Son of Ereubus (40 page)

“Yes, I could. I would take very good care of him!”

Duncan patted the ferret on the top of the head. He would kind of miss him, having found him well over a year ago, but she took to him so well, that he didn’t have the heart to keep such a thing for himself, not being a grown Adorian. “Run along then and introduce Spoon to his new home.”

She smiled and threw one arm around him in a quick hug before running off back into the crowded market.

It was later that same day, well into the evening, that her very displeased mother found him and conveyed her disapproval for her involuntary adoption of the creature. He’d swung his door open with the idea that maybe the girl’s father had come to find him, to question why Duncan had felt it necessary to give his daughter anything at all, let alone something living. But instead of the tall, dark-headed man he’d imagined, there stood a woman with one hand on her hip, the other holding out the ferret, who was struggling for solid ground. She was so perfect. Her smile had a slight crook to it, leaning down a little more on the left than the right, and her skin was like that of a child’s doll. She opened her mouth to speak, but stuttered her words at first. She’d expected some strange, shady character to open the door.

“I meant no harm, my lady, and I’m sincerely sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble.” He hadn’t meant to greet her that way, “lady” wasn’t a common term in the villages, but she’d struck him as having the regal nature of the Adorian women whom he’d grown accustomed to addressing upon his visits home. Aside from her clothing, there was nothing that could connect her to Middengard for him.

She smiled. “I just wanted to make sure that this wasn’t a beloved pet that my daughter has somehow convinced you that she can’t live without. She has a way of doing that.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No. Not at all, but I should have asked permission before telling her that it was alright. Really, I am sorry.” Ironically enough Duncan had been moping about the remainder of the afternoon thinking about how he’d really grown quite attached to the little guy. Against everything in his usual demeanor, he reached out his hand for hers. “I don’t believe that we have met before. My name is Duncan.”

She smiled as he kissed the top of her hand. “My name is Jocelyn. I believe you have already met Lillian, my daughter.” As she said the little girl’s name, her head poked out from behind her mother, her eyes big and sad, and she’d no doubt been told that they were going to return Spoon to his rightful owner.

It was that night that she’d stolen his heart, that they both had. They didn’t come in, or stay much longer, but in the following days and months he learned much about them. Her husband had been part of the human cavalry that had come to Palingard’s aid in the siege that had killed Caelyn, Ariana’s mother. He’d also lost his life that day, leaving Jocelyn a widow.

Before long, she and Duncan were married and he took Lillian as his own daughter. They tried for several years to have another child, but weren’t blessed until right before Ruiari’s fall. She’d just told him several days prior that she was with child. She believed it to be a son. He never had the chance to tell her where he was really from.

The day that they died was frozen in his memory. He breathed in the cold air, and stopped walking for a second. Closing his eyes, he could still see Lilly’s face as she looked at him pleadingly from Garren’s hold. Duncan had been trying to find her all morning.

Duncan shook as he remembered holding Lilly lifeless in his arms.

Jocelyn was already dead. She’d kissed him lightly on the cheek, as he was in between consciousness and dreams, whispering to him that she was going to the market for bread and would be right back. He awoke shortly after to the sound of horses’ hooves and the screams of the Dragee.

Duncan never mentioned the unborn child to Michael. He would probably have never spoken Jocelyn’s or Lillian’s names again at all had it not been for Michael’s keen perception. He’d approached Duncan shortly after his return to Adoria. They’d always had a sort of strained relationship since Michael had become an adult. Despite this, Michael had known something was different with Duncan. And Duncan couldn’t lie to Michael any more than he could’ve ever lied to Michael’s father. He told him of his marriage, and of their deaths and hadn’t spoken of it since, including when Michael came to him earlier in the evening to tell him that it had been decided that Garren would live.
Not only that Garren would live, but that the elders were also presenting him with Jenner’s sword.

