She glances at me and there’s sympathy in her eyes before she goes on. “I told him you were still having nightmares.”
I shudder, take a deep breath. “And?”
“He said he knew he could give me orders, but that he was only going to give me one. He said that I was to send the Storm Command every fall and spring to collect the abandoned Shimmer husks and Elyria webs from the highest peaks on Rath land and that I was to fashion them into a suit of armor for you to wear.”
I swipe at the tears still swimming in my eyes. “I don’t understand why.”
She drops to her knees on the floor in front of me while the Storm Command watches on. “He said one last thing that might shed light on his actions: he said his son’s sacrifice had to be for something and he was damned if he wasn’t going to do everything he could to protect you.”
I drop my head into my hands. Tears stream between the cracks in my fingers. Baelen Rath’s father had forgiven me. I’d never expected such mercy.
I make a decision. I’m pretty sure it’s a rash one, but it feels like the right thing to do.
I speak into the quiet room. “Baelen Rath is going to offer me his family’s heartstone today. If his life is threatened at any time during the trials, I order you to protect him in the same way you would protect me.”
My announcement is met with shocked silence. Nobody moves.
Jordan remains kneeling in front of me. She jolts back on her hands like I just struck her. “But Princess…”
“I know what I’m saying, Jordan.”
I hold my hand up to stifle any argument. Then I stand, smoothing down my dress. “You all need to be on full alert. These won’t be ordinary trials.”
I close the gap to the armor. “You’ve made me proud, each and every one of you. Thank you all for this gift.”
I smile at the glimmering suit. I’m about to put it to good use.
