“Yes,” I answered and felt Edmond’s gaze cut to me, his eyes filled to the brim with anger he struggled to control.
Eislyn’s attention dropped to the ground in thought. “I see. So, what, Kole and I are to be some sort of character witnesses for Ariana or something?” She looked back at me, and a flicker of hope passed over her before being replaced with an unreadable calm. “You want to let her go.”
Iver’s eyes brightened. “You are smart, but I am a little surprised. I thought I sensed relief from you. Do you really wish to spare the Bavadrin?”
Eislyn kept her attention on me, not even acknowledging Iver’s comment, making no attempt at answering him.
Iver’s head tilted. “Excuse me, are you ignoring me?” When she did not reply, he snorted. “That’s a bit childish.”
She turned to him then. “And here I thought one of the best ways of interacting with children was to do so on a level which they may understand.”
“Are you calling me a child?” Iver smirked.
“Am I speaking to someone else?” she snapped.
Jorn sighed. “The sooner you all focus, the sooner we can go our separate ways.” He shook his head, mumbling to himself that he could not believe he was the voice of reason.
Edmond leaned forward. “You are correct, Eislyn. You andKole are character witnesses of sorts. Outside of Erik, the two of you have spent the most time with Ariana. Erik leans towards trusting the Bavadrin. We would like to know if you both would have chosen the same.”
“What would our answers change?” Kole asked.
“Perhaps nothing or perhaps something,” Edmond responded without actually giving an answer.
“There is talk about potentially attacking the Bavadrins and reclaiming control,” I informed them, conveying what Edmond’s and Jorn’s wish was.
“Would you kill her then? If control was taken back?” Eislyn asked.
“That is not of your concern,” Edmond stated flatly, not liking that she seemed troubled by the Bavadrin’s life being taken.
“Actually, it is,” Eislyn replied curtly. “Because despite her being a Bavadrin,Itrained her. She?—”
Jorn grunted a laugh, interrupting Eislyn. “C’mon, she is not Lysian. You were not actually teaching her anything.”
“And yet she learned,” Eislyn stated dryly, before turning her attention to me once more. “You know I do not take on trainees lightly. Even though Ariana is a Bavadrin she has the drive and determination of the strongest of us. She does not give up. I would trust her at my side if we had to fight side by side against a common enemy.”
“You cannot be serious. I thought Iver was just kidding when he said you favored the girl. You, a warrior, are putting your trust in a Bavadrin!” Edmond yelled, a crazed look in his eye as if he could not fathom what was being said.
“Yes, I am,” she stated without an ounce of hesitation.
“I never thought you a fool, but this—” Edmond’s lip curved up as if he tasted something repugnant.
“You all asked for my thoughts on her. Ariana has the heart of a warrior. Of what I have been able to learn of her, she wouldnever stand with the Sidhe.” There was a certainty to Eislyn’s words that gave me more relief than she would ever know.
“You would bet your life on this?” Jorn asked, a frown on his angular face.
“I would.” Eislyn lifted her chin defiantly.
“Would you bet Kole’s?” Iver asked. Despite everything going on, my little brother remained as intrigued by the relationship between Eislyn and Kole as he was by the decision about Ariana.
“I would,” she answered, refraining from looking at anyone but me.
I turned to Kole. “And you, what do you make of Ariana?”
“I feel betrayed, for she saw me when I never truly saw her,” he answered, and I wasn’t sure what to make of his comment. “But I do not wish to be the first to throw the stone. If we go to war with one another, then it should be her decision, for that outcome would be better than if we were to annihilate innocent people for no reason.”
“Unbelievable,” Jorn growled, looking to Edmond, who mirrored his shock.
“You would risk your own to protect her?” Edmond ground out, his fingers wrapping around the arm of his chair, turning white from his tightening grip.
