“But the nests are where the gargoyles raise their babies. Killing them would be an act of war.”
He shakes his head. “The gargoyles shouldn’t be there. It’s our territory and the Elven Command can claim ignorance—they’ll say that the champions simply defended themselves. Male gargoyles protect their children with the savagery of a wild animal. It won’t take much to provoke one.”
Shock slams through me. “But the Commanddoesknow and that’s worse than war. That’s… murder. How many nests are there?”
I’m not sure why I care. The gargoyles have always been our enemy. They almost wiped us out. And yet… I’ve always held the elves to a higher standard—a better way of fighting with honor. We would never attack children. For the Elven Command to deliberately send warriors into a place knowing it could turn into slaughter is cruel and wrong.
“Only two. One on each side of the mountain.”
I catch up fast. “And there are two of us. You want me to make my path alongside one of the nests so none of the champions will come near it.”
He nods. “I know I’m asking a lot of you, but if you wait for the other champions to pass you by, they won’t discover the nest.”
“But that could mean losing.”
He smiles. “Will it? The other champions might underestimate you, but I don’t.”
“I guess it could work in my favor. Make them think I can’t handle the mountain.”
“When I know you can.”
I swallow. I grew up climbing the Rath peaks. The image of Baelen sitting at the edge of the cliff returns to me.
He continues. “I haven’t figured out why yet, but there are forces at work within the Elven Command that want to disrupt the peace between us and the gargoyles.”
I can’t help glancing back at the Storm Vault. It told me that my husband would kill me and release the storm. Now Baelen is saying that someone in the Elven Command is looking for war. There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s all connected.
I frown, realizing something. “But when you showed me the gargoyle nests in the War Room, you didn’t point to Scepter peak.”
Frustration enters his voice. “Because the Elven Command refuses to make it public knowledge. They forbid me to tell anyone.”
“Then how can you tell me now?”
“Because I bound myself to you. My oath to you comes before everything else. Even if you hadn’t chosen to be a champion, your life is in danger.”
So that’s why he bound himself to me. I try to focus on the problem, but my reaction is too strong. I can’t stop myself from saying, “You only bound yourself to me so you could tell me secrets.”
I’m shocked by how bitter that makes me feel. Disappointment rises like the storm inside me. My fingers tingle with remembered lightning and my chest suddenly aches as if icy rain has gathered inside it.
He draws near to me. His gaze burns me. “Telling you secrets is just a happy consequence. I bound myself to you for many reasons.”
I want a real answer, but I’m not sure how far to push him if he doesn’t want to tell me. “But, Bae… if you lose… you won’t have the chance to love another elf. There must be… someone… in your life now?”
He shakes his head. He pauses, glances at Elise, and I suspect he’s choosing his response carefully, the same way I always think before I speak.
He asks, “Do you really not see it?”
“See what?”
He turns his head. He points to the scar running the length of the side of his face. “This.”
“No. I don’t.” I scowl. “Are you telling me that not a single elven girl came near you because of that?”
He taps the scar with his finger. “I learned very quickly thatthischanges everything.”
“Why?”
My response makes him frown. He stares at me. “It really doesn’t make a difference to you?”
