45. Chapter Forty Five Rhowyn
Chapter Forty Five: Rhowyn
We traveled in silence, soaring over the desolate land of Autumn until we reached the border with Summer, then turned south toward the castle. The rolling plains were still filled with grass and flowers, trees full of life near the heart of Avalon. Such a stark contrast to the scraps in the Autumn territory. Titania had taken and drained so much from Autumn already. Even so, patches of barrenness sprang up within Summer Territory. Clear lines delineated the healthy from the deterioration of the magic. Irrefutable evidence to show that Titania would eventually turn all of Avalon into a wasteland.
I could feel the shock from the guys that mimicked my own through the bond. Seeing the scope of the leeching from this vantage point was startling. Sure, we had seen patches here and there and heard about it from the refugees. We had even visited the temples that held the heart of the destruction, but we had never seen it like this. A bird’s eye view of just how all-encompassing it truly was.
Arryn squeezed my shoulder, indicating we had reached our predetermined staging area. It was far enough away from the meeting’s location that Titania wouldn’t have a clue that we’d brought our forces. I had wanted her to think she had the upper hand, and if she saw our troops, she’d immediately be on guard. Hence the need to gather everyone in a location far enough away, hidden from direct line of sight, yet still close enough that we could call on them quickly. This valley met those criteria, although it was a little further away than I had wanted. However, it was the best option out of all the sites that we had.
I set us down in the tall grass that brushed against the tops of my greaves, the new armor a gift from Juniper as promised. The pieces would offer protection, but the joints were flexible, allowing me to move easily and freely. I could still utilize my fighting skills if it came down to that. My rope was attached to one side of my hip, a short sword on the other. Another gift from the blacksmith. It was light and easy for me to swing. My enchanted dagger was tucked into one of the knife slots sewn into my cuirass. Backups were also in their slots, just in case. In a fight, you could never be too prepared.
I stood just before the top of the hill nearest to our meeting point, waiting for the rest to arrive. In quick order, the valley filled with soldiers and Ravens, all with their battle faces on and ready to follow my orders. They all looked to me as they settled in for the wait. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need them, but I highly doubted that we’d get out of here without a fight.
Turning to Arryn, I asked, “How much time do we have?”
He looked at his watch that had been tucked into a pocket. “We’ve got about thirty-five minutes before we need to be at the meeting.”
I nodded, turning back to those that had gathered there: my army, healers, armorers, and the Ravens. Needing to say something before the battle and confrontation, I let my mind focus on words of encouragement that would bolster their resolve and lessen their anxiety about what was to come. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and then began speaking, my voice carrying across the valley to reach everyone’s ears. “Today, we fight for Avalon. Today, we meet with Titania to strike a blow to her power and her reign. Today, we will fight with bravery and honor as we seek to follow Avalonia’s will. For too long, Titania has ruled with an iron fist, strangling the land and its magic. For too long, she has ruled with tyranny, striking down any who might oppose her, many who were innocent of wrongdoing. That all ends here. We take the fight to her, and we reclaim our kingdom. Through our blood, sweat, and tears, we will prevail. We fight with everything we have, and we cannot lose!”
Soldiers raised their swords, and their cheers were absorbed by the tall grasses but still reached me with a deafening roar. I stood there, drawing my own sword to raise it up high above my head, feet planted apart. Swords banged on armor and shields as the soldiers all yelled their agreement. Nodding, I turned my back to them and marched to the top of the hill, the war cries sending me onward with determination and fortitude.
As previously planned, the others joined me, and we sped away again. This time, there wasn’t any need to tell me we had reached our destination. The temple rose up in the middle of nowhere, fields stretching as far as the eye could see all around it. Behind the temple stretched Titania’s own forces, which far outnumbered our own. However, we fought for a cause, which was something Titania’s army couldn’t say. I’d take fifty soldiers who were devoted to a cause over three hundred poorly committed ones.
A cause gave you something to fight for. It allowed you to push yourself to limits that you didn’t know you had. When others would crumble and succumb to the fatigue and pressures, a devoted fighter would rise up to crush them. They’d surpass expectations and beliefs all in the name of their cause.
So, while Titania had more power and more forces, I wasn’t intimidated. I knew we had the superior warriors, and our plan would give us the upper hand. Now, I just had to keep playing my part for a little longer. Had to make Titania believe she would be the victor in our exchange today. If that took my begging and my submission, then so be it. It would only be for a little while?just long enough so that all the pieces could fall into place.
