Page 46

Leon

“ I don’t understand,” Alastor says, his brows furrowing. “What are you asking us?”

“Nothing,” I say, looking around at my unit perched in various positions around the parlor.

Ana’s gone to speak with Tira and tell her about the journey ahead, and it’s on me to inform my unit.

“That’s exactly the point. I’m saying I won’t ask you to come with me to Trova, and I’ll understand if you choose to stay here. ”

“Why the fuck wouldn’t we come with you?” Damia asks, insulted.

“Man’s lost his mind,” grunts Eryx.

“We’ve only just returned to Filusia,” I point out, exasperated by their stubborn refusal to listen. “And some of you have family and partners here you’ve barely got to spend time with.” I gesture to Phaia.

She brushes her silver hair over her shoulder. “Helia knew what she was getting into falling in love with a soldier. She’ll understand. Besides, you’ve only just gotten your brother back too, and I don’t see you using that as an excuse not to go.”

“I think I’ve made it clear that this isn’t King’s Sword business,” I say. “This is an unofficial, unsanctioned mission. We have to leave tonight just so my grandfather doesn’t have a chance to order us to stay.”

I look around at them, silently asking them to really consider what they’d be agreeing to.

“I’m sorry, captain, but if you think we’re going to let you go gallivanting off to a foreign land without us, someone’s knocked your screws loose,” Alastor says.

“Besides, why should we let you have all the fun?” Stratton chimes in.

“Hear hear,” Hyllus says softly from the corner.

“Alright then,” I say, wondering how I managed to find myself such a loyal bunch of lunatics. “Gather your things and say your goodbyes—discreetly. We leave at midnight.”

As my unit disperses, I take my own advice and head to the Sanctuary. I know Fairon will be there. He’s still spending a lot of his time working with the healers. He says it’s to help him get his full strength back, but I think he’s not quite adjusted to the busyness of palace life yet.

“I would’ve thought you’d had enough of this place to last you a lifetime,” I tease from the doorway of the Sanctuary’s inner chamber. Fairon sits perched on the edge of the bed as Healer Yanda takes a bottle from him. She bows and makes a discreet exit, giving us some privacy.

“You forget that I can’t remember most of that time,” he says.

“Lucky you,” I reply darkly. I recall it all in terrible detail from the day he started wasting away, losing all semblance of the brother I knew.

I was forced away from Lavail on King’s Sword work a lot over the last two years, but whenever I came back, I could see that he had gotten worse, and my despair had grown.

“It’s not an experience I’d like to repeat,” Fairon says, and I realize how bitter my words sound.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know,” he says, waving his hand dismissively. I examine his face, always so calm and stately. Somehow, he even made the process of dying look dignified. It still feels like a miracle to know that he’s well again. I only just got Fairon back—I can’t leave without talking to him first.

“Ana made her decision,” I say.

“She’s going after her aunt?”

I nod.

“Yes,” Fairon says, not sounding surprised at all, “she doesn’t seem the type to blindly do as she’s told.”

“You can say that again.” I’ve lost count of all the times that woman has infuriated me with her stubbornness.

“Does she know what she’s going to do after that?” he asks, his voice artificially casual. “Once Oclanna is dead, there’ll be no going back. Things will change in Tiearland, for better or for worse. Is she prepared to shape what comes next?”

I deliberately haven’t questioned Ana on the subject. I suspect she doesn’t have an answer yet, and I don’t want to push her to have one before she’s ready. I’ve already pushed her into too many things.

“I think she needs more time to decide what she wants,” I say.

I sit down beside Fairon, choosing my next words.

Some might consider it a risk, telling him our plan.

My grandfather likes him partly because Fairon has always been loyal to him, or at least managed to make it appear that way.

He’s a bit like our father like that. He comes at problems sideways, never head-on, playing the diplomat as he does it. But I know I can trust him with this.

“But I can help her with that decision when the time comes. Because I’m going with her,” I say. “Tonight.”

“Before the king can get wind of it and order you to stay,” Fairon guesses.

“Yes. But I have to go. It was part of the deal I made with Ana in return for healing you. And even if I hadn’t agreed to it, she needs my help. Trova is a very dangerous place for her right now.”

“That makes sense,” Fairon says, neutrally.

