Chapter 26 Ariana #2
Kiora made eye contact with Erik and dipped her head ever so slightly to show respect in the greeting.
“If you both know one another so well, why are you two so weepy?” Iver asked.
Kiora assessed him, running her gaze down the length of him before snapping back to his face.
“We are not weepy. But we have not seen each other in a very long time. My family moved out of the city when I was young, and I have not returned until now.” She left out the part where her family was forced out of the city, for my father believed that the Sparrow Archers were no longer necessary.
The truth was, he was jealous. They had always been in a way worshiped, and that was the real reason he sent them away, because he couldn’t bear the Bavadrin people worshiping anyone except him.
Kiora reached out, taking my hands in hers. “We have all returned here for you. I have returned for you. And my tailoring is better than ever. I can send a needle soaring, never a stitch out of place.” There was a wicked gleam in her eyes.
Never had Kiora picked up a needle in her life, but she had picked up a bow and arrow. She was telling me she had joined the ranks of the Sparrows, that her skill was as impeccable as those who had come before her.
“There was never any doubt in my mind that you could achieve greatness at whatever you set yourself to.” I smiled.
“I won’t keep you from your celebration any longer.” Kiora’s lips gained a fierce curve, matching the unwavering certainty in her eyes. She hugged me once more.
“We will catch up soon,” I replied, not wanting to let her go.
“Definitely,” she agreed, her attention moving briefly to the Lysians. “Enjoy the party.”
Kiora disappeared into the sea of bodies moving throughout the room.
“Why did she not return here for such a long time?” Kole asked after she was no longer visible, and I nearly thought I had perhaps imagined her into existence.
“Her family moved away,” I replied.
“Yeah, but they are here now. Surely, she could have come to visit, or you visit her.”
I was not sure whether he was suspicious or simply could not comprehend.
“Fraser would not allow for me to make that trip. As for her family . . . you have to understand we were forced to follow our previous Superior. That did not mean that they wanted to. Sometimes leaving was a way to keep the peace.”
“It was that bad that your citizens avoided the capitol?” Kole’s crystal eyes watched me as I considered how much I wished to share.
“Taxation has gotten steep, and for no reason other than Fraser wished to widen the gap between himself and those he viewed as beneath him. We have also had a population decline. Fraser began encouraging reproduction efforts. As a result, some began viewing women as currency. Those living outside the capitol found ways to avoid some of these changes. The closer to Fraser, the more likely to be required to aid in his efforts.”
“Do you have children?” Iver asked curiously.
A bitter smile curved at my lips. “I was spared because the price of my womb was a bargaining chip Fraser enjoyed wielding.”
Kole and Iver appeared disgusted, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at Erik to see what he thought.
Kole decided to change the subject saying, “By the way, you were remarkable today.”
“Yes, very savage but lovely,” Iver voiced before draping his arm across Erik’s shoulders, and pulling him in. “I think this one nearly fainted.”
My cheeks flushed, embarrassed that they witnessed me like that. I don’t know what got into me when facing Shal. Never had I behaved in such a manner before. It was suddenly difficult to meet the Lysian King’s eye.
“That reminds me.” I dug into my pocket, desperate for something else to focus on. Pulling free the blade, I held it out for Erik. “Thank you for this.”
Dark sapphire eyes observed the beautiful silver dagger in my hands before rising to view me. Reaching out, his hand pushed my fingers, curling them over the hilt. “It is yours to keep.”
I couldn’t keep the surprise from my face. I wasn’t certain what was most shocking: that he was gifting me something of his, or that he thought me so nonthreatening that he allowed me to keep a weapon.
“You’re sure?” Never had I seen a blade like it. Intricate carvings etched the silver with a detail that would have taken someone a great deal of effort to make. The weight of it felt good in my hand, perfect even.
Erik nodded. “After tonight, that blade is more yours than it ever was mine.” His lip quirked up at the edge.
My cheeks flushed. “Where did you get it?”
“It belonged to my father.” He smiled.
“Erik, I can’t have this.” I held it out to him once more.
