while we were there. This is yet another example of you being ill prepared. You concern yourself far too much with principles and manage to leave out common sense in the process.'
Michael wasn't thrilled with Duncan's attitude and he could feel the shock emanating from Garren, who wouldn't have expected such outright hostility from those under Michael's command.
'Duncan, as I've already stated, I would appreciate your help, but it's not mandatory.'
'It's quite mandatory. You won't be able to navigate your way through the tunnels. Our newfound brother doesn't even know they exist, much less where they lead. And now that we've made such a grand entrance, you can rest assured that Eidolon will be heavily guarded from now on.'
Garren considered Duncan's words. He seemed surprised by any mention of tunnels. 'My suggestion — '
'We don't need your suggestions. We've rescued our own from your castle's walls before, this is nothing new. Your mother was one of us, and you find that easy to believe, why does it shock you to learn that she wasn't alone?'
'What surprised me is that an Adorian made it to a cell in the first place.'
Michael cringed as he heard the words. He knew Garren hadn't meant them the way that they'd come out, but Duncan's composure was starting to unravel.
'Not every Ereubinian has the exceptional sort of cruelty and malice that you carry for our people, for anything with a pulse. Your taste for blood is infectious and has been carried on into the hearts of your men. Things weren't always as they are now in Eidolon. Why do you think it was so easy for Gabriel to befriend your father?' Garren didn't respond. 'Because he was nothing like you!'
'Wait,' Michael clung to the vain hope that he'd misunderstood Duncan. 'You knew Garren was Adorian before Roahn spoke for him?'
'Of course I knew. I was there.' Duncan glared at him coolly. 'Jareth was born of both Man and Adorian and yet he has wings. It's always been this way, being of no importance which side carries the blood of an Adorian.' He turned to Garren. 'Yet you were born without. More than a symbol, it means that you are not one of us.'
Michael rose to his feet. 'You said nothing to me when we last sat in this room, discussing the border. If you knew he was Adorian and could pose a threat to our realm by breaching the divide, why did you stay silent?'
'That's a question for your father.'
'My father has nothing to do with this.' His restraint was weakening. It was one thing to allow such talk to be done within this room, but quite another to place their realm in peril, no matter the excuse.
'He has everything to do with this! It's the same reason I couldn't tell you of your sister's existence. I made a promise to him, that the things we beheld and were privy to wouldn't pass beyond us. No one can make me break that vow.'
'Even at the demise of your own people?'
'Beyond death, Michael. Gabriel asked if I'd be able to keep my promises, even after he was gone, and my answer to him was yes. For all the talk of ideals that you pretend to stand behind, I'm amazed that you're so shocked to find me loyal. I don't have to run my mouth to prove my allegiances.'
Michael had heard enough. 'It's not loyalty that drives your decisions or your promises to my father. I'm not sure what exact — '
Duncan clenched his hand into a fist and held it to his chest as he leapt to his feet. 'It is my unborn son!' he screamed. 'It is the child who was taken from me before I even beheld his face.'
Michael's jaw fell slack.
'That is what drives this rage, Michael. Yes, you lost your father and mother, but you have lived most of your life within these walls, and that is quite a different matter from the daily torment that my men have endured. Gabriel understood that and knew that I wouldn't be swayed by lofty talk. He looked at me the day he asked for my allegiance with the same gravity that I would hold when I watched my beautiful stepdaughter murdered in cold blood. Gabriel had already lost Caelyn to the very being who was raising your newfound brethren and you want me to pretend that your father knew nothing of what Garren was capable of?'
Everyone sat in stunned silence. Michael, unsure of his words, whispered, 'The Ereubinian who left her mortally wounded was Tadraem? He was also…'
'He was responsible for Seth and Indeara's deaths as well.'
Garren went pale.
Duncan shook his head, 'Michael, you must understand, I cannot…'
'Don't. You're right. My father had his reasons, though what they were, I cannot imagine.'
Garren looked up. 'Ruiari,' he said slowly, reverently, as if he were just remembering. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. 'Duncan, you have every reason to hate me. Know that could I go back and undo — '
Duncan forcefully let out a breath, interrupting him. 'I offered you my own life for hers and unarmed myself in a good faith gesture, a foolish move on my part. You will not find me in that position again.' He started toward the door, but stopped before he left the room. 'Your chambers aren't but two halls down from Aiden's. The tunnels lead all the way into the castle itself. We were there, right alongside your lineage for hundreds of years. I had you at blade's end myself and it was the very fact that Gabriel didn't hate you that kept you alive. It was the first thing I did after Ruiari's fall. It was his words to me while he was still living that you should thank for your ability to take in breath, not the elders, or Michael, or archaic law. Had it not been for him, you would never have made it this far. I would have pierced you through that night as you slept, just as you mercilessly slay Lillian. She was merely a child, Garren. But just one of many for you. How many children have you slain since meeting Ariana?' He turned back to Michael. 'I don't suppose you considered that.'
Wordlessly, he left the room. Michael had trouble finding anything to say. He had been completely shocked by what Duncan had said, suddenly feeling very naive. What else did he not know? What good was he as a leader when he knew so little of what was important? Duncan had known all along and yet Gabriel had told his own son nothing. Why? He tried to not let it hurt his feelings, but he was beginning to feel very much like Ariana had when she explained how left out she'd always felt, how unloved. He'd confided in his father about everything.
Jenner must have sensed his discomfort. 'Then we will leave it as it is, the three of you will leave on first light. We will meet again tonight at the Torradh. Are we all in agreement?' Everyone nodded and began to leave, probably taking in everything that had just happened. Jenner walked over and placed his hand on Michael's shoulder.
'Walk with me. Garren, you may join us. I am an old Adorian and I am tired, but I still see things. I see that look in your eye, Michael, the same one that your father used to have, and I've sensed it in your sister. A lot has been said in the past few days.'
Michael waited for the others to leave the room. Jareth lingered for a moment, until Michael raised his hand to let him know that it was alright to leave.
'Why would my father not tell me any of this? Do you have any idea how weary I grow of asking that question?'
Jenner opened the door, starting down the hall.
'Did the elders know of Garren's lineage?'
Jenner paused, rubbing his hands together to warm them. 'We had our suspicions when Ariana mentioned him. Gabriel went to Eidolon without our blessing. I assume it had something to do with why he decided to keep your sister a secret from all of us. Do not be offended that he confided in Duncan. I would never have imagined that one of our daughters would have been able to capture the heart of an Ereubinian, but it seems that I have now been proven wrong twice.' Jenner glanced at Garren and smiled, but Garren's thoughts were clearly elsewhere, his gaze was focused on the floor.
'I had been trying to place Duncan all of this time, I didn't remember until he spoke just now.'
Michael stopped walking, and stepped in front of Garren to look at him directly. 'Then you remember the girl?'
'I remember everything,' Garren said, 'as if it just occurred. What Duncan said as he left — '
Michael stopped him before he could finish his sentence. 'We're well aware of what goes on in Eidolon. Nech ordai neroman.'
Garren looked at him, shocked, which Michael expected.
'Every child who is raised in the Iidolis and the Aidolis is taught the language of the Laionai. My father knew it well, as does Duncan, Jareth, Caedmon — all of us. Every time your men used such speech in our presence we were well aware of what was being said. Garren, what is important now, isn't the past — it's the future.'
