always wished it and, like his father, he now possessed a relic of great power in Arondight, giving him the chance to matter in a world where normalcy was sought and highly overrated. He may not understand Arondight or everything that transpired around him, but he knew he would never let the sword go.
And unlike Richard, Bran would use the magic blade to the best of his ability and never let it change him as it had the knight.
No matter who he fell in love with.
“Do you love him?” Bran blurted, suddenly annoyed at himself.
“Who do you mean?”
It was all Bran could do to meet Deirdre’s green eyes.
“Richard,” he said. “Why do you care for him?”
Deirdre looked away. “That is none of your concern.”
“He is a broken man,” Bran pressed.
“He is. But he will not always be.”
A pit of sorrow mixed with anger sank into his stomach. The feelings Bran had felt from the moment he had met the redhead had blossomed into much more. She was a few years older than him but he did not worry on that. There was something about her, an intoxicating rush of emotions she drew out of him. He wanted to kiss her, hold her. He wanted more. Confusion about how to act left him paralyzed. She had barely looked at him, the feelings Bran experienced also present in her eyes but not sent his way.
They were instead for Richard.
Frustration built inside. Bran didn’t understand.
He was about to say something he knew he would regret when Richard burst from the entrance of the Cadarn, striding with a resolve Bran had not seen in the knight before.
“We leave,” Richard said simply. “Now.”
“What happened?” Bran asked.
“The Morrigan is assembling what might the Tuatha de Dannan possess. Soon the entirety of those sent by Lord Fafnir will join the rest here. The clans outside the Carn Cavall are also amassing, near the headwaters of the Wysg River. In a matter of hours, the Seelie Court will again be gathered, even without Tal Ebolyon, organizing in the Forest of Dean, to march through the plains of Morgannwg province toward Caer Llion.”
“Well, that is good news, isn’t it?” Bran asked.
“It is. It will make what we must do all the easier.”
“The more people the safer we’ll be, I guess.”
“No,” Richard said. “We travel alone to Caer Llion, ahead of the army.”
“Shouldn’t we be with the bulk of the Queen’s army?”
“The Morrigan and I want answers,” Richard said. “The only place for them is inside Caer Llion.”
“If that is true, I am coming with you,” Deirdre interceded.
“No,” Richard said curtly.
“You will need my help,” Deirdre said. Bran could tell she was thinking quickly, as if her life depended on it. “The Rhedewyr you ride forth must be cared for. You do not plan to ride them through the front portcullis of the castle or leave them grazing alone in the plains, do you?”
“Still, it doesn’t matte—”
“I’m coming,” Deirdre said. “That’s that, knight. I knew this was coming before you did. My father has given me leave to go my own way in this madness and I will do as such. If you do not like it, take it up with him.”
Richard didn’t look at her. Bran could see the struggle going on inside of him.
“It will be dangerous,” Richard said.
“Kegan cannot go,” Deirdre said stubbornly. Bran hated how she fought. “And my family knows the plains from Arendig Fawr to Vyrridin to Caer Cleddyf. I am your best chance at success.”
With a grunt, Richard mounted Lyrian.
“Is this wise, Richard?” Bran asked.
“Apparently, I have no choice.”
Deirdre smiled, ignoring Bran, her eyes fixed on Richard. Without another word, they both mounted and rode after the knight who trotted southward through the melee, Snedeker a blur chasing the merlin. As Bran watched the city fade behind him, he saw Caswallawn emerge from the entrance to the Cadarn. Their gazes met. The former lord scowled after the three, the hatred he had for the outworlders palpable. In a swirl of practiced deftness, Caswallawn whirled what could only be his invisible cloak about him.
In a second, the lord disappeared.
Bran hoped the surly lord made it to Govannon’s armory safely enough to drink himself into oblivion.
Dusk settled in on the woodland after an hour, the final birdsong dwindling until silent. The path was wide and easy to navigate, the Rhedewyr plodding forward without hindrance despite the growing darkness. They did not speak, Richard leading, with Snedeker flying ahead, Bran and Deirdre coming after, and Arrow