Chapter 4 The Moon And Stars #2
“Of course, there is, Declan. You could live openly as a Kindreth. You are a citizen of the Aravae Empire,” Aquilan quickly assured him.
Declan sat up. The wind was a little cooler now or maybe it was an internal chill he was feeling.
“You would back me as a Kindreth?” Declan asked.
Aquilan sat up too. “Of course. I should never have allowed the rampant discrimination against the Kindreth to run as wild as it has. It was just…”
“You thought my father killed your parents? Good enough reason. And we still don’t know he didn’t. He certainly killed Seith and Leisha,” Declan pointed out.
“As to Seith and Leisha… when I think of how they harassed you and likely what they planned to do… I think I understand why he did what he did,” Aquilan’s expression grew grim.
“But I am almost certain that he didn’t kill my parents.
With them dead, he couldn’t hang over their heads my health and his promise to take me from them if they didn’t comply.
Alive they had far more strategic value to him. ”
“You seem to understand him.”
“I did read quite a bit about him. Maybe as much as Finley.” A flash of a smile. “He kills to be sure. He is ruthless without a doubt. He would not hesitate to take a life if he thought it necessary. But he has never been accused of killing thoughtlessly… like I have.”
Aquilan’s head lowered. Declan lifted his chin.
“I told you that Vulre needed killing and those with him… I wouldn’t mourn them either,” Declan assured him.
“I killed them out of misplaced rage. Out of guilt. Out of prejudice. Because killing them was easier than accepting that I was not going to avenge my parents by starting a war with the Kindreth,” Aquilan said with quiet conviction.
“I loved my parents. So much.” His voice grew thick with emotion.
He blinked rapidly. “But I would not start a war for them based on what I knew. They had gone into the Under Dark without an invitation. They sought out our alleged greatest enemy for reasons unknown. I could discover none of their plans. So other than grief over their loss, I had no way to direct it.”
“That sounds like a decision a king would make,” Declan said with quiet conviction.
“Yes, but it feels cowardly too. I should have done more. Found out more. But something… always stopped me.” Aquilan brought his free hand against his chest. “Vex asked me if I really wanted to know what happened to them. And I, of course, said yes. But my actions say no.”
“The Under Dark is a dangerous place. Any number of things could have killed even them,” Declan said.
“Yes, but some part of me doesn’t think that,” Aquilan murmured, his eyes going distant. “Maybe that’s something I should look into as well.”
“Or leave the past in the past,” Declan suggested.
Aquilan’s eyes refocused on him. Such a clear blue. They reflected the darker color of the sky and the shine of stars. Declan’s heart skipped a beat.
“The past seems like such a dark pit to me,” Declan quickly explained. “A whirlpool that wants to suck us down when we could just stay in the present and look to the future.”
Aquilan’s hand cupped his face. “There is wisdom in what you say. I think you should do that, Declan. And maybe… maybe… I don’t know. I will think on it, too.”
“Think about tomorrow. Maybe we will go to a few of those sweet shops I pointed out the other day. Take some chocolates with us on our picnic,” Declan suggested, loving the brush of Aquilan’s skin against his cheek.
“Sweet shops?! Oh, yes! You did mention those!” Aquilan colored. “You evidently know my weakness now. Sugar.”
“And romance books.” Declan tilted his head towards the open balcony doors to where Aquilan’s desk–festooned with his new books–had been piled.
“This is not fair. I need to know your vices now!” Aquilan laughed.
Declan chuckled. “You’ll have to figure them out. I’m not going to tell you.”
Aquilan looked carefully at him. “I shall study you every moment of every day and night.”
Declan’s throat felt tight. “Oh, I…”
“You need not say anything, Declan,” Aquilan got out. “My feelings are… I know it is quick. You must feel overwhelmed–”
“I feel…”
Aquilan’s eyes flickered over his face. “What?”
“I feel…” Declan grimaced. “You are the Moon and the stars. You are the Sun. I simply exist in awe of you.”
Aquilan slowly blinked. “Declan…”
“You are a dream made real, Aquilan Fairlynn. I want nothing more than to be in your presence… even as an unimportant onlooker,” Declan whispered.
Aquilan’s eyes glowed. The golden lights that sometimes surrounded him were suddenly everywhere. But the light did not hurt. He leaned in. Their lips were millimeters from each other’s. He breathed in Aquilan’s breath.
