Quest of a Warrior (Legends of the Fenian Warriors, Book 1)(8)

His hand shook as he gently touched the glass. “What should I have done? She was the chosen one.” The contact burnt his fingers, and he drew back. And there in the shadows of the trees, he witnessed another young woman, heavily cloaked. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as her hands clawed at the tree.

“Sweet Mother Danu!” he rasped. “What have I done?”

“You saved the wrong lass,” stated the low voice behind Conn.

He turned abruptly. “Father,” he whispered and swallowed. Bowing, he stated in a firm voice, “King Ansgar.”

Both men stood apart, neither reaching out for the other. Time lengthened and Conn stared into eyes that bore the same color as his own. Hair the color of golden light was cropped short, and for the first time, Conn saw silver strands around his father’s temples. Worry infused his spirit. He glanced over his father’s shoulder.

“Your mother will join us shortly. She deemed it would be wise if we met first.”

Exhaling slowly, Conn nodded. “I have been away far too long.”

“Agreed.”

Conn knelt on one knee. “Forgive me, my king.”

After several long moments, his father placed a gentle hand on his head. “Rise, my son.”

Standing slowly, Conn noticed hurt reflected in his father’s eyes. Never before had he witnessed such a display of emotion from him. His father ruled with an iron fist when it came to Conn, but always showed a softer side toward his sister, Abela. Disquiet and guilt settled inside of him. Words failed him.

“Let us move away from this particular event,” uttered his father quietly.

They made their way to an alcove off to the side of the mirrors, and his father motioned for Conn to sit beside him on the marbled bench.

Conn placed his hands on his thighs. The time to speak clearly was now. He had no idea when the council would demand him to return for sentencing. “I understand the key of the realms is now in your possession.”

“Yes. And before you ask the next question, I support you fully with what you did to vanquish the monster, Lachlan, and the Dark One.”

Stunned, Conn turned toward his father. “Truly?”

His father nodded. “It was a destiny…foreseen. Though, I wished you would have sought approval from your king—or the elders.”

“But not when I asked you over a thousand years ago? When the evil threatened that time within the mortal realm? I came to you. I could have stopped the Dark One—”

He held up his hand to stay Conn’s words. “You would not have defeated him. Yes, you’re a Fenian Warrior, but not a seer.”

Conn felt the blood drain from his face. “Death would have come to my brothers? Me?”

Frowning, his father shrugged. “I am not disposed to discuss the threads of fate.”

“But yet, we are here to argue over another’s thread of life.”

“A human life,” snapped the king. “You are a Fenian Warrior—Fae! Do you not think I understand what happened with the life you saved, but ignored the one in shadows?” He jabbed a finger to Conn’s chest. “You had befriended the woman, Dervla. You had feelings, and as such, your mind became clouded, unable to see clearly as a warrior. In the end, you failed to see the one human in need of your services. You sought out the light, but the real beauty was hidden in the shadows near the tree.”

Breathing heavily, Conn tried to keep his voice calm. “Are we not taught to love these humans? Is it not what was spoken to me from the great elders? From the dragons?”

His father’s eyes flashed silver in anger. “Not for a Fenian Warrior! You should have no human friends, save only those from the Brotherhood! Is that not what you trained centuries for? Let me remind you, son, you were the one that argued and presented your case before me. You insisted the Brotherhood was your calling. In the end, I relented. I witnessed your determination and believed this was your true path.” He shook his head. “Unknowingly, you have spent far too long among the humans and have developed their own traits—forgotten what it meant to be a warrior. Indulged in their lifestyle, forsaking your own here. Made rash decisions, which I have overlooked and argued in your favor to the council and elders.”

Conn stood abruptly. His father’s words slashed at his heart, and he had no wish to sit next to the man. “If this human’s life thread had unraveled, why did you not summon me back to the council? A thousand years has passed. Why order me to stand trial now?”

His father sighed heavily and stood. Striding to the mirror, he kept his gaze on the scene. “An error in judgment,” he uttered softly. “It was your first transgression, and the Fae seer alerted me to the situation. She was unable to see the future clearly for this human and the generations that followed. Therefore, I asked—no requested that the knowledge be kept silent.”

Stunned by his father’s declaration, he walked to his side. “You’ve kept this secret hidden? For me?”

The king glanced at him. “For my son.”

“Yet, once the key was used in the great battle with the Dragon Knights, your father had no choice but to stand aside and let the council review your deeds,” stated a soft voice behind him.

Conn turned. Emotions overcame him, and he struggled to get the word out. “Mo…Mother.”

She cupped his cheek, tears streaming down her face. “It is so very good to see you, my son.”