Chapter 22 #3
A moment later, the door clicked open again. Damn, she was persistent. I’d give her that.
I kept my gaze fastened on the page, studying a diagram that looked like something out of a biochemistry class I’d failed. I didn’t understand it, but I wasn’t even going to act semi-interested in Kai's return. “Still not going to be available, Thea.”
“Not even for a little chat? I heard you were asking about me,” a friendly, familiar voice said.
My head snapped up. “Olen!” I shoved the book aside and climbed to my feet.
He stood in the doorway, his red-brown curls tousled and his brow furrowed, though he was smiling. He wore a heavy black cloak and simple black garb underneath, but his smile was as warm as it had been when he’d told me about his brother and his perspective on following the law.
“Hannah.” He crossed the library in four long strides and held out his hands. There was a dark bottle in one and two cups in the other. He set them on the small table near the window seat. “It seems you’re not a prisoner anymore.”
“Well, at least for now. There’s always tomorrow.” I hugged him. His cloak was damp, as if he’d just been outside, even though there was no snow on him. I rolled my eyes. “We came to an arrangement.”
“I’m glad. I’ve been worried for you.” He hugged me tight, then stepped back with his hands gripping my shoulders.
“I didn’t know you’d been asking after me, or I’d have stopped in sooner.
But repairs on the wall and managing other damage have occupied most of my time.
We had to rebuild some of the towers to the south, as well as one of the outposts. ”
“They said you were busy, and you did lose your house.” I wouldn’t have been surprised if he blamed me for that since Kai had followed me to him and the berserker wyvern had followed Kai. “Do you have somewhere to stay?”
“Yeah. That’s all sorted… more or less.” His lips trembled slightly, and the lines in his brow deepened.
He stepped back to the table. “It’s all working out as well as it can, though with the war and all…
times are hard.” He uncorked the bottle and poured the dark liquid into the wooden cups.
“But we didn’t get to finish our drink last time, and I thought we should at least do that. ”
“You came all this way to share a drink?” I laughed and pushed the book to the center of the window seat. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I was just…it meant something that you asked after me. And I wanted to make sure you were all right.” He set the bottle down and handed me the cup. “Between all that and dealing with the royals, let’s say I haven’t had much rest. In times like these, we do what we must.”
“You don’t have to tell me. I know all about those royals.” I glanced at the drink, and an odd sort of twinge passed through me. My thumb brushed the rim of the dark wood. Something was off. “Are you all right? I mean…I know you lost your home, but…other than that?”
He shook his head, then raked a hand through his hair.
A wry laugh escaped his lips. “Well, the house situation hasn’t helped.
A lot of memories were lost in the destruction, but it wasn’t your fault.
And…I’m aware that the king is not pleased with my actions, just as I’m aware I have you and his half-brother to thank for not being imprisoned or worse.
But, all things considered, I’m well. Though I doubt you’ll see me much after this. ”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s a dickwad.”
His mouth twisted, and he shook his head. “Can’t say I know what that means, but you’re probably right.” He lifted the cup. “To the end of the war.”
I would at least enjoy this moment with my friend while I had time left. I lifted mine as well. “To the end of the war.” I downed the drink, and a burn settled deep in my chest.
“Well, sometimes we need a little kick.” I swallowed hard, the burn settling into a deep haze.
Clearing my throat, I set the cup down on the table, my hand heavier and clumsier than it should have been.
The warmth from the brandy spread through my chest and into my limbs, but it wasn't the pleasant buzz I expected. Maybe drinking an unknown liquid in a fae land wasn’t the best idea. "That's... that's strong stuff."
“Blackthorn brandy.” He filled both our glasses again, chuckling. His expression looked pained, though. “Aged twelve years.” His thumb pressed harder against the rim. “Kicks like a caribou.”
My legs wobbled, and I grabbed the window seat to steady myself. The burn seemed to be spreading throughout my body.
Olen didn't laugh, but he didn’t reach out to help me either.
He just studied me with his cup still in his hand.
“You’re the one who actually gave me the idea for this,” he said softly.
“It was very clever, really. When the Night King told me what I had to do, it was ironic that I realized you had inspired the perfect plan. I could never lace clovefall whiskey with anything. It’s not possible.
But blackthorn brandy…well, that burn will hide anything. ”
The room tilted sideways, and the bookshelves blurred into smears of leather and gold. “You bastard!” Or at least that’s what I tried to say. The world tilted, and I tried to steady myself, scream, or do anything.
A strange look of sadness twisted on his face.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I truly do like you, and I admire your spirit.
This is the last thing I wanted to do, but I have no choice.
The Night King can’t be stopped, and the only way anyone in this court will survive is…
” He trailed off as he bowed his head. “Just let go, Hannah. You won’t remember anything.
You won’t feel anything either. I made sure of that.
No matter what they do, you won’t suffer. I’m sorry. This is the best I can do.”
I fought the pull, clawing at consciousness like a drowning woman reaching for the surface.
My fingers scraped uselessly against the window seat cushion, my nails catching on embroidered thread.
The library blurred around me. The stars on the ceiling spun like a carousel gone mad.
Bookshelves melted into rivers of leather and gilt. Then my knees buckled.
I didn’t feel my body strike the floor, but when I looked up through the haze of my vision, I saw Olen stooping beside me. He brushed the hair from my face. “Sleep, Hannah.”
Kai…
Darkness claimed me.