Page 113 of Fate and Flame
“Come on.” She held her hand out. “Let’s go wave that flag.”
“You can wave it. I’ll stand beside you.”
“That’s all I ask.”
I spent the afternoon walking through the city. Wren stopped to introduce me to everyone we saw. She knew all their names and I felt as incompetent as ever. But the fae were kind, if not cautious, and I realized that she was right. I needed to do more. I needed to be Fen’s teammate and help him when he struggled. If he was so busy working, I could share that workload.
I made it back to the castle feeling lighter than I had in days. “Thanks for holding my hand,” I told Wren as she began to walk away.
“Anytime. You’re going to be a great queen, Ara. And you’re not alone.”
I headed back to the room to change for dinner, convinced to eat in the hall, even if Fen wasn’t going to join us.
Inok passed me, jerked to a stop, and cleared his throat. “I wondered if I could have a word?”
I’d been leery of him since King Tolero’s death, but I couldn’t deny him. I faced him carefully. “I suppose.”
“I never thanked you. In fact, I think I might have done the opposite.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Tolero,” he mumbled, looking down to the floor. “You . . . eased his suffering, and I was so angry about that. I wanted to be selfish and have that last bit of time with him. But you did the right thing for him.”
I nodded. I really didn’t want to think about those moments. The sound of Tolero’s final breath.“I wouldn’t have done it if he hadn’t asked. If Fen hadn’t given me his blessing.”
“I know.” His sad smile wrenched my heart. “I knew him my whole life, you know. He was already king when I was born.”
“Really? I just assumed you were the same age.”
“Not hardly,” he chuckled. “He would have loved to hear you say that though.”
“Can I ask you a question?” I leaned against the wall.
“Of course.”
“What am I supposed to do? For Fen? He’s drowning in work. The people are getting worried about Autus and I think he’s struggling with his near-death experience.”
He tapped his finger to his lips. “I have an idea.” A smile grew across his face. “Something Tolero would have killed me for.”
“I’m all ears.”
* * *
Later, we stood together in pits on the far side of the city. Kai, Wren, Rhogan and Nadra stood with us. Inok had convinced Fen to make an appearance and check the northerners’ progress as they trained with the southerners. We even had a few sea fae training as well. Inok had sent a messenger to the draconians, and the entire fleet of cetani filled the sky.
Umari sat strong upon her beast and I hoped she had really come to talk some sense into her grandson. But as she landed and kept her eyes trained on me, I understood that was not going to happen. We had invited the devil, and she was not on my team. Maybe Fen’s but not mine.
“I see you’ve left your cave, Grandson,” she said, watching only me.
“We weren’t expecting you, Umari,” he answered.
“I’ve heard word on the wind that you nearly died. I’ve come to see you in the flesh. And to challenge your mate.”
“What?” He jerked.Do not agree to this.
“Having a mate got my daughter killed. I’ll not watch the same thing happen to you.” Her black eyes hadn’t left mine, her stone face hateful.
“So, are we going to fight, then?” I asked, smoothing a wrinkle from my shirt. “I seriously wouldn’t recommend that, but if you insist.”
