Chapter 33
TEAMWORK
It takes a few days for us to get the hang of working as a team. At first, we struggled with staying in line together. Mathilda and Tane would blast through their opponents too quickly, leaving a gap in our right side, and the rest of us would quickly become besieged.
Then Lachlan and I struggled with our timing, when I faltered from the visions slowing me down, or getting used to using my sword and ax. He’d already be too far ahead to give aid, and then the rest of our line would fall.
By the third day, we finally got our timing down.
Mathilda and Tane fell in sync with Evander and Mina on the opposite side, while Lachlan, Elowen, and I spearheaded the enemies in the center. We worked in one swift, fluid motion.
As a team.
Today is a test, a big one.
As we face off against the leading unit of warriors. They’ve been training together since before the rebellion was established. A combination of the Affric Clan and the Fairhairs. They’re an eclectic mix of different-sized warriors and fighting styles, our most difficult challenge yet.
For once, my mind is still, and the task at hand centers me in a way that is foreign, yet familiar.
As if I was born to do this. I focus on my wings and vanish them as we line up facing each other.
I’m still not accustomed to their weight when fighting, and we’ll need every advantage we can get today.
The lithe Fairhairs are situated on their flanks, while the robust Affric warriors are to be the battering ram at their center. The grounds are quiet and still, and even the breeze has halted.
Leif’s voice booms. “The winner is whoever can push their opponent past the ‘defeat lines’ drawn on either side in the dirt. Ready?”
Battle cries ring out, and Lachlan bangs his swords against his shield. Lief grunts and then loudly blows on the horn.
The Fairhairs immediately begin attacking our flanks. Unfortunately, they have sorely underestimated Tane and Mathilda.
They incorrectly assume that because of their size, they are slow. And they are immediately caught off guard by the speed and efficiency with which they are met. Mina and Evander also match the Fairhairs on their side in quickness and agility.
A vision sparks in my mind’s eye a beat before the battering ram of the Affric Clan begins their assault on our middle.
“Shield!” I order.
Maces and clubs thunder against the shields Elowen and Lachlan hoist into place, protecting the three of us from the blows.
As the reverberation dwindles, they lower our shields, and we meet them blow for blow. When I stumble from a vision coming too slowly, Lachlan and Elowen are there to pick up the slack and so forth.
All of us move as extensions of each other.
The only sounds are those of weapons clashing and heavy breathing for long moments as the battle rages on and we push our opponents back. My strength doesn’t falter as I attack with both my sword and ax. Slowly, we begin gaining ground, and with each step, force them across the line of defeat.
The battle is officially ended by three short horn blasts from Leif.
My breath saws out of my lungs, and my entire body aches with the effort the training demanded, but I smile broadly. Pride pulses strength into my sore limbs.
“We did it.” I smile.
Lachlan throws a slick arm around me and returns my grin. “We did.”
“Thank you all so much!” I yell to the Affric and Fairhairs warriors who trudge from the ground. I was met with a few waves, but mostly grunts.
“That was our best training yet,” I say to the group as we gulp our water by the refreshments table. “How are the other units faring?” I scan the warriors as they leave.
“They still ha’ a ways to go,” Lachlan answers. “I’ve been working on partnering the Northmen with the Roman legions Marcus brought, but it’s been a challenge. There’s bad blood between a few of them that spans centuries,” he mutters.
Why Odin saw fit to bring enemies to a single realm and expect peace is beyond me.
I chuckle. “Yeah, I expected that. Any skirmishes, though?”
Lachlan shakes his head, but it’s Evander who answers. “Not really. There’s a growing feeling of time running out, so the consensus is we need to work together and quickly.”
It has been too quiet.
There’s been no news about Odessa and Julius, or how they feel about the fact that most of the capital now resides here.
My anger towards them has also shifted into something else, something quieter.
“And how do you all feel?”
“It does feel like something is coming,” Elowen mutters.
Mina sweeps her hair out of her face. “Well, I’m ready to take back your throne whenever you are ready.”
I smile at my friend, so eager for retribution.
“Elowen’s right,” Tane replies, his braid swaying slightly as he shakes his head. “I do feel like something is coming, but I’m not sure we should be storming the capital any time soon.”
“Why is that?” I ask, my face reflects my confusion.
“We’ve only recently solidified our ranks and have begun working together as units. We need more time to make sure we have all the kinks out.”
“That is correct. Most of our guards had trained together for years before they began working efficiently as a team,” Lachlan answers.
“But we don’t have years. We might not even have months.”
Mina jumps in. “How long do we continue building our ranks and strengthening our rebellion before we attempt to take back Lena’s throne, then?”
“Ideally, before war breaks out,” Mathilda grumbles, but freezes.
“I think she’ll want to storm the capital now,” Elowen whispers.
“And why is that?” Lachlan asks.
Mathilda and Elowen share a look, a flicker of fear passing between them before pointing at the sky, and that is when we see it.
The sky that is rapidly darkening.
The clear blue becomes an eerie silvery gray. I stare up at the sun but shield my eyes just enough to see a circle of blackness beginning to devour its golden light.
“It’s an eclipse,” I whisper.
I shoot a concerned look at Lachlan, whose face mirrors my own. My wings pop back out as I need their familiar weight centering me.
“Has there ever been an eclipse here before?”
But no one answers as the moon continues its journey over the sun.
Through quick breaths, Elowen says, “Tell me I’m imagining things.” Her voice pitched a bit higher than usual. Fear, genuine fear, shines in her eyes.
I shake my head, the movement ruffling the feathers on my fledgling wings.
The moon fully eclipses the sun, and the surrounding land is pitched into darkness. Only light blazing from the torches around the training ground illuminates our faces.
“The wolf will devour the sun, plunging the realm into darkness; the stars will vanish from the sky, and the war will begin,” Elowen whispers.
Her voice is hauntingly beautiful as it casts a chill in the air. Tane swears colorfully under his breath. Lachlan’s hand finds mine, and we interlace our fingers. His callouses scrape against mine as we watch Elowen’s vision come to life before our very eyes.
Her words ring in my ears: “War will begin.”
If war is beginning right now, we’re not even close to being ready. We’re still divided as a realm, seeing as I’ve taken more than half our people for the rebellion. I’ve made us weak by dividing us.
Guilt drops into my stomach.
“We’re not ready,” I mutter. “We need to unify our realm,” I say louder. “I need to take back my throne. Now.”
Lachlan gently squeezes my hand. “Key, they tried to kill ye.” He shakes his head. “We just discussed our ranks not being ready. And even if they were, we canna launch a full-scale invasion that quickly. Are ye just gonna waltz in there alone?”
Mathilda hums her agreement. Emotion sticks in the back of my throat, and I swallow forcefully.
“But now our realm is divided at a time when we very much need to be unified,” I answer. “We’ll have to go with just the seven of us.”