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“The war between Brónach and Móirín was unfortunate, but it ultimately boiled down to a personal matter between the High Lords. Ruadhán has always strived to let them handle their own disputes as we didn’t want to project our power. You see, with no official monarch in place, we were afraid to overstep and risk the destruction of this beautiful city. However,” he continued. “Now that our queen is here, we can make strides to help those as you see fit.”
They entered a building Niall had pointed out during her initial tour. The vault. It was extravagant in the way that everything in Ruadhán seemed extravagant, with flowers, fountains, and decorations made of marble and stone. Some even sparkled with gold that had been melted into the cracks and crevices.
Light filtered in from a space at the top of the walls and tall windows coated with colored panes of glass depicted various scenes from the Fae’s long history.
A scene of Fae gaining their freedom, iron cuffs at their feet and an unexplored land stretching before them. A scene of a child being cradled by its mother, the first sign of hope for their people after years of endless sorrow. Another with a group of Fae before a female, all bowing at her feet, reaching their arms toward her as if they might just touch the hem of her robes.
Arianna looked away and followed Niall through another set of doors. They veered right, then descended a flight of stairs. “I hope, in spite of it all, you won’t think ill of us. Our priority all these centuries has been to establish a place for The Divine. For you. Nothing else mattered.”
“It seems a bit excessive.”
He offered her a grimaced smile. “Yes, I understand.” She wasn’t so sure he did.
Niall pulled a gold key from his pocket and unlocked the door at the end of the hall. She gaped when it swung open to reveal a massive vault door. The gold structure stood twice as tall as Rion and had markings of vines, water, fire, and wind carved into its surface.
Niall pulled a palm sized stone from his pocket that was shaped like an octagon. He clicked a button and it spread open. Each piece was a different length with teeth along the edges that resembled a key. Niall fitted it into the matching section of the vault door and twisted. Locks clicked. He twisted it the opposite direction and more locks moved, sliding out of place. A final time, and the door sprang open.
He ventured inside, but Arianna’s stomach clenched with the fear of being locked in. He seemed to note her discomfort. “Not to worry.” Niall held up the key. “It works from the inside, too. Just in case.”
Lights flickered to life and Arianna gasped. Stretching from the entrance to the back, almost as long as the main dining hall, were mountains of glittering jewels and gold. So much gold. Shelves lined each wall with an assortment of crowns, raw chunks of precious jewels, and heavy necklaces, bangles, and rings of all sizes.
Niall marveled with her. “This is all your personal collection, but don’t fret. It has been collected over a very, very long time and the taxes aren’t enough to rile the High Lords. In fact, they hardly seem to notice the donation.” His voice lowered when she turned to him at a loss for words. “We’ve all done our part while we waited for you. We wanted to do whatever we could to give you the resources necessary to set things in motion.”
Tears threatened. They had mentioned funds, but this—this was enough to feed everyone. House everyone. She could build until the end of time, hire people to care for the sick and hungry while she made her way across the continent to heal each and every person who needed her. This could bring real change. Change the continent desperately needed.
“I want to help them,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I want to help the world rebuild and give those in need a place to rest.”
Niall nodded. “Then I will seek out the best place to start.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you, Niall.”
He bowed at the waist, but his eyes never left hers. “It is my absolute pleasure.”
Chapter Thirty-five
Arianna
Someone screamed.
The hairs rose on the back of Arianna’s neck and her magic crackled through the air, lifting to circle her form. Rion’s did the same and he closed the distance separating them.
Everything was silent, the tense moment before the world turned upside down. Then people were running and Arianna followed, instinct and fear driving her toward those in need.
Ruadhán. This was Ruadhán. Nothing bad could happen here. No one would attack the royal city. No one—painful reminders tugged at her heart. Those injured outside of Levea. Those injured within.
The crisp tang of blood assaulted her senses and Arianna’s stomach dropped as they ran down the path. She’d sprinted through the manor hall and skidded past a few guards without stopping.
Ahead, a crowd had gathered. Panic covered their faces and one female cried, her hands covering her mouth in distress.
“Murderer,” someone shouted. Others joined in a chorus of angry voices that rose until they blocked out all other sounds.
Arianna pushed her way through with Rion on her heels. Those in the crowd quieted upon seeing her and pulled their brethren back, pointing her out. Most bowed and backed away, giving her a clear view of the area ahead.
Arianna noticed the flames first, spiraling around a male’s body. He didn’t wear the fine clothes so many others did and the scars around his wrists told her he’d been a slave only a few days prior.
Another half-breed with magic.
His nearly black hair had come loose from its tie and curls hung around his tanned face. A face full of loathing and contempt.
