Chapter 14 Erik
ERIK
The torture of Ariana’s absence was all-consuming, to the point of potentially driving me mad if this continued for much longer. She has been in the Sidhe lands for over a week, and every day that passed only made things worse.
It was difficult not to think of her, of what she experienced, what she felt. I constantly had to force her from my mind in order to be of any use to those around me. But my thoughts always circled back to her.
With a sigh, I refocused, looking at Iver, who was teaching some of the front-line Bavadrin soldiers to prepare for Malavika’s potential attacks.
The soldiers were all given bright yellow ribbons with the goal of tying them around the wooden sword Iver relentlessly jabbed them with from a safe distance.
The poor men rubbed their tender chests and bellies in between training attacks.
Even with light armor covering their most vulnerable parts, the pressure of the hits still likely added up to the point of a constant gnawing sensation that only intensified with each following blow.
“How hard is it to tie a ribbon to some wood? This is not even a sharp blade, which could cut through ribbon easily!” Iver yelled out before thrusting his hand out once more.
Dozens of wooden swords shimmered to life in front of a few dozen men.
When he pulled back, a single yellow ribbon clung to his weapon.
“One measly ribbon will not suffice! She would have sliced through Spirit knows how many of you at this point. Her blade would be slick, dripping with blood. It would stain the yellow with ease. We need as many ribbons tied to the weapon as possible, to draw the eye easily!” He lectured before attacking again.
That was Iver’s clever little plan. A way to pinpoint where Malavika was, and then he would use his conjuring to go to her and take care of the threat.
From what we knew, Mal needed to be close enough to see what she was doing, yet far enough away to remain safe and able to concentrate on her conjuring.
She would be at the battle, but not at the front lines.
Instead, she was likely going to be tucked away, and incredibly lethal.
She was Clause’s weapon, nearly matching that of Ariana’s Sparrows.
I closed the space between my brother and me. When he pulled the sword back, void of any yellow ribbons, I placed a hand on his shoulder, preventing him from attacking again. “You should give them a break so they can refocus on the task.”
Iver sighed, turning to me, his sword hand falling to his side. “Perhaps you are correct. These Bavadrins do tire quicker than our kind.” He then looked at the men he had been torturing for the better part of the morning. “Fifteen-minute break! Then I expect you all to do better!”
The men’s sighs hissed through the forest, drawing a smile from Iver. He always loved torturing others.
“Willis had given me the go-ahead to bring some of our soldiers and begin joining forces. I sent Kole last night to pass along the message,” I filled my brother in on the recent developments.
“I’m sure he is chompin’ at the bit to get Eislyn over here,” Iver commented as he shifted his weight, leaning back against a tree.
“He certainly is.” The thought brought a smile to my lips.
It had been a long time since I looked forward to having both Eislyn and Kole at my side together.
Their hot-headed anger kept us all fractured, but now, the pain began healing.
All of it partially because of the woman who now was a world away.
“Any new information or theories as to why Clause keeps the conjurors within his capital city’s walls and the ungifted outside?” Iver asked, his gaze drifting to the men who took their break by huddling together to sit on a few logs in the distance.
I shook my head. “That remains a mystery. But Ariana is working on trying to learn more on the matter.”
Iver frowned. “There has to be a reason for it.” His gaze dropped to the ground in thought before rising to meet mine once more. “What of our sister?”
I sighed, before leaning against a tree across from him.
“Ariana has asked a few people about Iona. She even asked the servants she befriended, but they have refused to tell her. They know something, but seem scared to share information. From what has been gathered, she is at least alive. Some seem to suggest she is not in any need of help.”
A breath of a chuckle escaped Iver. He changed the subject from our sister. “That wolf, Shay, is quite useful. Who knew the Bavadrins harbored such gifts?”
“If only the information sharing could go both ways,” I grumbled.
Iver released a laugh, knowing gray eyes sparkled as they met with mine.
“You have known her for how long and she has you so worried about her you can barely keep from marching over to the Sidhe lands all on your own. Ariana has experience with managing hostile environments and I think she is possibly the best equipped to succeed in the position she finds herself in now. She will survive this. Hell, she may even thrive, despite the arduous task before her.”
“I cannot help but worry about her.” The words left me in nearly a whisper.
“Because you love her?” Iver’s comment drew my eye to him, and he shrugged a single shoulder. “It’s obvious. You do not need to admit such a thing to me. I know it is true.”
I shook my head, leaning it against the tree, the bark rough against my scalp.
That word, love. I did not allow myself to think of it, though how could one describe my reactions towards the Bavadrin Leader Superior?
The way she stole my attention, whether or not physically present.
How my blood reacted to her. My boundless desire to make her mine.
“You are aggravatingly insightful at times.”
