Soul Relenter (Soul Saga #3) (34 page)

Accacia ran her hands through his hair and kissed his cheeks. “Please don’t do that, Zyle. There was nothing anyone could have done. Don’t blame yourself.”

“I’m at fault, Accacia—I shouldn’t have let you climb the wall.”

Accacia kissed him. “Zyle, I’m okay. I survived. And if the event
s hadn’t unfolded this way, we wouldn’t have won the battle. It was necessary.”

“Your pain is never necessary.
Aleco and I could have defeated the commander.”

She shook her head. “No you couldn’t, Zyle. It had to be me.” Zyle stared her for a moment but didn’t speak. “Please don’t hold yourself accountable. How would you feel if I felt the same way for your safety?”

Zyle didn’t answer her question.

“Stop feeling this way, Zyle. I’m okay. Let’s move forward.” Zyle nodded silently. The only reason why he could was because he knew she wouldn’t be fighting in the Letumian battle. He and Aleco would see to that. Zyle couldn’t deal with this pain again. He would
never risk her safety for any reason.

Zyle pulled out of her and dressed himself quickly. They were still in a hurry. Accacia came to the edge of the bed and Zyle dresse
d her in her clothes, hating every second of covering her body. He wished they could go back to the two days they spent together before they departed for the province. Zyle tried to pick her up but she held out her hand. “I can do it, Zyle.”

“I don’t mind carrying you.”

“I know you don’t,” she said. “But let me try. I’m certain I can. Zyle outstretched his hands and waited for her to rise, prepared to catch her if she fell. She got to her feet smoothly and stood for a moment, stretching her arms and limbs. Zyle didn’t feel an increase in pain and he knew she was fine. Accacia walked over and grabbed her gear from the floor, belting both swords to her belt and slinging her bow across her back.

“Please take it easy,” Zyle said. “Don’t exert yourself even though you feel well.”

Accacia smiled at him. “I know, Zyle.”

Together they walked toward
the gate of the city. Zyle slowed his pace so Accacia would advance slowly to the carts by the gate but she continued to move past him. He couldn’t detect any increase in agony. They headed toward the wagons and Zyle noticed the pain of Accacia’s body was diminishing now that she was awake and outside. He knew she would be completely healed before they reached the forest. Zyle paid the healer a handsome price for attending to Accacia when she was still unconscious. He went to behead the commander afterwards but saw that Aleco had already done it.

They walked to the carts and the Asquithians kneeled at Accacia’s feet, thanking her for ending the battle of Paso Robles. The
y kissed her hand and praised her good health. Most of her subjects were in tears. Aleco stood off to the side and watch the progression. He was glad that she was well and happy. He disappeared into the cart and packed himself with the other guildsmen, hiding himself from her view.

Laura embraced her niece and ushered her into the cart. It was p
acked with blankets and pillows on the floorboard to accommodate her injuries. “I don’t think I need this anymore,” she said to her aunt.

Zyle helped her into the wagon and followed her inside. “I insist that you lie down, Accacia. I know you feel well but you need to stay as relaxed as possible.” Accacia opened her mouth to object but Zyle stopped her. “Do this for me, Accacia.” Accacia saw him stare at her. She knew it was important to him. She nodded. “Thank you,” he said with a sigh. Accacia lied down on the fl
oor and Zyle sat on the bench.

Laura joined them and sat on the seat across from Zyle. “Could you give us a momen
t, Zyle? I need to speak to my queen in private.” Zyle nodded and left the wagon, walking down the row of carts to the front of the line.

Accacia sat up and Laura came beside her. “The first thing I want to say
is how proud I am of you. You’re the strongest woman I know, and I’m honored to serve you as my queen. I’m even more humbled to have you as my niece. You saved us, Accacia—all of us. And you did it with no regard to yourself or your life. I’ve never served under a better ruler.” Accacia felt her eyes water at her aunt’s words. She didn’t feel like she deserved them but they touched her heart nonetheless. “I want you to know that I love you and I’m privileged to be related to you, Your Highness.”

“I love you as well, Laura,
” she said as she smiled. “You’re responsible for all my success. I never would have survived that battle without your training and your tough love.”

Laura smiled at Accacia. She was worried if h
er previous words had too harsh. She was glad that they weren’t. Laura had something else to tell her niece as well. She didn’t want to involve herself in the conflict but she felt the need to protect her friend and companion, a man she had come to respect immensely in a very short time. “Accacia, I have something else to say to you. And I don’t think it will be easy to hear.” Accacia felt her stomach cramp at her words. “I want you to stay away from Aleco. I don’t want you to even speak to him. If you need him to know something, please relay your message through another person.”

Accacia felt her mind cloud in confusion. She didn’t know where this was coming from or why her aunt was the one saying it. “Why are you telling me this?”

Laura stared at her niece for a moment. Accacia tried not to flinch under the penetrating gaze. She felt like she was in training again. “Is Zyle your final choice?”

Accacia shook her head. “This conversation is inappropriate. I don’t know what I did to provoke it
, but I can assure you it was accidental.”

“Answer me.”

“My final answer is Zyle—that has always been my answer.”

“Are you sure?”

Accacia knew she would never be sure. She loved both of them. She would never forget about Aleco for the years to come. She knew she wouldn’t forget about Zyle if she had chosen Aleco instead.

Laura grew impatient. “Are you telling me you aren’t?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” she said quickly.

“Then drop the act, Accacia. Zyle is the only man w
ho should receive your affection and attention. He doesn’t deserve anything less. And Aleco doesn’t deserve to be tormented by you either.  Leave Aleco alone, Accacia. I mean it—don’t speak to him.”

Accacia felt her anger course through her body.  “
I will never stop caring for Aleco—that will never change—ever.”

“You care for him?”

