Chapter 41
Lance
“With the men we’ve gathered so far, we have enough archers to create a strong line of attack.”
A map had been laid out on the table in the council room and Alastor gestured to the valley where the battle would be taking place.
“The hills are going to be a massive advantage to us during the initial attack.” Cai stood next to Alastor, explaining his battle plans to everyone in the room.
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing there but I suspected it had something to do with Elara.
For whatever reason, she seemed to trust my opinion when it came to certain things.
Taking on the throne after a rebellion was a massive responsibility, but Elara had risen to the occasion and grown into a very good queen, if I had to say so myself.
But the truth remained that she had not grown up at court, and I thought she sometimes doubted herself.
It helped to have someone around to guide her every now and then.
And I was happy to do it. Her over me in that position any day.
“If Mannik’s and Ryker’s men arrive on time, we can put some of them on the left and right flanks to try and split up Aries’ army,” Cai continued.
“You’ve been in contact with Olwin and Donald. How are numbers looking over there?” Elara asked Alastor.
“I haven’t heard much recently but our last correspondence consisted of their reports on their growing numbers. They’ve roped in a few of the other bandit groups in Everness, but this means nothing if we cannot get them to Norrandale in time,” Alastor replied.
I saw the look of worry on Elara’s face. We needed the men, and every person counted. But more importantly we needed them here on time, and this seemed to be our biggest problem.
The meeting continued for another hour as plans were discussed, and more plans in case those plans didn’t work.
Relief flooded me when it finally came to an end.
Just the topic of discussing war was incredibly morbid when all of us in the room knew the costs and sacrifices that were going to be made.
People were going to die out there, and no matter what Elara and Cai did, neither of them could stop it.
I left the council room, eager to get my mind off the matter. And I knew exactly what I needed.
My feet carried me through the hallways to the other side of the palace. I gently knocked on Gwen’s door until I heard her call out, “Come in.” She sat in a comfortable-looking chair with a thick book in her lap.
Gwen looked up and a smile crossed her face as she took in my figure. “Hey, you. Aren’t you supposed to be in some meeting?”
“It just finished.” I shrugged. “I want to find out if you’d like to join me for a cup of tea.” My eyes travelled to the teacup on the side table next to her. “But I see you already have one.”
Gwen looked at the teacup before lifting it to her lips and finishing the contents. The cup clattered a little as she placed it back on the saucer.
“Looks like I’m all out.”
I couldn’t help but grin as she stood up and left her book on the chair. She linked her arm with mine as we started to walk. I didn’t know exactly where we were heading. I didn’t have much of a plan other than wanting to be in her presence.
“Your face is looking much better,” she commented. The bruising had pretty much faded, and Cai and I had come to some sort of unspoken understanding where we tolerated each other with as much gentlemanliness as either of us could muster.
“Only thanks to your skills as a healer.”
“I’m the furthest thing from a healer,” she scoffed. “But I’m glad I could help.”
We made our way to the main stairwell and naturally gravitated towards the library. On our way there, we passed a servant, and I requested she bring us a pot of tea and some refreshments. We stepped inside and Gwen took a seat. I added a log to the fire in the fireplace before joining her.
“How did the meeting go?” she asked.
“Much as you would expect. Cai and Elara are considering all their options and there is a lot to think about. I guess it all comes down to gathering enough men in time.”
She nodded, but her expression told me that her mind was somewhere else.
“Have you heard anything from your parents?” I remembered her sending them a letter soon after arriving, but I didn’t know if she’d heard anything back.
“They’re out in the country. My mother wants me to go to them as she feels it’s safer for me there.”
Her mother was right. Gwen would be safer there than here, where every day the risk to our safety only grew.
“Are you going?”
She met my gaze with determination. “Of course not. My real family is here and I’m not leaving any of you.
” Part of me was relieved to have her around.
I didn’t want her to go but I also didn’t want her in the middle of all the fighting.
But at the end of the day, it was her choice and hers alone.
If she wanted to stay, then I would make sure nothing happened to her.
