Page 48 of A Courage of the Chosen

There’s an uncomfortable pause around the table.

Lord Haddow is the first to speak. “We’re not sure if that’s the best course—”

“So you’re prepared to leave those Seelie unarmed and unprepared to face the enemy?” Callahan’s voice drops to that soft, low register that means trouble for whoever he’s speaking to. A sign that he’s wrestling with his own emotions.

In confirmation, his anger coils tightly along the bond I hadn’t registered opening.

“Do you think, Lord Haddow, that when we were faced with uncertainty, we let it stop us? When we rode into a fight, knowing we were outnumbered and outmatched, did we falter?”

Lord Haddow has the decency to lower his head, shame staining his cheeks. “I meant no disrespect to what you have done, Callahan.”

“General Knox,” Hector speaks. “You will call him by his proper title.”

“Of course.” Lord Haddow clears his throat. “I meant no disrespect, General Knox. It’s just we need to focus our resources.”

Brodie speaks from the end of the table, his tone neutral. “You’re right, Lord Haddow. But we cannot stop what we’re doing just because they’ve attacked. We knew they would, but people need what’s on those wagons.”

Lord Haddow sits still, nodding while he holds back the comments he clearly wants to say.

I find my voice again. Hoping that it doesn’t betray me. “We swap the routes, and we send more. They need our help.”

“Perhaps we should discuss this further, and weigh up the risks,” Hume says.

It could be the tightrope I’m walking between surety and uncertainty, one wrong foot away from falling into ruin and completely losing sight of what’s important. Or just that what Hume is doing is becoming more obvious by the day, and I’m getting really tired of the way he manipulates this room.

“I won’t do nothing to help the Seelie of this world like my predecessor,” I say, holding Hume’s attention. What I don’t add is the fact that they’ve all been complicit in that inaction. It’s evident enough on their faces.

“I’ll notify Lord Sellar, and have more shipments readied as soon as we conclude here,” Lady Calder nods.

There’s no further challenge, and the rest of the conversation is spent discussing alternate routes to take across Elfayne; paths not as well known. We agree to add a few more soldiers with each shipment, a calculated and necessary risk.

Raghnall’s advisor remains suspiciously quiet for the rest of the meeting.

“I really don’t trust Hume,” I say privately to Callahan as the meeting comes to a close. All without discussing my crown, or my request to address the court.

Callahan watches him like a hawk as he replies. “Neither do I.”

Chapter 14

Tavish

Elsie is slowly working out the bond, and in recent days, less and less has slipped through as she fortifies the impressive walls she maintains almost permanently. If she was feeling a strong enough emotion, I’d feel it too, and often a wayward thought would drift in my direction without her being aware.

I shouldn’t be surprised at how quickly she’s been able to shut me out, she’s intelligent and determined, but I find myself disappointed that I didn’t have more time to use it to worm my way further in. I can still project my thoughts to her though, but I have less of a sense of how they land when I do.

According to our sources, my cousin has returned to her side, and the thought of them together made me want to hurt someone.

Namely Callahan.

We didn’t grow as cousins typically would. Haven’t played together as children, fought as teenagers, or become friends as adults. As soon as Father learned he and Rachel survived, we’ve been pitted against each other.

It was easy to convince Elfayne he was the monster they feared and I their savior, they hid so cleverly it only added to the mystery that surrounded him.

I’ve often wondered how things would’ve turned out if my mother survived. We’d have probably spent time together beyond trying to kill one another, but would I have wanted to be friends with him? He seems pretty dull, if I’m honest, like he doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘fun’.

We’ve crossed swords on more than one occasion, and somehow never been able to best one another. I was only able to strike him with my dagger and push Dorche magic into his body because he was distracted by Elsie.

And I wish there had been more time to ensure he never walked away from it.