Chapter 170: The first act

Ayla reached Amara’s chambers and knocked once.

"Come in" Amara’s voice rang out

Ayla pushed the door open and walked inside, closing it behind her.

Amara stood near a small table at the far end of the room, her back turned to Ayla.

Several bottles and bowls were arranged around her, and a thin curl of steam rose from a dark wooden cup.

"You came."

"You asked me to."

Amara smiled faintly. She turned back to the table and picked up the cup.

"I was preparing something for you."

Ayla’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"For me?"

"Yes."

Amara held the cup out.

"It will help restore your strength. Tomorrow’s training will be more demanding, and I do not want you exhausted and bleeding from the nose before we begin"

Ayla stared at the liquid.

It was dark, almost black.

She looked at Amara then back at the cup.

Amara noticed her hesitation and a small chuckle escaped her.

She lowered the cup slightly.

"I guess I deserved that. After everything that has happened, I cannot blame you for being suspicious."

"Sorry" Ayla muttered.

"If it is going to make you feel better, I will drink from the cup myself before you do."

Without waiting for a response, Amara brought the cup to her lips and took a huge gulp while Ayla watched.

She made a show of swallowing the liquid then handed the cup back to Ayla who took it from her this time.

"It is nothing more than a restorative brew. Herbs, a little magic, nothing else."

Ayla looked at the liquid again.

"Thank you."

She lifted the cup, closed her eyes and drank.

The liquid was bitter...unbearably so and it slid down her throat and left a strange warmth spreading through her chest.

Amara held out her hand and she handed the cup back to her.

"Feel better?"

"Yes, actually. I do feel better. Thank you."

Amara nodded.

"Good."

She picked up another cup from the table and Ayla watched as she drank from it.

"You wanted us to discuss the rest of the plans?"

"Yes but we can do that some other time. I can feel the fatigue seeping into my bones. I need to get some rest."

Ayla nodded and turned around to leave.

"Make sure to also get some rest. The brew is not as effective if you do not rest your mind.

"I will see you tomorrow." Ayla called out, closing the door behind her.

Ayla stepped into the corridor and began walking as fast as she could until she got to her chambers.

She headed straight to the washroom and shoved her fingers into her mouth, forcing herself to retch.

The bitter liquid came back up and she spat it onto the ground, coughing as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

She took several breaths before straightening.

Her eyes burned and she could still taste the herbs.

She had no idea what Amara had put in that cup. Perhaps it really had been nothing more than herbs meant to restore her strength but Ayla had learned one thing since coming to Emberfall.

She could only trust one person and that person was herself.

If that brew had been harmless, then she had lost nothing.

Ayla wiped her mouth one final time and walked out of the washroom.

...

"Hey."

Willow jumped, her hand flying to her chest as she spun around.

Alistair stood behind her with a smile on his face.

"What are you doing?" She snapped at him. "You scared me half to death"

Alistair immediately raised both hands.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you."

Willow glared at him.

It was still strange...unsettling, even. The resemblance between him and Lucius was uncanny but the contrast between both men was also glaring.

There was something softer about Alistair and less threatening. He did not carry himself like Lucius or have a coldness in his eyes that Lucius did. That is why she was less terrified of him compared to Lucius. And there was also the fact that he seemed to have taken a liking to her.

"What do you want?" she asked harshly.

"To see you." Alistair said with a huge grin on his face.

Willow rolled her eyes. "I do not have time for this."

"I can see that." He looked her up and down. "I was gone for what? Few weeks and I come back to find that you and my brother have a thing going on."

"Excuse me?"

Alistair’s eyebrows lifted. "Am I wrong about that? Surely you know he cares nothing for you."

"And you do?" Willow shot at him.

"Yes, I do"

"Oh. Then do you care to explain who leaves a person they claim to care about for weeks."

Alistair said nothing at this.

"I did not think so." Willow scoffed.

"It is way more complicated than that. You cannot understand."

"I don’t even want to understand what you mean. You have always considered me dumb. That is why you think I will wait for you instead of moving on like I have with Lucius... your better."

Alistair looked hurt by her words and Willow wished she could take it back. Somehow, he had been the one who comforted her and made living here, bearable during her father’s absence. He had even helped her escape the guards who followed her everywhere once or twice. And there was the time he had defended her in public when she was being jeered at as the enemy from the Northern Territory.

