Guardian (Sequel to Fearless)

Chapter Eighty Nine

A/N -- Originally, this chapter was going to have a couple more plot points in it... but Lord, I couldn't fit them without making the chapter like 7000 words. I believe there's six more chapters, and that's a wrap on Guardian!

Iris walked beside Rhalla. Behind them were all the living women of the estate. Hundreds. It looked like an army of princesses marching through the woods toward the guardian and soldier camp. There was relentless cheer to be heard from them. Free. They were free. Iris heard tales of returning to families, taking back lives. Rhalla found herself smiling with the girls, despite everything. Everything the mighty woman had ever wanted... her greatest wish... marched behind her. Fulfilled.

Iris was still somber. She took care to watch their surroundings, but there were none of Riasion's men left to worry about. A few Eldian scouts had been spotted in the trees, but they said nothing to the horde of ladies. Iris watched them scurry off before they were spotted by anyone else, no doubt to report to the General and the guardians of their coming.

"What will happen to Nealon?" Iris finally asked Rhalla. "Aside from the servants, he's alone. There's no militia there anymore."

"I'm sending a group of Remorda Guardians back his way once we make it to camp. They should do until I speak with General Rothstead. From there, he'll likely write the emperor. Maybe the Duke of the hold. Get him some reinforcements." Rhalla took a breath. "Is he alive? General Rothstead, I mean?"

"Last I heard," Iris answered. "Of course, the last time I saw him was when he was pulling me away from..." her words caught in her throat.

Rhalla's mirth faded. "Did you pay respects to Kayde's body?"

Iris shook her head. "I... no. I haven't seen... him since he fell. Since he choked on those last words to save me." Her voice faded in volume. "His body was still lying on a battlefield when you were pulled out onto the battlements. I couldn't pay my respects then. I can't pay them now, either."

"Was the body lost?" Rhalla was confused.

"I'm sure they've found it by now," Iris replied, her eyes downcast. "But... I can't. I can't bear seeing him... like that. Just gone."

Rhalla nodded.

"Ghost killed him. I know he did," Iris told her sister. "For a second, I thought about taking his offer. Going to Oraborn just for the chance to fight him again. To learn his ways and plant a dagger in his heart." She shook her head. "But revenge doesn't feel as good as I thought it would. Revenge won't bring him back. Why didn't Kayde just... not save me?"

"Iris," Rhalla heaved a breath. "If you don't use the opportunity to live and live well, then his death was worth nothing."

Iris pursed her lips, and nodded. "That's the cruel joke of it all." She met Rhalla's gaze. "I'm not going to off myself. I just need... gods, I don't even know."

"We'll start you off with a stiff drink. A very stiff drink."

"Is that your method of fixing everything? A stiff drink?" Iris asked.

"To this day, it's never made things worse." Rhalla raised a brow. "It's good at numbing pain, so long as you don't do it too much. I recommend it in moderation for stuff like this. Especially for the first couple of weeks." Pause. "But eventually, you do have to save yourself."

Iris then remembered that Rhalla had once felt pain worse than a thousand deaths. In all the sorrow, the rogue had almost forgotten her sister had once been trafficked out and tortured for years... as a child. Her sister had survived the worst the world had to offer and came back years later to turn her suffering into something amazing. Thinking back on that, Iris looked back at the women that now were saved and joyful. "I'm shitting on your victory, aren't I? You've waited on this day forever."