Aro said he’s being honest. He’s truly okay.
Seconds later, Casimir’s head swiveled to her, eyes crinkled in amusement. “You aren’t as sneaky as you think you are, love.”
She gasped and pointed at Aro. “Traitor.”
He growled.
“I just had to be sure. You tend to downplay your injuries.”
“I know. But this time I’m not. I promise.”
“Alright, I believe you.” She squinted against the early morning sun. “Do we have any idea what we might find in this cave?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. You and Jareth have already told us everything you know. I suspect it won’t be easy. If the gods were this intent on keeping Andras trapped, then I believe we’re about to be in grave danger.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
Ava couldn’t stop thinking about the knowledge they’d recently gained. Andras was a god. How had they missed that? How had no one known? It made sense that Casimir, Raine and those of their generation didn’t know. They were too young. But what about Jorrar? Or the other older fae?
Yet both her and Casimir’s fathers had known the entire time who Andras was. Vardan took the secret to his grave—Ava assumed her mother and grandfather didn’t know either—while Orion had hidden it for close to a century. And to what end? So he could sit high in his castle and pretend the fae down below weren’t fighting for their lives against an enemy they didn’t understand?
What of the other gods and goddesses? Shouldn’t they help? How did that even work here? Maybe they weren’t allowed to intervene…though they’d obviously done so before. So why not now?
I just don’t understand,Ava thought to herself.
Some things aren’t meant for us to know,Luna said.
“What do you mean? Explain.”
I’ll try. The notion of animal companions for the fae of Monterre was a blessing given by the Earth Mother, our goddess.
“Right.”
We’re here to support and help you. But we aren’t given information from the goddess. Because you are supposed to forge your own path. The gods and goddesses are not allowed to interfere. Free will is important in Eorhan.
“If they’re not allowed to interfere, then why did they trap Lomos? Shouldn’t that have been forbidden too?”
I’m not sure anyone truly knows the answer. But I believe leaving him to his own devices likely risked the whole world collapsing. And I wonder if perhaps they aren’t intervening now because they already did so once. And the fae are the ones who freed him. Therefore, the fae must fix it.
“Lovely. So basically, we’re fixing our fathers’ mistakes.”
Unfortunately.
“Ava,” Jareth interrupted.
Ava slowed her stride, letting him catch up. “What do you want?”
“I have something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”
She narrowed her eyes. Where was this going? It had been a few days since Jareth verbally attacked anyone and she had a feeling he was itching to cause strife. Something in his tone told her this wasn’t going to go well.
“I’m not sure I want to know.”
He waved his hand. “I’ve heard rumors. And I’m too curious and can’t keep it to myself any longer.”
“Rumors…”
Casimir was tense in front of her, listening in.
