CHAPTER 38 #2
“They’ve been preparing for months, gathering their forces long before the Shards were taken,” Galen said hoarsely. He looked up, face pale. “The Arcanth is of no consequence to them. They were always coming.” He closed his eyes, pained. “That was what the prophecy truly meant.”
Thank you, Galen. Thank you.
Evelyn’s face drained of colour. Simone sat rigid, her fingers clenched against the table.
Tobias let the silence hold, then said, “There is your proof. My son and Lady Hale did not call Draknor here. They are not the cause of this war. Karalynna Hale spoke the truth – my son did this to save Vallenna – and we were going to burn her for it.”
“I believe it is as Lady Hale said at her trial,” Galen agreed, his voice grim. “She told us the Arcanth called to Sebastian Thorne. We would not hear of it.”
“We dismissed it. The prophecy said they wouldn’t strike until the Arcanth was whole,” Evelyn said, voice brittle. “We thought that if we kept the Shards separated, they wouldn’t–”
“We were wrong,” Galen said. “They don’t care about ours. They have their own.”
Tobias looked around at the faces of the Council. They were a mix of horror, shame, anger. But Alaric... his was one of denial.
Alaric swallowed hard. “Your son, my daughter... they have killed our people. To take a Shard is treason. We were still right to condemn that.”
Tobias had spent days watching this man deny his daughter, the incredibly brave woman his son loved.
Even now, with proof before him – Alaric could not admit he was wrong.
He could not bear the shame of it. Couldn’t take any of the blame for himself.
Accept that he hadn’t believed his own child, or spoken for her when her life was on trial.
Something in Tobias snapped. “Pathetic.” He surged towards Alaric, crimson flaring, and seized him by the front of his robes, hauling him half across the table.
“You weak, cowardly man. Your daughter has more courage in her hand than you hold in your whole body. You are not fit to call her your blood.”
“Tobias!” Merrick barked, whilst Elias stepped forward, laying a steadying violet-tinged hand on Tobias’s arm.
“Enough. Rage will not save us. Unity will,” Elias said firmly.
Tobias felt a wave of calm course through him that was not his own.
Damn emotion magic.
But... Elias was right. This wasn’t the fight that mattered. Tobias released Alaric with a sharp shove and he slumped back into his chair, ashen-faced and shaking. There was no trace of shame on his features though. Just disgust for Tobias himself.
“We must send word to Fatàn,” Simone said briskly. “Tell them what we have learnt. Tell them of the scout ship.”
“Yes,” Galen said. “And we must move now. I saw that Draknor will strike at the western border – between Hale and Caldris. That’s where they’ll land.”
“How certain are you?” Merrick demanded. “Mind magic isn’t infallible. Especially under resistance.”
Galen actually puffed out his chest. “I am certain. That image was clear. I know those beaches. It’s my home.”
“It makes sense,” Tobias said, “it’s the shortest sail for them, they won’t have to be in Vallennan waters for as long.
Less likely to run into trouble.” He looked between Alaric and Galen.
“And, if any of their scout ships have landed undetected, they’ll have learnt that Hale and Caldris are easier targets. ”
Galen looked uncomfortable, but the truth of the words was undeniable. Teachers and pacifists. Not soldiers.
“We must converge there,” Tobias said, his voice carrying. “All Houses. All banners. I will send Thorne’s army. Every sword. But we also need every bow and axe. Every Healer and strategist.”
“And those without weapons?” Evelyn asked, her hands trembling.
“Bring what they can. We’re all magic wielders,” Galen added grimly.
“We must keep mothers behind, inland with their children,” Elias stated calmly.
Galen nodded his assent. “But the rest must face the end together. Warriors or not. As Vallenna did once before.”
“We’ll need scouts along the entire western coast,” Tobias said, his voice radiating command.
“That’s Navyrian responsibility,” Simone said, “I’ll dispatch orders to Admiral Dray immediately.”
