Page 78 of An Honored Vow

I ran a hand over the top of my braid, not caring as long strands fell loose around my face. “But you judge Fyrel as strong enough to handle that choice.”

Feron nodded. “The young are more resilient than we give them credit for.”

“And there is no future where Fyrel is not chasing after Gwyn.” Syrra huffed. “At least this way she will have a better chance at protecting herself.”

I scoffed and stood. “Gerarda will appeal your decision.” I turned to Darythir and Feron.

The old Elf signed something quick and short.

“As is her right,” Feron interpreted in a soft voice. “Though our decision will stand.”

I rubbed my neck, my new gift tingling under my skin, knowing it would soon be unleashed again. “When shall we do it then?”

Darythir held one arm across her chest and slowly lifted the other behind it, her fingers curved into the shape of a circle. I didn’t need Feron to interpret.

Sunrise.

“I know you’re there.” My voice grated against my throat. I didn’t turn toward Gerarda as she stepped in front of the wreckage. I had thought abiding by the council’s decision would be easy, but I hadn’t expected them to nominate every Halfling I considered family tofight alongside me. I needed an outlet to let my anger simmer. The grove outside of Aralinth worked well enough.

Gerarda kicked a branch I had set aflame away from my knees.

“Turn me.” She tucked her hands behind her back and kept her eyes focused on the forest above my head. In that moment, she wasn’t my friend or even my adversary—she was a soldier.

Just like the council had said. A weapon too dangerous to sharpen any more than she already was.

I fell back to the ground and pulled my arm around my earth-stained knees. “That decision isn’t mine to make.”

Gerarda’s jaw pulsed. “The decision to shoot lies with the archer and not the bow.”

I huffed a laugh. “Is that how you trained your Shades? That they were making the decisions instead of following your orders, or Hildegard’s orders, or Aemon’s?”

“No.” Her voice was crisp as it sliced through the air. “My job was to strip them of their will, to make it so they wouldn’t have the slightest hesitation at following a command.”

I swallowed, hearing the disgrace Gerarda carried for herself in her voice. Even now the choices we had to make under Aemon’s rule haunted us. “You did your job well.”

She nodded. “I did, but we both know it wasn’t right.” She finally lowered her gaze to me. Her black eyes smoldering with contempt.

I scraped my finger along the dirt, creating a grooved line between us. “It’s not the same.”

“Fuck you saying it’s not.” Gerarda spun on her left toe and began to pace, her rage boiling off her like steam. “And fuck the council for their decision. We both did what needed to be done to survive, tosaveothers from that wretched island. And we succeeded. Why should I be punished for how I endured it?”

I gritted my teeth. “Had the council been given the chance, I doubt they would’ve bestowed these gifts to me either.” My skin tightened at those words, worried that the magic coursing through Elverath had made a mistake in choosing me.

“But that’s exactly my point.” Gerarda ran a hand over her hair. “They didn’t get a vote.Youwere chosen for this, Keera. The Light Fae chose you to keep their bloodline alive, and then Elverath herself chose you to be the nextniinokwenar. I know you balk at the mention of asavior,but this path has been set in front ofyourfeet. Not the council’s.”

I stood with a fiery rage in my chest. “And what would you have me do? Make you a Fae out of spite? This is the Elvish way. This is how decisions are made.”

Gerarda crossed her arms. “The Elvish way died the day the first Halfling was born.” She took a step closer to me. “Tell me you agree with them. Tell me that you think me unfit, and I will never say another word about it.”

I clenched my jaw but did not open my lips.

She smirked. “I knew it. You were just as surprised by their decision as I was.”

“Gerarda, they have livedlifetimeslonger than you or I.” I took a deep breath. “Perhaps they know something we do not.”

“And maybe they know nothing!” Her voice cracked and echoed through the trees. Her next words were more controlled, but no less fiery. “The council did not start the rebellion. That was you, Riven, and the Guild. The council did not even join our ranks until the return of their precious magic was threatened. They did not live under Aemon.Wedid. And we may not have lived through millennia, but none of them have the blood of the dead and the beaten coursing through their veins. Only the Halflings do.”

Tears welled along my eyes. “And what if you’re wrong? What if Elverath uses my gift to curse you for disobeying their ways? You could spend your life as Riven did—or worse.”

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