22

" Faster ! »

"I'm going as fast as I can. »

I rolled my eyes as I watched Vanya and Callan run through the clearing.

“You don't seem that exhausted. Put more effort into it. »

"I don't have as long legs as you Evanya. »

“I already told you not to call me that. »

This was the scene I had witnessed since my return to Endar. Every day, the same scene, the same argument. If I hadn't seen Callan's despair at losing his sister, I would almost have thought they hated each other. Were sibling relationships always like this?

The month was coming to an end and at noon tomorrow another invocation would take place. I had a feeling of deja vu.

My mother and I were not invited. No surprises. The Duchess did not want to risk another spirit preferring me to her son. No, we were only invited to the banquet that would take place if the invocation was successful.

My thoughts were wetly interrupted.

I brushed off the snow Vanya had just thrown at me with a frown.

"Ah sorry, I was aiming for Callan" she said, the latter had dove to the ground to avoid the projectile and was rolling in the snow, laughing.

“Ten more laps. " I said

I saw the horror on their face before they looked resigned and resumed their course.

I still hadn't understood why Endar had asked me to train them. Couldn't this so-called super teacher take care of them himself. No I had become in an instant, a nanny, and a drill sergeant. Unfortunately I had no other choice, with the spirit of fire asleep, I had become a rank 2 mage without a spirit. Aella had grown in power, but there was something else I wanted to turn to. The element of fire being unavailable, I turned to the element of earth. However, I had already reached the peak of what I could do without having a spirit. So I was left with only the element of water. It was everywhere, and the snow offered many possibilities, but I somehow hated the idea of focusing on this element during the winter. Every time I touched the snow, the memories came to the fore and paralyzed me. Winter was a handicap that would only disappear with the first flowers.

I didn't explain my hatred towards this season to Endar, but over the years he understood it. When he took us to a village to spend the winter, I spent very little time outside our room, so that sometimes he had to drag me along to accompany him on his errands.

But for someone who knew my weakness, he was not understanding. He assigned me to train Vanya and Callan. Alas, this training consisted mainly of endurance running and physical exercises.

He hadn't broached the matter of magic with them yet, and watching their training was quickly becoming a bore. So I forced myself to absorb the essence of water. That was exactly what I was doing.

Hand resting on the snowy ground, I winced at the cold. This cold that never ceased to exist and slowly entered my body. This absorption was really slow as if the essence felt like I didn't want to absorb it.

After a few minutes I stood up with a sigh and blew into my frozen hands. An elf was normally more comfortable in winter than a human, for example, and my mother had never understood my heightened sensitivity to cold. I dared not tell him that there was a psychological element to this weakness. My elf body might not be cold and yet I felt the cold in my guts.

When I was warm enough I started the exercise again, at least I tried before we received a snowball in the head.

These two would be my end….

Ilawen had managed to summon an earth spirit.

The crowd that strolled in the courtyard smiled and hurried to finish the preparations for the banquet. If they were filled with joy, I was not.

I ran my hand through my hair one last time and tightened the collar of my white shirt, then put on a silver-colored vest.

" Are you ready ? asked my mother

I turned to nod but my mouth snapped shut.

My mother was beautiful, I always knew that. It was an elven quality but it was rare that it was not so dazzling. Her dress was a silver color on which silver leaves had been embroidered, these shone in the light and gave my mother a lunar appearance. She had placed a white fur on her shoulders. Her pendant only enhanced her beauty.

“Mother you are beautiful. I say with sincerity

She smiled and put her hand on my head.

“What a charming little elf I raised. »

“Mother you are going to mess my hair up. » say pushing her hand

But soon the smile disappeared from her eyes.

“Taylor, I need you to promise me something. »

I had never seen her so serious and gave her a worried look.

“What mother? »

“Promise me that whatever happens at this banquet, you won’t interfere. »

Why did she want me to promise her that. I had trained for this reason.

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"But mother, I can't let anything happen to you!" I exclaimed

“No, my son, during this banquet we will have no allies. If I could refuse this invitation I would, but I'd rather look my enemy in the face than let him stab me in the back. If unfortunately something happens, do nothing, join the tower and barricade yourself. his voice sounded almost desperate.

" I refuse. I will protect you no matter what. »

"And what do you think you can do? Baltus is already an elementalist, not to mention his specialized magic.Have you thought of his grandfather, do you think the count got his fame by sitting in an office. You have no chance Taylor. If you act, your father will have to save you and he will end up in a very bad position. So promise me now that you won't do anything or I'll leave you in this tower."

My mother never directed her anger at me. But for the first time I was afraid of her. I knew she was worried about me and still her words rang like thousands of daggers in my ears. What had all this training been for? I was overtaken by reality and the reality was that I was still just an ant in a giant game. But how could I close my eyes in the face of danger.

I clenched my fists and clenched my teeth

" I promise. »

I heard my mother sigh in relief.

"So, let's go," she said before starting down the stairs. I hoped she was wrong, but I followed her with a lump in my stomach.

The banquet took place in the winter room. There was no winter room but a room of the seasons. If this banquet had taken place in the summer, it would have been called the summer room. There was, however, a difference. When you entered the room, you were quickly enchanted by the large windows that gave a view of the snowy landscape. The decor suited the season. Tables dressed in tablecloths as white as snow. Next to the white, the silver color predominated, and everyone was adorned with these same colors. The invocation was completed just before sunset and soon the candles placed in the middle of the tables would give this party a magical atmosphere.

