CHAPTER 15
Night had fallen on their camp. Gone were the joyous sounds of laughter and in its place was a strained silence. It was time for answers.
Miranda cleared her throat while the men in Helena’s Circle all glowered at her. It was evident they all believed that the Triumvirate’s visit had been some sort of trap. Even her granddaughter seemed uncertain as she looked over at her with wide blue eyes. Darrin remained at Effie’s side, the violence of her earlier reaction had caught him off-guard. He kept looking at her like he wasn’t entirely sure what to do with her. His puzzled expression had Helena biting back a smile. A man who seemed confused about a woman was always quality entertainment.
As for herself, Helena wasn’t sure what to believe about the Keepers or their parlor tricks. She had not sensed any malicious intent from them, although there was much to be desired about the way they delivered their messages, not to mention their overall countenance. The thought of those stitched lips and glowing eyes had her suppressing a shudder.
Kragen caught the movement and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder. She smiled up at him, appreciating the gesture of support.
“Did you know?” Timmins finally demanded, barely able to restrain his fury. His face was flushed and his blue eyes were narrowed as he waited for Miranda to answer.
The woman opened her mouth, ready to flay the skin from his bones with her words, when she caught the expressions on their faces. She sighed, seeming to age before them. Her shoulders drooped, and she clasped her hands in her lap. Miranda’s eyes met hers, “I had, and still have, no reason to believe that they had any intention other than assistance.” Both her eyes and her voice were imploring Helena to believe her. She did.
Helena nodded once, “Nor do I.”
There was rustling as the men turned annoyed glances in her direction. Apparently, they didn’t want her to be the one talking right now. Well, they could just go right ahead and stuff it. Her temper flared. She was the Kiri, Mother bless it, and she would do whatever she damn well pleased. If they didn’t like it, nothing was stopping them from leaving. Except for the vows they had made.
The memory of the night they had made those promises to her, and she to them, had her swallowing her own harsh words. These were her protectors; it was their duty to worry and care for her. Sensing her shifting mood, the men tried to look appropriately chastened. Only Nial and Serena seemed to be looking at her with any amount of lingering amusement.
Rolling her eyes, Helena continued, “I do not deny that their methods were questionable, but it is the only way they were able to communicate.”
“Don’t make excuses for their behavior, Kiri,” Joquil admonished. It was rare that he would speak against her. Even more rare for him to have such deep lines of worry bracketing his lips.
“I’m not making any excuses, merely stating facts,” she replied calmly. “There is much we do not know about the Keepers, that is true. However, they did show me, once again, what is at stake if I make the wrong choice. They also left me with a warning.”
“What did they say?” Miranda asked cautiously.
Timmins scowled at her and the older woman responded by sticking out her tongue. Helena shook her head and smiled. The way those two bickered was like watching two children resort to hair pulling because they were uncertain of how to show their affection.
“I think they were warning me of the Fracturing, letting me know that if I do not find Von soon, I will not have a choice to make at all.”
Their words floated through her mind, no less disturbing the second time.
‘Without the tether, you will fracture.’
‘Eternally lost to the darkness.’
‘No way to return.’
‘The choice will be made for you.’
‘You will damn us all.’
“What will the choice cost?” Effie asked in a small, subdued voice.
Helena looked at her with haunted eyes, not needing to use any words to convey her answer. The girl’s shudder was indication enough that she understood. Vividly.
“So the course is clear. We make for Vyruul and find Von,” Ronan declared.
“You say that as if it will be easy,” Miranda scoffed, “the journey from Bael to Vyruul is a long one, or have you already forgotten?”
“Perhaps if we hadn’t been wasting time in this Mother-forsaken jungle we could have been well on our way by now,” Timmins snapped.
Miranda leveled her gaze at him, a sharp edge in her voice as she responded, “If I recall correctly, you are one of the ones that helped make the choice to come here. Furthermore,” she continued, raising her voice to speak over his sputtering protests, “we all decided to stay when our Kiri’s health demanded rest.”
Helena tried not to squirm at the mention of her title; she wanted no part of their feud.
