“From what I heard, he laid down his life to save yours. He gave you the time you needed to save all of us. If there’s one thing I know about negative emotions, it’s that berating yourself for feeling them only makes you feel worse.”
I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. I would mourn. But we would rebuild, and we would ensure the people in this realm never had to live in fear again.
“Ah, halfling. Something tells me I won’t be getting many meals from you in the future.”
I smirked. “You know, you could be happy that I won’t be drowning in rage and misery.”
“Humph.”
“I have a question.”
“Ask it.”
“You once told me my power wouldn’t save me. And it didn’t. But you said I’d need to rely on the ‘things I keep hidden from all.’ I’d assumed you meant the rowan arrow.”
“Ah.” She’d closed her eyes again, and she cracked them open. “It’s stupid to assume things.”
I scowled, and she shook her head at me.
“You went through your life hiding many things, halfling. Your vulnerability. Your courage. But most of all, the sheer love you had for those you cared for. You refused to let it make you weak. And yet, by using it to make the ultimate sacrifice, it made you strong.” She smiled. “And of course, you had the ring. Thanks to that tricky wolf.”
My scowl deepened. “And you couldn’t just have told me that?”
“What am I, your personal seer? You’ve always defied most of my visions. Now leave me in peace.”
I rolled my eyes but left her alone.
* * *
SAMAEL
I waited for the ferryman, attempting to find some patience. It had been three days since we took the throne, and I’d cleared my schedule to be here.
Danica had refused to come. She was still too angry. Still too deep in mourning for the relationship she hadn’t gotten to have with her father. I continually found her down below the dungeon, in the tiny cell her where father had spent her entire life.
Each time, I’d gather her into my arms and take her back to our rooms, holding her as she wept.
Charon stepped onto the bank of the river, his expression blank.
“You shouldn’t have come,” he said.
“I want to see him.”
He gave me a look, then turned his gaze back to the river. The ferryman’s wrinkled hand was still wrapped around the pole he used to guide his craft.
“You know that’s not how it works.”
“Make an exception.”
“Not even for you, Your Majesty.”
I leveled him with a hard stare, frustration roiling through my body. The ferryman merely angled his head. “You forget, I knew you when you had barely started walking. You won’t intimidate me into doing what you want.”
In spite of my annoyance, I rolled my eyes. “I’d been walking for years.” And yet, Charon was ancient in a way few things truly were. Even my lifespan would seem to be the blink of an eye to him.
“He’s safe,” the ferryman announced, his eyes on the water rushing below us. “Your friend knew it was his time. And he would not be pleased if you spent too long mourning him.”
My eyes burned hot. Ag was supposed to rule with us. To finally see peace. “Does he know?”
