Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3) (21 page)

The Nature Priest walked to the rise of the hill and looked at the events before him. Guildsmen and citizens were working together to prepare for the battle and it gladdened his heart. There was a possibility they would be successful. Nolan stood beside him and watched the progression at the base of the hill, silently standing alongside his comrade and oldest friend.

Aleco preferred to be alone but in this instance he didn’t mind the silent companionship of his friend, his former enemy, and stood there in silence. He knew that even though he had lost Accacia, his sole purpose in living, he never would have accomplished this without her. She was the greatest motivation he ever had. He felt his body shake when he thought of her. She would never be his again.

The Chief noticed the subtle change in his physique and clasped him on the back, patting him gently before he returned his arm to his side. The small comfort was enough to ease the spasm of pain and he appreciated the gesture. Aleco remembered the years he spent with the Chief, even their missions together across t
he Continent. Nolan hardly ever participated in the schemes of the guild, but he and Aleco had completed the more dangerous tasks together because the Chief knew they were the only men qualified for the job. The Chief had been his mentor and family until he betrayed him. Aleco knew Nolan regretted what he had done to him. Rather than raise him up and return him to the man he was, he let him slip deeper into darkness, but Aleco forgave him for it. In his heart, he knew he wouldn’t have been so successful without that training. Nolan had molded him into the warrior he had become, and without that apprenticeship and support, he would have no chance against the king, his despicable brother.

“I hope yo
u forgive me for everything I’ve done to you, Aleco,” Nolan said quietly. “I hope I’m making up for it.”

“Yes,” Aleco whispered. “I think you have.”

Nolan clasped him on the back again and they headed back to Asylinth Cottage on the other side of the forest. “I’m proud of the man you’ve become, Aleco.”

Aleco looked at Nolan. “The feeling is mutual.”

Asylinth House

19

“Thank you for watching them, Penny,” he said as he handed Rhonian to her. She accepted her son with a smile on her face and cradled him in her arms. Sadie and Vance were trying to capture the fireflies that flew through the air
, but they were missing every catch. The insects were too quick. “Lydia will return soon. She may need a few hours to herself.”

“She can have all the time she needs,” Penny said. She watched Aleco’s saddened expression and knew he was plagued by more troubles. The lines around his lips became more p
rominent when he was in thought, concerned with the events that were out of his control. “I hope everything is okay, Aleco. Can I do something to help?”

“I don’t think you can help me in this,” he said as he shook his head. “I suspect Lydia will need a friend afterwards
, however.”

“Good luck.”

“Thank you.” Aleco walked away and entered Asylinth House, heading to the study down the hall. Lydia was already sitting in the chair by the fire and Nolan sat on the other side of the room, keeping his distance from her. Aleco felt the tension in the air as soon as he walked into the room even though nothing was being said. The Nature Priest took the seat between them, inhibiting any attempts of physical attacks.

“What is
it, Aleco?” she asked as soon as he sat down. “I know something has gone amiss. Now tell me what it is.” Aleco watched her for a moment. The stretched lines around her face were weathered from the sun. He thought he could see grains of sand embedded permanently into her skin from the dusty streets of Morkarh, but he knew it was just his imagination. Lydia was a woman who had lost much in her lifetime. Now she was going to lose even more. “Speak now, Father.”

Aleco looked at Nolan. “The Chief has something to tell you, Lydia.” The Nature Priest nodded to his friend, encouraging him to speak.

Nolan leaned forward. “Devry is a member of my guild, as you probably already know. His line of work is dangerous and he has to risk his life on a daily basis. I am sure that the fear has crossed your mind more than once. I am very sorry to tell you Devry is no longer among the living—he is gone.”

The woman dropped her gaze and looked at the floorboards of the study, th
inking about her deceased brother. The tears bubbled under the surface of her eyes but she blinked them back. She had never been an emotional woman but the loss of her brother struck her heart with a force. Now his children had no father and no means of support. She was all they had. “How did it happen?”

The Chief sighed. “He betrayed the guild and broke our laws, treason punishable by death. I sen
tenced the man to his death then killed him myself. He left this mortal plane quickly. He died instantly.”

Lydia locked her gaze onto his and the Chief saw the fury flash in her eyes. The anger was palpable and emitted from her entire body. The tears came back but she fought them
and banished them to the recesses of her eyes, conquering over her emotions. “You killed my brother?” she said. “My children are orphans because of you.”

The Chief met her gaze. “Yes, I know,” he said. “I didn’t know he was a
father at the time. And if it’s any constellation, I regret my actions. I wish I hadn’t done it now. I am a different man than I was then. I do not ask for your forgiveness because I don’t expect to ever receive it. I just hope you accept it.”

Lydia brought her hands together and squeezed her palms. “My brother’s imminent death has always crossed my mind every day. He even warned me that he may never return at any point in time. It was the only way he could support us. His death doesn’t come as a surprise
, but it is painful nonetheless. Devry told me that children are strictly prohibited in the guild, and the revelation could get him killed. This leads to my next question: will you harm my children? If you do, I will stop at nothing until I kill you. You will not touch them.”

Aleco flinched at the venom in her voice and knew she meant her words. Lydia would stop at nothing until her children were safe. Aleco knew a mother’s love was more powerful than any weapon. “The Chief has no intention of harming Sadie and Vance, and if he did, I would have already killed him, Lydia. You know this.”

She nodded. “That’s good enough for me.”

“Let me apologize again, Lydia,” The Chief said. “I am very sorry.”

“I do not accept your apology, nor will I ever, but I want nothing to do with you. I never want to see you or speak with you. Leave me and my children alone. They are bastards because of you.” She rose from the chair and walked out of the room. Aleco followed behind her until they were outside of the study.

