Chapter 43

CHAPTER 43

WREN

Finn wouldn't even consider it or discuss it. He stalked from the gallery, heading back down the stairs to the door and the outside world, and Wren hastened after him while Hestia remonstrated with Leander. The crown prince was about to lose that crown, and all hope of a future one. He'd seized his chance to kill Finn and almost succeeded again.

No wonder Hestia thought he had to be part of this plot in Pelias, let alone anything happening back in Sidonia.

But if not Leander, then who?

There were not many people who could produce shadow-wrought steel. Perhaps it was old, left over from the last war. Or perhaps Hestia was right and witchkind were somehow involved.

The courtyard outside was deserted, the other Ilanthians having already left as instructed. It seemed they had been eager to follow those orders.

‘Finn, please wait.' Wren hurried after him. His legs were long and his pace was fast, especially when he was upset.

‘For what?'

‘For me?'

That did it. His step faltered and he did stop, looking back at her, his face apologetic. ‘Wren, I…it isn't true. It can't be true. It's a trick or a lie or…or a mistake. She can make mistakes.' He didn't sound convinced.

‘Everyone can,' she told him. Her hand touched his face, trying to comfort him, and he leaned into her touch, his long-lashed eyes flickering closed.

‘If I'm to be king of Ilanthus…what would that mean for us?'

It was the one question she didn't want to think about, the one that had roared through her mind the moment the words were said. How could they be together? How could they have any future at all? How could Finn continue to serve the Aurum and remain himself if he was made king of a country dedicated to the Nox?

Balance, Hestia had said. There was a way through to be found if they could find balance. But giving him up entirely to the darkness wasn't balance at all. How could it be? It would make him a slave. That had always been its plan.

‘I don't know,' she replied, truthfully, and stepped in close, letting his arms come up around her, needing to feel his touch. ‘But you could say no.'

He half laughed, a bitter and slightly twisted sound. ‘I'm not sure it works like that, my love.'

Wren kissed him, pressing her lips softly to his. ‘Really? Because it's the only hope I've got left, in my case.'

Finn returned the kiss with a fire, pulling her to him and devouring her. She returned it full force, needing this, needing him, wanting him to know that she was still his and praying that he was still hers.

If she was queen of Asteroth after Elodie and he was king of Ilanthus…

This was wrong. It was all wrong. It had to be. There was no balance to be had in any of this. It was all or nothing. It wasn't fair.

Reluctantly, Finn pulled away, gazing at her, his eyes so deep and dark they were almost black as well. She could see herself reflected there.

‘Running away and hiding in the forest is starting to sound like a definite plan,' he told her.

‘I would leave with you in a heartbeat.' She would if it would work. And why not? Why shouldn't they? Just go, right now, and never look back. But then the pang of remorse hit her. ‘But…but I need to make sure Elodie is all right first.'

Finn had seen her embrace the darkness and be prepared to use it. She saw that knowledge flicker across his eyes. ‘Is that safe? To go back to the palace? To be so close to the Aurum?'

She let out a long, shaking breath. ‘I have to. And Hestia is right. We need to find out how Sassone got the steel and why he thought he would get away with it.'

‘Then we go back to the palace,' Finn sighed, his expression troubled. ‘And hope for the best.'

‘That is all we can ever hope for.' She glanced at Anselm and Olivier, lingering behind them, on constant guard among the Ilanthians. She didn't blame them. All of them were lucky to still be alive. ‘The sooner we leave the better.'

The thundering clatter of horses' hooves on the cobbles beyond the gate made them all look up to face a new threat. The Knights of the Aurum had arrived, with Roland at their head. The gates were already open so there was nothing the Ilanthians could do to stop them. And it would have ended in blood if they had tried. Gaius and the main force had already gone, leaving Leander and Hestia with a small, largely ceremonial group who wouldn't have stopped Roland.

Especially not with Roland enraged like this. Even Wren could see it.

He pulled his horse to a halt and glowered down at them all.

Without a word spoken, Finn, Anselm and Olivier dropped to their knees, offering up their swords in silence, heads bowed. Hestia and her guards still surrounded Leander as they emerged from the main building and she didn't look in the slightest bit cowed by Roland's presence. But she didn't say anything either.

Which meant it was left to Wren.

‘They helped me. They rescued me and gave me sanctuary.'

Roland stared at her for a long moment, studying her. His face unreadable. Wren didn't like what she saw there, even if she didn't quite know what it was.

Nothing good.

‘Very well,' he said at last, his voice surprisingly calm. ‘Take them all into custody. We can sort this out back at the palace. The Aurum can decide.'

‘You can't do this,' Hestia protested. ‘I'm an ambassador, a diplomat. We were helping her. And you certainly can't take him prisoner. He's a prince of Ilanthus.'

She didn't specify which of the two princes she meant. What would Roland do if he learned of Hestia's offer to Finn? Wren glanced at Anselm and Olivier but they said nothing, for which she was profoundly grateful.

Roland turned his glowering attention to Hestia. The knights behind him bristled, reading his mood and ready to attack. The remaining Ilanthian guards shifted uneasily. They were vastly outnumbered. They were not hardened soldiers but clearly little more than a ceremonial military division. These men had not signed up for any of this. But they were sworn to the crown, and to defend their ambassador. If it came down to it, they would try. And they would fail.

Finn saw it too. ‘Stand down,' he told them in an unwavering voice.

Roland didn't spare them so much as a glance, nor offer Finn any comment regarding the order. All his attention was fixed on the ambassador now.

‘Save your lies, Lady Hestia. The Aurum will demand the truth or burn it from you. I will know how the princess came to be here, and I will know how shadow-wrought steel was used on the person of my queen. You will find I always get answers.'

Wren felt all the blood sliding away from her head, leaving her dizzy and scared. She didn't know this man. Roland had always been terrifying but Roland enraged…Had something else happened to Elodie? He had saved her, hadn't he? He had saved her and carried her to safety like something from one of the old songs but maybe…maybe…

Elodie had to be all right.

‘Wren, come here,' he snapped and held out his hand. She didn't dare disobey this time. He pulled her up onto the horse behind him, away from Finn and the others.

‘What happened?' she asked urgently now she was up close and didn't have to raise her voice.

‘Enough,' Roland said and his tone silenced everyone. ‘The queen will decide all their fates. She is not best pleased.'

Hestia lifted her chin, defiant. ‘She is the queen again, then, your lady? Your witch-queen is recognised once more by the people who would have let her burn?'

Roland narrowed his eyes. ‘She was always our queen.' He gestured to his men. ‘Bring them. All of them.'