Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MADOC
R ivan paces back and forth, practically tearing his hair out, as he tries to figure out what to do. I’m probably the only one who knows the crushing weight of being forgotten by a world that left you behind a long time ago. Do you return and fight or find another path? There was a time in the dark when I thought “good riddance,” but my fury quickly smashed the defeating thoughts.
“What hurts more—Brixton’s words or his sword?” I ask him, curious to know whether he can be honest with himself.
He stops. “What?”
Leaning against the door, I lift a shoulder and answer, “His words bested you before he even lifted his sword. After that, the match was over.”
Flames ignite in the depth of his eyes. “My father’s never had anything nice to say about anyone but himself. I got used to his abuse a long time ago.” His tone is even, but the tic in his jaw gives him away.
A faint smile curves my lips. “My father was the same, but no matter how many times we remind ourselves of that fact, their purposely chosen words always pierce our armor and hit their target, don’t they?” My father could give lessons to Brixton. Not all of the scars I wear came from the monsters below.
“After all these years, you’re free. It’s time for you to choose your path. Figure out who you are and what you stand for without the influence of anyone else,” I urge him. “If you want to be known for being kind and selfless, build a school or an orphanage. There is always a need for good deeds and stewards in this world. On your deathbed, people will sing your praises.”
The corner of his lip curls, but he says nothing.
“Once you were known to be the fiercest of warriors. Then you selflessly sacrificed your life to save the children of the Fire Fae,” I muse, holding both palms up as if the two weigh equally. “Only you can be master of your destiny. Who do you want to be going forward?”
There isn’t a wrong choice with either, but he needs to decide for himself.
“I’ve met you before, haven’t I?” he asks out of the blue.
“A long time ago,” I reply as I walk away.
It’s not the time to delve into the past. I climb the stairs to the deck. Meri turns to me with a question in her eyes, and I shake my head.
“He needs space and time to figure things out.”
She flashes me a look of understanding. “It will take us time to find something of Leandra’s.” That’s all she says until we get to the port.
She throws her arms around Hyne. “I can’t thank you enough. Today meant the world to me. Are you going to be okay?”
Hyne gives her a determined look. “I’ll be fine. I gave him the opportunity to kill me. He won’t get another chance. The weapons you gave us will help, and we’ve got powerful allies.”
Meri frowns. “Lady Brina?”
He sighs and shakes his head. “No, she chose the Fire Fae. Better chance of fighting the light Fae who looked down on her at court.” He places a large finger against his lips. “Many of the light Fae courts support peace and have pledged to help us uphold the treaty. Once we have a new sovereign on the throne.” His look is pointed.
“Good,” she replies firmly. “The crown will choose the ruler who is best for both the aristocratic and Lesser Fae.”
With a snort of disbelief, he turns to us and says goodbye. When he gets to Rivan, his smile disappears. “It takes great strength to choose peace. At least, that’s what Fisk used to tell me. To be honest, I’m finding it takes a hell of a lot of patience. I prefer a good fight myself.” He leaps off the ship to land on the dock next to his men. “Until next time, little queen.”
Cormal creates a portal right on the deck. “Let’s go.”
Everyone is waiting for us when we return.
Solandis yanks Meri into her arms. “What were you thinking? The light Fae will kill you if they get the chance. Their world is upside down, and most of them blame you for the revolution.”
Her words make Meri pause. “Most? Are you still in touch with any of them?”
“They won’t leave her the fuck alone,” Vargas grumbles.
She waves a hand to shush him, and understanding crosses Meri’s face when she realizes the light Fae have been asking for Solandis to return and be their queen.
Her hand reaches out to grab Solandis’. “Don’t worry, the crown will choose the right person. You would be the perfect queen, but we both know your heart isn’t in it.”
Solandis sags slightly in relief. “It’s not. I don’t want it to choose me, but who else is left?”
Rivan steps forward, and everyone stops talking.
“This is Rivan, my friend,” Meri informs them, looking sadly at Rivan.
He immediately looks away, and it takes everything I have not to knock some sense into him. I glance over at Cormal and see his narrowed eyes locked on Rivan.
Meri darts a glance at Arden.
“Why don’t Valerian and I show you around? We’ve got pretty much anything you need here. Food, fantastic rooftop…” Arden suggests, stepping in to save Meri. Her voice trails off when Rivan lifts a hand.
“Do you have a training facility?” he asks her.
Solandis, along with the rest of the cadre, groan at his question, but Vargas and Arden light up.
“State of the art,” Arden says in a singsong voice. “And it changes based on whatever you need. But the best part… it comes with trained warriors who will kick your ass every day.” She waves a hand at Vargas, the cadre, and herself. “Want to see it?”
Rivan nods, and Vargas claps him on the back. The three of them head off to see the room that’s going to be Rivan’s salvation. I eye the glee in Arden’s and Vargas’ faces. He may regret asking them for help.
Solandis turns back to us. “I heard Brixton escaped and is vowing the usual vengeance.”
Cormal rolls his eyes. “Good word travels fast. Your sources didn’t happen to say where the bastard is hiding, did they?”
Solandis’ twinkling laugh fills the hall. “No, but if I find out, I’ll let you know.” Surprisingly, there’s a murderous glint in her eye that tells me she’d gladly kill him herself. Good. She frowns. “I also heard the island woke up.”
I scowl, not liking the fact myself. As if we needed another problem added to our plates. “If I’d have known the origin of Meri’s runes was Avalon, I wouldn’t have let her step foot on the land.”
The repercussions could be severe. Old magic has a sentience not present in modern magic. My eyes are drawn to the walls of The Abbey, brimming with the magic flowing inside them as if they’re alive. Case in point.
Meri’s eyes dart between the two of us. “Why does it matter?”
“Old magic doesn’t follow the same rules,” I explain to her. “It doesn’t need someone to wield it. It has a will of its own. But it’s wild and untempered by control or a conscience, which means it’s omnipotent. Avalon magic only listens to the descendants of Avalon. There are too few of them left to maintain its balance.”
Turquoise eyes look at me suspiciously. “You seem to know a lot about it.”
“My father told me the stories,” I tell Solandis. Needing to get off this subject, I look at Cormal. “Where are we going first?”
He raises an eyebrow at Meri. “Your call.”
Her nose scrunches up as she thinks. “Hiemal. We spent an entire winter there. It was wonderful.”
Cormal’s mouth quirks up as if she said something that pleased him.
“Is it a nice place?” I ask, trying to understand why they’re happy.
Meri snorts. “It has subzero temperatures and is covered with ice, but thankfully, Cormal found us some gear.”
And she happily lived there an entire winter. Meri rarely talks about her childhood. All I know is she lived in The Underworld with her guardian Leandra. I have a feeling this is going to give me a rare inside look into her past. One she has never let anyone see except Cormal.