Chapter 22
Jane was utterly delusional if she thought Jion would allow her to go to Cylvaris with me on a whim.
I couldn’t help but love the idea. For once, I could sidestep my usual role as the bad guy and let Jion handle the responsibility of disappointing someone.
Let us see how he’d react to his betrothed wanting to travel to a distant settlement brimming with magic and danger. I was sure he’d be thrilled about that.
Jion would have to be a fool to approve of Jane travelling to Cylvaris…
especially when he had no idea what had happened between her and me the night before.
Then again, thankfully, Jane and I both seemed eager to pretend that incident never happened, to bury it in the ground and never let it see the light of day.
So, my brother’s fiancée and I searched the castle grounds for him. After questioning several guards, we finally learned he was working on his combative skills in the training pit.
The octangular pit was as filthy and repulsive as ever, mud splattering across the ground and walls. The stench of piss and sweat drifted through the air into our nostrils, and the men looked as though they might lose their lunches at any moment.
Goddess, I loved it here.
I’d spent countless hours in this pit with the people I cared about most in the world. Every moment had taught me not only how to be a better soldier, but how to be a better man—how to be honourable, how to be fair.
Jion was shirtless and sprinkled with grime. Standing across the way, he was engaged in a lively conversation with a lean, raven-haired woman with olive skin, dressed in a long green petticoat.
Was that Jane’s handmaiden?
Before either of them could notice us watching, I leaned against a wooden weight-bearing post, crossing my arms over my chest. I wished to observe their banter, savouring the moment before I interrupted it with my arrival.
Jane stood next to me like a confused lamb, unaware of the slaughter ahead, though my focus remained solely on my brother.
Jion was practically beaming, hanging on every word the woman spoke.
His eyes shone with a level of admiration I’d never seen from him before, and he stared so intently at the girl’s mouth that he looked as if he might fall into a trance.
His hands fidgeted aimlessly, as though unsure what to do with them.
Oh, he has it bad.
For only a second, I felt a surge of happiness for him. But then Jane’s cranky voice, dripping with displeasure, broke through the beauty of the picturesque scene.
“What the hell are you doing? Why are you just staring at him?” she bit out, clearly irritated by my prolongation.
Right. Jane.
“Nothing,” I muttered under my breath, not bothering to look at her as I strutted toward my brother, leaving her standing there.
Jane caught up to my side and smacked me on the shoulder with the back of her hand, but I ignored her as my brother finally became aware of our arrival. It took him longer to notice than it should have.
Jion jumped back, startled, his eyes widening with surprise and guilt, as he stammered, “Uh, hi. Glade. Jane. Hi. Kaiyah.” He gestured with one hand toward the handmaiden with exaggerated awkwardness and then touched his neck with the other.
I had to bite back my laughter. It hurt.
Kaiyah appeared just as repentant as Jion, stumbling over her words.
“Rags! The laundress… She asked me to bring the men rags for their sweat and…other things!” She lifted the pile of dirty laundry in her arms, hoping her explanation would cover up any sin.
“I should be getting back to work! Excuse me.”
Jane seemed completely ignorant, or she didn’t care, as she offered polite greetings to both her handmaiden and an extremely uncomfortable Jion. Once Kaiyah excused herself, disappearing through the castle’s doors, Jion’s demeanour shifted back to his usual relaxed and confident self.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he cheerily asked Jane. But then, leaning in toward me, he whispered, “I thought you were leaving this afternoon.”
“I was supposed to,” I muttered as my eye-line shifted to the reason I hadn’t left yet.
She responded with a purposeful fluttering of her eyelashes.
“That’s actually why we needed to speak with you.” I mentioned in a more serious tone. “Jane, would you like to say something?” I turned to her, flashing a fake toothy grin that did not reach my eyes.
Oh Goddess, Jane looked absolutely wrecked with nerves. I mean, she had every reason to be. Still, seeing her so tangled in anxiety made me feel a bit sorry for her.
