They booed.
Sean shot them aWhat can I do?shrug, like he had no choice but to remain by the Blademaster’s side. Good-natured ribbing and jeers followed, but the crowd dissipated.
All but one.
A taller pixie with black hair shorn on the sides and one long braid trailing down his back met Sean’s eyes. The guy was huge, with such thick muscles packed onto his long limbs that Sean wondered how a blow from him might feel.
Life-ending, probably.
The man bowed, tapping two fingers on his temple.
“That is Bowenn,” Cathaire said behind Sean. “He is the Warrior Chieftain of the Selgovae clan. He has kept charge of the Exorcism since the end of the Follower war.”
Sean offered the pixie a return bow, and he turned to leave. “Why not Kywyn?”
Cathaire hesitated. “Your father is an excellent warrior…”
“But?”
“But perhaps he did not fully inherit his grandfather’s affinity to lead.”
A soft chuckle drew Sean’s and Cathaire’s attention to Kywyn, who had snuck up on them from behind. “Not all Sideras are born for Sovereignty, or so it would seem.”
Cathaire shook his head. “You are a man who thinks before he acts. You would make a fine leader, had you anydesire for it.”
Sean rose a brow. Did Kywyn notwanthis title? “Does desire matter? Because?—”
“No,” Isobel interrupted, butting into the conversation. “It holds no sway.”
Kywyn winced. Just barely. Just enough that Sean took notice. Maybe he also found the lack of agency, the weight of destiny, the whole fucking thing to be wildly far-fetched.
Cathaire breezed past it all. “Tomorrow I accompany Anna to the fighting rings. You will train with Lady Isobel and Autumn in utilizing Luster.”
Sean nodded.
“Until tomorrow,” Cathaire said, giving one last Sign.Goodbye.He and Leyla took their leave.
“Sean,” Kywyn said. “I was hoping we could take a walk.” He turned to Bel. “If that’s all right.”
“Oh, I suppose.” She smiled and left a burning kiss on Sean’s temple. She and Autumn steered toward the Tree while Sean and Kywyn turned in the opposite direction.
They walked in silence at first, Kywyn content to stroll among the trees. The sweat from training slowly dried, leaving Sean chilled, and his muscles ached in the best of ways. He took a moment to merely breathe it all in. The unease hadn’t dissipated, nor had the doubts, but Sean couldn’t deny that this place called to him in a way nowhere ever had. The difficult answers to his lifelong questions, the burden laid on his shoulders yesterday, it all threatened to crumble him to pieces, but the magical forest filled a longing deep inside, a notable awareness of having found something he didn’t know he missed.
Home, something whispered deep in his soul.Belonging.
He didn’t want to be a Sovereign or a Savior, but he also didn’t want to leave. With his newfound father at his side, Sean walked the worn paths through the giant trees, letting the peace of the forest surround them. Eventually they traveled far enough that the trunk ofthe giant Tree turned hazy behind the rainbows and sparkles in the air.
Meeting Kywyn’s deep blue eyes—the same as his own—Sean slowed to a stop.
“I’m sure you have questions,” his father said.
Sean laughed, sharper than he intended. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“That’s understandable.” Kywyn rubbed his unlined face.
Savior. Sovereign. Sendings.
It all coalesced into a mass of unresolved anxiety. His heart competed with his lungs for space. He was too full yet utterly empty. His voice came out ragged. “Justwhy?”
