Chapter 25
VALANCE
The dragon flew across the mountain range dividing the north of Autumn from the west of Winter.
As we crested the snowy peaks, we cut through heavy, dark rain clouds, the temperature shifting from freezing to a different, warmer kind of chilliness.
My dragon roared, breaking through the clouds within seconds. The land changed from white to a lush, dark wet green laden with the fires of encampments.
Enemy encampments.
As we lowered toward the ground in the drenching downpour, horns rang out, soldiers cried up at the monster in the night sky.
The dragon roared in response, shooting a stream of fire from her jaws in warning.
Lights scurried about below. I expected an onslaught of arrows, of spears fired from the plethora of heavy artillery below.
None came.
My dragon landed at the edge of the three deep trenches dividing the mountains and the land. She roared into the army facing us, all manner of weapons drawn. As one, they backed away from her terrifying boom.
The encampment was large and sprawling, an incredible set up of soldiers drawn from Autumn, from Spring, even from Summer. I recognized some elves who used to stand guard at Summer Palace. Now traitors, now unworthy to look me in the eye.
I slid off the dragon who needed a name, boots landing on sodden grass. Pushing my wet hair out of my face, I enchanted my cargo to come with me from the dragon’s back.
The bodies of the spy and rebel elf.
“Lasair!” I yelled above the rain.
The beast behind me emitted a rumble from deep in her core as the two charred bodies came to sit either side of me.
“Lasair!” I called again.
The soldiers parted, making way for the copper-skinned woman dressed in Spring copper armor, her dark braids dripping water. Her scarlet Fomorian eyes were fires in her head as she strode across the grass, wielding one of those gun instruments with no fear in her steps.
We meet again…
She came to a stop, flanked by two soldiers also holding guns—one Gentry, one Fomorian.
“Valance,” she said, considering the bodies beside me. “I gather you’re returning something?”
“A couple of trespassers.”
Her eyes fell on the dragon. “Thanks to your new friend, I gather?”
“Oh, no. Thanks to me.”
She cocked her left eyebrow, still showing no fear. “Is this a tactic to scare me into retreat?”
“I suppose it is, Your Majesty.”
She smirked. “I see you’ve heard the wonderful news.”
“Is it wonderful?”
“It is for me, Your Majesty,” she responded mockingly. “A better prospect for Florent than being married to you.”
“I’m sure.” I’m also sure I’m better in bed than you…
I kept that thought to myself.
“This is a warning,” I said. “A sign of things to come if you don’t yield now.”
“Yield to you?”
“Yes. We can avoid war if you bend the knee and drop your weapons. Is this what you want for your followers?” I gestured to the burned bodies. “Because this is their future if they resist me. A storm is coming upon you, Lasair. One you cannot escape.”
“I see.”
“I know you do. You’re no fool.” Even if you did willingly marry that vile Spring lord.
She wiped rainwater from her eyes with the back of her free hand.
“I think you underestimate the power of our armies, Valance. You may have awoken Winter and acquired this dark caress so many now speak of, but you’re still only one continent.
We are three now, the might of Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
It should be you bending the knee, not making threats with the murdered bodies of my warriors. ”
What an arrogant fae. “And your iron fire?”
“You should fear it, Valance.”
I came here considering talks, to stop a war.
Bringing these bodies was supposed to be a deterrent to help with moving forward, a fear tactic as she suggested.
Clearly, talks were an impossibility. I no longer harbored a desire to enter into them, considering the arrogance on her face, the army at her back.
Lasair understood the language of war, nothing else. And so, that is all there would be.
“There is room in Faerie for one king,” she said. “And he doesn’t stand before me.”
She lifted her gun and a mighty crack boomed.
Pain. Pain in my left shoulder as I spun through the air, landing on my front. My face smacked wet grass, extra agony in my teeth, my jaw, my nose.
But the pain in my shoulder…
Iron. A small, deadly piece of iron. Instantly, my magic took hold of it, forcing the invader out of my body.
Lasair used her gun again, riddling me with many more of those awful bullets.
And then the chaos unfolded.