Chapter 32
Ara
“I checkedthe wards again and they’ve gotten stronger. They should keep out anyone with fae blood, but I don’t think there’s anything we can do to prevent a god from getting in,” Laera said as she entered the breakfast room.
“That should work. I don’t think any of the gods have an interest in being in Athos when the fae arrive.” I was the only one in there, attempting to eat something before returning to more training with Ryvin.
The morning had been a flurry of activity already, everyone doing what they could to prepare. The breakfast room had been set with snacks that could be grabbed by anyone who needed something, though most of it was untouched.
“I’m sure they’re enjoying the show.” Laera took a seat next to me and reached for a honey cake.
“How much time do you think we have?” I asked.
“They can already see the ships.” She took a bite, then chewed slowly.
I stood. “What?”
“Sit down.” Laera grabbed my arm and pulled. “They’re coming either way. You getting panicked about it now does nothing but wear you out before it’s even time to fight.”
Her eyes dropped and she pressed her lips together. “See what I mean?”
I followed her gaze and saw shadows twisting around my middle. “I didn’t do that on purpose.”
“I know.” She set down her cake, giving it a look like it personally offended her. “The food here is terrible.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. “It’s not that bad.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter right now. What does matter is that you’re still letting your emotions get the better of you when it comes to your magic.”
I opened my mouth, and she held up her hand. “Let me finish.”
I closed my mouth and crossed my arms over my chest. I felt like a child being scolded.
“Listen to me. If you were raised fae, you’d have had decades to hone your skills. We’re not expected to learn it quickly. We make mistakes. We break things. Some of us accidentally kill people. In Ryvin’s case, a lot of people. But we learn. Slowly. You don’t get that luxury. And yes, I know it’s not fair. It just means you have to be better than all of us. Especially since you have dual powers to tap into.”
I lowered my arms to my side. “I know.”
“But you don’t. You’re not trusting yourself. You don’t have time to learn anymore. You have to be a master of your magic and Ryvin’s. Now. Today. Not five years from now.”
“You realize that’s impossible, right?” I countered.
“You’re not even supposed to be alive, Ara. Don’t forget that the gods were so afraid of you that they wanted you dead. I think it’s time for you to show them just how terrifying you can be.” She reached for an olive and popped it into her mouth.
I took a breath, letting her words sink in. I wasn’t used to seeing myself as someone powerful, but I was. I was an asset in this fight and it was time I started acting like it.
Grabbing a honey cake of my own, I made myself eat. It was going to be a very long day.
Vanth walked into the breakfast room, his whole body tense and ready for a fight.
“We already know,” Laera said. “They still have to set up their blockade. You should eat, shifter.”
Vanth glanced over at me.
“She’s right. They’re not going to breech our walls this second.” I was trying to follow Laera’s lead, to keep my emotions under control.
Vanth narrowed his eyes. “I’m not sure I like you two spending time together.”
Laera laughed. “If you eat something, we’ll go with you to the war room.”
He growled.
“If Laera is trying to take care of you, you must be in bad shape,” I said.
“You’re in my head,” he accused.
“I don’t have to go into your head. You’re projecting all of your emotions so clearly I could feel them on the opposite side of the palace,” she replied. “And you’re hungry. Eat.”
He stomped to the table and grabbed a honey cake.
“Oh, not that,” Laera said quickly.
Vanth sniffed it, then wrinkled his nose before setting it down.
“It’s not that bad,” I said, taking the last bite of the one I’d been working on.
He reached for some dried fish, then ate a few olives and some fruit. I’d never seen anyone eat so quickly. “Happy now?”
Laera stood. “Very. Shall we?”
I tried to imitate her calm as we left the room, even as anxiety was starting to build in my chest. As we entered the hallway, I paused to look through the colonnade at the sea beyond.
There they were. Hundreds of ships. Red sails were joined by white, gray, and green. All the fae together to attack one single human city.
I balled my hands into fists. They were here to annihilate us. The king was here for our blood.
“The shields should hold,” Laera said.
“But for how long?” I asked.
“Longer than your people have without access to the sea,” Vanth said.
