She Conquers, page 21
I turn to Allister. "Anima?" He merely shrugs his shoulders as he shakes his head and lifts his hands in the air. I turn back to Kalven.
His head swivels between Allister and me, "You don't know what your Anima is?" He faces me, from what I've gleaned from your mate you didn't know you were part Fae until recently. He turns to Allister and points. "But you've known you were Fae your whole life. How do you not know what your Anima is?"
Allister crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes at Kalven. "How about you stop talking to me like I'm a child and spit it out. Tell me what the hell you're talking about."
Kalven takes a step back like Allister's slapped him and his mouth gapes open but only for a second before he calmly composes himself. "Your Anima is your spirit animal, it's a part of your soul, where your magic stems from."
Allister's eyes budge as realization washes over him, "Oooohhh, you mean your magical animal. Yes, I know what that is, I haven't heard it called Anima before. It makes sense though; animal and Anima are pretty close names."
"So in the west you call it your magical animal? Why would they change the name? It's such a dumbing down of what the word truly means. Your Anima isn't merely your magical or spirit, it's your soul, it's your life force, without it we cease to be. Why would Henrik allow such a thing?" He spreads his arm out to encompass the room. "Do you even have a healer with such potions in the west? Are there any of the old ways left in that cursed place?"
Allister scans the room around him. "I've never seen this many potions in one place. We don't have a healer like you. We completely rely on our own healing ability. If one of us becomes critically injured they simply die, there's no one there to help." He tilts his head and shrugs his shoulders. "Our people also starve while Henrik gets fat on his stored supplies so I'm not completely shocked."
"Hmm, it's upsetting hearing he's lost his way entirely, but I'm not surprised though. Something needs to be done about him. He's leading our brethren down such dark a path. Fae are meant to be one with the world around them, not master of the world. I will have to talk to our leader about this."
I cock my head and furrow my brow. "Why would your leader lend you his ear?" Then I lower my head and wiggle in my seat. "I don't mean to be rude, but I just don't understand how you could have influence on what your leader does."
He smiles down at me, the movement pulling at the wrinkles of his eyes. "The Eastern Fae are a very spiritual people. The healers of our people are considered high ranking officials. And out of the few healers, I'm the one with the most seniority. I'm seen as a source of wisdom, which makes me almost like our leader's right-hand man. So yes, I have a great deal of pull with our leader."
My eyebrows lift but all I can think to say is, "Oh."
Kalven lifts his hand and makes a motion like he's trying to clear the air. "So tell me about yourself, what you've gone through, and what happened to your Anima. I can tell there was recently some change. Its aura has a mixture of colors, which isn't normal, but the colors marble together which means two Anima must have become one. I haven't heard of such a thing happening before." He grabs a chair I hadn't noticed before from the short side of the table and places it before me, sitting down in it. "I heard you are Henrik's granddaughter and the rightful heir to the Western Fae throne. Is that correct?"
"How did you know?" Allister asks.
Kalven doesn't even peek at him as he answers. "I know more than you think boy."
Allister opens his mouth to say something, but I interrupt him and take off on telling him my story. Kalven is quiet through it all, the only indication he's following along is how he nods his head occasionally. When I get to the part of my Awakening he drops his head and interrupts me. "I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing your father and your companion in the same night must have broken your heart. I see you brought in another horse, though. Is she your new companion?"
I smile and stare at the floor below me. "Thank you. Yes, it was extremely hard. I haven't had time to mourn their loss yet, either. There's no time to feel everything I've lost since that night. But, yes, Raven is my new mount. She was Oak's daughter and my late father's mount. She hated me when I was growing up, but she's become my best friend."
I gaze up and he's smiling, but there's a gleam of sadness behind his eyes, like he really feels for me even though I'm a stranger to him. "I'm glad she's become your best friend; a companion should be your best friend. You two will live side by side and share your lives. I'm glad you have each other. But you need to grieve. You can't move forward if you don't lay to rest those feelings. You'll never be able to remain a force of good and take on Henrik without grieving. Losing someone dear to you creates unbridled darkness in your heart."
