Page 66 of Aubade Rising
For the first time I notice Kitto’s leather bracelets match the tassels on Dervla’s hunting glove. As if on cue, Kaens calls and descends from the clearing sky. Kitto reaches out her arm, as does Dervla and the beautiful kestrel lands on Kitto’s bare, outstretched forearm.
“She always did prefer you over me,” Dervla’s words confirm the worst. The scars littering Kitto’s arm are from bird claws, where she’s foregone wearing a protective gauntlet. One for every message exchanged between them.
My head flicks between Dervla and Kitto. The traitor and the rebel. They exchange a pointed glance before Dervla positions herself in front of Kitto.
“Sage, come here. We need to get you away before he combusts.”
I don’t move, “I need answers now.”
“It’s not a rebellion, it’s a revolution.” Cado’s voice is strangled. Sweat pours down his face, his fists clench as he wrestles for control. “They mean to rule Trevesiga.”
“It was necessary. Sheltered in your palace, you refused to be a proper leader. You allowed your paranoia of your magic being discovered to rule you,” Dervla snaps coldly. “I achieved more as your Almanac than you ever have.”
“Then why continue the rebellion, if being the Almanac got you the power you wanted?” I ask.
“I’ve lived a life pandering to weak men. It was always going to end sometime. Your research helped accelerate that,” she retorts.
“You used me?” I hate the tremble that slips through my lips as my oldest friend shows her true colours.
“So did he.” She points to Cado who quakes behind me.
“His support of your research was for his own gain. He would be able to use serpentine to mimic Mordros power, to protect himself outside the palace’s enchantments.
To keep himself hidden. I supported you because I knew how important it was to Trevesiga, to Aubades. ”
“And to yourself,” I snap.
She shrugs. “Yes, but that’s good business. I would have supported you in anything. I just happened to have an angle of my own.”
“An angle? One that ends with you ruling Trevesiga?”
“What’s wrong with that? Your double standards with ambition are getting tiring. It’s okay for you to crave power and freedom because you came from nothing, but, according to you, because I was born to privilege, I shouldn’t ask for more.”
“The Concord won’t support you.”
“The Concord will have to. I’ll return with what’s left of the rebels and tell them about the deadly secret Cado has been harbouring.
That outside of the protection of Chi an Mor, he turned in battle and wiped out his own forces.
He can’t keep control for much longer. Come away from him Sage before it’s too late. ”
I unconsciously take a step towards her. “Cedar?”
“In Pentargon. Safe, I promise.”
“The charged serpentine that Kitto sent?” A hint of reproach flickers across Dervla’s face.
“We’ve discussed Kitto’s methods; she regrets the turmoil she caused you.” A smug smile crawls across Kitto’s face; there’s no regret.
“Turmoil? She nearly murdered us! And Eskar’s death?” I challenge.
“I will live with that guilt for the rest of my life. He was my friend too.” Dervla’s eyes glitter and harden. “But, it was a deliberate choice. Him or the woman I love.” Kitto looks smug, confident at Dervla’s side.
“I regret causing you pain but, in the end, that too was an easy choice, one I would make again and again. There’s no competition with Kitto.” This might be the first honest thing she’s ever said to me.
I turn to Cado. It might have been Dervla’s decision that got Eskar killed but he used him as a weapon, going back on his promise to grant Eskar his freedom.
Cado shoulders some of the blame. He reads my accusation and furrows his eyebrows unable even now to voice his apology.
I take a few more deliberate steps from him.
“Sage, I won’t hurt you. I promise. Don’t choose her.” His body shakes and the ground beneath me heats.
For the first time, Dervla looks uncertain.
“I can’t lose you too, Sage. But it’s your choice.
It has always been your choice.” She reaches a hand towards me, waggling her fingers in a pleading motion to take it so we can leave together.
I realise it’s never been my choice, not when she’s been the mastermind all along: setting us up like game pieces, changing the rules as it suits her.
How can I win when someone is always looking at my cards?
My brother, Haelyn, Eskar – her journey to Trevesiga’s crown is littered with the bodies of the people I love.
I face Cado, meeting his emerald eyes. “I don’t trust you.”
My voice cracks on the second word; our gaze holds until I turn. I take Dervla’s hand, she grabs Kitto’s with her other and Kaens takes to the sky with a hollow, victory cry.
We run, not looking back at Cado or the battle around us.
The ashy pines are within reach when I stumble.
Kitto runs ahead, saving herself but Dervla stays, pulling me up from the floor.
Then we hear it. A booming cacophony of fire explodes from the centre of the ruined war camp.
Dervla throws a wall of water up in an attempt to protect us but it vaporises.
The steam scalds my skin and the pain has me fighting for consciousness.
Dervla kneels beside me, her body curled around her hands. The wound on her head seeps blood again and the silence is deafening. The battle is over: Cado lost control. There’s nothing standing in Dervla’s way now.