Page 59 of Soul Forge

“It’s not for us to discuss,” the shifter answered, glaring at his unwelcome guest. “I told you tostay inside, Lillian.” The name sent a jolt of recognition through her.

“Wait, Lillian, the sixth wielder?” Elda asked. The fae nodded. “Is Arden here too?”

“No. Last we heard, Arden was in Bratus,” Gira said, rubbing a hand across his beard in a gesture Elda recognised from her father when he was angry. Reiner studied the sixth wielder with unbridled distrust, hands loose at her sides. Her fingers twitched towards the curved knife sheathed at her hip.

“Are you the wielder Sypher organised to protect the outlands in his absence?” Elda probed, thinking of Edward in his tavern and the children running to their schoolhouse. If Sypher’s job was to defend the outlands, and the person covering for him haddeserted her post, who would help when the monsters came? “Who’s defending them from the demons?”

“Saeryn sent soldiers after your selection was announced,” Lillian shrugged, one hand waving delicately to dismiss her concerns. “It’s fine.”

“What good are human soldiers against Behemoths?” Reiner snapped.

“You should be out there with them,” Gira scolded. “You’re only here to speak with Sypher.”

“Of course I am,” she admitted with a casual smile. “I’m sick of him running away. It’s time we talked about what happened between us.” Elda felt her stomach knot at the inflection behind Lillian’s comment. Something akin to protectiveness shot through her at the memory of Sypher’s fear.

“No way,” Julian cut in, his glare hot enough to melt steel. “Did you see what you just did to him? The best thing you can do is leave.”

“He can’t run away forever,” Lillian decided, rolling her eyes. “We need to talk through our argument eventually. How else can we move forward?”

“You and the saviour can discuss your relationship issues when you’re not on the job,” Reiner ground out, her hand closing around the hilt of that knife. “Your first duty is to the people.”

“My duty hasalwaysbeen to the people, valkyrie,” the sixth wielder replied haughtily. “It’s time I paid some attention to my heart. I won’t let a simple argument break it into pieces.”

Julian ground his teeth and stormed back to Nox, unable to come up with a civilised answer.

“You know it’s more than that,” Gira muttered. “So much more.”

“It could be less if he’d just talk to me,” the fae pouted.

“If you think you’re getting within ten feet of him again, you’re sorely mistaken,” Reiner threatened. “His new charge is theprincess of Eden, and I won’t have you distracting him when it could cost her life.”

A growl rumbled through Gira’s chest when Lillian went to grab for her katana, pausing her hand before she could make a stupid decision. When he was sure they weren’t about to gut one another, he turned to Elda.

“Forgive me, Princess. I’m happy to begin your training today, but I’ll need a little time to prepare. Will you be alright for an hour or so?” Elda gave him an uncertain smile and nodded. “Julian, Rukya, the stables are this way.”

“I’ll take your Pegasus,” Julian offered, his silver eyes darting back to Elda. “You should stay here with your princess.”

Reiner nodded, and the pair disappeared further into the villa grounds with Nox and Atlas, leaving Elda with her and the fae. The valkyrie made a point of balancing her wicked mace across her shoulders, letting the sun catch in the spikes. Undisturbed, the previous wielder looked the princess up and down. Elda shifted her weight awkwardly, unsure of how to react to her scrutiny.

“You’re shorter than I expected,” Lillian sniffed eventually. “A lot shorter.”

The elf blinked. “Sorry to disappoint?”

Those violet eyes flickered down to the wedding ring glinting in the sunlight, and Elda’s hand crept to the hilt of Sypher’s dagger at her hip.

“Isn’t a married princess usually elevated to being a queen?”

“Only if her husband is already a king,” Reiner cut in. “Which the Soul Forge is not.”

Lillian’s eyes widened. “Sypheris your husband?”

“Yes,” Elda nodded. “He proposed to stop me being sent to Falkryn with Lord Horthan.”

“Ofcourse. I didn’t think it would be for love.” Lillian nodded, smiling brightly. “I suppose I can forgive him for it since the marriage is obviously fake. You’ll divorce soon enough.”

“That sounds like the words of a bitter woman,” Reiner remarked, cocking her head.

The fae laughed, the sound a tinkle of bells on the wind. “No bitterness here. You should know the truth, though, Princess. Sypher is mine.” The way she said ‘mine’ made Elda bristle. “I’d naturally be upset that he married someone else when he’s meant to love me.”

---