Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Dravic guided Adira to a chair nearest the hearth and waited until she sat before removing his cloak and dropping it across her lap.
Ernach watched silently, a slight narrowing of his eyes showed he had noticed.
The young prince he had once known would never have considered such a thing. Not because he lacked kindness, but because he had been raised to believe duty came before everything… before everyone.
Yet here he stood, a king who had crossed into forbidden lands, and the first thing he did before questioning a so-called traitor was to make certain the woman beside him was warm and comfortable.
Before Ernach could speak, a familiar voice came from near the hearth.
“I told you he would wise up and come here.”
Dravic turned sharply.
A tiny figure flitted into view, her expression filled with satisfaction.
For a moment, Dravic simply stared, then he scowled. “And here I thought I was finally rid of you.”
Fiora laughed, a bright, tinkling sound that filled the small cottage.
“You missed me. I know you did.” She folded her tiny arms. “You just do not want to admit it.”
Dravic’s brow wrinkled. “I can assure you—”
“You missed me,” Fiora interrupted with a grin.
Adira watched the exchange, her eyes moving between them. She did not understand the words, but she understood the familiarity. The king was different with this tiny creature. Though annoyed, more often than not, he was less guarded.
Dravic turned his attention back to Ernach. “You knew I was coming here.”
Ernach did not deny it. “I had no reason to doubt Fiora when she told me.”
Fiora lifted her chin. “I knew you’d find your way through that snowstorm and figured I’d meet you here.”
“And how did you know that?” Dravic asked.
“Fairies have their ways. Now it is time for you two to talk,” Fiora said, planting herself on the wooden mantel.
Dravic remained standing.
He had entered the land his grandfather had forbidden him to enter. He had listened to rumors that challenged everything he believed, but rumors were not enough.
“I want the truth,” Dravic said. “Not excuses. Not lies meant to protect the dead or condemn them.”
Ernach met his gaze steadily. “I did not betray the crown.”
“Then why did my grandfather order your death?”
A sadness crossed the old man’s face. “Because I disagreed with him.”
Dravic’s brow tightened. “On what?”
“Driochmor. Magic.”
Silence settled over the small cottage.
“Once victory was at hand, King Halric decided to banish magic to Driochmor. He insisted that magic could no longer be trusted. He believed it was a threat to Scotara.” Ernach shook his head slowly. “I believed the opposite.”
Dravic remained silent, listening.
Ernach moved closer to the hearth, his gaze drifting toward the flames. “During the Great War, when our enemies crossed our borders, we were outnumbered. We were losing ground. Many believed Scotara would fall.” His eyes returned to Dravic. “But Driochmor stood with us. They fought beside our warriors. They healed the wounded. They protected our lands when we could not protect ourselves.” Ernach’s voice hardened. “Without them, Scotara would not have survived. We would not have stood so close to victory.”
Dravic continued to listen.
“Your grandfather saw only the danger,” Ernach said, shaking his head lightly. “He could not see what they had done for us. He feared what he could not control.”
“And you challenged him.”
Ernach nodded. “I did.”
“Knowing what would happen?”
Ernach looked at him. “Aye.”
Dravic studied him. “You were always faithful to my grandfather. Why risk everything when you knew what would happen?”
Ernach was silent for a long moment, then he said a single word that caught Dravic off guard.
“Love.”
“Love?” Dravic repeated.
“Aye.” His gaze drifted briefly toward the window, toward the forest beyond. “I loved a woman from Driochmor. She was not what my king believed these people to be. She was not dangerous. She was not something to fear. She was kind, wise, and gifted in ways that made her no less human than you or me.”
Dravic watched him carefully.
“She opened my eyes to a land and a people your grandfather had already judged without ever truly knowing them.” Ernach’s voice softened. “I saw the good in Driochmor because she showed it to me. I saw the beauty of their magic because I saw the heart behind it.” He looked directly at Dravic. “And when King Halric decided that everything connected to magic must be destroyed or driven away, I could not stand silent.”
Dravic’s expression remained guarded. “You knew he would see it as betrayal.”
“Aye. I could see it in his eyes.”
“And you still spoke against him.”
“I had to.” Ernach held his gaze. “Because sometimes loyalty is not agreeing with a king. Sometimes loyalty is having the courage to tell him when he is wrong.” He smiled softly and his eyes grew misty. “I do not regret it. I got to spend twenty wonderful years with my Cara before death took her from me. I moved here, closer to the Caerith border, not long after, knowing the day might come when Driochmor would need defending again.”