52. Tempest
52
TEMPEST
I ’d made another enemy, but it was inevitable. Delaine tried to kill me, but I eliminated her instead. Her fiancé and father would seek vengeance soon.
I’d spent weeks preparing for this day, but I felt like I rode an out-of-control dragon spiraling toward the ground. I was losing my seat in the saddle and would crash.
Are you alright? I asked Vexxion.
I’m in control. No worries. Proceed with the plan.
I shared an image of the carnage outside.
I’m not surprised, he said. I have to go.
Be careful.
My hands shaking, I flitted to the back hallway and strode into the kitchen, peering around while cooks scurried every which way, hard at work preparing the wedding feast. When I didn’t find Brodine, I looked in the staff dining area, not finding him there either .
Time was running out, and I needed to wrap the new collar around his neck before the wedding.
I rushed down the hall, bumping into Airia who was dressed in a simple day gown.
“Do you know where the male Nullens sleep?” I asked her.
“Sure.” Frowning, she studied my face. “You look like you’ve been running all over the place. Aren’t you supposed to be with the would-be queen right now, helping her get ready for her wedding to the king?”
“I need to find a friend who works here.”
“What’s their name?”
“Brodine.”
“He was collared by the king. If I were you, I’d stay as far away from him as possible.”
“We grew up together. I need to talk to him.”
“He’s been drained,” she said. “I’ve tried to talk to him a few times myself. He’s cute. But he just stares blankly at the wall. He eats and all that. They do something to those they drain to keep them working. I guess no matter what, they need us for that.”
“Can you take me to their room? He could be there.”
“Sure.”
I followed her to the end of the hall. She went left at the intersection, stopping halfway down the next hall, where she waved to a door on the right. “These are their rooms. I doubt anyone’s here, though. Everyone’s helping prepare for the wedding. I was about to get changed and go to the aerie.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t trying to encourage her to keep chatting. I needed to free as many creatures as I could and return to Brenna’s room. “Thanks for showing me the way.” Short of pushing her back down the hall, how could I get rid of her?
“Anytime.” Worry creased her face. “Do you want me to stay with you? I doubt he’s the person you remember. If you haven’t seen Brodine in some time, it will be shocking.”
“No, you don’t have to stay with me. If he’s like you said, I’ll leave. I only slipped away from Brenna’s rooms for a moment. I need to get back to her soon.”
“I imagine she’s excited. The king’s gorgeous. She’s one lucky Nullen.”
“Yes. Lucky.” Go away!
“I’ll see you in the aerie, then? Not today, I don’t imagine. You’ll be helping the future queen until bedtime. Maybe tomorrow.”
The odds were good I wouldn’t be alive tomorrow. “Yes. I’ll be there.”
After giving me a smile, she left.
I knocked on the door. When no one answered, I tested the latch, finding it unlocked, and creaked the door open. Like in the room where Reyla and Airia stayed, beds were lined up on either side with an aisle between them.
Brodine was alone, sitting upright on a bed with his feet extended in front of him and his back pressed against the stone wall. He wore a simple tunic and pants that looked odd on him when I was used to seeing him dressed in leathers. Weapons strapped all over him to turn him into a one-man arsenal. A touch of a smirk on his mouth. Stupid bone coins he’d jangle to the point I’d bark at him to stop and let them be .
He stared off into nothing, and I wanted to shout at him to wake up before it was too late.
It hurt to see him like this. Where had my vibrant friend gone?
He’d been stolen from us as much as Kinart. But unlike my adopted brother, Brodine still lived. I’d brought Reyla back, and I’d do the same with my friend. There was no giving up, not until I could no longer draw air into my lungs.
A sense of urgency filled me. Before I risked my life to kill the king, I wanted to do the best I could for my friends.
“Bro,” I whispered, tentatively placing my hand on his shoulder. “Bro.” I knelt on the bed beside him and held both of his shoulders and shook him, but only briefly when his head flopped on his neck. “Bro!”
He didn’t respond.
My heart crushed, I sagged, my chest churning with pain. Would I ever have my friend back?
My time limited, I yanked the collar from my pocket.
“I’m going to put this around your neck, Bro,” I whispered, holding it up in front of his face. Even if he couldn’t see or respond to me, that didn’t mean my friend wasn’t somewhere deep inside. He’d hear me. He’d know I was trying to help. I had to believe that. “It’ll kill the Claiming collar. You’ll be as happy as me to get rid of it.” Even now, a red welt encircled his neck, gouged from his nails. Like all of us, he could feel it. I bet every Nullen in faerie wanted to remove theirs. Why had our ancestors agreed to such a horrifying deal?