The conversations were going well and Liamon smiled at Ilawen giving the image of a united father and son. Dalanne was talking with her father accompanied by who I thought was Baltus. I had never met him and was amazed to see an almost perfect copy of my father, almost because his green eyes made him stand out. For a moment I was relieved not to see my father's eyes.

The atmosphere was festive, but I did not taste this atmosphere.

When we entered the room, the conversations ceased and everyone observed us. I felt their contemptuous gazes on my back.

We were approaching my father when a servant whose name I no longer remembered came up to us. He bowed to my mother but did not bother to hide his mocking smile.

“The main table is full madam, we have prepared another table for you, I hope this one will accommodate you. he said before pointing to us, the table that was in a corner of the room and was undoubtedly the farthest from the main table.

So hostilities had already begun.

I watched Liamon out of the corner of my eye. He seemed to feel guilty. But did not come to defend us against what was truly a humiliation. Lidiane and her daughters were also at the main table and I could see that seats were still unoccupied.

Before I had time to notice, my mother walked over to the table designated for us.

The wife of a duke was placed on a table intended for commoners. It was a reminder of her condition. Instead of protesting my mother sat down at the table and held her head up. And while mocking laughter was heard, I had never admired my mother so much as at this moment.

When the sun went down, the festivities really began. A woman entered the room.

For the first time since my arrival in Eteryddyn I was speechless. I had never seen such beauty. She had all-white hair held in place by a lyre-shaped brooch. The jewel appeared to be made entirely of gold and glowed in the dark.

The brooch recalled the instrument she had in her hands. Her eyes were a hypnotic pink color.

Soon I heard only the sound of the strings, then a voice mingled with the slow rhythm which gave the notes a melancholy and mysterious character.

“Horned Forest, mother of the elves. Jewel shining under the moonlight. Protect your lost children, by the waves of the southern strait. Murderous lights, flaming swamp, what will you do with your exiles. Far, beyond the tower, a last farewell to the woods you loved”

As the lyre accompanied that elven voice, I felt the room no longer existed. I saw in front of me a dilapidated tower, an immense and inexplicable sadness came over me as I watched it being eroded by the onslaught of the waves.

A scream interrupted my vision and I looked into the pink eyes of the strange singer. When suddenly I realized the suffocating silence.

" Mother ! »

It was Ilawen who came to shout, I saw him rush towards our table.

Dalanne was lying on the ground and holding her cheek.

I slowly turned my head and my fears were confirmed when I saw my mother's raised hand.

“Taylor, go back to the tower.” she whispered

How could the situation have escalated so quickly. Why was the Duchess at our table? When had she arrived there?

The singer…

I tried to see her again but she was gone.

My father approached us, I could read the panic on his face. He was closely followed by Baltus and the Count.

Ilawen had knelt beside Dalanne, who was moaning in pain.

" How dare you ? exclaimed Adren the Count of WoodBreath and Dalanne's father.

He walked towards my mother with a raised fist. I wasn't going to let him touch my mother. As I was about to get up to help her when suddenly a loud voice rose.

“Enough Adren, remember she is the wife of a duke. If there is punishment, it is up to me to give it.” said the duke in a cold voice.

“If there is punishment? Liamon, you and I witnessed this assault. I won't let you put this transgression aside, because this…woman is your favorite. This would never have happened if your grandfather was alive. »

“Of course I will not let this act go unpunished. But it's probably just an argument between women gone wrong. Follow me to my office and we'll discuss it." he said before putting his hand on the earl's shoulder to appease him.

“Well, don't disappoint me Liamon. »

“The festivities are over. Get the kids back to their rooms!” he ordered.

Two soldiers placed themselves at my mother's side as if to prevent her from fleeing. When I started to follow them a soldier intervened.

I watched in anguish as my mother disappeared down the halls.

Shortly after I was led to the tower, and I heard with concern the door lock behind me.

Father, I hope you have a solution, I thought.

As I sat on the sofa in the living room. I reflect in the dark on this nightmarish evening and more precisely on the singer. Why had I had this vision? Why even now I felt this sadness thinking about it.

It wasn't until late at night that the door finally opened and I saw a familiar face.

" Mother !" I exclaimed before rushing towards her. I hugged her to make sure she was fine. She looked exhausted, but not hurt.

" What happened ? I asked him

“Your father forbade me to leave my apartments before the summer. " she says

" It is unfair ! »

Dalanne had certainly manipulated events so that my mother would be punished.

"It's my fault, I should have controlled my emotions. But sometimes certain things deserve immediate retribution. Don't worry it's only a few months. I'm sure you couldn't sleep, come on, I'm exhausted myself." she said before going to her room

Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of the Duchess's reprisals.

When at dawn soldiers invaded our room accompanied by the Duke, the Count and Baltus, I understood that Dalanne's plan was not so simple.

The soldiers entered my mother's room without permission and began to search her carelessly.

" I found it." said one of them

He held my mother's necklace and gave it to the count.

"I hadn't seen a piece of jewelry like this since my time in the military. You had to be wary of soldiers, but especially whores.” he said releasing the dagger that was hidden there.

But this time the dagger was covered in blood and I watched paralyze as a drop fell to the ground.

My father looked at my mother in despair, but soon put his duke mask back on his face before saying the words I will never forget.

"Elanore, third wife of the Duke of Woodskin, in my capacity as Duke of Woodskin I arrest you for attempting to assassinate the Duchess Dalanne. »