Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Council Summons
When the Past Speaks
The farther they traveled, the more Driochmor seemed determined to prove it possessed two very different souls.
Gone were the twisted trees and oppressive shadows that had greeted them when they first entered the forbidden land.
Here, sunlight filtered freely through golden and crimson leaves.
Small streams wound lazily through moss-covered stones and birdsong drifted through the forest.
It was beautiful, quiet, peaceful, and entirely at odds with the darkness that lingered elsewhere in Driochmor.
Bria found herself wondering if the land reflected those who lived within it. Some sought peace, others power. Some wished to protect, others to conquer. Even now, with war threatening beyond its borders, Driochmor seemed divided against itself.
Fiora flitted ahead, her golden light weaving between the trees as she urged them onward.
The council waited, was impatient to meet her. But they were not what troubled her most.
Kaelan had barely spoken since learning the king knew a Wise lived, since learning the decree still stood and threatened his wife.
He walked beside her, alert as always, his gaze constantly sweeping the forest. Yet something had changed. He no longer held her hand.
The absence felt far greater than it should. Several times she almost reached for him and several times she stopped herself. He needed time to think, and she needed to give him that time, even though the distance unsettled her.
Bria watched him for several moments, lost deep in his thoughts, and then she caught it.
A brief flash of gold in his eyes.
The color appeared and vanished so quickly she wondered if she imagined it.
She glanced away, then back again. This time she saw it clearly. Gold flickered through his eyes before fading once more.
A chill ran through her.
The beast… he was fighting it.
The realization troubled her. Never had she seen him struggle so hard to keep the beast under control. Not when dealing with Henry or Ogga. Not even when Braden stood before him.
She watched him more carefully after that. His shoulders remained rigid. His hands opened and closed at his sides. Every muscle in his body seemed tightly wound as though holding something back.
Suddenly she understood why he had not taken her hand. He did not want her to feel what churned inside him.
A root caught the toe of her boot unexpectedly and she stumbled, her hand instinctively reaching out and finding nothing to stop or ease her fall.
Before she got anywhere near the ground, Kaelan’s arm wrapped around her waist, strong, steadying her.
Briefly, his eyes met hers. Gold burned brightly in them.
Then he set her back on her feet, released her immediately, and continued walking.
The distance returned in more ways than one and Bria’s worry only grew.
Enough was enough.
She hurried to walk beside him. “You are angry.”
Kaelan kept his gaze fixed ahead. “Nay.”
“Don’t deny the obvious.”
“I’m not.”
Bria frowned. “You have barely spoken for hours.”
“I have spoken.”
“A word or two does not count as conversation.”
A faint smile threatened the corner of his mouth. Then vanished just as quickly, but she had seen it and confirmed her suspicions. He was definitely upset.
“You are troubled and I understand why.”
His jaw tightened, yet he still said nothing.
Bria stopped walking.
Several paces passed before Kaelan realized she was no longer beside him.
He turned.
Fiora continued ahead before noticing neither of them followed.
Bria crossed her arms. “I am not taking another step until you speak to me about it.”
For a moment neither spoke, they simply stared at each other, the autumn wind stirring the leaves around them.
Then Kaelan looked away.
She grabbed his arm. “It is my possible execution that troubles you, isn’t it?”
His eyes turned bright gold briefly, fury left in their wake, and his arm snatched at her waist, dragging her up against him.
“I will kill anyone who dares to try to execute you, even the king himself.”
And there it was, what she feared… he would give his life for her.
“You will do no such thing,” she ordered firmly.
He smiled, not a pleasant smile. “Try and stop me.” A quick kiss stole what she was about to say and gave him time to continue. “But it matters not. Once you are done with the council, I am taking you home.”
Her brow wrinkled. “To Willowmere?”
“Willowmere is no longer your home. Your home is with me in the Northland at my tribe.”
She shook her head. “I cannot leave Scotara when war threatens its shores and I could possibly be of some help.”
“You are going home with me and that is final,” he said.
“Excuse me, you two,” Fiora said, flitting close to them. “The argument can wait, we need to keep moving.”