Perhaps to avoid being turned into dregs.
And if they hadn’t, the fae would not have remained behind their veil. They would’ve overrun us. Taken us against our will. Then drained us enough so we’d become cooperative servants.
Now they’d found another way to do it.
“This new collar can be removed when you wake up.” At least his hair was long enough to cover it in the back. “Everyone will think you’re still collared.” Even the king. And with Vexxion acting as controller and feeding power to him, Ivenrail wouldn’t suspect a thing if he went after Brodine today. “I’m going to get you out of here,” I said in an even lower voice. “Today’s the day. Watch. Wait. When I’m ready, you need to run beside me.”
He said nothing, just continued to stare at the far wall.
I looped the collar around his throat and rocked backward, placing my feet on the floor, watching as the vines sunk deep, as the old collar was rejected by the new. I scooped up the hateful, withered vine used by the king at the Claiming and held it aloft. One blast of my power turned it into ashes that sparkled in the sunlight as they drifted to the wooden floor.
Turning back to Brodine, I drew in more power and sent him the same spell I used to free creatures and Reyla. I didn’t dare use much magic. I’d need all I had to carry out our plan. But I could spare a bit for this guy who’d protected me for much of my life.
It didn’t seem to make a difference, but I’d thought the same thing with Reyla. It might take time for him to rise back to the surface.
Fates willing, I’d be there waiting.
“I have to leave.” I rubbed his shoulder. Leaning forward, I wrapped him in my arms, whispering by his ear. “I miss you, Bro. Come back to me. Please.”
Leaning back, I looked into his eyes, feeling tears in my own when he continued to stare forward without expression.
I slid to the floor and left, traveling through the unused areas of the castle quickly, releasing every creature I found. Some dug into the tiles while others went out windows I opened. It wasn’t the best use of my power, but this was the only chance these poor beings might have to be free.
When I couldn’t find any more, I flitted to Brenna’s sitting area. She sat in a chair, staring out the window.
Reyla rushed over to me, dragging me into the bedroom and shutting the door. “What happened?”
“The high advisor is upset about Delaine’s death. I explained that I didn’t know what happened to her, and he let me go.”
She grunted, her lips twisting. “Just like that, huh?”
“Yes.”
Her huff rang out.
I would explain everything to her tomorrow, hopefully while we celebrated the death of the king.
Or I could be dead by tomorrow and it wouldn’t matter. It would all come out, regardless.
Gripping her arms, I made her meet my eye. “If things get odd at the wedding, I want you to promise me something.”
She jerked out a nod, and her eyes shimmered with tears. My friend knew me so well.
“Run. That’s it. Run.” She’d be able to leave without the collar. “My bag’s in the throne room near the wall. Grab it and run. Take Bro with you and keep going until you reach Nullen territory. Board a ship for a place far from this land. Once you arrive there, build a new life and never tell anyone about what happened here.”
“Something horrible is going on here. A bunch of Lieges lay dead in front of the castle. They’re not a present for the wedding couple. I’m happy to see them dead. I hate them for what they do to us. But something else is going on here, and I bet their death will only make things worse.”
It would get worse unless I succeeded today, because killing Ivenrail would break his hold over the dregs.
She gripped my forearms just as tight. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I shook my head. “Promise me you’ll run.”
“I will, but you . . .” She pinched her eyes shut, and when she opened them, tears trickled down her face. “I have a feeling Kinart’s death is wrapped up in whatever you’re planning today. I also have a feeling that I could pin you to the floor and poke you with a dagger and you wouldn’t tell me anything else.”
“You’re right.”
“Then you promise me one thing.”
“If I can.”
“Survive whatever’s coming. I’ll never get over Kinart’s death.” She pressed her fist against her chest. “I hurt so bad, Tempest. I always will. But just like I’m going to find a way to live for whatever future the fates throw my way, you need to promise you’ll live as well. Like you said, neither of us can bear to lose anyone else. ”
“I’ll try. That’s all I can say.” Damn, but I’d try to live through this.
She tugged me into her arms, and we held each other, two lost souls who’d found each other again if for only a brief time.
“Ladies?” Brenna called out from the sitting area. “Where are you? Tempest, that bird is here. He flew in with the staff bringing my tray of tea, and he’s carrying something in his beak. It looks nasty.”
Reyla’s eyes shadowed. “I’ll pour her tea while you take Drask back to your room.”
“Thanks.” I hugged her again quickly before stepping back and opening the door. “Remember to run,” I whispered as I strode back into the sitting area.
Drask flew over and landed on my shoulder.
I crooked my head to the side to see what he was holding in his beak.
A tiny, bleached-white finger bone.