23. Anatase
It isn’t until after Thorne is off the throne that I take my beautiful wife by the hand and guide her to her rightful place.
It is a sight to see.
She’s dirty from the trek, still wearing her filthy cloak and my shirt, but looking as strong and resilient as she did glaring up at me when she tried to escape the mountain.
“The last three weeks have been eventful, to say the least,” I say, crossing beside the throne to lean against it. “Let us start with the greatest threat first.” I look down at Estela. “I believe my queen has good information about that.”
Her soft, brown eyes look up at me, full of determination. I heard what she said to Arlet—that she didn’t singlehandedly save all those women. While she didn’t do it alone, none of them would be here without her. Her power continues to prove that every instinct I had about her was right.
“I spent three weeks in the giant court and observed dozens of people. There are three solid issues and one that could be concerning—but I simply didn’t learn enough. First, Rholker’s kinghood. There is a staggering division between the monarchy and its royal court, as many thought Rholker a weak, sniveling pawn in someone else’s plan.”
“He was only able to ascend to the throne officially because he married Lord Fektir’s daughter. This lord assured him that he would only continue to support Rholker’s ascension if he completed several tasks. He wants our mines, so naturally, one of those agreements was that…” Estela pauses, taking a deep breath before blinking rapidly and continuing, “Rholker destroy Enduvida and kill every last Enduar.”
The room is utterly silent as each person processes the words.
“Did he touch you?” Fira asks.
Estela takes a deep breath.
“For an entire week, I was tortured by a group of human women. I now know they are Brujas, or witches, but they go by the name of The Six. Sometimes the Cursed Six, or even Memory Slicers. I didn’t know they were human until the night of the coronation, and one of their hoods was pulled back by a drunk giant. A massive fight broke out when King Arion was hurt. Most giant lords were generally outraged over the fact that the new giant king had trusted humans for something other than chopping wood, reproducing, or polishing their cocks.”
The bitterness in her words leaks out, and Thorne watches with resolute approval. He nods as if to say “Well put.”
“So there’s a chance that other humans have power like you?” Liana says.
“I am finding a new part of my power. There is the ability to read the Fuegorra, which we found out after I came to the cave, but while I was in Zlosa I could… glow. When someone tried to touch me that I didn’t want to, it would burn that person. Neither power is anything like theirs.”
“Interesting,” Liana hums.
“To be honest,” Estela continues, “both of my powers feel more Enduar than anything—crystals, harmonies, and light. The power that leaks out of the Six is cold, dead smelling, and intent on destruction and accumulation of strength.”
“Does Lord Fektir still support Rholker then?” Ra”Salore asks.
Estela shakes her head. “I do not know. In addition to the witches and the giant court, they have forged an official alliance with King Arion. He is the third threat—he wants Arlet.”
“I’ll tear out his throat if he ever gets anywhere near this cave again,” Vann growls.
Thorne appears amused. “Will you? With your big cleaver?”
“Quiet,” Liana snaps before turning to look at me. “Is there a reason Mrath’s pet is still here?”
Thorne’s eyes turn black as they fade into something feral.
“Neither you nor anyone else has permission to call me that.”
Liana slowly flicks her eyes up at him. “Keep your comments to yourself, and I won’t be so ready to give you a thorough tongue-lashing, pet.”
Thorne’s glare is hot enough to burn through Liana’s head, and I see our one alliance crumbling.
“I think it is best we all keep our quips to ourselves for the sake of this meeting. Estela mentioned that there still might be another potential threat.”
Estela nods. “Yes. It seems that the giants have started bringing swamp ogres back to their ranks. I wouldn’t call it an alliance because I saw Rholker refuse an audience with them more than once.”
Thorne folds his arms. “You should ask Ayla about that. She?—”
“Killed the Shaman Ogre King,” Ulla finishes. “She told us when she introduced herself.”
Thorne snorts.
I turn to a mostly-healed Lothar, who is in the corner, furiously taking notes. He hasn’t asked about Turalyon, but I’m sure he’s noticed his absence. Seeing that he doesn’t need any extra encouragement to document this meeting, I continue.
“While on our trip, we were attacked two times, in similar spots, by the cold ones. Taeryn mentioned that they are likely called vaimpír, the undead children of a demon. One killed Turalyon,” I say, sadly.
