Page 12 of Duskbound (Esprithean Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Well that went better than expected," Vexa drawled, her shoulders visibly relaxing as we walked.

"Did it?" My eyebrow peaked, genuine surprise coloring my tone.

"I mean, considering he didn't demand torture and execution, I'd say yes." She adjusted her leather vest with practiced nonchalance.

"I wasn't aware that was a possibility," I shot back, a tinge of relief pinching me, my hands unconsciously clutching at my sides.

"He's being cautious,” Aether muttered, “it's understandable."

As we walked the streets, I began noticing familiar architecture. The weathered stone buildings rose around us. I looked to see my tower in the distance, slicing holes in the misty clouds, its dark silhouette a looming reminder of my confinement. A shudder ran through me, dreading the thought of spending the rest of the day locked away in those cold walls.

"Can I go to the stables for a bit?" I asked, hope tinging my voice.

"No can do, Duskbound. Think we would let you miss the best food we've had in months?" Rethlyn jumped in, rubbing his hands together and licking his lips, practically bouncing with anticipation.

"We’re taking a right here, Fia." Vexa motioned ahead, taking us down a different path that wound between two imposing structures.

"Best food?" I asked, regretfully skeptical about the truth in that, but I didn’t dare voice it.

"Hot buns," Rethlyn said with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. "It takes forever to save enough ingredients for the kitchen staff to make them. They taste like the old days." His eyes glazed over with nostalgia.

"They're... certainly better than rice," Effie added. She had been so quiet, I nearly forgot she was trailing behind us, her footsteps barely making a sound.

"Don't try and deny it, Effie. I watched you shove three into your mouth last quarter when you thought no one was looking." Vexa let out a cackle that echoed off the stone walls.

Effie simply nudged her, making a clicking noise with her tongue, a slight blush creeping up her neck. "They're edible, I suppose. A girl needs her sustenance."

Aether looked to be in his own world, his eyes unfocused as he watched several Vordr glide through the mist on the horizon, their dark forms cutting clean lines through the haze. His brow furrowed in concentration, deep in thought, as his fingers thrummed along his weapon belt.

“Who were those men outside the Citadel? The ones in gray uniforms?” I asked casually. They seemed intent on shrouding their presence in secrecy, but there was no shame in simply inquiring.

Aether’s jaw clenched, finally waking from whatever trance had taken hold of him.

“No one you want to concern yourself with. And now's not the time,” he muttered, but the subtle shift in his demeanor was unmistakable. Now I was even more curious.

“Valkan—it’s his men? Who is that?” I continued.

“Not. Now. Fia.” He let out a hiss, eyes sweeping over our surroundings.

I decided to let it go, for now.

We approached a large stone building which seemed to be closer to the heart of the fortress. The dark walls blended into the surrounding battlements. Vexa stepped forward to pull on the heavy doors, their hinges groaning in protest, allowing us inside. I took in the vast hall and the iron chandeliers that cast a flickering light around the room, shadows dancing across the walls. Its vaulted ceiling was held aloft by towering pillars etched with insignias similar to those pressed into their leathers. Long wooden tables stretched in neat rows, worn smooth by years of people passing through, their surface scratched and dented.

At the far end, a massive hearth blazed, the scent of freshly baked bread filling the air and making my mouth water involuntarily. Kitchen workers stood behind a simple serving counter, their faces flushed from the heat as they handed out loaves straight from the fire. The noise of the room was a steady hum of conversation, punctuated by the scrape of chairs and occasional laughter.

"Go pick out a table, I'll grab us a tray." Rethlyn nearly got out before he bounded towards the opposite side of the room, weaving between tables.

I slid into the cool surface of a wooden chair, blatantly aware of the eyes that had fallen on me from across the room. I tucked a white wisp of hair behind the points of my ears. There was something peculiar about exploring more of the estate, witnessing where my former adversary performed mundane tasks like dining and mingling. These aspects had never crossed my mind previously, and it cast them in an unexpectedly relatable light that caught me somewhat off guard.

