Traveling back through the mountain pass into the Northern Vatlands, Lochlan set an urgent pace. If he was eager to reach Iskalt on the trip coming, returning, he was like a man possessed, never letting them make camp for more than a few hours before they moved on.
Brea just hoped her mother would have the heart and the sense to help Lochlan protect his people. It didn’t matter if it led to a war Faolan didn’t want. With the death of an entire Iskalt village, this was about common decency and respect for all life—not just Eldurian life.
“Will you help me convince the queen that Callum needs to be stopped?” Lochlan rode beside her along the Southern road that would lead them into Raudur City in less than an hour.
“I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I will try.”
“She listens to you, Brea. You’re the reason I had help on this trip. She wasn’t going to allow it until you spoke your mind.”
“Hopefully, my mother will see the sense in coming to Iskalt’s aid before it’s too late.” Brea urged her horse to keep up with Lochlan’s. She could just make out the tiered gardens in the fading sunlight. She was eager for a nice hot bath and her own bed, but she imagined they all had a long night ahead of them first.
Lochlan leaped off his horse the moment they passed through the palace gates into the courtyard. “Meet me in the throne room in ten minutes.”
“Which one of us was he talking to?” Brea glanced at Finn, looking exhausted after their mad dash across the Eldur desert.
“Unfortunately, I think he means both of us.” Finn tossed his reins to a servant and followed Lochlan into the palace.
Brea slipped off Sassa’s back, patting her long white mane. “Thanks for the ride, girl. Master Arturo will be happy to have you back.” She handed the reins off to another servant, heading inside the cool interior of the palace, stopping only long enough to splash water on her face at the fountain and take a long gulp of the refreshing basil and berry infused water the servants made ready for visitors to the palace.
“Brea, darling, we were so worried.” Tierney crept up behind her on her way to the throne room.
“I’m sorry, Mom, I just couldn’t let him do this alone.” Brea wiped a hand over her tired eyes. ”I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Tierney stifled a gasp, taking Brea’s hand as she fell in step beside her.
“What?” Brea asked.
“It’s nothing, dear.” Tierney patted her hand. “That was just the first time you’ve called me Mom without forcing it.”
“Oh, well, that’s not nothing then, is it?” Brea smiled at the sweetest of her mothers. It was so easy to love Tierney. Faolan was harder, but Brea suspected that was because they were both so stubborn.
“I fear this report will be worse than the last.” Tierney led Brea into the throne room where Lochlan and Faolan were already at odds with each other. “Oh, dear.” She gasped at the look on Lochlan’s face. “Our poor boy has had a shock, hasn’t he?”
Brea gripped her mother’s hand. “You’ve no idea.”
“Please, your Majesty,” Lochlan said. “If you could have seen it with your own eyes. Helpless children lying dead in the town square, covered in snow. Men and women going about their business one moment and dead the next—the whole village sacrificed for a magical experiment that had no hope of succeeding. It can’t be ignored.”
“I understand your anger and frustration, Lochlan, I do. But this is not a matter for Eldur. If you took a step back from the horror of it all, you would see that is exactly what your uncle wants.”
“That’s what I thought too.” Brea stepped forward. “Callum O’Shea knew his experiment wouldn’t work, but he slaughtered all those people anyway. He wants to lure you into a conflict.”
Lochlan’s face paled at her remarks, like he thought she’d just betrayed him by agreeing with her mother.
Faolan gave her daughter a nod of approval. “We cannot allow such a distraction at this time. We must keep our focus on Regan. Our troops at the Fargelsian border are working to bring the barrier down, and then we are going to bring my daughter home. And I will speak to you later about your disobedience, running off to join the troops like a common woman. It is not for a princess of Eldur to get involved with the dealings of Iskalt.”
“But I am not a princess of Eldur, am I, mother? You’ve made me a princess of Fargelsi, escaped from the realm to come to Eldur’s aid. But according to your politics, why would I get involved in Eldur’s issues with Gelsi if you can’t be bothered to help with Iskalt?”
“Do not twist my words, child.”
“You forget I come from the human world where we help those in need no matter where their loyalties lie. When a disaster happens, it doesn’t matter if they’re American, Chinese, or British. Rich or poor. They’re all people, and when it comes to the loss of life, politics don’t matter. And I’m eighteen. In my world that means I don’t need your permission to make my own decisions.”
“What would you have me do? Divide my army and invade Iskalt and Gelsi at the same time? Abandon my efforts to bring Alona home? Or your friend, Myles? Regan and Callum want to divide us, and so far it’s working.” Faolan stepped down from her throne, taking Lochlan’s hands in hers.
“I know how much this hurts. How you feel torn in two, but one day you will rule Iskalt, of that I have no doubt.” The queen reached for Brea’s hand. “And one day you will rule Eldur. That bright future is the one I fight for every day. You will be the greatest of allies, but we must be strong and stay focused on the direct threat, which is Regan.”
“He will strike again,” Lochlan said. “And next time it will be closer to home. Callum O’Shea will draw you into this conflict. How many lives must be lost for you to see that? Will it take Eldurian spilled blood?”
“That’s not fair, Lochlan. I care for your people, I do, but my priority will always be Eldur first. Once we deal with Regan’s direct threat to Eldur and bring Alona and Myles home, Callum will back down. Let’s cut off the head of the dragon and the rest will fall into place.”
“I cannot wait while more innocent people are slaughtered. I must return to Iskalt.” Lochlan stood with his head held high. “It is time I put my people first the way you have always put Eldur first. I will leave tomorrow.”
“Please stay a few days before you leave us again,” Tierney interjected. “We understand your need to be with your people, Lochlan. You are their rightful ruler, and it was only a matter of time before you were ready to challenge your uncle. We support that.” Tierney met her wife’s dark gaze with one of her own. A battle of wills happened in that single instant, but whatever it was, Tierney won.
“We do support you, Lochlan. But we are sad to see you go. Please, give your troop of volunteers a few days to rest. If they are still willing, they may accompany you into Iskalt. I won’t have you leaving entirely on your own.”
Brea watched the subtle way her parents communicated, and she realized Tierney was the Faolan whisperer. She needed to take lessons from her mom to learn how to communicate with her formidable mother.
“I will go with Lochlan,” Brea announced. “Just long enough to help you gather your countrymen and those who would support your claim for the Iskalt throne. You’re not very good with the talking. I’d like to help you, if you’ll have me.”
“You should stay here where it’s safe,” Lochlan muttered.
“That wasn’t a no, so I’ll take it as a yes.” Brea turned to her parents. “Mothers, I will be careful and will return in a few weeks. I’d just like the opportunity to do what I can to help Lochlan. I could use the time away to wrap my mind around the idea that one day I may rule Eldur. At the moment, that is simply not something I can even consider for my future.”
“I cannot allow you to leave, Brea,” Faolan insisted.
“Good thing I’m not asking.” Brea turned to leave without the queen’s dismissal. It didn’t matter what her mother wanted; Brea refused to let Lochlan walk out that door not knowing he had the assistance he needed to take his throne. If her mother couldn’t give him that, then the only thing Brea knew to do was go with him to help in whatever ways she could.
~~~