Page 63 of Destiny of a King

Ernach met his gaze steadily. “I did not betray the crown.”

“Then why did my grandfather order your death?”

A sadness crossed the old man’s face. “Because I disagreed with him.”

Dravic’s brow tightened. “On what?”

“Driochmor. Magic.”

Silence settled over the small cottage.

“Once victory was at hand, King Halric decided to banish magic to Driochmor. He insisted that magic could no longer be trusted. He believed it was a threat to Scotara.” Ernach shook his head slowly. “I believed the opposite.”

Dravic remained silent, listening.

Ernach moved closer to the hearth, his gaze drifting toward the flames. “During the Great War, when our enemies crossed our borders, we were outnumbered. We were losing ground. Many believed Scotara would fall.” His eyes returned to Dravic. “But Driochmor stood with us. They fought beside our warriors. They healed the wounded. They protected our lands when we could not protect ourselves.” Ernach’s voice hardened. “Without them, Scotara would not have survived. We would not have stood so close to victory.”

Dravic continued to listen.

“Your grandfather saw only the danger,” Ernach said, shaking his head lightly. “He could not see what they had done for us. He feared what he could not control.”

“And you challenged him.”

Ernach nodded. “I did.”

“Knowing what would happen?”

Ernach looked at him. “Aye.”

Dravic studied him. “You were always faithful to my grandfather. Why risk everything when you knew what would happen?”

Ernach was silent for a long moment, then he said a single word that caught Dravic off guard.

“Love.”

“Love?” Dravic repeated.

“Aye.” His gaze drifted briefly toward the window, toward the forest beyond. “I loved a woman from Driochmor. She was not what my king believed these people to be. She was not dangerous. She was not something to fear. She was kind, wise, and gifted in ways that made her no less human than you or me.”

Dravic watched him carefully.

“She opened my eyes to a land and a people your grandfather had already judged without ever truly knowing them.” Ernach’s voice softened. “I saw the good in Driochmor because she showed it to me. I saw the beauty of their magic because I saw the heart behind it.” He looked directly at Dravic. “And when King Halric decided that everything connected to magic must be destroyed or driven away, I could not stand silent.”

Dravic’s expression remained guarded. “You knew he would see it as betrayal.”

“Aye. I could see it in his eyes.”

“And you still spoke against him.”

“I had to.” Ernach held his gaze. “Because sometimes loyalty is not agreeing with a king. Sometimes loyalty is having the courage to tell him when he is wrong.” He smiled softly and his eyes grew misty. “I do not regret it. I got to spend twenty wonderful years with my Cara before death took her from me. I moved here, closer to the Caerith border, not long after, knowing the day might come when Driochmor would need defending again.”

For years Dravic had believed Ernach betrayed the crown. He had believed his grandfather’s judgment was righteous and unquestionable. Now, for the first time, he wondered if the truth had been hidden from him.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!”

An anguished scream cut through the silence and froze everyone briefly.

Adira felt it. The sound did not reach her ears, but something within her reacted to it. Her attention shifted toward the door, her green eyes fixed on it as if she sensed what waited beyond.