I tried not to look surprised. Was the king really apologizing to me?
“Please, I invite all of you to take rooms in the royal residences.” He faced Erwin. “I understand, as Kyrie Spirits, you might wish to share a bedchamber, but propriety urges me to insist you have separate rooms.”
What?
Erwin bowed low. “I would ask for nothing else,” he replied. “I respect Amelissa’s reputation a great deal.” He straightened and I could see his sincerity.
“Good,” the king nodded. “So as to not cause too much distress, I shall arrange for your rooms to be near one another. As long as you vow to not act in anyway which might cause untoward gossip about granddaughter.”
“You have my word.”
What in gods’ names was going on?
I tried to catch Erwin’s gaze, but he continued to carefully avoid me. He was a fool if he thought he could avoid me forever. I would get my answer, even if I had to scratch it out of him with my draekon claws.
King Aquin reached out and grabbed my hand. I pulled my eyes from Erwin with reluctance.
“I look forward to speaking more in the morning.” He kissed my hand in a fatherly way. Then, he released me and retrieved a brass bell I hadn’t noticed from the table next to him. He rang it twice, and a male promptly appeared in the doorway. One look at his ears confirmed he was human.
“Your Majesty?”
“Ronald,” the king addressed the man. “Please escort my granddaughter and her companions to the private apartments in the third corridor. Once they are settled, please see to it that their belongings are retrieved from their ship and brought here.”
The man’s eyes grew wide with shock as he heard how the king addressed me. His attention swung to me for a brief moment before he regained control of his emotions and said, “It will be done, Your Majesty.”
Erwin, Lerick and I followed Ronald out of the sitting room. The king said his goodbyes, revealing he needed to go speak with the kitchen staff about holding a feast in my honor in the coming days. I thanked him awkwardly, not entirely comfortable with the extra attention, but knowing it was part of the deal of revealing my identity.
Ronald swiftly escorted us to our rooms. Lerick and Erwin shared a common sitting area. Their rooms and bathing chambers extended off the main space. I got an entire apartment to myself. Its layout was the same as theirs with two rooms sharing a main room. I chose the bed chamber that shared a wall with Erwin’s. I wasn’t expecting danger in the palace, but if something happened in the middle of the night, I wanted to increase the chance that someone could hear my cries for help.
Ronald excused himself to coordinate the retrieval of our belongings, leaving Lerick, Erwin and I standing in my apartment’s sitting room.
I waited until the sounds of his footsteps faded before I asked, “Will the palace workers realize your sailors are pirates?” Fear for Wynn and the others made my chest tighten.
“No.” Erwin did his best to avoid looking at me even as he answered my question. “My sailors know where they are. They know to be on their best behavior. None will suspect them.”
Good. One less thing to worry about.
I put my hands on my hips and looked between the elves. “So, what do we do now? How do we figure out where Finn is staying?”
“We don’t,” Lerick emphasized. “I will find Min and ask the location of the prince’s rooms. You can’t be seen fraternizing with draekon. People might wonder if your loyalties lie with them, seeing as how you were raised on their continent.”
I chewed my lip. “Would they really think that?” I hadn’t considered what Avelin citizens would make of the fact their long-lost princess’s daughter grew up in enemy territory. I should have foreseen there’d be some suspicion.
“We don’t know,” Erwin said kindly, finally taking the time to meet my eye. “But it is best to not take the chance.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “I will avoid speaking with both Min and Finn in public. But I am going to be there when we meet with him this evening.” I refused to be left out of that discussion. Finn had no reason to trust Erwin or Lerick, but my presence should help with that. Or so I hoped.
“Of course,” Erwin replied. “We will aim to meet him this evening. Until then, I suggest you eat and rest. We are in for a long night.”
19
The halls were quiet. Eerily so. I knew the rest of the palace had gone to bed hours ago, but the lack of any sound unnerved me. The candles had been extinguished, and the majority of the guards’ positions had moved out of the palace walls. They patrolled the entrances and surrounding grounds, but I could not hear their movement through the tightly closed windows and shut doors.
Erwin and I traveled quietly down the hall outside of the royal residences. We each held a chamberstick to guide our path. The wax sizzled as it dripped onto the gold-plated base. The sound seemed to echo in the quiet hall.
King Aquin’s personal guards didn’t spare us a glance, but I wondered if they’d report to their superiors the news of our late-night, romantic stroll.
And that’s exactly what it looked like we were doing.
My arm wrapped in his, Erwin led me through the palace, murmuring details about different pieces of artwork or information about the various rooms we passed. Should we be stopped and asked what we were doing out at such a late hour, a tour of the palace made a great excuse. We would feign an inability to sleep and convey my desire to see the place where my mother had grown up.
But alas, no one was around to ask us any questions. Except the guards. But they wouldn’t speak.
Four separate wings extended off the main rooms of the palace. We walked away from the royal residences in the east wing, making our way to the south wing which housed foreign dignitaries. Lerick had found Min for a brief moment following the court’s dinner, and he’d confirmed that was where Prince Finn was staying.
Nerves fluttered in my belly as I thought about coming face to face with the prince. I hadn’t seen him in weeks. He’d trusted me once. I hoped he would still trust me now.
