Chapter 26 Honor, My Ass
~ MELEK ~
A few days after we started bringing the troops through to Ebonreach, Jann showed up in the caves again.
We were all tired, but it wasn’t until someone called my name, and Yilan and I turned from a frustrating consultation with Jhonas, that I saw it.
Jann strode through the cavern, the warm light from the torches on the walls flickering and dancing with the movement of the air around so many bodies.
However, that light, which would usually light sparks in my friend’s eyes and cast shadows to make him loom, instead crept into the lines on his face.
It dulled his hair, and gave shadows to his eyes when he glanced down at Diadre, stumbling along next to him.
We were all exhausted, and we hadn’t even started the battle.
I couldn’t let myself think on what exactly we were trying to achieve, because the sheer weight of it would bury me. But I saw it in my friend’s eyes in that moment. The impossible nature of the attempt to overwhelm a Fallen…
‘Nothing is impossible with God.’
Yilan met my gaze, her eyes kind as she rubbed my arm, and we waited together for our friends to reach us. Jann saluted hurriedly—unnecessary, but I didn’t argue since we were surrounded by fighters from half-a-dozen different armies.
“Sire, I need to speak with you. Alone,” Jann said, his gaze intent.
I looked at Yilan.
‘Diadre says, he just means away from the other fighters. She and I will come too.’
I grunted, then tipped my head towards one of the tunnels. “We have to go back to the city tonight anyway. Why don’t you walk to our camp and we’ll talk there?”
Jann nodded. I apologized to Jhonas and the others, then we all started for the dark tunnel to the east.
When we were finally far enough away to remain out of earshot, Jann leaned closer, his shoulder brushing mine as we walked. He kept his murmurs below the level of our footsteps on the cave floor.
“Rumors are circulating in the city,” he muttered. The girls looked at each other.
“Which ones?”
Jann glanced at me, then back to the tunnel floor, his hand tightening on Diadre’s. “Primarily, unease about Gall. But there’s been a few questions about why Lucifer appointed him.”
The girls both smiled.
I wasn’t as quick to celebrate.
“Any discussions of who might have been a better king?”
Jann shook his head. “I doubt anyone would have the balls to say it out loud, even if they thought it—not as long as Lucifer is so present—However, there’s one thing we hadn’t anticipated. They’re speculating about the Fetch. About the women.”
I frowned, and my lungs went cold. “Speculating about what?”
“That they’re the true reason Lucifer set Gall up.
I don’t know if Lucifer is feeding it to them, or if they’re just seeing it for themselves, but your line about building a new nation with the women…
they’re starting to whisper that, Melek.
Except, there’s no mention of peace, or consent or…
anything. They’re just talking about the strength of the women.
That little trick, getting Istral to heal Gall—now they’re convinced the Fetch are more than just assassins and shadows.
They’re guessing about other powers. I heard one Advisor suggest sending a handful of Neph for a hunt. ”
Yilan hissed and Diadre shook her head.
“The only thing that stopped them was the Shadows of Shade, but you know it won’t be forever. We have to get their eyes back on Gall and you.”
I sighed, but nodded. “I guess you two have done your work well,” I muttered to Yilan, who smiled and nodded, but I felt the pinch of unease in her too. It turned into a jagged bolt of fear when Istral’s name was mentioned.
“It’s time to move onto the deeper questions,” she said quietly, sharing a glance with Diadre. “They need to be reminded who you are, Melek—and where the Neph are going. If they want to talk about Fetch women, well… let them hear about yours.”
“Absolutely not. Putting you in the frame was never part of—”
“If they think we add strength to the Neph, then it’s one more point in your favor!”
I stopped walking and turned on her, Jann and Diadre gathering in too. “It’s speculation and gossip—it could turn to something else tomorrow. It’s not worth putting you and Diadre—not to mention Istral—in greater danger just for a rumor!”
Yilan’s lips pursed and she folded her arms. “I don’t want to defy you, Melek, but I will. We can’t step softly into this. Diadre’s experience with Manna was proof of that—the way to get this out there is to hit hard and fast, and with everything we have.”
“I’m not putting you on a butcher’s block for a rumor!”
“It’s not a rumor. It’s the truth. You might have noticed that the truth has a habit of enduring.”
I growled. “This is a truth that could have a habit of coming back to bite us firmly in the ass. I’m already nervous about you being out there alone, now you want me to tell you to paint a target on your own back!”
“No, I want you—both of you—to trust us. We know how to do this. We were made for this, and we’re willing to do whatever is needed to make it work.”
I glanced at Jann, whose face had tightened further. I was surprised he didn’t argue with me—he was even more terrified of Diadre being out in the dark every night, than I was with Yilan.
I clawed a hand through my hair. “Not yet.”
“But—”
“I’m not saying no. I’m saying, that was never part of the original plan.
Let’s see how we go with the next stage.
You were right about that—it’s time for them to hear the name that should replace Gall’s.
I can’t even believe those words are coming out of my mouth.
I hate doing this, I hate using his limitations against him. ”
“This is war, Mel,” Jann said bluntly. “You’ve always acknowledged that an enemy’s weaknesses need to be exploited.”
I snarled at him. “Gall will never be my enemy.”
Jann stayed quiet for a moment. I was about to turn back to the girls when he finally spoke.
“But what if he is?”
“I told you—!”
“What if, no matter how much you love him, he is your enemy?” Jann asked, and his expression was haunting. “What if… what if you want to love him, but you have to fight him because he doesn’t give you any choice?”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I turned on my closest friend. “Gall is my son, I will protect him to my death. No matter what—just as you say you’d do for yours.”
I looked at Yilan and Diadre, daring either of them to speak up in Jann’s defense. Neither did.
Jann didn’t respond right away, but just as the silence grew awkward, he sighed. “Would you let him kill you, Mel?” he asked quietly. Reluctantly.
I met his eyes and grit my teeth. “I’d do everything I could to stop it happening, but if it was the only way… yes.”
Yilan stiffened, but Jann nodded sadly, as if it was only what he’d expected. “That’s why I always said you’d make a better king than me.”
Then he started walking again, tugging Diadre with him, while Yilan and I gaped at his back.