by Talis Jones
He smiled. “I’ve a feeling they kept it secret out of fear of your reaction.”
“They’re idiots.”
“I will not argue against you.”
“Is that why you’re dancing with me, then?” she asked grinning. “Trying to protect me from terrible dancers? Because I assure you I can hold my own in that department. Or perhaps you lost a bet with them and this is your punishment.”
The Whisper let out a husky laugh. “I am dancing with you because I wish to. And I told you, you won’t cripple my feet this evening.”
“Is that your gift, then? Toes of steel?” she joked, finding herself enjoying his company more each minute.
“I can anticipate an opponent’s next move. Tricky to keep track of but very handy in a fight.”
“Or in a dance,” she added.
He grinned. “Or in a dance.”
“So tell me your name, soldier. You already know mine and that seems a bit unfair.”
“Seamus.”
“That’s a nice name,” she complimented sweetly. “Thank you for watching my back.”
“After witnessing what you did to that poor man before Titus snatched you away I feel I am rather unneeded. I assure you it made me think long and hard before I braved approaching you for a dance.”
Adrianna punched his arm, hard enough to feel but light enough to be friendly. “Tell Eisen and Jack that I’ll do the same to them if they dare try sticking me with a babysitter again,” she joked sternly.
“I’ll be sure to do so.” He frowned. “What did Titus tell you?”
“He told me about the prophecy,” she began, her heart suddenly feeling heavier than stone. “He told me if it comes down to it then I have to kill my brother.”
Seamus' face flattened impassively. “Do you think you could?”
“I don’t know.”
Worry hung over them like a sticky cloud but he pushed it aside with a smile. “Then we won’t let it come down to that. For now we shall dance and pray my toes survive the endeavor.”
Seamus swept the laughing girl across the dance floor and just as he promised she not once trod upon his feet.
The birthday celebration continued well into the early hours of the morning until dawn’s light finally pushed those still reveling into their rooms for bed. Truly enjoying herself for the first time in a very long while Adrianna laughed and danced with Seamus the whole night as they swapped stories about their younger siblings and the mischief they often caused. By the time she collapsed into instant sleep her mind was light with gaiety and empty of the heavy pressing dangers the rising sun would remind her of.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The following day was a quiet one as near all the castle’s inhabitants slept well past the sunrise and even after waking did little but lie about and recover from the grand party they had all attended. Adrianna herself chose to take her meals in her room and only move to turn the page in her book. Turning the last page she yawned wide and arched her back stretching the stiff muscles like a cat.
“Good book?” a voice asked.
“Gahhhhh!” she cried jumping and launching the book at the intruder’s head.
Eisen caught the novel in one hand and examined the cover. “Reading yet another story about dragons?”
Clutching her chest as her pounding heart slowly began to calm upon recognizing her brother she answered breathlessly, “I like dragons.”
“Dragons burn villages to the ground and eat the people in their way,” he retorted.
“Not all of them,” she mumbled.
“Either way I am grateful Oneiroi, as fantastical as it may be, does not have dragons.”
“Yeah. It’s stupid, isn’t it?” she grumbled.
Eisen laughed and sat at the end of her bed facing her. “I’m glad you’re still you,” he murmured as his eyes roved over her ensuring that her body bore no marks to the contrary.
Her heart at last beating a regular even pace within her chest had her irritation flooding back in full form. “What are you doing here, Geoffrey?”
He frowned. “You always called me Eisen before.”
“Yeah, well, everyone seems to be calling you that now,” she shrugged. “Maybe I just want to make sure you’re still you.”
“I might have changed since we came here but I’m still your brother, Adri.” He reached out and held her hand willing her to look at him and see the truth in his eyes.
Adrianna nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“Good.”
“So are you going to tell me why you’re here?” she pushed stubbornly.
“I came to see you. To make sure you’re alright.” Noticing her descending mood he frowned again. “Are you upset about something?”
