What was all this self-doubt in her brother? Her unwavering brother seemed on the edge of a crisis. Just as she struggled to pull herself back from her own crisis. “Savine… I am fighting to free the people of Latiah. We both are. But if it wasn’t for your leadership, there would be no rebellion. You know that. People fight for our side because of you.”
Savine nodded. She didn’t change the mix of emotions that poured through him. Sometimes a person needed to feel the emotions that were naturally there. With time, Kyla had to learn when to meddle with someone’s feelings and when to let them struggle with their own warring emotions. Usually, she was right about when to help someone and when not to, but Avery had been a mistake. Once, she tried to push the feelings of love into her father when she was a child. Sheso wanted to feel something else from him besides the cold indifference he always radiated. That choice had gotten her a punishment that not even Savine could stop. She still bore the scars, hidden from view.
“I spoke to the trees,” Savine muttered, turning his back on Kyla as he moved to the open window. His voice seemed to shake as he spoke.
Good. At least he spoke to the trees upon arrival in Bayberry. Her brother wasn’t being completely uncharacteristic. But there was something intrinsically different about him. She knew her brother. His unrelenting confidence and his unwillingness to stray from his goals. This man with his back turned to her, shoulders slightly slumped, was giving her cause for concern. “What did they say? Are the others near?”
“The army is a day’s ride from here.” Savine didn’t turn to look at her as he spoke. His hands gripped the windowsill, and the wood seemed to dent under his touch.
“That sounds like good news. Why are you so angry and unsure?” Kyla asked. She needed to anchor herself before he shared what he was about to say. It was nothing good. Stepping back, she placed her hands on Garnel’s still form. Under her touch, she felt an emotion that made her heart stir. Peace. Rest. Garnel would be alright. His cool skin wasn’t too hot or icy cold with death.
Savine turned and looked at her. The hard planes of his face made her need the touch of Garnel even more intense. Savine’s essence whirred. “The loyalists are still on this side of the pass. The king isn’t moving his army back to Orofine before the snow falls. Even worse, he is destroying the forest near the pass.”
Kyla’s heart quickened. The loyalists always retreated with the changing of the seasons. Autumn was a time to prepare for the harsh realities of winter in Latiah. But if he was still here, he must be planning on overwintering near the Middens. But to destroy the trees?Even after Savine and Jasper agreed to leave the trees out of their war? This was dangerous news.
“Why would he make these changes now? It makes no sense. Not after so many years of following the same pattern.” It hit her. The cause of the change in tactics. “Avery…” her voice came out cracked as she said the witch’s name.
“He must know that we plan to use her against him. Jasper is making a preemptive strike by attacking the trees. Also, there are whispers he is seeking other nations as allies. Primarily Nephel. He will attack us here in Bayberry if we do not strike first. Avery, Goddess help her, is a liability for the entire community.” He paused as he spoke. A new emotion bubbled to the surface of the room. Fear. Sheer terror and fear. “I— I cannot let her stay here when she may be the reason Jasper attacks us.” He turned his back to Kyla again as he looked out the window into the evening sun. Pain. Gut-wrenching pain mingled with panic, and he did nothing to mask it from her.
“Savine?”
He did not reply. He continued to stand with his back to her, feelings roiling out of him and hitting her like shock waves.
Kyla spoke softly, not wanting to come across as attacking him when his emotions were so unwound. “Savine, you have grown to care for Avery, haven’t you?”
The anger bubbled to the surface again, and Kyla heard the wood splinter where he held it. “It doesn’t matter what I feel for her. My duty is first and foremost to the people who have trusted me with their safety for decades now. I do not have the luxury of such feelings, sister.”
Kyla sighed. He carried such a heavy burden with this war. He refused to share the burden, even though, as his sister, she had abandoned her home in Orofine just as much as he did. Fled with him likea thief in the night. “Oh, Savine, you have every right to care for Avery. I do too! She saved my soulmate from certain death and did so with no obligation held over us. I will do anything to protect her.”
“Even if it means bringing death and war to Bayberry?”
Kyla sucked in her ragged breath. They had worked so hard to keep war from this peaceful corner of Aeritis. It would destroy these people to be involved in the conflict.
“We will take her away. We can hide her.”
Savine turned and shook his head. Pain etched in the hard planes of his face, and Kyla wanted to touch him, to soothe his pain and fear. “Jasper will still come here. He will still attack Bayberry if we do not give him proof she isn’t here.”
“Do you mean to turn her over?” Kyla couldn’t believe that he would abandon the witch. Not after this display of emotions over her wellbeing.
“Of course not! I would rather turn myself over than see her harmed by that madman.”
This gave her pause. He would do anything to avoid capture by the King of Latiah.
“Savine, what is your relationship with Avery? I know you have been sharing a…”
“She is a friend. She has been kind and easy to talk to.” The fae couldn’t lie, so Kyla knew this must be how Savine saw her in his eyes.
“Does she know about Father?”
“She knows enough. Do not speak to her about him. Ever.”
Kyla saw her brother’s cold eyes, like ice chips, and his face furrowed into a frown.
“Could she be your—” Rage, pure rage poured out of her brother. So much so that she took two steps back, bumping into Garnel’s sleepingform.
“Goddess damn you, Kyla! I have no fucking soulmate. My soul is not worthy of such a thing. Let alone, she is ahuman!Who has ever heard of a fucking human for a soulmate?!”
Kyla felt the doubt on her tongue as her words slipped out. “It could be possible? Since she is a witch? The Bayberries—”
