30
Valen
The training session breaks up just after three a.m., and despite my order for everyone to stay within the estate grounds, I shift into my wolf form and sneak out into the woods. Tania always says I believe the rules don’t apply to me. There’s no need to change now. I need distance. Time to decompress.
The best way I know how is to run.
It’s been a while since I’ve been out this way. The last time was before we left for Ventin. It’s hard to imagine life being simpler then…
I lope to the edge of the estate lines, then race across the field that separates our land and Hiffen. Ahead, a pair of fawn twins plays in the snow. I bark and skid to a stop, sending a spray of snow in every direction. The smaller of the two hops back, then lunges forward, bouncing around. I throw myself onto the ground and roll in the snow. The cold feels amazing, and the light flakes falling from the sky are like heaven.
When I get up, the mother has crept into the clearing. She’s not as trusting of me as her babies, and I huff a goodbye, then continue on my way.
Already I feel better, head clearer. Suppressing this part of me for so long was torture—I just hadn’t realized how agonizing it’d been. I run up the hill behind the estate and through the woods to the edge of Hiffen and stop between a cluster of trees. I lower my nose to the ground and sniff. Something smells wrong. The forest has grown way more than it should have.
“Good evening, Your Majesty,” a woman’s voice says from the trees.
My change is instant, and I ready myself. I would know that voice anywhere. “Aphelian. Show yourself.”
The trees shift, their branches lowering, twisting. After several moments, a visage of Aphelian appears before me, her form, her face, made entirely of branches and leaves from the surrounding trees. “Better?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I might ask you the same thing. Out with no guard? That seems…unwise, considering the current state of things.” Her voice is accompanied by an odd sound, like leaves being crushed beneath a boot.
“If you recall, you gave me your word that we had three months—something you’ve already gone back on.”
The foliage version of Aphelian offers a mock gasp. “I’ve done nothing of the sort.”
“The vines at the estate? At the town? Do you have any idea how many people you hurt?”
Her form shrugs. Several of the outer leaves fall off and drift to the ground. “Simply my way of keeping tabs on you. You know, to ensure you’re not doing anything dishonorable behind my back.” The leaves shudder, and the form leans forward a bit. “You know…like gathering the other courts to stand against me?”
So, she does know. I suppose it makes sense that she’s been watching us somehow.
Aphelian’s form spreads its viny arms. “You don’t seem surprised.”
“And you don’t seem concerned,” I say tightly.
“I have no reason to be concerned.” Her tone is confident, like she’s already beaten us. “If I did, you never would have gotten this far.”
“That sure of yourself, huh?”
“What I’m doing has been foretold for over a thousand years. But you know that already, too.”
The time has come for the Omen of Ice to embrace its fire…
“There are still a few holes,” I say. “Care to fill them in?”
“Soon enough, little lord.” Aphelian is quiet for a moment. The leaves on her face flutter in the breeze as she moves her head from one side to the other, seemingly searching for something. I focus on the sounds of the forest. Nothing appears out of place. We’re completely alone. Finally, she says, “I will make you a deal. I’ll let you save half the Fae in the Winter Lands if you do one simple thing. Give me the girl.”
She can’t possibly believe I’ll agree to this. “I made this deal with you to save Tania’s life. If you think I’d just hand her over after everything—”
“Not Tania. The other one.”
The other one?
Suria…
The kid is strong. Undisciplined, sure, but powerful. What kind of chaos could Aphelian cause if she got her hands on Winter Fae magic that potent? What would she do to Suria?
I do my best to keep my expression neutral as I say, “It’s tempting. She’s a pain in the ass. But I think I’ll pass. Why would you even want her—”
“Does it really matter?”
“She’s under my protection, so yes. It matters. Every Fae matters.”
“I’m offering you something that will help your Fae. Half of them for one single little girl.”
“Why would I give her up to save half my people when I can try saving all of them?”
“Because you can’t save all of them.” The leafy form shudders, more of the branches coming loose. Whatever magic is keeping it together is starting to fade. She might be stronger than us, than the other druids, but she’s still not at the top of her game. She has her limits. “When I said I wanted the Winter Lands, I meant all of it—that includes all the souls that dwell inside.”
“Why would you want all the Winter Fae dead,” I snap. “What could you possibly have to gain from that?”
“Maybe you’ll figure it out. Maybe you won’t. In the end, it does not matter.” The vestige sighs. “Now, you have my terms. Half or none. Decide.”
