Page 93 of A Crown of Darkness

Wren stirred and opened her eyes. Slowly Roland let out the breath he had been holding, the one threatening to make his lungs burst.

His daughter’s eyes were no longer black and endless, no longer the darker mirror of his. They were green, and bright, and lit from within like sunlight streaming through new leaves in the forest.

‘Elodie?’ Wren murmured and held her even tighter. ‘Don’t let go, not yet. Please.’

‘Never, my love. Never.’

‘Where’s Finn?’

‘Here!’ The word was pulled out of him as if by raw need. He reached out a shaking hand to take hers, pulled her fingers to his lips and kissed them.

‘And Roland?’ Wren asked. With her attention turned on him, Roland felt a world of love rising inside him. His daughter, no matter what had made her or why, no matter what she had become. She was his. Even if he had to share her with powers beyond his understanding.

‘I’m here. No harm will come to you on my watch.’

Wren smiled. ‘Thank you, Grandmaster…Father…’

Roland smiled. When he looked for the strange witchkind children who were not children at all, they had gone again, as silently as they had come.

CHAPTER 55

ROLAND

Finn took command of the forces of Ilanthus, ordering them out of the city and back to their ships. Frankly, Roland thought they were happy to go. There had been some delight at the prospect of war with Asteroth but that was gone now, with Leander dead along with many of their fellow soldiers. Reality was a harsh teacher. Gaius had not had the stomach for it to begin with, he confessed to Roland as they drew up the terms of a terrible stalemate they would now try to forge into a peace.

Laurence Rayden refused to leave Finn’s side and Finn seemed to be fine with that, loath to let the boy out of his sight. He’d failed him too often, he said when Roland asked. Instead, Finn turned to the general of the Ilanthian forces.

‘He’s my only blood relative,’ he told them as if that was that. Gaius nodded solemnly. ‘Or will you take charge of him now, general? You have been as a father to him all these years.’

Gaius looked concerned and not a little ashamed. ‘Not much of a father given what happened. Will you not bring him back to Sidonia with you, your majesty? He is, as you say, your blood.’

Finn scowled, and Roland realised that he’d instantly thought of sacrifice, of Laurence being used as he himself wouldonce have been used had things not worked out differently. ‘I have no need of more bloodshed if that’s your implication.’

Gaius gave him a level look and Roland had to suppress an urge to smile. This was not a man to be cowed. ‘Then he is also your responsibility, as your only remaining family, your majesty. And you will be bringing him back to Sidonia with you.’ It was not a question this time. He was making a deliberate point.

At the sound of that, Finn blanched. ‘Back to Sidonia?’

‘Your kingdom needs you.’

It seemed Finn had forgotten what killing Leander meant for him. Or just wished to forget, perhaps. Roland waited, ready to help if necessary. Finn was still like his own son.

As Gaius had explained it, Finn had been named heir on his return, lost that title when it appeared he’d killed his father thanks to Leander, but now, all of Ilanthus would bow before him.

Had it not occurred to him that he had defeated his brother in single combat, which was a time-honoured way of Ilanthian succession, and that had confirmed what Hestia had foretold? That Finn would be king of Ilanthus after all? Whether he wanted it or not.

‘Very well,’ he said at last, his tone more sober, perhaps a little defeated. ‘Make ready to depart. I…I need to talk to Wren.’

The weight of those words was not lost on Roland. But what choice was there? Finn could not stay here, and without a king, Ilanthus would fall apart. The whole society revolved around someone of the line of Sidon wearing its crown. Finn and the Rayden boy were the only ones left.

‘Roland?’ Finn said at last and then seemed lost for words.

‘I know,’ he said. Because Finn needed to understand that someone still supported him as simply him. ‘And I’m always here.’

It all took far too long to clear the Ilanthians from the city, and as Roland took in the full extent of the destruction, he realised that it was going to take an age to repair everything. As much as Ilanthus needed her king, Asteroth needed her queen.

He went to find Elodie.

The gates of the Sanctum were closed tight. Roland knocked as politely as he could in his impatience. Maryn opened them and gave him that familiar stubborn glare.

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