51. Preparing for Battle
fifty-one
Preparing for Battle
*ENDELLION*
W e put together our most elite team of warriors to make sure we will have the upper hand in this coming battle. My father put it all in my hands while staying at home to protect the kingdom.
My younger siblings hated to be left behind, but although Nevyn and Kilah did train recently, this is too dangerous a place for them. They are only just learning, and none of them is a trained warrior. They will need to fight battles eventually, but this one isn’t it. Only Alana joined me, with Caelan and Flinn. This fight is personal for her, and it was beyond question that we would let her join.
Aylin came too, which was surprising but a relief at the same time. Ordinarily, she is not one to join our battles directly, but this time, I assume she wants to see what the dark witch is up to.
We have been putting up our tents hidden away from town, with one of Aylin’s spells helping to hide us from prying eyes. Flinn has made his way to town together with two warriors, just in case, while the rest of us wait. Oh, how I hate waiting. I’m not the only one, though. Everyone seems to be restless. Tynan, in particular, is pacing up and down in front of our tent.
I join Alana, who is worriedly watching him. “He is scared,” she remarks. “Of losing his mate.”
“I’m not going to lie,” I say quietly. “General Shayan is probably in a terribly dangerous situation.”
“He didn’t promise that he would make it out alive,” she explains. “Tynan told me… that he didn’t promise.”
My heart aches for Tynan. Having to hear that from your mate must be terrifying. I can also understand Shayan’s side though. He didn’t tell us much, but it seems like Royan is in a terrible state, and I have no doubt that if things go further downward, Shayan will try to defend him.
“We will need to hope for the best,” I tell her. “We need to trust in Azadeh’s plan. And in Shayan’s
intelligence.”
“They are like no one else I’ve ever met,” Alana says. “The desert people seem to be capable and smart.”
“We underestimate them because they are humans. I didn’t even know that the general had so much experience as a spy and agent. But then… the desert people were able to look eye to eye with us during the years of war against them.”
“Mother says they put much more emphasis on skills, other than just fighting. They develop their weapons, war strategies, they work on their economy, on politics. I think that’s where we lack. We focus on strength. Not that that’s bad. Strength is our biggest weapon, but look at the werebears and how easily they were manipulated for relying solely on their muscles.” She pauses. “Strength didn’t help us at all when we fought Artio.”
“That’s true. But your agility did, and your smart thinking even in the face of grave danger, and loss,” I tell her. “You were the one who realized that the screeching noise hurt it. However, I agree with you, we need to make sure to train our other abilities too, not just our strength.” I pause. “I’m so proud of you, Alana. For how you held yourself against that beast, for how you fought and battled, and tried to use your gifts to your advantage. What you did was incredible.”
“Dad said the same,” she says quietly. “But I don’t feel that way. How can I feel proud when so many died? When Ita died? It doesn’t feel like an achievement. It doesn’t feel like I won.”
“That’s how it feels after most battles,” I say quietly. “Even if you win, you also lose at the same time.”
For a while, we continue watching Tynan. I’ve never seen him that worried. Tynan has always been a bit of a flirt. Both he and Alana have always said they don’t care about their lover’s gender, so it didn’t come as a surprise for me to see Tynan being mated to a man.
“I know she wasn’t my mate,” Alana says all of a sudden, sadness filling her eyes. It pains me to see her like that. She was always so joyful and full of hope. I hate that her innocence was stolen from her. “I know many won’t understand.”
“Azadeh was my chosen mate before she became my mate,” I console her. “Don’t let anyone tell you that what you felt wasn’t real. I know it was. And if anyone thinks your feelings aren’t valid just because you didn’t share a mate bond, send them my way. I will have a word with them.”
Out of the blue, Alana wraps her arms around my middle and hugs me. “Thank you for understanding,” she says. “It means more to me than anything else.”
I pat her back gently, not sure what to say. To my relief, I don’t need to come up with something as I see Flinn returning. Next to him, there is a small young woman walking. She is short in stature, and seems to be of teenage age.