I lean back on the table and lift my head to the ceiling. I sit there quietly as I try to keep the tears from flowing and keep myself together. Allister, could you continue for me? I need a moment to get myself together.
Of course, kitten. Allister clears his throat and draws Kalven's attention. "Attina needs a moment. I'll fill you in on what I can."
Kalven's eyes move back and forth between us, "You two can read minds? Both of you?"
Allister shakes his head. "I can but she can't. She can hear my mind because we're mates, but she hasn't shown any signs of having the same powers as me. Her powers are element manipulation."
Kalven turns his seat toward Allister, "Good to know. So what can you tell me about her story?"
Allister tells him everything he knows, even about what James has done to me. He gets to the point where we faced off with the werewolf before he chokes up. He clears his throat and simply says, "Well, you know the rest of the story already, so now you're all caught up."
By the time he finishes his retelling of our journey together I have myself put together enough to continue with what I have to say. I don't give Kalven a chance to comment on what Allister explained before I say, "I had two Anima to begin with."
Kalven slices his gaze toward me. "What?"
I take in a deep breath. "Yes, I started off with two Anima, a little blackbird and a serpent like my grandfather. The serpent was hunting down my blackbird. I was frightened for a long time, because I was told if your spirit animal dies, you die, and I didn't think my blackbird would win the fight."
Kalven's face twists and his eyes harden in thought. "How is this possible? I haven't ever heard of such a thing."
I shrug as I peek over at Allister. "When I died I saw the serpent devour my blackbird. I thought it was merely a dream, but it turns out it wasn't, it really did happen." Allister moves over and places his hand on my back. I'm not sure if he's trying to steady me or remind himself I'm still here. "While I was sleeping I saw my Anima. The two beings have merged into one. Now instead of a blackbird and a serpent my Anima is a towering crimson dragon."
His mouth drops again. "Two Anima merging into one? I'm astounded something like this could happen. I've heard of dragons before, they're part of an ancient, extinct world. Nearly all Fae Animas are creatures from this world. I only know of one other Fae whose Anima is an ancient beast."
"Who?" Allister and I demand simultaneously.
Kalven lifts his hand to his chin. "Henrik's Anima is a three headed Hydra."
38
ATTINA
I open my mouth to say something, but Allister beats me to the punch, "No, his magical—I mean Anima is a serpent, everybody knows that."
"If his Anima isn't a serpent why would my other Anima be one?" I glance back and forth between Allister and Kalven. Pointing my thumb at Allister, "We thought I had a serpent because I was bitten by a Solis and some of Henrik's power leached into me from the kernel of power left within it."
I follow Kalven with my gaze as he stands up and starts moving around the room searching shelves. He stops at the shelf behind me, and starts moving containers around, like he's organizing. Over his shoulder he says, "No, that's only what he tells everyone." I notice him slightly shrug, "I mean it makes sense for him to tell people his Anima is a serpent. No one knows what a Hydra is anymore. They wouldn't question his authority and allowing them to think his Anima is merely a serpent, makes him seem weaker than he truly is."
He cuts his gaze to me. "Do you know what a Hydra is?"
I shake my head and say, "No, I don't."
"A Hydra is a gigantic three headed serpent."
I jump in. "So the serpent attacking my animal was a kernel of his power!"
I thought Kalven was done with his line of thought, but I realize he wasn't when he says, "With one immortal head."
Allister shouts, "Immortal? Does this mean Henrik is immortal?"
Kalven leans forward onto the table next to me and lets out a big huff. "I honestly don't know, it's definitely not a good sign though."
I cut in, shaken by this turn of events. "Are you telling me he might be immortal and he's more powerful than anyone knows?" We already know Henrik is the most powerful Fae in all of Arealea with the power we know about. If Kalven is right, then how do I have any chance at stopping him?