At this, Lothar looks up, his lips slightly parted. His brows draw together. “My apprentice?”
The room is silent as I nod. “I am so sorry, friend.”
Thorne purses his lips and steps forward. “Vaimpír are little more than pests—they are undead creatures that are easy to kill and have little to no mental capacity. I wouldn’t worry too much if you know how to dispose of them.”
I raise an eyebrow, tearing my apologetic gaze away from my advisor. “Your fellow assassin mentioned that Abhartach controls them from his bindings.”
Thorne shrugs. “She also believes that the gods listen to prayers. I suspect they are not quite as omniscient as we would like to think.”
Enduares are nothing if not a deeply ritualistic people with kind gods. The comment rubs me the wrong way, but now is not the time for a theological debate. Especially not with a child of Doros.
“From my perspective, as we went to the Sisterhood’s Enclave, we were initiated by killing one of her targets to prove our worthiness. This secured us a temporary arrangement to help rescue my lovely mate. To continue this agreement, I must return an artifact. Only then will they assist us in retrieving Mikal and killing the giant king.”
Thorne makes a tutting sound with his tongue. “And you will help Mrath with killing her brother.”
I look at Liana who is studying the room like a hunting bird.
“Tell everyone what we know of Cumhacht na Cruinne,” I say.
Thorne’s eyebrows rise as she nods her head. I can almost hear the comment begging to slide off his tongue, but he behaves.
Liana nods.
“My old mentor, another wise woman, assisted with its removal from Arion’s father.” She looks at Svanna and Vann, who have both been quiet as they listen to everyone’s reports. “Would you like me to tell them?”
Svanna shrugs. “You did all the work researching. Vann mostly scowled at hunters from the cave. All I did was… literally everything else. The hunting schedules, the cooking, the training, the?—”
“While you were gone,” Liana interrupts, “I spent time revising the old archives of the wise women. Don’t worry Ma’Teo, they aren’t stored in your precious library.” Her gaze lands on Estela, who has been listening attentively the entire time. “There is much I have neglected to teach you, Lady Estela. I will rectify that soon, but for now, everyone else should know that it is clear that Teo’Lihk kept it in one of his great stone vaults in Iravida. I believe it is still there.”
My thoughts about the battalions protecting the artifact were correct.
“At the bottom of the ocean?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes, but it is not so worrisome. Our people traversed the seas once before.”
I remember. “But there was equipment that no one in this cave knows how to forge. Things like crystals and magicked air bubbles that no longer exist.”
She shakes her head. “I found some preliminary plans. Crystals fall under the wise women’s talents. We don’t need the same things as stone benders or metal benders. Have a little faith in my foremothers.”
I nod, considering her words as one of the spell lights bobs down over Vann’s scowling face.
“Can you build one of these suits?” I ask, amazed.
She nods her head. “I have already begun. I need Estela to help me… when she is ready.”
I look at my mate. Her eyebrows are raised. She nods, and I return my attention to the others.
Thorne seems enraptured for the first time since he came under the cave, not a hint of sarcasm or defensive wit is present in his hopeful face.
“This is good news,” he says. “I will tell Mrath.”
“Yes, why don’t you run along right now,” Liana says mockingly.
He lifts an eyebrow. “I will leave this room when I wish to. Besides, you haven’t even heard what I wanted to say.”
I see Estela trying to keep a smile off of her face when I look down.
“And what do you have to tell us, Lord Thorne?” Estela asks.
An awkward silence follows. No half-elf would ever receive such a title. Perhaps that’s why his perfectly straight back straightens a bit more, and he preens under her respect.
Interesting.
“Mrath had every intention of killing you all the night that you came to the enclave. She’s still not totally convinced that she shouldn’t, and I doubt she will be convinced until the greater artifact is returned to its rightful owner. She has sent me as insurance that you don’t forget about your deal—and she wants the Faefurt assassins to stay with me until the mission is completed,” Thorne reports.
I nod at the very open, presumably honest information he shares. But I can’t say I am pleased to have a man who is looking to kill us in my caves, even if he seems friendly toward Estela. “And what do you know of Arion’s alliance with the giants? If my time in your enclave taught me anything, it’s that you all are swimming in subterfuge and espionage,” I say.