“Let me introduce you,” Flinn says to us. “This is Contessa Noemi.”
“Nice to meet you,” the young girl chirps.
“Wait, I know your name. You are the count’s daughter?” I ask. “You are a fox shifter, and an alpha’s daughter!”
“I’m an alpha’s heir ,” she corrects me, her eyes glinting with pride and mischief.
“Sh…Shayan didn’t say that,” Tynan stutters.
“He probably thought that when he said fox, it would be clear to us,” Alana says, sounding amused.
“Well, does it matter?” Noemi asks. “I’m here now. I’ve escaped through an underground passage, and then made a detour through the woods to avoid any werebears.”
“Can you lead us to the witch’s place?” Tynan asks.
She looks at him like he just asked the most stupid question ever. “Of course,” she exclaims. “That’s what Shay told me to do.”
“Shay?”
“His undercover name,” she explains. “Short story: He saved my life when the werebears caught me in my fox form, and I hid with him. Only revealed myself to him when they imprisoned Roy, after his mate ended up being a backstabbing bitch.”
“Roy?” I ask. “His mate?”
She nods. “Yep.”
Once this is over, I’m sure these two will have a huge story to tell. Without any of us noticing, Aylin has approached. “We should probably get going,” she says. “Noemi can lead us back the way she came, and we’ll remain hidden until we receive Azadeh’s sign.” She looks at me. “I know you don’t feel comfortable involving a teenager.”
“I’m already sixteen!” Noemi exclaims. “The moment I got my fox spirit, I stopped being a child!”
I take a wild guess that her father will have a different take on this. I don’t even know how she ended up here. I know the foxes like to stay within themselves, like all shifters here do. I’m starting to think that this was a mistake. I will talk to our father once this is over, and present him with a few ideas I have.
We are so much stronger united.
“Oh, there is something,” Noemi says, looking worried now. “The crazy witch tattooed Shay with their cult symbol. I bet there is a spell on it.”
“Yes, probably a spell she puts on all her followers,” Aylin says. “Did she tattoo Royan… Roy, too?”
“No, he got busted before that. But, I doubt she would have done it anyway. She only liked Shay.”
I can see Tynan’s eyes getting darker at her revelation, but fortunately, he keeps his thoughts to himself.
“Then, we have nothing to worry about,” Aylin says with a shrug.
“But if he is enchanted,” Tynan says. “It might be endangering his life!”
“She is such a powerful witch,” Aylin chuckles. “Trapping old deities and binding them through dark magic, but she is ignorant at the same time.” Her eyes glint in amusement. “Spells like that don’t work on humans. She can tattoo his whole body. It won’t help.”
“Are you sure?” Tynan asks.
“Yes, pup, I’m certain. Now, there are plenty of spells that will work on humans, but binding them with a tattoo only works on magical or mythical beings, and Shayan isn’t either.”
Tynan straightens his back. “Then what are we waiting for?”
“He is right,” I say. “Let’s take that witch down!”
“Anyone know what kind of sign Aza is going to give us?” Alana asks.
I shake my head. “She said, we will know for sure.”
“That has to be good enough,” Aylin says. “Besides,” she looks at me again. “We still have our secret weapon. Our very own Ice Wolf.”
I nod. “Then let’s gather everyone, and leave.”
*AZADEH*
It doesn’t take us long to reach the mountains where the dragons are supposed to reside… or where they used to live, until the witch bound Cailleach and almost committed genocide. Once this is over, the remaining dragons can rejoin again, and hopefully work towards a bright future once more.
I’m sure Favian will be a good leader. He has learned from his father’s mistakes, and he has proven to have strength by being able to lock his mind. He has survived hidden and prepared himself for all these years while keeping his brother safe.I don’t know what I expected, but I didn’t expect the dragons to reside in a whole town that is built into a mountain. It’s a sight to behold. The castle towers over everything, yet merging with the mountain as well. It looks majestic and beautiful.
