The guards back away from Arland, smacking their hands against their clothes as if they’ve been set on fire.
Dufaigh turns. A look of shock turns to scorn when he sees me. “Perth, control your woman, she is—”
I turn my head towards the sky and raise my arms. “Gag him.”
Sprites burst from the ground and swell around Dufaigh’s feet, holding him in place. They climb out from the rocks then land on his shoulders, peel themselves from trunks of trees then cover his body, rush out of the river then pool in front of his mouth. The beings do not transform from their representations of nature; Leader Dufaigh looks like a barren tree, rooted to the ground, covered in rocks and water.
“No more, Father,” Perth startles me with his words. He gives my hand a light squeeze and glows in the same magical colors as Arland and me. “Your time of rule has gone on long enough. There is a war much more worthy of our attention than the war you wage for power.”
While Perth pauses, I take a moment to send another request to the magic.
Go inside the base. Gather the Draíochtans and bring them here. Let them bear witness to this. Suspend Perth, his father, Deverell and Cyric until everyone reaches us. Free Arland, and please, restore my clothes
. In a torrent of light, the sprites fill the air, swirl around everyone in different intense colors.
Crimson colored flames sever the ropes around Arland’s wrists. He runs to my side when he’s freed, takes my hand then places his lips on it. “I never would have allowed Dufaigh to follow through with his threat. No one could ever force you to be with Perth.”
Glancing at him from the corner of my eye, I smile. “I know. I wasn’t concerned.”
We fall silent and watch as a fog swirls around Cyric and Deverell, holding them in place, removing the hard-pressed lines in their foreheads. The already blue flames on Perth’s body grow larger and suspend him in his angry, I-will-speak-my-mind stance.
Arland steps away as a flood of light arrives from behind us. White silk flies above my head then descends my body, returning dignity to its proper place. Smooth and sleek, the gown flows to my feet, caresses my skin, reminds me of the happiness I still feel from the events of the evening—before the interruptions.
The magical beings float out and away from everyone, forming a circle of fire around the base, Dufaigh and his guards, Perth, Arland and me. Arland locks eyes with me, takes my hands in his again. We wait for the door in the ground to open so we can end this constant bickering between our own. We have to form an army. This has to be the time. Just like Mom said.
From the edge of my vision, I catch a glimpse of stars cascading through the horizon. Turning my face toward the sky, I suck in a sharp breath. Millions of white specks twinkle in the black night, more brilliant than the Milky Way, more breathtaking than what appears over the Rocky Mountains.
“Why do you think … ?” I trail off as I can find no words to describe the utter beauty of what I see.
Arland runs his thumb over my knuckles. “The sky is visible because we are on the correct path, Kate. Magic has awoken again, and the more we use it, the more we follow our path given to us by the gods, the more alive magic will become.”
“But all we did was—”
“Get married,” Arland finishes for me. “That has been what the gods have wanted all along, has it not? Gramhara would not allow you to return through the portal until we realized our love. Griandor specifically told you Brad was not meant for you and you knew it. Your mother—descendant of the gods—might have groveled on her hands and knees to Bind us—”
A small laugh escapes my mouth.
Arland grins. “But we are far from through this, Kate. If uniting our people is what we must do, it will not be easy. Dufaigh is cold and calculating. Even though you sent magic for the other Draíochtans, I do not doubt Dufaigh will attempt to have his own son executed for rebuking him in front of them.”
I look at Perth: a good man, ready to come into his own, ready to lead, ready to live. I cannot imagine his own father putting him to death for it. “I called for them to be witness to Dufaigh’s behavior, not to bring punishment to Perth.”
Arland cups my cheek in his hand, turning my face to his, staring at me with complete adoration. “You did the right thing, but Draíochtans have witnessed his—and those of all the other Ground Dweller Leaders before him—heinous acts for years. The four of us: you, myself, Perth, and your mother—and to be honest, anyone who had a hand in helping arrange our Binding—will have to prove to everyone we are on the path of Light.”
I press my forehead against his. “But your father, he should tell them. Stand up for what he believes. Help us. You are his son; I am his daughter through you.”