No one had mentioned the Strykka since we left Urkin's office, and it hung in the air around us. Lael would be entering the trials this year—the sixteen-year-old boy I’d seen training in the city. The one Aether had saved from Croyg. So it couldn't be that dangerous, could it? The thought provided little comfort.

I had agreed to enter the Void, but the Strykka, well, I knew nothing about it. The weight of my ignorance pressed against me.

Rethyln arrived with the tray loaded with steaming loaves, one already sticking out of his mouth. All hands dove towards the tower of rolls, and I waited until everyone seemed content before grabbing my own.

"Tell me about the Strykka," I said, aimed in Aether's direction for some reason I couldn't quite place. Vexa, of course, answered in his stead.

"There are three rounds—well, two if you're not selected for the Spectre Unit." Her words carried a hint of pride.

Spectre Unit? More vocabulary I wasn't aware of.

"The Spectre Unit— Aether's unit , includes all of us, the vessels.” Vexa motioned around the table. “It’s a part of the combat forces, under Urkin," she continued, leaning forward slightly. "The first trial is basic combat, hand to hand. I wouldn't worry so much about that, we're in desperate need of soldiers, so our expectations have definitely… leveled out." She pursed her lips, a shadow of concern crossing her features. "Then there's the tether observation. You will show the Council your, well, for the rest of us, we show our tethers… you'll display… whatever it is that you can do."

"Lovely," Effie echoed, observing her nails with exaggerated disinterest.

"Effie, it wasn't personal. I was panicking. Trying to get back to my home," I said, eyes drilling into her. As if that wasn't inherently obvious

She simply sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, twisting a curl of raven hair through her fingers.

"She'll get over it. Eventually." Vexa's eyes wandered over to Effie in a way that seemed intimate, like I should look away. I could have sworn Effie brought her knee against Vexa's under the table, the two now sharing a quick smirk.

"What's the third trial?" I asked, breaking through the moment.

"If you succeed in the combat trial, and are deemed to have a powerful tether, you are then tested for the ability to join the Spectres. You are taken to the Void. Whoever emerges becomes a part of our unit." Vexa’s tone carried a finality that made my skin prickle.

"So I'm essentially joining the Umbra?" I asked, sharper than intended. Irritation seized me, burning hot beneath my skin. This was not what I had agreed to. It was one thing to help with the Void. It kept me a neutral party, at least, that's how I had justified it to myself. This would be vastly different. I didn't know if I was ready to commit myself to another realm. I'd been lied to before. Something still pulled at me, wondering if that could be happening again.

I believed what they had shown me of this realm, but I still didn't know if I could trust the Umbra. The Isle had been so convincing. Perhaps I was just naive. Even if I wasn't, I wouldn't be joining a cause that could potentially hurt the people in Sídhe that I cared about. Not only were they clueless to what was going on, but some wouldn't even be able to defend themselves.

Did the Umbra even know how deep the lies went? Did they know the entire Isle was being deceived? Most had no idea a war was even brewing on the Western border. The ones that did had no idea what we were doing. That we were the villains in this story.

I wouldn't fight against those who were unaware. People needed to know what was really happening here. What the price of our prosperity truly was. The thought of more innocent blood on my hands made my stomach turn .

At this point, I wasn't sure whether that would even matter to the Umbra.

They were past the point of desperation. I couldn't say I wouldn't feel the same way if I were in their position. I hated Sídhe once, too.

Vexa’s sigh splintered through my thoughts. “I know it wasn’t what you were expecting.” Her eyes lowered, looking past me. None of them were looking at me.

“No, no it wasn’t.” I shifted my gaze to Aether, who was still scanning his eyes over the arched window beyond. I had a distinct feeling that he wasn’t listening to a word I said.

“You never mentioned this would be part of the deal,” I shot in his direction, a sliver of ice in my tone.

