A muttering of agreement circled the building.
“Well, that is a relief,” I looked up and around me, “Thank you for not wanting to kill me anymore.”
The elves tittered with laughter.
“But you want peace,” Dagur amended. “Yes, it's to be expected. For no other reason than you are the Twilight Princess. But know this, Princess Seren, we go to war with Danu's blessing. There can be no peace until her orders are carried out.”
“What?” I went still, focusing intently on Dagur. “Did you just say that Danu has backed your side?”
“No,” Dagur held up his hand. “The Goddess loves all of her children. She did not back us, per se. Before I left Unseelie, Danu spoke to me. She told me this war is necessary. Painful, but necessary. Danu backs the war itself, as a whole.”
Danu's words to me echoed in my memory. 'How I wish I could simply take you to the end of this journey, and bypass the pain.'What the hell was she planning?
“She doesn't approve of war,” I protested, trying to work it out.
“Not usually,” Dagur agreed. “But this is for the good of Fairy.”
“Did you not recently go to war on behalf of Unseelie?” Hinrik asked. “We follow Moire not out of loyalty to her, but loyalty for Danu, and for each other.”
“You said Moire promised you a home,” I reminded him.
“And Danu has guaranteed that we shall have it,” Hinrik said. “Unfortunately, this means we will be on opposing sides, Your Highness. I regret that now. So I offer you this warning. We march to Fairy soon.”
“That's it?” Killian huffed. “You 'march to Fairy soon'?”
“It's more warning than any elf has ever given an opponent,” Dagur said. “We do you a great honor.”
“I understand that,” I ignored Killian, and focused on the elves, “and I appreciate your warning, Lord Hinrik, as well as your efforts on my behalf, Lord Dagur.”
“Princess,” Hinrik bowed.
“Your Highness,” Dagur bowed and added a secret smile.
“Now, I have a warning of my own for all of you,” I said, startling them once more. “I was born a peacekeeper, but I was trained to be a killer. If war is what you want, then I will give it to you, and I will use the advantages human technology has given me. Things like infrared vision and thermal imaging cameras. I know your tricks, and there will be no hiding from my iron blade.”
Chapter Nineteen
“So that went well,” Killian mused as we trudged back to Hrafn.
“I'm going to have some choice words for Danu when we get back to Fairy,” I growled.
“I just don't understand,” Ainsley said. “She's supporting the elves and Moire? Why?”
“That's only if what they said was true,” Conri grimaced. “The elves could be lying.”
Cat huffed.
“I don't think they were lying either, Cat,” I gave her a scratch. “I wish I knew why Danu thinks this war is necessary. She can't possibly agree with what Moire stands for.”
“We will watch the elves for you, Princess Seren,” Soren stepped up to me. “If there is any change or movement, I will notify you.”
“Thank you, General,” I shook his hand, and gave him my contact information. “I appreciate you coming out with us today.”
“I'm just glad I could be here for you,” Soren smiled. “And I'd be happy to stand beside you again. I'm only a phone call away,” he took my hand and kissed it gallantly.
“Yeah, we get it, you're a smooth-talking vampire,” Killian rolled his eyes. “But do you sparkle?”
Soren ignored him.
