|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 28: Night Storm

"Bring me three birds." Cedric ordered. He sat on his throne, deep in thought. Though Tanara was dead, the man she had served was not and it was he who was the main problem Cedric didn't want war... but he feared that he would have little choice. His Bow and Spear-Bearer who he now knew to be Merrick and Lance stood on either side of him, eyes scanning the room, flicking from door to windows to walls without pause. Cedric sighed feeling both safer and uneasy in their presence. They made him feel like nothing could harm him, but gave him the feeling that everything would try none-the-less. He shifted slightly in his seat.

He did not wish to plunge this land into war, but he couldn't stand for what Soldin was doing. Slaughtering his patrols, attempting to declare war himself... killing men, killing women... killing Irene. His eyes misted slightly as he once again felt her soft touch on his skin, heard her laugh and saw her smile. And watched in his mind's eye as she crumbled away to ash, stolen away from him.

He couldn't believe she was dead, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Tanara hadn't been lying... would she not have more to gain by letting him know if Soldin still held her captive... would it not have been crueller to have her alive and so close, and yet tantalisingly out of reach. And the dead Faeri patrol that had been in the same area. Rumours of a dead girl, found in the old ruins of the original Thalandor... murdered in cold blood. Surely it could not be coincidence. It had to have been Soldin's doing. No one else had the man power in these parts of the west.

A guard returned, a shaking box in hand. Lance and Merrick moved without hesitation, hands gripping weapons until they realised the man was no threat. Cedric waved them back as the guard moved forwards. As Cedric took the box the shaking stopped and he lifted the lid. Three ravens, black as ink, gazed up at him with beady, intelligent eyes. Cedric thanked the guard and he left, returning to his position outside the throne room. Taking one of the birds, Cedric pulled a scroll from his robes and tied it to its leg. He did the same with the other birds before moving to the window and throwing them out. Their wings flashed out like shadows and caught the air before they flew off, becoming dark smudges on the green landscape before disappearing completely.

 "My king, what are you planning?" a voice asked softly as the door creaked open. Cedric turned to see his advisor watching him, red robes like a wine stain against the pale stone of the room. Both his Bearers watched the man carefully, neither of them loosening their grips on their weapons. Cedric stared down at him, feeling slightly annoyed that Lance and Merrick treated everyone as a threat. The advisor's eyes were unreadable, his mouth neither a smile nor a frown. Cedric felt a sudden uneasiness in the man's presence. He had never really liked the advisor.

"I have sent pleas to Sulau and Lādēts." Cedric replied, moving back to his throne, "I don't want war, but I must accept that I may be unable to stop it. And I would have to be an arrogant fool to believe that we could win this on our own."

"So you ask for our neighbours for aid?" the advisor asked, and eyebrow raised, "But Soldin has not asked for war. He may not."

"Mayon, I have only asked if they would assist us in a time of need." Cedric said shortly.

"You sent three birds, sire," Mayon said, shifting closer. Lance and Merrick moved as one, stiffening slightly. For once, Cedric didn't mind. "And yet you only mentioned two cities. Where is the third bird destined to go?"

"To Soldin." Cedric admitted, "I must speak with him. I hope to stop war diplomatically."

"Is it really wise to meet with the man who tried to have you killed?" the advisor asked softly, "To have him here in the castle. It wouldn't end well." His eyes were still dark and emotionless. They sent slivers of unease through Cedric's spine.