“Yeah. I’m mad at you, Geoff. You could have saved Sa but you refused and now she’s dead. You have no problem popping in and out of this place for a little chat but you couldn’t do it to save a life? I’m angry and…disappointed.”
“I’m sorry,” he began.
“No, you’re not,” Adrianna interrupted. “You might look older now but I can still tell when you’re lying to me. You’re not sorry you didn’t come. Just…tell me why.”
“I’ve been busy raising an army, Adri. That doesn’t leave me much time to save every life hanging in the balance. My first priority has been, is, and always will be you. I owed Medusa nothing.”
“You’re staring down a dark path, Geoffrey,” she warned softly.
“I have chosen a winning path,” he countered.
Adrianna decided to sidestep his remark. “Titus came to see me last night and he said he already spoke to you and Cassandra.” She waited for some comment but Eisen remained silent. “I know she’s your blood sister. That you two are twins wrapped up in some prophecy that could alter Oneiroi’s fate or whatever.”
“She is not my sister,” he snapped.
She shrugged. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is what you will do. Cassandra cast her lot and now you must do the same. I know you began this road with a heart full of revenge for my capture but this prophecy surely must alter your decision.”
Eisen looked at his sister bewildered. “Of course not. If anything it has hardened my resolve. Removing the Crown will not only punish her for stealing you but will spare the innocents of this land.”
Tense silence hung between them. At last Adrianna turned her face and looked Eisen in the eyes. “Do you mean to kill her?”
Meeting her gaze with surety and ice in his heart he answered softly, “Yes.”
Adrianna blinked as Titus’ words prodded her with urgency. “You mustn’t kill her, Geoffrey. Titus told me—”
Geoffrey stood as his temper flared. “Titus,” he hissed. “Titus likes to play games and mess with us as if we were nothing more than pawns to be toyed with. Do not listen to him.”
“I’m not stupid, Geoffrey. I know he keeps a handful of secrets for every truth he spills but he’s also one of the most powerful people in Oneiroi. I’m not about to toss his advice aside just because he’s an annoying manipulative indecipherable prick!” Pushing herself up onto her knees she placed her hands firmly on her hips and fixed him with a stern look any mother would be proud of. “You may not be that ten-year old boy anymore, Geoffrey, but I’m still your big sister so you’re gonna shut up and listen to what I have to tell you.”
At once the tall muscled figure was rendered speechless and he nodded accepting her terms. Breathing out a frustrated sigh she clambered down from her bed and stood before him making sure he paid attention to her words.
“I asked Titus how you might fail.” Eisen’s mouth opened but a withering glare choked off any words that might have danced upon the tip of his tongue. “He told me that to spill even a single drop of her blood praying for death would tilt fate.”
“I know this,” interjected Eisen but he fell swiftly silent at her narrowed gaze.
“Fine, so that’s just yet another thing everyone here knows besides me, bu
t whatever because why should I know anything anyway?” she fumed irritated. Waving it away she continued. “If Cassandra tries to kill you then you will both die. If you try to kill Cassandra then you will be sealed in darkness until you die. You can’t kill her, Geoffrey. You can't even try. To do so would be to lose yourself and condemn Oneiroi to another round of this madness.”
Eisen stood quiet for a long moment. His mind buzzed with the information, his blood sparked with indecisive feelings towards Titus, and his eyes took in the deep worry within his sister’s eyes. The feeling of loss and hatred rose back up in him as the memory of being torn from her arms surged up in full force. Throwing up shields against it he shook his head decidedly.
“She must go and if I must raise a hundred armies, slaughter a thousand men, strike until this castle is dust beneath my feet. If I have to tear her heart out myself and watch her body crumple as her soul is ripped from it forced to continue its journey through the afterlife then I will do so and I will do it gladly. I have done this all for you, Adrianna—”
“No, you’ve done this for yourself, Eisen. Maybe at first you fought with good intentions but do not lie to me. This bloodshed is for your own self-satisfaction.” Adrianna’s eyes swam with hurt and disappointment.
