Free Age of Druids by India Drummond Page B

Estobar. The former Andenans are riled and demand justice. Do not blame Eilidh. I told Koen in front of an unimpeachable witness that I would run him through with a sword if he tried to escape again. He did, and apparently I kept my word. The threat was illegal and unjustified, as was my killing of Eilidh’s third mate. As you rightly pointed out, I am capable of raising a shield or otherwise defending myself without retaliating. I made a decision, and I chose badly.”
     
    Anger burned within Munro. “Eilidh isn’t the one I blame. Koen’s father is nearly as much of a pain as Koen was.”
     
    “You’ll hear no argument from me,” Griogair said.
     
    “So you’re not planning to fight this?”
     
    “On what grounds? I did what I was accused of doing. I may not have intended to murder him, but his blood is on my hands nonetheless.” Griogair smiled sadly. “I won’t fight Eilidh. Don’t you think she’s been through enough?”
     
    Whether planned or not, the question only added to the weight of guilt on Munro’s shoulders. He stood abruptly. “Stand up. We’re leaving.”
     
    “No,” Griogair said. “This is the way things must be. If arresting me buys Eilidh peace in Caledonia, then so be it.”
     
    “You think she won’t order you executed?”
     
    “It doesn’t matter if she does. She is the queen; I am her subject.”
     
    “Stand up,” Munro repeated. “Now.” His anger boiled. When Griogair didn’t move, Munro put the small flute to his lips. Blowing gently, he plucked at the flows the magic revealed, reaching within Griogair to tease at his air magic. The flows were blocked by Watchers in an adjacent room, but Munro easily unwound their magical chains. With a flick of the wrist, Munro pushed Griogair to his feet with a hard shield of air.
     
    Griogair stumbled against Munro but quickly righted himself. “I’m impressed. Air has never been my strongest talent.”
     
    A pair of Watchers rushed in. Before they could act, Munro stopped them. “Do nothing,” he said. “I am taking custody of Prince Griogair.” When they hesitated, Munro gripped their flows to increase his power. He forced them to their knees.
     
    “Don’t do this, brother,” Griogair said. “Our mate will never forgive you.”
     
    Munro glared. “I am draoidh. It is my right. There is nothing to forgive.” At first, he considered how they were going to get away, but then his own words sank in. He didn’t need to escape like a thief. He had every right. “I will not have your death on my conscience, Griogair. There’s already been too much loss.” Something in Munro’s eyes must have given the prince pause because he gave no further argument. After a signal from him, the guards stood, and Munro commanded them, “Say nothing to the queen.”
     
    Griogair chuckled. “She’ll know before we arrive.”
     
    ∞
     
    The upheaval during the reunification of the Otherworld had shifted the library in the Halls of Mist into the side of the mountain. The main study areas and hall had been repaired, but further back, many of the chambers that housed runed artefacts were still buried in rubble. Only scholars could reassemble the broken pieces correctly, although some were beyond repair. The keepers said they’d rather the restoration project take a hundred years than to have historically significant writings destroyed by untrained hands.
     
    Keeper Oszlár’s personal documents and possessions had been moved to a study chamber at the druids’ request. Joy sat in the back, across from where Cen went over his latest findings with Aaron and Douglas. She shivered as she imagined what would happen if the mountain caved in on them. When the big quake hit before, she was just above this place, trapped in an orb of stone, her air supply quickly diminishing.
     
    The new head keeper entered, breaking her grim reverie. She inhaled deeply, trying to hold on to the here and now.
     
    Surprisingly, the keepers hadn’t