Page 13 of An Honored Vow

I shrugged. I had no idea. I had barely begun to imagine a world where I survived winning the war, let alone had the power to make decisions like that. My entire life was a practice of balancing death, not life. I didn’t know if I was capable of making decisions that allowed people to do anything other than survive.

That’s all I had ever done.

CHAPTERFIVE

“WHO IS THIS?” Gerarda asked in an unrecognizable high pitch as she drummed her fingers in front of Julian’s nose. He giggled, grabbing the short length of her hair and tugging. Gerarda laughed and uncurled his fingers one by one. “That’s quite the grip strength, little one.”

“He does that,” I mumbled.

Gerarda ignored me and stood on her tiptoes, waving her hands in front of her face and making expressions I didn’t even know she was capable of until that very moment.

“Stop talking like that. You’re making the others uncomfortable.”

Elaran raised one manicured brow in the direction of the Halflings who were eating and drinking the supplies Fyrel and Gwyn were passing out.

“Fine.” I crossed my arms. “You’re makingmeuncomfortable.”

Gerarda cleared her throat and rested her hands on the hilt of her blade. “I already sent word to Feron about thewaateyshirattacking the city. He will have everyone convened the moment we arrive in Myrelinth.”

I shook my head. “Aralinth.”

The Halflings deserved a day to celebrate their safe passage to theFaelinthwithout news of awaateyshir’s return darkening that victory.

Gerarda nodded, already pulling the notebook from her saddlebag. “They’ll be waiting for us.”

I stopped. Feron would call the Elders for the meeting. Myrrah wouldn’t know what thewaateyshirwas capable of any more than Gerarda and I, but her experience defending the kingdom as Shield was an invaluable asset. Hopefully, Darythir and Feron could fill in the gaps in our knowledge.

I straightened to my full height, every muscle fiber screeching from fatigue. “Vrail and Syrra should be there.”

Gerarda’s jaw pulsed but she nodded.

“Tell them it has to do with Nikolai.”

Gwyn’s head whipped around. She dropped the waterskin and left it for Fyrel to pick up. “If you’re planning another mission, I want to go.”

I sighed. “One thing at a time, Gwyn. And for now I need you and Fyrel to take the lead bringing the Halflings back to Myrelinth.”

Her red brows lifted underneath her curls. “Why us?”

Fyrel fixed the collar of her tunic and stood straight like an initiate awaiting Hildegard’s orders.

“You both made recent journeys to theFaelinthand have settled well.” I turned to the Halflings. They huddled together in one group, whispering, like they were still hidden in the ground instead of shielded by a glamour. “They need to see that now more than ever.”

Fyrel nodded. “We will get them home safe.”

I turned to Gwyn. She looked less certain. “Make sure they know how to cross through the Singing Woodbeforeyou go into the forest. The other Fae will be meet you along the trail to escort the group through the darkest part of the path.”

Gwyn rolled her eyes. “No sound, no fire.” She elbowed me in the side as I scowled. “I’ll make sure to give the young ones a drop of sleeping draught to get through the wood.”

I looked up at the sky. The guiding star had not yet hit its peak. “If you make haste”—I turned to Gerarda—“you could make the northern portal before dawn.”

The knife Gerarda was flipping through her fingers to entertain Julian froze. “You aren’t coming?”

I shook my head and wrapped my fingers around the small vial from my saddlebag. “No, I need to sleep.” I grabbed the vial of clear liquid. I didn’t have the strength to keep Damien from my mind tonight, even though he hadn’t tried to visit since I had taken hold of the dreamscape for myself. “I’ll fly to Aralinth before dawn.”

Elaran hiked the toddler further up her hip. She gave me a knowing look but didn’t say anything as she and the two young warriors readied the Halflings for their journey.

Gerarda mounted her horse and was gone with a single nod.

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