“They’ve disowned Thatcher, you know.” Also understandable after everything he’d done. But that didn’t make the matter any easier for Gwen to digest. Her family had been torn apart, and I didn’t know how to make her feel better.
“And he won’t have a proper burial because he was a traitor. His body is lying in some shallow grave with all the prisoners and criminals.” She sucked in a breath.
“I’m sorry.” It was the only thing I could think of saying. “Would you like for him to be buried somewhere else?”
“No. I don’t know.” She brushed her hair out of her face with frustration. “I don’t know how to feel about any of this anymore.” Which for someone like Gwen, who always knew exactly what she wanted, had to be quite challenging.
“I don’t think there’s a right way to feel about it.” I tried to reassure her. “It’s a lot for anyone to go through. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”
Gwen pressed her lips into a line in contemplation. “I just can’t wait for all of this to be over.” Her and everyone else.
“It will be soon.” Which wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing.
There was no guarantee that we would be walking out of this victorious.
There was a light knock on the door before the servant girl entered with a tray.
She placed the teacups and teapot on the table along with a few finger sandwiches, mini scones and cream.
“Anything else, Your Highness?” she asked once she’d poured some tea into both cups.
“No, thank you.”
The servant left the library, and I added a bit of cream to Gwen’s tea before handing her the cup. Our fingers grazed when she took the cup from me, and she let them linger there for a moment.
“Why are we drinking tea anyway? You don’t even like tea.” She was eager to change the subject, and I was happy to oblige.
“No, I don’t. But I like you.”
A blush crept into her cheeks, and she hid a smile behind her cup. I brought the steaming cup to my mouth, taking a sip of my tea while enjoying the fact that I had this effect on her.
“What book were you reading back there?”
“Since when do you care about books?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Would you rather talk about Aries and the impending battle where thousands of people are going to die and there is no guarantee that we won’t be defeated?” It was rather grim to think about.
“Well, when you put it like that, then yes, I suppose I’d rather talk about books.”
“I bet you’re reading a romance.”
“Why? Because I’m a woman?” Gwen was quick to be on the offensive and I revelled in the fact that I could so easily tease her.
“No, because you’re you.”
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I think you’re more of a romantic than you want people to think.”
“Oh, you reckon?” Her seriousness began to slip away as we fell into our usual back and forth.
“I do.” I took another sip of my tea, not particularly enjoying the taste but enjoying the company.
“And what made you come to this conclusion?”
“Well, you see, Lady Gwen, you like to read books but I’m very good at reading people.”
“A useful trait, I should think.”
“It can be,” I replied, tilting my head. I’d always known how people felt about me — how much they disliked me. I couldn’t say it was always a pleasure but at least I always knew where I stood.
“And what else have you noticed about me since you’re such a good observer?”
“You’re smart,” I said. “A lot smarter than people give you credit for. And you’re witty.” I did enjoy her sense of humour.
“Keep going,” Gwen insisted, clearly enjoying the compliments.
“You’re one of the strongest and most caring people I know.” Gwen would do anything for the people she loved, that much was obvious by now.
“You really think that?”
“I know that.”
“Sometimes you’re a lot kinder than you realise.” Her words took me by surprise. I wasn’t used to having someone say something nice about me. In fact, the whole thing felt quite foreign, making me unsure how to react.
“There isn’t a lot of room to be kind when you’re a monarch.”
“Is that what your father taught you?” she asked carefully. We’d never discussed my father before. I didn’t care to talk about him.
“I can’t say my father was a very kind man. I suppose it must have passed on to me.”
“I don’t believe that,” she replied. “I don’t think we’re just born with all our characteristics and that’s how we are for the rest of our lives.
We have a choice in the way we want to act with others.
Elara decided to take on the duty of being queen, my brother made a choice to betray his kingdom.
It comes down to who you decide you want to be. ”
“I suppose you’re right.” I gave her a knowing smile. “See, I told you that you’re smart.”
“It must be all the reading I’m doing.” She chuckled. “Who knew that books could make you smart?”