“You already do. Besides, it’s not like my father did not have an entire room of weapons.” He nodded towards the dagger. “But you should probably pocket it for now. You wouldn’t want someone running up to hug you and ending up with a blade in their gut.”
“Ariana is not that careless,” Willis said from beside us, surprising me with his presence.
“Willis!” I exclaimed.
“Superior.” He dipped his head. A single dimple pressed into his cheek with his smile.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, finally pocketing the blade.
“Of course he does,” Landin spoke as he, too, joined our growing group that was now half Lysian and half Bavadrin.
Though he smiled at me, it turned into a scowl when he turned to the Lysians.
“You lot planning on letting her enjoy the night or are you going to remain hovering around her and scaring off those who wish to pay her their respects?” His tone was cold and dismissive.
No. Do not do this. Not tonight.
“Landin,” Willis said in warning, beating me to it.
Erik tilted his head, his attention fully on Landin as he took one small step toward him. Willis stiffened but otherwise did not move.
“You can pretend to be big and strong, but I know how you tremble with fear. How you reek of it,” Erik said, his voice deathly calm. His jaw clenched in a way that made it seem like he was going to say more but stopped himself.
“Does it look like I am trembling in fear, Lysian dog?” Landin sneered.
The blood drained from my face as the surrounding air turned uncomfortably thick.
Kole grunted, hand casually moving to the hilt of his sword.
Erik’s face became completely unreadable.
Instantly I moved, stepping in front of Landin. “I want you silent,” I hissed between clenched teeth.
I then turned to Erik and his terrifyingly indecipherable expression. “He is just worried about me. He did not mean it,” I said as if it were an excuse.
Landin scoffed behind me.
If he survived this, I was liable to peel his skin from his body myself at this rate. And yet, I said, “Please, Erik.”
Erik looked past me, kept his focus trained entirely on Landin. The Lysian King took yet another step towards us, nearly trapping me between the two of them.
Surprisingly, no one around the room noticed, or they were pretending not to.
“Erik.” Though I said his name, he did not respond to it.
The Lysian King invaded my space as he leaned towards Landin.
“The only reason you draw breath is because Ariana saved your miserable life. The way I see it, the only reason you are a sliver more than worthless is because she deems it so. I would prefer to erase you from this world, and if you continue to push me, then despite her love for you, I am afraid I won’t be able to hold back.
After all, I am no more than a Lysian dog.
” Erik looked down, meeting my gaze and holding it.
The power running through him felt electric, buzzing, poised to strike.
Without saying a word to me, he turned and stalked away, Kole stiffly following suit.
I pivoted. “What in Spirit’s name is the matter with you! He is the Lysian King!”
“I don’t care the least bit what he is.” Landin folded his hands over his chest in defiance. His jaw set with a stubbornly rigid demeanor.
“Do you wish to die? Is that what you want?” I could have wrung his neck.
“I want you released,” he stated flatly.
Willis, who still stood beside him, looked around the room as if to make sure we were not drawing unnecessary attention.
“And you think angering the Lysian King is a way to get that outcome?” I pressed.
“He holds you hostage. Who knows what is being done to you while you are under his control.” His gaze narrowed on me. Was he angry with me?
“What exactly do you think is being done to her?” Iver asked, drawing all our attention. Why had he not followed Erik as Kole had?
“You tell me, Lysian,” Landin replied with growing anger.
“You should take a walk,” Willis said, grabbing Landin by his arm, but he twisted out of the hold.
“How can you be okay with this?” Landin asked Willis.
I reached for Landin’s shoulder. “That Lysian King spared your life when he thought that we may have had something to do with the disappearance of—”
Landin cut me off. “Don’t be stupid. Do you think he did that for you?
For me? He did that so it would be easier to control you.
So that you would feel as though you owed him something.
” Though he was likely not wrong, the fact was that Landin’s life had been spared.
We still were living under Lysian authority and because of that, he needed to regain control of himself.
“That’s enough,” Willis warned Landin.
I focused on Landin. “You didn’t actually think I did not know that.
The sacrifice I made for . . .” I stopped myself from saying more or implicating myself in Fraser’s death.
