Chapter 49

Ruined Tala knew what came next and dreaded it. Drae’Qu… She’s going to ruin everything.

Tala’s chest tightened, and she felt like she was falling. She took Karn’s hand in hers and held it firm against her heart. As Drae’Qu spoke, she watched Karn’s knuckles turned pink and white in her grip.

“For many generations, the mages from the northern mountains have labored to conquer Illyia.”

I can’t breathe. Tala gasped. I-I’m drowning. Again…

“Those mages,” Karn groaned. “I hate them.”

“It seems that you and the warlord Naraboo have much more in common then we imagined.” When Drae’Qu said this, her eyes shifted to Tala.

“What?” Karn looked puzzled as he looked to Tala. “What’s she saying, Tala?”

Tala did not answer; she knew it was not her turn to speak.

“What I am saying is that you have been the mages’ pawn for several months now.” Drae’Qu’s voice sliced through the silence.

“You lie.”

“I speak the truth. Only the truth.” The fairy crossed her arms. “It is you who exist as a lie, Nathan.”

Tala gasped for air; the overload of emotions made her choke. She had not felt like this in years. With a tear in her eye and a tiny frown on her face, she mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

“No. This cannot be true.”

Drae’Qu emitted a small pulse of light, which pulled their attention back to her. “Do you remember Margeaux?” she asked.

Karn scowled. “The dream… How do you know about that?”

“Not a dream—a wife, Nathan. Margeaux belongs to your true past.”

“Wait. I don’t understand. What does this mean?” Karn said to Tala.

Tala closed her eyes and tried to escape the moment. She’s going to show him, and he’s not going to understand. She’s ruining everything.

“I can show you your past, help you understand your present, and even prepare you for your future. First, I need two things from you.”

“What do you need?”

Tala wanted to speak, but she knew she couldn’t. She had made promises that she could not break. No, Karn. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

“The first one will be far easier than the second,” Drae’Qu teased as she flew off toward the center of the lake.

Karn had lost his patience. “Enough riddles!”

“I need your allegiance and your trust,” came Drae’Qu’s small voice from across the water; she sounded as accustomed to command as the Duke of Kel Tora.

Once again, Karn looked to Tala for help, and this time she answered coldly, “You can trust her.”

“Fine. My trust? You have it. My allegiance, though? Explain to whom.”

“To the goddess: Mother Nature. Promise you will fight against evil as long as you live.”

“I’m a soldier of honor. I have always fought against evil, and I’ll continue to do so until the moment I die.”

Tala hung her head and released Karn’s hand. She sighed. This could have ended differently.

“Good. Come closer to the water,” Drae’Qu said as she waved him forward.

As Karn moved toward the shore, a chill crept across Tala’s back. She staggered back a step and wrapped her arms around herself.

I never should’ve brought you here… was all she thought.