Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
EIRA
Eira walked through the great hall of Luana’s Castle and admired the wedding decor that was being hung on the walls.
The priestesses from the village temple had come to assist with the preparations and had dived into it with the same vigor they would have for the Winter Solstice.
Blue and silver drapes hung from the windows to represent Luana, but then they interspersed red flowers throughout to represent Cadeyrn’s dedication to Aros, the God of War and Hunting.
Starlit lanterns floated through the room, leaving dazzling constellations scattered across the marble floor.
The women giggled and chattered as they worked and periodically asked Eira’s opinion on something.
It was the perfect blending of Eira and Cadeyrn’s relationship and who each of them was; such a vast difference between this pretend wedding and the real one she was supposed to have almost a year ago.
She tapped the tips of her fingers against her thumb to calm the swirling magic beneath her veins.
She hadn’t expected to feel this nervous when she didn’t even intend to have this as the real wedding.
It was only pretending so they could lure Amelia to them.
Still, it brought back lingering worry and anxiousness left over from when she was supposed to marry Alvis.
It felt like a lifetime ago. Only now, she didn’t want to get out of it.
Part of Eira wished this was the true thing.
As Cadeyrn stood on a ladder and helped one of the priestesses with a wall hanging, a wide smile took over his face.
Eira’s chest warmed at how open he was. Cadeyrn always laughed so easily and could charm anyone he came across.
Her whole life she’d needed to be guarded and careful, but never with him. Not anymore.
He saw her from across the room and waved, then once he finished helping, hopped off the ladder and went toward Eira. He placed a kiss on her temple and wrapped an arm around her as she continued her walk-through of the room.
“They’ll be here any minute,” Cadeyrn said. “Are you ready?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” Eira admitted. “I’m excited to see Rose, but I haven’t seen Father in months. And we’re leading them into a trap.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat and rubbed her arms. The last time she was supposed to get married Father had been poisoned by Amelia, and that was the day that had started this whole thing. It was oddly appropriate to end it with another wedding. If all went according to plan of course.
“And Finley isn’t here and she took the weapons,” Eira went on, shaking her head.
When they’d awoken a few days before to find Finley and the Shadow Slayers missing, it had been a shock, to say the least. Eira could only hope it was because Finley had gone out to get Amelia.
Rafe was gone too, but he’d been in communication, informing them that he was fetching King Brennan as promised.
They hadn’t heard a word from the pirate.
“I thought we would be working together.”
Cadeyrn gave Eira a gentle squeeze and kissed her temple again. “We don’t know what she’s planning, but after what happened with Ai, I doubt she’s siding with Amelia. For all we know she went out to kill her herself.”
Eira shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“Do you want to know what I’ve been thinking about?”
“What?”
He leaned down so his lips were against her ear and said in a husky whisper, “The Belovian Islands.”
A rush of heat swept through Eira and heat flooded her cheeks.
The place where they’d first kissed. Where they’d first…
everything. It felt like a lifetime ago when they’d gone there for the dedication ceremony of the chief’s daughter.
They’d been secluded from everyone, and Alvis hadn’t been there.
Eira hadn’t even known Cadeyrn was going to be there, but when he’d arrived… everything had changed.
“I’ve been thinking about it too,” Eira confessed. How could she not with all this wedding preparation? No one but Rose knew something had happened between them all those years ago, but it still felt important. “Sometimes I still can’t believe it. We were out of our minds!”
Cadeyrn chuckled and rubbed her arm. “We were. But I remember it was the best two weeks of my life. Until now.”
“It was mine too.” Eira turned so she faced him while his arms were still wrapped around her. His hands rested on the small of her back, and she stood on her tiptoes to give him a soft kiss. “Someday, this will be real and not just a trap. Soon we’ll be together and not be hiding any longer.”
Cadeyrn kissed her back then held her tight against his warm chest. No matter what had happened in her life, he was always the one to bring her the peace and comfort — or many times laughter — that she needed. “Someday.”
