Chapter 18 Vynsiel
VYNSIEL
“Titan scum,” Koar grunted, pacing the hall.
The big man seemed ready to shift to his dragon form, which would have nasty consequences for the delicate architecture of Royal’s Hall.
This lavish building was a place for all elven students — and their approved retinue — to relax, take meals, and study.
The wall of windows along this second story hall gave a pristine view of the Ysalon River. The Mage-glass wall on the other side of the hall was currently opaque, hiding Saldrea’s meeting with a small delegation of titans…
Whom Koar hated with vigor.
Supposedly the titans were here on a mission of peace, led by the titan prince: Bayn. The queen regent — Saldrea’s mother — had invited them to attend the academy. And if that were true, I’d have applauded the queen’s efforts to mend ways with the ages-old enemies of the elves.
But… something was up.
Saldrea and her mother were scheming, and I didn’t like it at all.
Honestly, the titans didn’t seem that bad to me, just big.
But Koar had fought their kind in the last war.
His hatred for them was as strong as most here in Seial.
And that was probably what had me questioning what was going on, because Saldrea had every reason to hate them, but she’d been far too kind. And she wasn’t nice to anyone.
There were rumors that the titans who’d snuck into the palace to kill the royal family over a hundred years ago had had help from the inside.
No one spoke it aloud, but in secret, people whispered about the queen regent’s involvement.
No one would oppose her though, not now that she’d nearly solidified her power.
The crown council would most likely approve her bid to become the next queen within the year.
A potential traitor on the throne.
I didn’t suspect the titans here at the academy were up to anything, but Saldrea…?
God, I hated this post.
I’d had self-respect once. Morals.
Koar was doggedly loyal to the royal line, which in his head, meant the queen regent and her daughter. But I had my reservations. I couldn’t voice them or even think them most of the time since one of Saldrea’s cronies was a sylph who could read minds.
I shouldn’t even be letting my thoughts wander now, but I couldn’t help it.
More and more I’d been questioning everything in my life.
All since I’d met that strange nymph.
Izzy.
Saldrea had become obsessed with the woman, digging into her background, unearthing everything she could about the woman who’d dared to insult her.
Yet there was precious little to know, it seemed.
Her name was Izzy Brown, a nymph, probably the daughter of exiles.
She’d recently been brought back from the human realm and her power level had only just passed the bar where she might be a threat to herself or others — or exposure of our kind — so she’d been forced to remain here.
The only strange thing was some mysterious backer who’d set Izzy up financially while she was here.
But none of that mattered to me.
All I knew was that Izzy’s spirit called to me, even now. And it wasn’t some soft, distant thing, but a persistent beacon. I could point to where Izzy was. My spirit sung with joy, pulled toward her.
But this pull…
It was rare, but some seraphim would connect in spirit, a powerful joining which signaled they’d found their true mate. But I’d never heard of a seraph feeling it for a non-seraph.
Could this be the same thing?
I’d certainly never felt anything like this before, but there were few seraphim here on campus for me to consult. I’d have to go home, and Saldrea rarely allowed that.
Nymphs weren’t known to be strong spirit wielders, but Izzy’s spirit had nearly overwhelmed me.
She was strong, determined, fierce. And when I’d seen her stand up to Saldrea, for the first time in my entire life, I’d felt…
hope. Then, my spirit had cried out in pain when Saldrea had had her revenge in class.
And the princess was far from done with Izzy.
And given this ache in the depths of my spirit, neither was I.
But what was I to do?
There was no way Saldrea would allow me to take a mate of any sort, let alone Izzy. I was trapped in this life.
The door to the conference room burst open, and the five titans came storming out, all looking furious. I didn’t need to read minds to know they hated Saldrea. Heavens, they were big, even in their miniaturized forms, they were all over seven feet tall.
Their leader, Prince Bayn, was the largest of them all, closer to eight feet than seven, and build like a bear, thick…
everywhere. Incongruent to his size, his face was just a bit to smooth and round and full.
That, along with his bald head, gave him a baby-faced look.
Though there was nothing innocent about the glower in his dark eyes and the fury creasing his brow.