He turns to face me and moves back to gently lean against the shelf behind him, careful not to shake it. "I know how powerful he is from experience."
Allister shouts, "How is this possible!" I notice him move toward me protectively out of the corner of my eye. "There's no way you could have met him and lived."
Kalven's eyes turn dark as he lowers his head and his shoulders stiffen. "Boy, do not presume to tell me who or what I know. I've lived a whole lifetime more than you have."
Allister's eyes go wide as saucers as he shuffles back a little, "Um—I'm sorry." Almost as an afterthought he drops his head and says, "Sir—I mean, Kalven." I'm surprised by his reaction, but it comes out like he's only now remembering Kalven is his elder, has helped our family, and hasn't tried to hurt us.
Kalven lifts his head and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he shakes his head, turning around to continue his organizing. "You're just as presumptuous and spunky as you were as a kid, Allister."
Allister's hand rubs the back of his neck as he kicks at some invisible speck of dirt. "Well, I'm not so sure of that." Almost as soon as the word leaves his lips though he stands up ramrod straight and races in front of me. He grabs onto Kalven's shoulder and spins him around, slamming him into the shelf behind him. About half of the containers skid off the shelf and fall to the floor. With only a thought I catch the containers as they fall through the air, then gently let them tumble to the ground I've already softened.
Kalven pushes against Allister's hold and peeks around him, locking eyes with me. "Thank you, Attina. Some of those were extremely rare potions." I only stare at him though. This is between him and Allister, I'm not getting involved in whatever's going on. I just thought it would be a shame for so many unused potions to go to waste when they could possibly help someone in need.
Allister growls as he brings Kalven forward and slams him back into the shelf, almost knocking off some more potions in the process. "Don't even look at her until you tell me what the hell is happening. Who are you really?" He lifts Kalven slightly in the air by his throat.
Kalven squints his eyes and his face gets tight. Obviously Allister is pushing against him hard enough to hurt him. I slam my hands on the table drawing both men's attention. "Allister, maybe you should let up on him a little. I don't think he can talk with all the pressure you're putting on his neck."
Allister turns to me for a second before turning back and I hear Kalven choke out, "Thank you, Attina," while he still stares at Allister. Not once peering in my direction just as Allister told him not to. "I had hoped you would have remembered me, my king." At Kalven's words, Allister drops him. Kalven bends over coughing and gasping for air.
Allister gawks down at Kalven and says, "What did you just say?"
Kalven peeks up and meekly says, "My king." He's still bent over so he throws his hand out in a flourish like he's actually bowing and not simply bent over in pain.
"How—" Allister stumbles back against the table next to me. I lean forward and wrap my hand around his, trying to lend him some of my strength to deal with whatever is happening between them.
Kalven stands up straight and rubs his neck, "I'm not surprised you forgot about me; you were such a young lad the last time I saw you." He steps forward and places his hand atop Allister's shoulder. "But it's wonderful to see you again, little cub."
I'm watching Allister's face as the words tumble out of Kalven's mouth, meaning I can see his reaction to the nickname Kalven calls him. His eyes water and he lets his mouth drops open in surprise. I even feel his hand begin to shake a little. His voice is meek as it comes out. "The only person who ever called me little cub was my father's best friend."
Kalven steps forward and wraps his arms around Allister's shoulders. "Again, it's wonderful to see you again little cub. I didn't think I'd live to see the day you'd return. I thought you were lost to us forever, corrupted by that evil tyrant." He pulls away with his arms still on Allister's shoulders. "But here you are barging into your people's castle with your own strange family and Henrik's own granddaughter, who also happens to be your mate, in tow. The one person who could take down Henrik and unite this nation." His eyes move over to mine for a second before pinning them back on Allister. "I'm so proud of you. Your father would be incredibly proud of you too. Your mother must be beaming." Allister almost crumples into the table behind him as he rests his head on Kalven's shoulder.
Kalven wraps his arms back around Allister as Allister's shoulders shake. I give his hand one tight squeeze before letting go. As soon as I release his hand Allister wraps his arms around Kalven.
