Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (39 page)

(Alaric)

We all agreed that I needed to confront Tarron, sooner rather than later. Dagda has made it clear that no matter the outcome weapons are not to be drawn. This is to be a diplomatic visit to negotiate the terms of the blood contract. Not that there is anything to negotiate, that took place long before Ashlinn was born. So we rode out at twilight while Ashlinn was spending time with her mother. The timing was perfect as I have asked that our mission be concealed from Ashlinn, even though I know there will be hell to pay later but this is between Tarron and me. Ashlinn and Danu were walking along the edge of the loch towards the back of the Keep as we rode out which effectively allowed us to quietly leave without her notice. Now as we approach Tarron’s dark estate, Raven’s Claw Keep, I feel Ash searching for me thru our bond. I’ve been expecting it and until this very moment chose to keep our link open as to not alert her to my plans. Now all bets are off and I can feel her losing it as she realizes what I’m up to. Knowing that I need to focus, I close down our bond giving her just enough access as to know that I’m alright, not something I like doing but it’s necessary.

I take in our surroundings and even though dusk has long since given way to the night sky I can see by the light of the waning moon and I’m surprised by what I see. Tarron’s Keep has grown dark and ominous from the last time I visited. There’s a completely different feel to the land as we approach. It’s as if the world around the Keep has taken on the dark aspects of its lord and keeper. Much of the land has an over grown, neglected look about it. Declan and I look at one another as we both are coming to the same conclusion. There’s dark majic afoot. He furrows his brow and I sense that Alexia has just now realized the mission we are on, as my second draws in a sharp breathe. That must have been some more of an angry outburst from Lexie. We’ll both have a lot to answer to when we get back to Glendale Loch.

As we approach a herald calls out, “Halt! Lord Tarron has given strict orders that no one shall pass.”

Dagda paces his mount forward as he declares, “Tell the dark lord that the High King of the Realm demands entrance!” His voice booms across the way. We hear a muttered barely audible, “Yes, my lord.” Several long minutes pass as our mounts shuffle nervously beneath us before the gates are raised and we are escorted in. At one time there were not many that occupied the Keep but I see that is no longer the case as I take in the hoard that has assembled to greet us. Tarron has built his Guard with dark fae, misfits, and Fomorian monsters. Those that seek acceptance just like he does, there are vampires, other incubi, dark elves, as well as trolls, goblins, and the list goes on. Most Fomorians can shift to reveal their darker side. Evidently they are comfortable in that skin in Tarron’s court. They roam freely, looking monstrous and enormous. Most are dark fae so the alliance makes sense in a twisted kind of way. To Ash many would appear frightening and rather alien. I’m filled with dread as I realize that Ashlinn will be exposed to this court if I cannot make Tarron see reason.

The main entrance to the Keep opens as Tarron stalks out of the gaping dark mouth of the interior of the Keep. He cocks his head to the side as he takes us all in; his features are scowling at our intrusion. “Alaric. Why are you here? If you have come thinking you can change my mind then you are wasting your time. Nothing you have to say will make a difference. Did you not get that from my visit the other night?’ He pauses as he deliberates how to continue as a cruel smirk creeps into place. “Did you enjoy my chosen in your bed the other night? I made a point to ensure that the night was rather stormy. It reflected my ill mood rather well. It does make for a rather exciting romp in the sheets. Don’t you agree?” He says with a menacing gleam in his eyes, goading me.

Hell no, he did not even just go there. I take a deep calming breath as I hear Dagda swear under his breath. I know that I’m going to have to take the high road if we’re going to get anywhere with him but screw it, and I get right to the point. “Turnabout’s fair play, as it were. You crash my Keep, I crash yours. What are you possibly thinking Tarron? You have no right to take her from me. She is not some plaything, a toy to be fought over! You have no claim on her! You need to drop this twisted notion that she’s your chosen. What you intend to do will cause her great pain. I really don’t think you want that. The friend I once knew would not ever contemplate doing something as heinous as this. Think of how your mother has suffered. Don’t push that on Ashlinn. She is pure and good and does not deserve this!” I roar as the courtyard stills.

Tarron begins to pace above us in agitation at the entrance to his stone fortress. He narrows his eyes as his mouth twists into a tight line making his jaw tick before he releases his anger on me, “At what point Alaric did you stop paying attention?! You have always been the smart one. Hell, you were my idol for a time, until I grew up and I realized that you would get your due and I would always be the reject! I am the first born son to my father and yet he has denounced me at every turn. I am a grown ass adult male that no longer seeks approval from his friend or from his father. I will take what is mine! I will no longer bow down and let others walk all over me. My claim was staked long before you staked yours. You are right about one thing Alaric, she is no plaything. She is the single most desired female in all the Realm. She is the daughter of Danu. She will be my redemption. She will see me through the darkness that haunts my soul and she will stand by me as my queen! You will have no choice but to let her go as per the terms of the agreement!” As Tarron’s rant comes to a close his men break into a deafening cheer as they beat wildly on shields or whatever else they can find to lend their support to their leader.

In a rage I urge Tempest forward as I retort bellowing above the noise of the crowd, “No! You should know that I will never let her go. Ever! You had better ready your forces because if you take her by force we will go to battle. I will not give her up without a fight. Surely you can see how unreasonable you are being. This is bigger than the deal that was struck. The Tree of Life has blessed Ashlinn and me as kindred souls. Our binding bond is strong.” The noise dies down as everyone waits for Tarron’s response.

“I’m sorry my old friend, we are at an impasse. The blood contract will override your bond. She may never love me but hopefully she will eventually come to accept me. She will be the light to my darkness. I truly cannot allow you to take that from me. I stand firm in my declaration.” His words bring a chill to my heart as what feels like and icy grip is constricting my life line.

