18. UnityDeath
Unity or Death
Cahira
Cahira took the stairs by three, pointing and shouting at Quinn to go with the rest of the archers. She rushed toward where Fintan and Kaiden stood, throwing on armor on top of their leathers.
Depths.
She had left her main armor in Arkan, dressing for stealth and secrecy instead.
“Brother,” she shouted.
Kaiden’s head jerked up, searching for her voice. His hands never stopped as he snapped the vambraces onto his lower arms.
She clenched her jaw against the burn of her lungs as she cleared the last step.
Her signet ring glowed bright red. Her magic swirled inside and warmed her bones, awakening — preparing.
Kaiden and Fintan snapped their cuisses and greaves into place as she made eye contact with her brother.
He had most of his armor on even as he waved his arms wildly, barking orders and discussing the battle plan.
Cahira ran to meet him.
“Thank the gods you’re here,” Kaiden said.
“Where’s the girl?” Fintan looked behind her.
Cahira shook her head. “We’ll talk about her later.”
Her mind drifted to Aradia but calmed in the knowledge that Rhydar would have taken care of her. She couldn’t afford any distractions as she focused on Kaiden’s battle plan.
“I’ll take the archers and cover you from above,” Cahira said.
Soldiers and men ran back and forth gathering weapons, boiling oils, and lighting the fires. A renewed smoke filled the air, making her choke on a cough.
“We’ll be on the ground,” Kaiden said. “We stay within Vidrena’s borders! If the magi aren’t wasted from the siege, their wards should last.”
Fintan nodded, his countenance like stone. “I’ll take the right quadrants and meet you on the field. We’ll need Arkan and Vidrena to fight together and that’s asking a lot right now.” He looked around, eyeing the men.
While the depths were preparing to unleash outside their walls, inside was no better.
Just days ago these men were at each other's throats and now they would be fighting together.
Cahira watched as evil eyes and low whispers passed between soldiers.
She had no doubt if a few throats were slit, no one would be able to say anything. That was war after all.
“We’ll have to take that chance,” she said.
“Did you see Jasper or Rhydar?” Kaiden asked.
Cahira nodded. “Just Rhydar, he’ll be within the walls protecting everyone there while we hold the grunt force outside the walls.”
“At least for now,” Fintan added.
The trio stood together, looking out amongst the men. If they survived this and worked together with Vidrena it could be the first step of uniting their allies.
Kaiden grabbed Cahira’s forearm.
“Be safe,” he said.
Cahira took a deep breath and eyed her brother. They nodded, touching foreheads lightly, their pact to watch over each other on the field. Clasping hands with Fintan she looked at them both.
“Stay alive,” she said with a devilish smile.
They looked at Fintan, a dark smile crawling across his face as he placed his helmet on his head with one hand. His eyes glowing as he looked back at them.
“And unleash the gods!” He roared their battle cry.
Arkanian warriors shouted and chanted around them as they followed their prince onto the field of death.
“Archers!” Cahira called, running toward the ramparts of the castle.
They lined row after row behind her, awaiting her order, staring down death, and the warriors gathering to face it.
“Shields!” Fintan’s voice echoed across the fields as metal shook together in a shield wall.
His armor was like a beacon of light amongst the dark armor of the soldiers. He rode his horse through the ranks barking orders and swinging his sword in different directions.
Cahira took a deep breath as she settled into position. The soldiers watched in tense silence at the horrors appearing through the trees. Even from a great distance, the earth trembled as hundreds of skaraks emerged.
“Eos help us,” Quinn whispered behind her.
Cahira turned sharply, placing a hand on his shoulder.”
“We will not need the gods’ help today. We will be victorious.” Cahira’s voice raised as she looked around at the faces of both Arkanian and Vidrena men and women. “All of us!”
Turning to face the battlefield, her head spun at her own words.
Yes, they would be victorious, but at what cost and how many casualties would she be counting.
She grimaced at the thought of all the condolence letters, red roses, and lights that would be lit at the end of it all.
She squeezed her fist together angrily looking out amongst the city.
Only the god of chaos was able to bring back the blight of skaraks.
A bitter ball of disappointment and rage clogged her throat.
Civilians scattered left and right, frantically closing doors and nailing boards on their windows.
They pushed vegetable and silk carts into their homes for safekeeping.
The roars echoed and cracked against the wind.
Rows of skaraks began to pace and sharpen their claws on trees. The limbs groaned and creaked under their weight.
“Together!” Kaiden’s command echoed across the field as they advanced.
“Stay within the borders,” Cahira whispered through clenched teeth.
As long as they stayed within the kingdom barriers, the shields cast weekly for protection would hold the skaraks in place long enough for her archers to make a small dent in their front lines.
She held her breath as their troops came to a halt, waiting for skaraks to advance.
Seconds passed but the monsters stayed within the tree lines, waiting.
“Something’s not right,” she whispered. “They’re waiting for us.”
Cahira barely held in her growl as she made eye contact with Fintan below the castle. Understanding ripped through her.
“They’re trying to draw us to them instead of coming into the clearing.”
The skaraks were being led instead of the hoard of death they used to be, swarming from village to village.
“Light the beacons. Archers at the ready,” she yelled, raising her arm.
Gold armor flickered at the corner of her eyes as she watched Kaiden ride into the ranks toward Fintan.
Quick prayers for the crown prince were whispered around her and she forced her eyes not to roll.
Just because she had lost faith in the gods did not mean she would strip the soldiers of their hope.
If it got them through this, then she would go along with the hopes and prayers sent, even if they were falling on deaf ears.
Kaiden and Fintan marched their troops dangerously close to the borders, testing the skaraks’ reaction.
Still, the skaraks stayed.
“Please, don’t,” she said quietly.
Arkanian arrows were known for their distance, but if they stepped outside the border they would be out of reach and useless.
Kaiden’s helmet turned, and although she had lost sight of his eyes underneath his armor, she knew they were on her, questioning.
She lowered her arm, shaking her head as the archers lowered their bows at her command.
A signal of reaching the distance limit.
They couldn’t sit there but if they advanced they had no idea what they would be walking into.
All eyes were on Kaiden. The burden of having countless men and women’s lives on his shoulders was overwhelming and Cahira was selfishly grateful she did not share in the responsibility.