Chapter 7 Ian #2
Just like it had for Lana. And me.
“Inside?” he beckoned, but I shook my head.
“Here, I don’t mind being overheard.” I took a deep breath. “I know you worked with the Hidden Henchman twice,” I started.
Caden nodded.
“I know the Hidden Henchman gave you an extra five hundred gold coins at each delivery. Looks like you’ve put that to good use.”
“I tried, Captain. But if you don’t mind me asking…” He trailed off, eyes darting around. “How did you know about that?”
I couldn’t help my grin. This would be the first person I revealed our identity to, besides Kade and Storm, who didn’t count. “I coordinated both of the drops on behalf of the Hidden Henchman.”
Caden’s eyes widened. “What?” he gasped. “You? But sir, you’re the Captain of the Guard. That means…” He lowered his voice. “You know the Hidden Henchman’s identity.”
Nodding, I pulled him close. “The Hidden Henchman is Princess Illiana Dresden.”
Caden frowned, pulling away. “The princess?”
“Should be queen now, but yes, which is why I need your help.”
Caden stared at me, wide-eyed with disbelief as I told him about Lana, the trials, and the aftermath of what happened at Ellevail. He knew some of it, rumors further exasperated by the bounty Andras put on Lana’s head.
“People have been traveling from border villages, desperate to escape the darkness. Some say the princess fled and let evil rule.” He stammered, “But she’s…she’s okay?”
“She will be. If we can recruit people willing to help her take back Ellevail. Take back Brookmere.”
Caden inhaled. “I would fight for Brookmere and the princess without knowing her role as the Hidden Henchman. Her identity only makes me even more willing to help her. She’s the reason half of our village didn’t starve last winter, the very reason so many of us survived.
She’s the reason I could give my people a chance.
” He puffed out his chest, looking me in the eyes. “What can I do to help?”
“I’m going to need the crowd’s attention and your support. They may need to hear this news from someone they trust.”
“It’s yours,” Caden said. He ran into the shop, grabbing a bell, and immediately started clanging it. “Town square! Town square, now. Everyone, grab your neighbors.”
Watching him take charge, I took a moment to thank the Fates that we had people like Caden. It might not be easy to raise an army, but this scrawny eighteen-year-old Fae certainly gave me hope.
Twenty short minutes later, Caden gave me a nod as he pushed his way through the crowded square into the center, standing next to me as the Fae circled us.
The stench of musty clothes and sweat-drenched workers amid the humid air accosted my senses.
But here they were. Almost an entire village. Waiting.
I raised my chin. “My name is Ian Stronholm, and up until a few weeks ago, I was Captain of the Guard at Ellevail.”
A few murmurs hummed through the crowd. Andras may have formally stripped me of my title, but when the former Captain of the Guard says he has a story to tell, people tend to listen.
“Caden tells me rumors have been circulating, but I want you to hear the truth from me. The marriage trials for our Princess Illiana Dresden were interrupted when the king’s royal advisor, Andras Braumlyn, allowed dark Fae into the final trial with the intent of capturing the king and harming the princess. ”
Gasps and louder murmurs increased around me.
“The princess was removed from the palace against her will for her own safety.” Kade Blackthorn fucking owed me for not outing him to everyone for kidnapping her.
“Ellevail fell. The king was killed. I was imprisoned and saw firsthand the damage Andras sought to enact. I escaped thanks to Queen Roxana, who sacrificed herself so we could get to the princess.” I took a moment to breathe, grounding myself in the here and now as I spoke of our queen.
A knot formed in my chest as I remembered the queen’s brave face.
She’d been the only mother figure I’d ever known, and she’d been brutally taken from me.
More importantly, taken from Lana. From all of Brookmere.
“We must find a way to work together to defeat Andras and the darkness spreading across our land. It’s our only hope of survival.”
I paced, slightly antsy as the crowd took in my words.
“Before she became the rightful queen, when Illiana and I were still in Ellevail, we established a network for the people of Brookmere. Your queen saw her people suffering and refused to accept it. She created a secret identity you may have heard of—the Hidden Henchman—and worked tirelessly to ensure she aided those who required help. Many of you benefited personally, exactly as she hoped.”
A woman in front of me brought a hand to her mouth, shock etching her features. Caden stepped forward and rubbed her arm.
“Brookmere is facing its darkest hour, and Illiana has sent those who are loyal to the crown, the true crown, to rally our people. We can’t take back Ellevail and defeat the plague on our land alone.
” I made sure to meet everyone’s gazes as they heard my message.
I prayed they heard my desperation and how much we needed them.
“We’re asking for help from anyone willing to do so.
We have set up a small camp near the border, and your queen requests that if you wish to join her, you do so quickly. For Brookmere.”
“The borders are where the darkness thrives,” someone shouted.
“We will fight to protect you, just as you do Brookmere. I won’t lie and say this will be easy, but we will train and provide weapons for those who are willing. For as long as we possibly can. We will work to reclaim our land together.”
Caden took in a sharp breath. “I will go.” He brushed a stray strand of hair behind his ear.
“Our queen kept me from starving. Kept all of us alive through her generosity and asked for nothing in return. If I can help return Brookmere to its rightful ruler and keep it safe, healed from this plague on our lands, I will do it. I will take whoever is willing to where Captain Stronholm tells me.”
A group of Fae to my right jostled through the crowd. “We will go with Caden.”
A chorus of shouts and cries of others rang out, people echoing their agreement and willingness to fight.
“I may have greased their ears a bit when I told them to come to the square,” Caden whispered to me.
I laughed, staring with pride at the young man.
The woman Caden had reassured during my talk approached me, touching my arm gently.
“My son was starving to death. One of the dark ones overtook his father, and I—” She stopped, tears spilling down her face.