“What’s wrong?” Erwin asked, feeling the slight tremble in my fingers pressed against his sleeve.
“Nothing,” I breathed. “Just nervous.”
“About getting caught? Don’t worry. Nothing will happen even if we are found wandering this area. Anyone would understand your desire to see the palace.”
I shook my head. “I’m more nervous about speaking with Finn. I pray to the gods he listens to us.”
“We will make him listen.” Erwin said, determined.
“What if he doesn’t trust us?”
“He has no reason not to. His father was the one to break peace negotiations with me and threaten my life. Not me.”
“But didn’t Finn throw you in the dungeon after the first rebel attack in Draek?” It seemed so long ago. I’d been serving drinks out in the castle gardens when I got my first glimpse of elves, flying in strange contraptions, firing powerful bolts down onto the unsuspecting crowd below. No one had known the rebellion included rogue elves, and Prince Finn, who’d been injured during the conflict, had retaliated to the information by throwing Erwin in the dungeons. He hadn’t believed the Avelin ambassador had no knowledge of the attack. Erwin hadn’t been freed until Brion returned to Court.
Brion.
His name warmed my chest while also sending a shiver down my spine. I hadn’t planned on it, but I decided I would ask Finn about his brother. I needed to know if he was okay. No matter how many times I heard he was busy and it was risky for him to communicate with me, I resented the lack of information. It felt… uncaring. And it was a major contradiction to the feelings Brion had sworn he felt for me.
Perhaps those feelings had changed.
Perhaps spending weeks apart had convinced him a relationship with me was a bad idea. I couldn’t blame him if he did. Though, it would definitely break my heart.
“Lissa?”
“Hm?” I turned toward Erwin and
his questioning tone.
He pursed his lips. “Did you hear what I said?”
“No, I’m sorry. I was lost in my thoughts.”
Erwin wasn’t offended, but he did seem wary. “I said we need to keep up the ruse of us being Kyrie Spirits with Prince Finn. At least until we are no longer at the palace. It is one of the reasons Court believes you are who we say.”
That’s right. I’d forgotten to dig for information about the unfamiliar phrase. The way the king and the rest of the palace residents reacted made me curious, to say the least. Erwin had managed to escape my questioning shortly after suggesting I rest for the evening. Days on the sea, fighting off seasickness, had taken its toll. I’d had no trouble falling asleep shortly after my belongings had been delivered to my room.
Now, though, walking together alone in the palace, he wouldn’t be able to escape my questions.
“What exactly does Kyrie Spirits mean?” I watched Erwin carefully, waiting for his reaction.
He tried to hide it, but I saw his throat bob with a thick swallow. “It means we’re connected.”
“Like a family connection?” That would explain why people believed I was Lassandra’s daughter.
He turned his head to look down a hall we passed, buying time before he replied, “Not exactly.”
He wasn’t going to get away that easily. “Then what kind of connection is it?”
He sighed. “Lissa, I really don’t want to get into another argument with you.”
I was confused. “What do you mean?”
He leveled me with a pointed look. “Have you already forgotten about our discussion on the ship? About what I planned to reveal to King Aquin?”
“Of course not,” I stated. “But… you’ve already revealed who I am.” I remained confused. What was he talking about?
Erwin groaned, exasperated with our conversation. “Are you willingly naïve, or do you really not remember?”
I didn’t like being called naïve, but I refused to snap and let my anger cause the discussion to stray away from the topic at hand. “Let’s say I really don’t remember.”
His eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe me. “About the sailors believing we were a couple?”
Oh… that.
Thank the gods for the dim light from the candles. With any luck, the pink in my cheeks went unnoticed.
“Oh. Yes. I remember.” I also remembered the too-affectionate way he’d gazed at me after hitting his head. Honestly, I thought Erwin had decided against telling the king we were a couple after he didn’t say anything in the grand hall.
Then, it hit me. What if he had said we were a couple, but he’d used words I wasn’t familiar with.
“I-is that what Kyrie Spirits means? That we’re… together?”
Gods, I sounded like an inexperienced child. Get a grip, Lissa.
“Yes,” Erwin confirmed, shifting his gaze so it focused on the space ahead.
King Aquin’s sly looks and smiles suddenly made more sense.
“I see.” I really should have seen that one coming.
“Indeed.” Obviously, Erwin was content to let the subject drop. Unfortunately, I had more questions. And I knew I wouldn’t have the chance to ask him again. The discomfort covering his expression told me he’d be avoiding me in the future as much as possible.
“Why use those particular words? Do they mean something specific?” I braced myself, knowing in my gut there was a very particular reason Erwin hadn’t simply claimed we were dating. No, the elven phrase had a specific purpose.
Erwin picked up his pace, but there was no outrunning me. I tugged back on his arm and planted my feet, forcing him to stop or release my arm and leave me on my own.
He stopped.
“What is it?” I whispered, suddenly worried that maybe I really didn’t want to know the answer.
He breathed deeply. His unease intensified. “You must promise not to overreact.”
Well, that wasn’t a strong start.
“I will do my best.” I couldn’t promise more than that.
