“I’d rather not.” Going out there only reminded me of my failures as the ruler of this land. Here, looking at my son, I could focus on the good. The same could not be said for outside. The blight surrounded the castle on all sides now. Even from the tallest tower, not a speck of green could be found for miles. We were running out of everything: space, food,time.
“Hiding away won’t fix anything. Your people need to see you at least attempting to make this right.”
Attempting, not actually doing anything of use. Because no one knew how to stave off the darkness. The entirety of our land would be dead by spring. We had to take action now. If only I knew what that action should be.
Rían and I had met with elders from every faction of Danú and none of their remarkably few ideas had worked. Without the Queen’s help, the blight was here to stay.
I let Keelynn lace our fingers together and started for the hallway. Together, we descended the staircase and emerged into yet another glorious day. No one milled about the courtyard. No carts of fruit and veg sat parked in the gravel, waiting to be added to the dwindling stores. The castle had become silent as a graveyard with a black sea of death looming outside the warded gates.
“Oh no…”Keelynn breathed, her trembling hand lifting to her parted lips. She wasn’t looking out onto the expanse of the rolling fields but at her own boots.
I glanced down, and my heart stalled.
No.
The roots of the ivy clinging to the inside of the walls had turned black, and a small stretch of ground along the stones matched the earth outside.
The blight had penetrated the wards.
My hammering heart filled the silence that had been roaring in my ears. “Shit.”
I should’ve known we wouldn’t be safe in here forever. I should’ve feckin’ known.
And I’d been so preoccupied with Hagan and the wedding and happiness that I’d let it get this far. Cormac had been right to damn me. With the way the blight was spreading, we’d have no gardens or grass by the end of the week. If Rían were here, he and I could have shifted the castle, but he was gone, and I hadn’t the foggiest idea when he’d return.
Even if I managed to shift the castle on my own, where would I put it? We’d need to drop the wards, and even if I created new ones, they wouldn’t be as strong as these.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, knowing the words would do nothing but fall short.
“Look at me.” Keelynn used her hold on my hand to turn me toward her. “This isn’t your fault,” she said. “It’shers.”
My throat started to burn, and the only thing I knew would quench the fire was drink. But since I couldn’t handle my drink, I had to settle for cursing instead. This may have been the Queen’s doing, but the fault remained on my shoulders. For so long, I’d been content to let Rían handle the parts of ruling this country that seemed difficult when I should’ve been the one taking charge. Maybe if I’d been more present over the last century, I would’ve seen this coming and been able to prevent it. Maybe I would’ve listened to him about the threat the Queen posed and done something about her before it was too late.
It may have been too late for Tearmann, but my people still needed a leader.
I flicked my wrist, and the heavy stillness of a tost descended around us. I finally let my gaze drop to my wife’s, expecting to find contempt and disappointment. But all I saw in Keelynn’s gorgeous gray eyes was love. And that love gave me the strength to make the only choice left to us.
“We need to leave.”
A tiny wrinkle appeared between her arched brows. “Running away isn’t the answer. We must find another way.”
“That’s just it. Thereisno other way. Even if we manage to kill the Queen, the blight will continue to consume until all of Tearmann has been swallowed. This is a battle we cannot win. I need to think of our people’s wellbeing. Of my family’s survival.” And we could no longer survive here.
Her lips rolled together as her gaze left mine only to snag on those blackened vines. “Where will we go?”
The north of Airren was an option, but an influx of that many Danú was sure to be noticed, and taking the land by force would be in direct violation of the treaty. With all the unrest on this island, I couldn’t ensure their safety.
Meaning our best bet would be to leave Airren altogether.
The neighboring island of Vellana wouldn’t work—that forsaken country made Airren seem like a holiday resort for Danú. Which left the southern island of Iodale or the continent to the east.
Iodale was closer, and there were fae lands on the northernmost tip, though I had no idea if they would have room for all of us or what problems that might cause. The continent would give us more room to spread out, but the king there would likely see us as invaders instead of refugees.
“We’ll go to Iodale.” I would send word to the fae council there and explain the direness of our situation.
Keelynn nodded. “Iodale it is. How will we get there?”
Since we couldn’t evanesce across the water, we’d have to commission ships. Our coffers were filled with gold, so payment wouldn’t be a problem. I could speak to those who smuggled drink and goods and ask if they’d be willing to act as ferries. I’d need to discuss the plans with the merrow, of course, get permission to dock in the bay. And then we’d need to spread the word to our people so they would have time to gather their belongings before we left.