Chapter 37
Two days later, we stood in the Wult fortress, Danegeld. I stood in the great hall, observing the Wult Mountains through towering windows. The view of the fog-wrapped peaks and brilliant foliage never ceased to inspire me. Mountains like these were written about in fairy tales.
But today, a thin trail of smoke rose into the sky from a funeral pyre at the base of the foothills, marring the otherwise-perfect view.
The funeral had been a somber affair. No one had been prepared to bury their king. His death had been unexpected and premature, especially to those who had been closest to him. I don’t think it had affected anyone worse than Kull.
He hadn’t spoken to me since his father’s passing. I’d seen him at the funeral, dressed in black and wearing his father’s crown that shouldn’t have been his for several more decades at least. His gaze never met mine.
Now, he stood on the opposite end of the hall, away from me. I felt his presence like a looming, black cloud.
I’d choked back tears all day and had gotten a tremendous headache because of it. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold it together.
A flooded river beating at a fractured dam.
Among the group assembled in the hall were Ket and Heidel. The two women spoke quietly in the corner. Ket’s braided hair shone in the sunlight streaming through the window. I knew she’d been close to the king, but it seemed as though she had kept her composure better than the rest of the group.
Heidel, on the other hand, had dark circles under her eyes and strands of gray starting to show in her hair. Although I didn’t know the particulars, I’d heard rumors that her punishment for allying herself with Geth was to be exceedingly harsh—even by Wult standards. Exacting punishment on his sister had been Kull’s first act as interim king.
As I held my father’s memory charm, the metal leaf warmed under my fingers. He’d returned it to me this morning as we’d waited for the funeral to begin. He’d said that he’d had a change of heart, and that he no longer needed the charm. He’d wanted me to have it, he’d said, to do with as I pleased, and he’d released its magic to me.
I glanced across the room and found Kull still brooding in the shadows. He spoke quietly with Brodnik and Rolf. Our gazes met for a brief moment.
Soon, his companions left him, and I felt now was my time to speak with him and make things right between us. I’d always been able to reason with him before. Heaven knew he’d brought me out of a dark place more than once. I supposed now was a good time to turn the tables.
Wearing his dark clothing, coupled with his drawn face and shadowed eyes, he hardly looked like himself.
“Hey,” I said as I stopped beside him, keeping the memory charm firmly in my grasp. We stood under an alcove. This far from the windows, the sunlight didn’t touch us. Only the memory charm gave off a faint gleam of soft ocher light.
He didn’t acknowledge me, so I plunged ahead. “My father gave me his memory charm,” I said, holding out the leaf pendant. “He released the magic to me, which means I have the ability to use it now. I guess he thinks I’m old enough to play with the big kid toys.” I laughed a little too loudly.
He didn’t laugh with me.
Smile. Please just smile.
“I think I’ve come a long way in my magical abilities. I’m getting good enough to use Earth magic without needing Faythander magic to aid me. Losing the magic wasn’t all bad, I guess, since it forced me to work harder.”
Still nothing.
“Anyway, I thought that with this memory charm, you could maybe come and visit Earth. I know you don’t remember your last trip there, so I thought, well… maybe—”
“Olive,” he said, his voice stern and a little too calm. “My place is here now. My role as king has taken me by surprise, and I have much to learn.”
“Oh… oh yeah, I understand.”
“Do you?” he asked, still not meeting my gaze.
“Of course! Yes. You have a great deal of responsibility now.”
Look at me. Please. Why won’t you even look at me?
“There are many things that must be done. Much will change with the goblins’ extinction. I must uphold our alliances with the elves and pixies. Borders must be redrawn. All will seek the Northlands as their own territory, and it will be my duty to ensure that the Wults’ northern borders stay secure. I must strengthen our alliances with the outer tribes. I must set an example of stability, starting with my own family.” He glanced toward Ket. “The death of my father has changed everything. Our alliances with the northern tribes will be in danger of breaking if I do not uphold them.”
“I see. So you do not wish to visit me?”
“No. I am afraid that whatever plans we made before will no longer be a possibility. If you’ll excuse me.” He turned, and his heavy footfalls echoed as he left the hall.
My heart shattered as I watched him go. I knew what he was saying, although I didn’t want to accept it. I stuck the memory charm in my pocket, its soft amber hue extinguished.
I couldn’t cry. Not yet. I would first have to accept that he was gone, and I wasn’t ready to do that. Someone cleared their throat behind me, and I turned to find my father. He gave me a slight smile.
“Hi,” I said, attempting to keep my voice even.
I walked with him back to the windows. He didn’t speak. It seemed as if every eye in the hall were focused on me. I hoped I was imagining it. Had they all seen Kull leave me?
I crossed my arms across my chest, feeling hollow and dead
