ERIK
Ifound myself thinking back to all that occurred since I first crossed the Bavadrin border a few months ago. Every memory, every interaction with Ariana replayed in my mind as I searched for where I had gotten sloppy and stopped viewing her as the threat that she indeed was capable of being. During her time in the Lysian lands, everything I observed led me to lower my guard. I always harbored a sense of caution when things involved her, yet it was still not enough.
Those final hours of traveling from the Bavadrin lands after the unexpected turn of events were quiet. The trip home was uneventful. No one made a sound, not even Kole. My mood did not welcome anything other than complete and silent obedience.
Unfortunately, my brothers did not harbor the same intellect and began an assault of questions as soon as we returned.
Hours passed, and I allowed them to berate me with their opinions and demands for action. We sat together in a large room that had been made stuffy by the bickering. There were maps and papers with all the information we had on the Bavadrins and the Sidhe laid out on three large tables. Much of it was outdatedinformation from long ago. I had the documents brought up as soon as we returned and had been looking through them till the arrival of my brothers. That was when all planning went out the window, and an argument regarding their appetite for blood ensued. Eventually, we called for Kole and Eislyn to be brought to the meeting. I was most curious to hear their opinions on the situation.
They entered together, clearly noting the tension in the room.
Kole tilted his head towards Eislyn. “What is she doing here?” The disdain which usually accompanied his words towards her was missing. Or perhaps the squabbling between myself and my brothers had warped my view of disdain.
Eislyn raised an eyebrow. “I suppose your teeny tiny brain is not large enough to be of use, and so they called me for backup.” It appeared she at least had not lost her bite. Usually, a comment like that from her would send Kole fuming, but he remained oddly composed.
“That’s enough.” My voice was not loud, yet it commanded submission.
It was not my favorite idea to have Kole and Eislyn together in one room when emotions ran high. Especially when Iver was in that same room. Such an environment was typically not conducive to progress. But in this case, it was necessary.
“You two are as feisty as the day you both broke up.” Iver grinned, though I caught his eye remaining on Kole. Had he too picked up on the change and was trying to elicit a response with his words. Perhaps there indeed was something different about Kole’s demeanor towards Eislyn.
“Stop being a child,” Edmond growled, not wanting to deviate from the reason we were all gathered.
“Careful, brother.” Iver turned casually, viewing Edmond from where he sat.
“What are you going to do? Challenge me?” There was thebarest hint of a growl in Edmond’s tone. His control was slipping, made clear by the way his entire body tensed.
Iver stared at Edmond with boredom, his demeanor unruffled, though he did not continue to provoke. Finally, a wise action from him. Usually, he always threw caution to the wind.
Ignoring them, I addressed Eislyn. “Ariana is gone,” I informed her what everyone else in the room already knew.
“What do you mean?” Eislyn stepped forward as if the action could clear her hearing. She likely wished to have misheard. She glanced at Kole, who kept his attention ahead, waiting for me to elaborate.
“Ariana has re-taken her city,” I informed her.
Eislyn’s jaw went slack, and in that moment of uncertainty, she again looked to Kole for answers.
I gave the barest tilt of my chin to Kole, allowing him to provide some clarification.
“Ariana is a conjuror. No Lysians were killed during this,” he informed. It was the first time in a while that they exchanged words so cordially.
Turmoil had a strange effect on relationships. Usually, many shattered under pressure. But some grew stronger, the force turning the bond into something powerful enough to withstand the turning tides. It was unexpected to see the two of them able to interact without their usual revulsion when blame was easy to throw, for Kole had been Ariana’s guard, and Eislyn had been training her to fight. They both were left with plenty of ammunition to use against one another.
“What kind of conjuror?” Eislyn asked in disbelief.
Kole turned to me, for it was not something we had ever seen before.
I answered the question with what little I understood. “I am uncertain. It seemed like mist but stronger, capable of choking theair out of someone’s lungs, and capable of creating a barrier around her city.”
“Did she attack you?” Eislyn asked me, her head tilting in wonder.
“No.”
Her lips curved ever so slightly, eyes narrowing. “You attack her?”
“Not really.”
She remained silent for a moment. “Could you have killed her?”
