Page 55 of Heir to His Court

Human and Fae. Avallonnian Everennesse, and Kenyan. Aerinne, the last Kuthliele of the maternal bloodline, uncuffed Lady of the Lake, and consort to Raniel Threnvanne Sanyelle.

I was all of these things and yet. . . it was still not an answer.

What am I?

Nothing,I thought finally.I am no more and no less than any other thing. I am evolving.

I felt resignation, dissatisfaction, though neither of those emotions were my own.

A weak answer. It must do for now. What do you want?

An easier question.

I had no teeth to grit through the pain, but I recognized my faltering thoughts as some type of nerve response and waited until the wave was over.

Knowledge.The word came to me so easily. Of all the words I could have chosen. Power, love, peace. But I'd chosen knowledge.

Unexpected.

Why?

Why?

Because knowledge was power and safety and I was learning if I wanted to step off the battlefield I needed to bridge the gap between what my mother had taught, what Raniel and Édouard had taught, what life in New York had taught, and all of the things I needed to know that no one had taught me because it had not been a part oftheiragenda.

As long as the only knowledge I held was the knowledge given to me by others, my mind would always be shaped by them. Whether their intentions were for good or for ill, thoughts, and intentions, and actions were formed by the information, understanding, and perception of one's current reality.

So much of that was influenced by Raniel.

Raniel, who’d lived so much longer, knew so much more. I was being thrust into an arena with an Old One and Ancients, and expected to hold my own or perish. I wouldn't survive, and neither would my House. Neither would Avallonne.

If I fell, so would the Lake, and the last of Psion’s power. I was barely beginning to remember what that meant. Frustration surged.

I want knowledge. I want to know what I need to know. I want to know what Idon'tknow I need to know. I want to know the things no one wants me to know.

I want to form my own thoughts and spearhead my own actions.

What will you do with the knowledge?

Protect my people. Protect myself.

From what?

The line of questioning was beginning to irritate me.What do you mean fromwhat? What do we all want protection from? From death, from injury, from pain. From those who would take our will and use it to make theirs manifest.

And if knowledge brings power, how will you use it?

Realms, was this mysterious entity a child?

I will wield it.

You will destroy?

I couldn't frown. I felt like I was frowning though.War is necessary to protect life and property.

War is selfish. War is the ultimate expression of enforcing one's will on another.

And yet, if you are the one being approached by an army, you have the choice to either accept subjugation or fight back. Are you a child?But I relented.If I had power topreventwar, that would be my first choice.

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