Page 102 of Forged By Malice (Beasts of the Briar #3)

101

Keldarion

“W hat in the seven realms is that?” I murmur, hunched behind Ezryn as he guides us through the secret mountain passage beneath Keep Hammergarden. Rosalina trails closely behind me, her bow a perfect fit for her hand. Princess.

But she wasn’t the first person to call herself that. What do you know about her, Cas?

“That is my brother’s project,” Ezryn whispers, drawing me from my thoughts.

A formidable airship stands silent and foreboding. Its dark wood exterior exudes an aura of menacing elegance. The smoky black sails, resembling the outstretched wings of a colossal bat, rest folded, casting a looming presence in the dimly lit chamber.

“Stick tight to the walls,” Ezryn commands. “Almost there.”

I know this cavernous path is one of the few ways into the keep without going through the city itself, but now I’m wishing we took our chances above ground. The cavern is swarming with goblins and Queen’s Army. Thankfully, they all seem focused on the ship, pulling ropes and loading crates into the hull.

I managed to escape the city originally by blending in with the dazed citizens, but there’s no way Ezryn will make it past any of the guards. Not only do his ears now mark him as the banished prince, but his eyes … There’s something alight within him that I don’t think he could quell if he wanted to.

We stay in the shadows and creep behind a line of rocks before Ezryn finds the hidden doorway. His agile fingers detect the right notch in the rock, and it opens, revealing a staircase.

It’s strange to see his expression as he works; it almost seems more emotionless than his helmet.

“We get my father and come back out this way. No distractions,” he orders.

Rose nods. “Right. Dayton and Farron are waiting.”

I take the first step on to the stairs, holding my hand back for Rosalina. Her touch gives me strength. As much as I would rather she be anywhere but here, I know there’s nowhere entirely safe in the Enchanted Vale.

Despite all my fighting, all my denial, I know the truth of it now.

We are safest when we are together.

Ezryn closes the door, and we proceed up the stairs. He looks strange, in the white and gold acolyte clothes, the flower behind his wounded ears. The same flower Rosalina and I wear to protect us. The stairs lead to a low ceiling with a hatch. I push it open and poke my head out to a dark room. Carefully, I lift myself up, then reach down for Rosalina. Her bow gives off a soft light.

“I’ve been here before,” she says, looking around. “The first time Ezryn confronted his brother, Dayton, Astrid, Marigold, Eldy, and I hid in here to watch. See? You can look out at the throne room here.” She pulls me over to a mesh covering, thin enough to see through.

Sure enough, the entire throne room spreads before us. It’s covered in plants: huge vases and pots filled with blooming red flowers and creeping green vines. At least there’s no one here, save for—

“My father,” Ezryn breathes.

Prince Thalionor sits in a wooden chair beside the throne. I stifle a jolt. We saw him only earlier today, and his health seemed grim, but now…

He wavers back and forth, fingers scratching along the metal helms that make up the throne. His armor is ill-fitting, the breastplate askew, one shoulder pauldron hanging off. It’s as if the old fae has increased in size. Long, greasy gray hair pokes out from beneath his helm. Yellow pus dribbles from beneath it as well, spilling over his gorget.

I keep my voice low, steady. “We must be careful. He’s surely being watched—”

Before the words have even left my mouth, Ezryn has torn open the door and sprinted into the throne room.

“Damn fae princes,” Rose growls before taking off after him.

I swallow my frustration, then follow.

Ezryn’s footsteps ring through the hall as he bounds toward Prince Thalionor. “Father!” He grabs his shoulders, urging him to stand.

“Argh!” the old fae cries, lunging forward. His long fingernails catch on Ezryn’s ragged shirt and scrape down his chest.

Ez pulls back. “Father, it’s me. Your son. You must come with us. Do you understand?”

A croaking sound emits from Thalionor’s throat. He shudders, thudding back against his chair.

“I wouldn’t provoke him if I were you.”

The voice seems to originate from each corner of the throne room. Heavy steps thud in a rhythm. My whole body stiffens, and I turn around to the double-doors leading into the Hall of Vernalion.

Kairyn walks in, flanked by two knights in shining armor: one in sapphire, the other in bronze.

A growl forces out of me. It’s the Sapphire Knight with my sword. My sword.

Kairyn claps his hands together slowly. The hall booms with the sound. “Look at you, Ezryn. Ever the perfect son. You could have escaped with your life. But instead, you had to come back for our dear father.” He touches a wooden shape at his neck: Ezryn’s necklace. A glimmering light appears, shining right by his hand before materializing into a massive war hammer. It’s so huge, it looks like it would take two hands to wield, yet Kairyn holds it effortlessly. “Perhaps I don’t understand your dedication because Father never even looked at me while you were around.”

“I won’t let you get away with this, Kairyn,” Ezryn says, standing. “You have taken my throne, my Blessing, my dignity. But I will not forsake Father to your torment.”

Kairyn stops and stares at the ground. His voice grows louder, raged. “I have tried to save your life. Again and again and again, I’ve fought for you to live. And this is how you repay me? Constantly coming back, straight into the web? I can’t do it anymore.” Kairyn looks up. “This time, I have to kill you.”

I step in front of Ezryn, channeling bolts of magic into my hands. They glimmer with an icy sheen. “Try.”

Kairyn throws his head back and laughs. “Isn’t that so beautiful? Keldarion here to save you. Again. He was always the brother you really wanted, wasn’t he, Ez? I was such a disappointment to you. To Father. To Mother.”

In a sudden movement, Kairyn draws back the massive war hammer and slams it down on the floor. A fissure cracks up the hall, stopping right before us.

The dark space where Kairyn’s eyes would be flashes. “Are you proud of me now, brother?”

Tension roils in the room. I know where this is going. “Rose, your bow can end this fight quickly,” I whisper. “Ezryn, we must provide coverage and protection for her. When you have the shot, Rose, you take it—”

But I don’t get to finish.

Ezryn takes one step forward. Then another. Then drags his sword along the floor. The screech of metal tears through the throne room.

“Enough talking.” His voice is low, steps thundering. “I’m taking back what is mine.”

“The Blessing?” Kairyn snarls. “You wouldn’t—”

Ezryn releases a roar that seems to shake the very hall and charges.