I deposited us just outside the doors of the temple, which were closed. There was no telling what was waiting inside for us, but that didn’t matter. Even if it tipped the odds in Titania’s favor, I would still go in there after my father and Callum. Brannoc and Cyerra landed behind me with their charges. A few selected allies who were necessary for what was about to happen.
I nodded at them, and they moved into their places, disappearing from my sight. Squaring my shoulders, I took a deep breath. The temple’s stone walls had streaks of black along the sides, evidence of the weather, with patches of green moss marring the gray-toned surface. Even with the signs of neglect, it remained an imposing sight. Stained glass windows lined the sides and above the double wooden doors, reminding me of an ancient Celtic church, more at home in the Irish countryside instead of the middle of nowhere in Avalon.
Not glancing at my men who flanked me, I strode forward, head high and shoulders back, as I marched up the three steps to the doors. Throwing them both wide, I found Titania at the back, sitting in a throne that must have been transported just for this meeting. The marble seat was out of place amongst the rotting pews and rusting décor. She leaned back in the chair, one leg crossed over the other in a casual pose, but I could see the tension in her eyes. A subtle stiffness in the way her smile was fixed on her face, the slight crinkles at the corners of her eyes and brow, which indicated she was trying not to narrow them at my appearance, the way prey watched a predator.
At her feet were my father and Callum, both on their knees with heads bowed. They wore collars with a chain leading back to Titania’s throne, tied up like beasts. I inhaled deeply to prevent my temper from getting the best of me at the sight, knowing that was just what she wanted.
My eyes darted to her consorts, who stood proudly behind her throne. Soldiers lined both walls, and a simple carpet was stretched out to form an aisle. I gave them all barely any notice, only cataloguing where everyone was in case this meeting devolved quickly.
“Welcome, child,” Titania cooed. “Did you bring the book?” Her eyes narrowed on me. I dipped my head in acknowledgment, the signal for Arryn to hold it up for her perusal. “Perfect.”
“Release them,” I told her, striding forward to get closer, stopping almost in the middle of the aisle. My men followed me, staying tight on my heels. “And then, you can have the book.”
She laughed. “Do you think I’m a fool?” When I lifted an eyebrow as if to answer that question with an affirmative, she snarled. “I get the book, and then I will release them. The deal we made means I have to, whether I like it or not.”
I let my face show anxiety, turning to Arryn and then Lennox on my other side as if to question what I should do. My response had the desired effect as she smiled at me smugly. They both nodded at me, indicating I should hand it over. “You swear you won’t harm them after you get the book? That you’ll let us walk out of here?” I asked, concern and fear leaking into my voice as I spoke.
She pushed up to a standing position, gliding forward until she was just outside of arm’s reach. “Of course, child,” she cooed, her eyes darting eagerly to the book that Arryn still held.
I shifted on my feet as if I couldn’t make up my mind before finally reaching out to take the book from Arryn. The heavy slate pages almost slipped from my fingers as the heavy weight settled into my hands. Titania hissed, “Careful, child.” She moved as if she was about to grab it from me but stopped herself. “We wouldn’t want to damage it now, would we?”
Laughing nervously, I said, “No. That wouldn’t go over so well, I’m sure.” I wanted to vomit in my mouth at the weak girl I had to play right now, but Titania was buying it. Hook, line, and sinker. Finally, I met her gaze, holding the book out shakily. “Okay.”
She snatched it from my grip before the words had even left my mouth, hugging it to her chest and walking back to her throne. Her fingers opened the book and began scanning the pages as she turned back to face me. Utter delight lit up her entire visage like a kid in a candy store being told they could have it all.
“Will you let them go now?” I asked, still acting, shifting from foot to foot nervously.
“Sure. Sure,” she said, waving a hand dismissively at her consorts to release Callum and my father. They unclipped the collars that had kept them shackled. Angry red marks lined their throats, raw and oozing from chafing, telling me that it had been iron that had kept them bound and weak. Callum finally looked up to meet my gaze, and I gasped at the sight. One eye was nearly swollen shut, purple and plum-colored. My father wasn’t in much better shape, his already weaker body almost giving out as he tried to stand. Callum caught him with a grimace and began leading him to me. His one good eye held anger. He wasn’t happy with me right now, but once he knew what was going on, he’d get over it.
