Page 6

EILISH

Mercenary Stronghold

The sound of the quill pen scratching across the surface of the paper lulls me into a state of tranquility.

Each day I sit here and I write the story of what has become of my life, hoping there will be a time when these words bring enlightenment to others.

The flickering light of the candle beside me washes the room in an amber glow.

I’m serene. I’m floating, barely contained inside my skin. I’m at peace. Strange though it may be, I feel as if making love with Cambion has given me this... this euphoric vibration at the center of my being. At least until the knock on my door startles me out of my thoughts.

“Who is it?” I call.

“Aima,” she answers. “King Galmer wishes to see you.”

I set the quill down and fold the leather journal in a swatch of silk before placing it beneath my mattress.

The faint blue light peeking in behind the curtains signals the coming of dawn on the horizon.

I greet Aima on the other side of the door.

She leans against the wall in the corridor with her hip cocked. Her eyes take me in with a smile.

“You look like shit, glowbug.”

The nickname is new... and surprising.

“Aima... we should talk about…”

She lifts her hand and shakes her head. “Look, I was shocked when I saw Theren. But I’m a big girl, Eilish.

I’ve loved and lost before. My history with Cambion is proof enough of that.

” Sadness enters her inky black gaze as she stands taller.

“Looking back on the days when I first met Theren, I think part of me knew his heart belonged to someone else. He always looked like his mind was off in another realm. His father was... Elioth wasn’t a good man.

He tortured Cambion and Theren, disguising the mistreatment as lessons.

But after a while, Theren’s smile returned.

Most recently, I suspected he loved someone, but I never thought it was you. ”

“Thank you for your understanding words,” I offer as I walk beside Aima with my head high, not wanting to give the people of this sanctuary in the desert any reason to doubt me. “I don’t doubt that Theren loved you. I think it was simply a matter of him meeting me first.”

The Unseelie woman snorts. “I like to think I know Theren enough to know that isn’t true,” she says as she looks over at me. “You don’t have to protect me, Eilish.”

“I’m not trying to protect you.”

She nods and gives me an understanding smile. “How did the two of you meet anyway?”

“It’s… complicated.”

“And it’s also a long walk to King Galmer’s hall,” Aima counters as if we’re sparring with words.

I nod. “I used to sneak into the Unseelie Kingdom. The Delendren Glade had many gateways leading to the other realms so my mother could heal those in need.” I grow quiet as the memories flood me.

“The Unseelie Kingdom was dark and exotic. I loved the noise and the vibrancy of the kingdom far more than the tranquil forests and fields of lavender in the glade.”

“How did the guards not notice a portal into the city?”

“It wasn’t in the city,” I explain with a shrug. “The gateway opened in a forest on the outskirts of Oronrel, a forest Theren once used as a place to escape his father’s cruelty. It was there that he first saw me. At the time, I hadn’t noticed him tracking me each day.”

“What happened then?”

“I remember always having mixed feelings about meeting Theren because my mother told me leaving the glade was dangerous, but, of course, I didn’t listen.” I sigh. “I was captured by a group of exiles that were taking refuge in the forest.”

Aima says nothing as we walk through the streets of the Mercenary Stronghold. The beautiful buildings and colorful flags marking the territories of each clan still fill me with awe.

“Theren tracked me that day, the same as he always did, but once he realized I’d been captured, he came after me. Elioth was in the forest too, searching for Theren. In saving me, Theren led his father right to us.”

“What happened then?”

I shrug. “I fought them. Theren warned me not to but it… did little good. I killed some of Elioth’s men when they attempted to tie me up.”

“You killed his men?” she repeats, eyes wide. “Did Elioth punish you?” she asks the last question in a way that tells me she’s been on the wrong end of the former Unseelie King’s rage before.

“He did. But I fought back.”

Aima seems proud when she says, “Of course you did.”

“I... was beaten, but Theren forced his father to stop. I thought Elioth was going to kill him right then, but I suspect he stayed his hand because his men were watching.”

Aima shakes her head. “It was because of Theren’s mother.”

“His mother?”

She nods. “Theren’s mother always favored Cambion, but she did what she could to save them both from their father’s wrath. And Elioth loved her as best he was able.”

