Smart move.
Ceridwen was a force of reckoning all her own.
Tiernan maneuvered through the courtyard in search of his commander. He discovered Lir standing near a fountain, still as stone, his gaze locked onto Maeve. She’d glamoured herself fresh clothing, simple leggings and a blue beaded corset, and her golden pink curls were wild and unbound. She was working with Cahira, training thefaolanto obey her commands, and a small murmur of awe erupted from those watching her as Cahira froze fronds of a palm tree swaying overhead.
“Lir.” Tiernan approached, and his commander stiffened.
“I’m fine, my lord.” His one silver eye remained focused on Maeve.
Tiernan crossed his arms, rocking back lightly onto his heels. “I’m sure you are.”
“The wound to my eye has healed, thanks to Brynn’s efforts.” Lir’s stoic composure only intensified. His fists clenched at his sides. “I will be ready to lead the Summer Legion into Spring at dawn.”
“Of that, I have no doubt,” Tiernan agreed calmly.
Lir turned on him, and the silver of his eye flashed. “Then why do I get the feeling that you’re waiting for me to crack beneath the pressure? I will not step down from my position, Your Highness. I took a vow to fight alongside you until death. I swore my loyalty to you, and I have no plans of letting an injury?—”
Tiernan raised one hand, silencing him. “I do not care about your injury, Commander.”
A crease formed across his brow. “Sorry, my lord?”
“It’s healed, as you have said. What I worry about is what’s in here.” Tiernan tapped Lir’s armor just above his heart.
Lir glanced down, then slowly met his gaze.
“You did not fail her.” It needed to be stated. Again. Tiernan would continue to reiterate the fact that Lir had not failed Maeve for however long it took, until the cold-blooded warrior understood.
Lir moved closer and lowered his head. “I could not save her.”
Tiernan gripped Lir’s shoulders in a firm grasp. “Listen to me. She will need you now more than ever. You know as well as I do that there is a very real chance not all of us will survive this war.”
Silently, Lir nodded once.
“But shemust.”Tiernan released him, punching each of his words with urgency. “Do you understand? Shemustsurvive. No matter the cost.”
Lir offered him a small bow. “I understand, my lord.”
Long shadows stretched across the courtyard as the sun sank further into the western sky. Hues of twilight were already beginning to emerge, but Tiernan wouldn’t order his army into formation until they could move with stealth under the cover of nightfall.
He stole a glance over at Maeve, at the bruised, burnt flesh of her neck. Thunder rattled the heavens, and everyone froze, turning to cast a wary gaze over at him. Rubbing the back of his neck, Tiernan ducked his head, struggling to maintain control of his temper.
“How?” Lir asked suddenly, his voice so low, Tiernan wasn’t sure he’d actually spoken. Lir raked a hand through his darktwists of hair, shoving them back from his face. “How do we kill her for what she has done to our queen?”
“The same way we would anyone else.” Tiernan’s blood heated with vengeance, the promise of a rising storm. “Slowly.”
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Merrick sifting through the clusters of warriors and archers, heading toward them with Aran’s map in his hand.
He bowed quickly, then tucked his hands behind his back. “High King Dorian and High Queen Ciara are moving forces as we speak. Ciara will take the mountains to the north of Suvarese then move in. Dorian has agreed to flank both sides of the Rainbow River, which puts us at the forefront. We’ll have to cross the river as well if we intend to take the high ground.”
“Excellent.” Tiernan waited a moment, then added, “Any word from Wenfyre or Brackroth?”
Merrick’s face instantly shuttered. “Nothing yet, my lord.”
Damn.
It wasn’t the news Tiernan expected, but that didn’t mean he would give up yet. There was still hope, however small, that one of their allies might arrive in time to help them defeat Parisa.
Maeve strode over to them with Cahira on her heels. She ruffled thefaolan’s white fur, then took her place by Tiernan’s side.