Koar was instantly on high alert, but Saldrea’s voice soothed him. “Let them go, they know their place,” she said as she emerged behind them.
They know their place?
Since when had titans ever submitted to elves?
Yeah, something strange was going on here.
“I want you two to tell anyone you talk to that the titans are good folk and to be treated with kindness and respect,” Saldrea said as she strolled down the hall.
I fell in step behind her. Luckily, her retinue of other ladies weren’t with her, so I didn’t have to worry about my thoughts being overheard. The fact that Saldrea hadn’t wanted her crew in the meeting with the titans was also highly suspect.
“They’re up to something,” Koar said, vicious.
Saldrea laughed. “Of course they are, but it’s something myself and my mother have sanctioned, so it is none of your concern.”
Oh yeah, this was bad.
“Vynsy,” Saldrea called.
I hated that nickname. “Yes mistress,” I said hurrying up to her side.
“I’m not done with that pesky little nymph who insulted me. I want you to seduce her, get in good with her, get close. Since she’s new here she probably has no friends. Use that. Get close. Find out all her secrets, anything I can use to destroy her.”
I wasn’t at all surprised by this request. And given my hidden feelings, I was overjoyed Saldrea was asking me to see Izzy.
However…
“She knows I work for you, she’ll suspect something.”
Saldrea tossed her head in a dismissive shrug. “Tell her you hate me, that I’m a nasty master, a bitch, that she’s your saving grace, whatever you need to. You’re pretty enough, it shouldn’t take much to convince her you’re sincere.”
I wasn’t sure which was more surprising: Saldrea’s awareness of her own villainy or her complete lack of awareness of what a real relationship required.
“As you wish, mistress.”
I turned to go, trying to hide my excitement at the thought of seeing Izzy again.
“And Vynsy…”
I turned back.
Saldrea’s eyes were a frigid blue as she gazed into my soul. “You know what happens to those who cross me.”
“I do, mistress.” Did she suspect I was on the verge of turning on her? How? Had my thoughts already betrayed me?
“Say it.”
“You destroy them, mistress. Take everything they have: power, prestige, wealth, you make them suffer.”
She smiled brightly. “Exactly!” She made a shooing motion with her hands. “Now go! Entice every secret out of that little slut.”
I nodded and fled.
No, Saldrea didn’t know how I felt, that had been just another reminder of her power.
And the more I thought about potentially betraying Saldrea, the more I realized: I had nothing left for her to take.
I had no power, and I didn’t care for the prestige or wealth I gained from being close to her.
I was already suffering. My soul had been shredded over the years by every horrible thing she made me to.
There was nothing left for her to take but my life.
And death seemed more like an escape.
I fully intended to talk to Izzy, perhaps become her friend, but there was no way I’d give Saldrea any of the woman’s secrets. I was done helping that vicious elf. Even if my family would disown me for the betrayal.
Once out of the building, I let my wings out, the slits in the back of my shirt allowing them to stretch and flare. Then I took to the sky and headed west over the residences.
As luck would have it, my keen eyes spotted Izzy heading out of the southern building of the lesser residence, heading across the courtyard. Hope surged in my chest. Just seeing her made the world brighter, made me believe this world could change, that Izzy could change it… somehow.
And as I drew nearer, my spirit sung with joy and reverence, uplifted. Oh yes, this was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Izzy was my true mate… she just didn’t know it yet.
And I wasn’t ready to be mated to anyone. As much as my spirit was all in, my heart was in no condition to love. Too much darkness lurked there, the poor organ torn and stained by the horrible things I’d done for Saldrea. Things for which I could never forgive myself.
I was not a good person, but I suspected Izzy was. Maybe by being close to her, following her lead, I could start to cleanse the stains upon my soul? Maybe she could heal my shredded heart?
Heavens, I hoped so.
All of which was to say, I couldn’t be her mate right now, but I could be a friend.
When I landed next to her, she started, eyes wide. I couldn’t quite tell whether it was my sudden arrival that surprised her, or my outstretched wings. Probably both.
“Hey,” I said. “I know how you can get back at Saldrea, if you’re interested.”