Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3) (15 page)

“It better not happen again, Accacia.”

“I know, Laura,” she said. “I never want to hurt Zyle like that ever again.”

They arrived at Asylinth House and Natalia ushered them into the sitting area. Accacia looked around and noticed it looked exactly the way she had left it. It even smelled the same. Natalia directed them into the study and they took their seats. Aleco wasn’t there, but a large man with black hair and matching dark eyes sat in the chair by the fire. He didn’t speak when they walked in but he nodded at them, acknowledging their presence.

“I will return with refreshments,” Natalia said as she closed the door behind her. Accacia looked at the man seated closest to the fire but he was already staring at her. He looked at her for a long moment and didn’t turn away even when she met his gaze. The man looked at Zyle, who was seated next to her, and then dropped his look. Illanya sat on Zyle’s right, and Mikah and Roxian sat in their chairs near the opposite wall. They were all staring at various objects in the room, admiring the novel architecture so different from their homeland.

Aleco walked in the room
, wearing a thin gray shirt and dark pants. He greeted each of them when he entered and even smiled as he did so. Accacia was shocked by his elegant manners and charismatic personality. He introduced himself and took his seat behind the desk. He ignored Zyle and Accacia altogether.

“Good morning to you all,” he said with his hand
s on the desk. Accacia was disturbed by how similar his actions were to Father Giloth’s. She stared at his face and noticed how handsome he looked. His blue eyes shined bright and reflected the flames of the hearth and his face was pale and fresh, like he just had a long night of sleep. “Allow me to introduce you to Nolan.” He nodded to the dark haired man seated next to him. “He is the Chief of the Serpentine Guild of the Continent. The secret society is at our disposal for this undertaking. We have manufactured weapons and swords for use in the battle and have hundreds of trained soldiers to aid us.” Accacia was perplexed by the revelation. She and Aleco had fled from the guild, barely escaping with their lives. How he managed to get the entire support of the Serpentine Guild in this undertaking baffled her. Aleco was more determined than she gave him credit for. Aleco looked around at them all and his gazed lingered for a moment on Roxian’s face, who he recognized from the evening before. She smiled at his look. Accacia caught the exchange but didn’t understand the significance. “I am very happy that you have come to our shores to aid us in this battle. I can’t begin to explain my appreciation at your presence.” Accacia was shocked by Aleco’s sudden change in mood and personality. He was a completely different person. “I understand your primary goal is the destruction of the Soul Binders. That is our goal as well. But we need to execute the king to accomplish this. He has hoarded hundreds of Soul Binders for his personal use and I have no idea where they’re hidden.”

Mikah
spoke up from his chair. “What is our chance of success?”

Aleco met his gaze. “I cannot say. If our plans unfold the
way we intend them to, I say our odds are good. But like I said, I don’t know where the Soul Binders are. And we need to kill the king while separating him from his hoard. I can’t guess the likelihood of that success.”

Mikah
nodded. “Do you have a plan prepared?”

The Nature Priest nodded. “Yes, I am happy to confide it to you.”

Illanya cleared her voice and looked at Aleco. “What is your interest in this matter? How can we trust that you truly wish to annihilate the Soul Binders? How do we know that you won’t kill us, harboring our souls, and you will keep the stones to yourself?”

Aleco met her gaze. It was a
legitimate question. He didn’t understand how he was going to assuage her doubt with his words alone. These were difficult times and trust was hard to give and even harder to earn. “It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “Everyone deserves their immortal soul. It’s disgusting to think of their souls being utilized as a mere healing potion.”

“How can I trust your word?”

Accacia spoke up. “He is a Nature Priest; therefore, he cannot tell an untruth. We can trust him, Illanya.” Aleco finally looked at Accacia and nodded to her, silently thanking her for supporting him.

Illanya turned back to Aleco. “
What is your personal interest in the matter?”

Aleco sighed. “That answer
is simple. I wish to kill the King of the Continent. He is a vicious human being, enslaving innocent people and killing those who can’t defend themselves. I need to spare the citizens of the Continent. I seek my own vengeance as well.”

Mikah
drank from his tea and set it down. “What has he done to you, Father?”

Aleco leaned back in
his chair. The Asquithians are a vocal and direct race. They asked what they wanted to know and expected answers, but not answering personal questions directed at them. “The king murdered my mother and father when I was a child. Then he enslaved someone I loved, holding her in captivity for many years and taking her against her will.” Accacia was relieved that he didn’t specify her identity. She didn’t want anyone to know about her past. Only Zyle knew. She felt his hand grab hers, squeezing it gently. She suddenly felt a flood of emotions at his embrace. Aleco had done the same thing in this very room when Father Giloth had revealed the truth of her past. She batted the tears away, controlling her emotions at the memory. So much had changed since she left for Suaden. “Then he killed my uncle, who I considered to be a father. The man has ruined my life since I can remember. He needs to atone for his crimes.”

Mikah
nodded, pleased by his answer. “He sounds heinous, indeed.”

“That’s putting it lightly.”

Voices were heard outside the doorway. Accacia could discern the sound of a woman, but she didn’t recognize the voice. It wasn’t Natalia. “No, Sadie. You can’t go in there right now. You will have to wait for him to come out.”

The door flew open
and Accacia turned in her seat to see who had interrupted the meeting. A young girl with blonde hair, full of curls, came into the room. She stopped when she saw all the adults staring at her. When she recovered her surprise, she ran to the other side of the room, directly behind the desk and into Aleco’s outstretched arms. He wrapped her in his arms and held her to his chest. “Good morning, Sadie.”

She kissed him on the cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her in return. Sadie stared at the peop
le sitting in front of them then turned back to Aleco. “Who are they, Aleco? Have they come to play?”

