Page 60 of Soul Forge

“He loves you?” the elf croaked, unease raising the hairs on the back of her neck. The fear in Sypher’s eyes flashed through her mind. The flames in them had guttered out so quickly at the sight of the sixth wielder. “That didn’t look like love to me.”

“What you saw wasguilt. We were together when I was his wielder.” Lillian flipped her hair back over her shoulder, the many small clasps tinkling against one another. “I spent about seventy years bonded with him. When my husband and children died, he was there for me, and then things between us… developed.”

“That doesn’t change the reaction he just had to you,” Reiner argued.

“He left me once my purpose was met. I finally gave myself to him. Afterwards, we fought, and then he disappeared.” She cast her eyes down, lip quivering with emotion. Elda’s skin crawled. “I loved him so much. I never thought he could use me and then leave me like that. I never expected him to do that to me, but I forgave him. He can’t stand being the one responsible for our breakdown, so he acts like this every time he sees me. All I want is to tell him I forgive him so we can continue our lives together.”

“Why would you want to forgive someone who could abandon you like that?” the princess questioned.

“Because I love him.”

She looked down at Elda’s wedding ring again before laying a hand on her shoulder. The elf resisted the urge to recoil. Reiner tightened her fingers around her weapon, shifting one foot back to ready herself for a solid swing.

“Don’t let him do to you what he did to me,” Lillian pleaded, her voice soft. “He took something precious, and then he left. He still blames me whenI’mthe one that was deserted. Be careful.” The fae turned and walked away without another word, leaving Elda staring after her.

The story didn’t sound right. Everything about it made Elda shudder, but those were real tears in Lillian’s eyes. Had he really loved her? He could barely stand being touched, let alonelovingsomeone. It seemed impossible that he could use someone in such a way and then discard them so quickly.

“That woman,” Reiner said slowly, “is insane. I don’t like the fact that Sypher has demon blood, but her? There’s somethingwrongwith her. Don’t let yourself be caught alone with her, Elda."

“I won’t.”

“Good. Let’s run through some more drills until Gira is ready for you.” Elda nodded and settled into her warm-up stances beside the ex-captain, moving through the motions with far more ease than when she’d started. She still slipped up or made the wrong move, but transitioning from one warm-up to the next was becoming more natural.

When Gira came out to train her, she was working through some new techniques to improve her balance with Reiner. It was hard to focus with Lillian’s warning repeating in her thoughts.

Her story didn’t make sense. If they really had an argument, why would Sypher react so viscerally? He faced down hordes of demons on a regular basis without flinching. Why was this fae woman, with her delicate bone structure and perfect features, able to frighten him? Something was off, and it consumed herthoughts so much she didn’t realise Gira had joined them until he was next to her.

“Your Grace,” he greeted, making her jump. “If now isn’t a good time, we can do this tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’m just confused. I could do with something to distract me from... whatever that was.” She forced her features into a smile. “Sypher tells me you’re going to help me speak with Irileth?”

“I will try.” The shifter paused. “You need to be calm and clear-minded. The first connection is the hardest.”

“Irileth has visited me before if that helps.”

His thick brows rose. “She has? Beyond Sypher introducing you?”

“Yes. She walked me to my wedding banquet when he stormed off.”

“He came back to find her dumping a tankard of ale over one of her suitors,” Reiner added, shaking her head, but Elda saw the corners of her mouth tilt upwards.

Gira stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Hmm. Can you try bringing her here?”

Elda nodded and closed her eyes, thinking of Irileth in her physical form. She imagined the misty white dress billowing around her icy calves when she bent to stroke the petals of one of the lush pink flowers. A thread tugged in her chest, silvery and translucent, stretching out to bind her to a second, far more powerful soul.

“You called?” The princess opened her eyes to see Irileth waiting expectantly in front of them, hands resting on her hips. She was smiling, but there was something off about it that made Elda’s heart beat a little harder.

“Welcome,” the older wielder greeted her. “I didn’t realise you and the princess already had such a strong connection.”

“Gira, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Irileth’s glowing eyes crinkled at the corners. “Aetheria has told me much about you.”

“I’m sure she has,” he smiled. “You already seem comfortable with communicating with one another. What do you need my help with?”

The ice maiden tapped one slender finger against her chin. “I need to bring Elda to my realm.”

“What does that mean?” Reiner asked, frowning.

“I can visit this world, but she can’t visit mine,” Irileth explained. “I know Gira mastered the trick quickly, and I was hoping he might help us master it, too.”

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