“Elioth tied us to a tree and left us there for the night. I guess he didn’t expect us to grow close after that…

but we did. With Theren’s help, I managed to escape and afterwards, Theren visited the forest each day until he found the gateway to the Delendren Glade.

We continued to see one another, growing closer as I taught him to speak the other languages of the realm and he taught me how to laugh.

Theren became my friend and my protector,” I say with a smile tugging at my lips.

“And then one day our friendship grew into love.”

“Now I remember noticing Theren smiling more and I remember searching for him with Cambion. We could never figure out where he disappeared to for so long.”

“When his visits suddenly stopped, I thought Elioth had finally managed to kill him. And I grieved him as if he’d died.

That was… the darkest day of my life back then.

” I take a breath and push the memory away.

“Then one day, when I was walking alone in the places we used to share our secrets, Theren found me.” I walk up the stairs that lead to the Hall of Clans with Aima beside me.

“Theren told me Morrigan had saved him, that she’d made a deal with Elioth that Theren would train to be king at the temple in the Cogost Mountains. ”

Aima pulls me to a stop and whispers, “Theren was never the same after that, he was... different.”

I nodded because I understood why. “I’d told him I had to live with the knowledge that he would leave me and drown in the guilt that I’d caused him so much sorrow. I begged… him not to love me.”

“And what did Theren say?”

I’m not sure I should answer because I can see the pain in her eyes. It’s not an easy thing to listen to a story about the man you love loving another woman.

“Eilish,” Aima says. “What did Theren say?”

Asking me not to love you is like asking the moon to stop chasing the sun.

The words drift through my mind and I shake them away. Then I push open the doors to the hall. “It doesn’t matter. Too much has changed since then. All we can do now is move forward.”

King Galmer casts his gaze on me and smiles fondly. “Lady Fulthain. I’m pleased you decided to join us for the meeting.”

“King Galmer,” Aima and I both greet him.

“We are at an impasse as to what to do with the former Unseelie King, Theren. I move for an immediate execution. Many of the creatures in my protection have suffered greatly at his hands.”

Imatriat, the Wraith Warrior and leader of the Thradsaryl clan, stands up to support King Galmer’s decision. “Let us not forget the damage Theren did to The Veil, My Lady.”

I listen as each of them voices their opinions.

To my surprise, some of the clan leaders are against King Galmer’s bloodlust where Theren is concerned.

I look around as I address the room. “Theren was under the influence of the Midnight Queen and thus wasn’t acting of his own volition.

Your own mages have spoken on his behalf…

letting it be known that her power no longer holds sway over him.

Theren has also vowed that his practices of taboo magic won’t be used within the walls of the Mercenary Stronghold unless he’s forced to defend himself and those who seek refuge here. ”

“Will that be enough?” King Galmer asks, clearly believing the answer to be ‘no’.

I turn to him. “Theren has been punished by his own Unseelie forces for much longer than he’s been an enemy of the realms. I say he has more than atoned for his mistakes.

” At that, the group before me begins to speak among themselves.

Some in agreement and some not. “Theren is a victim of the darker powers that seek to destroy our worlds.”

“So, you defend a man who has slaughtered fae and burned down villages?!” Novak, King Galmer’s son, shouts. “How can we trust you when the power that grows inside you gets stronger each day? How do we know you, yourself, are not under the Midnight Queen’s influences?”

“Because I’ve risked my life for yours and all others who call the stronghold their home,” I reply boldly.

“Anyone under Morrigan’s influences wouldn’t hesitate to kill everyone within these walls and claim their power.

I can admit Morrigan convinced me she was innocent for a while, but as soon as I learned of her treachery, she lost my loyalty.

Morrigan is the enemy here, not Theren and not me. ”

Others murmur in disagreement, but they’re overshadowed by the clan leaders who stand up for me and pledge their loyalty to me and my cause. I’m touched and yet this show of unity overwhelms me. I’m not sure why.

King Galmer raises his hands and looks at each of the faces assembled.

“I have reached a decision,” he says. Then he clears his throat.

“After weeks of deliberation, let it be known that the words of Lady Fulthain have spared a life most would seek to condemn.” The response from the others is mixed, as is to be expected.

King Galmer continues. “We shall look back on this day and ponder whether her mercy was a sign of strength or weakness.”