He flashed a smile. “I am insightful always.” The smile fell from his lips, brows pulling together as a new thought entered his mind. “What do you make of all that two Spirit stuff Clause told Ariana about?”
“I do not know. Ariana went over what Clause had told her with Shay, and apparently, the wolf thought she was pretty shaken. The wolf thinks Ariana seems to believe it.”
His eyes narrowed. “And you don’t?”
“I’m not sure what difference any of it would make at this point.”
“You do not think if we praise the correct Spirit, that it would not smile upon us and grace us with luck?” Of course, my youngest brother would find this interesting to consider. I, on the other hand, sidestepped the thoughts altogether.
“The Spirits have left us in this world long ago,” I answered with a shrug. Ariana and this looming war consumed my thoughts, leaving little room for anything else.
Iver’s eyebrows rose towards his hairline. “Do you not believe that Ariana interacted with the Spirit of darkness at her ascension? And if she did, do you not think she has the favor of that Spirit?”
I sighed. “Iver, what do you want from me? I don’t know. Did Ariana see something, or was she just delusional from that poison they had her drink? I believe she thinks she saw something, but was it real or something created by imagination and a hallucinogenic? I don’t have the answers.”
His gaze sharpened. “I wonder what the little old Bavadrin makes of all of this. After all, if we believe Clause’s story, then the Seer’s gift is definitely from the Spirit of the dark.”
“Edda has been keeping to herself a lot this week. I do not know what she makes of any of this mess.” That was another irritation. The woman who helped raise Ariana had withdrawn. I expected her involvement in everything, whether or not desired. Instead, she offered little to no input.
Iver pushed off the tree. “And isn’t that peculiar of the Seer? To retreat at a time like this.” I had to agree with my younger brother there.
Footsteps drew my attention as Willis walked through the forest towards us.
Iver’s gaze drifted to him as he nodded in greeting before turning to me.
“Well, I better get back to training this lot if we are to have any hopes of fighting the Sidhe.” My brother then quickly returned to torturing the Bavadrins with his conjuring jabs.
“How are they doing?” Willis nodded towards Iver and the men.
“Improving, but slowly,” I commented, turning toward him. “How is she?”
Willis exhaled heavily. “If there was anything wrong, I would tell you.” His gaze met mine, and something softened in his eyes. “But I suppose that doesn’t help someone in your position when it comes to her.”
He came up next to me, his attention moving to Iver while he gave a brief update.
“The Sidhe party went well last night. Ariana has Clause’s favor.
Somehow, she is maintaining it despite constantly pushing the boundaries.
” There was a slight disapproval in his tone as if he wished she would soften her approach with the Sidhe King.
“Did she learn anything new?” I asked.
“She learned about Clause’s family a bit more.
He’s had a dark upbringing. I think he feels he can relate to Ariana in that way.
It is something that plays to her advantage.
She also continues to gain the trust and favor of more of the help.
” Though he said nothing negative, a frown pulled at his lips.
There was something he did not seem to like.
I nodded. “If everyone in that city is a conjuror, then even the servants could be of use if they choose to stand with her when it all comes tumbling down.”
Willis turned to me. “Shay continues to search for a way into the city, but walls made of mountain seal it tight. She could not find any openings yet. Other than marching through the front door, there has been no secret entrance.”
I frowned. Hoping Shay would have found a weakness by now, but the capitol was a fortress. My frustration deepened as my thoughts shifted back to her, and an unsettling feeling crept through me.
Willis had frowned just moments ago. Why?
“At this party…” My voice came out measured, though my pulse quickened. “Was she forced to dance with him?”
Willis studied me for a heartbeat, his silence thick with hesitation. Then, finally, he spoke. “Several asked her to dance. She denied all but two.” His eyes met mine. “One, a servant boy. The other, the Sidhe King.”
A slow, controlled breath filled my lungs, but it did nothing to temper the heat rising within me. “I take it he was respectful?” The words were even, but I felt the fire licking at my veins, the burn of something I did not want to name.
If Clause wished to befriend her, he must have been respectful. He must have kept his distance. But that knowledge did nothing to quell the fury curling inside me at the thought of his hands on her, pulling her close, holding her. Ashes. The fire in my veins scorched.
Willis’s attention drifted over my face, as if considering what to say. “Clause favors her, and I believe he wishes for her to favor him in return. So, yes… he was respectful.”
The answer should have been reassuring. But the way Willis delivered it—too smooth, too calculated—put me on edge. Beneath his steady tone, tension rippled through him, stiffening his posture. He was uncomfortable. And he was watching me, as if bracing for my reaction.
A cold dread slid down my spine.
My body went rigid. “What are you not telling me?”
Willis hesitated, just for a moment. Then, finally—
“The Sidhe King did, however, try to kiss her.”