Page 133 of Lady of the Lake

“My wife is right, as always,” Talan says. “There’s already a famine in Brocéliende. Do you want to cast this land into pure chaos? For what? The only thing anyone would rule by the end is a smoldering ruin.”

“At least we’ll be free,” Brados says.

“That’s a lofty concept, but it’s not enough. The only way forward is to create a new method of ruling that would satisfy everybody.”

No one on the hill seems delighted with the idea.

“Perhaps you’re just suggesting that to postpone the inevitable,” Brados says. “Your family should pay for its crimes.”

“King Auberon is gone,” Talan says. “Dead, probably. If you happened to look up, you saw it yourself.”

Brados arches an eyebrow. “And what about his son?”

A silence stretches on the hill.

“If this is what is required to bring peace to the realm, I’m willing to surrender myself,” Talan says. He unsheathes his sword and tosses it into the grass. “Just as long as no one else gets hurt.”

Brados urges his horse a bit forward. “It’s a start. Once we sever your head from your body, we’ll discuss this new republic among ourselves.”

A vicious part of me is starting to think about the dragons again. But I’ll have to handle this on my own. After all, I knew this might happen, and I’ve come prepared.

Before anyone takes another step, I pull out a small vial I kept tucked in my pocket. “Stop right there,” I shout, holding up the vial.

Brados falls silent, staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Nia, what are you doing?” Talan says.

I don’t look at him. “As I said before, the prince and I traveled to Avalon Tower, the castle of the Pendragons, to prevent them from spreading a deadly plague. Just like the one they spread on your crops fifteen years ago, except this one is designed to kill the Fey. I destroyed the plague, except for one flask, and that I kept for”—I want to sayinsurance, but there’s no word for it in Fey—“forsecurity.”

Nivene’s eyes widen in shock and horror. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Talan cuts me a sharp look. “Perhaps I was being too hasty when I said my wife was always right.”

“I won’t let them hang you,” I tell him, meeting his eyes. “And I will not let them burn this realm to the ground. Stay away!” I raise the flask higher as Ker-Ys moves his horse closer to mine. “Everyone stay the fuck away. If this shatters, wealldie. Just ask Talan and Nivene.”

Brados rides over to Nivene, and they talk quietly with each other.

“Nia, give me the flask,” Talan says his dark eyes turning glacial. “I willnotlet this happen to my people.”

I inch my horse away and ride closer to Brados. “I’m not fucking around, Brados.”

“What do you want?” he hisses.

“Peace. Justice. You will convene with the nobles and come up with a way to rule this land that satisfies everyone. It will be a giant pain in the ass, but it’s better than everyone dying.”

“I want them all dead,” Brados snarls.

An idea starts to bloom in my thoughts. “Avalon!” I shout. “I can get them all into Avalon, their old home.No oneis going to kill my husband, and if anyone touches a hair on his head, I will happily kill you all.”

“You won’t do it,” Aedan says.

“Do you really know me, Lord Aedan?” I meet his eyes, then turn my horse and meet the eyes of each and every one of the men and women on the hill. “Doanyof you really know me? I am Nia, daughter of Mordred Kingslayer, granddaughter of Morgan le Fey, and I am done being nice and telling people what they want to hear. I’m willing to let the world burn, so don’t fucking try me. Not today.” It comes out as a low growl.

The wind howls as they all stare at me.

“Take it easy, Nia,” Nivene mutters.

“So, I’m supposed to leave my palace here?” Aedan shouts. “And how will I be compensated? You can’t have my palace withoutpayingme for it.”

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