“Your people are largely safe. Some of my forces remained in your city to keep order. But your father has been brought here. He is to be executed tonight,” I informed her, my tone steady though internally conflicted. “You will be present at his execution.”
The Bavadrin people had their own traditions and rituals. When one leader fell, another was chosen by blood. The entire process was followed by some sort of ritual to seal the deal. I needed to know if Ariana was the one chosen to lead next. It was evident that she cared for her people, but that did not mean she would become the next ruler. Bringing her to my home was a gamble, but my gut usually proved correct.
Ariana was going to be at the execution. I needed to see for myself both her father’s death and whether she was the next in line. It was simply how it needed to be, yet I couldn’t help but feel a weight pressing into me for what I would force her to witness. A girl like her was unlikely to have ever seen death in such a way, a life taken by force before its time.
“I understand,” was Ariana’s only reply, her gaze dropping to the ground. Perhaps she regretted her decision to sacrifice the man.
“I tried to speak to your leader by the name of Fraser, but he refuses to work with me. He is leaving me no other choice,” I said to her, wanting her to know that I did not seal his fate without first attempting to come to some sort of agreement. Perhaps that knowledge would help shift the weight of what was happening from her shoulders and onto his. For some reason, I wanted to bring a small amount of comfort to the Bavadrin girl. It was odd—one moment I wanted to control her fears, and the next, I wished to comfort her.
“I wouldn’t have expected him to agree to anything with you.” Her voice was low, eyes remaining fixed on the ground.
“And you would?” I asked, taking a small step closer as if proximity could reveal the truth.
The question caused her green stare to shift up, meeting mine.“If I say no, will you kill me too?” she boldly asked, lifting her chin. The scent of her fear had nearly vanished. She asked such a question without trepidation. Though she stepped awayfrom me when I first approached, she now regained some of that troubling confidence.
“I would prefer not to.” My words did not reassure her. Nor were they meant to as her fate remained undecided. If she impeded our purpose, then she needed to be removed. It was as simple as that. There was still the uncertainty of what to do with her if she was not chosen to be the next Bavadrin leader.
Ariana should have heeded my warning and run away from that city. Perhaps then she would not have found herself in such a position. Yet she did not listen.
“If the things you say are true—if Lysians are truly being imprisoned in the Sidhe lands—then I will help you, but not as your prisoner,” she said with a calm conviction. Perhaps she had not been shaken as thoroughly as I expected. Still, she continued to carry an air of courage, even when alone in my home. A curious little thing. I would never have guessed that a Bavadrin could be so void of fear, especially one like her. The entire world seemed as though it could be a threat to her safety, yet she stood solidly before me. Any other in her place would have trembled, fallen to their knees, and begged for their life to be spared, yet she did none of those things.
“Do you know anything about Lysians being taken to the Sidhe lands?” I asked her.
“No.” She held my gaze.
“But you believe me.” I took another step, almost close enough to touch. “Why?”
“What makes you think I believe you?” She answered with a question of her own.It was difficult to read her intentions behind that statement.
Glancing at the window, I cursed internally. The sun was higher in the sky than expected. There was still much to be done before nightfall. I needed to meet with my brothers, a conversation that was unlikely to be pleasant.
“I have some things I need to attend to. Kole will escort you when it’s time for you to join us. For today, you will remain confined to this area. Starting tomorrow, Kole can take you around the grounds if you wish to venture outside of this room,” I informed her.
She only offered me a silent nod in response before I left her standing there as I exited the common room and shut the door.
Kole leaned against the wall in the hall, waiting to resume his duties as the Bavadrin girl’s guard.
“It’s good to see you in one piece,” he grinned, his blond hair a mess atop his head. Muscular arms folded over his broad chest. Not many were larger in stature than me, Kole was.
“It certainly is good to be back home.” I smiled at my friend.
His grin faltered, and he nodded towards the door I just walked from. “What are you doing with her, Erik?”
“I think she can be helpful to us. To lead her people. They will be better fighters if they feel as though they do it willingly for their leader and not because it’s that or we kill them,” I told him. Of course, it would only work if she was the next one to rule her people and if she agreed to help us. The plan harbored moreifsthan I would have liked.
“She is . . . nearly likable, for a Bavadrin,” Kole stated, his lip curling as if bothered by the thought.
His comment offered more relief than it should have. I wasn’t the only one who felt anything other than hate for a Bavadrin, especially one whose father was their leader. The question remained whether she was truly who she seemed to be or if it was all some sort of ploy—true to their Bavadrin ways, spinning webs of deceit. My instincts always pointed towards suspicion, yet her willingness to tend to my wounds when she didn’t know who I was pulled me in another direction. She certainly was an unexpected discovery.
The plan was to take the Bavadrins by force. That hadn’tchanged, but perhaps we didn’t need to use as brutal a force as originally planned.
“I take it she has not brought you any trouble during your time with her?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“Keep an eye on her.” I was turning to leave when Kole audibly groaned.
“I am not a babysitter.” Kole unfolded his hands and stepped towards me in protest.
