Chapter Two #2
“We’ll stop and grab Lu and Cook, and Nell and Dana,” Ollie adds excitedly.
“Fuck,” Kai curses, rubbing his head.
At that moment, the door opens again and Nell shuffles back in, followed by a female Fae with chin-length blonde hair. Her skin is the deep red color of wet clay and she’s broad shouldered.
Nell introduces, “This is Engineer Zola.” She gestures to the open spot and Zola sits down as Nell turns on her heel and leaves.
“Well met, Engineer Zola,” Ollie says with a smile. “I’m Ollie.”
We’ve been keeping Ollie’s birthright, that she’s a sister to King Alder, close to our chest. There is a chance they may not have realized that it was her that poisoned the wells.
That he’s stupid enough to think that she died long ago, even though she escaped his dungeons.
That he’s stupid enough to believe we used a potion to poison his water supply outside Squall’s End.
And that Finn’s family at Larkstead are keeping their fucking traps shut.
And that when Kai killed that Ordained, the knowledge that Ollie’s blood marked her as a Stonesthrow died with them.
We can hope, I think again, even as I know it’s a fool’s hope.
Zola takes a deep drink of apple cider. An engineer is most likely an earth Fae, I muse as I study her.
“Ollie is my consort, and I am Lonan, leader of Misery’s Militia. It was kind of you to come all this way. I had merely expected a letter in reply.”
She nods, eyes moving around the table.
“This is General Kai.” I nod at him, “Captain Lilac, Captain Tazi,” more nods, “and...” I pause, realizing I don’t have a good explanation, “Lord Finnick Larkstead.”
She blinks her big brown eyes. “Nice to meet you all. I heard of the destruction outside Squall’s End.
Good job keeping the citizens safe. Sometimes a small loss is for the greater good.
And,” she adds, a calm but oddly somber look on her face, “Thank you for your support during the workers’ riots, by sending food, and coin, to dispense to our unfortunately overworked employees.
You saved lives there too. Thank you for both acts. ”
Ollie’s flinch is tiny, but I see it. Her poisoning of the wells, wiping out nearly three hundred soldiers in a single night, had affected her heart and soul.
I internally berate myself for not insisting on more of her background.
I mean, I know she’s not a warrior, that is certain.
But I can’t shake the feeling that if I knew more details of her background, secretive creature, I might be able to help her through the emotions that come with ending lives.
I’ll correct my oversight as soon as possible, I promise myself.
“Engineer Zola—”
“Just Zola, please,” she states firmly but with a gentle smile.
I nod, “Of course, Zola. I appreciate your coming to see us. Please, you may speak freely in this room. These Fae are my most trusted friends.”
She smiles at the word ‘friends’ and nods easily.
“Very well, right to it, then,” she says after swallowing her bite of sweetcakes.
“The work at Stockmont is owed to you, sir, and your financial support. Not to mention your... other contributions.” Her eyes twinkle.
“You, or, your rebellion, such as it is, are rather popular. The grunt part of the work at Stockmont is nearly done. Those workers will soon be returning to their hometowns and small villages, spreading word of your goodness and support. Many, I believe, will volunteer as soldiers in your command. And those that don’t, well, they will spread the belief that you are not, as King Alder’s men say, a madman and a lunatic.
” She glares at me for a moment, reminding me, with a pang, of my mother. “I assume you are not a lunatic?”
“Oh, he is, absolutely, but the best, most benevolent kind,” Ollie assures her while patting my hand. I glare at her and Zola chuckles.
I grunt, rolling my eyes theatrically, earning another chuckle.
“Now, to the real reason I’m here.” She grimaces and pauses to eat another bite. I do the same, but I notice Ollie does not. Her body is tense and I reach under the table, placing my hand on her leg.
Zola continues, “The contingent of King Alder’s men, at the southern end of the Stockmont.”
I nod. We had word from one of our migratory Fae that he was hiding a massive force in the Balfait Highlands, which is on the eastern border of the Stockmont.
“You wrote to us, Commander,” she says, “Asking if your intel was correct, that King Alder was hiding his forces in the Balfait. I came here to tell you that that is not the worst of it.” She sighs, and looks like she’s about to tell me she killed my dog.
“There is a... rather large... armada of ships in the Dannet, between Homestead Village and the Balfait Highlands.” She levels a solid look at me.
