Page 60 of A War of Three Kings

He shakes his head, as though to dispel demons. “It happened before we married, while she still lived on her father’s estate. He was a noble minor lord of the North who owed allegiance to my father. A warband of fae stole into our realm through a portal and slaughtered her entire house, dragging some of the women back to their realm. All were killed or taken, except your mother, who hid and witnessed everything. I don’t know if they were high fae or nymphs, but it doesn’t matter.”

I rush to my father’s side. “Did you go after them? Did you bring them back?”

“What do you think?” His fists clench and unclench. “I would do anything for your mother. Even back then, before we married. She was devastated and has never truly recovered.”

“Is that why she cannot handle the sight of blood or loud noises? Why even hearing the guards spar is enough to unsettle her?”

My heart cracks as he nods. My traumatized mother, who always tries so hard to be warm and caring but is too damaged to be anything other than emotionally distant.

It explains why her expression is always tight, like she wears a mask that doesn’t fit her. Why the battles she fights are those of court intrigue and discretion. She never speaks of her family, and I always assumed she grew up in an abusive household.

My father runs the heels of his hands over his eyes. “The fae have touched three generations of our family, and you are the only one who hasn’t been hurt by them. Maybe someday you’ll forgive me for overreacting, especially when yet another fae tried to claim one of my women.”

I stand and sit on the bed beside him. “It is Aldrin you should ask for forgiveness. He is not going away, Father, and he deserves to hear your reasons.” Before he can answer, another thought comes to mind. “If fae hurt my mother, why was she more forgiving than you when Aldrin was in our prisons?”

He sighs. “Because beneath all the rigid control, she is a bleeding heart. There were fae who helped us get her family back. And those who stole them in the first place? Her uncle had hired them to do the job, wiping clean his brother’s line so he could take up his title and lands. And yes, I executed the bastard.”

A silence drags out between us, filled with the distant clanging of guards packing up the camp and barking orders at each other. The activity increases as more soldiers wake and pack the tents.

When Caitlin rouses, she takes one look at my father and me, poring over maps of the North and bickering in hushed tones, then runs out of the tent to vomit. I tuck a water canteen into her hands when she returns and offer her a bowl of cooling porridge.

“We need to appeal to Lord Bradford next.” Caitlin sits heavily at the foldout table, pointing to his seat of Rosehallow City. “If he supports Finan, our retreat to Appleshield will be cut off, along with our line of supplies.”

“It is already decided, Caitlin. Lord Adalwolf has more soldiers and is closer. We appeal to him first.” My father stares her down.

“We will do neither.” I place my hands on the map and lean forward over it. Caitlin and my father turn to me with matching scowls on their faces. “We petition the Countess Lynna first. She has portals in her lands and a healthy respect for the fae. Lynna will be won over simply by the promise of trade with the fae lands. It helps that every woman in her line has taken the pilgrimage, including herself. We gain more powerful support for Aldrin, and we stop getting attacked by closed-minded fools who think they have a right to kill him. Lord Bradford is next. He has always been a merchant at heart. He has the wealth to back our war and the greed to be lured in by a fae alliance.”

My father gives me an approving look. “We will change course. The Countess Lynna first.” He strides from the tent, immediately barking orders at the guards outside.

Caitlin places a hand on my arm. “Find your voice in this war, Keira. Challenge us more often. No one has studied the geopolitics and maps of this kingdom like you have over the last decade.”

Shivers run down my spine. I will fight for my future and my freedom.

Chapter 15

Keira

We ride hard out of Lord Tomas’ lands. Each time I glance back at Aldrin, he is pale-faced with a death grip on his reins, but there is a fire in his eyes when they connect with mine. He cocks a single eyebrow, telling me we have unfinished business. A delightful shiver runs down my spine.

I make sure Aldrin and Silvan are at the head of the train, in a position of honor, as we arrive at the Countess Lynna’s sprawling estate the same day.

Mossmount Pass is located in the only gap in the Mystic Mountains that encircle much of the North, allowing a trade route to the sea. The high-altitude fortress spans the valley between two peaks, and its foundations are vast arches that cross over the road, with massive iron gates ready to be dropped at the first sight of an enemy. The entire mountain pass has scattered watchtowers and gates wherever the path narrows between the peaks.

An invasion by sea is near impossible.

A smile forms on my lips at the sight of a procession of Mothers of Magic. They funnel up the sharp incline of the road and into the fortress, shrouded by sprays of mist kicked up from the hundreds of tiny waterfalls that crash down the faces of the peaks.

The priestesses channel out of another gap in the mountains instead of the main road we are on. Mossmount Pass has a handful of portals that lead to the fae lands, but more importantly, they have a Sanctuary of Magic with portals that connect to others.

My father holds up a hand, and our entire party halts, waiting for the Mothers of Magic to enter first. I squint to make out the front of the line and recognize the High Priestess’ massive elk and the small figure of my grandmother on top of it. The guards bow low to her as she reaches the gate, but she stops to glance back at our party, pausing the entire procession.

“Bring the fae to me,” her voice whispers in my ears, despite the distance between us. The same air wield brings the words to my father and sister.

“Aldrin. Silvan. You have been summoned by the High Priestess.” My father tosses his head back to them. “Join the front of their procession.”

Aldrin folds his arms in front of his chest, the muscles exposed by his rolled-up sleeves bulging. “I’m not falling into another of her traps.”

My mount prances as I pull her out of our neat column to approach Aldrin. “I will go with you.”

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