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“Ah, never look at the floor. You reveal your weakness to your opponent.”
“Why do you care?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I enjoy a project occasionally. Especially one who is clever enough to out-wit me at my own game.” He tilted his head. Trying to read me. “I presume whatever little talent you used to discover the battle plan you also used to root out Filo?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re smart not to trust me. No hard feelings,” he said, standing to his feet. He extended his hand to me. I hesitantly took it, pulling myself up from the table. “Where is Gaelin now?”
“Preparing for tomorrow’s battle I presume. He told me not to wait up.”
Erendrial smirked. “I think it is time for you to be on your way.”
“Does that mean you believe me?” I asked desperately.
He looked down into my eyes. The silver of his iris’s swirled around his dark pupils. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow for that answer.” He smiled, gesturing to the door. He pulled it open, checking the hall first. “Good night, Genevieve.”
I stopped, taking another look at him, cataloging all the familiar features I had memorized. He nodded to the hall. I took my leave, moving quickly to put as much distance between myself and his room. I had done all I could to save this stubborn, miserable race. I just hope it was enough.
Chapter 18
Ididn’t even hear Gaelin come to bed that night and by the time I woke up, he was gone. I moved around the room, trying to distract myself with laundry and cleaning. If Erendrial didn’t believe what I told him, I could try to get as many humans and children as possible out of the castle before Otar attacked. That was my next move. I had to get them ready just in case things went south.
I dropped the basket of clothing to the ground and was moving to the door when Gaelin and Levos came barging through. Gaelin slammed the door, eyes deadlocked on me. It was very clear that he was pissed. Levos looked worried behind him, pacing back and forth.
“What did you tell him?” yelled Gaelin.
“What?” I asked, taking a step away from him.
“Erendrial. You went to him, didn’t you? You told him about your vision.”
I began to tremble, not knowing what had transpired in the past few hours. “Yes, I did,” I admitted.
“Why, Gen? Why go to him? Of all alfar? He is dangerous and deadly. He hates me and all light alfar and yet you went to him and told him something that he can now use against you. You have placed your life in his hands. He would have figured out that you are half alfar by now. Do you realize what you’ve done?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see another choice. You weren’t listening and I am certain of what I saw. If I have to sacrifice my life to save everyone in this forsaken place, then it was worth the risk!” I yelled.
Gaelin strode towards me with an anger I had never seen in him before. He raised his hand as if he were about to strike me. Levos stepped in between us.
“Gaelin, you need to calm down. What’s done is done. You need to prepare yourself for the battle,” said Levos softly.
Gaelin lowered his hand, still locked onto my eyes. “You’ve sealed your own fate. He will use your identity against me, and I won’t allow it. You will have to clean this mess up yourself.”
“I was trying to save your life!” I yelled.
“You didn’t trust me. Instead, you went to him for help. Our enemy,” said Gaelin. He took one more look at me before turning to leave the room.
Levos held onto me, preventing me from following. I was so mad I wanted to hit something. How dare he get mad at me for using the only resources I had available. This was his fault, not mine. Levos turned to me, holding my shoulders.
“His pride is hurt, Gen. You were right. Otar is using some type of illusion that allowed us to see his forces in the south, when in reality, he was preparing to attack the northern wall.”
“Then why is he so angry with me?”
“Erendrial came in during this morning's debriefing with the news about the enemy in the north. He took credit for it—leaving you out of it, thankfully—but in doing so, he made Gaelin look like a complete fool. I think Gaelin is also upset that you felt comfortable enough to even go to Erendrial with this.”
“I wasn’t comfortable. Not for one second, but my state of comfort was of little concern to me when you all were about to walk into a death trap,” I said, pacing throughout the room.
“When did you tell him?” he asked.