* * *
A couple tents over, Brian woke from his meditation in a sweat. He hurried outside and vomited behind the nearest tree. The chilly night air felt good against his hot skin and calmed his stomach. He walked to the fire where Andraste sat, waiting for him.
“You knew this was never going to end well,” Brian accused, irritated with the goddess.
“I know everything, Brian. I am a divination goddess,” Andraste said flatly, her voice void of all emotion, “And you should know by now that this will never end, let alone end well. Otherwise, there was no point in creating The Power all those years ago.”
“She is a child.” Brian looked over at Bre’s tent.
“She is no child. At twenty-one she is five years past being of age. She is Queen of two lands and heir to the world’s throne. Her domain is wherever she walks. You know this, Brian. Why are you playing the fool?” Andraste kept her tone light and inquisitive as she stroked a sleeping rabbit in her lap.
“She will die without the gods’ help. How will her death help the world?” Brian asked, frustrated.
“She will die many deaths, and her sacrifices will help the world. The Queen is a lonely and sorrowful being that is born into a deadly life. I do not know any who would trade places with her,” Andraste spoke.
Brian exhaled and slumped forward, gesturing his surrender. “What do I have to do?” His voice was void of hope.
“Help her make the right decisions. The future depends on it.”
“Yes, you keep saying that, but what decisions?” Brian cracked his neck, trying to control his rising temper.
Andraste did not answer but merely looked over at Nikolaos’s, Cole’s, and Leo’s tents.
“No! There is no way I can do that!” Brian stood up, outraged.
“Then the world will suffer Elpis’ victory and the gods will be no more,” Andraste said.
“With the brothers’ help we can defeat Eversor and Elpis. If we remove them from the fight, we will certainly lose,” Brian argued with the goddess.
“Heed my words, o’Conaill. You will not succeed in this fight regardless. Make the right choices and some may live to fight again. The Phoinix must burn. You must make your decision within three days’ time.” Andraste stood and gently touched his arm, giving him a pitiful look before disappearing.
Brian knocked over the bench he was sitting on and knelt down next to the fire. Peeking out from his tent was Cailean, who overheard Andraste and Brian’s conversation. He called out to his brother, “Bri, you alright?”
Brian’s head jerked towards Cailean’s tent, startled by his brother’s voice. “I’m fine, Cail. Just heading back to bed. Get some rest, we need to talk in the morning.” Brian walked back to his tent and closed the flap.
Cailean went back to bed, but his mind raced with Andraste’s warning. He knew Brian would never take Bre’s brothers away. He could not make that decision. Brian was a good, moral man and looked at Bre as his own daughter. There was no way he could hurt her like that.
Cailean had to make this decision for his brother. He decided to sleep, hoping his mind would be clearer in the morning.
Come morning, his mind was far too clear.