The castle shook, indicating people had arrived. Eira and Cadeyrn both looked toward the door as though everyone was going to enter right that moment. “Here we go,” Eira said and led the way toward the mountain entrance.
Rose and her entourage arrived first. Cal was at her side followed by two tall female ogres who towered over everyone.
Their yellow eyes glared out in wide awe at the sight of the mountain as they entered, and they let go of their firm grasps on their clubs as they walked in.
Even for an ogre, seeing an entire castle and courtyard inside of a mountain was an impressive sight.
Rose and Eira ran toward each other, meeting in the middle of the courtyard in a bone-crushing hug. Next to Cadeyrn, Rose was the one who always brought that sense of stability and comfort regardless of the situation.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Eira said and held her sister even more tight than before.
“A fake wedding and the opportunity to finally take down Amelia? Are you kidding?” Rose asked. She gave Eira a playful nudge. “I’m just glad you finally listened to my advice.”
Their reunion was short lived as right after them came the next group.
The arrival party from Farren Castle wasn’t as large as it normally would be, since Rafe’s magic could only go so far and they needed to arrive quickly.
A servant, Priestess Cynth, Lady Evony, and Priestess Nyx were there to Eira’s delight and surprise (delight for Cynth and Evony, surprise for Priestess Nyx), then Marquis Phillip and in the center of them all, next to Rafe, stood King Brennan.
Father.
Eira drew in a breath. Father looked well, but older.
A few more streaks of gray lined his hair, and more wrinkles and lines graced his face.
His usual jovial smile and sparkle in his eyes was gone, and he greeted his daughters with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
A stab of guilt ran through Eira. It was partly her fault he wasn’t his usual self.
Rose squeezed her hand. “It’ll be okay. He’s here to support you and help protect the kingdom. You want the same things. I’m here no matter what.”
Eira nodded and took comfort in her words. She was right. They were here for the same reasons. They were all on the same team. So, she offered a warm smile right back to her father and went to greet him.
He pulled her into a hug, and all at once Eira’s body relaxed.
“My beautiful daughters,” he said, a slight teariness to his voice.
He pulled back to let Rose in on their embrace and the three of them stood together not caring about the others or how long it lasted.
“We’re going to make this right. Together. ”
Once everyone had settled in enough, they all met with Father, Rose, Cal, Lord Phillip, Kartek, Alvis, Myra, and Aytigin in the treasure hoard.
Myra had the ancient book with her, and they gathered around the orb so they could see what was going on around the kingdom.
Father paced around the orb and observed its contents, but there was no sign of Amelia, Finley, or The Mystic.
Eira’s theory was the three were together and the ship was sailing underwater.
Hopefully toward them if Finley was going along with their plan.
“An army of zombies you say?” Brennan asked stroking his short beard.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Rose answered. “They’re undead sorcerers and sorceresses. Thankfully, they should be easier to kill than a live sorcerer or sorceress, but dismemberment should be the best way to do it.”
Father let out a long breath. “But we have fighters here?”
Cadeyrn nodded. “I’ve been training the people in the village for months. They’re one of the most impressive armies I’ve worked with.”
“Considering your experience and background I take that as a good sign. And explain to me about these Cursed Queens.”
Myra nodded and told the story again, explaining how the weapons and the four of them could work together to kill Amelia. Father crossed his arms over his chest and contemplated the plan.
“So, we have to hope that this pirate will be true to her word and bring Amelia here and help us then and bring the weapons she stole with her?” His voice dripped with doubt and worry, for which no one could blame him. Finley leaving them so suddenly had put questions in everyone’s minds.
Alvis cleared his throat. “As back up plans, since we are prepared this time and have numbers on our side, at the very least we can more properly capture Amelia, her mother, and Dusan. Or I’ve wondered if Amelia could be considered the fourth queen and we can switch things for her to implode on herself. ”
Father sat on a chest probably filled with priceless treasures and rested his arms on his legs. “It’s risky. Amelia has brought death and destruction everywhere she’s gone. And what about this child? Villages everywhere are claiming he should be the next heir. I don’t even know if I’m the father.”
