Heirs of the Gods

Ch 15.2: Bitter pride, unbreachable pride

After managing to find her way back to her room, Ella asked Katram if she could see the library. After all, she was to be stuck here for an entire year, she resolved to make the best of it. At least until Aedion decided to make use of his half of the bargain and started demanding things.

Once she found a few books that piqued her interest, Ella took the stack back to her room and curled up into the plush divan by the fire.

Fae books were different from human ones, similar to the ones she'd cherished as a child. She'd taken a strong liking to these stories detailing fantastic adventures, trips over the sea, fearsome battles and brave heroes.

She'd started to read a series in Cereas and was pleased to find the whole collection in this library as well. It was the story of an Elven warrior that took down legions of dark beasts and protected the Kingdoms using his earth-based powers. What really quickened Ella's heart was knowing that these stories were practically historical retellings. Those creatures actually existed. These were the dark evils that Gidden described, the ones that dwelled in that Barren Forest.

"Tales of Leif the Defeater? How terribly dull. You would like that. Well, at least they teach you how to read in human courts." Aedion plucked the book from Ella's hands and leafed through the pages with disinterest.

She hadn't even noticed him entering, absorbed with her reading as she was.

She huffed and extended a hand, snatching the book back. "You've just reminded me to ask Katram for keys to this room. There's an ill-mannered rat that keeps barging in." She placed a folded piece of paper in the book to hold her place and tucked it behind a cushion. "Besides, you wouldn't know a good story if it hit you on the head." She cocked her head to the side, "I admit I'm tempted to try anyway."

"Testy, testy. I'm merely saying that it's a terribly boring story." He leaned against the back of the armchair, crossing his ankles.

Despite knowing she should demand he leave her room because he was a nuisance and a blemish on her day, Ella could not help but engage in this conversation. Perhaps it was that Aedion made it difficult to hold her tongue or simply because Ella genuinely enjoyed arguing.

"Boring?" she scoffed. "Right, I suppose it's dull compared to your riveting day to day agenda of paperwork and being a pain on society's neck."

"Yes, boring," he said, ignoring her acid jab. "All Leif does is whine about justice and morality, constantly beating you over the head with dense monologues about golden values while he goes on a crusade to kill all these evil monsters in the name of good. Yet, when he finally reaches the wicked, evil Lord, suddenly, he couldn't possibly kill him. He's such a good, virtuous elf after all!" Aedion scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Apparently, that attitude was conveniently taking a nap when he singlehandedly slew thirty rogue orcs or when he beheaded that dragon."

"He is a good man. He's heroic and he stands up for what he believes in. And sure, he has to kill to get to where he wants, but it's only because it's the only way to get Gallahad to stop. He'd killed dozens of fae, enslaved hundreds and had proclaimed himself High King. He even killed Leif's father and imprisoned Siobhan, his childhood sweetheart," Ella counted, marking her points on her fingers.

Aedion observed her from his position against the armchair, crossing his arms over his chest. "And you're telling me that after all those crimes Gallahad committed, you would have let him live?"

Ella hesitated, but ultimately admitted, "No, I wouldn't have. I would have killed him on the spot, no questions asked. If not for his father, for the lives of all those enslaved fae. I hardly think there was another way to stop him otherwise, he was simply too powerful and ruthless to go unchecked. If Leif had outright killed him, he could have avoided all that trouble. It was the most logical course of action."