Page 49 of A Deception of Courts

I took a deep breath in, making sure my answers were in order. I’d had days to contemplate our next steps, and to ensure I had the support of my fellow courts, I needed to be convincing.

“Aldrick must be stopped before he gets his hands on another key.”Before he kills one of us like he has with Peta and takes the key, willingly or by force.“When he left Lockinge, he took some fey he’d imprisoned. What’s clear is that Aldrick will continue to mutate his followers, providing them with powers until he has an army to match ours. But I think he’s hand-picked them for his own benefit. And now he is in the heart of a fey court, he has access to more supplies of fey blood. The murder of Peta and Dai and the lack of the Elmdew power will mean humans can pass into the land freely. He will create his army. I don’t require Gabrial’s ability to know that for a fact. I suggest we fuck up his plans. What we don’t need is an army to deal with. If we stay together, we will be stronger combined than separated. Then, with the help of our own numbers and the Nephilim, we can deal with him once and for all.”

Lyra leaned forwards, lips curling into a smile. “And what do you suggest.”

“We draw him out,” I replied. “Greet him – not with the separated might of our powers – but with the joined force of all of Wychwood. Aldrick had the element of surprise to take down King Elmdew, but that is no longer something he has access to. We know his plans, so we best him at them. But we must stay together, the three of us cannot be apart. Otherwise he will pick us off, one by one.”

“You suggest we abandon our courts?”

I shook my head. “That’s not what I’m saying…”

“Then where do we go?” Lyra asked after sharing a quick glance with Elinor.

I wanted to answer her, but I couldn’t find the words.

“I never imagined a day when we would sit together, discussing the potential of our realms becoming the playground for demons.” Lyra stood up from her chair, gripping the back of it until her knuckles paled. “Yet our skies have already seen the likes of winged monsters, and I fear they are only the beginning.”

“And time isn’t exactly a luxury we have at the moment,” Elinor said, looking between us both. “Especially in my court.”

I deflated before the queens, trying hard not to show it in my posture.

“As much as I recognise the points you make, Robin, I have a family and a court full of innocents to protect. I cannot be seen to leave them and hide. There has to be another way.”

“I agree,” Elinor said. “My borders are flooded with Elmdew fey seeking refuge and protection. Besides the threat of Aldrick taking occupancy as my neighbour, my court hasn’t entirely accepted me as queen yet. Doran’s poison had seeped far inside the council. If I leave now, then they will waste no time jumping in and filling the place I leave behind, regardless of the Oakstorm power I have claimed.”

“Then that leaves us with two options,” I said, bristling at the idea that Elinor was coming up against resistance from the people she’d do anything to protect. “Kill or be killed.”

“What if the keys are destroyed?” Lyra asked.

“The Nephilim have sworn to protect them. It’s not an option.”

Lyra’s gaze narrowed, clearly not believing what I said was right. “I think it is best we invite the Nephilim from their ship and question them directly about the knowledge. Then we can make an informed decision on how we deal with Aldrick.”

“I’ll speak with Rafaela,” I replied, short and cold. If there was ever a time I wanted to shed the skin of a king and pick up a mug of ale, it was now.

“Keep us informed with your progress,” Lyra said, taking her moment to stand. “We shall hold council with the Nephilim before I leave for Cedarfall and return those fey you have freed back to their homes.”

“If they let you leave,” I added. “The Nephilim have become more of my shadow since meeting them.”

“They are welcome to come with me, Robin. But regardless, Iwillbe leaving. We cannot stay here. Our power may be what Aldrick desires, but it is the only play we have to keep our courts safe from him.”

I swallowed the urge to remind Lyra that Peta had the power, and he was dead. Surprise attack or not, Aldrick was powerful. We shouldn’t underestimate him.

“Will you be returning to Imeria?” Elinor asked, her question catching me off guard. I looked at her, searching her azure eyes for a reason she might already know the answer.

“I have decided those fey who wish to stay in Icethorn will be taken to Berrow. They can dwell there for the time being.” The words came out before I could stop them. “Icethorn has been left empty for a long time. Before I know if Imeria and other places are safe, it is best they stay somewhere I can vouch to be free of dangers.”

It was not completely a lie, simply the truth bent. I’d decided, as part of the plan those weeks ago, that if we returned to Wychwood, it would be better to keep the fey in one place. There would be few, certainly not enough to fill an entire court, but regardless, I vowed to protect them. I could do so confidently if they were all together. However, I had no intention of ever returning to Berrow myself. Not with the ghost of memories left behind. Not when Erix’s presence was smeared all across it.

“You have a fortress at your disposal,” Lyra added. “If you wish to keep your people safe, then open your gates and let them fill Imeria’s rooms. Altar knows you have the space.”

I couldn’t form a reply. It jammed in my throat. Lifting the now-cold tea, I took a swig, hoping to help clear it. The silence soon became so taunting I was forced to reply. “I… can’t do that.”

“Don’t be ashamed if you hold little care for Imeria, but as king, it is your rightful home.” Lyra placed a pointed nail on the map, directly over the very place we discussed. “Youmustclaim it. I know Julianne would have dreamed of a day of seeing you, her son, walking the halls.”

Elinor’s eyes bore through me, searching for the reason why I reacted in such a way. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t hide from the truth forever.

Swallowing my guilt, I raised my chin and revealed the truth before it consumed me. “Imeria is not my home. It never was, and now never will be. It was the price I had to pay to even have the pleasure of having this conversation with you.”

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