“I have to do this, Adri.”
“Titus told me if you kill her then I’ll be duty-bound to kill you,” she whispered, her voice strained. “They’ll force me to do it, Geoff.”
Eisen took a step back looking as if he had been slapped. With a wounded growl he turned to depart but before he could Adrianna launched herself wrapping her arms around his steel torso and burying her face in his shoulder. Softly she whispered, “Please do not forget who we were.”
His arms wrapped tightly around her and he whispered in her hair, “Tea and Toast.” And then he was gone and Adrianna staggered through the now vacant air between her arms.
From the shadows stepped a young boy looking a touch sheepish. “Hello Nox,” she greeted sadly.
Nox nodded his head in greeting. “What does ‘tea and toast’ mean?”
At first she said not a word then dragging her tired body back to her bed she explained. “It’s from a story we made up ages ago. We used to play this game of make believe all the time, mostly when he was younger…much younger now, I suppose. In it we were the fearless Verdandi siblings, seeking out adventure and treasure from every corner of the earth. In the story we each had a pet. Geoffrey had a fuzzy gray cat named Tea and I had brown fox named Toast.” Adrianna shrugged. “When we first made the game we also made a promise to each other. We promised to kill each other’s villains.”
“He’s still going after the Crown’s throat? Even after you told him what Titus said?” Nox asked surprised.
“He’s going to kill my villain. And I suppose if he’s going to keep our promise then I should as well.”
Nox looked around confused. “So you’re also going to kill Cassandra?”
“No. I’m going kill Eisen.” Nox sputtered in shock, words tripping over themselves and failing to get back to their feet and march off his tongue. Ignoring him she returned to business. “I need you to give Eisen some information. Prince Addar has confessed to me in person that he wishes to avoid marrying the Crown. In the end he will do whatever keeps his people safe and if that means binding himself to her then he will, but if an opportunity for escape should arise he would be more than happy to seize it. Addar’s heart is on our side and if Eisen wishes to secure that powerful alliance then he’d better act quickly.”
Head spinning Nox tucked away her words. “I will tell him,” he promised.
She rummaged through the drawer in the little table beside her bed for a moment, prying up a false bottom and withdrawing a stack of papers. “I’ve also written down the troop movements Sam’s put together for this month’s shipments and scouting camps. There’s also some more information from the council meetings plus a list of those whom I suspect would aid a rebellion against the Crown, although don’t ask any of them to act outright.” She held out the papers. “Here, I tried to write down as much as I could remember.”
He took the papers and tucked them safely inside his coat. “Thanks, Adri. This really does help you know.”
She shrugged. “Just get it to whoever needs it.”
With a smile he turned to depart.
“One more thing,” she said lightly.
“Yes?”
“When did Seamus get here?”
Nox’s not quite solid face reddened slightly with a blush. “The moment Sa left us he was sent in to replace her. He came with the extraction team but when you refused to leave with Jack he asked Seamus to keep an eye on you. Seamus isn’t your shadow; he’s only a backup plan of sorts. Like, if everything goes to Hell in a hand basket he’ll step in and try to stop it, or at least rescue you from said inferno-destined basket.”
“I see,” she snorted laughing lightly at the Weepy. “I was only curious.”
The boy smiled and gave her a hearty salute before walking back through the walls guarding the message for Eisen. Adrianna flopped backwards spreading out along her bed, long silver tresses fanned about her head. Reaching her right finger and running it gently along the tattoo marking her left arm she thought of Jack. A sudden flush of reassuring warmth flooded through her and she smiled knowing he had felt her silent question.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
With probably the millionth sigh that week she sat up unable to sleep feeling quite antsy. Striding to her wardrobe she pulled out her training leathers and readied herself. Hoping Addar would be there to mentor her session she braided her hair quickly and stole her way to the practice room silent as a wraith.
