Shadow of Dusk

Exodus

During the next few days preparations were being made for Liam and his assembly to leave. Isobel was taking it harshly; she wanted to become a princess before Liam went on his dangerous mission. Liam didn’t feel a hasty marriage was necessary. He was more anxious to find Kip and Diana—he was shaken from his ordeal with the duskrader. He was worried that more men had been killed, and his deepest fear was that it had happened to Kip. He was one person Liam could not bear to lose. He thought about that as he contemplated what Cailin had lost.  He was sorry that Tristen was dead. He had been a trustworthy man. Liam wondered how long Tristen had been dead, and wondered how Cailin and his family would ever find closure. There was no body. Nothing. Somewhere, in the corner of his heart, he felt bad for her.

William gave Liam several instructions, first and foremost to return the soldiers back to Teardor. More than once Liam pointed out that the obvious movement of veredians and humans from Teardor to Veredore and the Prince of Teardor following them out would be seen as a bigger act of aggression than Liam’s orders. William finally snarled at Liam, “I’ve sent my notices to Roselin, Avilane, and Faidin. My people move in peace, and my prince comes to remove his mistake.”

Liam stared at his father, aghast. “You told Avilane? Are you insane?”

William looked madder than the night he had struck Liam. His hand flinched, obviously fighting the urge to do it again.

“When you return, Liam,” said William, “I may remove you from your title.”

“What?” sputtered Liam. “Father! I—” He was immensely angry, but he kept his voice calm. “Fine. And I won’t be surprised when we are attacked.”

William glared at his son. He clenched his jaw and spun around, refusing to look at him anymore. Liam clenched his jaw as well, and his fists. He decided then and there his father must have fallen down and knocked his brains out.

Liam made it a point to fill Robert in on his father’s idiotic movement. Robert—who wouldn’t outright call the king crazy but openly agreed with Liam—was certain they were going to be attacked and advised Liam to warn Cailin. Liam grunted but knew Robert was right. It was her life they were escorting, anyway. It was her being driven from Teardor.

*

Liam, Robert, Cailin, Amine, and Brielle were packed and ready early in the morning. The fifteen other guards arrived and Liam marched his small group out of Fordra. He had told his fiancée goodbye, but felt no loss at being away from her. William was absent from their departure, but Mera and Clare bade Liam goodbye. Mera had words of comfort, but Liam only told her that if he came back, it would be when Avilane was defeated, or when Teardor needed him more than Veredore.

“If being the Prince of Teardor requires me to ignore the evil in the east, I’m not sure I can be the prince anymore,” he told his mother lowly. “Father has just sent me on my mission, although he thinks I’m on his.”

William had always told Liam that he was born privileged, and it sickened Liam to think how long he had believed him. Royal or not, prince or not, he would possibly fight and die with the people with whom he was leaving Teardor. He would rather die this way than be slaughtered sitting in his throne, pretending there wasn’t a war going on, pretending he was exempt from the real world pain and anguish just because he was royal.

They rode under Teardor’s colors, and as they left, many people began traveling with them. Some wanted the extra protection as they left their homeland, planning to fight for and with Veredore. Liam was surprised at how many of them shouted their approval that Liam was defying his father.

“We knew you had a backbone, Prince!”

“We will owe our lives to you!”

Liam raised his eyebrows at Robert.