Page 117 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Ithas been…difficult to relay the dangersSaelynwill face with us in theDimming.Iwill push during this meeting to allow her the choice of if she wants to join us after what she’s seen, but,”—she grabbed my forearm—“promise me you will protect her, even ifIcannot.Evenif every last one of us is down, you will not let theBlightresstake her.”
OnceagainIfocused onSaelyn, the harsh desperation from her mother’s request sending ice through my veins.Saecaught my stare, smiling and giving me a short wave.Shepinched her nose closed and raised a brow toward me.
Iwanted to laugh, but couldn’t seem to, resigning to just a slight nod instead, confirming thatIhad in fact bathed and cleaned up from the battle.Shemust have noticed the fearIcould not hide on my face and said something to excuse herself, walking toward us across the room.
TheBaron’sgrip tightened, andIcovered her hand with my own, now sharing a scar with her daughter. “Iwill defend her until my last breath, and even then,I’msureDeathallows compromises.”
Shegave me a tight smile and nod, letting her hand slip from my arm asSaelynjoined us.
“Hello,Mother.Thevin,” she started, her grin bright and beautiful. “Thisroom is lovely, isn’t it?”Sheglanced around and spoke to her mother, “Iwas just speaking to my uncle about how charming it is, and he had quite the story to tell of the time the both of you stole some of these maps and trekked northward to establish a new city.”
TheBaronhummed a laugh and replied, “Ibelieve we were about seven at the time, so it certainly was not a successful journey.”
Iwatched theBaronspeak to her daughter as if she had not just warned me of what may come to pass.Asif she had not just told me that she expectedIcould be her daughter’s last hope against the torrent of wrath that was theBlightress.
“Itlooks like we’re all here,” theBaronstarted. “Whateveris asked of you in this room,Saelyn, you are the one who will decide your future.Thatfuture may come with risks, and we would understand if?—”
“It’salright,Mother.”Saebrushed a hand down her arm. “Iknow the risks, butIam done hiding from them.”Shesmiled at me, once again stealing a piece of my heart.
TheBarontook a deep breath and nodded, stepping into the middle of the room.
Saeleaned in, sniffing at my clean white shirt. “Muchbetter.”
Hermother’s words still haunted me, and instead of my usual flirtatious reply,IgrippedSae’shand in mine, regardless of the room we were in or what our roles were to be in this war.
Shesqueezed my fingers. “Whatis it?”
“Somethingdoesn’t feel right here,”Iresponded, studying the faces in the room, especially the onesIhad not seen before.
“Iadmit,Idon’t know how this is going to go, butI’llstay here beside you.”Thecorners of her mouth turned upward, andIbit down hard, feeling the solid strength of my teeth, wanting to pull her away from all this discussion of theDimmingand theBlightressand just run through the fields ofFelgrento kiss her in long grass blooming in yellow flowers.
“Wheredid you go just now?” she asked, leaning into my shoulder.
Thedeep blue of her eyes pierced my soul, solidifying that there was only her.Therewas only everythingIwished we could share together, despite the fact that from her existence alone, death and souls siphoned for power haunted the isle since we were mere babes in our mothers’ arms. “Just…”Istarted, reaching out to brush the sharp line of her jaw with the back of my fingers, “a placeIwish we could be.”
Shecaught my hand and didn’t let go, her eyes flashing to my mouth.
“Icall to order the council of theFourand the commanders of theWieldwrynsandRunners.”TheBaron’svoice, slightly amplified, silenced the room.Alleyes of the most important people on the isle turned to her, and she addressed them with her stout bluntness. “TheBlightresshas attempted to steal my daughter once already since we leftFelgren.Shearrived at theSpirelast night to massacre the guests of the party and takeSaelynto her lands, where she would poison her mind over decades and all hope for this isle would be lost to a new, darker future.”
Iquickly glanced around the room, looking for shock and acceptance.Iwas met with mostly tired eyes and folded arms.
TheBaron’sjaw ticked and she swallowed, hesitating on her next words. “BaronRevichis alive.”
Thegasps in the room changed the mood, several commanders turning to each other, several more with deep frowns across their mouths.
“Ihave held this secret for seventeen years.Afinal request from her father before he left to weaken theBlightress’sheart.Hehas been there all this time, stifling her power, allowing us to grow our army until the day we would be ready to embark on her lands and silence her forever.”
Ayoung man stepped forward, oneIdidn’t recognize with bright red curls and freckles across his wide nose. “Wecould have usedBaronRevichthese past years, and yet you let him face her lands alone?Whycouldn’t we send help?Whydoes his presence there diminish her power?”
TheBaronturned to him, her face softening, “Ashton…it is good to see you again.”
Hespoke through his teeth, “Why?BecauseIremind you of my father?Ifit’s him you’re wishing to see,I’llpoint you to his grave.”
Saelooked at me and then back at her mother.Ileaned into her ear to whisper, “CommanderGeyrandwas killed a year ago at a northern battle.Hisson has taken up his duties along with his daughter.”Ipaused as theBaronsaid something softly to the man. “Yourmother had history withCommanderGeyrand.Beforeshe met your father.”
Saesqueezed my hand and nodded, focusing back on her mother.
“Regardlessof what you think,Ashton,Icared for your father.Icare for your family and this fight is for them.”Shewaved a hand around her. “Thisfight is for all of us.TheDimmingcomes due and we need your soldiers in the north for this final push.”