While we feared those waters, we were dependent on them for fish and trade. We could grow much of our own food, but without access to all of Athos, we were limited to only what could be produced on the grounds that were protected by the shield. We couldn’t bring the livestock with the people when they evacuated here. We couldn’t afford to have this war drag out.
“Let’s go.” I started walking again, heading for the study, which had become our war room.
Argus, General Mortagan, Bahar, Lagina, Cora, Sophia, Ryvin, and Erebus, the leader of Thebes, were staring out the window at the incoming ships. They turned when they heard us approach.
“Come to join the fun?” Bahar asked.
Ryvin crossed the room to me. “Looks like our training is on hold.”
“I’m ready,” I assured him.
His jaw tightened and he nodded, attempting to be reassuring, but failing. I could feel his tension. I took his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, then released it and walked toward the others. “What did we miss?”
“They’re establishing a blockade,” Mortagan explained, pointing to the ships that were moving into position. “The others are getting closer to shore so they can release their soldiers.”
“There must be five-thousand already,” Argus said.
“They’ll send more,” Mortagan commented. “This can’t be their whole fleet.”
“They might have left some behind in Drakous,” Bahar said.
“Laera, can you find out?” Ryvin asked.
She nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“Kabir is at the winter camp near Drakous, if you need a familiar mind,” Bahar said.
Laera frowned. I knew she didn’t like when people guessed at her abilities, but she didn’t argue.
“I must prepare our archers,” Mortagan said suddenly. “They’re fae. They move faster than us. We might not have the day to prepare.”
“We should anticipate at least one attack before nightfall,” Erebus said. “They will camp tonight. They never fight at night. They need that time to let their magic replenish.”
“Let us know what you need,” Lagina said.
Mortagan inclined his head. “We’ll fight to the end, your highness.”
Erebus also bowed to Lagina, then joined Mortagan, the two of them heading out to prepare the soldiers. We weren’t certain how well the shield would hold to a mass attack, so our archers and foot soldiers needed to be ready to go.
“He left five-thousand men behind to hold Drakous,” Laera said.
“Five thousand?” Bahar asked.
She nodded. “I get the sense he feels that’s the more important target. And he doesn’t see Athos as a threat.”
“I really hope Nona removed that extra magic,” I said quietly.
“We’ll find out soon,” Vanth replied.
“The good news is that he’s here,” Laera said. “My father came to Athos.”
Despite the rising tension, the information made me smile. That meant we had a chance. If we could get to him, his alliances would unravel. We’d be able to end this war.
I hated waiting.I hated standing there watching out the window, doing nothing. Our people were huddled in tents, sharing the provisions we could provide, waiting. Our soldiers had taken over every spare corner of the palace, finding anywhere they could to rest while they waited. Bahar’s men and Erebus’s men did the same, camping in the training grounds or taking over spare rooms. We were overflowing with people who could do nothing but wait.
I almost wanted the battle to begin. At least then I could do something.
I watched as the ships sailed toward land. I watched as thousands of fae flooded our shores. Once they entered the city, I couldn’t see them anymore, but I knew they were in the streets, destroying anything they crossed, pillaging and attacking anyone who’d stayed behind. It made my stomach churn.
They’d be at our gates soon.
By late afternoon, thousands of fae marched toward the palace. They stopped just beyond the gates, where the shield began.
“They know it’s there, don’t they?” I asked Ryvin. “They can sense the barrier.”
“I’m sure they can,” he said.
“Is it going to hold?” Lagina asked.
“We’re about to find out,” Laera replied.
None of the fae attempted to cross the barrier, but they were clearly preparing to fight. Archers stepped forward and began to fire arrows into the shield. They fired until they emptied their quivers, then they retrieved their arrows and started again.
Every time the arrows hit, the shield glittered and sizzled. Every time, it made me tense with anxiety. It was holding, for now. Meanwhile, I could see the tents dotting our sandy shores as soldiers settled in for the long haul. They could wait for our shields to fall. Using it as target practice was nothing more than an intimidation tactic. They knew they couldn’t penetrate it, but it was unnerving to listen to the pings of their arrows as they ricocheted off the barrier.
The sun was setting, sinking into the sea. I knew we’d have a reprieve tonight. But that only meant that tomorrow would be the real thing. The fae would attack with everything they had.