The Forsaken Hero

Aerion looked at me, lips pursed. ”I’m not sure I understand.”

”Aerion, I’m hopelessly naive. I know that. I can’t help but trust people when they tell me something. But you’re not just helping us because of Selena. Whatever you’re doing...you don’t have to do it alone, do you? Can’t I help?”

”There are some shadows you shouldn’t have to stoop in. Even if you were willing, this is something I, no, we, must do for ourselves,” he chuckled darkly. ”To be completely honest with you, I don’t need help. I only need opportunities. And those follow you like waves after the surf.”

”And you weren’t lying before?”

A pause.

”About what?” he asked carefully.

”Oh. I expected as much. You couldn’t say no.”

”Ah, was that a test? Yes, there are many things I’m keeping from you. But I swear on my house that none of my purposes will harm you, your friends, or your cause. If anything, our goals are aligned.”

”I thought you didn’t like the houses.”

He flashed me a smile. ”Now you’re getting it.”

I sighed, rubbing my horn. My head hurt just thinking about his answers. Even if none of them were lies, what did they even mean if true?

”You’d get along great with Jessia,” I muttered, staring out the window. ”Remind me never to introduce you.”

Our carriage rolled up to an entire crowd of servants, soldiers, and images. Selena waited before the circular carriage drop-off with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

Luxxa offered me a hand, helping me from the carriage. I ran right into Selena’s arms, hugging her fiercely. She stiffened in surprise before relaxing and worming her arms free, returning the embrace.

”Are you safe?” she asked, tone gentler than her expression. She continued to glare over my shoulder at Aerion, who stepped from the carriage with a little bounce.

”I’m fine,” I said, closing my eyes, inhaling her scent. The simple floral hint of fragrance was refreshing after the blood and terror of the Wildflower Market. For a moment, surrounded by her warmth, I was able to forget everything from Aerion’s schemes to the antimagic gear.

”What were you thinking, taking her out alone? Why didn’t you consult with me?” Selena growled.

Aerion raised his hands. ”We merely ran some errands. Xiviyah prompted it on her own. I merely tagged along. Good thing I did, given the trouble we ran into.”

Gith snorted, and Luxxa rolled her eyes. Jenna just giggled. Selena eyed them all before looking down at me.

”Is that true?” she asked.

I nodded, not meeting her gaze. ”I...wanted to see the markets. I got a new dress, and um...some flowers.”

”And a good look at the Dark Guild,” Aerion said.

Her frown deepened. ”So it’s true, then. But why would they target you and not Lady Lastlight? And they really struck in broad daylight?”

”The guard seemed surprised too,” I admitted.

”Lord Ashton, actually,” Aerion said.

Selena looked blank.

”Iverette? Iverette Ashton? We served as rangers together, some sixty years ago. Oh, you might have been at the Throne, at that point.”

Selena pursed her lips. ”Yeah, if it was then, I was just starting as a mage there. But you’re changing the subject. What happened?”

”I’ll fill you in. For now, why don’t we get her inside? It’s much safer there, and I get the feeling she could use some rest,” Aerion said.

Selena nodded and nudged me forward, keeping her arm around me as if she were afraid I was going to run off.

”Secure the premises,” she instructed a nearby guard wearing a captain’s knot. ”No visitors for now, especially any inquiries concerning our guests.”

”Good move,” Aeroin nodded. ”Let the houses sweat.”

Time passed slowly after that. It wasn’t that nothing was happening in the city, for according to Elise, the delicate balance between the houses and common folk was rapidly deteriorating. But to me, the days blurred together.

I was no longer allowed outside the estate, so I spent almost all of my time studying in the courtyard gardens, watching R’lissea, Fable, or one of my other friends spar, or wandering through the islands of Haven.

I had many visions, too, almost nightly. They gave me glimpses into the outside world, of the happenings of the elves, the growing military might of the southern continent, and the upcoming struggle of the elves against the Risen. The last one, especially, was worrying, and I spent hours poring over old histories in the Library of Fate, searching for anything in regards to the undead threat.

