“Penny knows. She probably checked in a few times when we weren’t looking.” I winked at her, and she glared back, her cheeks red. “Congratulations on being the Second, though.”
Charity shifted uncomfortably. She offered me a curt nod. “By the way, thanks for telling everyone about the way Grandmama was manipulating our people to react to strangers,” she said. “The shifters will never admit it, but they’re grateful. It isn’t fun being made to feel like an outsider.”
“I have zero problem with it,” I replied.
“Well…” Her brow furrowed. “Right. Except for you, I guess. Anyway, Grandmama pulled away her…influence. She stopped using her magic to control people. At least, she says she did.”
“She will never fully stop using her magic,” Darius said. “It is ingrained in her now. You are simply forcing her to be much more discreet.”
Charity nodded. “My dad figured as much. Which is the other thing I was going to tell you guys. The custodes are officially leaving the Flush. This will be a sanctuary for the old or wounded, or those who do not wish to fight. Everyone who wishes to fulfill their duty to restore order will leave with us. We hope to find the rest of our people who left over the years and organize our forces. Representatives will be posted throughout the Realm. The goal is to eventually enforce the rules that have long been set. For everyone. But we’ll make a plan after we meet with the elves.”
“You mean after the big battle, right?” I lifted my eyebrows. “You must know the elves won’t just give up their advantages because a bunch of freedom fighters decided to show up to work after a long hiatus.”
“Yes, though we’re not talking about it in those terms. Romulus wants to give the elves the benefit of the doubt.”
“And get killed for his efforts,” Emery murmured.
Charity studied Emery for a long moment before turning to look at the shifters gathered down the way, Roger in loose sweats with a backpack full of clothes. He probably wasn’t planning on carrying it long. At the first sign of trouble, he’d hand off his things to someone who’d stay human, and then shift.
“Oh.” Charity put up a finger. “We’re bringing carts. You guys can put all your stuff in that. We’re assembling at the practice yard. Grab everything you need and head that way. We’ll be leaving at dusk, but Romulus figured you’d want to gather early so you can talk and ask questions.”
I looked at Darius. “I guess you’re not going to handle everything for me this time, huh? I actually have to participate?”
He rubbed my back. “Sadly, yes. You’ll have to pull your weight.”
“Dang it.” I smiled at the jest and shot a glance at Emery. “Shall we?”
“I never thought I’d go to the castle again,” Emery said, sounding uncomfortable.
“It’ll be fine.” Penny rubbed his arm. “We’ll get it sorted out.”
But I wasn’t so sure that was true. The elves didn’t seem to want to let his infractions go. By now they probably had a list of grievances about me too, including stirring up drama in the Realm. We likely wouldn’t get opposed on our way to the castle, but once we got there…I had a feeling we’d be staring down a butcher’s bill, and the fae and shifters wouldn’t be enough to pay the tab.
Nineteen
Sure enough, the journey to the castle was quiet.
Too quiet.
“My feet are killing me,” Callie murmured as we finished the last leg.
Romulus hadn’t plotted a path directly there, and it wasn’t because he was worried about meeting elves. We’d seen a few, watching us from a distance. Getting out of our way. They weren’t idiots—they knew we’d kill them if they tried to apprehend us. And why bother? They knew we would be personally delivering ourselves to them. All they had to do was wait. And prepare.
I filled my lungs, held the oxygen in, and then let it out slowly, ignoring my increased heart rate and the adrenaline soaking into my blood. This felt so wrong it was ridiculous. Charging into danger was one thing, but strolling in, asking which dish they’d like to see our heads on, and then showing up for our own slaughter? That was not the way I did things. Not at all.
Those Seers were the only reason this was happening. They didn’t even know what would come afterward! We were blindly following them and hoping for the best.
A fool’s hope, I was certain.
We’d taken a long, winding journey rather than the direct route because Romulus was advertising his presence in the Realm and dropping off some of his people in various old-timey strongholds. Which would undoubtedly go over about as well as lead boots in a swimming pool with the elves. They might not have stopped him, yet, but they couldn’t be happy about the situation.