their surroundings, but she had not. They give birth without so much as a whimper of pain, and yet she cried at the act of betraying her friend, showing strength that I've never seen in a human.'
Michael hadn't considered that Sara could be with child. He prayed against it, though more for her sake than for his. 'You said you chose Sara for Aiden. Did you mean that literally?'
Garren swallowed hard, and took a deep breath before answering him. It appeared to be a subject that he was afraid for Michael to broach. 'Yes. She was among several others who had been taken from Palingard.' Michael knew there was something that Garren wasn't telling him.
'You are uncomfortable with this. I shouldn't have asked you.'
Duncan overheard the conversation, and addressed Michael. 'What he is uncomfortable with is your response when you find out how they are chosen. They are lined up like cattle, and made to remove their clothing. It is humiliating. They are inspected like objects at auction. It disgusts me to even consider the thought. Sara will no doubt recall every excruciating minute of it. And what about the wardens, you ask? They delivered her to the slaughter in the first place; they have free reign over the humans until they are claimed. Even then, it is not always a promise they will leave the soulless humans alone. Garren, if it makes you feel any better about your sins, your own father had to endure watching your mother stand bare before the same lot of your breed, falsely pretending to choose her as his wife, when he was already well familiar with every inch of her, already willing to die for her sake. Pain is not the word I would use.'
Michael felt both sickened by what he had said and furious at Duncan for having said it in such a manner. Garren would probably not have considered how his parents would have to have conducted themselves in order to remain undetected.
'Enough!' Michael roared. 'Is there no sense of honor in your blood at all?'
Garren stopped his horse and dismounted to stagger behind a tree, sick to his stomach.
Michael faced Duncan again. 'If you're going to continue to act out your hatred for him, go back. You're nothing but a detriment to me this way. Sara is counting on us and if you feel so deeply about saving her, as your mouth has just proclaimed, then behave in a manner befitting to Braeden. You dishonor the Aidolis and you dishonor me.'
Michael softened his voice, leaning closer to him. 'As Adorian Knights, we are called to a higher standard. Don't let your years of life among the humans persuade you otherwise.'
Michael dismounted and found his way back to where Garren was standing. He was leaning against the tree, his chest heaving as he took in air in shortened breaths.
'I'm sorry, Michael.' His face was pale. He leaned back over and threw up again.
'You owe no apologies.'
Garren spit to the side and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. 'He's right. Everything he has said is true. I have become everything that my father hated — everything that brought loathing and dread into my mother's heart.' He closed his eyes and rested his head against his hand.
'Your father shares your past, Garren. Do not forget that. He made the same change that you have made. He would know your footsteps intimately.' Michael placed his hand on the tree next to Garren's face, and leaned in. 'Who better to understand what you're going through?'
Garren rolled his head on his hand to look at Michael. He said nothing for a long time. 'I couldn't have done it, Michael.' He closed his eyes, and almost appeared as though he was about to be sick again, but let out a slow, purposeful breath instead. 'I would rather die than even imagine Ariana in those circumstances. Why didn't my father force her to leave?'
Duncan's voice behind them surprised Garren, who still had his eyes closed, causing him to jump. 'He tried.' Duncan cleared his throat, and looked away from them. 'He loved Indeara and had no interest in her suffering, but she was unwilling to leave his side, no matter the cost. Gabriel did everything in his power to protect her while they were in the outer courts, but his ability to guard her was limited once Eidolon became more familiar with our generation of Braeden. He couldn't save her from everything. I remember well the day your father died. Gabriel mourned him as if he were of our realm. Of our brethren.'
Michael could tell that Duncan was only speaking out of respect for his wishes, but it was appreciated nonetheless.
'I know that Tadraem killed my mother. What I don't know are the circumstances behind it.'
Michael was surprised to hear Garren ask. His words were faint, as if he did not want to hear the answer. Duncan glanced at Michael, almost asking permission to tell him. Garren spoke before Michael had a chance to give an answer. 'Knowing won't change anything, but it will put such questions to rest for me.'
'Indeara was given no preferential treatment and stayed mainly beyond the dividing wall. Tadraem discovered your father's connections with our realm, and came to your mother when she was alone. Gabriel halted Tadraem before he had chance to rape her, which was his intention after having savagely beaten her, but he was too late to save her from her injuries. Gabriel never told your father it was Tadraem who'd done it because he felt Seth had suffered enough, and to reveal that it was his brother would be too much to bear. Even then, Seth never recovered from it.'
Garren sank to the ground, his legs giving way beneath him. He lowered his head into his hands.
Michael was almost too stunned to speak. 'Tadraem is your uncle?'
Garren shook his head, still peering down to the ground. It appeared to be more out of disbelief than denial.
'Let me guess,' Michael looked at Duncan, 'something else my father asked you to keep to yourself?'
'No.' Duncan's words were sincere. 'Michael, I genuinely thought he knew.'
Garren raised his head, a horrified look on his face. 'I was always told that he was a close confidant of my father's.'
Michael had more to learn about Eidolon than he thought. How could Garren not know this?
Duncan answered as if he'd read his mind. 'Family is of little consequence in Eidolon, outside of simply dividing humans from the Ereubinians. Unless Tadraem or another family member told him, he wouldn't have known. I am guessing by your reaction that you don't have any other immediate relatives living?'
Garren again shook his head. 'No. My grandmother was the parent of lineage, and she died before I was born. Tadraem told me she died while my father was still a child. I had no idea he was talking about his own mother. Why would he have kept this from me?'
Duncan dismounted as he answered. 'Considering your birth and that he knew you were of our realm, I would say it was to keep you indebted to him. Taking you in out of obligation would have held different weight than believing him to have done it out of respect and admiration for Seth. He could have also been told not to tell you.'
Michael turned toward Duncan. 'What do you mean?'
'I am not certain that Tadraem is the only one who knows about Garren's true lineage.'
Garren nodded. 'As I said in the council meeting, Ciara must know. Why else would she have thought it possible to take a human army beyond your borders if she didn't know that I am able to pass through unaccompanied? There has been talk of the chosen one.'
Michael rubbed his chin with his hand. 'Then Ciara believes the time of the Oni has come?'
'It's not a prophecy that is widely read in our realm, but I have read it and at one time believed it to be true. And there are sects within Middengard that have revived the old faith.' Garren looked away. 'But what does she want from Ariana, from me?'
Neither Michael nor Duncan had an answer for this. Michael walked back to his horse, taking the reins in his hands. 'Perhaps she fears Ariana could defeat the Oni? I truly don't know.'
Duncan walked over to Garren and, to Michael's wonder, he reached out his hand to help him to his feet.
'I won't offer my hand again if you refuse it.'
Garren took his hand, uncomfortably rising.
'We're lingering too long here. I can feel it.' Michael said, looking around them. The air felt thick and stiff. They mounted their horses and continued on, a shadow of things to come looming in the distance.