His jaw clenched before he turned his head in my direction. For a few seconds, he simply observed me. Irritation pricked my skull.

“He doesn’t trust you. This will show him you’re serious. Duskbound are always intertwined with the Umbra, it’s not really all that different from what we originally had in mind.” His voice was gruff, no sign of that amusement that had drenched his tone only days ago.

“Not that different? I will be pledging myself to the enemy of my people. That actually means something to me,” I hissed. Vexa and Effie simply looked away, but Aether’s stare intensified.

“You’ve told me your position, and I did not argue with you. Remember that,” he said in a near growl.

“Oh, I will.”

“Nothing has changed. No one can force you to do anything you don’t want. As I’ve made perfectly clear.” Those golden eyes bore into me, something like annoyance twitching his upper lip.

Suddenly, I felt Vexa’s gaze on me, then they turned to Aether. She raised a brow but stayed silent .

“I’m telling you right now, if I compete in the Strykka, I will still answer to no one . I will not be commanded.”

“Not that you could,” Aether spat.

A part of me wanted to take that jab as a compliment, but the darkness in his tone proved it wasn’t meant to be.

“I want to be a part of negotiations. I might have ideas—information that could be useful. I will share whatever is necessary with all of you, but I will not be forced to fight against Sídhe. There has to be another way, one that doesn’t end in mutual destruction.”

“The masses don’t even know a war is in full swing on the Western border. And the Guard—we’ve all been lied to. They don’t know what they’re doing. They deserve a choice. They deserve to know exactly what they’re fighting for. If they still choose to support Sídhe, well…” I trailed off, not entirely sure what I meant by that. If what was happening here didn’t matter to them… I didn’t let the thoughts continue. I had to believe it would. That they would care.

Aether studied me, eyes finally leaving mine and raking down me. Somehow that made me even more uncomfortable than our locked eyes. I shifted in my seat.

“That will be between you and Urkin. We just have to get you through the Strykka first,” Vexa cut in.

“I want assurance that I will have support from you all. That you agree to back my stance when it comes to negotiations. I need to know who and what I’m committing my life to. I need to know the political climate—and your ruler. I’ve already committed myself to one realm only to find out it was a lie. I won't do it again. I want to know everything. Everything. Agree to these terms and only then will I participate in the Strykka.”

Effie snorted.

Vexa remained silent, eyes flickering to Aether.

Rethlyn bit his lip. “I don’t know if we can agree to?— ”

“Deal.” Aether’s rough growl vibrated down the table, sending all eyes flaring towards him.

“Aether, I—” Vexa began.

“If that’s the only way she’ll be persuaded, then so be it,” he murmured, standing from the table, his broad leathered frame seeming to absorb the light from the area.

“If that's the case… maybe we can bring her to the Conference?” Rethlyn suggested.

“Absolutely not. We cannot let his men become aware of her.” Aether immediately shot it down.

“You just agreed to tell me everything and already you’re leaving me out of important conversations and decisions,” I snapped. “They may be under your command, but I am not. I’m going.” My hand hit the table, still unsure what I was agreeing to go to.

“It's not the worst idea, Aether. We already know Fia doesn’t always trust what she hears. She needs to see ,” Vexa urged. “If she wants to know how things work here—those who govern us, this would be the event.”

“I do not see the benefit of Valkan finding out about her existence.” Aether's words were tense.

“I don’t know who Valkan is, but if you want me to enter the Strykka, then I will be involved in everything going forward. It’s up to you Aether.” It was nice having a bargaining chip.

“And we wouldn’t go around introducing her as a Duskbound obviously .” Vexa rolled her eyes.

Aether simply tensed his jaw but said nothing else.

Vexa rubbed her hands together. “Alright Effie, this is your wheelhouse. How can we get Fia into the Conference?”

Effie pursed her lips looking pleased at the acknowledgement but not so much that it involved me. “I suppose I’ll figure something out.”