He leans back, still cupping my cheek in his warm hand. “My father would appear guilty if he outright sided with us. This will not end here, not now. Time is needed to right the many years worth of wrongs which have happened in Encardia,” Arland’s voice is full of tension.
He pauses, allowing tears to fall down his strong face. His forehead creases together in a twisted, sad expression. “Kate, we will once again be separated. I do not know for how long, but I do know you have the power to stop this. All of this. Allow Perth to say what he must say. Allow Dufaigh to paint us as criminals … .”
Anger rumbles inside me. Arland is playing by the Draíochtan rules, but I was not raised as a Draíochtan, and I refuse to play games. I refuse to be separated from him. I will not allow him or anyone else I love to be punished. “No, Arland. This ends here, and it ends now. If they try to take you away from me, I will show them exactly what I’m capable of. I will release every magical spell cast over this place, then travel to Wickward and any other base to do the same. I will force these people to remember the dark reality of the world they live in. I will force them to fight.”
The truth behind my words, the resolve, sends currents of fire from my body, stretching out in all directions.
Sprites fly around me, singing soothing angelic songs in my ears.
I know I’m receiving approval from the gods.
Arland lightly places his lips on mine; the fire grows stronger. “I hope you are correct, but say nothing of the gods and what you have been instructed to do until the time is right. Speak from your heart—”
Old, rusty hinges squeak and echo through the forest, preventing me from asking when that time may be. We both turn and look in the direction of the door.
High Leader Maher appears first, then Mom, Leader Murchadha and his wife Ula, Brit, Flanna, Anna, Marcus … the remaining soldiers from Watchers Hall, Ground and Sea Dwellers from around the world.
Quiet murmurs give way to riotous babble as the Draíochtans climb from the hole in the earth then spread out around us, everyone watching the Dufaighs and guards in their frozen states.
Arland and I face the gathered crowd with our matching golden braids, hands joined. We hold our heads high.
“
Are you going to speak first, or are you going to release them
?” he asks, pointing at Perth and his father.
“
Neither. I’m going to wait for your father to speak
,” I think, without taking my eyes off High Leader Maher. I’m watching him, looking for a glimpse of the man my mom swears him to be, for a hint of where Arland inherits his strength, love and passion from, for an indication the Leader is on our side.
High Leader Maher’s eyes flash to Arland, giving him a once over that would make any son proud, then Maher straightens, steps forward, and lifts his hands. “What is the meaning of all this? Why is a Leader of Encardia encased in magic, and why are you and my son glowing with a Binding Spell?”
He turns to my mom, gives her a reproachful look, then does the same for me.
The façade I’ve played into for weeks while living here will be no more. “You know why; yet you lie.”
Arland tightens his grip on my hand.
I do the same. “
Trust me
.”
“
I do. Just be careful
.”
Leader Maher laughs, a mocking laugh, low and throaty. “Why, Miss Wilde, whatever do you mean?”
“No, sir, I am no longer Miss Wilde.” I look up at Arland. “
I’m going to tell him the truth . . . I’m going to tell them all the truth
.”
He nods an approval, and I return my sights to his father.
“Your son and I are now Bound, but you were aware we’d be together, from before I was born, is that correct?”
Leader Maher glances around the group of onlookers. Some of them wear expressions of shock and whisper to each other while others look proud, happy and ready to congratulate. I bet more than just Leader Murchadha knew of the prophecy surrounding Arland and me.
“Well? Am I correct? Should you have to think about your answer?”
“She is correct. I knew the two would find love in one another,” he says, receiving a few gasps and angry shouts from the Ground Dwellers.
“But before you chastise me, you should know my son was not supposed to be Bound to her. I instructed he keep his distance from her, the same way I instructed her to keep her distance. Neither listened. Foolish children.”
“Stop,” I shout.
Leader Maher turns from his misinformed followers to set his narrowed eyes upon me, but even though I realize it to be an act, it is not good enough. He should be honest and forthright with his people. Ignorance is not bliss. If Dufaigh throws us all out of the bases then we will fight, and these stupid holes in the ground will be where he lives out the rest of his days.
