Page 50 of The Light Falls
I jump up. “Vargas is back? That’s wonderful. Where is he?”
She leans down to stare into my eyes. “Kaius is Vargas.”
My eyes widen. “I knew something weird was going on. That’s why Cormal trusts him. He trusts maybe ten people in all the realms, and I couldn’t figure out why he would trust a Fae guard.” I put a hand on my heart. “I swear I didn’t know. It wasn’t until yesterday that Cormal said he wasn’t the real Kaius, but he wouldn’t explain what he meant. Then I got sidetracked by the coup the Lesser Fae is planning.”
Solandis’ blond eyebrows draw together. “What are you talking about?”
I stare at her in dismay. “How far did you two get in your conversation?”
She plops down and picks up my coffee. After taking a long sip, she stares down into its murky depths. “Not far. I thought he was joking at first. Until he changed forms. Even then, I thought it was an elaborate illusion. The Vargas I know would never let me grieve for so long or make a fool of me. It’s him, though. He convinced me by telling me things only he would know.”
Slamming the cup on the table, she eyes me. “I left him in the middle of a field, hopped around on portals for most of the night, then returned this morning. What else is going on?”
I pick up the cup and motion for her to follow me into the room. Repeating the incantation Cormal said yesterday, I soundproof our conversation, and tell her everything I know.
Her eyes are intent when she asks. “Fisk is involved? Are you sure?”
“Funny. Rivan said the same thing. Who is this guy?”
She blinks. “He’s a very old Fae and something of a myth. Most of them died out long ago, although I’m not sure anything really dies here. Things are reborn all the time.” Waving her hand, she pops up an image of the Fae in question. “Fisk is a cirein-croin.”
A massive blue sea monster. Old and powerful. Lovely. This just gets better and better. “Brixton is back. He’s part of this whole thing, too. Rivan almost lost his mind. Apparently, he thought most of the phoenix dead and the rest scattered to the winds.”
“We’re coming full circle,” Solandis murmurs. “The Fire Fae Rebellion started the first year of Nyssa’s reign.”
“How long did it last?”
“Two hundred years,” she replies. A sad look crosses her face. “But discussions started years before they declared their independence. My father championed the Fire Fae’s cause because he felt all Lesser Fae should have a voice and own land. He envisioned a more enlightened Light Fae Kingdom.”
She almost never speaks of her parents. “Unfortunately, when my parents were killed by the dark Fae, there wasn’t anyone left who believed in his vision. Nyssa didn’t, but even if she did, she wouldn’t have been able to pick up his cause. With so many contenders, the fight for the crown took all her time and energy, then the rebellion.”
This whole thing is bringing up bittersweet memories for her. “You believed in it. Still do. After all, you voted for Camon’s initiative.” I remind her. “Before I forget, let Camon and the council know we’re getting the metals for Meira, but stall them on the weapons.”
Solandis agrees. “With the new women joining the council for the first time today, it should give us a bit of a distraction.” She reaches for my hand. “What are you going to do?”
“I haven’t the first clue, but if I were to follow my gut like Cormal so often suggests… I would give the Lesser Fae the same rights as the rest of the light Fae,” I admit softly. “But it’s easy for me to say. I’m not sure if it’s something we can do. Talk to Kaius. He has a lot more details than I do, including an in-depth knowledge of the map. But don’t let him off the hook. You deserve loads of groveling.”
Her mouth firms. “Where are you going?”
“To train with Madoc,” I call out from the closet. Emerging in workout clothes, I bend down and squeeze her tightly. “If you want me to banish Kaius, just say the word.”
Her eyes turquoise eyes look up at me with gratitude. “Thank you. I might. And don’t worry. We’ll get through this. Together.”
Tears spring to my eyes, and I turn away to hide them. “See you at the council meeting. Wear your armor.”
On the way to the training center, I can’t help but think how lucky I am to have her in my corner. Solandis means everything to me. Her support and love more than makes up for the lack of a mother all these years.
Madoc whisks me away the second I step into the room. When we get to our destination, I can’t see a thing in the pitch-black space, but this time, it doesn’t smell like a dungeon. Instead, I smell dirt, pine, and a delicious dark combination of amber and musk that must be him. The smell makes me tingle all over.
My feet slide along the floor feeling bumps and sharp points. I’m pretty certain we’re outside. Unease and a tinge of fear crawl up my spine to rest at the back of my neck.
An animal snarls nearby. “Am I in the forest?” My heartbeat picks up triple time at the thought. He could leave me here, and nobody would ever find my body.
He places his mouth near my ear. “Does it matter?”
A claw reaches out and swipes my leg, splitting it open.
“Shield!”
