Kai shook his head in disbelief. This had all been because of a prophecy? “And you would have killed us all to prevent this prophecy from fulfilling?”
Slàine nodded. “My mother was a seer, as was her mother before her. While I lack such gifts,” the edges of her mouth turned downward bitterly, “I made a vow at my mother’s deathbed that I would continue her work. I would not allow this prophecy to come to pass, even if it meant cutting down everyone who stood in my way.”
Kai could practically feel Finn’s anxiety radiating from her small form. He turned to find her biting her lip, as if preventing the words threatening to escape.
Slàine smirked, seeming to know just what Finn was thinking. “You are one of the three queens. By birthright, you are Queen of the Dair, not just of your tribe, but of all. Oighear the White is Queen of the Aos Sí, and we do not know the name of the third queen, only that she is a magic wielding human.”
Finn nodded, and Kai’s eyes widened. Could it be true?
“Rulers among the Dair are not chosen by blood,” Finn explained, her eyes flicking from Kai, to Iseult, then back to Slàine. “We’re chosen by birth,” she continued. “I was born during a rare alignment in the stars, placing me next in line to rule, but our previous queen, Maeveen, still lived until just before I-” she hesitated. “She was killed,” she explained evenly, “and I was no longer around to take her place.”
More confused than ever, Kai watched as Finn batted at the tears forming in her eyes. Iseult placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She nodded and muttered, “I’m well, do not fret.”
Still reeling from the news, Kai turned to Slàine. “So you went after Finn instead of Oighear, not bothering to figure out the third queen’s identity?”
“We know only that she is human, and will reveal herself in time. That left us with two queens to choose from, and we knew Oighear would be difficult to reach once she resurfaced. Finn was the most practical choice.”
“And you would have killed her,” Iseult stated before Kai could, even though he’d been thinking the same thing. If Slàine wanted to prevent the prophecy at all costs, she would eventually resort to killing the three queens one by one.
Slàine shrugged. “If we had to. As you may recall, the bounty asked for her alive and unharmed. We were willing to negotiate.”
“Hmf,” Iseult replied. “I gather your presence here means you’ve reconsidered the power you hold in this situation?”
She nodded, pushing a stray lock of gray hair behind her ear. “Yes, I know I cannot stop Finnur if she chooses to move forward. I now only hope to convince her of the truth.”
Kai turned his gaze to Finn at the odd elongation of her name.
Not seeming to notice, she frowned so deeply it cut her face in half. “Well Oighear is already dead,” she admitted, “and there was no third queen there when she was killed, unless you mean Bedelia.”
All eyes turned to Bedelia, who shrunk like a black and blue flower wilting in the cold.
“Not her,” Slàine confirmed. “The third queen is a magic wielding human. Each of the queens is,” she hesitated, “or was, in Oighear’s situation, capable of ruling over all with their innate powers. No matter which queen wins, the world will change, and countless lives will be lost. Such great change cannot come about without great tragedy. It does not matter who dies first or last. It is the claiming of the shroud we’d hoped to prevent.”
Kai tensed. If that was the case . . .
“It is already done,” Finn muttered, her gaze on Slàine. “I have claimed the shroud.”
“Then it is finished,” Slàine sighed. “One of the three queens has claimed the shroud. I have failed.”
“I’ll step down,” Finn pleaded. “I was never officially acknowledged after Maeveen’s death. If I refuse to claim my birthright, then the prophecy cannot come to pass.”
Slàine shook her head. “That you are ruler by birth is all that matters. It is the claiming of the shroud by a woman meant to rule that will set things in motion.”
Finn looked like she might cry. Kai took her hand and gave it a squeeze, wanting only to offer comfort.
Her tears began to fall. “It’s all my fault then. The world will end because of me.”
Kai looked to Slàine hopefully. There had to be some sort of catch. Finn would never bring about the end of days.
Slàine simply stared back at him, her gaze unwavering.
He sighed. “What will happen now?”
She shrugged. “I do not know. The prophecy ended there. Regardless, we have failed.”
Ealasaid, who had been hunched in her seat, making herself as small as possible, cleared her throat. “Forgive me, but didn’t you say that two of the three queens must die for the prophecy to come to pass? From what you’ve explained, the shroud is only the first step. If Finn and this third queen are both still alive, perhaps not all is lost.”
Slàine narrowed her eyes at her, then nodded. “Perhaps.”
Finn exhaled in relief. “I will do whatever it takes to stop anything horrible from coming to pass. I will put an end to the Cavari, and any others who might threaten this land.”
Slàine’s eyes widened, then she bowed her head. “If that is truly your will, my people will aid you. If we cannot stop this budding war from occurring, we can only hope to end it quickly.”
Kai watched, somewhat awestruck, as Finn nodded sharply. Something had changed in her demeanor. She was becoming the powerful woman she was always meant to be.
Slàine and the others continued to converse well into the evening, while Kai contented himself with a dram of whiskey, glad to at least be safe and warm with Finn by his side.
He knew, perhaps, he should fear her new role, and her magical capabilities. Only a fool would care more for the fate of the dangerous creature beside him, than for himself or his countrymen.
He sighed. So then he was a fool, but he’d never claimed to be anything else.
Later that evening, Maarav finally found a moment to be alone with Slàine, while their respective companions rested from their long journeys.
“How could you not have told me?” he finally balked at her prolonged silence. “You practically raised me.”
He looked to the woman he thought of as his mother in many ways. The woman who had taught him to fight. Taught him to kill. She was just as deadly now as ever.
Slàine smirked at his half-empty brandy mug, letting him know she’d been watching just how many times he’d had it refilled . . . which probably meant too many, though he’d long since lost count.
He followed her gaze as she glanced at Finn and the others, sharing drinks around a separate table, along with Tavish, who’d seemed glad to rejoin the group after having faced down the Cavari.
“I knew you might have conflicting interests,” Slàine said distantly. She turned back to him. “Were you aware that I knew your mother before you were sent to us?”
His eyes widened. “I was aware she knew someone within áit I Bhfolach. I did not know that it was you.”
“You know better than to speak the name of our home out loud,” she hissed, then hunched back into her seat, “but yes, it was I your mother made her bargain with. She wanted to take her sons to Migris, and I wanted one of her sons in return.”
He pursed his lips in thought. Part of him felt like he should be angry, but the wounds of abandonment were so old, he could not muster any ire. “Why are you telling me this?”