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NIAWEN!
Oh, Deian. I was destroying him.
THIRTY-FOUR
Relief swallowed me as Seren flew closer to Eirwen Mountain. I would soon see the entrance.
I’ll appeal to the High Emrys. She’ll understand I’m not corrupted. I’m not, am I?
No, Niawen. You’re not corrupted, Seren said.
I acted in fury. I remember clearly that, though I was buried under rage, I carefully calculated my attack so I wouldn’t harm anyone who was innocent.
You’re a good person, Niawen, with good intentions, and you help others. You don’t go around wishing destruction on people.
No, I don’t.
The mountain ledge grew closer. To my dismay, someone was standing outside the entrance.
Who’s that? I asked.
I zoomed in with my dragon sight on a young man dressed in a midnight blue guard uniform. Ieuan. Why’s he standing there?
When Seren landed, I slid down and strode forward, determined not to be held back.
Ieuan had projected a shield of light around his body to protect himself from the cold. He stood at attention, but as I drew closer, he crouched into a fighting stance, blocking the entrance to Gorlassar.
“Out of the way, Ieuan,” I said.
“I can’t let you pass, Niawen.”
I wanted to laugh. “I’m stronger. Don’t make me fight you.” I had taken Ieuan down in many sparring matches. Although he was well toned and agile, the approach of attack and my determination gave me an advantage whenever I fought.
Ieuan flinched as if he was going to lunge at me. I jumped, and he sneered. “You’re not getting in.”
Light exploded from my palms. Ieuan blocked my shot with his shield, and the rebound flared in a sunburst around him.
“You’ll have to do better than that,” he said.
I rushed at him, yelling. I gripped his shoulders and heaved him off balance. My light bolstered my strength as I envisioned a lion tearing into his prey. Ieuan and I rolled in the snow. He pinned me, but I twisted my legs, breaking his hold and shoving him off.
I blasted him in the face, but he held on, wrapping himself around my waist as I crawled toward the entrance. Finally, after much scuffling, I knelt on his arms, straddling his chest as I smashed his head into the snow.
“You’re crazy,” he hissed. “I didn’t want to believe it, but the mortals have defiled you.”
“I just want to go home.” I grunted as Ieuan pushed against me.
Three men emerged through the rift, my father, Caledu, included. Every hope I had was crushed as I glared at his pointy nose.
“Restrain her,” my father huffed.
Seren reared. Caledu lifted his hand, and a heaviness descended over her, feeding into me. I drooped even as the men lifted me by each arm. Seren cowered, held at bay by my father’s light.
“Father, you don’t understand—”
He frowned. “I understand perfectly well. You’ve forsaken your guardianship. You left the realm. You made the choice to entangle yourself in the lives of mortals.”
I strained against the hands that held me. “I’m ready to come home. I’ve learned my lesson.”