“We don’t want any harm to come to the baby,” Eira assured him. “And I doubt Amelia will bring him into any battles. He’s her main leverage and playing piece. She won’t risk him. But we will be sure he is taken care of and safe regardless of what happens with Amelia as we have with Nell.”
“And we’ll rip off any heads of people who get in our way,” Kartek said with a wide toothy grin that made Eira’s skin crawl. She knew Rose had made an alliance with the ogres and was grateful for it, but she wasn’t sure if she could stomach their violent ways just yet.
Father nodded contemplatively a few times. “Well, let’s get these details and this wedding straightened out then. We have a realm to save.”
Unable to sleep, Eira snuck out of her and Cadeyrn’s room and made her way to the library. The castle provided her with a warm cup of tea, and she went to curl up in a chair by the fire to find someone was already there.
“Father?”
King Brennan raised his head from his own cup of tea with a tired but warm smile. “Eira, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I find I’ve been more nocturnal these days,” she told him. “May I join you?”
He gestured to the seat next to him, and she sat. When was the last time they’d been alone together? It felt like ages. Even before everything that happened to cause this rift, Eira had been out traveling the realm and didn’t spend much time at home.
“This place is incredible,” Father said breaking their silence. “Have you been able to make progress on the curse?”
“I have,” Eira answered. “Malle’s ghost makes things troublesome at times, but she’s been a help too.
She was the one who found the book with the tale of the Cursed Queens in it for us.
Hopefully she will cooperate during the wedding and all.
She might even be an assistance if she’s in a destructive mood. ”
She tried to make her voice lighthearted but wasn’t sure if it landed properly. They sat again in another few moments of silence. She wanted to break the awkwardness and find a way to mend things but wasn’t sure where to begin.
“You’re so different these days,” Father said, startling Eira.
She blinked a few times and moved her mouth open and shut until she could find the words. “I… I’m sorry?”
Father shook his head and waved his hand.
“I didn’t say that properly. It’s just… you’ve grown so much the last few years.
You’ve always been strong and mature for your age, but the woman you’ve become has a different confidence from what I’ve seen before.
I hardly recognize you, but it’s wonderful.
I think your mother would have been proud. ”
Eira’s shoulders relaxed a bit, and she sank back more comfortably in her seat. “Thank you, Father. That means more than you know.”
“I should have defended you more,” he continued. “I’m sorry I didn’t. But we’re going to make it right. Whatever happens tomorrow, I will fight for you to receive the throne you deserve.”
A weight lifted off Eira’s shoulders. “Thank you. And whatever happens, I will be here with you too. We’re family, and we’ll get through this together.”
Everything was prepared. The decorations were hung.
People were in their places. Weapons ready.
Aytigin flew above the castle, prepared to warn them when Amelia arrived.
Taking one last moment to herself, Eira stepped into the grand hall.
Her silver bridal gown shimmered in the starlit lanterns, and her steps echoed against the marble floor.
Luana’s and Ray’s thrones stood at the end of the hall, two glorious pillars of beauty and strength.
Her magic hummed whenever she was near them, and she closed her eyes to summon it and release some stardust into the air.
A year ago, Eira had worried about her ability to step into Luana’s place for her people. The legacy she had to live up to. Looking at the thrones now, it didn’t worry her anymore. So much had changed since then. She’d met Luana and held her power within her now.
She could do this. Receiving her throne and her place back were so close. Once Amelia was gone Eira would be able to show the kingdom she was the rightful heir. If the curse on the castle wasn’t broken by then she could bring the court here if needed.
The doors behind her opened, and their creak echoed and bounced through the room.
“Eira, it’s time,” Rose announced.
Eira turned back to see her sister decked in a bright green, gold, and red gown, reflecting her place in Eral Forest as its minister and her dedication to Aros.
But in her curly red hair, flecks of stardust were tangled, showing her connection to Eira and the goddess of the moon.
Her sister who had always been there and always would be.
“Let them come.”