Duncan found his way to a large set of boulders that was fixed upright along the bank of a waterfall. Everything was pretty well iced over this time of the year, but it was still peaceful. He sat down and stretched his legs out in front of him. How could the elders be so foolish? What part of this didn’t scream deception to them? Everything about it felt wrong.

He stopped breathing as he listened to the sound of something stirring in the bushes beside him. Holding his hand on his sword, he rose from his seat and was about investigate further when, from out of the ice-covered thicket, Ariana’s dog emerged.

“What are you doing all the way out here?” Duncan asked, leaning down to pet him. “It’s just as well. All who walk on two legs have lost their minds. Good thing you’ve got four.”

Duncan returned to his seat as Koen lay down next to him. He noticed then that Koen was breathing hard and placed his hand on the dog’s chest. His heart was beating furiously, as if he’d been running.

“Where have you been?” Koen just looked up at him. “I suppose it’s silly to sit here and talk to a dog.” He shrugged. If everyone else was allowed to go insane, he might as well follow suit. “Since we’re speaking candidly here, what do you think Gabriel would’ve done?” Duncan let his hand lie still on Koen’s back. “No, I don’t suppose you
can
answer that, not having known him.”

Koen let out a soft whine, almost as if he were sympathizing with Duncan.

“It’s alright, friend.” He rubbed the dog on the head. “I wouldn’t have told Gabriel that his only son was being an idiot, either, even if he were still alive to hear it.”

C
HAPTER
F
ORTY-
F
OUR

M
Y
U
NBORN
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D

uncan sat in the corner of the room beside Michael. The tension was palpable. Michael had paced most of the night, wondering how this morning’s meeting was going to go. He was pleased to see that Duncan had at least come, considering that Michael had already written off help from the Braeden. Once everyone had arrived, at Michael’s request, Jenner rose and spoke first.

“We have before us a choice. I assume Michael has spoken with many of you individually as to the reason that we’re considering a return journey to Eidolon, but for any who are unaware, I’ll briefly explain. Two individuals who are of importance to this realm need our assistance. Micah is an Innocent and will be condemned to death for his sympathies for Adoria. Sara, a childhood friend of Ariana’s, is being held as a breeder.”

Caedmon responded first. “Are you certain that he is still an Innocent?”

Michael hurt for Caedmon. His whole demeanor had changed since Reese’s death.

“Garren has told us that Micah has yet to take his first soul. Michael saw it as well. This is the young man who was spared upon your last meeting with Garren’s men.”

“Respectfully, Jenner, I don’t question who he is. I accompanied Michael and the boy back to Eidolon that day. What I question is all that has happened in his life since his return.”

“He’s an Innocent. After delivering Michael’s message to me, I kept a close watch over him.”

Michael watched as the others disregarded Garren’s words. He rose from his seat to stand beside Garren.

“Do you think that I’m not aware of what transgressions Garren’s committed? Do you think me a foolish leader who would send you headfirst into harm’s way? I’ll go alone into Eidolon if that is what it takes, but after hearing claims of loyalty from so many of you over the years, it grieves me to hear you sound so resolute over your decision to abandon me when I need you the most.”

Jareth started to say something in opposition, but Michael held up his hand to stop him. “What have we sacrificed so many lives for, if not for redemption? Was it vengeance that you purposed after, all this time, as you rode by my side in battle? I know some of you have lost loved ones at his hands.” He looked at Duncan as he spoke. “But hating him will not bring them back, or lessen your grief. It will only kill any part of you that they loved.”

Michael turned his attention back to the group. “Did you think this would be easy? What did you expect? What do you think will happen once Eidolon is defeated? It’s much easier to hate than to forgive — but that’s what separates us from them, the ability to choose. Hate darkness, but don’t confuse those who are held captive by it with those who create it. Garren is of this realm. While his actions were dark, he did only as he was raised to do.”

Caedmon’s face grew tight. “How are you so convinced this isn’t just another type of deception? Could he not have sensed that Ariana was your sister, and then used her as a source of weakness for you? It’s purchased him free entry into our realm.”