“I protected my son and myself from what he’d become.
” Her voice trembled before she cleared it.
“Caden brought the food the Hidden Henchman provided and coin to help us survive. He healed, as did I. Only because of what my queen gave. I can’t fight, but I can sew.
Cook. Some other things. Will you take those of us wishing to repay our queen in ways without a sword? ”
I placed my hand over hers. “We’re honored to have any help we can get. There will be many who need assistance, but perhaps you should stay for your son.”
She smiled at me. “He was the first boy who volunteered after Caden. So, Captain.” She straightened, raising her gaze to meet mine in a confident way. “Looks like I’ll be joining too.”
I raised my voice again for the crowd. “Those willing to fight, bring whatever weapons and resources you have and meet at the Knotted Willow outside of Demarva. I’ll provide Caden with directions. Training begins as soon as you arrive.”
A small child ran to my side, pulling on my tunic to offer me a cup of water, which I gulped down. I needed to continue.
“Thank you, my friend.” I patted the child on the head, returning the empty glass, before he ran back to the safety of his mother's side.
Caden approached, and I quickly relayed everything he needed to know to get to the Knotted Willow.
“I must go; there are others to recruit. Be strong. We’re lucky to have you,” I said. “Brookmere is lucky to have you.”
My pulse quickened, and I couldn’t help but smile. If every town was half as helpful as this one was, we may just have a shot. Their enthusiasm for defending their country strengthened the bit of hope in my chest.
I clapped my hand on his shoulder and stepped back, ready to shift and take flight, off to find the next group of recruits.
A flush stained his cheeks as he bowed his head. “May nature guide you, Captain.”
Two days later my energy dwindled. Flying, shifting, telling the same tale to any who would listen drained all my reserves. I rested for only a few hours at a time, scared I would never make it back in time to begin training our recruits.
Andras surely would have heard whispers of what Corbin, Kalliah, and I were doing. Someone would have said something by now, which meant we needed to ready ourselves for battle. One we were wholly unprepared for.
Raya had yet to return. I told myself my anger at her absence was due to the unknown of what occurred in Mysthaven and not being sure that Lana was truly all right, instead of the other option.
It had to be. Because what was really burning inside of me, an ache I couldn’t name, didn’t belong when it came to her.
She intruded in my mind and left as she pleased, deciding when I was worthy of her time. Withholding any knowledge she may have.
Stop being pathetic.
A heaviness settled in my bones, and with the dark clouds lingering ahead, it did nothing to help my spiral of emotions. We were doomed.
I would lead these civilians into battle, and all would be slaughtered. Each village had farmers, lesser Fae, people who had never trained or fought a day in their life. Yet somehow, we were going to fight off those as powerful as the dark ones?
I shook my head in my hawk form as a haze crept over my vision.
Was there a point to moving ahead with this plan? We could live and submit to terror or die trying. The options seemed insurmountable.
Dew collected on my feathers as I flew through a low-hanging cloud, and I stretched out my talons.
Black spots circled my vision, or perhaps the storm clouds had been closer than I thought, waiting to dump a deluge of rain upon our lands.
Thunder cracked and lightning streaked through the sky. Great, just great.
A storm of this magnitude would severely inhibit my flying capabilities. I would be forced to take shelter, waiting for it to pass.
Which meant losing precious time.
My final destination on this journey was only a few more hours away. But I’d never make it with this overwhelming sense of dread weighing me down along with the impending storm.
You’re better than this, I told myself. This thing inside of me had been calmed as I witnessed the response from our citizens rising up and declaring their loyalty to Lana. But now, facing down fears and managing the weight of exhaustion, it slipped through the cracks, breaking free once more.
Gliding through the end of the cloud, a high-pitched clang attracted my attention to the land beneath me.
A skirmish waged far below.
Flapping my wings harder, I dove toward the fight. I tumbled gracelessly onto the ground, shifting into my Fae form slower than usual. Exhaustion inhibiting the full use of my magic.
I pushed myself up onto my feet and drew my sword from its sheath before examining the fight around me. A group of dark ones fought a small caravan of civilians. Their carriages of goods lay tipped over off the small dirt pathway.
Fight with your brothers. The menacing thought crossed my mind as my grip tightened around my blade. Anger danced in my veins as I ran toward the skirmish, impatient for release.
Rain fell from the sky in sheets. Thunder cracked. The storm turned the sky dark as night.
The dirt pathway quickly turned muddy, and my boots squelched as I entered the fight.
I gravitated toward the dark one closest to me, the same darkened spots clouding my vision, but as I swung toward the civilian, I had to catch myself. Shaking my head forcefully, I shoved the darkest thoughts out and focused on the battle that lay before me.
What is happening to me?
Quickly sidestepping, I maneuvered my sword toward the dark one and sliced through his stomach in one swing. He crumpled to the ground.
The Fae he battled grabbed the fallen dark one’s sword as he thanked me, running to aid a friend. Turning, I too ran to help with the nearest fight.
Slowly, the number of dark ones dwindled, the Fae citizens reigning victorious.
The sounds of crashing swords behind me alerted me that victory hadn't been won just yet. The clang of individual swords clashing became more prominent as the surrounding battles ended. Fae uninjured in the skirmish assisted those less fortunate, tending to their wounds.
My limbs ached and body protested, but I sprinted toward the dwindling fight.
This time I crashed the hilt of my sword down upon the nape of the dark one’s neck in a surprise attack. The Fae he battled slammed his dagger into the dark one's heart without hesitation.
As our gazes met, and my eyes widened in surprise. The very person I was flying to see stood in front of me.
Ryland chuckled, as he shoved at my shoulder, panting, hair slicked with rain and blood against his face. “Fancy meeting you here, Ian Stronholm.”