Page 46 of A War of Three Kings

I place a hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry.”

He closes his eyes for a long moment. “Go, Keira. Find me later.”

I nod, then slide to the ground. Regret hits me so hard it turns my legs weak. Then I am on my own mount, racing past the troops to the front of the line with Caitlin.

Chapter 11

Aldrin

Itry not to choke on my bitterness as we arrive at Riversdale Watch. All Keira and I needed was a dozen more minutes and we could have cleared the betrayal and hurt between us.

The agony on her face told me almost everything I needed to know, but I must hear it from her lips.

The small fortress sits on a hill overlooking a wide river that is a major trade route from the South into the North. It is a strategic location to hold for war.

The sandstone castle is of pure military design, with only high slit windows and no embellishments. It has generous ramparts that face the water, filled with catapults and archers’ stations. Its foundations reach the river, where soldiers can stream out of their barracks and straight into the harbor of warships that wait at the ready. This defensive position ensures no invaders can travel far by water.

The minor lord meets us outside the entrance to his keep, flanked on either side by soldiers. He is a short, pudgy man, with ruddy cheeks and thinning black hair.

By the time we reach them, I am itching to get off this damned horse. My entire body aches. Pain shoots up my lower back. My legs feel bowed, and my ass is numb. I miss the feelof Keira pressed up against me in the saddle, my arms wrapped around her soft, curvy body and her ass writhing against me each time she moved.

Edmund dismounts gracefully and approaches the minor lord, speaking a few words, then pulling the man into an embrace. He will be laying the charm on thick during these visits. I’ll have to make sure I don’t vomit.

As the lords talk, Keira and Caitlin join them. Servants lead Edmund’s guards to the barracks and stewards take their horses.All avoid making eye contact with us fae, only collecting our mounts after we have stepped a distance away from them.

Edmund leads the lord of the river pass toward Silvan and myself.

“You want to work with the fae, Edmund? I don’t know about this,” the minor lord says as he approaches, looking at me as though I am some animal too stupid to understand him.

“Aldrin, Silvan, meet Lord Tomas, protector of the river pass.” Edmund’s eyes drag from us to the little lord. “Both men here are from the fae Spring Court. Keira made their acquaintance during her pilgrimage. I am told they protected her on multiple occasions. They are our allies and will be treated with as much respect.” Edmund gives Tomas a hard stare, but I’m too busy trying not to choke over his hypocrisy.

I give a simple nod to the lord, and his eyes widen before darting to Edmund. “Fae mercenaries? I’mnotsure about this.”

“Wait until you see what they can do, Tomas.” Edmund sighs and puts a hand on Lord Tomas’ shoulder, leading him toward the river. He glances at me. “A demonstration, if you will, Aldrin.”

I stand there, glaring at the two lords as they turn their backs on me and walk away, contemplating telling Edmund where to go instead.

Keira slips in between Silvan and myself. When she tentatively places a cold hand on my exposed arm, I wrap my own on top of it. The simple touch seems to bolster her.

“Apparently, you’re my big fae protectors. Excuse Lord Tomas’ bad manners. He is a scared little mouse of a man and likes to step on other people to make himself feel big.”She gives us a vicious smile that makes my stomach tumble. “Let’s give him a terrifying demonstration, shall we?”

She takes each of us by the elbow and leads us toward the river. Caitlin falls in on Silvan’s other side and they discuss the military benefits of this fortress.

I lean down and murmur in Keira’s ear, “The moment I get you alone, we are going to talk.” She stiffens, but I don’t let up. “Are you still angry with me? Still having trust issues?”

Keira lets out a long breath. “I’m working on it.” She peers up at me with a look that should melt my heart. “You?”

“I can’t work on it until we have a proper damned conversation.”

Keira flinches at my words and her eyes become clouded. On cue, Edmund turns on the path ahead of us and gives me a glowering stare for exchanging a few words with his daughter. Lord Tomas sees the discord between us, and a sly smile grows on his lips.

Dry grass and twigs crunch under my boots as we reach the river’s edge. The bank is cleared of vegetation, but immense trees as tall as the fortress flank the space much further back.

Edmund turns to me and Silvan. “Show Lord Tomas how your magic would help during a battle.” I give him a dark, simmering look. He huffs out a breath and looks to the sky as though asking for divine intervention. “Please,” he grinds out.

I glance at the minor lord. “You would like to see my magic, would you?”

With a lazy flick of my wrist, I find the roots of those immense trees behind us and feed them into the river. I thrust my earth magic into the vegetation until they are as thick as a man’s torso, strong and woody, with points as sharp as thorns. Then I tear the roots up through the water’s surface with such force they could pierce through the bowels of a boat.Great waves of displaced water crash away from them.

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