Rider nodded. “It was some time before we understood that ourselves. At that point, we were very young, too inexperienced to grasp the extent of the situation. We were unaware that the entire kingdom was fearful of us. Some spoke of prophecy, others dared not speak of us at all. The pair of us were blamed for each calamity that came upon the realm, each misfortune of the king, though we were merely boys. The mob that came for us had no definable reason behind their actions but fear and superstition. And possibly clandestine orders from their ruler.”
I started to speak but faltered. Their tale was too reminiscent of raw memories.
Rhys finished out Rider’s explanation. “The irony is their attack gave us the ability they feared. Forced it upon us. Our response to that action not only revealed to us our full strength, but turned it against them.”
The room was silent for a long moment.
“The danger?” Chevelle finally asked.
“Yes,” Rhys answered, coming back to himself. It was clearly an emotional memory for him as well. “I doubt there would be issue with an attempt to borrow from Frey. But we have found it is impossible to give the power without injuring the non-connected receiving party.”
“They take it as a strike,” Rider explained. With a hint of chagrin, he added, “We also learned such by accident. As children.”
“Didn’t help our cause either,” Rhys said.
I had my doubts, but I was positive the wolves had not brought these men from the ice lands without good reason. “I will try.” Several of the others immediately bristled at the idea, but before they had a chance to voice their arguments I held up a hand. “Not today. I have a few things to check on first.”
“I will research the archives of the twins,” Ruby said.
“Thank you,” I replied, though I was fairly certain she’d have no luck there. When I had a free moment, I would have to find the wolves, and hope they would give me some indication if we were on the right track.
“I think we should break for now,” I suggested. “I don’t feel I can overcome this in one day and I’m confident you all have other tasks before this evening’s event.”
The group split into small sets, obviously agitated by the new plan. I glanced at Chevelle, unable to remove the painful image Rhys’ story brought to mind. His eyes met mine and I could see that he understood, knew that it had affected me. As he stood speaking with Anvil, his hand rose to his collar and he slid the material between his thumb and forefinger. I smiled and did the same. Funny how the small gesture meant more now, with Asher gone, than when we’d conceived it to subvert him.
Ruby grabbed my elbow and pulled me from the room, chattering about her ideas on the new theory. I let her.
When we reached the hall, Grey and Steed were standing together, deep in conversation. Ruby released her grip on me and immediately started a new discussion with Grey, drawing him down the hall with her.
Steed shrugged and laughed, apparently resigned to finishing his exchange with Grey later. “Hungry?” he asked.
“Ravenous.” I smiled and walked with him toward the dining room.
When we were alone in the corridor, he slowed his pace. “I’ve been meaning to apologize.”
I glanced at him curiously.
“If I had known... Frey, I never would have...”
“Oh,” I stopped him. “No, I cannot blame you for that.”
He smirked. I smacked his arm.
“What I mean is,” I explained, “I can’t charge you for what neither of us knew.”
“Still,” he said, “I do express my regret.” And then he smiled. “To you anyway.”
I tried to bite down on my grin. I couldn’t expect him to be sorry for the irritation he’d caused Chevelle by his advances. Besides, Chevelle had thrown him across the room and into a wall. I was pretty sure they were even.
“It was Asher,” I said. Our slow pace came to a halt as Steed turned to me. I wasn’t sure why I’d said it, probably because of the fresh memories brought up earlier. All that had come back to me the last few weeks. But once I’d started, I couldn’t seem to stop. “He found out.”
Steed placed his hands on my arms in a comforting gesture.
“I’d hidden it from him. I knew I must. But he figured it out.” I drew a quick breath. “He used it against me. He decided to take Chevelle for his own purposes. It would keep me in line.” A harsh laugh escaped. If he’d only known. “I hadn’t realized he’d caught on. I thought it was a banquet, a show of power, just like any other. But the room was crowded and he had me in a gown, not the clothes of a warrior. I stood beside him, his second.” I could still see Asher as he moved to silence the crowd. I shook my head. “When he announced the arranged marriage, all my training vanished and I couldn’t stop myself from finding Chevelle across the room. You should have seen his face.”
I looked into Steed’s dark eyes. “I couldn’t let him. I stepped forward and refused.” I took another shallow breath. “I denied him. For everyone.”
He was speechless. I had meant for him to be released of guilt. There was no one who knew the truth of it but us, Steed couldn’t have but believed it to be fact. But I could see my explanation had only made it worse.
“Later,” Steed asked, “when Sapphire was taken?”