Around the castle, I spot werebears, although, no other shifters. Elio told me that all dragons left the area to go into hiding. Only Favian is supposed to be there, locked in his mind and forced to stay there until Cailleach breaks through his walls.
I’ve told Elio to let me down somewhere close to the castle, away from prying eyes. When I jump off his back, I turn to look at him. “Do you think you can distract the bears here so that I can reach the woman in white?”
Elio’s dragon lowers his head and makes a noise similar to the snorting of a horse. He sounds mildly insulted–apparently, he doesn’t like me questioning his ability to act as a distraction and remain safe.
“Good,” I say, grabbing the teddy bear and hiding it in my coat. “Stay safe, and hopefully I will see you in a few minutes.”
I watch his dragon rise into the air again, then he screeches. It doesn't look like he can spew fire, but still, his distraction works. Well, he knows how to play the bait, it seems. Soon I can hear growls coming from all sides, bears appearing out of nowhere to see what’s going on.
Yes, it’s time to disappear.
I leave them to hunt Elio, who keeps flying above them, while I hurry further up the mountain path, leading me directly to the center of the dragon pack, or rather their clan, as Elio told me. Unlike wolves, they don’t live in packs, but in clans. A lot of buildings are still standing, but they aren’t in good shape. Time and weather, and the lack of inhabitants have had their effects on them. It’s a sad sight, but maybe with time this place will heal, too.
Before that can happen, I will need to find the woman in white, and set her mind at peace. Elio told me that on the top of the mountain chain, right below the castle, there will be a huge glacial lake with a frozen surface. These folks here really love their lakes, but who can blame them?
It’s a wild guess, but I just know I will find her there. Water seems to call to her.
The snow swallows my footsteps, while soft snowflakes start to drop down and dance around me. It’s snowing again. Such a beautiful, peaceful view, but it’s all a farce. Nothing is peaceful here. The moment I step onto the icy surface of the lake, I can see her standing in the middle of it and just staring down at the ice.
The woman in white, Eada as she was called, isn’t evil. She did evil things, but she was manipulated, used, and locked into her grief.
She is not evil; this is the truth I need to cling to.
I know she has noticed me as she stopped moving, and in a flash, she has suddenly moved closer. Close up I notice her eyes are almost black, her face full of lines of sorrow and wrath, and her hair white like the snow.
She looks scary, but I swallow down my fear.
I can feel her presence all around me, trying to push into my mind. Her long fingers are black at their tips as she reaches them out towards me. For a split second, I’m terrified of what might happen. I’m here again… on a lake.
I almost drowned once.
She tossed me inside. She made sure the cold water would pull me down.
She showed me no mercy.
Just like that, the coldness seems to embrace me. The grief, the pain, the anger all reminding me of my reality and my shortcomings.
I’m alone here.
Without help.
Why did Endellion allow me to come here? Why didn’t he accompany me?
Isn’t that what mates do?
Did Arianrhod lie to me?
How long have I been here in these lands? Why did my most beloved brother never reach out toward me?
Why did Father not have any love for me?
Maybe it’s because I’m a bad daughter. I failed him and his expectations. I wasn’t the princess I should have been. I wasn’t the sister I should have been. Maybe this is why Kiyan never wrote to me, why he didn’t care what happened to me? I was a failure as his sister.
I feel tears burning in my eyes as desperation and guilt wash over me. Dropping down to my knees, I bury my face in my hands.
Why am I not good enough? Why does no one love me?
The icy cold seems to have gripped my heart, but just when I feel at my lowest, I feel something warm reaching out to me. It’s gentle and comforting, and full of love. Starting with my head, it spreads further and further until it fills my whole being.
I am loved. Endellion loves me. I reach out my hand to touch my mark. It feels warm beneath my fingertips.
I raise my gaze to look Eada in her pitch-black eyes before standing up. “That’s enough.” I say. “You have tortured these lands for long enough.”