“Done?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, I got my excess energy out.”
“That was incredible,” Deana said. “You two looked so in sync.”
Favian shook his head. “They weren’t in sync, he was just moving faster than her.”
“If that was you holding back, which judging by your relaxed breathing pattern it was, how fast can you go?” Marin asked.
“That will be a surprise for you at the battle,” I told her. I put my daggers away and Finn sheathed his sword. “Thank you.”
He bowed and said, “I live, but to serve you, milady.”
“If only he meant it,” I said dreamily.
“They always misinterpret what that means,” Favian said to Finn.
“Why is that?” Finn asked him. “Why are they so stubborn that they refuse to even try to understand?”
“Well, they are stubborn in general,” Favian commented. Finn and he laughed together and I found myself enjoying this. It was good for Finn to be around someone his own age who could make him laugh and who he could joke about things to.
“What is it supposed to mean?” I asked.
“Yes, please enlighten our stubborn minds,” Marin said.
“It means that I am here to ensure you are happy and safe. That does not mean falling to your every whim and desire,” Favian informed us.
“We would be happier if you did what we asked,” I said.
“It’s almost terrifying how similar those four are,” Sebastian whispered to Deana behind us.
“What are you talking about?” Marin and I asked at the same time. We looked at each other and burst into a fit of laughter.
Everyone joined in and I found myself hoping that we could stay longer. I had Natalie back in Crilan, but she didn’t love fighting like Marin did.
We made our way to the dining room where we would be having dinner and my mood began to sour. Not only would we be facing the battle soon, but we would leave soon thereafter.
“I wish we knew how to teleport,” I told Finn.
“Why is that?” he asked.
“So, we could visit places like this more than once or twice in our lifetime,” I said.
“It is nice here,” he commented.
“How was your day?” Faxon asked when we entered.
“It was lovely,” I answered and then turned to the King of Humans and King of Elves and bowed. “Your Highnesses.”
“Have my children been behaving?” King Cesar asked.
“They’ve been very kind,” I assured him.
“Wonderful,” he said.
“Tilia,” Marin called, “come sit with us.”
“Coming,” I called to her.
“It warms my heart to see my daughter find another woman her age that also loves fighting. She’s so very often an abnormality in that sense. I only wish you lived closer.”
“Tilia and I were just discussing that,” Finn admitted to him.
“Dinner is ready,” a man announced at the back of the room.
We took our seats at the table with the Elven Princes, Marin, and Deana. Marin tossed me a round piece of fruit that was bumpy and green and just looked odd. “What is this?” I asked.
“A delicious treat only grown in the Elves’ Kingdom,” she told me.
I took a bite and the fruit seemed to melt in my mouth. “This is amazing,” I told her and then handed it to Finn.
He took a bite and asked, “Can we take one of these plants home?”
Everyone at our table laughed, which caused the adults to look at us.
“We’ll quiet down,” Marin assured them.
“No,” King Cesar said. “It’s nice to hear all of you laugh.”
“What’s one creature you wish you could miniaturize and keep?” Deana asked me.
“Would it stay miniature forever?” I asked.
She nodded.
“That’s a tough decision,” I admitted.
“Finn?” she inquired.
“Either a dragon or a panther,” he replied immediately.
“A panther would be fun,” I said.
“Is that your answer?” Deana asked.
I shook my head. “No. I’m still thinking.”
“I would want a dragon,” Marin said.
“I want a chimera,” Sebastian answered.
“I would want a hyena,” I finally answered.
“A hyena?” Finn asked in disbelief.
“Yes, that way it could use its creepy laugh howl to scare my enemies and would be easily transportable,” I explained.
“If you had a full sized one, it could just run next to your horse,” Favian said.
“Yeah, but what fun is that? My enemies would see it and know where the noise was coming from. I could hide the miniature one and they would think that it was me and it would freak them out.”
“That does sound like fun,” Marin admitted.
“What about you Deana?” I asked.
“Oh, I wouldn’t want one,” she said. “I was just wondering what your answers would be. I’m shocked that you didn’t say a tiger or lion.”
“They’re too beautiful in their normal state that miniaturizing them would make me feel bad. I love watching them as they are,” I told her.
“She tamed a panther once,” Finn told them.
“I didn’t tame it. I just calmed it down.”
“What happened?”
“This huge panther jumps into her path and what do you think she did?” Finn asked them.
“Stabbed it?” Sebastian guessed.
“Nope,” Finn replied.
“Yelled at it?” Marin guessed next.
“Nope.”
“Ran?” Favian guessed.
“I’ve been insulted,” I pretended.
“She put her sword on the ground and talked to it.”
“It could have hurt you,” Sebastian said.
“Oh, he didn’t want to hurt me. He was just angry because we scared him and encroached on his territory. I explained that I was not tasty and that I wouldn’t hurt him, and he left us alone.”
We continued talking happily to one another and told jokes one after another, when suddenly Faxon sat up rigid in his seat.
