Chapter 35 #2
Looking down at the tattered letter, I opened it.
Another city answered our call to fight.
They’d meet us at the border in a few days’ time.
My hand trembled as I held the paper. Ian and Corbin had done well during their initial visits, traveling to the locations the Hidden Henchman had assisted to rally an army.
Now even our riders who were unfamiliar with what our group had done for Brookmere were calling Fae to arms and being well received.
I moved the marker on the map, another burst of hope flooding the air around us.
Ian rose, walking toward me with a satisfied smile when a cacophony of cawing rattled the windows.
A few screams rose from outside of the room and we jumped from our seats.
No, no, Thames couldn’t be here yet. Please.
My heart raced as I ran to the window to see what was happening outside.
“What in the Fates is that?” Storm asked, his face turning ashen.
A massive group of strox flew through the sky, their battle cries filling the air while pure pandemonium ensued on the palace grounds below. There had to be at least a hundred.
Guards and staff scattered, running and screaming as the massive birds circled ahead.
“Come on, we’ve got to get outside, now,” I shouted, running out the main war room doors.
I didn’t wait to see if the others followed, continuing urgently to get outside.
No one, besides those in this room, knew these beasts weren’t going to harm them, that they were loyal to me and my line.
At least I hoped that was the case and there hadn’t been some chance that Thames got to the beasts in the woods as well.
Regardless, I wouldn’t let anyone—fae or strox—be hurt on my watch at their appearance.
Sprinting through the halls and down the stairs, the sound of footsteps trailed behind as the rest of my friends followed my direction.
I burst through the palace garden doors, squinting against the sun to see the beasts fly overhead. “They’re heading toward the back of the palace,” I shouted, continuing to run toward the incoming army of strox.
I stared in awe as their numbers hovered above the arena, waiting. The very same arena where we’d battled them not too long ago.
Though cries in the air echoed with fear, nature gave the impression it was pleased by the strox’s presence as we ran toward them. There wasn’t a single cloud in the dimming sky as the beasts circled above.
I ran upward, taking the steps to the royal dais two at a time, and as I crested the landing, I stared at the arena below.
I gasped at the overgrown, devastated sight of the once magnificent structure.
Andras had left it in shambles, allowing the remnants of our fight to remain.
A stark reminder to those who opposed him versus those who had claimed victory that day.
I shivered before moving to the edge, one I’d stood at what seemed like a lifetime ago.
The few Fae brave enough to follow outside screamed, pointing to the sky. Royal guards rushed out in droves, preparing their weapons as their battalion leaders barked orders, pointing up at the beasts.
“Ian,” I turned, yelling for him behind me. “I need you to tell the guards’ leaders not to shoot—that will be the fastest way to stop them. Tell them not to hurt the strox.”
Ian nodded as he jumped over the ledge of the dais and ran toward the rows of guards.
I grabbed Raya’s arm. “Go with him. Maybe you can use your mind magic to try to get some of them to listen. They're scared and might react without thinking.”
Without hesitation, she took off, catching up to Ian and joining him as they waved their arms to get the attention of the soldiers.
Storm, Kade, Jax, Kalliah, Leif, and I all continued down the steps into the arena. The strox were beginning to land, cawing into the evening sky. The ground shook as they dove down in groups.
A few guards poured in through the tunnels the contenders had used to enter during the marriage trials.
Chaos swarmed around us between the cries and sharp orders. A heady fear permeated the tension-filled space.
A few Fae appeared along the outskirts of the arena, where they’d watched the marriage trials not long ago, standing huddled together in small groups as they stared at the growing number of ancient birds.
Behind us, I could see over the back of the arena toward the palace, where staff that had been outside ran toward safety or hid behind bushes—anything to save themselves from the beasts.
“Lana, watch out,” Kade shouted as a royal guard threw a javelin at a strox that had already landed on the arena ground. The weapon passed right over my head as Kade’s shadows yanked me back to avoid being hurt. The javelin hit the strox in one of his wings, and the bird let out a pained yelp.
Whipping myself around, I searched for the guard responsible. It took me a minute to spot him a few feet away looking mighty impressed with himself and calling to others to follow his lead.
“You,” I seethed. “Throw one more weapon at the strox and I will feed you to them for dinner. Do you understand?”
