Page 83 of In Darkness Forged
For a moment, her beautiful blue eyes widened. Her mouth opened. She blinked in shock, then dropped her face into her hands and began tolaugh. The sound rang out over the silent hall, echoing over the heads of the few night elves who remained and piercing the haze of fury clouding Tal’s mind.
It seemed no amount of rage could survive that laughter. Perplexed, Tal lowered Vanadar to the ground. The dark swell of his magic receded, and the guards around him withdrew their blades.
“Aislin?” Tal placed a hand on her arm, beginning to grow worried. “Why are you laughing?”
Aislin lifted her head, tears running down her cheeks. “Because of the irony,” she said helplessly. “Lord Dreichel has spent his entire life valuing this stone above all other possessions. His great-grandfather gave half his fortune for it, and for the past eighty years, his entire family has believed it grants them protection and good fortune.”
She was still laughing, but now Tal could hear the heartbreak behind it. “He destroyed his relationship with his own son over this stone, and then sent me here to replace it at the value of ten years’ rent. I wonder what he would say if I told him it’s nothing more than a cheap magic lantern?”
Vanadar huffed and brushed at his clothing. “You will not tell him,” he said crisply. “Just as I did not tell you. Because both of us will do whatever is necessary to save those closest to us.”
“You dare compare yourself to her?” Tal asked icily. “You are nothing alike.”
“No?” Vanadar raised an eyebrow. “The two of you risked one another to protect what you valued most. Her family”—he nodded towards Aislin—” and your revenge. I was willing to risk the both of you in order to protect the lives of everyone in this territory, so do not pretend you are somehow more virtuous in your calculations.”
“You were protecting the life of one old man,” Tal growled.
“And that man is like a brother to me,” the regent replied harshly. “He entrusted me with the care of his people, and should he have died, this territory would have fallen to Paendreth. You know as well as I that I could not allow him to gain power, but neither could I simply allow you to challenge him and have done with it. Because you would have killed him, and I could not have faced my closest friend with the knowledge that I allowed his son to die. Not when he has never seen the truth of that son’s character. I needed the father to live, and I needed the son to prove his perfidy.”
When he considered the scope of the regent’s plot, Tal could admit it had been a masterful plan. With so many risks, it took his breath away, but in the end, Vanadar had won.
“Do you expect me to congratulate you on a favorable outcome?” Tal fixed Vanadar with a contemptuous stare. “Yes, you gained everything and lost nothing, and tonight you will sleep soundly with the knowledge of your victory. But”—he took one threatening step closer—“perhaps you will agree that you ought never again dare to accusewildingsof lacking honor.”
Vanadar’s face hardened, his resolve clear in the firm line of his jaw. “I saw but one possible path, and I took it. I will not apologize for performing the duties of my office.”
He remained face to face with Tal, their eyes locked, neither willing to give, until Aislin spoke up.
“Please,” she said wearily. “I don’t care about your schemes or your politics. I don’t even care that you used me. I just want to go home.”
Vanadar nodded sharply. “I think that would be for the best. Although”—he cocked his head—“I believe if you were ever to return, human, you would find yourself welcome among us.”
Aislin blinked and turned a quizzical gaze on Tal, to which he could only shrug.
“You are brave, honorable, and resourceful,” Vanadar went on. “And as it happens”—he shot a glance at Tal—I am willing to acknowledge that we are in your debt. I would beg that you call on us whenever you have determined what we owe.”
“You owe me no debt.” Aislin’s confusion was evident. “We made a bargain, and both of us have kept it.”
“As humans reckon, perhaps,” Vanadar returned, unperturbed by her response. “But the debt exists whether or not you choose to acknowledge it at this time. I do not, perhaps, recommend coming here unaccompanied in the future, but know that a haven awaits should you find yourself in need.”
She nodded uncomfortably, and Vanadar finally turned his attention to the stone in his hand. He turned it over, clenched his fingers around it, and focused intently, his face growing slack as he poured his magic into the small gray orb.
A moment later, the thing was done. The round, gray stone took on a soft white glow, and Vanadar handed it back. “I will warn you,” he said, sounding somewhat weary, “that this enchantment will not last for anything like eighty years. Whoever might have had that capability, they were an enchanter beyond my skill or that of anyone yet living, so your lord will have to content himself with a lesser time span.”
“How long?” Aislin asked.
Vanadar shrugged. “I gave it a great deal of my power, so perhaps a year, perhaps more.”
Aislin nodded. “I thank you for the warning.” Then she looked up at Tal. “I don’t want to wait,” she said softly. “Can we go now?”
“There is no reason to stay,” he answered. Taking her hand, he turned his back, not only on Vanadar, but on all of his own bitter memories of that room. With Aislin beside him, he finally left behind his pain and anger and desire for vengeance and made his way out into the cleansing light of early morning.
* * *
When they finally stood outside, Aislin appeared drained of everything except disbelief. She’d accomplished the impossible and won her prize, and all that remained was for her to return home and claim it.
And as for Tal? He was finally free. Free to go or to stay, free to find whatever path he chose. But his choice now depended on the tiny human beside him, and whether she would allow him to remain in her life. Whether such a thing was even possible.
Aislin’s head was already turning from side to side, down the path in one direction, then the other. Her hand was still in his, almost as if she had not yet realized he was holding it.