“Then we go to war, blood contact or not. I will stop at nothing to keep her safe from the likes of you! Would you give up everything for her? Would you lay down your life for her? I would! I would trade everything that I have and everything I am just to see that she is safe. None of this means anything without her for me. You want her for what you can gain… you sick bastard. You seek to put her through hell to prove your father wrong. You will tear her apart in your quest of vengeance and greed!” As I conclude the courtyard has gone eerily quiet.

“Enough! You know not of what you speak! You think you know me but you know nothing! Your time here is at an end! I suggest that you enjoy your time with my chosen because she will be mine within a fortnight.” In response to his declaration the entire group, of dark fae take up the chant, “Our queen, our queen…”

I move to dismount as I say, “You pig headed son of a bitch! You will see reason!” Dagda stays my movement with the touch of his hand on my left shoulder. He and my father have moved forward to flank either side of me. Helping to calm the rage I feel toward my childhood friend as I battle my inner beast that wants nothing more than to rip Tarron to shreds because he threatens our mate.

Dagda looks around the courtyard as he makes his presence known. Once again the mob grows quiet. Many bow under the weight of his glare before he directs his attention to Tarron. “Son, I understand that you’re angry. Angry with a man that fathered you but has never been a father to you, angry with a grandfather that would cast your mother aside apparently without a backward glance at the time, but do you think that what you’re doing is any better? Two wrongs don’t make a right. Do you think that by taking an innocent without their consent will make all of this right?” He pauses allowing his words to sink in before continuing, “Tarron I implore you to put your anger and jealousy aside and think rationally for a moment. Yes, Danu entered into this pact of yours willingly at the time, but that was before any of us knew that there would be any more kindred souls. That lass and Alaric are meant to be! Their souls were chosen by the Tree to save the Realms. The prophecy has spoken! If you take her by force then all the Realms will suffer for it. Are you that selfish that you cannot see the bigger picture here? The lad I once knew… he could distinguish the difference between right and wrong. What you are about to do is wrong! I once sought to give you shelter when you were just a wee lad. To give you council, I made sure that you were educated, that your father acknowledged you and your mother by providing for you. I took you under my wing because I saw promise in you. Where is the lad I once knew?” He demands.

“You?! You did nothing but push me away. Just like my father. Just like my grandfather. Just like my mother! You stand here talking about how much you have done for me. The way I see it, as soon as you could be rid of me and my mother you were. You dress it up as good deeds but in reality you saw me and my nature as a burden you couldn’t wait to be rid of. So you approached my father and strong armed him into relinquishing his northern most Keep. He parked me here as far away from his court as possible. Deny me my birthright! Well here I was left alone to ponder why I wasn’t good enough, why I was found lacking, and here I have embraced my dark side!” Tarron’s anger is palpable.

Dagda hangs his head for a moment as he absorbs the meaning of his words before he responds, “Tarron, lad, you were never found lacking in my eyes. Maybe I went about things the wrong way. I was angry with Bres for his treatment of you and your mother and felt that the only thing that could make that right was for him to acknowledge you. I never meant for you to feel as though you were not wanted around Glenndale Lock.”

Tarron shakes his head in disbelief as he shoots back, “None of that, matters now! I have chosen my path. I will stay the course. I have chosen to be the champion for all those that Faerie finds lacking. I have chosen to provide shelter and safe haven to those that are rejected by this Realm in exchange for their services. You’re right Alaric, Ashlinn is good and she is light and she will welcome those around me because she will see the good in them and their worth, where no one else does.”

I bristle at his bold statement, knowing it to be true, “I will never willingly allow you to take her, to corrupt her. If you do this then we will forever be enemies. Is that what you want? Because… I don’t… But make no mistake I will do what I must to protect my kindred. Tarron… nothing else matters to me now. Don’t do this!” I growl.

Tarron takes me in, assessing my words and his course of action before he says, “Forgive me, my friend.” Then turning his back on me as he cocks his head to one side angled back towards the courtyard he announces in a dead pan voice. “She is mine and I mean to have her! You need to leave.” He throws the doors open as he walks away from me, his coat billowing out behind him in the wind that has kicked up, his decision made.

He has stoked a fury in me that I have never known at his unwillingness to back down from his claim as I say, “So be it! You stubborn ass! If it is war you want… then war you will get!” Tempest is ready as I weld him to turn on his haunches. He rears up pawing at the thumb nail moon before heading out the way we came. Leaving behind the dark fae and Fomorians as they continue to cheer on their chosen prince and leader, the sound infuriates me and I’m more determined than ever to find a way to keep my kindred from being drawn to this dark place.

As we exit Tarron’s keep I open my link to Ashlinn, it’s then that I realize we have a problem with the Forrest Elves. This far away from her I mostly pick up on heightened emotions and feelings but one image is being projected repeatedly. We’re a good hour or so away from the Forrest Elves and it would appear that Ashlinn is preparing to leave the Keep to battle a Shadow Demon and who knows what else. I push back thru our link to hold off, that we’re on our way. Declan is beside me and I can tell that he’s received the same information as I turn to Dagda and my father. Our mounts are racing out in formation under a brilliant waning moon illuminating a dark star streaked sky. My concern is not only for Ashlinn but that I have left the Keep without its best warriors when I made the decision to bring them with me. Damn, but I’m constantly finding myself making poor decisions leaving Ashlinn compromised.

I lean over toward Dagda so that my uncle can hear me above the pounding sound of hooves and say loudly, “We have a problem! The Forrest Elves are being attacked by a Shadow Demon and Ashlinn and the rest mean to take this demon on. Even at our fastest pace we are at least an hour out.”