“We all wanted to see if we could learn anything further about the prophecy,” Joquil said neutrally, studying his hands with interest.
“And none of us would risk Helena’s health,” Serena added while the others nodded their agreement.
“It would not be a far journey by Talyrian,” Helena said lightly as if her words would not have the impact of a verbal explosion.
“Absolutely not!” Kragen and Ronan yelled in unison while Darrin shouted, “I forbid it!”
She raised an eyebrow, daring them all to try and stop her.
“And what is your plan once you get there?” Micha asked softly.
As one they turned to look at him. Helena noted the color staining his cheeks and almost felt sorry for him.
“What do you mean?” Serena asked.
“Well you do not simply arrive and politely request Gillian hand over your Mate and expect that to work, do you? She will be expecting you, planning for your arrival. You need some plan if you expect to get what you seek.”
Now Helena’s cheeks burned. It was not that she had forgotten what would be waiting for her once she got there, but the pure logic of his comment left her feeling foolish.
“What would you suggest?” she challenged, trying to regain some semblance of authority.
Micha looked startled, surprised that she would ask him such a question. From the looks Darrin and Ronan shot her, they were as well. Helena shrugged, “You know your sister and the lay of the land better than anyone here; what would you suggest we do?”
His eyes shuttered as he thought through a list of potential scenarios. When he met her gaze again, he seemed slightly defeated, “It is clear I do not know my sister as well as I thought I did. I never imagined her capable of something such as this. However, she is very clever. I would expect a trap. She will have prepared for every possibility and have planned accordingly. You will need to do something unexpected.”
“A distraction,” Kragen mused.
“Yes, exactly,” Micha nodded, “Gillian’s biggest weakness is that she does not anticipate anyone to be as clever as her. She will think your first move is your only move. She will not expect a diversion.”
Helena could sense the wheels beginning to turn in her warriors’ minds. She was glad for that. It would take their collective energy to come up with something good enough to trick the sneaky bitch.
“Use me,” she said suddenly.
“What?” Timmins snapped as Darrin snarled, “Excuse me?” Kragen and Ronan just looked at her with lowered brows, displeasure at her statement obvious. Joquil and the others remained calmly quiet, waiting for her to elaborate.
“Use me as your distraction. They will not expect me to come on my own. I will offer myself up in exchange for Von. While I keep her busy, you can sneak in and go to work on their forces.”
“That seems too simple,” Darrin frowned, “and I do not like the idea of you meekly offering yourself up like a calf to slaughter. You shouldn’t go into the enemy’s camp on your own.”
“Who said anything about meekly?” Helena responded with a terrifying smile.
“Hellion…” Darrin trailed off, his green eyes scanning hers as he asked, “what are you planning, wicked girl?” Years of understanding passed between them and even he could not stop the smile that grew as he began to anticipate her reply.
Her answering smile was smug as she asked, “What kind of damage do you think a Talyrian could do?”
“Kiri! You will be a flying target,” Joquil protested.
“You must not think much of my shielding abilities if you think that is the case.”
She saw the considering looks on the others faces. Turning back to Micha she asked, “Do you think it could work?”
He tilted his head, playing out the scenario in his mind before nodding slowly. His green eyes were sad as he said, “I do. She does not know what a Talyrian can do, so she would not know how to plan for it. You will cause enough chaos that she will be quick to surrender and hear you out, leaving the field open for your men to move in.”
Ronan and Kragen were nodding, “It’s certainly a start.” The group gathered closer as they began to brainstorm in earnest. Miranda remained seated and was looking at her thoughtfully. Finally, her eyes met Helena’s and she murmured in a voice so low Helena was certain the others couldn’t hear, “and her reign will be of ash.”
“That’s the second time you’ve said that,” Helena commented in a low voice, moving to stand next to the older woman.
“I do not believe it will be the last,” she retorted.
Helena shivered as the woman’s words wrapped around her, the scenes from the Keepers’ vision fresh in her mind. “Let’s hope that is not the case,” Helena whispered, her face ashen.
“From your lips to the Mother’s ears,” Miranda replied, just as softly.