“I don’t like leaving you so soon, not when you’ve only just gotten better, but you understand my hands are tied,” I say.

“You mustn’t worry about that, Leonidas.

You’ve been carrying the weight of the heir title for the last few years all on your own, and I know what kind of burden that must’ve been.

It’s time I take some of that weight off your shoulders.

I’m strong enough. I must be, with the rate these healers are pouring all sorts of vile potions down my throat,” he adds with a smile.

“Thank the gods,” I say, following his lead and grinning back, trying to break some of the tension. “I was doing a terrible job of filling your shoes.”

“It couldn’t have been that bad,” Fairon says.

“That bad? Fairon, I went on a diplomatic mission to Trova that ended with two dead royals and a kidnapped princess.”

“I heard. These things happen,” he says wryly.

He’s being kind, but Fairon knows as well as I do that fighting and killing has always been my forte, not political maneuvering.

It’s why Ana’s come so close to serious harm several times since we arrived at this damn court.

A direct threat I can handle, but I’m useless against all the sneaky trickery of my grandfather and his minions.

“It makes sense for me to go with Ana,” I continue. “I can protect her out there, much better than I can here.”

There’s a pause, and I sense Fairon is building up to something.

“Leonidas, this thing between you and the princess…you know it must come to an end eventually.”

I stand, swallowing hard against the instant denial I feel in response to his words.

“You said you understood why I needed to go with her,” I say, trying to keep my voice even.

“I agree that helping her is the right thing to do. From what you’ve told me, Princess Morgana is a better ruler for Filusia’s interests than her aunt, and I believe you can guide her safely towards that path.

But that’s precisely my point. Your focus should be on what’s best for your people and your nation. ”

I should’ve known this would be Fairon’s view. He sees us as Filusia’s protectors before anything else.

“I know my responsibilities, Fairon. Or did I not just give Filusia back its heir?” I say.

He nods, conceding my point. “And no one is more grateful for that than me,” he says. “Still, both you and the princess must put your countries before your personal desires.”

Fairon knows better than me when it comes to some things, but it doesn’t mean he’s right about this.

“You make it sound like the whole world will fall apart just because she and I have taken a liking to each other,” I say.

“An alliance between you is sensible, beneficial even. But a relationship jeopardizes both your positions. Not to mention, it isn’t something your people or hers are likely to accept.”

I want to say I don’t give a fuck what our people think, but I know that argument will fall on deaf ears with Fairon.

I tell myself his disapproval doesn’t matter, but it makes me uneasy.

I’m determined to stick by Ana’s side for as long as she needs someone to keep her safe, but beyond that, I have to admit I haven’t considered what my role in her life will be.

Fairon obviously thinks he’s made his point, because he changes the subject.

“Don’t worry about Grandfather,” he says, clapping me on the back. “I’ll deal with him. Go do what you do best and raise some gloam in Trova.”

We say our goodbyes, and I return to the palace, only to find more people waiting for me in my parlor—Ana, Tira, and the korigos that seems to be Ana’s shadow lately.

“Listen, Leon, I’m coming too, no matter what you say,” Tira strides up to me with crossed arms. I find myself wondering if she’s always been so short.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” I say.

She closes her mouth abruptly, bewildered, while I notice Ana hiding a smile behind her.

“Oh,” Tira says eventually. “I thought you’d try to make me stay—argue I’d get in the way or something.”

“I couldn’t get rid of you even when it meant you getting dragged across the border into a foreign land. I wouldn’t be foolish enough to think you’d allow yourself to be separated from Ana now. Plus, your claim to revenge on Oclanna is as strong as Ana’s.”

Tira tilts her head. “Damn right.” She turns to Ana. “You know, he’s growing on me.”

Ana laughs, and the sound makes my heartbeat oddly uneven. “Yeah, I know how you feel,” she says.

“And what about you?” I ask the korigos. “It seems like you’re not leaving her side anytime soon.”

The animal flicks its tails, as if to agree.

“This is why we have to leave sooner rather than later,” I say. “Give it any more time and we’ll be taking half the palace with us.”

But despite my worries, the rest of our preparations go off without a hitch. Once the moon is casting Lusteris’s silver light across the grounds, the ten of us meet by the southern gate. Then we slip quietly out of Lavail with only the stars as our witnesses.