“I did what was needed,” I said and bowed my head in the hopes he would not see the smirk I couldn’t repress.
“And will you obey me now as your king or will you continue to do what you believe is right?” he asked.
I suddenly had the uncomfortable realization that if he wanted to kill me, then this was the time to do it when my magic was exhausted. He knew I was too powerful to be fully controlled, and that could make me a threat to him.
Especially if he ever learned of the kernel of power that I had kept from his mother; the power that Nuala had foreseen would become mine many weeks ago.
But that did not stop me from telling him the truth.
“I will always do what is best for this court. Kings and queens are not infallible,” I pointed out.
“Youwill not lecturemeon infallibility, Rian. I heard that you nearly tore the Vale apart protecting your own. With millions of lives in the balance, you would destroy them all if it meant protecting your loved ones.”
And then Caelan dropped his eyes down to Nuala as if to also remind me of my promise that her safety was now my first priority. Not that I felt like I’d stayed true to that claim since she was suffering in my arms, and there was nothing I could doabout it.
“I am not a king,” I dismissed Caelan.
“No. But youarepossibly the next most powerful fey in the Four Courts,” he insisted.
“We both want the best for Ahnnaòin, Your Majesty. That makes us allies.Notenemies,” I reassured him.
Caelan was quiet for a moment as he eyed me before he nodded in agreement.
“For your service to Ahnnaòin, I will pardon you and the Wild Hunt and all the fey who served in your army for crimes of treason and sedition,” he declared. I knew such clemency would have conditions even before he added, “But you must disband this army, Rian. I will not compete with a mercenary for control within my own court.”
I should have known this was coming, but everything had happened so quickly that I had not had time to think about what this all meant. It had been decades since I had to adhere to an authority who could make it difficult for me to continue my mission in the Four Courts.
“We will happily disband once the other monarchs are renewed and the other courts are made strong enough to heal from the Rot,” I attempted to bargain.
“Other courts are of no concern to either of us, Rian,” Caelan sighed in exasperation with me.
“I made a vow,” I admitted, and he shook his head in disgust as he turned his face away from me. “I can do it under your banner as your general if you want to avoid the perception that I am challenging you,” I assured him. But I already knew he would refuse.
“Were I to act against the other monarchs, it would be perceived by them as an act of war,” he reminded me.
“Then trust me to do this,” I urged him.
“And when the emissaries come from King Balor and King Ymir to demand that I deal with the insurrection in my court?” Caelan demanded impatiently.
“Caelan, I have been a traitor and a rebel for decades. Just tell them you have no control over me.”
“Rian,” he growled in irritation. I could tell there was a part of him that knew it would be better to kill me now while I was still weak, but thankfully, he decided not to. “Very well, but I will have your word that this army will be disbanded as soon as your task is complete.”
“You have my word!” I swore.
Caelan nodded curtly, and then he reached for Nuala, ignoring my defensive flinch as he placed a large hand over her forehead. I felt her ease instantly and then finally slump against me in utter relief.
“Her curse is revoked. Please do not make me regret this decision,” the king warned me.
Then he rose elegantly to his feet and vanished along with the entire army of Draugr behind him.
Amira
It had been hours since the sun rose, and no one had come to feed us breakfast. Not that we had seen anyone at all since a horn sounded the night before, and the woman on the night shift had rushed out. The guards had been very punctual with all our meals during the last couple days up until then, so I guessed something must have happened. That haunting alert was the only noise that seemed to be able to pierce the wards around our prison, although we had been able to feel the earth trembling beneath us.
“Battle formation,” Orion had explained with an ear to the ground. “They are mobilizing very quickly.”
“Do you think it’s Riordan?” I had asked nervously, but heshook his head.
