“Jax,” Aldrik growled. “You take that into the forest, and you bury it somewhere far and deep. And you keep its location secret to your grave.”
Jax gave Aldrik an approving nod, taking advantage of the chaos and departing before any objections could be raised.
“My prince, that is the West’s heritage!” Major Schnurr was horrified.
“It is a heritage of hate.” The prince glowered at the dissenter. “It is a heritage that true Westerners do not take pride in.”
Major Schnurr shook his head, a mixture of anger and disgust on his face. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly thought better of it, storming out the door.
“Vhalla, come.” Aldrik took her hand in his.
“Son, you will not—” the Emperor began, his composure finally beginning to break under the public insolence, under not having his power play work out as planned.
“Father, I have found your behavior toward Lady Yarl—our guest, your loyal subject, the person whom you have brought here to help with your victory—appalling. You have tested her time and again, where each test she passes more stunningly than the last.” Aldrik pointed at his father. “No more. I will not let you harm her again—or demand for her to harm herself—for your amusement or to abate your insecurity. I understand the pressures of war have misplaced your better judgment. Hopefully you quickly realize the same, for I have no interest in any further discussion until a much deserved apology has been given.”
All stared at the prince in shock, including Vhalla. Aldrik was oblivious to it, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and ushering her quickly to the back hall. Vhalla expected to hear the Emperor stomping behind them, but no footsteps came. It all disappeared as Aldrik led her into the one place they had made their haven, slamming his door shut.
“I cannot believe he-he would—by the Mother,” Aldrik seethed. “Crystals, he brought crystals here? He’s a mad man! I cannot believe my uncle would produce them.”
“I’m sure Lord Ophain didn’t have a choice,” Vhalla pointed out what she hoped was true.
Aldrik continued, ignoring her. “How dare he use the chains the West used to treat Windwalkers like cattle—to use them, to kill them—on you.”
Around his hands, fire sparked to a blaze. Vhalla gripped his fist with both of hers, the flames licking around her fingers. “Don’t burn anything.”
His rage on her behalf was as comforting as it was fearsome. But she knew more anger would not solve the problems that needed solving. It was anger like this that drove the prince to dark places. She needed him to see that; she needed to keep him from it. Aldrik’s rage softened the moment his eyes met hers.
“Vhalla! Gods, Vhalla.” His hands went to her face, the fire extinguished. “How dare he ... How could you? You should not have let him.”
“By doing so, I think it made him appear worse,” she explained.
Aldrik gave a raspy laugh. “You really thought that way?”
“Was I right?” Vhalla searched his stunned expression.
“You certainly were.” Aldrik brought his lips to her forehead, and she closed her eyes.
“You shouldn’t have, Aldrik.” Vhalla thought of his hands on her as she was under the effects of crystals, of Jax’s warning. She thought of his insolence before his father.
“No. Do not tell me that,” he demanded firmly. “That was entirely the right thing to do. I’m tired of standing by while my father treats you as he does. Appearances be damned.”
A stomping grew louder from down the hall. Vhalla inhaled sharply, and Aldrik pulled her tightly against him. Every horrible thing that could happen raced through her head: soldiers coming to take her from him, to put her away, to put her back in those awful chains. They shredded what strength she’d mustered. The door shook as the person banged on it.
“Brother, get back here before we have a civil war on our hands.” Baldair slammed his fist against the door again. Aldrik took a deep breath, his face buried in her hair. “I know what Father did was wrong,” Baldair lowered his voice. “It was foul really. But are you honestly surprised? Vhalla shamed him in front of his leaders. He was losing his power and needed to prove that he still had control. Father is nothing but a prideful man—”
Aldrik left her side to throw open the door.
“So I am to allow his actions to be forgiven for his tender pride?” Aldrik scowled.
“The Western majors are up in arms that he would use the cuffs. That it will hurt the West’s trade relations—”
“As they should be!” Aldrik’s anger was back, and it was being taken out on his brother. “She is an inspiration for the East, a beacon of hope, a new era, and he would send the message that he would treat Windwalkers as they were treated more than a century ago, hunt them, chain them, kill them. He outright called her a tool! Not even a person to him but a thing. I do not blame the Western leaders for not wanting anyone to think that the West is still in bed with such archaic thinking—as my uncle supplied the means!”
“They are threatening to ride home.” Baldair held out his hands, pleading and ignoring his brother’s righteous tirade. “Erion is leading them, and he’s not listening to me because I am not, ‘of the West’.”
“Good, then Father will see why he must respect the people whom he depends on,” Aldrik spat.
“Aldrik,” Vhalla cut into the conversation, commanding the attention of both princes with her tone alone. She crossed to her dark-haired lover and reached up to Aldrik’s cheek. He sighed softly under her touch. “Go.”
“But—”
“No.” Vhalla shook her head. “You need to show them that the future Emperor is a bigger man, a better man than the current one. I want this war to end; I will swallow any offenses against me for that goal, and I need you to do the same.”
“Vhalla,” Aldrik whispered softly.
“Go, find an end to this,” she begged of him. “You said you would take me home.”
“You are an amazing woman.” His hand went up to hers, and Aldrik looked at her lovingly.
Vhalla smiled softly at him.
“So, you’re coming?” Baldair hovered in the doorway.
“Yes.” Aldrik nodded. “And I plan to make it known that my compliance is the result of a woman who my father would rather have locked up like an animal.”
Baldair threw up his hands in defeat to Aldrik’s mood.
Her prince leaned forward and kissed Vhalla’s forehead lightly once more. She closed her eyes and sighed softly. If she was honest, she wanted him to stay. Aldrik’s presence reassured her, it made her feel safer. As though when they were together, nothing could stop them. But he did what she had asked, what he needed to do. Aldrik released her and walked over to his brother.
“Vhalla,” Aldrik spoke tenderly, but firmly. “If anyone other than me opens the door or tries to force entry, you will fight them. Lest my father try something underhanded while I am away from you.”
She nodded tiredly. “Good luck, both of you.”
The moment the door closed, the events of the day settled upon her all at once, and Vhalla leaned against the wall for support. Her knees buckled, and Vhalla slid into a ball by the door. She grabbed her arms tightly and tried to stave off the shivers, to fight off the memory of Rat and Mole and Egmun.
Vhalla also wondered in horror what the Emperor now knew about her and crystals. The cuffs were meant to work on any regular sorcerer, perhaps Aldrik’s lie of her not being able to manage the magical stones would still hold. If the Emperor knew she could manage them then that could turn her into something more. It could turn her into the Emperor’s means of unleashing a legendary power from the Crystal Caverns. Her head hurt trying to think about what that awful man may be scheming, and Vhalla pressed her eyes closed.