The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Twenty Two: Dragon

The faeries' hatred for me was more than just palpable. It was another living being, as flesh and blood as I, and it stood in that chamber within the space between Aurora and I. It snarled and growled, baring its fangs and I, knowing that only instilling fear could keep my children safe, smiled back at that growing beast, baring my own. 

Her daughter pulled at her chains, leaning towards her mother and new sibling. Tears formed on her pale lashes and dripped skyward, turning to glass about her head before shattering and melting away. "Calm down, Mama, please." She begged her, shooting me a wary look over her hunched shoulder. "They have Augustus."

At that, Aurora calmed ever slightly, easing up her resistance against her husband's restraining hands. A shudder ran through her as the cruel and overbearing weight of reality fell down upon her spine.

"That's right." I leered, my lips curling back from my teeth. "As we speak, my sons are keeping him company down in our dungeons. Odd likely has a knife to his throat, just waiting for you to give us an excuse to slit it."

"I'd heard rumors you'd lost your mind. I see now they were true." Aurora hissed, glaring at me with eyes like molten gold. "Tell me, did you sink your knife in my back over some imagined slight or has this always been your intention?" 

"What I do, I do with a heavy heart." From within a pocket on my cloak, I withdrew the capsule. I turned it between my fingers a moment, admiring its dark color then tossed it into her lap "Look at this. You'll understand."

She held the jewel in her hand, her eyes widening as the images flickered within. She watched my memories and slowly, Aurora's fiery hair dimmed, losing their flame. Before her eyes, my dead child breathed again and Knut lay open-eyed and gaping mouthed in a puddle of blood and scattered entrails...as if one's death paid for another's resurrection. I kept my eyes on where Liber gripped Aurora's arms, waiting with a held breath for him to release her, to set her loose. As my family's joined wails of grief filled the space of the room, she fell back into her pillows heavily, absently bouncing the large newborn in the crook of her arm. Part of me was disappointed. "I sensed his death. I had wondered why there was such a delay when no one filled his seat. Then the baby decided to come...The goblins are really gone?" She asked. 

"As far as we can tell. Do you understand now why I had to take hostages?" I asked.

"You didn't have to do anything." Liber spat back. "We have been your allies for twenty years. Even in your weakened state, we would not have risked our family to challenge you."

"Then you are even bigger fools than I thought."

"The goblins might be gone, but you still have other slaves at your disposal." Liber spat again. I grew certain that if it were not for the iron and my hostages, he would've stopped my heart the minute I set foot here. He'd grown a spine. Good. 

"Bran serves me by his own choice," I said.

"Bran wasn't the only one he was talking about," Herod growled, still glaring at Ib. "The only reason we allowed Neasa and Augustus to go in my place was that Ib promised us he'd look after them. Instead, he's stood idly by and let you chain them." He shook his head in disappointment.

"It was a necessary evil," Ib said, earning looks of heated disgust. "It is regrettable, but this was the only way to ensure we wouldn't have to fight  battles on two fronts while we deal with Magni."

"Do you even know how you sound?!" Herod yelled. The baby started to screaming as well, flailing its tiny fists. 

"Get out, all of you," Aurora demanded. Her eyes met mine. "The healers need to finish their work and I want to speak with the Empress alone."