Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
EIRA
It was another beautiful morning. Eira held a warm mug of tea as she leaned on the windowsill and looked out.
Nell and Alvis were down below riding their horses through fields and the girl’s laughter echoed against the mountain walls.
Eira smiled. It was good to have company here and to let others enjoy this place.
The world outside may have been dreary and uncertain, but at least here they all could have some peace.
From the opening to the mountain, a bird flew through and toward Eira.
Right on time. She didn’t know how Kudo — Cal’s hawk — got through to Luana’s Castle as you needed to have true love open it.
But the bird always seemed to follow its own rules.
Cal claimed he was an ordinary hawk, but Eira had her suspicions there was more to him than they all realized.
And she was grateful for it as each week he came to the mountains from Eral to deliver a message from Rose, and Eira could send back her own correspondence.
The hawk soared over Alvis’ and Nell’s heads then over to Eira’s open window, where he perched on the ledge. He let out a happy squawk, and she patted his soft head. “Good morning to you too,” she said.
Kudo stretched his leg out and Eira untied Rose’s note from it, then set out a small bowl of food for him.
Little insects and pests, even though it was only a snack for him.
Aytigin was sure to have something more substantial for him somewhere waiting.
He pecked away at it happily as Eira unfolded the paper and sat in her armchair by the fire to read.
My dearest sister,
All is well in Eral. The forest is healing from its sickness this summer even faster than I thought and is almost completely mended.
Here and there I get a visit from a pixie or gnome who still have the after-effects of the poisoned mushrooms that invaded their homes, but they too are healing and the visits are growing fewer.
Most of my days are about healing other various injuries and making peace between creatures with quarrels.
We have no word of Amelia though, which I’m sure is the same for you.
I would have thought after everything that happened, there would be more fighting and her trying to take over the kingdoms. But perhaps after our battle, she needed time to reassess.
Even so we need to be on the lookout for any movement from her.
Eral is safe for now, but that doesn’t mean the kingdoms are.
I hate to bring up a sore topic, but I want you to think about our conversation we had before I went to Eral.
You seem so happy in the mountains, and I know you need to repair Luana’s Castle so you are no longer bound to it or to Aytigin.
But as I am no longer the heir to the throne, I wonder if that should be put aside for the moment so you can focus on gaining allies and assisting more with Amelia.
If you are able to work against her, I think it can earn you more trust in the Council and people of Cresin so you can take your title back.
Of course, it is your choice, and you need to do what is best for yourself.
I hope you are putting the people of Cresin into your considerations, though.
No matter what you decide to do or how you move forward, I will stand by you. I may not be able to be at your side the way I used to, but know your sister is always here regardless.
Cal sends his love and says hello to Myra and Alvis whenever they arrive there. We hope to be able to visit at the same time, even if it is only for a day or two. I know Cal misses Myra the way I miss you, and he is eager to get to know his future brother-in-law.
And if you are ever in need, please do not hesitate to send word. Kartek and her clan are prepared to join you if the need ever arises.
All my love,
Rose
Eira read through the letter a few times and took comfort in knowing her sister was always there, even if their choices and opinions varied.
Still, her heart sank when she thought about the argument they’d had when Rose came to visit the castle.
Rose wanted to take down, perhaps even kill, Amelia, while Eira wanted to take a more peaceful approach and needed to focus on the curse.
Rose accused Eira of hiding. They’d made amends since then, but the points Rose had made bothered her.
There was a way Rose could assist her though.
Eira went to her desk and began to jot down her own letter, and when she was done, she included a letter Myra asked to send the next time Kudo came to visit.
Myra was able to send correspondence to Cal, but Oxare was still farther away than the Paravian mountains, and she was eager to be able to write back and forth more easily while she was here.
Eira also made sure to let Rose know of Myra and Alvis’ surprise early arrival, so hopefully she and Cal could come visit sooner rather than later.
She knew Myra would love to see her brother after so long.