He peeks at me from around Allister's shoulder and winks at me. I smile at the both of them reunited. As I sit and watch their interaction, tears start welling in the corner of my eyes. Allister thought he lost everyone, from the sound of it even his mother was lost to him, but now things have changed. Now, he has someone here from his past, someone who remembers him, who loved him.
Allister releases Kalven and moves over to me, wrapping me in a warm embrace. As he pulls away I see how reddened and wet his face is from crying. The redness in his face surprisingly brings out the ruby hue in his eyes, making them appear more red than purple. As he faces Kalven again he moves closer to my side and drapes his arm around my shoulders.
"I thought our entourage was killed along with my father. How did you escape?"
"You won't like this." Now, it's Kalven's turn to appear uncomfortable as he rubs the back of his neck and shifts his weight back and forth. "Your father knew he would be killed. He found a secret passage into Shadow Mountain and sent me back through it."
"He what?" Allister screeches in the highest pitched voice I've ever heard fall out of his mouth. "He sent you but didn't leave himself? He knew he was going to die, but he chose to stay?"
Kalven puts his hands up in a placating gesture, "You have to think about how it would seem. If your father left, Henrik could say your father murdered his father and your father taking off in the middle of the night was proof of his guilt. Henrik could have then easily have called a blood feud against your father which would have resulted in all out war. Your father was trying to save our people by sacrificing his life."
I cut in, "What's a blood feud?"
Kalven's eyes swing to me. "A blood feud happens when a Fae kills a member of your family. Which, as you can tell, happens often. When a member of a Fae family is murdered, a Fae from the victim's family would kill the murderer of said family member. Which in turn leads the other family to kill the Fae who murdered their family member."
"So it's a vicious cycle? How does it ever stop?"
Allister says, "It does when both families annihilate each other. My eyes grow wide. "But my father ended the barbaric practice long before I was born."
Kalven adds in, "He simply made murder illegal."
"It wasn't before?" I ask, shocked such a thing could be allowed to go on without punishment for hundreds, maybe thousands of years.
Kalven shakes his head. "You forget what vicious creatures Fae can be. But when Allister's father took the throne the first thing he did was make murder illegal. Then he outlawed blood feuds. If a person murdered another Fae they would have to answer to the king. If someone acted on the blood feud they would also be punished by the king."
I'm still confused, so I ask, "If it was illegal why would Henrik have been able to call a blood feud?"
Allister shakes his head and leans on the table. "Just because it was illegal in the Eastern Fae territory does not mean it was illegal in the Western Fae territory. Blood feuds still happen there. Henrik doesn't care about his people's well-being like my father did."
I ask, "So your father let him finish out the blood feud knowing no one here would retaliate and it would be finished with? But he had to have known he would then have control over his territory, right?"
Kalven breathes out, "Yes, but he assumed I would be able to sneak his mate and child out of that hell hole. He must have thought we would take the Eastern Fae territory back from Henrik."
Allister takes in a deep breath and drops his head, he almost whispers, "Well, my father could have simply sent me with you, and I could have this kingdom back already."
Kalven lowers his hands and his shoulders sag. "The same could have been said about you or your mother leaving. It's not rare for young Fae children to kill people, we're a vicious bunch. But one member of the royal entourage missing? I doubt Henrik ever gave it a second thought." Allister silently nods in agreement. His words flabbergast me. This is actually well known in their world. It's semi normal for Fae kids to murder people. How could such a thing possibly be real? How often has this happened to become an accepted norm? I quietly remind myself to take note of any children I pass in the castle.
Kalven steps forward and places a hand on Allister's shoulder. Allister peers up at him. "Your father entrusted me to save you and your mother by any means necessary. He was trying to protect you both while keeping his people from having to face a war against Henrik." Kalven drops his head to his chest in shame. "He entrusted me with the most precious things to him and I failed him. I couldn't find a way to get either of you out without it turning into a full scale battle."
