Broken Dove (Fantasyland 4)

“You compare this loss to mine?” Apollo asked, his tone dripping with disgust.

“Is there ever a compare?” she shot back. “I couldn’t begin to imagine what you lost for I never knew your wife in that manner. All I know is Antoine has a kind heart, a soft touch and he is the one and only person on this earth who has ever made me feel like I was me. Not a Drakkar. You may not think that’s worth saving. Worth treason. Worth dying for. But I do.”

Apollo took a step away from her but kept his gaze on her.

She also did not move hers from him.

“Remember, Franka, what you did this night,” he finally said quietly. “You nearly cost me something I’ve grown to cherish.”

“I would apologize if the stakes were not so high,” she returned, tossing her head and when she was done speaking, pushing to her feet.

“You have no remorse,” Apollo noted.

She straightened her shoulders. “I think I’ve made it known I have little regard for your Madeleine. And I know who she is.” She looked to Frey. “I know where Finnie comes from, too. Helda told me.” Her eyes moved back to Apollo. “Regardless, I have little time for remorse knowing Antoine endures agony every hour. So pardon me for not admiring her spirit. But in the end, I’ve never been good at making friends.”

Apollo drew in a deep breath and looked to Frey when he let it out.

Frey was studying Franka.

“Frey?” he called and Frey’s eyes came to Apollo.

“Tonight, I send the dragons,” he decided.

Apollo nodded. Franka uttered not a noise but that didn’t mean the depth of emotion emanating from her didn’t beat into both men.

It was just that, in times like these, soldiers had no choice but to be immune to it.

Frey turned to Ruben. “Sequester Kristian and Franka down here. Arrange for them to be made comfortable.” He looked to his mother and father. “Will what you’ve seen and heard here be shared with anyone? Or do we have to arrange for your accommodation in Brunskar’s dungeons as well?”

“I will not say a word,” Valeria declared quickly.

“And I will be too busy dissolving my union with my wife to be bothered with this…mess,” Eirik stated.

“My wife and son,” Kristian said quietly.

Frey looked to his cousin. “They’ll be sequestered with you.”

Kristian opened his mouth to speak but Frey lifted a hand.

“Until the dragons return, it’s necessary anyone who could be connected even remotely to the plot that evolved this evening needs to be isolated,” Frey explained, turned his head and jerked his chin to Lund who immediately left the room.

Kristian took a step forward and regained Apollo’s attention.

“They know nothing of this,” he stated.

“They will be made comfortable.”

“But—”

“Kristian,” Frey interrupted him, his voice low with warning. “Your loyalty to your sister is admirable but it is also beyond foolhardy. You committed treason.”

“But the…the…” his eyes darted to Apollo and back to Frey, “lady in question isn’t even of this world.”

“She is now and she’s betrothed to the general who commands your queen’s soldiers,” Apollo returned and watched Kristian swallow.

“We’ll discuss your situation after the dragons return,” Frey decreed.

Kristian held his cousin’s eyes before he looked to his sister almost beseechingly.

He clearly got nothing there because he then looked to his boots.

Frey looked to his parents. “A word is breathed, I’ll know.”

That was all he needed to say. Neither spoke but both of their faces did it for them.

They would speak not a word.

He turned his eyes to Apollo.

Apollo jerked up his chin, moved from the room and felt Frey follow him out.

They’d turned the corner before he stopped and looked to his friend.

“They seek to assassinate the women,” Apollo stated.

“I’m sending the dragons.”

This, he predicted, would not work and he shared his concerns with Frey. “They’ll have enchantments protecting Specter Isle.”

Frey nodded. “It’s likely the beasts won’t succeed.”

“It would take mighty magic to protect an entire island from dragon fire,” Apollo noted.

Frey’s lips moved up into a small smile. “They weaken.”

They did. And this could be why they didn’t waste magic on their first strike.

But their side needed an alternate plan. “Should the dragons return unsuccessful, we can use Franka and Kristian.”

Frey nodded again. “Agreed.”

“We need Lavinia.”

“And Valentine.”

This time, Apollo nodded. “The Circe of the other world, who used to be Baldur’s sorceress, she’s powerful?”

“It’s said she is. As is Lahn’s Circe. But he’s had words with me and Tor. They seek to recoup her powers, and although Circe doesn’t know this, Lahn is allowing it for her to use should she need to protect herself. He’s forbid us to use her in any way. She will volunteer, he’s made that clear. But he will not allow it. He does not want her made vulnerable in any way.”

“Understandable,” Apollo murmured.

Frey studied him closely and Apollo would know why when he asked quietly, “She pleases you?”

He was talking about Madeleine.

“She is nothing like her twin,” Apollo said by way of reply.

“They never are,” Frey murmured.

Apollo drew in a deep breath and admitted, “The loss was a long time ago, however the feelings felt fresh. Until her. But time may have dulled the memories. It feels a betrayal to Ilsa to speak these words, but I am enjoying my time with Madeleine…” he paused and finished, “maybe more.”

At that, Frey smiled and responded, “They never are the same, but they are always better. And for you, my friend, she would need to be considering the other her was as she was and you felt for her as you did.”

Apollo felt his lips curving and concluded, “Yes. So, in other words, indeed. She pleases me. She vexes me often. But she pleases me more.”

Frey’s brows rose. “Ilsa did not vex you?”

“What we had was very steady.”

Frey grinned. “You may have discovered that the vexing leads to many things and most of them are interesting. And most of those interesting things are very interesting.”