“He already had entry into this realm and could have used it at any time. There would’ve been no need for theatrics. All he had to do was simply walk past our borders. It’s not my perception that has changed, but the circumstances.”

An older woman, Juliana, with gray hair and a thin, distinguished face, spoke next. “If you deem it an acceptable risk to rescue these two, then I have faith that you’ll not have to go alone. But I believe you will find it difficult to navigate Eidolon without the help of the Braeden.” She was an elder of few words, like many of the other Adorian women, but there was a command to her voice that had always captured Michael’s attention.

Duncan leaned with his chair tipped back against the wall and refused to respond.

“If you won’t do this for me, then please consider it for Ariana. Did you not know Sara?”

Duncan was agitated already, but Michael needed his assistance and it seemed that eliciting an emotional response from him was the only way.

“Why do you think I’m sitting here? We should’ve talked about this already and gotten Sara out of Eidolon while we were there. This is yet another example of you being ill prepared. You concern yourself far too much with principles and manage to leave out common sense in the process.”

Michael wasn’t thrilled with Duncan’s attitude and he could feel the shock emanating from Garren, who wouldn’t have expected such outright hostility from those under Michael’s command.

“Duncan, as I’ve already stated, I would appreciate your help, but it’s not mandatory.”

“It’s quite mandatory. You won’t be able to navigate your way through the tunnels. Our newfound brother doesn’t even know they exist, much less where they lead. And now that we’ve made such a grand entrance, you can rest assured that Eidolon will be heavily guarded from now on.”

Garren considered Duncan’s words. He seemed surprised by any mention of tunnels. “My suggestion — ”

“We don’t need your suggestions. We’ve rescued our own from your castle’s walls before, this is nothing new. Your mother was one of us, and you find that easy to believe, why does it shock you to learn that she wasn’t alone?”

“What surprised me is that an Adorian made it to a cell in the first place.”

Michael cringed as he heard the words. He knew Garren hadn’t meant them the way that they’d come out, but Duncan’s composure was starting to unravel.

“Not every Ereubinian has the exceptional sort of cruelty and malice that you carry for our people, for anything with a pulse. Your taste for blood is infectious and has been carried on into the hearts of your men. Things weren’t always as they are now in Eidolon. Why do you think it was so easy for Gabriel to befriend your father?” Garren didn’t respond. “Because he was nothing like you!”

“Wait,” Michael clung to the vain hope that he’d misunderstood Duncan. “You knew Garren was Adorian before Roahn spoke for him?”

“Of course I knew. I was there.” Duncan glared at him coolly. “Jareth was born of both Man and Adorian and yet he has wings. It’s always been this way, being of no importance which side carries the blood of an Adorian.” He turned to Garren. “Yet you were born without. More than a symbol, it means that you are not one of us.”

Michael rose to his feet. “You said nothing to me when we last sat in this room, discussing the border. If you knew he was Adorian and could pose a threat to our realm by breaching the divide, why did you stay silent?”

“That’s a question for your father.”

“My father has nothing to do with this.” His restraint was weakening. It was one thing to allow such talk to be done within this room, but quite another to place their realm in peril, no matter the excuse.

“He has everything to do with this! It’s the same reason I couldn’t tell you of your sister’s existence. I made a promise to him, that the things we beheld and were privy to wouldn’t pass beyond us. No one can make me break that vow.”

“Even at the demise of your own people?”

“Beyond death, Michael. Gabriel asked if I’d be able to keep my promises, even after he was gone, and my answer to him was yes. For all the talk of ideals that you pretend to stand behind, I’m amazed that you’re so shocked to find me loyal. I don’t have to run my mouth to prove my allegiances.”

Michael had heard enough. “It’s not loyalty that drives your decisions or your promises to my father. I’m not sure what exact — ”

Duncan clenched his hand into a fist and held it to his chest as he leapt to his feet. “It is my unborn son!” he screamed. “It is the child who was taken from me before I even beheld his face.”