E.N. Ferril
Aftermath (partial)
Kieran stood silently watching the flames consume the bodies of the dead. The wind whipped his cloak around him carrying with it the scent of snow.
“Is that all of them?”
He looked over his shoulder as an elderly man came to stand beside him and gave a grim nod as he turned his attention back to the fire.
The elder sighed and slid his arms into the sleeves of his robe. The wind caught the hood of his garment and tugged it free. Fine pointed ears peeked through his tousled silver hair. “Well I must say the prince is nothing if not efficient. Those lucky enough to survive the night have fled, aside from myself, the twins, and that stubborn woman of a cook you employ.”
“They did not deserve this,” Kieran said with a sneer and gestured toward the bonfire. “To be cut down like animals.” He shook his head, reined in his fury, then glanced at the man beside him. “How are the twins holding up?”
“They are hiding in the library…” He trailed off looking rather uncomfortable.
Kieran turned to face the older man. “There is something you are not telling me, Naiyr.”
Naiyr sighed heavily.
Kieran studied his mentor for several minutes in silence. His expression darkened. “Tell me what has happened.”
“They have been...changed.”
“Then I’ll reverse it.”
Naiyr gave Kieran a sharp look and shook his head. “You are in no condition to be wielding the kind of power it would take.”
Kieran threw Naiyr a scathing glance and clenched his hands into fists at his sides. “I am more than capable of reversing the damage Cirs has woven.”
Naiyr raised an eyebrow then gestured toward the bandages that could be seen poking out from under Kieran’s clothing and the one that was visible wrapped around his hand. “Your House has been brought down around its ears and you think in your current condition that you can just snap your fingers and everything will be right as rain?”
A muscle in Kieran’s jaw twitched and he clenched his teeth. “I know it will.”
Naiyr snorted. “Then you are a fool. To even attempt to wield that kind of power would kill you right now. You’re tapped out.” He sighed at the indignant look Kieran gave him and reached out, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Give yourself time to heal and then we will fix this together.”
Kieran growled and shrugged Naiyr off. “I’m fine.” He gave the fire one last contemptuous look before meeting Naiyr’s gaze. “If you’ll excuse me I have work to do.”
Without waiting for a reply Kieran turned his back on the fae and walked away.