Page 31 of Stone Sentinels

Aima appears particularly nervous until Kolvar looks her way. In general, she seems more on edge than anyone else. “So, this sounds good and all, but we still don’t have a plan for what happens after Theren retreats,ifTheren does retreat. Will Cambion stay with us? Will Theren find a way to tear open The Veil, now that he’s been here already?”

“What are you proposing?” Pyre asks.

“That no matter what happens, I go back with him.” Aima rolls her eyes at the uproar of protests. “Look, Theren disappeared for months until Cambion found him and we still don’t know why. He's making moves, and we'll need someone on the inside. We need someone to watch him.”

I thank whatever gods may be listening for Flumph's inability to shut his mouth. The sprite keeps Morrigan busy with his bickering and the Midnight Queen hears none of our plans. Aima’s offer is sound, if not a bit self-destructive, but none of us argues her logic. Pyre hurries to the second floor and peers through another window. I follow. He looks over his shoulder at me and smiles, with a strange set of green eyes staring back at me. I hate when he uses the spirits to see. Freaks me the fuck out.

“You excited to see a dragon?” he asks.

I run over to the window. Far off in the distance is a blur of movement. It looks small from here, but I know this great beast will be something to remember. “Hide the gold and lock away the virgins,” I start with a sigh. “We’ve got a dragon on the way.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

EILISH

The Veil

Pyre hands me a pile of leather armor and smiles from ear to ear, seeming just as excited about the fight to come as Baron appears to be. I head into the bathing room to dress and find myself tangled in a web of leather straps and belts. Eventually, I get everything situated on my body. The leather gauntlets activate blades along my forearms with a squeeze of my fists. Boots, shin guards, knee padding, steel-boned corset, and a vest fit over my tunic. Atop the vest, I add the iron plates, and then pull the cowl over my head. One last look in the mirror and I step out of the room.

I feel a dozen eyes on me and Pyre nods with approval.

“That armor once belonged to a friend of mine. It was crafted by the ancient elves and I’ve kept it for an occasion like this. It fits you perfectly.” He walks downstairs to speak with Baron once more, leaving me alone with Aima. I can see the stress building beneath her skin and I sit beside her.

“I don’t want to do this, you know?” she asks with a sad smile. “I don’t want to face him. Leaving Theren and banishing the love I feel for him would have been easier if I never had to confront him.”

“I’ll be there with you,” I offer.

Aima holds my hand and looks down at my pale fingers against her tanned skin. I follow her gaze and marvel at our differences. She’s my friend. I know that now. “Are you afraid, Eilish? Not just of this day, but the ones to follow?” Aima asks sullenly. I squeeze her hand and stand up to help her with her much heavier armor.

“Yes, I’m afraid. But I believe it’s that fear that will keep me alive.”

“What makes you think so?”

“I’ve been afraid since I woke up and found myself the property of Anona,” I admit. “Now I know I wasn’t always afraid.Somethingmade me that way. So far, bravery has gotten those I love killed, but being afraid means I’m cautious and mindful of the fact that I could lose someone.”

Aima and I finish our preparations, then descend the stairs and move to stand in front of the door. Pyre and Baron wish us well, and Dragan pulls me in for a kiss I barely have time to register.

“You do whatever it takes to survive,” he says as his eyes bore into mine.

I nod. “I’ll be fine, Dragan.”

He nods and doesn’t say anything more. Aima playfully asks where her farewell kiss is and Kolvar gives her a wet smooch on her cheek, much to her chagrin. Together, we walk side by side out the door.

“Let us raise our glasses to the rise of the Rebel Lords of The Vindication,” Aima whispers. “We shall ride against all who seek to oppress the Realms and fight in the name of those who aspire to bring peace and restoration to our worlds. May we one day pass through the gates of the afterlife and see the light of glory in the aftermath of our sacrifices,” she finishes, giving us both a bit of courage as we face the fact that we’re doing this for a reason far greater than ourselves.

My boots crunch on the cold ground and my eyes never waver from Theren’s. Once again, I can’t deny how unearthly beautiful the Unseelie King truly is. I know that nothing so truly evil could ever be so beautiful. It was the same with Variant. There has to still be light in both of them… somewhere.

We come to a stop four feet away from our enemy and I feel a rush of adrenaline. Aima is careful to keep me in a position where my scent won’t carry so strongly on the wind if my hunger attempts to reach out to Theren or Cambion. I’m grateful for her.

“Eilish,” the Unseelie King greets me.

“Theren,” I respond as we stare at one another. It’s almost as though no one else surrouding us exists. It might as well be just the two of us.

“You are much more beautiful than I remember,” he says with an air of fascination.

“I don’t know you.”

He shakes his head and his eyes narrow on me. “It’s a pity you don’t remember me. After all, I knew you long before you and my brother crossed paths. But that subject is for another day. Today, I’m here to make a simple request that I hope will come to benefit us both.”

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