My eyes remained glued to them as they took one slow step, then another. Titania snapped the book closed, the slate pages clinking together loudly in the bare stone room, causing me to jerk. Foolishly, I had allowed myself to be distracted by the sight of them, but now my focus was on the threat before me.
“I thought we had a deal that you wouldn’t allow them to be harmed any further?” I questioned her, my own outrage at their treatment breaking my fa?ade.
She laughed, a trill and evil sound coming from her throat before she narrowed her eyes. “Did you really think that something as little as a fae deal could stay my hand? I’ve been around for over a thousand years. What you know wouldn’t even encompass the knowledge that I have in my little pinky.”
She glanced at her consorts, who stepped forward again, moving as one to stand in front of Callum and my father, halting their progress. “As if I’d let you get anything from me other than the death you deserve. You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, and that ends here and now,” she threatened.
“You can’t,” I hissed out, letting my eyes dart to the consorts, the soldiers, and finally to the exits.
She laughed, delighting in my pain and shock. “Oh, but I can, and I will. However, I think it only fair that I allow you to truly suffer first. I’ll let you watch as I kill your consorts here and now, one by one. And I promise, it won’t be quick,” she seethed at me now, her eyes narrowing in hatred, pure and unadulterated.
Snapping her fingers, the guards jumped forward to detain us, but as they reached for us, they only met the shield that I held in place. It was my turn to laugh now. “Did you think I was truly so naive?”
She narrowed her eyes on me. “Don’t be silly. We have you surrounded. Eventually, your magic will fail, and we will have you right where we want you. All I have to do is wait you out.” She smirked at me.
“You might be right. If I did just sit here, you would eventually tire me out. It might even be inevitable.” I paused as if agreeing with her like I hadn’t a care in the world and was simply discussing the weather. She looked at me for the first time with wariness in her eyes. “That is if I hadn’t already known you would break our deal. You see, I made my own contingencies.”
Mimicking her previous gesture, I snapped my fingers. Brannoc and Cyerra materialized behind Callum and my father. Titania gasped, turning to face the noise their boots made on the ground, her eyes widening in shock as her captives were whisked away to safety. In the span of seconds, her leverage over me was gone.
Turning back to me, her anger glittered in her eyes. She opened her mouth to make more empty threats, but I cut her off. “You see. I’ve been busy making plans. And today, your reign ends.”
“Never,” she hissed out between her teeth, the book forgotten in her hands as she started gathering her magic to her.
Looking at the soldiers, then her consorts, I finally met her gaze again. “I’m giving you all this one opportunity. One chance to walk out of here alive. You will face trial and justice for your crimes against the citizens of Avalon, but you will still have your lives. It’s your choice. So, what will it be?”
“You, bitch!” Titania snapped, her magic flying at me and hitting my shield. Even though it didn’t penetrate the magic I had erected, it still managed to knock me back a few feet, my boots sliding across the carpet, which bunched up behind me. “You think you have the upper hand. That you have won something here today, but you have no idea what you’re messing with.” She strode forward, her magic glowing in her hands as she built up a massive force to strike us with. Instinctively, I knew that this would shatter my shield.
Turning, I ran from the temple, my men following close behind me while I kept the shield in place. We just needed to get outside. The rest of what I had planned was hinging on this part. As we reached the threshold, Titania released her magic, the hair on my arms standing on end as I felt it near. “JUMP!” I screamed.
Without hesitation, we all leaped down the steps, landing painfully on the packed dirt just beyond the stairs. My shield dropped, but I pushed to my feet quickly, turning to face Titania as she followed me out. Her own ego letting her walk right into my trap.
I smiled at her as she stormed forward. The look on my face had her pausing in her next attempt to lob an attack at me with magic. Laughing, I held my hands out wide. “Did you really think I was foolish enough to come out here all on my own?” Her eyes darted around as if she could find the reason for my confidence. Still, I laughed. “Of course you did. What’s funny is that your own hubris will ultimately be your downfall.”
“Have you lost your mind, child? There’s no one there,” she snapped, regaining her confidence.
“Are you sure about that?” As soon as I said those words, the glamor dropped to reveal my own army standing behind me. I turned to find Loki standing there with a smirk on his face. He winked at me as he drew his sword. Titania’s magic withered away as she was confronted with the truth. That, for once, she wasn’t as smart as she thought she was.