Chapter 55

CHAPTER 55

ROLAND

Finn took command of the forces of Ilanthus, ordering them out of the city and back to their ships. Frankly, Roland thought they were happy to go. There had been some delight at the prospect of war with Asteroth but that was gone now, with Leander dead along with many of their fellow soldiers. Reality was a harsh teacher. Gaius had not had the stomach for it to begin with, he confessed to Roland as they drew up the terms of a terrible stalemate they would now try to forge into a peace.

Laurence Rayden refused to leave Finn’s side and Finn seemed to be fine with that, loath to let the boy out of his sight. He’d failed him too often, he said when Roland asked. Instead, Finn turned to the general of the Ilanthian forces.

‘He’s my only blood relative,’ he told them as if that was that. Gaius nodded solemnly. ‘Or will you take charge of him now, general? You have been as a father to him all these years.’

Gaius looked concerned and not a little ashamed. ‘Not much of a father given what happened. Will you not bring him back to Sidonia with you, your majesty? He is, as you say, your blood.’

Finn scowled, and Roland realised that he’d instantly thought of sacrifice, of Laurence being used as he himself would once have been used had things not worked out differently. ‘I have no need of more bloodshed if that’s your implication.’

Gaius gave him a level look and Roland had to suppress an urge to smile. This was not a man to be cowed. ‘Then he is also your responsibility, as your only remaining family, your majesty. And you will be bringing him back to Sidonia with you.’ It was not a question this time. He was making a deliberate point.

At the sound of that, Finn blanched. ‘Back to Sidonia?’

‘Your kingdom needs you.’

It seemed Finn had forgotten what killing Leander meant for him. Or just wished to forget, perhaps. Roland waited, ready to help if necessary. Finn was still like his own son.

As Gaius had explained it, Finn had been named heir on his return, lost that title when it appeared he’d killed his father thanks to Leander, but now, all of Ilanthus would bow before him.

Had it not occurred to him that he had defeated his brother in single combat, which was a time-honoured way of Ilanthian succession, and that had confirmed what Hestia had foretold? That Finn would be king of Ilanthus after all? Whether he wanted it or not.

‘Very well,’ he said at last, his tone more sober, perhaps a little defeated. ‘Make ready to depart. I…I need to talk to Wren.’

The weight of those words was not lost on Roland. But what choice was there? Finn could not stay here, and without a king, Ilanthus would fall apart. The whole society revolved around someone of the line of Sidon wearing its crown. Finn and the Rayden boy were the only ones left.

‘Roland?’ Finn said at last and then seemed lost for words.

‘I know,’ he said. Because Finn needed to understand that someone still supported him as simply him. ‘And I’m always here.’

It all took far too long to clear the Ilanthians from the city, and as Roland took in the full extent of the destruction, he realised that it was going to take an age to repair everything. As much as Ilanthus needed her king, Asteroth needed her queen.

He went to find Elodie.

The gates of the Sanctum were closed tight. Roland knocked as politely as he could in his impatience. Maryn opened them and gave him that familiar stubborn glare.

‘Grandmaster?’

‘I don’t have time for this. Where is she?’

‘The queen, you mean? Queen Aeryn of Asteroth? That queen?’ She grinned wickedly. ‘The queen is tending the injured. Her knights are with her. Well, Anselm. I’m not sure what Olivier is classed as now. He’s almost as gifted a healer as she is, you know? A remarkable talent. His instincts are exceptional. And to think, he was almost squandered on knighthood.’ She rolled her eyes at his glare and stepped aside. ‘Are you expecting me to stop you?’ she teased. ‘Dear me, when Elodie told me to bring you right to her when you stopped politicking and wanted to talk. Whatever will I do?’ Her laughter followed him as he went inside and he thought that this new light-hearted Maryn was potentially even more of a nightmare than before.

Elodie was sitting beside Ylena, who lay on a low cot-like bed, looking haggard, older than she ever had before. They were speaking softly to each other and Roland thought he heard apologies pass between them.

Not that Elodie was the only person Ylena owed apologies to. His own would be a long way down the list. But even so, he knew that the regent had only wanted to protect her niece and her kingdom. It had all gone horrifically wrong, but that was not entirely her fault. And she didn’t seem quite so proud anymore.

‘Elodie?’

She looked up at the sound of her name and smiled at him. It was as if the years fell away in that instant. She said a farewell to her aunt and joined him in the garden outside.

‘Where’s Wren?’ she asked. ‘Is she with Finn?’

‘I’m leaving the two of them to come to terms with…well, whatever they have to do to come to terms with their situation in their own time. It doesn’t seem fair.’

‘Duty isn’t fair,’ she murmured.

‘Yes, my queen.’

‘Don’t.’ The word was harsh. ‘Please,’ she tried again, gentler now. ‘Don’t call me that. Don’t make it all about that again. Please, Roland, love. I can’t bear it.’

‘Do you want to run away to the forest again? Because I think there will be a lot of people looking for you wherever you go. We need you, Elodie.’

‘I don’t care about them.’

‘That’s not true.’ He knew her too well. Elodie cared about everyone. She always had done. To the detriment of her own hopes and dreams.

‘I care about you .’

The words were a shock, but this time one that made his heart soar. A dizziness made him blink at her, surprised to hear it stated so boldly. ‘And…and I you. Always.’

‘I don’t want to leave you again.’

‘Do you have a reason to?’

She gave him a stern look. ‘I am your queen, Grandmaster.’

Roland smiled. He couldn’t help himself. It was not an expression that sat particularly comfortably on his stony face, but it felt right there, after so many years. ‘That you are, Elodie. And my love. And the other part of my soul. Is that a reason to go away?’

‘No,’ she replied in a small voice.

‘Is it a reason to stay instead?’ He reached out to cup her face in his palm and she leaned in against him, closing her eyes for a moment, luxuriating in the caress. Her skin was so soft, and warm against the calluses of his fingers, fragile against his strength. And yet he also knew that was an illusion. There was no one stronger than Elodie. She was real and here, and his.

She moved quite suddenly and Roland was unprepared.

This time she kissed him, winding her arms around his neck so she could pull him close and hold him there as if she would never again let him go. Which was exactly where he wanted to be.

‘Then stay with me, El,’ he whispered, his lips still on hers as if he couldn’t bear to be any further away from her. ‘Now and forever.’

‘Roland,’ she told him, her voice gentler than he had ever heard it. ‘We have so much lost time to make up for.’