Page 66 of Vathia
Aemon feels my confusion and presses against my mind. “It’s his way of saying he will fight for you. If you accept, youneed to walk over to him. Take his sword and cut him with it to show that he will bleed for you if need be. It’s usually reserved for the Queen’s personal army. It would move him up in rank.”
“He would be one of my knights?” It takes every effort to keep my face blank as I pretend to appraise the male in front of me.
“No, just that you would accept him to fight in your army. The army of Spirrix, the Royal Province of Damorleia. It’s a great honor to be chosen.”
I feel the tension brewing in the air as the wait goes on. “If I say no?”
Aemon brushes a tendril along the small gap at the nape of my neck. “They might see it as disrespect, considering the Queen’s army is all but gone. Scattered to the wind if anyone is left after the late Queen’s downfall. If you say no, it is usually customary for the Queen to kill the fae in question.”
My chest becomes heavy with emotions as I make my decision. The bottom of my boots feel like they’re filled with lead as I move towards the male who doubted my identity and release the daggers so that he, too, can kneel. My hand grasps the hilt of the sword and I take a moment to admire the simple silver blade.
“Is there anything I need to say?”
I feel his pride pulse though our mate bond. “Just speak from the heart.”
My palm squeezes the hilt. “Rise…” It’s then I realize I don’t even know the male’s name.
“Captain Theo Numix,” he supplies, staying on his knees.
“Rise, Captain Theo Numix.” He does as I ask, and I see the steadfast determination in his gaze. “As you can assume, this is all new to me. You would be the first warrior I personally accept to join the true army of Damorleia, to fight for your realm, for me as your Queen. But before I do, I want to knowwhy I should, when only moments ago you were set against not believing the words from your general and my mates.”
A few murmurs go up around the room at declaring the heirs of the provinces as my mates, but I ignore them.
A flicker of shame passes his features before it’s gone. “Your Majesty, if I may speak freely?”
I nod.
“I’m a refugee from outside the city of Maleen. I was only a fledgling when the attack on your family happened. I love Vathia, but Spirrix will always be my home, and I want to right the wrongs that were done to my Queen and my home, and for others like me who needed to flee to escape the massacre that happened that night and months after. I apologize for not believing your word, but I couldn’t let that hope bloom without the strongest of proof. And now that you’re back, I know now that this is where I need to be. If you don’t see me fit enough for your army, then please dispatch me to the aether, but I swear to you that I will bleed for you, your mates and all the citizens of Damorleia so I can help you bring the realm into the peace we all deserve.”
His passion strikes me in the chest and when I speak, emotion clogs my throat. “I would be honored to have you fight for me,” I state firmly but not without kindness. “Your hand, Captain.”
Without hesitation, he holds his hand out with his palm up, and with precision that I’ve been mastering, I slide his blade across the meaty part of his palm, watching with morbid fascination as the crimson liquid pools before dripping onto the dirt floor.
One by one, five other fae kneel, asking for the same thing—one of them being the female who challenged me. This time I can’t help but stare back at my mates in surprise. They all look proud—even Talyn—and Killian has a slight smirk thatmanaged to escape his stoic exterior, while Jesper seems almost disappointed he didn’t get to maim someone.
This is going to be a long day if this keeps occurring, but one by one I go through the few that dropped to their knees, asking them all the same question. Shockingly, they all seemed to have similar stories.
“Those of you who pledged yourself to my army: you will stay stationed here until further notice,” I tell them before turning to the general who seems to be waiting with more patience than I expected. “I apologize for commandeering your meeting, and a few of your warriors,” I tell him, worried all of a sudden that I’ve made a mistake doing this here.
“No need to apologize. I’m honored you chose from my warriors, but we do have important matters to discuss if you don’t mind taking a seat.” He gestures to the wooden throne I summoned in my display earlier.
I dip my head in respect and then press against Jesper’s mind using the Szellemi magick, which he opens a crack immediately to let me in. It’s not nearly as easy as a mate bond, but will still let me communicate if I can see them—if I can access their mind . “Everything okay Little Beastie? That display of magick has me hard as a rock I’d have you know. Please tell me this is you asking me to sneak out of here with you so I can be the one on my knees in front of you—”
I purse my lips to stop the giggle that wants to erupt from my body. “Jesper. I need you to go let Nero out of his travel cage. I think it’s safe for him not to peck out anyone’s eyes. Not to mention I think we are going to be here for a while.”
He pouts and then winks before leaving the tent while my other three males join me at my side. Talyn still stays a distance away, but I would say that I think we’ve had some improvement so far… Unless it’s all an act.
My feelings war inside me. I swear, once we get some downtime, he and I will be having a conversation.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“I’M STILL MAD THAT I missed seeing you bleed some warriors. Maybe I wanted to help,” Nero states saucily as he perches on my shoulder.
I sit on the edge of the cot I was given and stretch out my muscles from wearing the armor, flying and talking strategy all day. “I’m deeply sorry,” I tell him with teasing exasperation.
His plumage puffs up as he waddles towards me. “You should be. I could have been helpful,” he pouts.
“I know you would have been. Don’t worry, I’m sure it won’t be the last of it.”
