Tributes

Chapter Thirty Four

Luke got the trees to let them into the courtyard. The trees grumbled unhappily. Still, they allowed the tributes into their space with a little complaint thanks to the deal Luke had made. The boys whooped and ran free. Silas led the charge and rolling over the grass. Chris yelled after them to be careful, shaking his head as Silas yelled at him not to be a stiff. Luke smiled at the sight and was very glad he'd made a deal with the trees to keep them all safe. The courtyard windows were blocked to give them all some privacy while their Master was in the dungeons.

"It's beautiful here," Julia smiled at him, patting his arm. Luke returned the smile and walked further in, letting the guards bar the doors.

Heilian's aides had agreed with him about the best way to do this. If they were going to stay in the garden, they would be as cut off as possible during their stay, so Tyreol was not angry when he returned. Chris and Julia were carrying supplies, and the servants would provide food, etc. They were going to be camping for a few days.

Airean carried Abel to the room, blocking some Tyreol's powers from the boy to give him a break from the overwhelming pressure of his anger. Now they were inside the room, and the trees were blocking the energy, Airean put the child down and let him chase after his brother. Paul laughed brightly as Silas fell over and threw grass at him. The wave of dark energy was no longer looming over them.

Luke looked over the tributes. Chris was busy helping Julia set up a campsite. The trees revealed the long-hidden area where the lichen had lived, and the two were politely keeping to the rules. Edmund tried to help, but Anna was clinging to him too much, and Julia had pushed him to sit down again. Luke should have left him behind but seeing how tightly Anna was holding to him; he was glad he had. To be fair, it was safer for Edmund to be with them here than back at the tribute rooms.

There was a yelp as a vine wrapped around Silas to stop him tripping up again. He giggled as they tickled him and Abel complained. It was okay, Luke reassured himself, feeling panic build in his chest at the sight. The children were safe. They were far too young.

A whisper of love brushed against his soul. He closed his eyes and knelt in the fireplace. Memories of being here filled his mind despite him trying to push them away. The ghost of touches and loving words, Luke had been so sure that the keepers were safe. Tyreol would not have let anyone who was not dangerous near him. Yet, what he was, proved that had not been true.

"I wish you were still here," Luke murmured, knowing the tributes around him were too busy to notice. "Why did you have to go?" A vine curled around his ankle, pumping feelings of reassurance directly to his skin. The trees could feel his pain and wanted to help. They missed the keepers. Luke wanted answers as much as anything else.

"Luke?"

He opened his eyes to find Airean offering a cup of tea. He took it with shaky hands, sipping calmly. There was a touch of magic to it—a familiar taste of green magic, giving the tea calming properties. As far as Luke was aware, Airean didn't know the details what had happened, but it was clear he had not missed how nervous Luke was.

"Are you okay?"

"I will be," Luke gave a weak smile. "I'll get used to it again. The boys look happier."

Chris had joined them now and was throwing them in the air. The vines caught them and let them roll down, turning them into giggling messes. Paul was doing it too, but Chris was careful with him. He waited for Paul to come to him, instead of catching him like the twins. The sound mixed with Julia humming a song to herself as she calmly prepared lunch. It was all profoundly reassuring.

A sense of pleasure and enjoyment came from the trees. After Tyreol sent the remaining keepers away, the trees had locked the doors partly out of spite. Children no longer played in their vines and branches, and they missed it.

"How about you, Airean?"

"Better," Airean admitted, a smile on his lips. Luke frowned at him. Airean's smile remained the same.

Damn Fae, Luke sighed. Since being immortal, he had become more aware of the people closest to him and their mental states. Fiear. Tyreol, to an extent. Helian. Jake. William. It seemed to take faster with other immortals than mortals, but he could tell something was wrong with the fae. "Your chest still hurting you?" he pushed.

"No. The trees buffer the effect Lord Tyreol's magic has on me." Airean rolled his shoulders and sat more comfortably. It was still a rather formal pose, but it had the hallmarks of a noble relaxing. "It has a habit of clinging tighter to me recently."

"Clinging is an interesting word. It certainly surrounds you everywhere. It scared me when I first became immortal. I always knew it was all around, so being able to feel it was heavy. Especially with," he paused, the cut off almost audible. "I felt like I was sinking for a long time, even able to feel that it was Tyreol."

"For court Fae, like myself, it is like daggers sometimes. If it weren't for Helian, I would have left by now and waited a turn before returning. The wolf is getting closer and closer," Airean murmured, looking down at his tea. "I'm sure being in his close circle has sped up the progress."

"Closer?"

"On the spiritual realm," Airean took a sip of tea. He looked at Luke and gave a half-smile. "Gods like to claim things as theirs. Especially if it pretty or useful. Or a potential danger they need to stop. Humans are easy, they don't feel the claim, but it is there. It's not painful. For Helian, I doubt it was painful spiritually. Fae and beasts don't like Gods claiming them, but they can stand it. They can feel it being placed on them and the weight of the chain but for court fae whose powers rely on the moon and the sun. On the fact of being free..."

Luke watched Airean search for the words. The fae wasn't wrong. He could also feel the chain if he thought hard on it. Attached to his hand where the scar sat like Tyreol had them on a leash. He'd never angered Tyreol to a severe point before, but the others spoke of teeth on the back of their necks and red hot pain when they broke the rules.

"It burns like we have angered the sun himself. The moon, she is more forgiving, but even she makes us burn with ice," Airean breathed his eyes hazed over. Luke watched as something flowed from Airean, stretching before disappearing in the wind. A mark glowed on his forehead for but a moment but Luke read it easily. Airean was of the moon, not the sun. "I can feel Tyreol's presence starting to catch mine to claim it. Once it does, it will only be a matter of time before I slip up and he settles the claim physically."

"He won't," Luke shook his head. "He prefers people to come to him willingly."

"How can you be sure?" Airean asked, lifting an eyebrow. "He has forced claimed before."

Luke opened his mouth but found himself unable to answer. This was the first time he had to witness someone come into Tyreol's inner circle like this. Airean smiled and took another sip of his tea. Luke could only join him, watching over the latest tributes. The two of them waiting for their Master to return while watching over his pets.

A/N: Sorry it's shorter than usual, but people were bothering me again, and I just can't think of something to pad this chapter out.