“By that I mean, many hundreds of ships. Of varying sizes to be fair, an utter mishmash, but certainly more than I have ever seen in one place. I do not know if Alder intends to sail upon Thistle Grove, or Guivre Shores, or even Knife’s Edge, but he sure intends to attack someone situated near the shore. ”
My eyes narrow. “To take us, he’d have to sail past Guivre, and while I do not count Narisa’s clan as my ally, they would never let a flotilla with ill intent past their peninsula.” I snap my mouth shut at that, my mind running ahead as I consider the possibilities.
None are good.
THE REST OF THE MORNING and afternoon are a blur; managing things, sending crows, and poring over my maps. Oleander stays by my side, mostly listening quietly, but occasionally interrupting with a good suggestion or important piece of insight.
When Ollie’s hand wraps around my arm, her fingers stroking my inner elbow, I turn to look at her and realize how late it is.
I kiss her forehead silently before turning to Kai and Tazi and Lilac. “We’re having dinner alone. Would you all mind moving the girls’ night pints to a future evening?”
“Fuck, yes please,” mutters Lilac.
Tazi looks a bit put out, but nods silently, wings fanning annoyedly.
Ollie lets out a weak giggle. “Alright, but I’m escaping soon. This week.” She smiles kindly, “I'll go grab the dinner from Cook.”
I FLOP ONTO ONE OF the couches and lean down to unlace my boots. Kai is at the sideboard pouring drinks. I hear the door open and know it’s Ollie or Finnick.
Finn comes up the stairs, looking tired, probably from working with Faust and Barak, teaching them the ins and outs of griffonry all day.
The door opens again before he’s even in the rooms and Kai turns to see if Ollie needs help.
“Shoo,” she says firmly, as she comes up the stairs, the large serving tray balanced on her shoulder. “You’ll just throw off my balance.”
I frown. She’s been thinner than I’d like since using her powers so strongly outside Squall’s End. I wonder if that is normal for a Toxa, or if it has to do with her lacking training during the crucial time. When she was imprisoned by her brother. I’m going to kill that fucker so incredibly slowly.
Finn helps her pass out plates as Kai returns with large glasses of wine. We all settle; Kai and I on one couch, Ollie and Finn in armchairs across the low table from us.
I note that Cook was thoughtful enough to send a dinner that was easily eatable with fingers. I dip a carrot slice in the hummus and survey my... well, my family, I suppose.
Ollie is shoveling food in her mouth, and again I frown. She overexerted herself. I suppose that’s not shocking. She killed nearly three hundred Fae not but a week ago. I sigh. I am failing as a partner. I am not taking care of her. Not protecting her. Fuck.
She looks at me, an eyebrow raised, likely feeling my energy. She chews and swallows, and takes a drink of wine.
Her eyes bore into me, but she turns her luminous coral eyes to Finnick, thank fuck.
“Why did you want all of us to meet in private, Finn?”
His amber eyes dart between us all. “Well, several reasons, beloved,” he answers while he gazes devotedly at Ollie.
Unexpectedly, there is a loud knock at my door. Kai frowns, standing silently and heading to answer it.
A moment, and some hushed voices, and Kai emerges from the front staircase, running a hand through his wild red curls. “Something about a bed, Lo?”
I grin. I should have realized how fast Nell would work. “Yes, yes,” I project my voice, “Come up!”
We eat the rest of our dinner in silence, as several workers come and go, quickly dismantling my bed and bringing up the frame and mattresses for a new, larger one. Seeing the humongous mattress go by, Oleander raises a white eyebrow questioningly as she pins me with a glare.
I shrug. “I wanted somewhere we could all sleep together, if we so desired.”
Kai sighs in an exhausted-with-my-antics manner. Finn merely studies me silently.
As we finish eating, Finn piles the plates neatly, silverware stacked, and places it all on the tray.
I am refilling our wine as one of the workers comes over. “It’s all set up, Commander.”
“Thank you,” I say, digging out a gold coin from my pockets.
“Oh, no, sir, I couldn’t,” he protests, “Steward Nell already paid us well.”
While I know that I do not allow folks who live in Thistle Grove to struggle to put food on their tables, I press the coin into his palm nonetheless. “Split it with your employees, for your quick work.” I smile at him and he nods, the edges of his lips tilting up.
As I hear the closing of the door at the bottom of my stairs, I turn back to the couches. “Now,” I say firmly, “What is it we need to discuss? Give us a bullet point list, if needed, Finnick.”
Finn blinks in a slightly worried way as I sit down across from him and throw an arm over Kai’s shoulder.
He takes a deep breath and Ollie reaches over and takes his hand reassuringly, but her face is questioning. So he hasn’t spoken to her of this alone. He gives her a soft look and turns back to us.