“It is only because I deeply know you that I will excuse your behavior this time. Though I thought you had grown out of these outbursts. I am not a little girl. Not someone you need to protect from every danger in the world. I will not be gone from this city forever. It and the people within our lands are now mine to lead as I see fit. If you think me dumb or unworthy, then you should have challenged me for the position, but you did not.”
Surprise touched Landin’s features, stealing away some of the anger that had encased him.
It was as if he realized the poor choice in his words and actions for the first time.
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” he whispered, gaze dropping to the ground, as if he could not bring himself to meet my eye once more.
“You are not to speak to the Lysians like this again.”
“I won’t,” he submitted, tempering his anger.
I nearly sighed in relief. Though when my shoulders relaxed, a wave of dizziness hit me.
“We’ll go get some fresh air,” Willis stated.
“See that he makes it home alright and then return at once,” I instructed him.
Willis’s golden eyes drifted over my face, concern coloring them. “You alright?”
“Fine. I’m beginning to feel dizzy, that’s all.” I offered him a small smile and a shoulder shrug as if it were no big deal.
“I shouldn’t leave you.” Willis scanned the room, likely looking for someone else to help make sure Landin went home.
“I don’t mind keeping an eye on her until you return,” Iver offered.
Willis frowned and turned to me.
“It’s fine. I will be fine. Just go and hurry back.” I nodded.
With his lips pressed into a thin line, Willis turned from us. He disappeared into the crowd, leading Landin from the room.
“Can I get you something? Water perhaps?” Iver offered, looking me over.
I shook my head. “I just need to have a seat.”
He nodded, taking my arm and guiding me to a chair near a small table on the outskirts of the room. Then, like a gentleman, he moved the seat out for me, surprising me with the gesture.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the seat.
“It’s the least I could do for such entertainment.” He grinned, leaning against the wall. His gaze moved over the crowd, observing the Bavadrins who were celebrating.
“You can go. No need to stay with me.” I gave him an escape.
“Please. If anything happens to you, either your Bavadrins or my brother will have my head,” he stated casually. His hands were in his pockets, and his shoulders relaxed. Fine clothing covered his body. He appeared as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Someone who was truly free of burden.
“I doubt you fear any of them,” I observed. Iver always seemed to be the one to stir up trouble with others. He never behaved as if he were afraid of reprimand.
“Everyone fears Erik,” he commented, turning his attention to me.
“Even you?”
“Would that surprise you?”
“The way you behave towards him, yes, it would.”
Iver smiled. “Your friend would be wise to have a bit more fear.”
I shook my head in disagreement. “Unfortunately, that would only serve to make him worse. Not better.” Landin was a complicated person.
He did not lash out because he lacked fear; it was the opposite.
He likely was terrified for my safety and that of his people.
That was the reason why he behaved in such a manner.
In his way, he was trying to protect me.
Iver tilted his head in thought while holding my gaze. It felt as though he was looking right through me. “What did he do to deserve your love?”
“You aren’t actually interested to know such a thing,” I stated. He was a Lysian royal, and one of the least tamed of them. Someone like him did not care to know those types of stories.
“Why not?” He frowned. “We are keeping you in an effort to have you help our cause. Seems it would be important to know the things you care for and why in order for us to better be able to make use of you.”
Though his words should have angered me, they did not. Instead, his blunt honesty was why I wished for him to be the one of Erik’s brothers to join us.
“What makes you so forward?” I asked.
“No point in wasting time pretending things are not what they are. It is no secret that we are keeping hold of you for a reason,” he answered.
Oddly, I found his candor welcoming.
“Well? If you have nothing better to do than sit here and entertain a Lysian prince, then I would like to hear the story of you and that very angry Bavadrin guard.”
I told him that story. How Landin and I both had things in our pasts that we trusted each other with, though without divulging what those things were.
How we were there for one another since childhood.
How he was the brother I never had. I shared everything with Iver except for the biggest secret of all, for I could not have them know what I was, at least not yet.
They were all going to find out soon enough anyway.