“Was I?” he growled mournfully, turning to face me fully. His emerald eyes, filled with pain. “Or was I acting out of revenge? Out of anger? Punishing them forheractions? I could have offered peace, a way out, but instead, I let myself be angry, let myself destroy everyone and everything in my path. Just like she has been doing for millennia.”
My brows furrowed at that last comment, but I ignored it, shaking my head. “You weakened her. She has to regroup and reorganize now. Her armies from Velra still have to travel here and bring more supplies. You bought us more time.”
Xavier pushed away from me and stalked toward the staircase, but the look in his eyes made me nervous. He was hiding something and I followed after him.
“What aren’t you telling me Xavier?”
Xavier’s shoulder stiffened but he remained quiet. The sounds of our combined footsteps echoed as we started to make our way up the entryway stairs. I waited and waited for him to reply but he still didn’t say anything.
“Xavier,” I growled and I stopped walking, my fists clenching.
Xavier stopped too, glancing over his shoulder, his back still to me as he sighed heavily. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather pouch. He stared at it for a long time and then tossed it in my direction.
“There is something you need to see… know.”
My brows furrowed at his cryptic words, and I began to untie the leather bundle, curiosity consuming me, but Xavier stopped me.
“Don’t open it until you are in your room. In a safe location. Our uncle hid many truths from us these past centuries. That pendant will show you,” Xavier sighed. “It changes everything.”
My brother’s emerald gaze met mine again, his eyes filled with sorrow. Xavier turned and began to ascend the stairs, his voice echoing back to me as he said, “No more secrets, brother.”
With those parting words, he rounded a corner and disappeared. I stared down at the leather pouch, anxiety rising. I knew I should follow him. I could feel his pain and grief. But I also understood when someone needed to be alone.
A sigh, more of a growl, escaped me. It was still early, and I wasn't ready for more bad news, not just yet. I shoved the leather pouch into my pocket and turned, walking back down the stairs toward the large iron doors.
The sun had already set, and the leather pouch felt heavy in my pocket as I walked towards the village. I was curious about what Xavier wanted to show me, what knowledge he claimed it held. However, seeing his face, hearing how defeated he sounded, I wanted to cling to the little peace I had before it was stripped away again. Not that anything was offering me much peace right now.
The uneven stone beneath my feet shifted as a warm breeze played with my hair, and I stepped under the grand archway into Blackrock.
The village's dark stone walls remained intact, and from the outside, it appeared as it always had—warm, safe. But stepping inside, my breath hitched. Ruin surrounded me. Much of it had been cleared and cleaned, yet the emptiness was stark. Where shops and pathways once existed, only scorched earth and debris remained. The pressure in my chest intensified as I scanned the now nearly vacant streets.
These were the streets my parents had walked, holding my hand. The streets where I had run with Xavier. It was here I had my first drink, bedded my first female. This was the place of countless fights with my uncle, with Xavier, with the others. The place where we all laughed and cried.
Bile rose in my throat, and a twisting, heated anger boiled in my veins.
Standing on its uneven cobbled path, I took in a shaky breath. The moonlight reflected off the stones, creating an illusion of light that shimmered like water. Squeezing my eyesshut, I tried to take a deep breath. Memories played in my mind, sharp and weighted. The grief of what happened here, to my uncle, pressed down on me like a crashing wave and I wanted to drown in it. And I would, but not here, not now.
Suppressing the rising emotions I opened my eyes, and took another uneven step into the village. The streets were empty, except the occasional villager, sobbing or running by. No one seemed to notice me, or wanted to, and I was fine with that. I didn’t have much left in me to give tonight anyway.
The arched rounded doorway of The Horned Tavern loomed ahead. Its sign swung in the breeze, creaking and swaying. I approached the door but paused as a low deep growl sounded from somewhere above me. I knew that growl.
Taking a few steps back, I glanced skyward and smirked. Agatha was perched on top of the tavern, and her wings opened and closed in irritation at my arrival. Agatha’s large golden eyes narrowed and another growl came from deep in her throat.
“I come in peace,” I said, exposing my palms to her in a mock surrender. Agatha only snapped her beak a few times, a garbled noise coming from her as she lowered her head as if she were trying to speak.
That was new.
I put my hands in my pockets and grinned up at her. “I’m going to go in there and I’m going to have a drink.” Agatha growled again and I chuckled. “But I’ll also order a large steak—rare, and have someone bring it to you.”
I raised a brow in question and Agatha’s head rose a fraction, her wings tucking tight against her body. Two other heads emerged and Dimitri and Tria started chirping excitedlyas they peered down at me. Agatha ruffled her feathers, pushing her siblings back with her wings, as she continued to glare down at me.
After a moment however, she lowered her head, resting it on her paws as she let out a neutral chirp as Dimitri and Tria’s excited cries still echoed around her.
I let out a low laugh. “Three steaks coming up.” I winked in her direction and Agatha huffed, burying her head within her wing but I could have sworn I saw her smile.
The tavern was packed, but not with the usual laughter and loud conversation. Instead, a somber quiet hung in the air, and more than one person flinched when the door opened, fear etched on their faces. I stepped further into the room and made my way toward the bar. Murmurs rippled around me as people talked amongst themselves, others calling out in greeting as I passed.
I gestured and a tall, curvy woman wandered over to take my order, laughing when I mentioned the steaks. This was apparently their third order of the night, and I couldn't help but smile back. Of course it was.
