The Promise of the Trees - Sword, Ring, and Crown Book 3 (Complete - Editing)

Chapter Two - Luis (edited)

As I watched Joseph pace back and forth in the field on the outskirts of Fidelis, a scowl etched deeply on his face, I felt a modicum of satisfaction. His limp was more pronounced now, and I could see the blood seeping through his pant leg.

"You're not healing," My words were soft and polite with no offer of support.

Joseph growled in response, clearly frustrated with his lack of progress. Madeline had inflicted more damage than he had let on during the battle, and despite the efforts of the healers, his wounds continued to persist.

I thought about the sword that Madeline wielded. If she ever uttered the right words to activate it completely, Joseph would die.

As conflicting emotions swirled within me, a small sense of satisfaction rose up at the thought of Joseph's demise. It was a dark and twisted feeling, but I couldn't deny it.

Our spies had recently reported that Duir had a change of heart after Madeline's wedding to the dragon, which only added to my confusion. Madeline had revealed her true self during the battle, and it was a side of her that I had tried so hard to protect Joseph from. Now, it seemed like everything was falling apart, and I didn't know how to fix it.

"Duir no longer harbors any hatred towards her. However, the ancient obsession of the Oak has been reignited, making it difficult for you to get close enough to Matt to cause any damage," I relayed the troubling news to Joseph, who snarled in response, his already ruined mouth bleeding once again.

Despite the gravity of the situation, I couldn't help but find satisfaction in seeing Duir on Madeline's side. Joseph, on the other hand, was too consumed by his own obsession with crushing Matt under his thumb to fully comprehend the implications of Duir's change of heart.

As much as I understood Joseph's obsession, I couldn't let it blind me to the fact that Matt had already secured her seven. Success was within her grasp, and I couldn't afford to let my promises fall by the wayside.

I let out a weary sigh, rubbing my face in frustration. Joseph, however, was too busy placing blame to notice my growing impatience. "All of my assets! Gone!" he roared, his anger palpable.

I rolled my eyes at Joseph's fixation on material possessions.

"Parson swore he had Marisol under control," he continued, his voice dripping with anger and frustration.

Well, there was that. He'd relied on Parson far too heavily.

I leaned against one of the few sparse trees that dotted the dried-out field, my eyes scanning the desolate landscape. The once-thriving farming community had been wiped out by the snow, leaving behind nothing but piles of rotting wood and debris. But strangely, I found comfort in the desolation around me. The brown, brittle grass and ruined buildings mirrored the desolation in my heart, and I felt a strange sense of peace.

Joseph had been ranting for the past two days, but he was no closer to realizing that it was his fault. As he continued to whine, I let my gaze drift across the field, taking in the ruins of the village square that stood about three miles away from the tree I leaned on. The sight was haunting, but it also gave me a sense of clarity.

Suddenly, Joseph's tirade broke through my thoughts. He faced me, his arms folded, and I could see the anger in his eyes.

"Why aren't you listening, Luis?" he demanded. "I don't see what's so fascinating about stumps and brittle grass that you'd dare to ignore me."

"I was listening," I replied, my fingers curling just the slightest. I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and anger towards Joseph. He was the reason we were in this mess, and yet he refused to take responsibility for his actions.