CHAPTER 34
SEAN
It wasn’t so bad, Sean told himself the next morning.
Of all the life-changing things that had happened over the last months, the news of a baby was by far the happiest—and the most normal. Far better news than being told he was some messiah sent to save the world. Far more believable, too.
He left Isobel sleeping in her bed to head down to the training grounds for his meeting with Bowenn.
“I hear congratulations are in order!” the warrior chieftain shouted as Sean entered the designated tent.
Sean stiffened. Beside Bowenn, Kywyn’s expression morphed into one of guilt. “I’m sorry,” his father said, shifting uncomfortably on his stool. “I was too excited to keep it to myself.”
Bowenn laughed heartily, standing to clasp Sean’s wrist. “Why keep such a blessing secret?” He kissed Sean’s temple, and the pixie spark spread down his nerves, warm and comforting.
“I’m not.” Sean scratched his neck. “Just…still processing.”
“Ah.” Bowenn nodded, his blue eyes turning quite serious. “Kassandra’s prophecy draws nigh.”
Sean’s mouth tightened as he fought the urge to argue.
We live or die by the grace of a willing martyr.
Maybe he’d be the one to martyr himself. Why did they all assume the martyr in this scenario was Bel?
He settled in the chair reserved for him and took stock of the dossiers littered across the table. “So where do we start?”
Bowenn reseated himself and pushed a stack toward Sean. “I’ve had the Shamans write up reports for every soldier who takes part in the Exorcism. I believe the first step, if I may make a suggestion, should be assigning each squad so they can become accustomed to each other.”
Sean glanced at the hundreds of papers on the table, his heart sinking as he realized he was far better at the action part of things. “You know who would be good at this?” he said.
Bowenn cast him a curious look.
“David.”
Both Bowenn and Kywyn blinked at Sean, stunned to silence.
“The heir of Manae?” Bowenn asked.
He cocked his head. “Do you know another David?”
“Is it wise to reveal strategy to…” The pixie’s cheeks flared as he caught himself.
“To who?” Sean challenged. “An ally?”
Bowenn did not reply. Kywyn stared at the table. A thin vein of tension wrapped about the tent.
“Perhaps we start with stacking each of these according to race?” his father said after a moment. “We do want to distribute healers and guardians evenly, yes?”
Sean nodded and reached for a pile of papers.
That day, he worked mostly in silence, reading dossiers until his eyes ached. The next day, he dragged David to the tent with him.
Bowenn crossed his arms as David entered, his blue eyes narrowing.
“Lovely to see you, Bowenn, as always,” David said as the tent flap swungclosed.
“Ashanta,” the pixie said, shifting his gaze to Sean, “I do not feel?—”
