Iver whistled lowly. “So, she’s lost a few marbles?” A smile splayed on his face while Edmond frowned.
“At first, yes, I thought she was stupid for her lack of fear, for coming near me. But she is not stupid, far from it. If her father listened to her, then the treaty may have never been broken. She is something else entirely. I think she can be helpful to us.”
“So, this is either the Spirit bringing you two together to help us free our Lysians. Or it’s her Bavadrin blood and whispers which are already casting spells on you.” Jorn was clearly concerned about the latter. By the look on Edmond’s face, he was inclined to agree.
“And you think killing her father in front of her will sway her to help you?” Iver asked me as if he thought I was an idiot, earning him a warning growl. He was my little brother, but he would be put in his place if needed. Never was I known for my patience, and the way I was currently wound up, there was even less room for it.
“Of course, I know it will not likely be beneficial. But I need to be there when he is put out of his miserable existence, and I need her to be there to see if there is any hint at her taking his place as the next Bavadrin leader. Also, I doubt that she harbors much love for her father. She is the reason we captured him so quickly.” I no sooner finished speaking before the next question was being asked.
“She tended to your wounds. You, someone who is little more than an animal in their eyes, and you think she won’t bat an eye when her own family blood is spilled?” Iver grinned at how it sounded. Either I was foolish, or she was a lunatic.
“I guess we will find out,” I snapped in annoyance. How would I know how Ariana would react? All I had to go on were the brief glimpses I had of her life.
“Okay. We will find out.” Edmond nodded. “We will try to show her that we are more than the terrible bedtime stories used to scare Bavadrin children. If she has a heart, as you seem to believe, then we will give her a chance to learn. But if she is not to be trusted, if she is the Bavadrinwewerewarned of, the kind who is not reliable, then I will kill her.” His words were not questioning. He was telling me his position.
“Very well,” I answered, knowing that he was right.
Despite Lysians having more physical strength and agility, we were not completely safe from the Bavadrins. There were reasons they continued to hold power before the forming of the treaty. They were told to have abilities capable of burrowing into one’s soul and destroying it from within. They were also told to have certain fighting advantages, though I did not see anything of the sort when we attacked their capitol. Still, my brother was not wrong to worry.
I stood. “There are a few things I must tend to before the execution.”
“Will you be the one doing it?” Iver asked.
“Of course not,” Edmond answered, looking at Iver as if he could not believe that we were all related.
“You all are to stay away from the Bavadrin for the time being. For now, I want her interactions with Lysians to be limited,” I instructed.
“Sure.” Edmond and Jorn both agreed in unison.
“You are no fun,” Iver whined, earning my full attention toslice to him. He then sighed. “Fine, whatever you wish, myKing.” He dramatically bowed his head.
“You are really asking for a spanking, Iver,” Jorn warned.
“Ooh, may I choose who will give out the order?” He sat up a little straighter in his chair, as if thoroughly interested.
My fist slammed on the table, unable to keep the frustration from bubbling over. They all fell silent. “I am in no mood for your childishness. You will see her at the execution. After that, you are to stay away from her until told otherwise.”
Iver folded his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing slightly. Thankfully, he only nodded in response and kept his mouth shut.
9
ARIANA
The day dragged by slowly after Erik’s brief visit, leaving me with a lot of time to myself. Thoughts swirled around my mind, jumbling together as if stuck in a vortex I had no way of controlling.
The events of the past several days were in many ways inconceivable. A Lysian King had sat in a Bavadrin prison cell. He allowed himself to be tortured, tolerating a lashing that would forever leave his body marked of that day. All of it was a sacrifice to break the ancient treaty, ensuring the wrath of the Spirit fell on the Bavadrins and luck smiled on the Lysians. The events were entirely propagated by a belief that Lysians were smuggled into the Sidhe territory through the Bavadrin lands. It was a far-fetched story, yet there was a possibility that it was the truth, at least partially. The Lysians were not the only ones to have citizens disappearing.
And I was now a prisoner of the Lysians, the roles reversed.
I could have laughed at the irony.
I used to think myself powerful, though after seeing Erik, I nolonger felt as confident. Were I to ever stand toe to toe with him, then I was uncertain who would emerge victorious. It took far less time to burn someone than it took to choke the breath out of them. Erik carried an ease to his conjuring which appeared completely effortless, almost second nature. He also had an entire army helping him take control of the my capital. I, on the other hand, had no army coming to my aid.All I had were Edda’s fortunes.
My people’s lives were at stake while I betrayed the sacred oath of protecting the Leader Superior. Technically, it was not an oath I ever made myself. It was one I was born into. Did that make my actions any more forgivable?
I was grasping at straws.
My thoughts turned back to the Lysians.