“I’m so sorry, Lydia.”

“How can you trust the man who killed your friend?” she said seriously. “He’s a monster.”

“I know he
regrets his actions. And if he’s a monster, so am I,” he said simply. “I am the reason why Devry was killed. He died trying to save me and Accacia. I didn’t know he was going to lose his life because of it. I am equally responsible for his death and I apologize, Lydia. If I could change his fate I would, and I would take his place without hesitation. It kills me that Sadie and Vance have no father. I hope you believe me.”

Lydia’s anger diminished as she stared at Aleco. The Nature Priest was an honorable man who was devoted to protecting the innocents of the Continent. She believed his words immediately. “I accept your a
pology, Aleco. I know you never would have let him die if you could have stopped it.”

Aleco sighed. “Thank you, Lydia. I wasn’t expecting such compassion from you. I thought you were going to hate me—forever.”

She hugged him. “How can I hate one of the greatest men I’ve ever known?”

Aleco was touched by her words. He returned her embrace and held her close. “I am honored by your words
and relieved by your love—I was worried I had lost it.”

Lydia kissed his cheek. “I don’t think you ever could, Father.” She released her arms around his hips and pulled away. “Now I need to return to my children. They need me.”

“They are outside with Penny. If you need the time to be alone, I understand completely. Penelope and I will look after them.” Lydia nodded at his words. “I want you to know that I will provide and shelter all of you as long as I’m living. I hope I don’t overstep my boundaries, but I care for Vance and Sadie as if they were my own, and I will be a guardian as long as you will allow me to be. In the event of my death, I will provide you with enough money to live out the rest of your lives. Please don’t worry about holding the burden alone. I love them.”

“I appreciate that Aleco, and no, I don’t mind your closeness to the children. You are as much a part of their family as I am. You belong with us.”

20

“Tell me your thoughts, Laura. Does this plan sound feasible?” Laura was silent for a moment, pondering the events of the meeting in her mind as she found the right response. She, Zyle, and Accacia were sitting in the dining hall aboard the ship with plates of snacks and fruit covering the surface of the wood, along with the field maps of the Continent Aleco had provided. “I find your input to be more valuable than any other,” Zyle continued.

“Yes, I suppose,” she said finally. “I admit we are at a disadvantage. We don’t kno
w the terrain as well as he, nor do we know the geography. Yes, we have diagrams but that isn’t the same.” Laura looked across the table at Accacia. “How trust worthy is this man? Does he know what he’s doing?”

Accacia met her gaze. “Completely,” she said. “I trust him with my life, Laura. He has come this far. His decisions are the right ones.”

Laura nodded. Accacia’s answer seemed to ease her doubts. “I think we have a chance of success but everything must go according to plan. Any mishaps could be deadly. I suspect we will need the entire aid of the Asquithians in this fight. I suspect we are the better warriors.”

“Whatever you think is best, Laura,” Zyle said from his seat.

“I have a few concerns that I would like to address with the Nature Priest, without the presence of the other ambassadors—one soldier to another.” Zyle nodded at Laura’s words. Accacia felt her palms sweat when she imagined her aunt alone with her former lover. She wondered if Laura would ever speak of anything unrelated to the mission, but then the paranoia evaporated. She knew how professional Laura was. “I will speak to him at the next meeting.”

“I wil
l be present, as well as Accacia.”

“I deny that request,” Laura said firmly. “As much as I hate to admit it, professionalism is obsolete here. Aleco would feel much more comfortable with just me
there. The pair of you only bring out the worst in him. I apologize for my rudeness, but it’s true. I will relay everything to you afterwards.”

Zyle smiled at her.
“Are you telling me, and your queen, what to do?”

“Yes,” she said. “And deal with it.”

Accacia spoke from her seat. “I agree with Laura. I think it would be best if we were absent.”

“So be it,” the k
ing said. “But don’t reveal anything personal about us, such as some of our abilities or the material of our swords. Keep vital information to yourself.”

“Secrecy is unnecessary,” Accacia said. “Aleco deserves to know everything. We may have something he could use to our advantage. I want to kill Drake. I will hold nothing back.”

Zyle turned back to Laura. “Then follow your own discretion, Laura.”

She nodded. “I suppose that’
s all we need to discuss for now,” she said with a sigh. “I’m going to retire to my quarters for a few hours.” Zyle nodded as Laura rose from her seat and left the dining hall. Accacia remained in her seat and looked at her plate of uneaten food before her, having no appetite whatsoever. Her life partner knew something was bothering her so he questioned her about it. Accacia told him everything, not looking at him while she said it.

Zyle sat in silence
next to her, processing everything Accacia had told him. She seemed happier than she had the day before but the depression was still evident. He knew she would feel this way until they returned home, away from Aleco. “Thank you for confiding in me, Accacia.”

She nodded. “I just hope I didn’t hurt you.”

“No,” he said. “I’m glad the two of you worked things out—I hope the rest of the mission will be easier to deal with now that he accepts your commitment to me.”

“I’m certain it will be.”

Zyle held her close to him, wrapping his arms protectively around her. He wished he could carry the pain for her the same way he did when he healed the creatures of the forest, but he knew that wasn’t possible. He would have done it if he could. Even though Accacia was in unspeakable pain, Zyle felt elated that Accacia hadn’t returned Aleco’s love. She told him she would never leave Zyle and that made the past few days of misery irrelevant. He knew she wouldn’t betray him and not just because she had promised him, but because she had actually said those words to Aleco. Zyle could breathe easy again. “Would you like to speak to Laura? Perhaps she could ease your pain.”