Page 147 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
I suck in a breath of surprise.
“Your husband is a greedy bastard, though…” Lady Eilidh suddenly scoffs with disdain. “He took my opponent from me. I was this close to beating my father’s kill count.”
“Mine too.” Aelfric sighs slowly, appearing right behind me.
“I believe we have no casualties in the support line infantry,” Wesley reports stoically. “Your plan has won us the fortress, but if the vampire hadn’t intervened, most of us would not be here alive.”
A part of me dies over his admission. My heart twists with guilt and my body goes numb. I don’t listen as the lords debate about the load of Asterdust possessed by the bandits.
Aelfric notices the changes in me instantly.
“I will escort the queen to the healer’s tent now, my lords,” he says, taking our leave. He pulls me away before anyone can notice the slip in my High Elf façade.
“Rhianelle, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t understand,” I mutter, my voice shaking. “I saw Svenn try to kill you with an axe…”
Aelfric brows wrinkle in confusion. “He wasn’t trying to harm me, Rhianelle.”
The knight takes me by the hand and tows me along the cobblestones, returning us to the courtyard from earlier.He brings me to the body of a dead orc stuck the wall. The spear Svenn threw is lodged the rebel’s throat. I back a step when the creature moves. He is surprisingly still alive, raising his hand slowly, trying to strangle me. The Asterdust corrupts him even in his near-death state. Aelfric ends his suffering with a swift movement of his dagger.
“The vampire was trying to save my life,” Aelfric says into the quiet air. “He knew I would have been able to evade the strike. I am a servant of Tavarra the Traveller after all.”
Despair tears my heart with its sharp claw when I realize my mistake. I drop my head into my hands.
What have I done?
Svenn was saving everyone. I should have had more faith in him. Instead, I buried a dagger in his chest.
“Where is he?” I ask Aelfric, almost shaking him. “Where did you send him?”
“He is with the rest of the captives.” Darstan’s deep voice resounds from behind me. “Your husband wants to see you.”
“Tell me where that is, please,” I plead, ready to sprint home to Svenn. Before I can take another step further, a hand suddenly grasps my arm.
“Wait,” Aelfric says, studying my temple and cheekbone. “You’re injured, Rhianelle.”
I try to wriggle out of his grasp. It’s just a punch from Shade. I’m fine. I don’t think the knight remembers Svenn’s terrible state with arrowheads, weapons, and injuries all over him. “Please Aelfric, Svenn’s wounded too—”
“Garrett is helping him,” Aelfric says more calmly. “You need to get this checked.”
I shake my head, struggling to get free.
Aelfric grasps my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Once the healers clear you, go to your tent. I’ll fetch him straight to you.”
I look to Darstan for help. But his expression turns to stone, agreeing with his fellow knight’s assessment.
“He needs to hear my apology. What if he goes away and never comes back?” I say, my voice trembling.
The rough lines of Aelfric’s face soften. “I’ll make sure he’ll be there in your tent, even if I have to drag him. Have I ever disappointed you?”
I still in his arms. I know my friend only wants what’s best for me.
“Get the Hlaryan elves to look at this. Understand?” he says in an unassailable tone.
The finality in his voice makes me sad. I want to go to Svenn. But there’s no winning against the knight.
I nod reluctantly.