She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and lifted her chin. “Jion, I need to tell you something. But for now, I’d like to keep it between us. That is, until I learn how to control it a little better.”
The bubbly energy that Jion always projected for others evaporated into thin air. In return, his jaw tightened as his eyes bounced with uncertainty between us. He waited for her to continue, though the corners of his mouth turned downwards with a prickle of unease.
Jane inhaled once more, then blurted with newfound self-assurance, “Last night, when the Tenebranian monster attacked us, I harnessed Source Light for the first time. But it wasn’t just any Light… It was Amantius’ pink Light. I killed the monster. Not Glade.”
Jion’s eyes widened. “Amantius’ message… She said you were ready to wield her Light.” His voice was full of wonder and pride as he gaped at Jane, who in turn, nodded enthusiastically, her face radiating sheer happiness. “Oh my Goddess, Jane, you did it!”
And with that, he pulled her into a giant embrace, lifting her off the ground, spinning her in circles.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “But I have no idea how to harness or wield it again, let alone control it. The power surged through me like it had a life of its own.”
Jion thought for a moment, nodding in agreement.
“Yes, that is worrisome. But if you could learn to harness and wield Amantius’ Light…
Jane, it could be devastating against the Tenebrae.
It could turn the tide of this war. This power could be what finally defeats them and ends their tyranny across the cosmos. ”
“Well,” Jane squeakily began, her fingers trembling as they picked at their cuticles.
This was the moment we had been waiting for. She lowered her chin and kicked her feet in the dirt, stalling for time as she clasped her hands behind her back.
Jane peered up at Jion, though her lids remained closed.
Upon opening her eyes, she rushed out, “Jion, I really believe the Fae in Cylvaris might be able to help me learn how to harness and wield Amantius’ Light.
If anyone has any form of ancient knowledge, it’s them.
I was also the only other person who saw that the Tenebranian creature’s blood sparkled, and I could support Glade as a witness when he confronts the elder Fae.
They might take the threat more seriously if multiple people saw.
I can’t do this without your understanding.
I’m asking you to trust me on this and allow me to leave. Temporarily, of course.”
Jion cradled his chin with his forefinger and thumb, his brow wrinkling as he processed Jane’s proposal. “So, you want to go with Glade to Cylvaris?” He looked her over. “That’s quite a bold suggestion.”
Jane nodded. Though a glint of fear sparked in her eyes, she held her chin high. “I know it might sound insane, but I believe it’s my only option, the only thing I can do. I can help him, Jion. I can help everyone. I must try.”
Jion’s stare pivoted to me, seeking reassurance from the person he trusted most in the world. I nodded firmly, hoping to convey the importance of her conviction.
Jion hesitated for another moment before the corners of his mouth unhurriedly lifted into a gleaming smile. “That’s brilliant! Good thinking, Jane! I admire your courage. This could make a real difference.”
What the fuck?
My cool, calm demeanour shattered in an instant. Did he just say that he thought Jane travelling with me to Cylvaris was a brilliant idea? How could my brother be so dense?
“Are—are you sure?” I stuttered, disbelief threading through my voice.
Meanwhile, Jane pumped her fist in the air, her grin stretching from ear to ear in triumph.
“Of course!” Jion said. “She’s right. Imagine Jane on the battlefield, blasting the Tenebrae like she did their monster! It would be incredible. Yes! Go!” he urged us, shooing us away with his hands. “I trust you, brother, to keep her safe on your travels.”
I incredulously stared at my brother, having not predicted this outcome whatsoever. “Of course,” I muttered under my breath, placing my hands on my hips, my head lowering in defeat.
Raising my chin, looking towards the clouds floating by in the sky, I inhaled the repulsive stench of the pit into my lungs and let it simmer for a moment, using the horrible aroma as an excellent distraction from the frenzied fury gathering beneath my skin.