“Your gift of sight is sharp as always, I see,” Sindri replied.
“How can this be? I thought you’d been killed along with the others,” Haddi said. “I searched everywhere for you. I reached out every day for years…decades. Why couldn’t I sense you were still alive?”
“Because I wished to remain hidden from you,” Sindri replied. “Hidden away to learn and practice the magic that Tor and the other elders refused to teach us when we were young.”
My heart raced and my tattoos burned. I focused my attention on keeping them from glowing using the techniques that Isla and I had been working on together. These guys had no idea who I was and that gave me an advantage. As soon as I saw an opportunity to make a move against them I would. But for now, I had to keep my cool. For Isla’s sake.
“What is the meaning of all this?” Haddi asked.
“It is time for Gunnar Egilson, the true king of the Kalt Einn to reclaim his throne,” Sindri replied.
“You were never king,” Haddi ground out. “Kaspar is the rightful king of the Kalt Einn, and Kade the Cauld Ane.”
“Kaspar is a false ruler,” Erik seethed, “Who would never have been able to overthrow me if my brother hadn’t betrayed me. He has no right to the Kalt Einn crown.”
“You’re delusional, old man. You betrayed our people, that is why you were exiled to Scotland and forced into hiding,” Kade said.
“Every decision I made was for the good of the Kalt Einn.”
“You married Alice to improve your political influence even though she wasn’t your mate,” Kade said.
Erik pointed to a woman who looked remarkably like Kade, only a much, much older version. “I marriedyour motherin order to secure peace between the warring tribes.”
Kade scowled at the woman. “Alice is no longer recognized as our mother, nor are you the king of our people.”
“Our people?” Erik scoffed. “My people are Kalt Einn.”
“We are of your bloodline,” Kade said, motioning to his brothers.
“You are traitors who’ve chosen to hide in the shadows and weaken my bloodline by mating with humans.”
“Have you forgotten your true mate is human?” Haddi asked, pointing to Abela, trapped inside the binding circle.
“Another betrayer. Just like the rest of the pathetic species,” Erik replied. “That is why her body is dying. Her days, slipping away faster and faster like thehumanthat she is.”
It was chilling to hear Erik spit out the word human with such venom. Even though I knew I wasn’t technically human, I still felt like one in my heart.
“She chose to age rather than bend to your will. Abela is stronger than you’ll ever be,” Kade replied. “Had you been a better man, neither of you would be aging right now. Neither would you, Alice. Abela chose to lose her life than to follow in your treachery.”
“You treated her like a mother while I rotted on that island,” Alice said. “I’ll see to it she pays for that.”
“You’ll harm no one else here,” Kade said. “You may have escaped from prison, but you are both still bound to the authority of the oracles. You can’t hold us forever and once released, Haddi and I will make sure you are returned to your place of exile. Sindri’s dark magic won’t last, and you’re outnumbered.”
“You’re assuming since they’re brothers, Sindri’s power must be like Haddi’s. You’d be wise not to underestimate him,” Erik said. “You’d also be wise not to assume I’d come without proper reinforcements.”
Just then, six fully armed guards appeared, carrying several items from the castle.
“You see, Kade? I still have many Kalt Einn who remain loyal to the cause and the true king.”
“There are several Kalt Einn relics here, just as you suspected, sire,” one of the guards said.
“What have you found, Captain?”
“These books, a mirror, a suit of armor, and this sword,” one of the guards said, handing the enchanted blade to Erik, who smiled wide before dramatically thrusting it into the ground in front of him.
“Very good, Captain. Were you able to find the rings of time?”
“I’m afraid not, your majesty, but we’re still searching.”