“What is it?” I asked him.
Everyone stilled and all eyes turned to Faxon.
He stood up and turned slowly into a circle and then stopped and stared for a full minute in silence. “They’re speeding up,” he told us. “They’ll be here by dawn if they maintain that speed.”
“Dawn? Can’t he at least let us sleep in,” I complained.
“What made you sit up like that?” King Cesar asked.
“He used a large amount of magic to give his troops energy. I can feel him all the time, because I’m focused on his magical signature, or scent if you will, but when his level spiked like that, it made me worry he was going to teleport troops here,” Faxon explained.
“Could he do that?” Marin asked.
“He could teleport about one hundred of his people, but he knows that would be suicide,” he answered.
“Does he know you’re here?” I asked Faxon.
“No,” he said with a sly smirk.
“You’ve altered your signature,” I said in shock. “Who does he think is here?”
“I’m using one that he doesn’t know,” he answered vaguely. “One that he will assume is from someone who is from here.”
“Faxon,” I ordered.
“Your mother’s,” he whispered and took his seat.
My mother’s? I had no idea that he knew my mother well enough to be able to do something like that.
“Tilia,” Finn whispered and slipped his hand beneath mine to hold it. “You okay?”
I nodded, but despite rarely thinking about her, it opened the hole I felt from her death. I never knew my mother. I had no idea what she had been like, aside from stories. I didn’t know what she smelled like. I didn’t know what she looked like. I had pictures, but pictures never di
d anyone justice. I wished that I had known my mother.
“Sorry,” I whispered and then quickly left the room before I started crying. I would not cry in front of the others.
I walked down the hallway, but I did not remember how we had gotten there, so I turned down a second hallway and then sat against the wall. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to let the pain pass. She was gone and there was nothing that I could do about it.
Someone walked towards me, but I didn’t bother opening my eyes.
“I never knew my mother,” Marin told me in a whisper.
“Me neither,” Deana said.
“How old were you when she died?” Marin asked me.
“Two,” I answered.
“I was three,” she said. “My mother and my stepfather were murdered by ogres.”
“How did you survive?” I asked and opened my eyes to look at her.
“I killed the ogres. King Cesar found me after I had just killed the last ogre and he took me home and they adopted me.”
“My mother had an illness and we were too far out to sea to make it to a doctor in time,” I whispered. “We had a doctor onboard of course, but it was beyond his abilities. To this day my father blames himself for her death,” I told them. I wasn’t sure why I trusted these strangers so quickly. I should not have. I should have kept my distance and secrets.
“Mine died during childbirth,” Deana told us.
“I was lucky to have Amadis,” Marin said. “She was a wonderful mother to me, but…”
“But she isn’t your mother,” I answered for her.
She nodded.
“I wish it would ease up,” I told them. “I am nineteen now and I thought the pain would be easier, yet just hearing mention of her opens that hole in my heart.”
“Oh good, it’s not only me,” Marin said. “I thought I was falling prey to female emotions.”
“Perhaps we both are,” I told her.
“That would make three of us,” Deana said.
“Can I ask you two something?” I requested.
They nodded.
“Why do I feel so comfortable around you? I don’t know you. I should be wary of you. Yet, I feel…”
“Connected,” Deana offered.
“Yes.”
“Perhaps this was in our destinies. It could be a sign that we are meant to become friends and become allies for some greater purpose,” Marin whispered.
“You believe in destiny?” I asked in shock.
“I didn’t use to,” she admitted, “but my father, my true one, told me about my destiny to destroy the ogres and I realized that I was constantly involved in situations with ogres, even when I shouldn’t have been. It makes sense.”
“Do you believe in destiny?” I asked Deana.
She shrugged. “I don’t believe in much these days,” she admitted softly.
“You seem unhappy here, except when you’re with Sebastian,” I commented.
She blushed. “Life here isn’t exciting, not like your lives. And I’m always stuck inside these walls.”
“You sneak out occasionally, don’t you?” Marin asked hopefully.
“Of course, but it’s not enough,” she told us. “I feel caged.”
“Are you the only heir?” I asked her.
She nodded.
“I’m too different and the people aren’t likely to want me crowned,” she told me.
“Why not?” I asked.
Deana looked at Marin and then she said, “I’m a shapeshifter.”
I stared at her in disbelief. A shapeshifter? “Wow. I would not have guessed that about you.”
“Because I’m not bloodthirsty?” she asked.
“No, because you haven’t changed all day,” I answered honestly. “I only knew a couple of them, but they switched forms at least every couple of hours.”
“The people don’t know that she is a shapeshifter,” Marin explained. “She’s supposed to be the Queen of the Humans, but that’s not likely to go well when she’s technically not human herself.”
“You are human,” I said in shock.
“Not if you ask the humans,” Deana responded.
“That’s absurd,” I told them.
“Welcome to my land,” Deana mumbled.
