Chapter Calla
Calla
VERENA PROPPED HER BOOTS UP ON THE STONE TABLE, FOLDING her arms and leaning back in the only chair.
Her bone white crown slid back on her head until it rested upon the upholstered velvet behind her.
It was far too big. A new one would eventually have to be made.
But I had a sneaking suspicion that she was waiting until after the attack on Highwick.
It would be bad luck indeed if she had a new crown made only to die a few days later.
The Ice Wolf Queen still hadn’t sat on her throne for the same reason, existing in a constant balancing act between rebel soldier and newfound royalty.
I wondered once her claim was cemented and her borders protected, if she’d finally accept her new title fully.
I still grappled with mine. Perhaps it would never fully sit right with us.
We’d live forever in a state of trying to prove our worth to our citizens and to ourselves.
“Here,” Grae said, stabbing his finger to a point on the map, “is the best point of entry. This end of the castle is all servant’s passageways. No Wolf would stoop to use them, not even the guards.”
“And why wouldn’t they guard every exit?” Verena asked. “Especially during such tumultuous times?”
“It’s beneath them,” Grae replied. “They don’t fear human retaliation, nor do they care to protect the humans in their employ. And a Wolf attack is meant to take place on an open field of battle, as is custom. Nero thinks we will show decorum and respect for the Wolf ways, even when he does not.”
Verena let out a long whistle. “Three cheers for Wolf arrogance, I suppose. Only a king would believe he can crush people under his boots and then expect the courtesy of an invitation to their revenge.” She looked around to her advisers who circled the table. “Make note of it.”
One of them began jotting down the details on a piece of paper to relay to the rest of the pack.
Grae had drawn a detailed map of Highwick castle from memory—floor after floor with little notes and suggestions of where guards would be stationed.
We planned our attack on the castle from every angle.
We’d need our Olmderian soldiers and Verena’s pack to be on the same page, having memorized each passage, dead end, and dogleg.
“What is this?” I asked, tapping what appeared to be a window in the center of the third-floor hallway that bisected the western wing.
“That is a portrait that hides a doorway to the library balcony,” Grae said. “A painting of three white stallions being chased by a Silver Wolf. I used to sneak into the balcony and listen as the tutors taught lessons on art and poetry.”
Verena snorted and I shot her a death stare. She held up her hands. “I just wouldn’t think of a Silver Wolf prince as someone who wanted to learn about art and poetry.”
“Hence my need to sneak. It was a nice reprieve from war and politics,” Grae said tightly. “It was also an excellent spot to hide from my sword instructor.”
“Ah.” Verena chuckled. “Now that I believe.”
I leaned into Grae until my jacket brushed his sleeve, a little silent acknowledgment.
Verena didn’t know all he’d endured as Nero’s only child.
No one did. Although with the Silver Wolf King’s recent behavior, I was certain people would believe him if he spoke truthfully about his childhood.
What Nero had done to Grae’s mother . . . what he would do to so many more—
“We move out tomorrow, then,” Verena said wistfully, pulling me from my haunted thoughts.
“We’ll get to the foothills of the Stormcrest Ranges and regroup there.
” She moved her carved wolf paperweight to the map of Aotreas in front of her.
“It will be too far from the capital to raise the alarm and give us some time to rest and gain our strength before the final push to Highwick.” She glanced up at me, her blue eyes narrowing.
“Your friends will be able to make it in time?”
“They are already moving northward,” Mina signed, stepping up to my side.
She had been staying in extra close contact with the Songkeepers during their stay at the temple of knowledge, but now that they were on the move again, their communications would become less frequent.
“Three days from the full moon, they know to be ready.”
“I think we have them take the front gate,” I said, looking between Grae and Verena for their agreement.
“Have their dragon torch the eastern wing, flush them out, and take down any marksmen on the rooftops, while we enter from the western side.” I looked at Mina.
“Let’s just make sure that dragon doesn’t destroy the palace with us still inside, okay? ” She nodded.
Verena let out a groan, grimacing at me. “Can such a beast really be so controlled? One lash of its tail and it might topple a tower upon us or cave in a wall.”
“So long as it stays to the east and us the west, we shall be safe,” I insisted. “The only Wolves being crushed by crumbling walls will be fleeing Silver Wolves.”
“All the better, then,” Grae added, supporting my claims.
Verena rubbed her thumb contemplatively across her bottom lip. “So much could go wrong,” she said. “If one piece of the puzzle doesn’t perfectly align, your entire plan may crumble.”
“That’s the nature of battle. It is a sound plan,” Grae cut in, seemingly growing an inch in anger.
I put a hand on his forearm. I could handle the criticism; we needed every plan to be fully scrutinized.
“We have three alternate plans of attack should something go amiss,” I said confidently.
“Our biggest concern is making sure all our soldiers know them forward and backward.” When the tension in Verena’s face didn’t ease, I added, “I get it: this isn’t the way Wolves battle.
This is a siege. We corner them from all sides in the middle of the night, we block every exit, we split up the force of their army into smaller, controllable factions, and then we end them.
“I know this is different—it’s different for all of us. But it’s the way we win.”
She held my gaze for a long moment before nodding. “In only a handful of days, we’ll know if your plans were sound.”
“Thank you,” I said, softening my harsh tone, making sure all the rest of her pack heard me as well. “For fighting beside Olmdere.”
“It is I who should be thanking you, Queen Marriel,” Verena said, rising to stand.
“You may very well be able to close off your borders, unaware of a world beyond your golden trees. Your court may survive the reign of Nero, but mine won’t.
” She looked around to her advisers, adjusting her ill-fitting crown.
“Together, we shall prevail.” She waved a hand to her head councilor.
“Ready the troops—we leave tomorrow when the moon rises.”