“I want to know their numbers before they land,” Tobias told her.
“Agreed,” Simone said curtly.
“One of mine will need to be with each ship,” Galen added. “Hawks can’t fly more than a few hours at sea, you’ll need those who can cast wind messages.”
“That would be appreciated, Galen,” Simone replied.
The chamber fell into silence again – but it was the weight of what was to come that caused it. The inevitable fact that many would not survive it.
Tobias’s gaze moved across the chamber. “And I will send word to my son.”
Every member of the Council turned to look at him.
“If he and Lady Hale have been able to unite the Arcanth, it would give us a weapon to match theirs. It could be the best chance we have,” Tobias continued. “We do not know what dark magic this Dracanth wields.”
Merrick tensed. “You would call the traitors to our banners?”
“Navyrians died because of Sebastian Thorne,” Simone snapped.
Elias had bowed his head, but when he lifted it, shame was present on his face.
“Even so, Simone, I agree with Galen. It seems they were telling the truth. That they did this to save Vallenna from the Draknor threat. After what we have learnt... I do not believe we can call Lord Thorne and Lady Hale traitors any longer.”
“It’s good strategy. We must use every advantage we have against the Drakens,” Tobias stated, his fists aching with restraint. “If Vallenna falls, it hardly matters what names you give them.”
Evelyn spoke very quietly, but they all listened. “All those in favour of withdrawing condemnation of their actions and calling them to us, please raise your hand.”
When she finished speaking, Evelyn raised her hand, calmly and decisively, looking Tobias in the eye as she did so.
Thank you.
Tobias joined her immediately. Elias followed suit. Quiet and unwavering. Galen lifted his hand with a hard expression, his hands still glowing faintly white. Tobias looked to Merrick. For a long moment he wavered, hand twitching at the table, his pride warring with his pragmatism.
Don’t be a fool, Merrick.
He exhaled sharply and with a scowl, brought his hand up. “Aye,” he ground out.
Simone shook her head as her hand hovered at her side. “I don’t like this. But I wish Navyr to survive.” As it rose, her expression hardened with resolve. “Aye.”
All hands had risen. All except one. Alaric sat rigid, his knuckles white against the table. His hand never moved. His eyes burned as though each raised hand was a personal betrayal.
Galen’s expression hardened. “Alaric–”
“Don’t,” he spat.
Simone leaned forward, attempting understanding. “This is not about pride, it’s about survival–”
“If Vallenna needs the hands of a murderer to survive,” Alaric said coldly, “then we are already defeated.”
Tobias stared him down. “You would see Vallenna burn rather than admit your daughter was right? That all of you nearly put her to the stake for defending my son and trying to save the realm?”
Alaric pressed his lips together, and said nothing.
“It is decided,” Evelyn said, her voice carrying finality. “We will call them.”
Alaric got to his feet so fast that his chair fell hard against the stone floor. “Do as you wish,” he sneered. “But do not ask me to stand beside them. I will not.”
“You’re a disgrace,” Tobias spat.
Alaric strode from the chamber, his green cloak billowing, slamming the door behind him. Elias half-rose, as if to follow, then sank back down. There was nothing more to say.
“We need Healers–” Galen began.
“And Healers will come,” Tobias assured him. “Not all Healers in Vallenna are under the rule of Alaric Hale. There are those who live and work in your regions, under command of all the others on this Council, those stationed on Navyrian ships–”
“That’s hardly enough, Tobias–” Evelyn began.
“No. But we will make do if we have to. In any event, I do not actually believe that the rest of Hale will stand idly by when Vallennan lives are at stake,” Tobias said. “It’s not in their nature.”
Elias nodded. “Alaric will come to his senses.”
“I will send the hawk immediately,” Tobias told them, and with that he swept from the hall, before anyone could change their minds.
Sebastian. Kara. You can come home.
Let’s hope we all survive what’s coming.