When she was finished, she sealed the letters and attached them to Kudo’s leg. “Now be sure to go visit Aytigin first because I’m sure he has some food for you,” she told the hawk. Kudo chirped in response and flew off.
As he left, Cadeyrn came into the room, and he smiled when he saw the hawk flying in the distance. “New letter from Rose?”
Eira nodded and sipped on her tea. “Do you think we’re hiding here?”
Cadeyrn’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
He went to the bed and sat with his back propped against the headboard.
Eira set her tea on the side table and joined him.
He wrapped his arm around her, and she cuddled in close to him, letting his warmth and strength settle her, then told him about the contents of Rose’s letter.
Cadeyrn rested his head against hers and they sat in comfortable silence for a few moments while he considered the words.
“I can see her point,” he said after taking in a deep breath.
“We never wanted to turn our backs on Cresin or the other kingdoms, and you always have planned to take back the throne in time. With Rose being the new Minister, things have changed a bit, and we might need to rethink the timeline of your plan.”
Eira sighed, knowing he was right. But here they were with Myra and Alvis helping in the castle, Malle becoming more lucid, and now this new text to interpret…. She felt so close to completing this task she could taste it.
“What of Luana’s wishes though? She commissioned me to complete this task. Shouldn’t I honor that?”
“Did Luana give you a timeline in which to do so?”
She wrapped her arm around Cadeyrn’s torso and cuddled in closer to him. “No, I suppose not. And having a dragon at my side would assist with defeating Amelia, I’m sure. It did last time.”
He stroked her hair and pressed a soft kiss to her head. “I hear a but coming.”
The words danced on her tongue. A confession she wasn’t sure if she should say out loud, even if it was only to herself.
“I love it here. I love the life we’ve started to build.
I love this castle and living out Luana’s legacy.
I love the small town and its people. I love the freedom we have. Is that terrible?”
“No, because I love it too.”
Eira leaned back enough so she could look at his face. Her heart jumped. “You do? Sometimes I’ve worried I’m keeping you trapped here. You used to travel and go on campaign, and you have an estate in Oxare. Now you’re stranded here with me.”
His teal eyes sparkled and a smile spread across his face that was almost too wide to be contained.
“This has been the best time of my life. I’m here with you, and being able to train and work with the people of Paravia has been some of the best work I’ve done.
For once I’m not destructing and killing, I’m helping to protect and build. ”
Eira had never seen it that way, and a worry that had started to build in her mind washed away with his words.
“So what do we do? I don’t want us to forget our people or to run away, and if we’re the most equipped and prepared to defeat Amelia, then we should do so.
But at what cost? And I don’t want to wait until Amelia attacks again either. ”
Cadeyrn didn’t seem to have an answer for that, and neither did she. They leaned back again and she let the rhythm of his heartbeat calm her worries and concerns.
“I don’t want to wait until she attacks again either,” Cadeyrn eventually said. “Has there been any word on her whereabouts?”
Eira shook her head. “None that Rose or I have heard. The way she knows how to disappear makes me nervous.”
“It makes me nervous too.” He strummed his fingers on her shoulder.
“If I were Amelia, I would want to get back to Farren Castle. She has her child now and people will be wanting an heir for the throne. We could send another message to Rose. See if Kartek and the ogres could go to Farren Castle to guard it and send more spies out to search for her. If she’s with those swamp beings, I’d imagine they’re sticking close to water.
We’ll send a message out to your father as well to inform him of the plan. What do you think?”
Eira hadn’t spoken to her father in quite some time.
They’d sent a few messages, but they all felt formal and tense.
Nothing like the relationship they’d had before.
It still hurt the way he hadn’t defended her the way she’d hoped when she announced she wouldn’t be marrying Alvis and had been touched by Luana.
Yes, he had defended and fought for her but still let the Council have their way.
Maybe she needed to put that hurt aside for the time being. For the sake of everyone.
She nodded. “All right. I’ll get some letters prepared.”
Cadeyrn kissed the side of her head. “I like it. And we’ll keep discussing how we want to move forward.”