Bria bit back the argument she wished to continue and fell into step beside her husband once again.
The silence between them returned. Not as sharp as before, but still there.
The forest gradually thickened around them. Sunlight filtered through the canopy overhead, painting the ground in patches of gold and shadow. Fallen leaves crunched beneath their boots and a cool breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth.
Fiora remained unusually quiet as she darted ahead through the trees.
Kaelan suddenly stopped so abruptly that Bria nearly walked into him.
His head tilted slightly, listening and every muscle in his body tightened.
“What is it?” Bria asked softly.
He lifted his hand for silence.
For several moments she heard nothing, then it came. Faint and rhythmic. The sound of horses, several of them.
Kaelan’s gaze swept the trees. “Four.”
Bria looked at him in surprise then recalled what he had once told her, how the beast heightened some of his senses.
The sound grew steadily louder.
Fiora groaned dramatically. “Oh, this day simply refuses to cooperate.”
The fairy vanished from sight just as four mounted riders, garbed in black emerged from between the trees.
Bria knew who they were… the king’s Hunters.
Bria saw the unease on their faces as they brought their horses to a halt and glanced around the forest. Even here, surrounded by sunlight and autumn color, Driochmor unsettled them.
One of the Hunters rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, cautiously.
His gaze swept over them both, but he directed his question to Kaelan. “What are you doing in Driochmor?”
Kaelan appeared entirely unconcerned. “I could ask the same of you since Hunters have no power here.”
The Hunter glanced at his companions as though uncertain what to make of that answer.
The older Hunter studied them carefully. “Not many willingly travel here.”
“Which makes me wonder what brings Hunters to Driochmor,” Kaelan said, shifting his glance on each one of them.
Bria wondered what he was doing, questioning them, but then they were in Driochmor out of their region and amongst magic.
The older Hunter’s expression remained cautious. “We seek someone.”
Kaelan folded his arms across his chest casually. “Who could you possibly seek in Driochmor?”
Bria watched the Hunter hesitate clearly unsure how much to reveal and clearly unsure of Kaelan. After all, they were in the forbidden land where magic ruled.
At last, the Hunter said, “A Wise woman.”
Bria felt her stomach tighten while beside her, Kaelan remained perfectly calm.
“Don’t all women believe themselves wise?” Kaelan asked with a chuckle.
A few smiles appeared along with a laugh. Even the older Hunter’s stern expression softened briefly.
The moment passed quickly.
The older Hunter shifted in his saddle. “The king seeks her.”
“Why?” Kaelan demanded.
The Hunters’ expression hardened. “You do not ask questions.”
“And you do not enter Driochmor demanding answers,” Kaelan shot back with a glint of anger.
The older Hunter, realizing his mistake, softened his tone. “She is to be brought to Caerith.”
“What right has the king to take anyone from Driochmor?” Kaelan asked.
“He is the King of Scotara,” the younger Hunter said, annoyed that Kaelan should dare question the king’s rule.
“He doesn’t rule Driochmor,” Kaelan reminded. “The council does.”
“And the council answers to the king,” the older Hunter said.
“Why does the king want this woman?” Kaelan asked.
“We were given orders not explanations,” the older Hunter said. “Now do you know of her or not?”
Kaelan scratched his head, his brow creasing as if confused. “Strange the king learned of her. News seldom escapes Driochmor.”
The older Hunter did not hide his impatience. “Again, orders, not explanations.”
The conversation might have continued. But suddenly a tiny voice shouted from somewhere overhead.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake! Enough already.”
Four heads turned as Fiora flew around them.
“What in the gods’ name is that?” one of the Hunters cried out.
“A fairy,” Fiona said, “who is tired of listening to men make useless chatter.”
She darted toward a patch of purple flowers growing amongst the trees and plucked a bunch of them.
Kaelan groaned, “Fiora—”
“Too late.”
She laughed as she zipped along in front of the Hunters and blew pollen directly into their faces.
One Hunter sneezed.
Another cursed.
A third swayed in his saddle.
Then all four toppled off their horses.
Fiora rested herself on a nearby tree branch, dusting off her hands. “All done. Now we can go.”