Perrin, who I hadn’t noticed was still here, joins me. “Power has a way of corrupting those who mean harm, Ever. Be careful.”
“Sage advice, thanks.”
“And where do you factor into all of this, Kalan Arturus?” Perrin turns his attention to Kalan.
“That isn’t your concern.”
“No? When a Shepherd returns, it is a Naturals concern, surely.”
“Did you two know each other?” I ask Perrin, my eyes flashing between him and Kalan.
“Once. Many years ago. I have only been the custodian of the Naturals for a few years. It used to be a Shepherd who’d take up the position of custodian of the Natural Order. But healer magic seems to be stronger now.”
I look at Kalan. “Is that true? Would you have been a custodian?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I wasn’t the last Shepherd,” he grumbles.
“Yet, you left. And didn’t return.”
“No. You must have returned. There were two—two children with the powers I’ve watched for who needed help. That wasmyduty as a Watcher. I asked you to take that journey as I had to stay with Ever—I entrusted you…” Lyle’s voice cuts at Kalan.
“And they were.”
“Just not by you,” she snaps.
It’s another betrayal by Kalan of their friendship.
“So why are you back now?” Raiden asks Kalan.
“I’m here for her.” He nods to me.
Raiden and Capella were the ones who told me about the forest and Naturals. It feels wrong that he’s here because of a promise he made to my mother and not for their Order.
“And Ever’s here—?” Raiden starts, straightening all the facts.
“To fight my brother. I’ll stand against him if he comes. But I don’t want to fight. Not unless I have to. The rest is up to the Orders.”
“You’re a Fifth,” Perrin says.
I look him square in the eye—the man who fixed me up, fixed us all up at one point or another. How I wished he’d be able to help Ten when he was wounded.
“I know. But I am not a Warrior. I will do what I must, when I must, but I am not the one to galvanise an army. You heard Ravi. I’m the monster. I’m the villain with a power everyone is afraid of.”
“Ever—” Ten starts, but he knows more than anyone.
“No. I know my role. You can all help fight for Kirrasia and the balance of power within, but I am only interested in fighting my brother and the Usher to prevent them from destroyingeverything we love. Be it a small merchant cottage in a glen, The Court, or everything in between.”
As far as motivational speeches go, not so good.
“I need to protect the stone. He can’t reach it, Ten. He can’t.”
“Then we will protect it. And you with it.”
“Assuming everyone here has picked their side,” Calix starts, “can we eat? We’re not winning anything on an empty stomach.”
forty-one
. . .