Aleco smiled at her. “Yes, you could say that, but they want to play adult games.”

Sadie pouted. “But those are boring.”

Aleco laughed
. “I know they are.”

“Come play with us.”

“I will when we’re done.” He saw her face fall at the idea of having to wait. “I promise we will as soon as I’m finished.”

Accacia felt the tears bubble underneath her eyes at the interaction. She r
ecognized the child immediately. She was the child Lydia was caring for in Morkarh. Sadie was as beautiful as she remembered and just as adorable. Aleco’s affections tugged at her heart and she felt her throat constrict. Aleco always attested that he had hated children, but that clearly wasn’t true. He loved them like they were his own.

Another woman walked into the room. She was thin and tall, with long locks of brown hair that stretched to her shoulders. She carried an infant in her arms. “I’m so sorry, Father,” she apologized. “I told her she had to wait.”

“No apology is necessary, Penny.” Aleco turned back to Sadie. “Go with Penny.” Sadie pouted but did as he commanded. Vance walked through the door, oblivious to the gathering of people in the room, and held his small dagger out.

Penelope sighed. “Now another one slipped through.”

Vance walked over to Aleco and embraced him. “I’ve been practicing,” he said as he sliced the knife through the air. “I’m getting really good.”

“I’m sure you are.”

Penelope grabbed Vance by the hand and pulled him away. “Aleco will visit with us when he’s done, Vance.”

“I don’t want to wait,” he said.

“Vance—come.”

Aleco rose from his s
eat and kneeled before the boy. “I’ll teach you the sword when I’m done.”

Vance’s eyes lit up like bonfires. “You think I’m ready?”

“Yes,” Aleco answered. “But I need to finish this meeting first. We will play as soon as I’m done. Run along now.” Vance nodded and left the room. Aleco returned to his feet and looked at Penelope.

Accacia recognized Vance as well and her heart swelled at the sight. Aleco was
acting as a father to both of the children and Accacia worried if something harmful had befallen Devry. Her heart ached when she saw Vance leave the room. She had wondered about having children with Aleco, but she assumed he wouldn’t have wanted any. She had been wrong about that.

“I am so sorry, Father.”

Aleco held up his hand. “Please don’t apologize. You aren’t bothering me.”

She walked closer to him and held out the infant to him. “Rhonian has been fussy all day. I’ve noticed these rashes on his neck.” Aleco examined the discoloration and nodded. “This reaction is common in babies. Ask the Naturalists for Freten Weed. It will clear the patches within a day.”

“Thank you so much, Father Rhonian.” She smiled. She walked back to the door and looked at the king, queen, and ambassadors in their seats. Her sight lingered on Accacia’s longer than the others and she glanced at Accacia and Zyle’s joined hands. “I apologize for disturbing your meeting.” She closed the door behind her.

Aleco returned to his seat. “I apologize for the interruption.”

“Was that your family?” Roxian asked with interest.

“Yes—not my biological family, but yes, I would say so.”

“Your wife is beautiful.”

Aleco shifted his weight in his seat, uncomfortable by the association. He
assumed that Accacia told all her advisors who he was to her. Apparently, she hadn’t. “No, she isn’t. Penelope is the wife of my close friend. I am looking after her for the time being. I assisted in giving birth to her son a few weeks ago.”

Roxian nodded, clearly pleased by the revelation.

“Nolan and I have conjured an elaborate plan to infiltrate the guarded city of Paso Robles and release the slaves of the realm.”

“Is this where t
he king is?” Mikah asked.

“No,” Aleco answere
d. “It is a realm that Drake has overtaken, shipping thousands of citizens as slaves within the walls to produce goods for the Continent. The woman and the children you just saw were enslaved there.”

“How did t
hey escape?” Mikah asked.

Aleco was quiet for a moment. “I rescued them.”

“I think any slave should be given their freedom,” Zyle said. “But I don’t understand why the province needs to be infiltrated now. We can release the prisoners after the king is overthrown.”

The Chief looked at Zyle. “I thought the same thing.”

Aleco spoke. “We are rescuing the prisoners because we need the men—we don’t have enough people without them.”

“Do they know how to fight?”

“I doubt most of them do.”

“And how do you know they will even agree?”

Aleco stared at Zyle. “The citizens will want revenge for what the king did—believe me. I have no doubt of their commitment. Besides, they have nowhere to go. Their homes and possessions were stripped from them. They have nothing—only anger.”

Zyle nodded. “After w
e infiltrate the province, the king will know what has befallen his realm and he will move against you.”

“Yes,” Aleco answered. “That is the point. Some of his troops will be in Paso Robles but we’ll be gone by then. He won’t have all of his soldiers under his command when we march on h
is doorstep and we will be able to overrun the city.”

Mikah
leaned forward in his chair. “How do you propose we seize the city?”

Aleco leaned back in his chair and drank from his tea. Accacia was surprised it wasn’t a bottle of poison.
“We will enter the province under the cover of nightfall, with soldiers packed into carts. When they open the gates and allow us to enter, we will spring forth from our wagons and kill the soldiers then carry the slaves back to the forest.” Mikah nodded at his plan and Zyle nodded as well. It sounded plausible to both of them. “I do not expect any of the Asquithians to participate in this part of the plan. Your presence needs to be kept a secret at all costs. If we fail you can return to your lands and he will never know you were ever on our shores.”

Accacia shook her head. “The Asquithians
are bequeathed with the gift of night sight. We can see in the darkness with clarity. I suggest the Asquithians aid in this mission because of that ability alone.”

Aleco looked at her. “That
decision is yours, Your Highness.”

“I agree with my q
ueen,” Zyle said. “We would benefit your odds much better. Our warriors are trained to kill in the darkness.”