Page 126 of A War of Three Kings

“You have a plan,” I say, biting my lip. I almost don’t want to know.

“We need to dispel the hysteria that the fae are here to conquer us. Without it, Lord Desmond has nothing.” Prince Niall pauses a moment. “There is a secret library in the palace with ancient texts and Living Memory Scrolls on our joint history with the fae. Thetruthof it, created by humans before and during the Great War. Each has a magical signature declaring its authenticity, and their facts cannot be denied. Both Keira and Diarmuid have seen this hidden collection.”

The people around me suck in sharp, audible breaths. Aldrin gives me a significant look, raising his eyebrows. I shrug anapology. Somehow, I forgot to tell him about this little detail. We haven’t exactly had much free time.

“Why did the royal lines keep these resources hidden?” Lord Bradford cuts in.

“I have witnessed similar Living Memory Scrolls in the fae lands.” I glance at Aldrin. “Our people lived in harmony for centuries before the Great War. We all know the scrolls cannot be altered or falsified. The memory is taken in its truest form.”

Prince Niall rubs at his chin. “I have witnessed many of the Living Memory Scrolls in the palace and read the texts when I was a child, before they put locks on the hidden room. What Keira says is true, and we have hundreds of items to use as proof.” He swallows hard, seemingly steeling his nerves before continuing. “I propose an expedition into the palace to retrieve as many books and scrolls as we can, and to use these to lift the human prejudice toward the fae. The Mothers of Magic could visit every lord, countess and military camp to spread this evidence and give testament to the true state of the North.”

My head hurts, the pain beginning at my jaw and temples, then radiating throughout my entire skull. There are too many moving parts in this war, and it is overwhelming.

Aldrin takes one look at me, then creates an air wield to pour me a cup of water from the jug in the corner of the room and float it over to me. I pluck it out of the air and sip at the cool liquid.

He leans in close and murmurs in my ear, “This could work.”

My father pinches the bridge of his nose. “How do you suppose we retrieve these books and scrolls from the hidden library? We can’t just walk up the front steps into the palace.”

A hint of a smug smile plays on Prince Niall’s lips. “I suggest we enter the library the same way Keira left the palace the night she fled. Use the portals.”

“Impossible!” Lord Tomas bellows. “Everyone knows those portals are broken.”

“They are not. I traveled through them,” I chime in. “They require a lot of raw power, infinitely more than portals of the priestesses’ sanctuary, because the destinations are so far apart.”

“I volunteer to escort a party into the library myself,” the prince says. “I know where the fae texts are and I can redirect any guards we may stumble upon.”

My grandmother narrows her eyes at Prince Niall, examining him with interest, like she has discovered a new toy. She will want those texts for the priestesses.

“And what guarantee do we have that this is not a trap?” she asks.

Prince Niall sighs. “Because I need you as much as you need me. To save my life. To save my brother. I can give you a blood oath if that is what you need.”

“I think King Finan is beyond saving at this point,” Lord Tomas scoffs.

“You need to accept that truth, Prince Niall,” my father urges.

The prince’s mouth opens and closes several times. The blood drains from his face and he closes his eyes for a long moment. My heart sinks as a sickness rises within me. He loves his brother. He always has. It is his first instinct to protect his family, but to save Finan, he must betray him.

I am not the only one who has been gravely wounded by Finan. He has been eating away at his brother for a long time. Niall knows what he needs to do, but cannot say the words.

My father leans forward, putting a hand on Niall’s shoulder and staring into his face. “You must declare yourself king on the grounds that Finan has lost his sanity and is no longer fit to rule. I will pledge my support for you if certain conditions are met.”

Niall nods, then pulls himself together. “It has taken me far too long to find the courage to make the hardest decision of mylife. I will declare myself king when the timing is right. My only condition is that Finan is not killed, if it can be helped. I want him imprisoned in a castle with royal comforts. He is still my brother.”

“That may add complications to your reign,” Lord Bradford says gently. “He could become a rallying point for any future rebellions.”

“I don’t care!” Niall yells, slamming a fist on the table. “This is non-negotiable.”

I catch my father’s eye and mouth a single word. A name. Caitlin’s eyes widen in recognition. He thinks for a heartbeat before acting.

“We have conditions of our own,” he says. “I will pledge the support of the Appleshield Protectorate to your claim, but I ask that you solidify the alliance by a marriage to my youngest daughter, Brianna.”

Niall doesn’t hesitate. “I can gladly agree to that.” The hint of a rosy flush creeps up his neck and across his cheeks. “There will be a royal wedding as soon as I am seated on the throne, if Brianna agrees to it. I will not force a woman to marry me or risk her before my position is established.”

Caitlin snorts. “I don’t think you need to worry about whether she will agree.”

My whole body explodes with light-hearted tingles, and I cannot help the smile of pure joy that creeps across my face. Brianna has been in love with Prince Niall for years and he has always shown tenderness toward her. She has our mother’s charm and political mind and will be brilliant as Strathia’s queen.

---