“What will you do?” Marin asked her.
“I don’t know. If I don’t take the throne there is no one else here to take it.”
“Don’t you have cousins or someone next in line?” I asked curiously.
“No, they all died in one of the previous wars, which brought a terrible sickness with it,” she told me.
“Couldn’t your father name someone as heir?” I asked.
“Name someone as heir?” Deana asked me, unsure.
“In times where there is no suitable heir, a King can name his apprentice or advisor or someone else as his heir. It’s a Designated Heir,” I explained.
“You mean I could be free of becoming Queen if I can find someone for my father to name as his Designated Heir?” Deana asked excitedly.
“Yes.”
She took my hands, pulled me to my feet and made me dance around in a circle. “You’ve just given me the best news!”
“Glad I could help,” I said with a happy laugh.
“We should get back in the dining room or the men will likely come searching for us,” Marin said.
“Thank you for coming to talk to me,” I said appreciatively.
“That’s what friends are for,” Deana told me.
“I really hope that mage of yours is wrong about how fast they’re moving,” Marin said with a sigh. “It would be nice to sleep in.”
“Agreed,” Deana and I responded at the same time.
The three of us laughed and entered the dining room.
Finn set his hand on my leg and I squeezed it reassuringly. We didn’t stay much longer since the fight was likely to start so early in the morning, but the rest of the evening was fun. Finn and I walked to my room and we lay together in silence on my bed. I liked to think that Marin was right about us being drawn together by destiny; I just hoped our destinies did not end any time soon.
“I love you,” Finn whispered as we fell asleep.
“Forever,” I whispered in response.
He nodded and we fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter Ten
“Oh, someone is going to be in trouble,” Marin whispered.
“Why?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes and sat up in bed.
She pointed behind me to where Finn was sleeping.
“Like you and Favian weren’t sleeping together last night,” I accused her.
“Did you both sleep in the clothes you wore yesterday?” Deana asked.
“What are you two doing in here? What time is it?” I asked grumpily.
“You’re not a morning person either,” Marin said happily.
“It’s about an hour past dawn,” Deana answered. “We came to get you for breakfast.”
“Food?” Finn mumbled.
“What are you two doing in here?” Favian asked and peeked inside with just his head entering my room.
“They’re dressed,” Marin informed him.
“Did someone mention food?” Finn asked as he stretched and sat up.
“You slept in your clothes?” Favian asked.
“During battle, it’s better to sleep in your clothes, so that you don’t have to fight naked,” I told him.
“You just have to learn to dress quickly,” he replied.
“What if they attack you in your room? Are you going to get dressed while fighting them?” I asked with a smirk.
“No, I’ll fight them as I am and once they’re defeated, then I will get dressed,” Favian answered as if that was obvious.
“Food?” Finn asked again.
“Yes, Captain, food this way,” I said.
He stood up and walked around the bed with his eyes closed. Once he reached me, he threw his arms around my neck and leaned heavily on me.
“Food.”
“Is he still asleep?” Deana asked.
“Yep,” I replied.
“Well, let’s get our breakfast before we get attacked,” Marin said lightheartedly.
“Yes, if she doesn’t eat before a battle she’ll be very cranky,” Favian said and smiled at Marin.
We made our way and I realized that we were missing someone. “Where’s Sebastian?”
“He’s already in the dining room,” Deana answered. “He was very hungry when he woke up.”
“Oh, did he do something to work up an appetite?” Marin asked with a smirk.
Deana instantly blushed. “No!”
We laughed at her uncomfortable reaction and entered the room to find Sebastian sitting at a table filled with food. The smells wafted over and Finn jerked awake.
“Food,” he said happily and walked quickly to the table.
“Reminds me of someone else I know,” Favian teased as Marin sat just after Finn had.
I laughed and we all took our seats and ate.
“Where are the adults?” I asked.
“Still in bed most likely,” Deana answered. “They were up late going over strategies and plans.”
“Did they settle on one?” I asked around a bite of sweet bread.
“They deferred to Faxon’s plan to have us attack the warriors, while he fights that evil man whose name we can’t say,” she explained.
“Yay fighting!” I said excitedly.
“No getting hurt,” Finn ordered me.
“That’s why I have you,” I told him with a smirk.
“Good morning,” Faxon greeted us.
“Morning,” we all replied.
Faxon leaned over me to grab some food and then leaned against the back of my chair while he ate.
“How much longer?” I asked Faxon.
“An hour,” he replied as he gobbled down his food.
“Oh man, I’m glad that I woke up when I did,” Marin said.
We finished our meals and the other adults came in to eat.
“We should go warm up,” I told Finn.
He nodded and we followed as Deana led us outside. We stood in a loose circle, stretched our muscles, and then took a short jog to loosen ourselves up.
“What’s the game plan?” I asked Marin.
“I guess we didn’t really talk about our…” she began, but was interrupted by a trumpet blaring from atop the castle wall.
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