“No deal.” I meant it when I told Suria we’d keep her safe.
“You won’t sacrifice one life for half of your people?” The form laughs. It’s more like a strangled cry, but the sentiment is unmistakable. One of the branches making up a large portion of her arm falls to the ground. “It’s a good thing I plan to take your lands, Winter Lord. You’re unfit to rule.”
The remaining branches shudder once, then shrivel and fall into the snow.
I’m not giving Suria to the enemy. I stood my ground—but it’s not really a win. Whatever Aphelian is planning is huge, and despite everything we’ve already accomplished, I’m not sure we’ll ever be ready.
…
Despite the increased security and the stalwart eyes of the Winter Guard, I manage to get back into the estate without notice. Then again, I’ve been sneaking on and off the estate for years. There are multiple ways in and out that no one knows about but me.
When I get back to my room, Tania’s door across the hall is closed. I feel her inside and hesitate, wanting to tell her first about the interaction with Aphelian in the woods. In the end, though, I decide against it. I do need to tell her—and everyone. But first, I need to think, so I go to the one place on the estate where I’ve always felt safest. The catacombs.
At the bottom of the stairs, I walk down the main hall, trailing my fingers across the wall. My experiences down here have taken on new meaning since finding out that what I thought was simply a bespelled building was really an ancient Fae spirit. Her name is Bojan. And I haven’t come down here alone to talk to her since Delkin told me her story right after we got back from Ventin.
“Bojan?” I call out. I’m not sure what I expect, but it’s not the appearance of a beautiful Fae with deep-blue hair and thick, curled horns.
“Valen,” she says, smiling. “I was wondering when I’d see you again.”
“I wasn’t aware that I could see you.” I step to the left, circling her slowly. She’s not quite solid, yet definitely not transparent. Reaching out, I try to touch her arm—but my hand goes right through.
“Of course. You simply had to say my name.”
“I’m sorry I never…”
“You had no way of knowing.” Her smile grows wider. “It was very nice to see your father. I missed him. Your mother, too.”
“I didn’t know you knew my mother.”
“She used to come down here as a child. Of course, that was long after your father roamed these halls.” She snickers. “The two of them… That was something no one saw coming.”
I walk farther into the tunnels. Bojan follows. “I want to thank you,” I say.
“For what?”
“For everything you did for me when I was a child. Orbik— Liani —locked me down here as a punishment. I didn’t know it at the time, but you made sure I was never scared.” The hall in front of me shifts and twists, turning into a series of right-hand turns.
“In a way, I feel like I raised you.” She pauses as we take the first turn, then smiles. “I’m proud of who you’ve become, Valen. And the druid? I like her very much. She has fire. It’s a good match.”
Bojan has been around a very long time. She’s a wealth of information. If there’s a chance she can help us… “I wonder if I might ask you about the Omen of Ice prophecy. You’re familiar with it, right?”
“I am, yes.”
“Do you recall any mention of embracing fire ?”
“There’s no mention of fire in that prophecy that I can recall.” She hesitates. “But not all prophecies are delivered whole.”
“So there could be more to it than we know.”
“There most assuredly is,” she says. “I’m sorry I can’t be more help.”
It was worth a try. “What about Aphelian? I know she was born long after you died, but she spent time here, at the estate, with Servis, right? After he overthrew my father?”
“She did. I never liked that woman. However…history got many things wrong about Aphelian. For example, her daughter, Lily Rose, didn’t die in the Harabin ambush.”
“What? Why lie about that?”
“The lesser-known stories say that Lily was killed by the Autumn Fae. Aphelian claimed she died as an infant to cover something up. Something that spanned both the Winter and Autumn Courts. Whatever it was remains a mystery, as only Aphelian knows the truth.”
Something that spanned both courts?
The time has come for the Omen of Ice to embrace its fire.
That would link her motivations to both the Winter and Autumn Courts—but I still have no clue what they are. “We were concerned it might have something to do with Gensted—he’s the current monarch of the Autumn Fae. Maybe we need to look closer at that theory…”
Bojan smiles. “You’ll figure it out. You always do. Just like you always do the right thing. I’m proud of you for returning the druid tear.”
“It wasn’t ours,” I say.
“That didn’t stop Servis from taking it.” She hesitates, then rests her hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you,” she says, disappearing.