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"Surely this is nicer than the temple?" He resumed walking slowly.
"I was allowed outside there," I replied. "They let the maidens enjoy the fresh air."
"That sounds like a small freedom compared to the others which were withheld. The ability to speak. The choice to worship the gods, or not."
"You don't worship the gods?" I wasn't sure why I asked. Curiosity? To make conversation? Because the way he was looking at me was unnerving?
All of those things.
He stepped back around in front of me. "When you've lived a long time, you start to question many things. Including the existence of gods. Perhaps people want someone to look up to. Perhaps they want someone to blame. Perhaps the gods created us, and perhaps we created ourselves."
"Are you saying Fae are gods?" I looked over at his hooded blue eyes. I could only begin to imagine the things he'd seen in his hundreds of years of life. So many things I had yet to see. In the scheme of things, I'd just begun.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"I don't think we are," I said. "But I think some of us like to play at being gods."
I was worried I might piss him off, but he laughed.
"Me, you mean. I'm sure Dalyth has explained why you're here. The safety of you and your omega sisters was important to me. Would you prefer I left you to whatever fate you would have had amongst the humans? I don't think you would have liked it. It's certainly not as nice as this." He gestured towards the window, and the expansive view beyond.
"I'd prefer not to have seen priests killed," I replied. "Was that necessary?"
"Unfortunately, yes," he said. "I tried to negotiate with the temple, but they were…unreasonable. The choices I had were: attack the temple in Ebonfalls, the Temple in Havenmoor, or the caravan. The caravan seemed like the option which would lead to the least amount of carnage. Wouldn't you agree?"
“I suppose so,” I conceded reluctantly. Fewer people were on those carriages than would have been in either temple. Still, attacking them seemed extreme.
"Dalyth couldn't have stopped the caravan and tried to talk?"
Cavan pressed his finger to his lower lip. "Before Dalyth had the role of intercepting omegas, the job went to a lovely Fae woman by the name of Jayde. She tried this approach. Since the role now falls to Dalyth, do I need to tell you what happened to Jayde?"
Before I could respond, he continued, "They were nice enough to remove her head from her shoulders neatly enough that her skull could be placed in her family's mausoleum. They weren't as kind with several Fae in her company. The three omegas who transformed from that group of Silent Maidens were buried along with them.”
“I've considered the option of bringing all of those girls, thepotentialomegas, to the Summer Court, but I suspect they wouldn't care for that arrangement. The maidens seem like a more gentle approach. Although, of course, the end isn’t gentle for everyone."
I hated the fact he was making so much sense. If I was taken from my mother and brought here, I would have been even more terrified and confused than when I went to the Temple. Stepping out for fresh air in a city full of Fae might have been a death sentence. At best, I would have attracted a lot of stares.
"I see you're starting to understand," he said smoothly. "This isn't ideal, but it is for your own good. I'm sure Ryzellius has filled your head with all sorts of lies and confusion. For some reason, he seems to think we're plotting against him."
"You're not?" I asked.
"Only in as much as I intend to keep doing what's best for the omegas," he said smoothly. "I'd prefer not to let innocent young women suffer because of his oversized ego."
I managed to contain an outward response to his words, if only out of some kind of loyalty to Ryze. Loyalty I was starting to question.
"Have you told him what you're doing? Maybe he and the other High Lords would help you. They may even figure out a way to avoid any further bloodshed, or scared young women."
"I've sent messengers and envoys. Either the High Lords won't listen or the envoys don't return at all. After a few attempts, it seemed fruitless to keep trying." He sighed heavily.
I frowned. From what I'd seen of Harel, I could totally imagine him ignoring Cavan. But not Ryze. And not the Spring Court if Wornar was any indication.
"Harel is working with you," I said finally.
"The only reasonable one," Cavan said sadly. "Ironic given his…usually unreasonable behaviour."
"What does he want in return?" I asked. "Some omegas of his own?"
"Probably," Cavan agreed. "Once you're trained in the use of your magic, you're welcome to make that choice for yourself."
