The Blood Forest (Tree of Ages #3)(72)
Together, they led the four horses down the main road toward the inn.
After the short walk, Kai and Iseult handed their reins to the stableman. Kai held out his hand for Finn’s reins, but she seemed unsure. Clutching Naoki protectively, she turned and looked at her white horse, as if asking for permission. The animal flicked its mane from side to side, and Finn exhaled in relief. She handed her reins to Kai, who then handed them to the stablehand, along with a few coins. Bedelia passed her reins off behind them, remaining silent, as she had the entire ride from the meadow. Kai sensed something burdened her, but did not know her well enough to ask.
Soon enough, they were all inside the warm inn, sharing a table. Naoki had been left to rest in Anna’s rented room, exhausted from her long journey, perhaps longer, than any of them had endured, due to lack of proper care. The dragon seemed more than content to curl up on the floor before the fire, judging by the way she began to snore within a few short moments.
Kai wouldn’t have minded a proper room himself, but there were more pressing matters than rest, hence, his presence in the common room. They’d all had their wounds tended, and now he and Iseult sat on either side of Finn, like bookends sandwiching her to keep her in place. He knew Iseult was likely feeling the same as him, like Finn might suddenly disappear at any moment, or be taken away. They both guarded her with watchful eyes.
Across from them sat Slàine, Maarav, and Ealasaid, with Anna and Sativola positioned at the end of the table. Bedelia sat on her own at the other end. Tavish, Rae, and the other black clad assassins sat at a separate table, conversing quietly amongst themselves. Their presence made Kai uneasy, but he trusted Anna’s judgement. If she felt they were safe from the assassins, then they were.
Slàine cleared her throat, calling the impromptu meeting to order. Kai turned his gaze to her, eager for an explanation.
“We tried to stop this from happening,” she explained, her eyes intent on Iseult, as if he were the only one to whom she owed an explanation. “Not only the bloodshed that occurred outside of this town, but the bloodshed that will likely follow. As I already told Maarav, we wanted Finn not to turn her in for coin, but rather, to stop her from fulfilling her part in an ancient prophecy. We were the ones who put out the original bounty, simply as a means of finding her.” She took a deep breath. “This prophecy, passed down through generations, states that when the seasons change, growing unseasonably cold, magic will return to the land. The Faie will awaken from their long slumber, and three queens will seek the Faie Queen’s Shroud in order to rule them all. Two queens will die. One will live. And the world as we know it, will end.”
Kai shook his head in disbelief. This had all been because of a prophecy? “And you would have killed us all to prevent this prophecy from fulfilling?”
Slàine nodded. “My mother was a seer, as was her mother before her. While I lack such gifts,” the edges of her mouth turned downward bitterly, “I made a vow at my mother’s deathbed that I would continue her work. I would not allow this prophecy to come to pass, even if it meant cutting down everyone who stood in my way.”
Kai could practically feel Finn’s anxiety radiating from her small form. He turned to find her biting her lip, as if preventing the words threatening to escape.
Slàine smirked, seeming to know just what Finn was thinking. “You are one of the three queens. By birthright, you are Queen of the Dair, not just of your tribe, but of all. Oighear the White is Queen of the Aos Sí, and we do not know the name of the third queen, only that she is a magic wielding human.”
Finn nodded, and Kai’s eyes widened. Could it be true?
“Rulers among the Dair are not chosen by blood,” Finn explained, her eyes flicking from Kai, to Iseult, then back to Slàine. “We’re chosen by birth,” she continued. “I was born during a rare alignment in the stars, placing me next in line to rule, but our previous queen, Maeveen, still lived until just before I-” she hesitated. “She was killed,” she explained evenly, “and I was no longer around to take her place.”
More confused than ever, Kai watched as Finn batted at the tears forming in her eyes. Iseult placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She nodded and muttered, “I’m well, do not fret.”
Still reeling from the news, Kai turned to Slàine. “So you went after Finn instead of Oighear, not bothering to figure out the third queen’s identity?”
“We know only that she is human, and will reveal herself in time. That left us with two queens to choose from, and we knew Oighear would be difficult to reach once she resurfaced. Finn was the most practical choice.”
“And you would have killed her,” Iseult stated before Kai could, even though he’d been thinking the same thing. If Slàine wanted to prevent the prophecy at all costs, she would eventually resort to killing the three queens one by one.
Slàine shrugged. “If we had to. As you may recall, the bounty asked for her alive and unharmed. We were willing to negotiate.”
“Hmf,” Iseult replied. “I gather your presence here means you’ve reconsidered the power you hold in this situation?”
She nodded, pushing a stray lock of gray hair behind her ear. “Yes, I know I cannot stop Finnur if she chooses to move forward. I now only hope to convince her of the truth.”
Kai turned his gaze to Finn at the odd elongation of her name.