“You are my sky and my earth, Declan. I am there to light your way on whatever journey you will take,” Aquilan said.
When their lips met an electric current went through Declan. His body arched. He heard the sizzle and crack of magic. Then saw a silver light join with gold behind his eyelids as they had closed. Aquilan let out a sound of delight.
“Declan! How beautiful! You did this! Oh, you did this!” Aquilan murmured.
Declan opened his eyes and saw that the motes of golden light were now joined by motes of silver.
They swirled around the two of them. The beautiful blended light was as if the Moon and Sun had combined.
It was the most ethereal light. And both of them held onto one another as they gazed with joy upon it.
Helgrom lifted an eyebrow as he stared at the figure in the corner booth at the Dawn.
Did he really think that no one was going to notice him simply because he was swathed from head to toe in a hood and long silvery cloak?
Helgrom then amended that thought as he realized that no one but him appeared to notice the languid, lithe figure lounging with a glass of chilled wine.
Helgrom headed towards this “mysterious stranger.”
“I thought you’d give it at least a full 24 hours before you showed up here,” Helgrom said to the figure.
“Is that what this planet’s day-night cycle runs on?” Vex asked with a faint chuckle from underneath the voluminous hood. He took a sip of the wine. “Delicious! I think I understand why it's my nephew’s favorite.”
“It’s actually your nephew’s stash. How you found it so quickly means that you’ve been hanging about before now,” Helgrom said.
“Won’t you sit down and enjoy Rhalyf’s wine with me? You’re… you’re hawking, Hein,” Vex said.
Helgrom let out a snort of annoyed amusement and sat down on the bench opposite. Vex pulled out another cup from somewhere and poured the cold, white wine from the decanter into it. He wondered where he’d conjured the glassware from. Helgrom took a sip. Crisp. Refreshing.
“If you’re taking up a table, you best leave a tip even if you helped yourself to the goods,” Helgrom said.
“I would have used your services if my son had been here, but it appears he is off this evening. At the palace?” Vex made it sound like a question, but Helgrom knew that Vex was well aware of where Declan was at any moment of the day or night. “And those are the Bastons, yes? His… family?”
Vex indicated Michael, Shonda, and Gemma who were seated at a table near the fire. Gemma was talking animatedly, gesturing with her fork and knife as her loving parents watched her with delight. Helgrom shifted uncomfortably.
“You needn’t bring them into this,” Helgrom said.
“Bring them in… to what?” All innocent.
“I don’t know. Whatever it is that you are planning,” Helgrom said. “They did well by your son. And they are good people. They’ve done nothing against you.”
“Not knowingly,” Vex answered softly.
It was then that Snaglak came over to the Baston’s table with a pitcher of beer.
Shonda patted the empty seat beside her, which the big orc took, nearly sloshing beer on her dress, but slurping it up at the last moment.
When he offered to fill Michael’s cup from the pitcher he’d just drunk from, Michael waved the offer away.
Maybe he was thinking of the poop from earlier.
“Why are you here?” Helgrom asked. “The boy has made clear he has no interest in the throne, in power, or anything else.”
“We both know that he doesn’t truly get to choose,” Vex almost sounded sad. “But it is me who should be asking you: why are you here, Hein? You arrived before my dear son so it cannot be Declan that drew you into the light.”
Helgrom took another swallow of wine. “Because he’s back. And the oath I swore to him then applies now even if he doesn’t remember himself.”
A dry laugh. “You lost your kingdom over that allegiance, Hein. Part of me is surprised that you would continue on with it, but another part… Well, you lost your kingdom for him so why not continue to act as if he is worth it?”
“He is. He always has been,” Helgrom answered.
He put his elbows on the table as he regarded the Night King.
“You know that when I chose him, I was choosing you. The best part of you. Honoring what you would have wanted. What you asked of me again and again: Keep Ailduin safe, Hein. Even if I’m the cause of his danger. Keep Ailduin safe.”
The cloaked figure stilled. “Yes, I did say something like that, didn’t I?”
Helgom’s bushy brows furrowed. He kept his amber-eyed gaze even on the Night King. “So my question to you is: are you a cause of danger to him now, Vex?”
Vex smiled. A slash of too white, sharp teeth. “That is always the question, isn’t it?”