But all of that was before he left and before her father became a traitor.

"You have been gone a long time, Alistair." She sighed. "You have no idea what some of us have had to do so get off your high horse for once."

"My high horse?" Alistair’s lips curved. "You know how many times you have told me I am beneath you?"

Willow did not smile back at him and the amusement slowly faded from his face.

"Okay." He studied her. "What is going on, Willow?"

She looked away. "Nothing."

"Do not lie to me." He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. "Willow, tell me... what have I missed?" What happened while I was gone?"

Willow stared down at their joined hands.

She wanted to tell him for some strange reason but before she could say anything, she caught movement by the side of her eye.

It was Lucius walking toward them.

Willow’s heart dropped and she immediately snatched her hand away from Alistair.

There was a slight frown on Lucius’ face as he stopped in front of them. His gaze moved from Willow to Alistair.

"Alistair." He nodded.

"Brother." Alistair grunted.

Willow felt the change in the air as both brothers stared each other down. There was animosity between them that they were doing nothing to hide.

"We need to talk." Lucius finally broke the silence.

"Of course." Alistair nodded.

He turned to Willow who muttered a sorry excuse and dashed away.

"What do you want to talk about?" Alistair asked as they walked.

Lucius said nothing and Alistair resisted the urge to sigh. His brother had always enjoyed making people wait.

He considered silence a form of control and Alistair had learned long ago not to give him the satisfaction of reacting to it. So he waited and eventually, they reached Lucius’s study.

Lucius opened the door and Alistair stepped inside. Lucius locked it behind them

Alistair’s eyes flickered toward the lock.

Interesting. He thought. Whatever this was, Lucius did not want anyone overhearing.

"When did you arrive?" Lucius asked.

"Last night."

"Last night?"

Alistair leaned against the edge of the desk.

"I had to take the back route and even that was blocked by the forces of Alpha Kieran. What happened while I was away?"

Lucius walked toward the window, ignoring Alistair’s question.

"I need you to deliver a letter for me."

Alistair looked at him. "What letter?"

"This." Lucius pointed toward the table at a sealed parchment.

Alistair’s eyes narrowed. "To whom?" He asked.

"It is not necessary that you know. You just need to deliver it to the location written on it."

Alistair stared at the letter.

"What is in it? I deserve to know that much, do I not?"

Lucius regarded him with a cold stare

"Deserve?" He laughed quietly.

"I leave you in charge." He stepped closer. "And I come back to news that you are gone. Do not talk to me about deserving anything."

Alistair’s jaw tightened.

There it was.

The same old arrogance and assumption that Alistair owed him everything.

"You have never left me in charge." Alistair’s voice remained calm. "You use me when I prove useful and you discard me when I do not."

Lucius stared at him and for a moment, neither brother spoke.

"You are being dramatic, brother" Lucius approached, clasping Alistair on the shoulder.

Alistair resisted the urge to move away.

"We are brothers," Lucius said. "We should not argue. We need help and that letter is to garner help from our allies."

"What allies do we have? We are rogues, Lucius or are you forgetting that fact."

Lucius’s eyes narrowed.

"Don’t you worry about it. Just deliver the letter."

Alistair stared at the parchment that Lucius had handed him.

"Fine. I will deliver it."

Lucius nodded.

"Take the route you came through and make sure you are not caught."

"I will."

Lucius’s gaze remained on him.

"Do not fail me, brother."

Alistair turned toward the door and reached for the handle just as Lucius’ voice stopped him.

"You can have her... Willow." He said. "Consider her my gift to you"

Alistair said nothing as he opened the door and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind him, Alistair stopped.

His hand went to his coat where he had tucked the letter.

He had no intention of delivering this letter on his brother’s behalf. For years, he had watched Lucius build this as his kingdom while he remained in the shadows.

His brother had always thought him weak, stupid and easily controlled and he had allowed him believe it. What better position could a man have than being underestimated by the person standing between him and everything he wanted?

If Lucius was sending for help then it could only mean he was frightened.

Alistair’s lips curved in a smile. It was finally time for him to act...