Page 60 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

He escorted us to the ballroom, where a chandelier of bioluminescent flowers hung from the ceiling.

“You should have seen this place before the war,” the satyr said, catching me staring. “The parties would last for days. Creatures from all over the continent and across the sea would come to stand in the presence of our Alder King.” His round face beamed with pride before darkening. “But that was a long time ago. This place has been quiet for centuries except for the occasional overnight. It’s good to have some life back here.”

“What about Tharan? Briar? They never stayed here?”

“Occasionally, but they were born after the good times.”

I eyed the satyr, wondering how old he was. His plump cheeks and rosy demeanor camouflaged his actual age.

“Trinity,” Baylis gasped as she entered the ballroom. “This looks like an enchanted forest.”

I hadn’t noticed the night sky adorning the ceiling and trees lining the walls until now.

“It’s modeled after the Alder Forest in the Woodland Realm.” The satyr ushered us to the table where two place settings sat.

“A lot of fuss for only two guests,” I said. “You really don’t have to do this.”

“Nonsense. As I said, we haven’t had guests in ages, and it’s nice for the staff to feel useful.”

We took our seats at the massive oak table stretching the length of the room. What must it have been like to experience this place full of music and laughter? Taking out the Scepter of the Dead, I called on the Morrigan.

She yawned, stretching her arms high into the sky.

“Hello, Commander.” Recognizing where she was, her blue eyes went wide. “I haven’t been here in an age.” She walked around the room, running her hands over the painted walls. “Oh, this takes me back.”

“So, you attended parties here?”

“Oh yes, Eoghan always threw the most amazing balls. This place was really something then.Iwas really something then. Agoddess to be worshiped.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “It was here I came to love Eoghan, although he never had eyes for me.” She took a shaky breath, and her eyes fell to the floor. “I was always his war partner. He never even kissed me.”

Baylis and I exchanged knowing glances, and she urged me to comfort the goddess.

“I’m sorry, Morrigan.”

She waved me away, plopping down into the chair opposite Baylis.

“There is nothing to be sorry about. You can’t make someone love you.”

I swallowed the memory of the embarrassment I’d brought upon myself, trying to make Gideon love me.

“You have no idea how right you are.”

A line of satyrs set steaming plates of goose and roasted vegetables on the table.

The Morrigan poured herself a glass of wine and downed it, pouring another.

“Anyways… enough about my shit love life. Are you girls ready to see your mother tomorrow?”

“As ready as we can be,” I said, gritting my jaw.

“Well, that will be lovely. Tell the Fates I sayhi.”

“You don’t want to come?”

She shook her head. “No. I never want to go back there again. I never want to kneel in front of those women and offer up my soul.”

An awkward silence fell over the table, and Baylis and I picked at our food.

“Your mother wasn’t bad. But the other two… will be difficult. They hate that they can’t see the future. Decuma sees the past, and Clotho sees the present. Few want their opinion. They are and were jealous of your mother… or at least that’s what the rumors said.”

---