Erwin accepted my response. “Kyrie Spirits are typically romantic partners, but there is more to it than that.” He dropped his arm, causing mine to fall to my side. He turned so he could look into my face. “Kyrie Spirits, for lack of a better phrase, are kindred spirits. Their powers typically resemble one another, and there is an undeniable link between them. It lets them know where the other is, within reason, and it also permits them to sense their powers. If a Kyrie Spirit’s power is drained or if they are injured, their partner can detect it and lend them help.”
I listened carefully, but only grew more confused with his explanation. “I don’t understand. Why did you need to claim we were Kyrie Spirits?”
Erwin shifted—uncomfortable. “Because I needed to explain how I could sense your powers back in Draek despite the fact your elven abilities are incredibly dormant and subdued.”
“Ooooh,” I dragged out on an exhale.
Duh, Lissa. Gods, was I still tired? I should’ve figured that out.
Tension trailed out of me. “That makes sense.”
Erwin, however, wasn’t relieved. His stance remained rigid and his lips pressed into a hard line.
I frowned. “What is it? Is there more?”
He opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped himself before any sound could pass his lips. He averted his gaze, staring into the dark corner, looking lost in thought.
“Erwin?” I reached out and touched his arm. He flinched. I pulled back with wide eyes.
Immediately, remorse crossed his face. “I’m sorry, Lissa. This is… this is just difficult.”
“Why?” I hated seeing him troubled. It unsettled me more than I thought it would. We were friends. He’d done so much for me. If something was wrong with him, I wanted to know. I might be able to help. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. I hate seeing you look so…” I trailed off, gesturing to him, “troubled.”
Erwin released a chuckle, but it failed to sound amused. “Not as much as I hate seeing you look troubled,” he announced. “I feel the side effects of this connection more keenly than you.”
I heard his words, but it took a second for me to fully understand what he said. “Wait.” I lifted my candle to better illuminate his face. “Are you saying… the connection is real?”
The look he gave me was nothing short of pitying. “No other elf would’ve been able to detect your bloodline, Lissa. None except the king himself.”
His words were like a swift punch to my gut, robbing me of breath.
I stood there, gaping before I sputtered, “H-how could you know that?” I’d been practicing with my elven abilities, so that increased its signature within me. How could Erwin have known no one else could’ve detected me before he did? No one had tried.
Erwin didn’t hesitate. “None of my men could detect your elven traits.” He referenced the other elves that had been sent with him to Draek. “I tasked each of them with searching for your signature, but none could. That’s when I realized there was something else going on which enabled me to sense the truth of your heritage. Once I dug into your past, I learned, exactly, who you were. And I figured out why I was the only one able to sense your power.”
No... It couldn’t be.
I was linked to Brion. I couldn’t also have a connection with Erwin. It wasn’t possible. Was it?
“B-but,” I stopped, willing myself not to stutter. When I was certain I could speak without sounding panicked, I continued, “But what about the gliminee bond?”
It happened so fast I almost missed it, but I saw the hurt flash in Erwin’s eyes. I immediately wished I could take the question back.
“Your bond with Prince Brion is strong,” Erwin said with no inflection. “Its existence is the reason you do not feel our connection like I do.”
My mind raced. I contemplated his explanation over and over, trying to make sense of what I’d learned. Erwin said he could sense my power or if I was in pain.
He claimed he could determine my location, but he never said anything about having feelings for me. Could Kyrie Spirits possibly just be a friendly link between elves?
My inner voice scoffed, writing off that idea as nothing more than wishful thinking.
“I don’t understand,” I murmured, more to myself than to Erwin. How could I have two connections with two completely different males?
Erwin said, just as quietly, “I don’t expect you to.” He ran and hand over his eyes, momentarily shielding them from me as he figured out what to say next.
When he finally lowered his hand, I saw grim determination in a resolute gaze. “Being Kyrie Spirits is not an everyday phenomenon,” he informed me. “In fact, in only ever happens within the strongest elven bloodlines. Some believe it is a way for the Mother to help keep our race powerful. She links souls together to ensure the survival of the elves. So…” he paused, looking like he wished he wasn’t having the conversation, but he didn’t stop, “by admitting our connection, not only does King Aquin believe you have elven blood, but he also knows you are of a powerful bloodline. Take into consideration you resemble your mother enough to be recognizable… and everyone believes you are an elven princess.”
I heard what he said, I truly did. But that didn’t erase the fact I had another link with another person, a link I actually felt. I didn’t think Erwin was lying. In fact, his pained expression revealed he certainly was not. He didn’t want this to be the truth any more than I did, but it was.
Now, I needed to come to terms with the fact I had another life-altering bond to deal with.
The gods only knew how it was going to affect my relationship with Erwin and our time in Avelin.
And to think, I’d thought my life couldn’t get any more complicated.
20
Erwin was the first to regain enough control of his senses to try and end the awkwardness between us. He rolled his shoulders, and it was like he rolled off every ounce of tension. His expression cleared of pain and discomfort, and he held out his arm to me. “Come. We need to get to the prince’s quarters tonight, before he has the chance to do anything stupid tomorrow.”
Freed Page 13
