Page 113 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
“None of them are good husband material.” Jessica sighs wearily. “But they’d certainly make good dinner. I can even save some for supper.”
The governor and his guards scream and scream and scream. I wait for the gods to curse me. I wait for the guilt to prick me. I wait for the shame to swallow me.
None of it comes.
Jessica clicks her jaw and rubs her hands gratefully, the same way I say grace to the gods before a meal. “Rhianelle, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
I makea quick stop at the Wiolant House to meet my uncle. As always, I find him in his study, staring out the window, lost in his reverie. I know he’s not really looking at anything out there. The mask covering the right upper side of his face hardens his face into something stark. My uncle earned that scar from an orc general while he was trying to avenge Aerin. I’ll be facing that kind of ruthless enemy in battle soon.
A sense of pride fills me as I look at the grey armor he adorned, draped with a sash of the proud emerald stag emblem of our house. My awe immediately drains when I see the bottle of vial by the windowsill. The purple elixir has a distinct sweet smell about it.
I stare at Rainer Wiolant in disbelief. “Asterdust is forbidden.”
His silver eyes meet mine—dark, hard, with a hint of remorse. The guilt displayed on his face has nothing to do with him taking the drug. It’s only there because I found out.
“I thought you hated the Elders, but here you are, taking something vile they made…” I can’t find the words. “Look at what it did to the rebel orcs.”
The silence between us turns charged.
“It’s for the pain. The long travels have taken its toll on my body,” he finally says.
“It doesn’t matter…” I shake my head. The Aeonian has decreed that punishment for the drug possession is death. And their word is law.
The Elders have destroyed House Wynnsgraves for it. Generations ago, Aelfric’s noble family owned a flourishing region in the north. Through the deadly rule of the Archon, his entire family was annihilated. The power struggle lasted decades and the fight was brutal.Some of the family members started using Asterdust. The Aeonians pitted them against each other, humiliating, and dismantling them piece by piece until nothing was left but ash.
And now the same thing could be happening to us if the Elders find out about my uncle breaking the law. They only need a reason, a spark to destabilize us. In the past, Rainer would never do anything that could besmirch the name of our noble house, but now…
There’s not enough air in the room for me to breathe.
“I can’t protect you if you’re caught.” I find my voice again, although it’s shakier than I’d like.
“They won’t find out. This is the last vial. After that, no more,” Rainer promises. There’s a note of dismissal in that voice, telling me not to press him further on the matter.
I shove the hurt and worry deep down my heart. Maybe he’s telling the truth. My uncle doesn’t look like he’s sufferingfrom an Asterdust addiction. He can stop whenever he wants to, right? This is Rainer Wiolant after all.
He is wise, brave, and resilient. Those traits paired with his unparalleled strength as a servant of Kvatosh give a lethal combination of a warrior worthy of songs and legends.
And if there’s anyone who can recognize the pitfall and flaw to my strategy, it’s the Silver Stag of the East himself.
I squeeze the parchment in my hand. “I came up with a plan for the battle, Uncle.”
I show him the tactic I came up with last night, keeping my fingers steady. “I’ve divided our small forces into two.”
Rainer’s cool and appraising eyes scan the paper.
“Not bad.” He nods briefly. That’s the closest to an approval I will get from my uncle.
“I’m afraid that I may have spread our army too thin,” I add when he doesn’t follow up with anything else.
“No, it’s a clever choice,” he murmurs wryly. “The elf who crafted the design of Tavan fortress is Dante the Mighty. We won’t be able to break through the walls easily.”
“I was hoping you can pass it as your plan.” I swallow nervously.
Rainer gives me a strange look as he stares at me. I feel nervous under that keen gaze. Before my anxiety can mount any higher, his features soften. “Present this to the council. The warlords would be fools to reject it.”
“I should…?” I give my battle plan another glance. If Rainer says the strategy is sound, then it must be. I’m going to do as he says and show this at a meeting at the war camp tomorrow. I refuse to be seen as weak again. I’ve fought so hard to shed the helpless skin I was forced to wear.Just like Jessica, I’ve molted into a stronger, better me. I see the well of wisdom in Rainer’s eyes and nod. “All right, Uncle.”
“This battle will test your mettle, niece. To see if you are indeed worthy, bearing the same name as your mother.” He moves over to gaze out the massive window.
