Page 98 of The Last Wish of Bristol Keats
Colorful tents trimmed in silver and gold, with scalloped edging that flapped in the breeze, glowed with the morning light. If he had been there for a different reason, the fullness in his chest might have even felt like pride.Jewels, Shane called them. Tyghan had a sudden deep ache, wishing Bristol was by his side to see it with him. It had only been a few hours since he kissed her goodbye, but he missed her already. He also had a nagging need to watch for threats, to sleep beside her, his arm tucked safely around her ribs. He couldn’t help but worry, especially after Csorba referred to her as an asset, like she was a piece of property to be caged and used. Who else, right beneath his nose, had similar thoughts? Greed was never in short supply, not even in Danu.
Her squad was with her, and that eased his worries. The six were skilled and devoted to one another, a rare union, almost as if the gods had interceded to match their skills and temperaments perfectly. Or maybe he just had Eris to thank for that. Tonight Bristol would be with him, but by tomorrow she might end up in the middle of it all if Maire opened another portal.If only Maire were dead. Guilt clawed inside him for even thinking it. Not only because of his promise to Bristol but because he hated that Maire had been used—in the same way Csorba wanted to use Bristol. He knew Bristol would never stoop to the depths her mother had reached—there were always choices along the way—but he wished Maire could have had more of those choices.
His attention returned to the city of colorful tents. Sounds drifted across the valley, shouts of cooperation as more tents were hoisted, frying pans clanked, fires stoked. He heard the hope swelling, kings and queens preparing for a parley, a peaceful one, because none of them could take on the endless army of the restless dead.
Neither could Danu.
As he scanned the rim, Tyghan recognized their colors—the green and gold of Cernunnos, the maroon and red of Greymarch, the white and silver of Amisterre. Every kingdom was present, their banners already fluttering in the morning breeze. Every kingdom except Fomoria.
The spot on the rim Shane had pointed out as their usual place to set up for the parley was empty. Tyghan had no doubt they were coming, but Kormick would make a dramatic entrance, just like he had at Timbercrest. Tyghan squinted at the empty spot and smiled. He slowly rubbed his fingers together, then flicked one, carefully casting a focused bit of energy across the valley. No one would feel or know he was bending the light around them. The blank spot rippled, like a finger touched to a still pond. He breathed out a satisfied breath. Good. Fomoria was there. They were only glamouring it from everyone’s eyes until their grand entrance. What did Kormick expect? For everyone to fucking applaud?
But what was an outrageous thought for most was a perfectly rational one for Kormick.
Tyghan glanced behind him, the Danu tents still going up—because they had more tents than everyone else. The Danu reds and golds taking up so much space would be an irksome, brilliant sight that Kormick couldn’t miss. He was probably watching already.
The first rays of the rising sun were just eclipsing the hills, the purple hues of the sky transforming to vivid blue. Eris walked away from the tents to join Tyghan. “It’s almost time,” he said.
Quin, Dalagorn, and Cosette ambled up behind him, ready to stand watch. The opening of the garrison portals had been perfectly timed. They couldn’t open them too soon and risk someone stumbling through them accidentally, but neither could they wait too long. Bristol could only be in so many places at once, and tomorrow morning she would be closing the most important portal of all—the Abyss. As the rising sun lit up the city of tents, Tyghan grabbed some of that light and amplified it, just enough to make those on the other side of the valley squint and look away, as anyone might. It was going to be a spectacular sunrise.
Bristol stood in front of the rock with the symbol of the crescent moon. Her squad and Commander Maddox stood behind her—and a whole garrison of knights were behind them.
“Now,” Maddox said. Bristol raised her hand, concentrating on the first coordinate in the valley. It was high above the stand of oaks where she and Tyghan had made love and she told him for the first time that she loved him. Energy flared from her hand, up her arm, and her lashes sparked with brilliance. She forced the light to go wider. Wide enough that a regiment could ride through it, twenty abreast. And when she saw blue sky over a distant valley, she said, “Now,” and Avery tossed the bird cupped in her hands through the portal.
Tyghan and his officers waited, their breaths held.
“There’s one!” Cosette finally said.
Only seconds later, Dalagorn whispered, “Another. That’s two.”
They watched discreetly for the third and fourth. A small bird in the sky was nothing of note for those in the valley, and the glaring sunrise covered any light that might have escaped with them. But when the fourth bird emerged, it was hard for any of them to contain their smiles. Four in a row were a signal of success for Danu. Bristol had opened the portals. Tyghan relaxed his hand, and the glare from the rising sun returned to normal.
Only a minute later, another tent appeared on the rim. Its silver and black banners shimmered in the bright morning light. Fomoria had arrived, and a hush fell over the city of tents.
And so the parley began. Kings, queens, knights, and witnesses slowly ventured out, putting on the show that Kormick required. Even the white stags of Cernunnos draped their antlers with strings of pearls, and the goblins of Bleakwood wore their best silk jackets and gowns, pulling at the ill-fitting collars and sleeves. The pungent scent of roseclaw, mugwort, and cloves wafted through the air, depending on which tent you were near, every kingdom hoping to summon whatever protections they could, but they walked the rim with chins held high, putting on a show, discussing nothing but good weather and good food.
Sizing up the competition?The notion almost made Tyghan laugh. Not one of the kingdoms came with forces—including Danu. Behind their beautiful billowing tents you could see miles of hills, and they were all empty. Only the twenty witnesses that Kormick had allowed were there, and it made for an odd affair. Tyghan loathed strolling to greet other monarchs, sharing chitchat like they were at a village fair after the summer harvest. No one was sizing up anyone. They were enduring. Every king and queen met Tyghan’s eyes with trepidation.What is Danu going to do? Step up? Or bend a knee? Where is your army?Tyghan could tell them nothing without the risk of tipping his hand.
Four tents away from Danu, the king of Silverwing put on an especially extravagant spread. Spits turned over fires, and the spicy aroma of roasted game drew dozens for a taste. This was something Cael would excel at, drinking and eating with other royals until the stars came out. It was a skill Tyghan hadn’t appreciated until now.
“Will this ever be over?” Melizan whispered between gritted teeth.
Quin groaned. “Never. We still have eight kingdoms to go.”
“Let’s go back,” Tyghan said. “We’ve made our appearance. We’ll do the rest later. They know we’re here.”
They, meaning Fomoria.
Sloan and Dalagorn didn’t miss a beat and were already turning around.
Quin and Eris walked just behind them, Quin plying Eris with more questions about their sparring practice from the day before. Quin was a stout, strong knight, and he was both annoyed and awed that Eris had played him, roundly disarming him in a burst of cuts. Tyghan hadn’t told anyone yet that Eris was his father. There hadn’t been time, and he was still getting used to it himself, even if some deep part of him had always known.
As they approached their tents, they saw that their Noble Knights—in full costume—had arrived. They were already putting on an amusing show for other kingdom participants strolling past. Seconds later, Cully, Madame Chastain, Reuben, and the rest of their entourage arrived. Reuben proceeded to ward the tents, and Madame Chastain nodded to Tyghan, indicating Cael was delivered and safely sequestered. Cael would hate being cooped up in a tent until the ceremony, even if it was less than a day away. Madame Chastain’s eyes shifted to Eris, but he seemed to make it a point to not look her way.
The Noble Knights were especially loud and lusty with their laughter. Everything was just as Tyghan had envisioned after speaking with Shane.It was a once-in-a-century affair. Nobles who had no business being there tagged along too. It gave them bragging rights to history.
Cosette sucked in a sudden breath. “Behind you. Ten lengths,” she said. “They’re coming.”
CHAPTER 76