“We’ve heard rumors. He wants access to the humans, not just this… Arlet you spoke of. It seems that humans are indeed able to be mated to elves. Before you congratulate yourself for giving him that idea, know that he has been experimenting for some time. Some strays showed up in his city—though, I suppose that could be counted as your fault.” Thorne smiles.
My tail flicks out irritatedly as he uncovers the first lie I was told by Mrath. The slaves we freed did indeed make it to Shvathemar.
“I had no other options. If we hadn’t sent Lothar to speak with him, we wouldn’t have known your group existed. Give us time to right our mistake,” I say.
Thorne purses his lips, and Lothar nods approvingly.
“I believe we already are being generous with our forgiveness,” Thorne says.
“Onto the subject of the humans,” Fira interrupts, after quietly observing. “How many are there?”
Estela doesn’t hesitate. “Thirty-three.”
The lady of weaving, Fira, nods approvingly. “Well done. I hope they are grateful.”
Estela has a strange look on her face. “They don’t owe me anything. Freedom is their right, not a gift.”
Liana smiles. “Spoken like a true queen. Are they all staying in the under mountain?”
Estela considers the question, and I absentmindedly stroke her hair.
“I believe about twenty-six want to stay. Three want to risk the winter wilds after they finish healing, and Ayla promised a few more that they could go with her to become assassins.” Estela speaks with pride. “Ulla and I took care of most of their infections, cuts, and bruises, but four are with child.”
Fira nods. “Arlet had a feeling that you might return with some friends. We are prepared with cloth.”
Estela’s smile is mixed with something that conveys just how touched she is.
“In the morning, we will offer the twenty-six a chance to perform the dual’moraan,” Liana says with finality. “I will prepare the hammers.”
The First Cut is the rite of passage all Enduares take to receive their Fuegorra. It symbolizes their time before and after receiving the light of their gods. At that point, each person will choose their path in the court.
“Excellent plan,” I say. “Is there anything more that should be discussed?” I meet each eye, from Ra”Salore to Lothar. They all shake their heads, and I nod wearily.
“Then our meeting is finished.”
Everyone bows.
Ra”Salore begins to head out first. “I will check on the humans.”
Thorne saunters over behind him.
“I’d love to join. Ulla, will you come too? Perhaps we could continue our conversation from earlier?” he practically purrs.
She frowns. “Later. I have a few things to discuss with the queen.”
He exits, though I could’ve sworn that his smile is just a touch dimmer.
Soon, Ulla, Estela, Vann, and I are the only ones left in the room. I look at my blood brother and best friend, still standing paces away from Ulla.
The last time we saw each other, I was in a much different attitude. It’s written over Vann’s face as his gaze passes from me to Estela, and he attempts a smile.
“I am glad you and your mate have made it home safely,” he says, fracturing the quiet.
I nod. “Is there anything more that you wished to speak of? Do you not desire to present yourself to the women and see if your crystal sings?”
He shakes his head. “It won’t.”
I hum at that response. It is the same generic thing he has told me time and time again. A new thought dawns.
“Won’t? Or can’t?”
My suspicion is confirmed when his eyes widen. Dread curls low in my stomach. What has my brother done to himself?
“Firelocks is looking well. I saw her with Joso while she spoke to Estela,” I say slowly.
A stone wall builds itself up across his face. “Yes. They are… sharing their time.”
His tail knocks a pebble across the room, causing the women to glance at us with confused expressions.
I frown. “I am sorry.”
Vann shakes his head. “I should help the others. Go, sleep if you can.”
As soon as he is gone, I turn back to Estela. All of the air is sucked out of the room as I look at her, acutely aware that we are nearly alone.
Ulla stiffens, as if sensing the change. I know she can’t hear the beats of our hearts and the way they synchronize to the mating song, but she quickly excuses herself and hurries out.
Then it truly is just the two of us in the room.
Human and Enduar.
Husband and wife.
King and queen.
Mates.
We draw together like the moon and the tide.
It is not enough to simply hold her hand. I scoop her up into my arms, and she gasps. Every movement, from the way that her lips part to the way that she instinctively curls into my chest, is perfect. I lock it away like precious gold for a time when we might be parted again.
“Let us go to bed,” I say gently and whisk her out of the room.