‘I don’t understand it myself. Something broke in me long ago, and I am trying to fix it now. I am, but I don’t think I will ever be capable of feeling what you feel, Visarous. I am truly sorry.’
‘I don’t need your apologies, Skylar. I need you to need me the way I need you, but here you stand telling me it’s impossible. How do I move on from this?’ he asked, disdain dripping from his voice.
‘I don’t know.’ I stared at him, begging him to understand that if I could fix all the broken parts of myself I would. But my life had never been my own.
‘I can’t do this anymore… my Queen.’ He walked out of the training room without looking back at me.
Eighteen
Sitting in the council room, everybody seemed on edge. Visarous, most of all, sat brooding in the seat furthest from where I would be sitting. However, considering it was a large round table, there was no hiding, no matter how hard he tried. Sienna sat on my left, and Viv took her place on my right.
Geraldine sat between Visarous and Sienna—she was Cain’s second. She had terracotta skin, brown hair that was cut down to her scalp and a stature that dwarfed Cain’s. Her size alone made one doubt how she could be effective as a spy, but she was Cain’s second for a reason. She was descended from the Mountain Fae and, like Cain, she had been ousted for a gift that should have been revered. She could warp memories. Leaving no trace of herself in the minds of those she encountered. She was quiet, but her presence and energy could be overbearing at times. It was an uncomfortable quiet that rolled off her.
I sat in my chair and addressed them all. ‘As you are aware, I have sent Cain to Voldina to assist Jade in reclaiming her power on the throne and ousting those who are loyal to Morgad. This will free her to ally with us as we try to put an end to this war. Inthe meantime, Geraldine will be taking over Cain’s role and sharing his reports with us. Visarous will begin preparations for the Ascension of the Souls shortly.’
‘Don’t you have anything else to report my Queen?’ Visarous questioned in a most obnoxious tone.
I shot him a look that told him not to test me. What I shared with him and Sienna was not for everyone to know—at least not yet. This piqued everyone’s interest except for Sienna’s. She shot me a look to say she had warned me about exactly this.
I opted to ignore Visarous and instead addressed Sienna, asking her to provide a report on all that had transpired since we had left for the Academy. She filled us in on the wounded from the border. Since what I had done to their general was discovered, all attacks on our border stopped. Geraldine chimed in to note that it did not seem to be the result of fear that they had stopped; instead, it seemed like their focus had been redirected. There was much more movement than usual on the Morgadian side of the border. Sienna confirmed this by stating that Wiccans were having to reinforce areas of the borders that they usually did not. One much farther north, where the Ancient Forest existed, was not even a place the Forest Fae liked to visit. It was filled with an old, darker feeling. Viv decided to pull her forces back from the border a little deeper inland, as there seemed to be no immediate threat, and moved a battalion to where the activity appeared to be increasing near the Ancient Forest.
‘I want to know what has them so interested in moving toward the Ancient Forest. I saw maps in the generals tent that mirrors these actions.’
Everyone nodded in agreement, knowing I did not have to lay out how to do their jobs to uncover the truths I needed. Before I could ask if anyone had anything of value to share, Geraldine began to update us on Cain’s movements in Voldina. Jade’s entire council—all five members—would need to be replaced; all were under the thumb of the Morgadian king, but atthe moment they could not identify any worthy replacements. He worked quickly.
Viv also informed Sienna and Geraldine about our newfound alliance with Prince Acheron. The others seemed to have a healthy amount of scepticism, but Geraldine did not so much as react.
‘Geraldine, is this not news to you?’ I enquired.
‘No, my Queen, we have suspected for some time the relationship between the two. But we deemed it irrelevant as we could not substantiate it and were waiting until it either posed a threat or an opportunity, and we had evidence to support either option. Now it is an opportunity thanks to your quick thinking with the blood oath,’ she said in the most matter-of-fact manner. I felt white hot rage boil beneath my skin.
‘Why does everyone in this fucking room have a need to hide information from me?!’ I snarled.
‘That’s a bit rich coming from you, isn’t it, Skylar?’ Visarous shot at me.
I rose from my chair, no longer able to contain my anger. ‘Keep going, Visarous, and you’ll end up worse than how I left your sister,’ I spat back.
‘If there’s something we ought to be aware of, my Queen, then please do share,’ Geraldine said.
‘There is nothing. Now, I want to know why Morgad has suddenly become interested in the southern border and the Ancient Forest,’ I said, redirecting the conversation.
Sienna shifted uncomfortably at that. ‘I believe I know. My mother sent word this morning. The land in the Ancient Forest is tied to old and dark magic. We have our own wards around it to alert us to anything untoward. The Elders believe the Morgadian king is trying to find the source of this dark magic so he can use it himself. That magic is too corrupted and volatile for even all five Elders to control, let alone a measly Fae man with no drop of Wiccan blood in his veins. There is no telling what hemay unleash upon us all. I’m afraid this confirms that his plans truly go well beyond the scope of our lands. He wants the power to take all realms, and this is the weapon he has been waiting for to achieve his goal.’
The room grew silent as we took in all that she said.
Geraldine spoke next. ‘We had long suspected that this war with Morgad was a means to an end, not the ultimate goal. It never made much sense beyond petty revenge, and no one would go to war with a realm for twenty years over mere vengeance.’
Except for me, maybe. I was definitely capable of something that foolish.
‘Skylar, he was never after your throne or our people. He was after something on our lands. This confirms it. He had been testing us, trying to delve deeper behind our borders in search of something. We still don’t know what this power is, but if he of all people wants it, then there is no chance he can have it,’ Viv said.
I turned to Visarous. ‘Search the old texts and see if there is anything the Spirit Casters may know. Sienna, contact the Elders, see what else they know, what they have not shared. There must be more. Wiccans do not set wards without an understanding of what the ward is there to protect from. If they won’t tell you, I will go there myself,’ I ordered.
‘I thought the same and have already pressed. They won’t divulge any more, but at the end of the letter, my mother asked me to bring a gift for the eclipse. It did not make much sense, considering the eclipse is not for eight months, and I was also banished after assuming a position within your council. I believe she’s telling me there will be a price for the knowledge. I say we go.’
‘Do we have anything more tangible to go on right now?’
Everyone in the room shook their heads—No.