Pushing open the door upon soundless hinges to the small training room she spied a familiar figure sat upon the floor, his dark lashed eyes closed. “Couldn’t sleep, little prince?” she asked smirking.
With a slight jolt he opened his eyes and smiled. “Looking for a beating, youngling?”
Adrianna tossed him a training blade that he caught easily. “How about you put your money where your mouth is, eh?” For whatever reason taunting and poking the prince always proved a welcome distraction. Addar’s smile turned a little sad and he rested the blade beside him.
Concerned Adrianna squatted down before him. “What’s up?” she asked softly. Addar made no reply. “Come on,” she nudged his arm playfully. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“Quid pro quo?” he parried with an arched eyebrow. The playfulness she had been clinging onto slipped from her fingers like a paper mask doused by a flung cup of wine. Reluctantly she nodded. “Ladies first,” he challenged.
She scowled at that but acquiesced. Truth be told speaking with someone just might ease the fear inside her by a little. “My brother came to visit me.”
Surprise lifted Addar’s head. “I’m impressed. His powers must be true then.”
“You saw him vanish at your engagement celebration,” she reminded him.
“Yes but it was dark and he could have easily used some other sort of trick to cover himself in the night’s shadows and disappear into the woods beside him. Sarai has been working very hard to convince people his powers are merely a ruse created to frighten them.”
“You seriously believed her?”
“I didn't know what to believe,” he frowned.
Moving on she answered his initial surprise. “Well he does possess those rumored talents and his visit worries me.”
“How so? Did he not come for you?”
“No,” she shook her head. “Well, perhaps. Titus visited me as well and warned me what might happen if Eisen faces Sarai. I tried to warn him but he is stubborn. He refuses to change his path but I’m certain if he continues he will lose himself.”
Addar nodded slowly as he pondered her fears. “Praise the blood he has you then. You must not let him forget.”
“Titus said as much,” she mumbled.
“Can he win?” he asked suddenly.<
br />
“Sorry?”
“Can he defeat the Crown?” Addar spoke quite seriously and Adrianna blinked at his sudden shift in tone.
“Truth be told I’m not sure. I doubt he will make it far with his army alone. Sarai is more than she seems. It will take far more than a small rebellion, no matter how skilled or ruthless the warriors.” Adrianna turned her face and let her gaze soften as it watched the dancing flames in the torch lighting the room. “A friend has confessed that the Whispers share a common enemy with Eisen. Even so Sarai has greatly increased her numbers. Perhaps the odds are balanced.”
“This friend,” began Addar cautiously. “They have a way to communicate between you and the Whispers and your brother?”
Adrianna eyed the prince carefully. “They do.”
“Might you give this friend a message to pass on for me?” Hope alighted upon the man’s face and Adrianna sucked in a breath unsure of how to answer.
“I doubt the Whispers will be interested in what you wish to ask,” she warned.
“Perhaps, or perhaps not. Send my message to your brother then.” Addar reached forwards in a desperate fervor and held her hands within his own. “Tell Eisen that if he can free me from these walls I will pledge the Llyrian army to his rising. I must protect my people and under Sarai’s scrutiny my options have slimmed to going through with the union. Please, Adrianna. The Crown is not the woman I met, not the woman I sent my soldiers into battle for. I helped her take the throne and now I must set things right. Will you send him my offer?”
She swallowed taken aback by his confession. “Yes. Yes, I promise.” It wouldn’t be difficult to keep as she had already passed along the suggestion to Nox.
Beyond the door Sam pulled back his ear, anger in his eyes and a smug smile upon his mouth. He never trusted the Llyrian prince. His fury, however, bloomed from Adrianna’s betrayal. The girl played her part well, the Crown believed her to be a trusted companion. It stung and Sam’s chest pulled taut with rage at the conniving snake. The rat at last had been caught and would breathe its last in these dusty halls.