Accacia controlled the fury from escaping in her voice. “Yes, Laura. I love the man.”

“If you truly do
, then leave him alone, Accacia—I mean it.”

“Did Zyle ask you to do this?”

“No.”

“Did Aleco?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t understand.”

“Accacia, I’m the one who is asking you to do this. It isn’t fair to the two men. Tell me you’ll leave Aleco alone, Accacia.”

Accacia looked away. She knew
her presence hurt Aleco—he informed her many times. She suspected her aunt was lying—one of the two men had asked Laura to speak to her. She doubted it was Aleco. “I will avoid him if I can,” she said. “I can’t say I will never speak to him because I can’t foresee the situations to come—like the battle of Aleutian. We will need to converse then.”

“Then tell me you will avoid it the best you can.”

Accacia sighed. She didn’t realize how hard it was going to be until she decided to do it. Accacia thought Aleco had perished under the collapse of the wall and her stomach lunged into her chest at the possibility. Before they entered Paso Robles, Aleco had lowered his hood and comforted her with his look alone. He had assuaged more doubts and fears than anyone else, even her aunt. The thought of not speaking to him sounded impossible. Even though they argued when they were together, she still enjoyed being with him—most of the time. But Accacia knew she couldn’t always keep company with both men. She had to sever one completely—end the relationship as well as the friendship. She had already committed herself to Zyle—promised herself to him in exchange for his help. The decision had already been made. “I will.”

Laura no
dded. “Thank you, Accacia. You’re doing the right thing.”

Accacia was quiet for a moment. The idea of not ever speaking to Aleco made her sad. It sounded almost impossible.
“Why can’t the right thing be the easy thing?”

Laura smiled at her niece. “I’ll fetch Zyle.”

Laura returned with Zyle and the cart lunged forward, taking them from the ruined city of Paso Robles toward Orgoom Forest. In exchange for granting them mercy, Aleco made the soldiers swear they wouldn’t alert the King of the Continent of the siege until one week after the battle, giving them enough time to reach the forest, rest, and return to enemy lines. Laura doubted their promise could be trusted, but Aleco seemed confident in their vow. She wondered if he had used his abilities to secure their cooperation. She would never know.

Accacia
lied on the floor of the cart at Zyle’s insistence. Her life partner continued to look over her and care of her, concerned for her health even though he knew she was fine. Laura watched him with an amused expression, happy that she had someone else to care for Accacia as much as she did. When they stopped for breaks, Accacia insisted on leaving the wagon, saying she was going to get out whether Zyle approved or not. Every time she did, she looked around for Aleco but she never saw him. Even days later he never made an appearance.

The
y approached the forest two days later and entered the secluded trees of the border. Accacia jumped out of the wagon and walked under the trees, delighted to back in her childhood home. Zyle let her go with no concern. His pain was completely gone. They carried their belongings back through the forest, prepared to rest for a day before they made arrangements to leave the following morning. Aleco deemed it their time of repose. Zyle and Accacia returned to the ship and Aleco returned to the house, making the final arrangements for the battle of Letumian.

Aleco couldn’t shak
e the stress consuming his mind. They were going to march on the stone walls of the king’s fortress and throw all their wood into the fire. The Chief had remained behind from the battle of Paso Robles and prepared for the final battle, bringing all the guild weapons to the forest along with the remaining men. The Hideaway was completely empty. Not a soul remained behind. Aleco couldn’t sleep that night. He didn’t bother trying. He walked the woods of the forest and took wisdom from the trees. He was so nervous about the upcoming attack he didn’t even notice Accacia and Zyle’s lovemaking. He tore up his study in search of the prescient stone, knowing the old man had hid it somehow. If he could destroy the stone, then he could have destroyed the Soul Binders as well. Aleco doubted he would have kept that knowledge a secret, but what did Aleco know? His uncle hadn’t told him about his possession of the prescient stone to begin with. Perhaps it was better he hadn’t located it. He knew what he would do with it. Looking into the future was a sure way to destroy its coming because it would change by the pure act of looking into it. Aleco put the thought to the back of his mind. It wouldn’t help him get through this. He knew he wasn’t wise or strong enough to deal with such great elemental power. He didn’t trust himself to make the right decision if he held it within his grasp. He feared he would do sinister things.

The only thing keeping Aleco focused
on the attack was the certainty of his impending death, which he waited for with anticipation. As soon as Accacia left, he would stab himself through the heart and end this living nightmare. All Aleco wanted to do was end this battle, kill his brother, and destroy the stones so he could fall into the void. He couldn’t care less what happened after that. Another doubt flooded his mind as he realized no one knew how to destroy the Soul Binders. They may never figure it out. Aleco forced his mind to return to a state of calm. Accacia wasn’t his responsibility anymore. If he could kill Drake and hand over the stones, then he would have fulfilled his part. He could let himself die in peace knowing her husband would take care of her.

A
leco made the final arrangements with the Chief. Everyone was assigned their missions and their priorities in pairs. Every job needed to be completed for their success. After Aleco had detailed every element of the plan, he stored his choice for the new Nature Priest and wrote it on a sheet on his desk. Aleco secretly hoped he was killed battle. Death was easier to accept when it was unexpected.

The Nature Priest walked up the stairs and entered Penelope’s room. She was lying in bed, reading a book, while Rhonian slept in his crad
le on the other side of the bedchamber. She smiled at him when he entered and pulled back the sheets, asking him to come to her. Aleco closed the door behind him and sat on the bed. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

Penny nodded. “Having trouble
sleeping?”

Aleco nodded. “I know tonight is the most important night to feel rested.”

Penny placed her book on her nightstand and blew out the candle. Aleco took off his cloak and jacket then slid into bed alongside her with his clothes on. She rested her head on his chest and he held her close to him.