Glass of Revenge

~17~

Athril didn't know where his life had gone so desperately, so horribly wrong. He had been alive for longer than any other living being in Erilea, and yet no one had any stinking idea. He had lived for nearly three millennia now, making him one of the oldest living Fae in the world. But according to the stories, the myths and legends that both he and Brannon had created, he, Athril, had died millennia ago.

At first, the lies and deceptions had merely been to keep him safe from his beloved Maeve. Yes, Athril had once dearly loved Maeve, and it was the biggest regret of his life, considering what she had eventually become. At the time he had had no idea whatsoever that Maeve was queen of the Valg, not queen of the Fae. But even then, he had seen traces of those spider-like tendencies, the streak of cruelty that run as deeper than a well, writhing darkness within her, and just knew that no matter how much he loved Maeve, he could not spend another moment with her. Despite his love for Maeve, Athril suddenly knew that he had to leave her. And the best chance of Maeve leaving him alone in peace lay in faking his own death.

And so, he and Brannon had devised a trap for Maeve when the three of them infiltrated the armies of the Valg, leading Maeve to believe that she had killed her own lover. It had been such a simple trap that Athril sometimes still had trouble believing that Maeve had fallen for it. After that, Athril had had no choice but to go into hiding, lending his assistance to Brannon, and more indirectly to Terrasen, wherever possible as spy and courier.

Despite everything, Athril had never minded the fact that everyone believed him to be dead in those early days. He had devoted himself to serving King Brannon and Terrasen. And when Brannon was on his deathbed, he had made Athril swear that he would watch over and protect his descendants. Athril had felt as though he had no choice but to agree, for he had never had a family of his own, and he had always loved Brannon's children and grandchildren as though they were his own.

But once Brannon's grandchildren had passed into the Afterworld, Athril had allowed his memory to fade away as well, as never had a close relationship with any of Brannon's other descendants until now, until Aelin. And so Athril's continued existence had eventually faded into nothing but myth and legend. In fact, Athril had been happy to let himself fade away into anonymity. What with Maeve being as dangerous as she was and not agreeing with world politics, Athril was finally willing to let everyone believe the rumours of his death. Besides, he was tired of being a spy, tired of being a double agent on occasion.

And then Adarlan had invaded Terrasen ten years ago, and Athril had felt the need to come out of hiding, felt the need to protect the kingdom his dearest friend had loved so fiercely. Before Athril had been able to step out of the shadows and make himself known to the world once more, the entire royal family of Terrasen – Brannon's last living descendants – had all been assassinated. He had grieved for Brannon, as his friend, knowing just how much his friend had loved his family and his kingdom, not knowing that young Princess Aelin – now Queen Aelin – still lived.

So Athril had remained in the shadows during the war and re-emerged only once Erawan and Maeve were dead and gone once and for all. And once the war was over and peace was declared, Athril had once again resumed his place in Terrasen's court as spy and double agent. For a while after the war had ended, it seemed as though there was no need for spies or double agents in this new world. At first he didn't care though, he'd been that glad to see a Galathynius restored to the throne of Terrasen, he had been willing to do almost anything to serve the Crown. Athril would have welcomed any position that had been offered to him.

After almost a year of boredom, Athril had finally been dispatched to Rifthold, Adarlan, to deal with the rising threat against his Queen and her consort. As this was his first time playing spy, playing double agent in so long, the case was of higher importance and much higher stakes than he had imagined or could have possibly predicted.