Page 29 of Taloned Heart

Beauty’s father ground his teeth before nodding again. “Then I’ll tell you everything I know.”

CHAPTER11

Abraxas settled at the table with Lore and focused on the elderly man in front of them. Where Beauty’s father had looked strong holding the crossbow, now he seemed to have aged years. The old man had been holding a lot of stress, apparently, and had finally let it go.

“There are more people like us, sprinkled around the kingdom. Mostly those of us who had the means to hide when this all first started.” He winced. “It should have been more. I wish we had been able to hide others, but we didn’t have anywhere else to put them.”

Leaning back in his chair, Abraxas crossed his arms over his chest and tried not to glance around them at the large root cellar that had multiple makeshift rooms in it. They didn’t have room? They had plenty.

But if the man wanted to pretend they didn’t have enough room for all those who had been lost to Margaret’s forces, then he would let him pretend. Now was not the time to point out the obvious.

Beauty sat down next to her father and placed a hand on the old man’s back. “We couldn’t have gotten them to us, anyway. Margaret came in the middle of the night. By the time we realized the houses were burning, it was too late. So many people ran out into the streets, trying to get away from the smoke, and then they were just gone.”

“But we have a network,” her father interjected. “A network of those who are still here and are trying to get the humans back from her clutches. I hope you might be able to help us with that.”

Abraxas glanced at Lore, curious to see what she would say. Obviously, his elf wanted to help. She wanted to bring the humans back home and fill this city with its denizens again. But they had another reason for being here.

Helping the humans wasn’t in the plan. They had to get to Zephyr first, and Lore wanted an army. Not another task.

Lore’s eyes had narrowed on the old man, her teeth worrying the inside of her cheek. “You know I can’t do that.”

“You can, and you have no reason not to.”

“I have every reason not to, and every reason to help. There is a strange dichotomy in my life, old man. You would do well to remember it.”

“All I am asking is a few moments of your time and your power. With that, we could find out where they are and free them. If we do that, then we can move forward with a better plan afterwards.” His hands had curled into fists, but he put them underneath the table when he caught Abraxas staring at them. “Surely you can waste a few moments of your time to help us.”

“I can’t waste much time at all while I’m here.” Lore pointed at Beauty. “And I’ll need her.”

“For what reason?”

Beauty opened her mouth to interject, but Abraxas caught her gaze and shook his head. This wasn’t an argument for them. This was between two leaders of Tenebrous and Umbra. They needed to figure it out on their own.

“Why do you need my daughter?” Beauty’s father pressed yet again.

“Because I intend to collect the rightful king of this land. She would be the only person he will be interested in being around after what he’s gone through, and trust me when I say, he has gone through enough. She needs to be there for him the moment I rescue him or I’m afraid he will have no reason to continue living.” Lore leaned across the table and stared directly into his eyes. “I will help whatever humans I come across along the way to save him. You have my word. But we have to look at the bigger picture here.”

“Which is?”

Lore sighed and tossed up her arms. She leaned back in her chair like she was arguing with a child, and Abraxas had to cover his mouth with a fist. Shewasarguing with a child in comparison. Both he and Lore were hundreds of years old compared to this man’s sixty years. Though he understood why Beauty’s father refused to budge.

He wanted his people back. He wanted them to be alive and well and back in their homes without wondering who was going to attack them next. And could they blame him for it?

“Let me spell it out for you, then. I will bring back the king of your people. The one who should be making deals with the magical creatures and speaking on your behalf. Right now, you are a snake with its head cut off.” Lore sliced her hand through the air like a blade. “I want to give you back your mouth. And you will be the first person who talks with him once he is healed. I can promise you that. But I cannot gather your people without doing this first.”

Beauty’s father leaned back in his chair and mimicked her position. “Understood.”

“That is a good enough deal for you?”

“It’s the only one I’m getting, I assume.”

“It’s the only option I can see working. We cannot fight Margaret without an army, and we cannot gather an army without hope. Is there enough of you for that?”

Interesting question. Abraxas watched the man swallow but then nod.

“Most of us are old,” Beauty’s father said. “Most of us are nobility or those who had money. We are not fighters, but we will fight if necessary. Many of us are not... pleased with the developments and change in this kingdom.”

“Then you will not fight.” Lore stood and cracked her back. “I need soldiers, not soft handed politicians. But those who have any history in it, then please, let them know they will be needed.”

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