Page 81 of These Fractured Bonds

“Thanks.” She straightened her jacket.

He stared at her a moment longer, cleared his throat, and said, “You should know that the Keepers mean well. However, they suffer from a common ailment that plagues the Fae—cowardice.” He gestured for her to follow. “Despite the power we hold, our mastery over magic, we succumb to fear—fear of impoverishment when we already own the land, powerlessness when we already rule our land. It is the malady of living a long life; change is frightening, unwanted, and resisted. In efforts to remain stagnant, they would rather appease those whose greed is insatiable.”

“Then, why are they involved with the Keepers at all?”

“Because their morals tell them the Watchers will be our ruin. It does not, however, cure them of their cowardice.” Augrys held the door open for her. “But that’s why I am here. I hold them to their oaths and encourage them to overcome their fear, even if it is temporary. All I need is more time.” He glanced at her. “More time to fix the mistakes of old.”

Yareli remained quiet after that. She followed him, tracing his figure from the top of his head to his boots. His spiel had been reminiscent of his persona, August; it had held the same optimistic determination he had effortlessly given off. For the first time since regaining her memories of him, she hesitated. What if August had held more truth to who Augrys was? But she was afraid of what she would do if it were true. Would she reclaim her feelings? Would it matter? He had hidden himself, lied to her, and she didn’t know who he was.

To her relief, they arrived at the greeting room, and her thoughts quieted. The space was simple, wide and sparsely furnished. The walls and floors were made of the same smooth rock as her quarters.

Five Fae sat in armchairs facing away from the entrance. Upon Augrys and Yareli’s arrival, the guests shifted, watching them make their way to the front. This time, however, Yareli wasn’t intimidated; their restlessness fed into the picture that Augrys had painted—they were a hair’s breadth from throwing the towel in. She stood straighter, emboldened by their behavior, and scanned their faces.

Including Augrys, six Fae comprised the Keepers’ leadership. The Fae on their right was dressed in the Fire Court’s color, black. Next to her were two Fae in traditional light blue from the Air Court. Across from them was Leo and another Fae in rich brown she didn’t recognize.

“Augrys,” one of the two Air Court representatives said. She wore her hair short, shorn completely on one side, revealing a beautiful blue tattoo. “We’ve come in the wake of the Keepers’ Village destruction. From what we understand, you have settled the survivors here for the foreseeable future.”

Augrys replied, “For the foreseeable future, Linn.”

“The Lhuth Mountains, although vast, were never intended to be a permanent base for refugees,” the Fire Court Fae said. Shehad her graying hair tied back in a slick bun. “Samire cannot sustain them through the upcoming winter.”

“And yet, they survived in the Keepers’ Village, Ohna. They will adapt. In fact, Leo tells me they’ve already figured out an irrigation system for an underground farm.”

“That’s right. It took a little ingenuity, but it wasn’t hard to implement,” Leo confirmed. “We are, if nothing else, full of unconventionality."

Yareli smiled. He was, after all, an inventor at heart, and there was no invention he could not devise. He caught her smile and gave her a tentative one of his own in return. It made hers falter, unsure of his intention.

Ohna continued. “Any more development in the mountain puts us at risk of exposure. The Fire Court has increased its patrols, including the Lhuth. We are treading on thinner ice than before.”

“We were always walking on ice here,” Augrys retorted. “This is not new to us—simply a new development in our situation.”

“It’s different this time,” the second Air Court representative said. “Centuries, that’s how long the Keepers’ Village had remained hidden. Now, not only did we lose our primary base, but they sent their nox army after us. The tides are turning, and they are not in our favor.”

Yareli bit the inside of her cheek, refraining from uttering a piece of her mind. Augrys—who had not taken a seat—laughed, startling her. It was a joyless laugh, more spiteful than not.

“Nil, I’m afraid I must be the one to remind you that we have never been on the tide’s winning waters. We have scrambled to rescue political refugees, scrounge up enough political pressure to stop a Watchers’ proposal once every century, but victory? We have been far from it. This escalation was destined to happen, and now, we must rise to the challenge—burn or be burned.

“We know, without a doubt, that the Watchers are involved in the emergence of the nox, but we cannot prove it. We know they aim to destabilize Izmari’s political landscape by delegitimizing our queen, but we can only stall it. We know their ambitions, but we cannot stop them. Do you still believe we were ever holding the winning cards?”

Nil’s face fell, and two pinpricks of red appeared on his cheeks.

Linn interjected on his behalf, saying, “We lack the necessary military and political strength of the Watchers. Recruitment to our cause has been wracked with infiltrators, doubters, and the disinterested. Despite your leadership, Augrys, we do not have the full backing of the Water Court.”

To this, Augrys said nothing. This was news to Yareli; she hadn’t considered—since Augrys commanded the Water Court’s military—that his involvement with the Keepers was unsanctioned by his father.

“We need a strong alliance before this cause takes its final breath,” Ohna declared.

Yareli felt the frustration emanating from Augrys’s back; his shoulders were tense like he wanted nothing more than to shake them all and demand they cease their cowardice.

The Fae next to Leo spoke up. “If a strong alliance is what we seek, then I suggest we all return to our respective courts and do exactly that.” His dark, long green hair fell in loose curls over his shoulders. His brown eyes gleamed. “After all, that is why we consider ourselves leaders, is it not? Dear Augrys cannot hold our hands every step of the way.”

Silence blanketed the room, and as Yareli was ready to launch a few choice words at the rest of them, Ohna spoke.

“The Fire Court is preparing for the Fire Festival. Perhaps it would do us well to test the waters with one of the trifecta.”

Nil nodded. “The elders are divided. Linn and I may be able to convince one or two of them to side with us.”

“Very good!” The green-haired Fae smiled. “Then, I think this fluke of an emergency meeting is over. Return to your courts, hunt for those alliances, and continue recruitment. Augrys, I’m sure you’ll handle matters here.”