Some two weeks after the Dark Guild’s attempt on my life, Anrynth brought an invitation to tea from Elise. She’d been in and out, visiting among the noble houses or scheming with Aerion.

”It’s been so long!” Elise said as I sat down across from her. ”You must be tired of being cooped up here.”

I shrugged. ”It’s not so bad. Haven’s quiet and peaceful, and the gardens are nice, too.”

We’d met around noon in one of the courtyard’s gardens at a small, outdoor gazebo.

”How are you feeling after...everything?”

”You mean the Dark Guild?” I sighed, resting my chin on my hand. ”I’d almost forgotten that we were at war. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like it. Like every day will continue like today. That nothing will ever really happen.”

She nodded. ”I feel the same way, but that’s the elves’ fault. They’ve been entrenched in their perspectives for millennia now. There’s something of an inferiority complex between them, too. They’re so desperate to prove their enlightened and free compared to human societies. I think that’s the root of their cultural stagnation, honestly.”

”Is that why the assassination attempt scared them so much?” I asked.

She raised an eyebrow. ”You know about that? The nobles won’t even admit it to me, but I think you’re right. No matter how bad things are outside of Duskwood, they have a bubble here. But when Kahlen revealed his power, it popped it. They hate to admit it, but the Dark Guild has some of the elves’ strongest fighters.”

”Aerion said it’s filed with adventurers and soldiers,” I said.

”The houses often suppress those who grow too strong for the system. They understand that strength is threatening,” Elise explained. ”And people repressed by a system are more likely to work outside it. And when Kahlen killed those people so easily...They’re scared, Xiviyah. I know it was scary for you, but it ended up being the best thing that could have happened for our cause. The elves, nobles and commoners alike, now understand the overwhelming power the demons have. They can’t pretend they’ll be able to survive them unscathed anymore.”

”I bet Aerion loves that,” I muttered.

”he doesn’t talk much about his own plans or goals,” Elise admitted, ”But he’s definitely pleased. The nobles might be able to hide behind their history and house, but the commoners were firsthand witnesses to Kahlen’s power. They’re now keenly aware that the nobles can do nothing to protect them.”

”Be careful with fear, Elise. If you let it run rampant, it will feed on itself. There might not be many elves left to save,” I said quietly.

She considered my words for a long time before slowly nodding. ”I’ll keep that in mind and pass it on to Aerion. He might need to hear that more than me.”

She sighed, sitting back, and took a sip of her tea.

”There’s something I wanted to tell you, Xiv. The investigation into the attack is completed. They weren’t able to determine the party behind the Dark Guild’s attack.”

”But Aerion said–”

”I know what he said. Just...it doesn’t make sense for the Ellenwinters to target you. What is there to gain from your death? It would effectively end negotiations, which they’re strongly against, but you’re barely involved with that, and they don’t know about Luke. If they wanted to send a message to the demons, killing me would be the most effective way.”

”Then who?” I asked, though I was terrified that I already knew the answer.

”There’s only one group in the city that needs you to die.”

I felt sick to my stomach. ”The church.”

She nodded. ”They’ve been too quiet, as of late. There’s an inquisitor or priest in every single meeting I have with a noble house, no matter how small or insignificant the family is. Yet they rarely say anything or even rise to debate any point I make.”

”Why would he lie about that?”

She shrugged. ”I don’t know, and I haven’t breached the subject with him. But I suspect he’s afraid.”

I tilted my head, and she put her cup down, meeting my gaze.

”Xiviyah, the noble houses don’t have the resources to attempt something like that more than once. But the church? They could try again.”

”Then shouldn’t we know if it was them so we can better prepare?” I asked.

”From our perspective, yes. But from Aerion’s perspective, he must think the odds of retaliation are too high. Can you guarantee Fyren, or the demon lords of the Devoted, wouldn’t act if they thought you were in more danger?”