The guard appeared perplexed, shock paling his face. “Your Majesty, they’ll attack. There’s too many.”
“Do not harm them,” I yelled.
The guard bowed his head in shame. “I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“Tell your comrades now. No one attacks. Go.”
It couldn’t hurt to have the guards spreading the word among themselves while Ian and Raya tried to get to the leaders as well.
The guard ran toward a group of Fae working on loading a flaming ball into a catapult.
I finally made it onto the arena floor, and the sight took my breath away. There were so many strox, more than I thought even existed. I felt Apollo hum in its sheath, alive with power as if this was where we were meant to be, alongside the ancient birds.
“Jax,” I called over my shoulder. “Go with Leif and Kalliah to block the tunnel entrance. The more people running in, the harder it will be to maintain order.”
“On it,” he shouted, tugging Kalliah and Leif behind him.
Kade and Storm remained by my side, Kade’s shadows trailing behind me as I slowly approached the beautiful yet frightening beasts.
A few guards called my name, running down the stairs we’d descended from. “I’ve got them,” Storm said, turning to approach them.
The strox who had been shot jolted forward toward the guards with the catapult, and I ran. If this one attacked, there would be no convincing the guards to stop.
I skidded to a halt in front of the strox, holding up my hands in front of him.
While Evelyn had assured me they wouldn’t harm me and they’d even helped Jax hunt in the woods, the sheer number of them overwhelmed me, making me freeze.
My heart pounded, and even though the sun was setting, it glowed brighter, pulsing as if encouraging me with its rays illuminating the field.
Cautiously, I skirted around the edge of the arena, maintaining eye contact with the injured strox.
Its gaze followed me instead of attacking, allowing me to guide its attention away from the catapult.
While the injured strox fixated on me, the other beasts all positioned their bodies to face the dais.
I glanced over my shoulder and looked toward it from this angle.
The once pristine white marble pillars were now cracked, fissures flowing down.
One of the front pillars had crumbled completely.
Suddenly, the sound of beating wings and beasts slamming to the ground ceased. The guards’ shouting died down, and a calm silence descended over the arena. I still held up my hands toward the wounded strox, though it had calmed significantly and stood side by side with the others.
Emotions flooded me as I stood on the field.
The last time I was here, my mother was alive.
I’d seen my parents together for the last time without even realizing it.
Then I’d run into battle, not knowing if I’d live to see another day, yet pushing myself toward the fight without magic anyway.
Swallowing down the fear of what was happening in my home in order to defend it.
While the same was true today, I knew this time, my death wouldn’t be at these beasts’ hands.
This time, I had the power to prevent the battle between beast and man.
I lowered my hands, watching some of the guards and staff come out of hiding and move slowly into the open.
Seeing people here, knowing the dais stood behind me where I’d watched my trials alongside my parents, where I’d watched Kade and Ian, my breath hitched.
Grief, love, anger, all of it welled inside and coursed through my body.
A vice tightened around my chest. How had so much happened in such a short amount of time? My voice caught in my throat as tears streamed down my face. It took me several moments to gather myself before standing tall in front of the strox.
Kade’s shadows whispered at my feet, and the light inside of me warmed at their touch.
He let me stand tall before them, on my own, just as he always did. Waiting beside me in case I needed him but allowing me to do what I had to.
One of the strox in the front took a step forward, slowly, almost reverently. As I met its black-eyed gaze, I knew why they’d come.
“Have you come to aid us?” I asked.
The strox raised and lowered its head once.
I touched my fingers to my lips, in awe of what the strox’s help could provide and that they’d come without being called. They’d come to defend our home. Their home.
I reached forward, touching my hand to the creature’s beak.
“Thank you,” I whispered, goose bumps lining my arms.
Despite the misunderstandings, the trouble they’d faced before from us, they were willing to fight for what was right. Willing to fight for us.
I stroked my hand gently over the strox’s beak, curling my fingers around its face before I looked up into the beast’s eyes. Hoping I’d conveyed my gratitude, I scanned as many of them as I could, making eye contact with each.
The strox in front of me stepped back, away from my touch, and dipped his head, bending forward before lowering his beak to the ground.
One by one, the rows of strox behind him followed his lead and bowed before me.
Bowed before Evelyn’s line in a time when we needed them desperately.
Bowed before a queen.