Quinn folds his hands before him. “I do not think that is the intention of the rules that the council of lords and ladies set out before the long night.”
My lips press into a firm smile. “Quinn, you’re mistaking me for someone who cares about the council of lords and ladies and what they said three thousand years ago.”
“For us, that council was merely a year ago,” Ventos says.
“I understand. But that doesn’t change the actual passage of time.” I straighten, trying to command the same presence that Ruvan always did. His magic and essence are within me, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to. I was able to do it when Drew was here. “It might feel like it happened so recently for all of you. But that’s not the truth. Those people are long dead. Honor them, but do not tie yourself and the present to the past at the expense of moving forward.”
“If we don’t have lord or lady to guide us, how are we supposed to know what to do?” Lavenzia folds her arms.
“You’re all smart and capable; I’ve seen how much freedom Ruvan gave you. He was never interested in dictating your every action and he never did. You don’t need him or any lord or lady to tell you to do what’s right.”
“The next leader that’s awoken is going to be cross about this. We might not be exempt from punishment,” Quinn murmurs.
“What are they going to do? Kill us? We’re all dying anyway so is that a real threat?” I’m surprised that it’s Callos who points out that grim truth. But he was always pragmatic, always focused on the reality before him. “If we have an opportunity to end the curse, we have an obligation to try. It could take weeks to brief another lord or lady and convince them of our plans.”
I give a nod to Callos and look to Quinn. “And if you awaken another leader, they’re not going to be friendly to me.”
“You don’t know—”
“You’re right I don’tknow,” I interrupt his protest. “But think about it. At best they will send me back to the Natural World. At worse they’re going to kill me. And when they do, Ruvan is dead. I won’t be around to help feed magic to this barrier that’s holding him in stasis.”
Even now I can feel my energy being sapped. Quinn says nothing and Callos doesn’t object to my assessment either. I use their silence as a chance to rise to the occasion.
“Give us one month,” I plead directly with Quinn, with all of them. “Give yourselves one more month to finish this. We have the lead on the Raven Man. We have a plan. If we succeed then the curse is broken and Ruvan is king. Tempost returns. If that happens I’m certain it won’t matter what the other lords and ladies might think of our methods—you will be their saviors and their king will be on your side. We’ve come this far, I know we can do it. And, if we fail in our mission, Quinn, you’ll be the one to stay safely here in the castle. In one month, you can awaken the next lord or lady. The cycle will begin again.”
But we won’t fail. That’s what I don’t say. I’m not going to accept failure, not when we’re this close and so much hangs in the balance. I look at each of them. Conflict is written on their faces, all of them except for Callos’s.
“You know where I stand,” he says. “I want to end this, and I think Floriane is right. I think we can.”
“If Callos thinks we can do it, then so do I,” Winny speaks up.
“I don’t see how a month could hurt.” Lavenzia’s arms fall to her side. “With Quinn as our backup, if something happens to us in this final mission, the vampir will still be protected.”
Ventos has about as much expression as the stone wall behind him. His brow is furrowed, arms crossed, muscles bulging with tension. He shakes his head and looks apologetically at Quinn.
“You’re supposed to be the one who has the best sense.” Quinn sighs at Ventos. “Aren’t you supposed to be a castle guard who follows orders above all else?”
“I am. But I’m not mindless. I believe this is the best way to protect this castle, our people, and…” Ventos’s gaze softens; he stares through all of us. “And if I have a chance for Julia, to give her the world she deserves, I owe it to her to take that chance.”
Quinn resigns himself. “Very well.One month. I will go to the academy and stay there. I’ll barricade the doors, just in case things go truly awry and the Raven Man is able to come for us.”
“He hasn’t until now,” Winny says hopefully.
“But that’s still a smart idea,” I say with a nod to Quinn. I think about my vision of Loretta. There’s still a path in and out of the vampir territory that we don’t know about. One I’m going to find. And if I can find it, then it’s possible for the Raven Man—Tersius—to as well.
“Very well.” We all watch as Quinn departs.
“He’ll come around, I think,” Callos says. “I suspect seeing Ruvan that close to fully succumbing to the curse has shaken him to his core.”
“It’s hard when the foundations of your world, the people that act as its cornerstones, are threatened.” I should know. They all will, in time. “That’ll make it all the better when Ruvan returns as king.” I look at each of them, still surrounding the vampir lord. The covenant I am now a part of, and somehow, despite all odds, seem to now be the leader of. “All right, let’s get to work.”
* * *
We stand backbefore the stairwell that leads into the depths of the old castle.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ventos asks.
“There is a way out of the castle, a simpler way than mist stepping through the Fade,” I insist. “If we find it, then we don’t have to wait until the full moon to go and attack the Raven Man. We can catch him off guard. Moreover, if we mist step then we’ll be exhausted when we arrive back in the Natural World. We’ll need all our strength to combat him so this could be a better alternative for that as well.”
