Page 27 of King

The seer doesn’t flinch as Rue jumps right in her face, growling viciously around her fangs. Rue’s hands are clenched by her sides. She knows better than to mindlessly attack, but she’s still quite intimidating.

“Give us back our son!” she snarls.

“I shall. When the time is right,” the seer replies evenly.

“Fuck you and your cryptic bullshit!” Rue growls. “He’smine!How dare you take him while we slept!”

She steps back and takes a breath. Her calmer tone isn’t any less threatening as she continues with wild eyes. “Bring him back to me, and we’ll leave.”

The elf clasps her hands together and bows her head slightly at Rue. “I apologize, Omega. I didn’t wish to upset you,” she says. “But it must be this way.”

I want to burn a hole in her face, but I can feel an invisible barrier holding back my magic. Vaegon’s spell... The one he cast to prevent me from harming any of his kind. It almost feels like he knew this moment was coming.

“What must be this way?” I demand, giving up on my magic. “And why?”

“You are indeed powerful,” the seer says, turning her attention to me. “Aside from the queen, you’re unmatched by anyone in this realm, even me. But you cannot defeat the queenalone. Your son is the key to her fall.”

“He’s three days old!” Rue snaps. “How can he be the key to anything?”

Tears stream down her beautiful face as she glares helplessly at the seer. I pull her into my arms, hoping to comfort her and remind her she’s not alone.

“You’ll see,” the elf tells her. “You must trust fate.”

“Trustyou, you mean,” Rue scoffs, wrenching free from my arms. “Why?” she yells. “Why should I trust you after what you’ve done to us?”

The seer slowly rises to her feet, forcing Rue to lift her head higher and higher to hold her gaze. “This is bigger than you,” she says firmly. “Your family was chosen, meaning your hearts are worthy. That is the only reason I’m tolerating your disrespect.”

Rue clenches her jaw, holding back her anger. “Please let me have him back. I’ll do whatever you say. He’s so little... He needs his mother.”

“Allina recently had a youngling of her own. She’ll look after Vaegon while someone else cares for her daughter. You are not the only one who will bear the burden of fate’s design.”

“Where?” I demand, pulling Rue back into my arms. “Look after him where?”

“Another realm. They’ll remain there until Vaegon is strong enough to help you. Then, he will return to you.”

My heart sinks down into a familiar pit of rage and shame. “The power I gave him… They want him to grow it,” I mutter, releasing Rue and stepping away. “I did this. I’m so sorry.”

Rue turns to look at me. Her eyes are softer than I’d expected.

“You were protecting him,” she says, pressing her hands against my chest. “You didn’t do this, Durin. Fate and the elves have allied themselves against us. They did it.”

She turns to glare at the seer again. “Which makes no sense, does it?” she asks. “If fate will always play out, why do youthink it needsyouto intervene? Do you really think so highly of yourself?”

The seer remains calm despite Rue’s harsh words. “Seers are not allied with fate. We are its servants, delivering messages to those who need them and ensuring they stay on their correct paths.”

“Why does Vaegon’s path have to be in a completely different realm?” Rue shouts. “What’s wrong with here? No one knows how to find this place.”

“His magic will grow faster there. It is the only way.”

Rue’s anger gives way to her heartbreak. Her shoulders slump, and she whispers at the ground, “Why couldn’t I go with him? He’ll be scared. He’ll think I abandoned him.”

“If you’d gone with him, Durin would have no reason to stay here,” the seer explains. “He would abandon his mission to be with you and your son.” She locks eyes with me and asks, “Am I wrong?”

I don’t answer because I can’t deny it. I was thinking that very thing only minutes ago.

“Vaegon may be the key,” the seer continues, “but Durin’s role in this realm is just as important.”

She surprises me by resting her hand on Rue’s shoulder. “Please, have faith. Vaegon will be safe. If this was done any other way, I couldn’t say the same.”

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