrayed his Court. He would have betrayed his queen. He would have betrayed their twin ?ame bond. He would have betrayed her .
He’d known of her plans. He had known how deeply she sought revenge against Avonleya, and he had sought the same. There were times she had even felt like his drive for revenge was greater than her own, although she had never really contemplated why. She had always assumed it was because he was that loyal to her, and loved her so thoroughly, that he wanted what she wanted. That was how she had felt about him.
Azrael had told her not to do anything brash, but it wasn’t as if she could ask Scarlett right now. Sorin undoubtedly wouldn’t let her anywhere near his wife at the moment, and his Court undoubtedly wouldn’t let her anywhere near him. But she couldn’t just sit here on her ass, waiting for Azrael to wake.
She left a quick note for him, for when he woke, then Traveled back to the Black Halls. The great hall was as chaotic as when she’d left. Eyes scanning the room, they landed on Arianna. She hadn’t seen the Beta since they’d come back, and Talwyn immediately began making her way to the Shifter.
“Lady Arianna,” she greeted curtly when she reached her side.
“Queen Talwyn,” Arianna replied in her sultry tone. “I thought you would be with your prince.”
“He is not my prince,” Talwyn retorted.
“He is certainly no one else’s,” Arianna said with a dismissive shrug. “How can I be of service?”
“I am here to escort you home. Your brother will be glad to see you have returned,” Talwyn answered, ?guring she could at least ?x one of her relationships while she waited for Azrael to wake. Bringing Arianna back to Siofra was sure to put her back in the good graces of the Alpha.
Arianna looked her up and down, a small smirk curving up on her full lips. “I am sure Prince Sorin will escort me home when he is able.”
“He is clearly otherwise occupied at the moment.”
“And I am enjoying my time away,” Arianna replied coolly. “I do not wish to return to Siofra so quickly. Although if you wanted to go and fetch Jamahl for me, I would not object to that.”
“Lady, I think it would be best if you returned. The Alpha was very unhappy that you were gone—”
“I am sure he was,” Arianna interrupted, her olive eyes darkening a shade. “He prefers to keep me there while he goes on adventures. He forgets, your Majesty, that I have just as much experience in these matters as he does.”
“I did not mean to offend you, Arianna,” Talwyn said, trying and failing to keep her frustration from her tone.
“Then try harder not to do so,” the Beta replied sharply.
“I have to tell him you have returned, Arianna,” Talwyn said. “I gave him my word I would keep him informed of any news I learned of you and your whereabouts.”
“Then send him a note,” she answered, turning and beginning to walk away from her.
“Wait,” Talwyn demanded, and the Beta paused, looking over her shoulder, beaded braids clinking as she waited for Talwyn to continue. Talwyn sighed. “Did you see who Scarlett’s captor was? Do you know of him?”
“I was with when she was retrieved, and I was sent in beforehand to ?gure out where she was being held. There were several involved in her capture,” Arianna answered.
“And do you know any of them? Did you hear their names?”
“I think you should ask Prince Sorin these questions.”
“Yet I am asking you,” Talwyn said.
“There were three that Sorin appeared the most concerned with. One of them was the Assassin Lord of the Black Syndicate where we retrieved her from,” Arianna answered, her lips tightening at the clear order and demand for submission from Talwyn.
“Did you hear their names?” Talwyn repeated.
“Alaric, Mikale, and Lord Tyndell,” she answered shortly.
“No others?”
“No.”
Talwyn nodded.
“Anything else, your Majesty?”
There was enough venom in the words to let Talwyn know she had of?cially pissed off the Beta, and that was just fucking fantastic. Not only was she going to have to tell Stellan his sister was back from the mortal lands but refused to come home, she was also going to face his wrath at having angered his sister.
“I had dinner with Stellan while you were away. We discussed several matters, and I would like to get your input on some of them.”
Because fuck it. She’d already lit this ?re. She may as well fan the ?ames.
Arianna’s brows rose. “My brother did not give you the information you were seeking?”
Talwyn pressed her tongue to her cheek. “Not exactly.”
“Either he did or he didn’t. Stellan does not do things partially,” Arianna countered.
“It involved Avonleya.”
Her brows rose higher at that. “What of it?”
“If there was a possibility of removing the wards that surround them, do you think they should be gifted such a thing?” Talwyn asked.
“I would think you should learn if they would even consider that a gift,” Arianna answered.
“Why would they not want to be able to move about freely once more?” Talwyn countered.
Arianna shrugged indifferently. “The wards were put in place for a reason. Until that reason is dealt with, I would imagine they would like the wards left exactly as they are.”
“The wards were put in place to keep them sequestered across the sea.”
“Were they?” Arianna asked, arching a brow, her lips tilting up in knowing. “I suggest continuing this conversation with Queen Scarlett and Prince Sorin … After you report to my brother, of course.”
With those parting words, she turned and walked out of the hall. Ire coursing through her, Talwyn went in the opposite direction, heading for a concealed passageway that would lead up to the queen’s private wing, where she was sure Sorin and Scarlett were holed up. She’d spent much of her childhood here. That knowledge, along with the fact that these halls were identical to the White Halls, meant she knew all of the place’s secrets.
Unfortunately, so did Sorin.
The moment she stepped foot on the staircase to make her way to the rooms, Eliza appeared.
“They are not to be disturbed, your Majesty,” she said with a dark smile.
“Move, General,” Talwyn said with a sneer.
“My orders come from my prince who has informed me no one, save for a select few, are allowed beyond this point for the time being,” Eliza said.
And Talwyn knew this was useless. If she continued to push this, Eliza would summon Cyrus and Rayner and even Briar. They no longer answered to her. She didn’t have the power to command them to do shit any more.
“When can I speak with them?” Talwyn gritted out.
“The queen is resting and recovering. I will let Sorin know you desire an audience when she is well,” Eliza replied nonchalantly.
“See that you do.”