“Enough with the lies. Isn’t this world already abundant with Darkness? Do you need to make it worse? You should be ashamed of yourself. I don’t care what your reasons for leading these innocent people into ignorance are, but it must stop. Tell them the truth. Tell them the only way for Encardia to have light is for me to have happiness with your son. Tell them!”
Leader Murchadha steps forward from the crowd, Ula at his side. The pair appear as twins with gray hair flowing down the middle of their backs, skin tan and leathered from age. He looks sympathetic, but I’m not sure who it’s geared toward. “Kimball, what is the meaning of this? Is what the girl says true?”
Apparently he’s lying too.
Does Dufaigh really have that much control? He’s not able to speak or move and yet they still do not speak against him.
Leader Maher turns to his peer, hanging his head.
“
This moment could break us
,” Arland thinks, squeezing my hand.
Please, Griandor, help us
.
“
Arland, let go of my hand then walk away from me. Away from everyone. Let them see how the magic fades when we aren’t together
.”
”Yes, Afton, it is true. The only way for Encardia to survive is for my son and Katriona to be together.” Leader Maher clasps his hands behind his back, pacing a line between me, Arland, and everyone else.
“
Step away now, Arland
.” I shake my hand free.
His absence leaves me cold. My resolve melts away with his fading presence. Fire still burns on me, but not as bright, not as strong. No one in the angry and confused crowd looks at me; their eyes remain focused on High Leader Maher and Leader Murchadha.
“Why would you not be truthful with us? Draíochtans deserve knowledge.” Leader Murchadha does not yell, does not look angry, he’s just the opposite … his face is red like he’s going to cry.
I feel sorry for everyone. Most Draíochtans have lived their lives in the dark as I have, but these Leaders pretend to be in the dark out of fear.
Cold looks pass over the faces of most of the Ground Dwellers. People who have showered me with affections during the past couple weeks now have murder in their eyes, fists balled—they’re ready to fight, and I have good suspicions they’d like to fight me.
“Arrest him!” Lorne calls from the crowd. “Arrest her—and Arland, too. They imprison Leader Dufaigh and his son!”
“We should punish High Leader Maher’s son and his disgraceful wife! She makes us all look like fools,” Maura says, pushing from behind Lorne and throwing her hands into the air.
Finally I understand why Arland’s father has kept everyone ignorant. If anyone knew—Light Lover or Sea Dweller alike—and it somehow got back to the Ground Dwellers, they would have called for my blood long ago. I thought Maura was on our side. Maybe she wasn’t ready. Griandor was right to tell me to take my time.
“
It has pained him to act less of a man than he is, Kate. I am happy you see this
.” Arland’s thoughts resonate with pride.
Turning, I see the pride painted on Arland’s face, too. “
I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I shouldn’t have doubted you or my mom’s faith in him, but he has played the game well
.”
“Why is one of our Leaders imprisoned?” Vanora asks, drawing my attention to those gathered before me. I search for her in the crowd, racing past so many scowling faces, so many smiling ones too, and find her leaning forward with her fists balled.
Everyone turns their eyes toward me. I’m transported back in time to some school play where I had one line to recite—I spoke that line with confidence, with perfection. The courage oozed from me that day and fills me now. “Do—”
“Where has Arland gone?” Leader Maher interrupts.
I ignore him. “Do you not see? Look at the sky. Stars shine because of the connection Arland and I share. They shine because I’m happy, because we follow the path of Light. Look at them.”
Gasps, as though they’ve never seen the sky before—and maybe some haven’t—surge through the crowd.
“Now, look at me. Look at how pale my skin glows when he and I are not connected. I am tired of these games,” I say, once I’m sure everyone has seen the sky.
Nodded agreements between many onlookers tell me this might work, but most of them return their gazes heavenward—a lot of them wear grins from ear to ear.
“Watch what happens when Arland returns to me.”
I motion for Arland to come forward. He takes my hand and the flames re-ignite. Braids of our bond glow even brighter. Brit was right when she said everyone would know when I lost my virginity … because there would be no way to hide this—although I doubt she knew that.