The Iron Seer

Chapter 14 - Cruel Beauty

Ash had returned. 

But that wasn't all. For some unknown reason, his brothers were here too.

Night fell like a dark curtain over Glassbarrow as I arrived back at the manor.

At the door, I was intercepted by Briskie - he landed on my shoulder, talking so fast that I couldn't make out any words - just that infernal buzzing sound. His tiny white hands gestured wildly, his transparent, oblong wings beating frantically as he spoke.

"Stop! Stop, Briskie. What's happening?"

He paused for the span of a half-second and rushed on. I managed to understand the princes' names, and cut him off.

"Where are they?"

In the next tide of words, I was able to make out the single phrase in the Duke's office, and I bolted up the stairs, throwing open the door to my father's study.

The Duke stood over his desk, a map spread out before him, interrupted mid-sentence by my abrupt entrance. He had been talking to who I assumed must be Prince Sage - waist-length raven hair, brilliant green eyes, dangerously beautiful features, and the same air of icy calculation as his brothers. A large, gray wolf sat at his feet, staring at me with unblinking yellow eyes.

Rowan lounged against a bookshelf nearby, but I paid no attention to him, my eyes instead finding Ash, meeting his cold gray ones.

His words to me in our cave hung over my head. Hadn't he told me he wouldn't kill any more innocents? That might have been true then, but now... I didn't know how much had changed. I wanted to think it wasn't his fault. If Mab had ordered him to kill the Oni, his duty to the Court would oblige him to. He hadn't promised anything, but I'd believed him wholeheartedly when he'd said he wouldn't do it.

"How could you?"

Those were the first words out of my mouth, though they weren't the ones I had meant to speak. I'd intended to handle this situation calmly - but my voice was far from calm, wrought with accusation and hurt.

"How could I what?" Ash replied, cool.

I wanted to remind him what he'd said to me about not killing any more innocents, but held my tongue, only staring at him instead.

Rowan seemed hugely entertained by this situation, looking back and forth between me and his brother. "Ariella. How nice to see you again." He smirked. "As I remember, we ended on a rather bad note at Elysium -"

"Do shut up," I snapped.

He smirked. "What, not even a hello? I'm hurt."

I addressed Prince Sage, meeting those piercing green eyes. "Your Highness," I said. "I know why you're here."

Prince Sage studied me for a few heartbeats, and then nodded. "Perhaps we should speak alone, Lady Ariella."

Surprised, I didn't reply immediately. I looked between Rowan, looking amused as usual, and Ash, who stood there, unreadable. My heart felt too heavy as I said, "That would probably be best. Father?" I looked to the Duke once for permission, and he hesitated only briefly before he nodded solemnly, waving a hand in dismissal.

Prince Sage swept across the room and offered me his arm. I took it, cutting my eyes at Ash as we exited the room.

***

"Not many would talk to my brothers as you have," Prince Sage informed me. We walked along the edge of the forest, side by side.

"Are you saying I shouldn't?"